The best smartphones up to 400 euros

Mobile phone manufacturers such as Google, Xiaomi and Motorola have launched smartphones up to 400 euros that are worth a look. We took a closer look at some cell phones and present you with our 4 recommendations.

You need a new cell phone that shouldn’t cost too much? And features like 5G, NFC, a fast processor and so on shouldn’t be missing either? Then you no longer have to search in the upper class. For smartphones up to 400 euros, manufacturers such as Google, Xiaomi and Motorola offer exciting cell phones with future-proof features. You can find out which 4 models are really worthwhile in our overview.

Google Pixel 6a: Cheap with a compromise

GIGA tip If you have been flirting with the Google Pixel 6 (see Saturn) for a long time, but are always afraid of the price, Google has the Pixel 6a (view at Amazon) launched a cheaper mid-range offshoot that offers many Pixel advantages.

With the Google Pixel 6a, users benefit from a Update guarantee over 5 years, a strong performance and camera, the cell phone is also very handy with a display diagonal of 6.1 inches. In his review of the Google Pixel 6a, however, our editor Peter criticizes the low refresh rate of 60 Hertz. Here Google has oriented itself downwards in contrast to the Google Pixel 6 with 90 Hertz – although there is a solution for this problem as well. For a smartphone up to 400 euros, that’s simply not enough. But: If you can get along with 60 Hertz, you get a smartphone with the Google Pixel 6a that can be seen for a long time.

Sarah Börner, GIGA editor, expert for consumer electronics (mobile) and sustainability.

I myself toyed with the idea of ​​buying the Google Pixel 6a instead of its big brother – after all, the Pixel 6 costs a lot. However, the low refresh rate turned me away from the Pixel 6a. Finally, I just bought the Google Pixel 6 used from Rebuy. If the desired smartphone is too expensive, second-hand is one cheap and above all sustainable alternative.

Advantages:

• strong performance
• good photo quality
• long update guarantee
• certified protection against water and dust

Disadvantages:

Oppo Find X5 Lite: convinces with rarities

price tip With the Oppo Find X5 Lite you get a smartphone for up to 400 euros (see at Amazon), which not only stands out, like the Pixel 6a above, with its handy size (6.4 inch display diagonal), but above all with features that are found in devices in this price range few and far between: one 3.5 mm jack connection and a micro SD slot.

The display works with 2,400 × 1,080 pixels, supported by a Refresh rate of 90 Hertz – so more than the Google phone above. The Find X5 Lite beats the Mediatek Dimension 900 as a system-on-a-chip, which ensures a performance suitable for everyday use that makes one or the other game possible.

Stiftung Warentest praises the 4,500mAh battery of the Oppo Find X5 Lite: With normal use, you get a runtime of 39 hours, while charging takes a good 45 minutes. So you should easily survive two days with your smartphone. That justifies the grade 1.7. In contrast, the camera only received a rating of 2.5 from the test institute. Pictures succeed, but only with appropriately good light.

Advantages:

• strong battery
• internal storage is expandable
• 3.5 mm jack connection

Disadvantages:

• fair weather camera only
• no certified protection against water and dust

Xiaomi Poco F4: A worthy successor

We connect with a Xiaomi mobile: the manufacturer has already shown with the Poco F3 that a strong interior not expensive have to be. In the successor Poco F4 (view at Amazon) also packs a lot of power: The system-on-a-chip is like its predecessor, the Snapdragon 870 from Qualcomm and, together with the 8 GB of RAM, ensures a lot of performance.

In terms of camera performance, the Poco F4 does a little worse than the Poco F3, Images in daylight should still succeed. On the other hand, the smartphone scores with a quick charge of less than 50 minutes, which has overtaken the Poco F3 – despite the same battery capacity of 4,500 mAh. The Xiaomi Poco F4 is therefore a worthy successor.

Advantages:

• brisk processor
• color-intensive AMOLED display
• strong battery

Disadvantages:

• no certified protection against water and dust
• Memory not expandable

You can find out which products Xiaomi is also known for in the video:

Moto Edge 30: The usual Motorola performance

Our last model in our overview is this Moto Edge 30 (view at Cyberport). Here you can get one colorful and sharp AMOLED display. Together with the high refresh rate of 144 Hertz, the smartphone delivers super performance, as you are used to from Motorola. The Moto Edge 30 is only more of a fair-weather camera when it comes to photo quality.

With its 6.5-inch display, the smartphone still has a handy size. The case is IP52 rated, which makes it (at least somewhat) dust and water repellent is. However, you have to do without expandable memory – the Moto Edge 30 is limited to 128 GB of internal memory.

Advantages:

• color-intensive AMOLED display
• very good performance
• certified protection against water and dust

Disadvantages:

• no jack connection
• no expandable storage

You can find more smartphones from other price ranges in these overviews:

Smartphones up to 400 euros: That’s how we made our selection

There are many models for smartphones up to 400 euros. Certain characteristics were an exclusion criterion for us, such as being too old. We have partly based ourselves on our own tests, on the other hand on the results of the Stiftung Warentest – reviews are linked below. The results of other test sites and user ratings also influence the selection. The latter were helpful because they didn’t judge based on benchmark numbers and other laboratory values ​​that didn’t say much, but rather emphasized individual impressions.

Sources used: Stiftung Warentest (Issue 11/2022)

In a separate article you can find out more about how we at GIGA deal with product recommendations and tests:

With our research, we at GIGA want to recommend you suitable products and avoid bad purchases. Your trust is important to us – that’s why you can rely on us.

I myself have been dealing with mobile phones and smartphones for years. All generations have fascinated me, from the Nokia classics to the first clamshell and sliding cell phones to smartphones. Personally, not only technical innovations are important to me, but also sustainability.

A note on prices: Most Android smartphones are subject to strong price fluctuations, especially in the first 6 months after the market launch, they fall the fastest. Deal events like Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber ​​Monday also have a strong impact on prices. We keep you up to date on current offers in our deal overview, it’s worth checking out the daily offers regularly!

Are you still looking for the right mobile phone? Then our mobile phone advisor will help you:

Don’t want to miss any more news about technology, games and pop culture? No current tests and guides? Then follow us
Facebook
or Twitter.