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Own an Ocean for $99

Originally priced at $299, the dual-sliding Helio Ocean smartphone can now be had for just $99--provided you're okay with a refurbished unit.

Rick Broida Senior Editor
Rick Broida is the author of numerous books and thousands of reviews, features and blog posts. He writes CNET's popular Cheapskate blog and co-hosts Protocol 1: A Travelers Podcast (about the TV show Travelers). He lives in Michigan, where he previously owned two escape rooms (chronicled in the ebook "I Was a Middle-Aged Zombie").
Rick Broida
Ocean

There's much to love about the Helio Ocean smartphone, as evidenced by CNET's 8.0 rating. Of course, the $299 price tag always seemed a little rich for my cheapskate blood. That's why I'm geeked about Helio's new "refreshed" (a.k.a. pre-owned) Oceans, which you can score for just $99. You even get free 2-day shipping.

Helio says these refurbs are "good as new," though I'm troubled by the lack of specifics and warranty details on the company's Refreshed Devices page. Still, it's probably worth a little risk in exchange for such a sweet dual-sliding smartphone. Helio has also dropped the price of its Unlimited talk/data plan to $99 per month.

I've used an Ocean on and off for the past couple months, and while I find it a little on the bulky side, I love the overall design and sense of fun it imbues. Who says smartphones have to be all buttoned-down business? [Via Electronista]