The expensive ones have better cameras: good smartphones start at 300 euros

Stiftung Warentest tests 24 current smartphones in all price ranges. The best devices are expensive, but cellphones for 300 euros are hardly worse. Actually, only amateur photographers have to dig deeper into their pockets.

If you want to buy a new smartphone, you should consider whether it must be the best device. Because if you do without a few extras, you can save a lot of money. As "The Big Cell Phone Comparison" by Stiftung Warentest shows, the camera equipment in particular makes the difference whether you spend 1000 euros or just 300 euros.

Samsung in front of Google

It was the test winner Samsung Galaxy S20 5G with an overall grade of 1.8. It offers a first-class display (1.1), great cameras (2.0) and strong computing power. It has also proven to be extremely robust (1,1). However, with an average price of 1000 euros, it is also very expensive.

For the big brother Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G you even have to leaf around 1340 euros. For this you get the best camera equipment among the 24 test candidates (1.9) and a greater endurance (2.2), but the device with its huge 6.9-inch display is more sensitive and broke in the case drum . Therefore, it only ranks third with the quality rating 2.1.

The second best smartphone is that Google Pixel 4 XL, which you can get for around 700 euros. The reviewers rated his cameras almost as good as those of the test winner (2.3) and the Android purist is also on par with the Galaxy S20 when it comes to display, performance or stability. And the device has another great advantage, but it does not rate the product test: it is guaranteed to receive quick updates to the operating system for three years.

Strong middle class

The best smartphone under 400 euros is hardly worse. The Samsung Galaxy A51 costs an average of only 340 euros, but nevertheless received a strong overall rating of 2.3 Buyers have to make compromises, especially when it comes to camera equipment, but a device with a rating of 3.2 does not take bad photos either. The cheapest good cell phone is that Huawei P30 Lite (2.5) for around 300 euros. Its cameras are as good as those of the Galaxy A51, only the display and endurance cannot keep up.

If you want to spend even less, you can go to Motorola One Macro grab, which costs less than 180 euros, but only barely missed a good rating with the quality rating 2.6. However, you have to accept cameras that are only suitable for snapshots and the display is not as brilliant as with the more expensive devices.