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MagyarThe Best Smartphones for Less Than 300 Euros
Between the frequently mentioned flagship smartphones and the inexpensive entry-level class, there are many mainstream smartphones. This ranking includes devices up to 300 USD/Euros that were reviewed by Notebookcheck over the past few months based on their ratings in our reviews. The following Top 10 rankings might be interesting as well:
The Best Mid-Range Smartphones
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model | Height | Weight | Screen-Body Ratio | Size | Resolution | Refresh Rate | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 85.4 % | 04/2023 |  | Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G Qualcomm Adreno 642L 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | 7.9 mm | 181 g | 87 % | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 12 |
| 2 | 84.9 % | 04/2023 |  | Samsung Galaxy A34 5G MediaTek Dimensity 1080 ARM Mali-G68 MP4 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 8.2 mm | 199 g | 85 % | 6.60" | 2340x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 13 |
| 3 | 84.5 % | 02/2024 New! |  | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G Samsung Exynos 1280 ARM Mali-G68 MP4 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 8.3 mm | 197 g | 84.2 % | 6.50" | 2340x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 14 |
| 4 | 83.7 % | 02/2024 New! |  | Samsung Galaxy M34 5G Samsung Exynos 1280 ARM Mali-G68 MP4 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 8.8 mm | 208 g | 81 % | 6.50" | 2340x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 13 |
| 5 | 83.6 % | 10/2022 |  | Motorola Edge 30 Neo Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Qualcomm Adreno 619 8 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 7.75 mm | 155 g | 88 % | 6.30" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 12 |
| 6 | 82.8 % | 05/2023 |  | Motorola Moto G73 5G MediaTek Dimensity 930 IMG BXM-8-256 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | 8.29 mm | 181 g | 90 % | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 13 |
| 7 | 82.2 % | 11/2023 |  | Motorola Moto G84 Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Qualcomm Adreno 619 12 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | 7.6 mm | 166.8 g | 87 % | 6.50" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 13 |
| 8 | 82 % | 05/2023 |  | Honor Magic5 Lite 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Qualcomm Adreno 619 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 7.9 mm | 175 g | 90 % | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 12 |
| 9 | 81.7 % | 06/2023 |  | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 Qualcomm Adreno 619 6 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 8 mm | 189 g | 85 % | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 12 |
| 10 | 81.5 % | 03/2024 New! |  | Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro Mediatek Helio G99 ARM Mali-G57 MP2 12 GB Memory | 7.98 mm | 181 g | 89 % | 6.67" | 2400x1080 | 120 Hz | Android 13 |
The table above contains an overview over the best smartphones for less than 300 Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
We can welcome three newcomers this month and the Redmi Note 13 5G is currently a very hot candidate in the test. The Poco X6 Pro and the Motorola Edge 40 Neo are also very close to the 300 mark.
1st – Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro
The Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a high pixel density and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. It is powered by an upper mid-range Qualcomm SoC with 6 or 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of internal memory. The equipment is completed by a jack connection, IR blaster and fast charging of the 5,000 mAh battery with 67 watts.
Even if the SoC is no longer the latest, the Poco X5 Pro still offers a really good complete package.
In our review, the Poco smartphone impressed with its bright display, long battery life and good system performance. However, the casing is very plastic-heavy and not many LTE frequency bands are supported.
In the USA, interested users can order Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro via Amazon starting from $275.
Pricecompare
2nd - Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A34 5G offers a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ and up to 120 Hz. It has 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory and can be expanded with an optional microSD. If you need more memory, you can also opt for the 8 or 256 GB version.
The Samsung Galaxy A34 5G is a reliable everyday companion with a long update guarantee.
The triple camera is based on a 48 MPix main sensor and is supplemented by an ultra-wide angle and a macro lens. The Samsung smartphone is also IP67-certified and achieves long runtimes thanks to its 5,000 mAh battery. The biggest point of criticism is certainly the slow charging speed.
The Galaxy A34 5G is widely available, for example on Amazon, with prices starting at around $245.
Pricecompare
3rd – Samsung Galaxy A25 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G offers a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Although the Exynos 1280 is no longer brand new, it still offers decent system performance and has access to 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. The latter can be expanded using a microSD card and an audio jack, NFC and dual speakers are also on board. Samsung also provides a long update supply.
The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G offers an attractive overall package at a fair price.
The main camera takes good photos and even has optical image stabilization. However, the quality of the two additional lenses is rather mediocre. IP certification, fast Wi-Fi and wireless charging are not included.
At the time of writing, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is listed on Amazon US for around $245.
Pricecompare
4th – Samsung Galaxy M34 5G
The Samsung Galaxy M34 5G offers a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It is powered by an Exynos 1280 with 6 GB of RAM. There is 128 GB of internal memory available, which can be expanded using a microSD card. Sounds very similar to the Galaxy A25 5G, but the display of the M34 is not quite as bright, while the battery is even more powerful at 6,000 mAh.
The Galaxy M34 5G is a real endurance runner, which also has IP certification.
The camera relies on an OIS-stabilized 50 MPix sensor, which takes good pictures, but the two additional lenses are not convincing. Another strength of the M34 is its precise positioning.
In the US, the device is available on Amazon for $240.
Pricecompare
5th – Motorola Edge 30 Neo
With its 6.3-inch pOLED display, the Motorola Edge 30 Neo is one of the more compact smartphones. It has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory, although the latter cannot be expanded. Although the battery is not huge, it still has good endurance and can be charged quickly at 68 watts.
The Edge 30 Neo impresses above all with its stylish design and super-bright display.
The dual camera delivers decent shots in the test, but weakens as expected in low light. The enormous brightness of the panel is impressive, which is rare in this price range. Dual loudspeakers are also anything but obligatory. However, the localization should be a little more precise.
The Edge 30 Neo can be purchased directly from the Motorola store, but is also available from other retailers such as Amazon.
Pricecompare
6th – Motorola Moto G73 5G
The Motorola Moto G73 5G has a 6.5-inch IPS display with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. Although this is comparatively dark in the test, it is flicker-free. In addition to 8 GB of RAM, there is 256 GB of internal memory, which can also be expanded using a microSD card. An audio jack is also integrated.
The Moto G73 5G offers a well-rounded overall package, but has neither an IP rating nor a particularly bright display.
The dual camera takes good pictures in daylight, but cannot record videos in Ultra HD. On the other hand, the G73 has dual loudspeakers and a long battery life.
The Moto G73 is available directly from Motorola. Amazon US also lists the phone for $260.
Pricecompare
7th – Motorola Moto G84
The Motorola Moto G84 has a 6.5-inch pOLED display that can use a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. With the Snapdragon 695, it is powered by a real mid-range perennial favorite and has access to a generous 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. Despite its comparatively light 167 grams, a 5,000 mAh battery is still housed in the casing. The dual camera relies on a 50 MPix main sensor with optical image stabilization.
The Motorola Moto G84 impresses in its class with its comprehensive features and ample memory.
The equipment is rounded off by a microSD slot, jack connection, FM radio receiver and fairly fast charging (up to 30 watts). In the test, the Moto G84 scored particularly well with its bright display, precise positioning and good battery life. However, we were less impressed by the loudspeaker.
The Moto G83 is available directly from Motorola. Users can also order the device via Amazon US.
Pricecompare
8th – Honor Magic5 Lite 5G
Despite its 6.67-inch display and comparatively large 5,100 mAh battery, the Honor Magic5 Lite 5G is quite light and weighs just 175 grams. The Honor smartphone is powered by a mid-range SoC from Qualcomm, with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory or alternatively 8/256 GB. The Magic5 Lite also has an IR blaster.
The Honor Magic5 Lite 5G is a slim smartphone with strong runtimes and a bright display, but shows shortcomings in the camera.
Although the camera is much improved compared to its predecessor, it can only fall back on weak additional lenses. The high-frequency PWM dimming, on the other hand, is a big plus.
At the time of writing, Honor Magic5 Lite 5G is available at Amazon US for $329.99.
Pricecompare
9th – Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. It is powered by a Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 and has 128 GB of UFS 2.2 memory, which can be expanded with a microSD card. An audio jack and IR blaster are also integrated.
With the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G, buyers get a well-equipped mid-range smartphone at a fair price.
The triple camera consists of a main sensor with 48 MPix, an ultra-wide angle and a macro lens. The 5,000 mAh battery ensures good runtimes and can be charged with 33 watts. The Redmi smartphone does not give much cause for criticism in the test, but it is a shame that it still comes with the old Android 12.
Interested users can purchase the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G via Amazon US for around $210.
Pricecompare
10th – Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro
The Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro is an affordable entry-level smartphone that uses a 6.67-inch AMOLED with Full HD+ and 120 Hz. The MediaTek SoC ensures decent system performance and, depending on the configuration, can access 5/256 or 12/512 GB of memory, and there is also space for a microSD. The main lens of the triple camera takes decent photos, but the two additional lenses are rather decorative accessories.
The Poco M6 Pro offers a comprehensive range of features, only in terms of communication it is a little old-fashioned.
The 5,000 mAh battery enables long runtimes and can be charged with 67 watts. With Wi-Fi 5 and LTE, however, the communication equipment is very outdated. The positioning is also not entirely convincing in the review.
The Poco M6 Pro 4G is available directly from the Xiaomi store, but also from Amazon.
Pricecompare
Best Mainstream Smartphones in Comparison
Test Results
| Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro Adreno 642L, SD 778G 5G, 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Samsung Galaxy A34 5G Mali-G68 MP4, Dimensity 1080, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Samsung Galaxy A25 5G Mali-G68 MP4, Exynos 1280, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Samsung Galaxy M34 5G Mali-G68 MP4, Exynos 1280, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Motorola Edge 30 Neo Adreno 619, SD 695 5G, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Motorola Moto G73 5G IMG BXM-8-256, Dimensity 930, 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Motorola Moto G84 Adreno 619, SD 695 5G, 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Honor Magic5 Lite 5G Adreno 619, SD 695 5G, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G Adreno 619, SD 4 Gen 1, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Xiaomi Poco M6 Pro Mali-G57 MP2, Helio G99 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 1.57 ? | 1.33 ? | 2 ? | 1.5 ? | 1.31 ? | 33.7 ? | 1 ? | 1.2 | 1.35 ? | 1.05 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 1.32 ? | 1.22 ? | 1.5 ? | 0.8 ? | 1.19 ? | 31.9 ? | 0.8 ? | 1 ? | 1 ? | 1.31 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 120 | 253 | 119.8 | 119.6 | 730 | 90 | 60 | 343 | 119 | |
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 770 | 922 | 912 | 883 | 984 | 516 | 894 | 846 | 658 | 1016 |
| Brightness | 778 | 930 | 928 | 888 | 992 | 498 | 889 | 853 | 663 | 1016 |
| Brightness Distribution | 97 | 98 | 96 | 95 | 98 | 89 | 94 | 88 | 98 | 94 |
| Black Level * | 0.43 | |||||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.6 | 2.5 | 1.09 | 1.76 | 1.6 | 2.08 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.1 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.3 | 3.6 | 2.26 | 2.51 | 3.8 | 5.94 | 2.81 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 1.9 |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.2 | 2.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 3 | 2.4 | 3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
| Gamma | 2.23 99% | 2.09 105% | 2.251 98% | 2.109 104% | 2.14 103% | 2.283 96% | 2.252 98% | 2.19 100% | 2.23 99% | 2.28 96% |
| CCT | 6882 94% | 6661 98% | 6491 100% | 6626 98% | 6518 100% | 7006 93% | 7122 91% | 6570 99% | 6504 100% | 6420 101% |
| Contrast | 1200 | |||||||||
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 32.8 | 34.2 | 45.4 | 43.8 | 32.3 | 43.9 | 44 | 44.3 | 40.3 | 39.4 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 32 | 34.5 | 42.6 | 43.1 | 33 | 45.1 | 45.1 | 41.8 | 39.5 | 37.1 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 26.6 | 26 | 23.3 | 26 | 28.4 | 25.8 | 24.4 | 31.2 | 30 | 27.8 |
| Idle Bottom * | 25.5 | 25.6 | 22.7 | 26.2 | 27.2 | 24.8 | 25.2 | 29.2 | 29.2 | 26.8 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 1297 | 2975 | 1763 | 2155 | 3458 | 1997 | 1668 | |||
| WiFi v1.3 | 827 | 1024 | 770 | 1064 | 721 | 1046 | 908 | 816 | 645 | 845 |
| Load | 311 | 395 | 228 | 286 | 290 | 277 | 388 |
* ... smaller is better
Benchmarks
| Antutu v9 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy A34 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy M34 5G | |
| Motorola Edge 30 Neo | |
| Motorola Moto G73 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G84 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A34 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G73 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G84 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G | |
| PUBG Mobile - HD (sort by value) | |
| Xiaomi Poco X5 Pro | |
| Samsung Galaxy A34 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A25 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy M34 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G73 5G | |
| Motorola Moto G84 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G | |
