Which phone to choose for the holidays? Here’s a guide to help you pick the right one
The holidays are right around the corner! And so are the tech decisions! Between buying gifts and looking out for sales, there’s no time to waste. That’s why we prepared a little shopping guide to help you compare some popular mobile devices and find the one that best suits your needs. We have selected a few of the most popular device models, starting with the powerful iPhone 17 Pro Max, which we will compare to other popular models. The advertised prices in this article are for information purposes only. As part of the Black Frivember sale, there may be exclusive offers on several devices, like a discount when you trade in a device or an additional credit with purchase. Keep your eyes peeled: the Black Frivember sale is the perfect time for a good deal! iPhone 17 Pro Max: a device made for techies iPhone 17 Pro Max is Apple’s flagship model this year. The high-end device, which features impressive power, artificial intelligence, and battery life, was designed to meet the needs of the most demanding users. It’s perfect for families looking to capture high-definition photos, effectively manage their day-to-day, and enjoy a secure and fluid ecosystem. Whether for techie parents, content creators, or Apple fanatics, iPhone 17 Pro Max is a worthwhile investment. 🔍 Key features: 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display with 120 Hz ProMotion A19 Pro chip with embedded AI and ray tracing material 48 MP camera and 8x periscope telephoto lens Up to 39 hours of video streaming battery life Water- and dust-resistant (IP68 rating), aluminum and ceramic design Apple Intelligence, for the management of everyday family life, security, and productivity 👨👩👧👦 Targets: parents, techies, content creators, Apple product fanatics 💲At Videotron: Starting at $48.25/month for 24 months. 256 GB model, offered with the Take-back Credit. Single payment: $1,752 Other options: 512 GB, 1 TB 👉 See on the Videotron website iPhone 17 Pro Max: compared to iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone 17 Pro Max has evolved compared to its previous counterpart. iPhone 16 Pro Max serves as a good reference point, so you can appreciate the improvements made to iPhone 17 Pro Max. Among the most impressive changes is the titanium frame, with an aluminum unibody design. The new frame, which is in line with a strategic choice from Apple, offers improved heat dissipation. It is essential for the performance of the A19 Pro chip and to allow intense uses such as those associated with pictures, videos, or AI apps. The frame also offers a sturdier structure, more comprehensive design, and better environmental sustainability, as aluminum is easier to recycle. 🚀 Other key improvements: 8x optical zoom thanks to the periscope telephoto lens (compared to 5x for iPhone 16 Pro Max) Battery life extended by up to 39 hours (compared to 33 hours) Integrated Apple Intelligence, for the management of everyday family life, security, and productivity The improvements made to iPhone 17 Pro Max make it an ideal choice for families seeking a powerful, versatile, and durable device. How it compares to other popular models Are you sure that iPhone 17 Pro Max is the device for you? Here is a selection of some of the most popular models today. There’s something for all tastes, all budgets, and all needs. Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: power and versatility 🔍 Key features: 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh frequency and 2,600 nits brightness Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with improved AI (40% faster) Quadruple lens camera: 200 MP + 50 MP ultrawide angle + 5x 50 MP zoom + 3x 10 MP zoom 5000 mAh battery with 45 W fast-charging Qi2-compatible device, for wireless magnetic charging Integrated S Pen, perfect for multitasking and creativity 👨👩👧👦 Targets: techies, content creators, advanced Android users, photography enthusiasts 💲At Videotron: Starting at $64/month for 24 months. 256 GB model, offered with the Take-back Credit. Single payment: $1,920 👉 See on the Videotron website Google Pixel 9a: smart photo, smart price 🔍 Key features: 6.3-inch OLED display; high brightness: up to 2700 nits Tensor G4 chip with Google Gemini AI Double camera: 48 MP + 13 MP ultrawide angle 5100 mAh battery: 23 W charging + 7.5 W wireless IP68 rating, minimal and durable design 7 years of Android updates, ideal for families concerned with the longevity of devices 👨👩👧👦 Targets: users with a reasonable budget, Google fans, fans of simple and effective photos, students 💲At Videotron: Starting at $21.25/month for 24 months. 128 GB model, offered with the Take-back Credit. Single payment: $678 👉 See on the Videotron website Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: affordable and connected 🔍 Key features: 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with Vision Booster Triple camera: 50 MP + ultrawide angle + macro 5000 mAh battery with 25 W fast-charging Built-in Knox security, ideal for protecting family members’ data Streamlined design, available in various colours Excellent quality/price ratio, perfect for large families 👨👩👧👦 Targets: teens, new smartphone users, people searching for an affordable device, users seeking 5G connectivity 💲At Videotron: Starting at $4/month for 24 months. 128 GB model. Single payment: $270 👉 See on the Videotron website TCL 60 XE Nxtpaper 5G: visual comfort at a great price 🔍 Key features: 6.6-inch Nxtpaper display with glare-free technology (ideal for reading and reduced eye fatigue) 6100+ MediaTek Dimensity chip, for fluid everyday performance Double camera: 50 MPx + macro sensor 5010 mAh battery with 33 W fast-charging Advanced reading mode, perfect for teens who use it for homework or digital reading 👨👩👧👦 Targets: families concerned about visual comfort, students, users with a limited budget 💲At Videotron: Starting at $13.50/month for 24 months. 128 GB model. Single payment: $324 👉 See on the Videotron website Moto G 5G 2025: power at a low price 🔍 Key features: 6.7-inch LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate Snapdragon 4 Gen 3 chip for 5G connectivity and fluidity Double camera: 50 MP + ultrawide angle 5000 mAh battery with 20 W fast-charging Pure Android with regular updates, ideal for families who want a simple and reliable device 👨👩👧👦 Targets: teens, large families, users who want 5G at an affordable price 💲At Videotron: Starting at $11/month for 24 months. 128 GB model. Single payment: $264 👉 See on the Videotron website Our buying tips Thinking of getting a new device? Discover the Videotron Mobile plans. These advantageous plans are adapted to the needs of families. They are suitable for teens, parents who need to multitask, and users seeking simplicity. 👉 Learn more about our Mobile plans For peace of mind after buying a new device, consider our Mobile Device Protection Program. With this program, you get protection against unexpected events such loss, theft, and accidental damage. 👉 Learn more about the Protection Program Whatever you choose, opt for a device that suits you and your family’s day-to-day. Happy shopping, and happy holidays! 🎄🎁 👀Also read: Samsung Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra: review and features What cell phone to buy for a child? 8 signs your mobile phone is dyingThe fireplace is back on your screens!
Enjoy the Stingray Naturescape fireplace from November 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. From November 1 to 30, 2025, the fireplace is alight from 7 p.m. to midnight. From December 1 to 14, 2025, the fireplace is alight from 6 p.m. to midnight. From December 15 to 31, 2025, it’s on 24/7, adding some cozy vibes to your holiday festivities. How do I get the fireplace? Helix TV subscribers, just say “Fireplace” using your voice remote or go to channel 502 (HD) or 503 (4K). You can get your beloved fireplace outside the hours mentioned above through On Demand content. illico TV subscribers, go to channel 553 or 915 (4K). Want to get the fireplace on a screen other than your Helix TV terminal–connected TV? Learn how to use the Helix TV app on the screen of your choice. Music for the holidays We’re not done yet! Enjoy festive musical accompaniment with Stingray Music’s holiday channels. Find the best music of the season, including your favourite classics. With Helix, use the voice commands “Stingray Franco Fêtes” or “Stingray Holiday favourites” to access these dedicated music channels in the Stingray app and enjoy your favorite classics. This content is also available on the Helix TV app and the Stingray Music app. illico TV subscribers, go to channel 546 or 552. An ambiance for every season Access the Stingray Naturescape channel on demand whenever you want and pick an ambiance that fits your mood—idyllic beaches, rushing rivers, mountainscapes, seagoing creatures, soaring above the city . . . There’s even a limited-time crackling fireplace. To choose your ambiance, follow these steps with Helix: In the Helix menu, select the On demand category. Select the Channels tab, then the All Channels box. Scroll down until you reach the letter S, then press the right arrow on the remote to reach the Stingray Naturescape channel. Select the content you would like to watch. With illico TV, look for Stingray Naturecscape in channel 900’s Channels on Demand category. Enjoy! Read also: Add some magic to your holidays with HelixVideotron puts its weight behind the startup ecosystem
The word “startup” is everywhere these days. You hear it being used by young entrepreneurs with world-changing ideas. You also hear it from large corporations that feel to winds of disruptive change blowing across the business landscape. The word has a romantic ring. It conjures up images of open workspaces filled with earnest, unconventional, visionary, creative young men and women who think outside the box and care more about turning their ideas into reality than anything else. But no matter how attractive and promising their ideas may be, they rarely come to fruition without some backing from the big guys. Players with deeper pockets have a vital role in the process. Where established businesses fit in So, in practical terms, how can large organizations help startups? That was the question of the day at the Startup Fest in Montréal on Wednesday, July 12, when three in-the-know corporate executives took the stage: Henri Dolino, Senior Director, Innovation & Digital Strategy, Desjardins; Francis Baillet, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Ubisoft; and Serge Legris, Vice President and Chief Technology Planning Officer, Videotron. The discussion was moderated by Géraldine Martin, Director of Entrepreneurship with the City of Montréal. Videotron and the Open-Air Smart Living Lab Videotron has been quick to grasp the importance of helping startups. It is a leading partner in the Parcours Innovation PME Montréal program, Salon 1861, the OSEntreprendre Challenge and Notman House. And, in September 2016, it launched Canada’s first Open-Air Smart Living Laboratory, together with Ericsson, the Quartier de l’innovation and the École de technologie supérieure. As Serge Legris recounted at the Startup Fest, the idea behind the lab was to create an environment where startups can test their ideas. It lets them use state-of-the-art technology to which they wouldn’t otherwise have access. Inventive apps, wearables, connected street furniture, devices to regulate air quality or to control traffic can all be tested in a real-world environment. For startups, it’s a boon. “It’s like a playground,” says Serge Legris. It’s also a parallel universe, and it has to be: “With its millions of customers, Videotron can’t really allow a startup to begin testing a new technology on its system. With the lab, we have a parallel mini-network that is cordoned off from our clients environment. It’s a sandbox where people can play, explore, try things out and work them out by trial and error.” The startup philosophy Startups hew to a lean-and-mean developmental model. In practical terms, that means progressing one step at a time by piling on enhancement layers: instead of waiting for a product to be totally ready for prime time before releasing it, they put out a barebones version with core features, get users’ comments, and then improve it by fixing bugs and enriching the experience. And then they do the same thing over again. “We want to give startups a chance to gather valuable user data,” says Serge Legris. “Information on satisfaction, usage, behaviours, preferences. When you’re developing a product, that kind of feedback is vital. The smart living lab makes it available.” Mentoring In addition to opening up technological possibilities, providing an incubator environment and of course extending financing, large companies can also help by mentoring. The experience of men and women who “have been there,” their networks of contacts, their advice and encouragement can make the difference between an idea that stays on the drawing board and one that turns into a business. “Videotron is a Québec leader and leaders help others move forward,” Serge Legris said at the Startup Fest. “At the end of the day, everyone benefits.” How to submit a project to the smart living lab A portal will go live in fall 2017 and will be the main gateway for startups that want to be part of the smart living lab. In the meantime, startups can submit a project through the Quartier de l’innovation website (http://quartierinnovationmontreal.com/fr/nos-projets/appel-de-projets-du-qi). Startups are transforming industries and changing our lives. Videotron is on board with the trend.
