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MagyarThe Best Smartphones for Less Than 500 Euros
Upper-class smartphones are located in the price range of between mainstream and high-end models and are targeted towards users who are not willing to pay more than 700 Euros (900 USD) for an expensive high-end phone, but still want good performance, good cameras, and nice build quality.
The price range of up to 500 Euros (600 USD) includes both powerful upper-class models as well as old high-end smartphones. The latter are an interesting alternative, because the specifications are usually still very good and often receive at least one major update. The following rankings might be interesting for you as well:
The Best Premium Smartphones
Position | Total Rating | Date | Image | Model | Height | Weight | Screen-Body Ratio | Size | Refresh-Rate | Resolution | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88.8 % | 02/2022 |  | Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G Qualcomm Adreno 660 6 GB Memory, 128 GB | 7.9 mm | 177 g | 87 % | 6.40" | 120 Hz | 2340x1080 | Android 12 |
| 2 | 87.4 % | 10/2022 |  | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 Plus 5G Qualcomm Adreno 660 8 GB Memory, 128 GB | 7.45 mm | 172 g | 91 % | 6.55" | 144 Hz | 2400x1080 | Android 12 |
| 3 | 87.1 % | 06/2023 |  | Google Pixel 7a Google Tensor G2 ARM Mali-G710 MP7 8 GB Memory, 128 GB | 9 mm | 193.5 g | 81 % | 6.10" | 090 Hz | 2400x1080 | Android 13 |
| 4 | 86.8 % | 09/2023 |  | Xiaomi Poco F5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 Qualcomm Adreno 725 8 GB Memory, 256 GB | 7.9 mm | 181 g | 89 % | 6.67" | 120 Hz | 2400x1080 | Android 13 |
| 5 | 86.8 % | 07/2023 |  | Motorola Edge 40 MediaTek Dimensity 8020 ARM Mali-G77 MP9 8 GB Memory, 256 GB | 7.49 mm | 171 g | 92.7 % | 6.55" | 144 Hz | 2400x1080 | Android 13 |
| 6 | 86.4 % | 04/2023 |  | Xiaomi 13 Lite Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Qualcomm Adreno 644 8 GB Memory, 256 GB UFS 2.1 | 7.23 mm | 171 g | 89 % | 6.55" | 120 Hz | 2400x1080 | Android 12 |
| 7 | 86.4 % | 01/2023 |  | Xiaomi 12T MediaTek Dimensity 8100 ARM Mali-G610 MP6 8 GB Memory, 256 GB | 8.6 mm | 202 g | 93 % | 6.67" | 120 Hz | 2712x1220 | Android 12 |
| 8 | 86.4 % | 07/2022 |  | Motorola Edge 30 Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ 5G Qualcomm Adreno 642L 8 GB Memory, 128 GB | 6.8 mm | 155 g | 87.6 % | 6.50" | 144 Hz | 2400x1080 | Android 12 |
| 9 | 86 % | 08/2023 |  | Honor 90 5G Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Qualcomm Adreno 644 12 GB Memory, 512 GB | 7.8 mm | 183 g | 90 % | 6.70" | 120 Hz | 2664x1200 | Android 13 |
| 10 | 85.7 % | 05/2023 |  | Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Samsung Exynos 1380 ARM Mali-G68 MP5 8 GB Memory, 128 GB UFS 2.1 | 8.2 mm | 202 g | 83 % | 6.40" | 120 Hz | 2340x1080 | Android 13 |
The table above contains an overview over the best smartphones for less than 500 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
1st – Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE (Fan Edition) wants to be the best Samsung smartphone according to community standards and at the same time offer a good price-performance ratio. It uses a slightly smaller AMOLED screen (6.4 inches, 120 Hz) than its predecessor, but it is a bit brighter in return. With 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, the storage configuration would be adequate if the Koreans had not dropped the optional storage expansion. A 256 GB version is also offered, but it is considerably more expensive.
The smartphone offers a highly attractive overall package due to the Galaxy S21 FE's strong price drop.
The rest of the equipment proves to be coherent: USB 3.2, a 4,500 mAh battery, wireless charging, a good triple camera, and IP68 certification. Samsung also distributes four years of security updates and three Android versions. Furthermore, the Fan Edition is still the only option in Europe to purchase a Galaxy S smartphone with a Snapdragon processor.
The Galaxy S21 FE 5G in Olive color is available on Amazon US for $405.
Pricecompare
2nd – Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion is a slim mid-range smartphone with good performance and features. The Edge 30 Fusion's camera protrudes significantly from the back, which leads to a slight wobble when the device is placed on a table. The build quality is good overall, with small and even gaps. The smartphone has an IP52 certification. The 6.55-inch OLED display of the Edge 30 Fusion offers perfect black levels, contrasts and a pleasantly high brightness. The maximum brightness is 1,196 cd/m² with ambient light sensor and 525 cd/m² without sensor. The maximum refresh rate is 144 Hz, and the user can choose between different options.
The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion offers a lot of computing power and a very bright display.
The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion supports dual-SIM with two nano-SIM cards, but not eSIM. It does not have a slot for a microSD card or a headphone jack, but it offers stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos certification. All buttons are on the right side, with the optical fingerprint sensor integrated into the display.
Currently, Amazon US lists the smartphone, prices starting at around $500.
Pricecompare
3rd – Google Pixel 7a
The Pixel 7a is visually very similar to its big brother and is not much less technically equipped. The 6.1-inch OLED display offers a refresh rate of up to 90 Hz and can be very bright. Unfortunately, Google has failed to implement an eye-friendly PWM dimming function. In return, however, USB 3.2, 6 GHz WLAN and wireless charging are on board. The casing is also IP67-certified and the 7a offers a long update supply.
The Pixel 7a is a real price fighter and brings back old Nexus memories.
Despite the current USB standard, the Pixel 7a does not offer all the advantages of the interface and the fast SoC is unfortunately not particularly well cooled, which is why the long-term performance is rather poor.
The Pixel 7a can be purchased directly from Google, but is cheaper at other retailers such as Amazon.
Pricecompare
4th – Xiaomi Poco F5
The Xiaomi Poco F5 has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display that works with Full HD+ and up to 120 Hz. The panel proved to be very bright in the test and supports both HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. It is powered by a modern and fast Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2, which can draw on 8 or 12 GB of RAM depending on the variant selected. The internal memory is always 256 GB and cannot be expanded. Xiaomi is also one of the few manufacturers to integrate an IR blaster into its smartphones. The F5 also has an audio jack.
Xiaomi's Poco F5 combines high performance and powerful hardware in a slim and lightweight body.
In the test, the Poco F5 impressed with its high performance, long battery life and comprehensive features. On the other hand, the update supply is uncertain and the camera is rather mediocre.
In the US, the Xiaomi Poco F5 5G is currently available on Amazon for $395.
Pricecompare
5th - Motorola Edge 40
The Motorola Edge 40 is a particularly slim smartphone, not even 7.5 millimeters thick and at 171 grams, it is also one of the lighter models. The display measures 6.55 inches, has a resolution of Full HD+ and works with a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz. It is powered by a modern SoC from MediaTek and has 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. The dual camera also delivers decent images. Fast charging with 68 watts and stereo speakers are also on board.
The Motorola Edge 40 offers an attractive overall package with good system performance and long battery life.
However, it is a pity that a telephoto lens is not included and only USB 2.0 is integrated. In addition, the update supply should be longer.
The Motorola Edge 40 can be purchased directly from the manufacturer's online store, but is also available from Amazon, among others.
Pricecompare
6th – Xiaomi 13 Lite
The Xiaomi 13 Lite presents itself with a 6.55-inch display that wants to convince with features like a dual selfie camera and 1,000 nits brightness. The Xiaomi 13 Lite is similar to the Xiaomi 12 Lite in many technical aspects and is also in the mid-range. There are only a few major changes, such as in the camera setup. The 108 MP main camera of the Xiaomi 12 Lite has been replaced by a 50 MP camera. The front camera now has two sensors: a 32-MP main sensor and an 8-MP depth sensor, which should allow for better bokeh effects. The battery has also been slightly improved and now has a capacity of 4500 mAh instead of 4300 mAh before.
The Xiaomi 13 Lite is a slim as well as compelling mid-range smartphone.
The Xiaomi 3 Lite has to accept criticism for its rather weak mono speaker. It also only comes with Android 12. However, it also convinces with fast charging and fast Wi-Fi in the review.
The Xiaomi 13 Lite is available directly from the manufacturer, but can also be purchased from other online retailers like Amazon.
Pricecompare
7th – Xiaomi 12T
The Xiaomi 12T 5G features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with an enhanced Full HD resolution and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The touchscreen even supports a high sampling rate of up to 480 Hz. The smartphone is powered by a modern SoC from MediaTek, which is located in the upper class and has 8 GB of RAM. There is a choice of 128 or 256 GB of internal storage; microSD cards are not supported.
The Xiaomi 12T is an enticing upper-class smartphone with a 108 MPix camera.
The heart of the triple camera is a 108 MPix sensor, which is supplemented by a rather weak ultra-wide-angle as well as a puny 2 MPix macro lens. The large battery helps the Xiaomi 12T to very long runtimes. If it does run out of steam, it can be charged quickly with up to 120 watts. The Xiaomi smartphone can convince in the test, but it is a pity that neither Wi-Fi 6E nor wireless charging is supported.
In the USA, interested users can order the device on Amazon at the price $499.99.
Pricecompare
8th – Motorola Edge 30
The Motorola Edge 30 offers a coherent overall package, which is already available for under 400 Euros. The 6.5-inch AMOLED display can work with a refresh rate of up to 144 Hz. It is powered by a Qualcomm SoC from the upper mid-range, which enables a smooth system performance in combination with the 144 Hz panel. Motorola also provides 8 GB of working memory and 128 GB of internal storage, but the latter cannot be expanded.
Motorola Edge 30 scores with an accurate 144 Hz AMOLED, stereo speakers and fast communication modules, among other things.
Another advantage of the Edge 30 is its slim build and comparatively low weight. It also already supports Wi-Fi 6E including the 6 GHz band. The battery runtimes are okay, but the Moto smartphone is not an endurance runner. Due to the three-year update supply, it should also still get Android 14. The triple camera can directly use two 50 MP sensors.
At the time of writing, the Motorola Edge 30 is listed on Amazon for around $330.
Pricecompare
9th – Honor 90 5G
The Honor 90 5G offers a 6.7-inch 120 Hz AMOLED that works with Full HD+. The speedy top-of-the-range SoC from Qualcomm has 12 GB of RAM and a generous 512 GB of storage for your own data. A highlight is the 200 MPix main camera and even the front has 50 MPix. Honor also provides a large 5,000 mAh battery, which can be charged with 66 watts.
The Honor 90 is a real storage giant with a good camera.
In the review, the Honor 90 particularly impressed with its very bright display, which also works with eye-friendly PWM dimming at 3,840 Hz. The main camera is also impressive. However, it is a shame that Honor does not provide its smartphone with wireless charging and the update guarantee could have been a little longer.
The Honor 90 5G is best purchased directly from Honor or Amazon.
Pricecompare
10th – Samsung Galaxy A54 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is Samsung's flagship mid-range device. It features the new Exynos 1380 processor with 8 GB of RAM, a triple camera with an improved main sensor, eSIM support, and a revised design similar to the Galaxy S series, plus it is dust and water resistant according to IP67 certification.
The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a good choice for those looking for a smartphone with a long update supply and lush feature set.
The equipment includes a USB-C port, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, a microSD card slot, and a hybrid SIM card that can accommodate either a memory card or a second SIM card. It runs Google Android 13 and the One UI 5.1 user interface. The smartphone receives four major Android updates and five years of security patches. Voice quality during calls is good, and the smartphone supports dual-SIM function by using an eSIM. It has a 32 MPix front camera and a 50 MPix main camera that takes good photos in good lighting conditions. The low-light quality has also been improved. There is also an ultra-wide-angle and macro lens, but their quality is not that convincing.
The Galaxy A54 5G can be ordered in all color and storage variants directly from Samsung's online store. Otherwise, user can purchase it from Amazon US, prices starting at $302.
Pricecompare
Best Smartphones for Less Than 500 Euros in Comparison
Test Results
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Adreno 660, SD 888 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Motorola Edge 30 Fusion Adreno 660, SD 888+ 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Google Pixel 7a Mali-G710 MP7, Tensor G2, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Xiaomi Poco F5 Adreno 725, SD 7+ Gen 2, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Motorola Edge 40 Mali-G77 MP9, Dimensity 8020, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Xiaomi 13 Lite Adreno 644, SD 7 Gen 1, 256 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | Xiaomi 12T Mali-G610 MP6, Dimensity 8100, 256 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Motorola Edge 30 Adreno 642L, SD 778G+ 5G, 128 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Honor 90 5G Adreno 644, SD 7 Gen 1, 512 GB UFS 3.1 Flash | Samsung Galaxy A54 5G Mali-G68 MP5, Exynos 1380, 128 GB UFS 2.2 Flash | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | ||||||||||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 10.4 ? | 1.19 ? | 3.1 ? | 1.78 ? | 1.14 ? | 1.25 ? | 1.2 ? | 14 ? | 1.7 ? | 1.55 ? |
| Response Time Black / White * | 2.4 ? | 0.79 ? | 1.58 ? | 1.25 ? | 0.89 ? | 1.22 ? | 0.89 ? | 11 ? | 1.45 ? | 1.67 ? |
| PWM Frequency | 247.5 | 753 | 218 | 120 | 144 | 120 | 120 | 250 | 728 | 253 |
| Screen | ||||||||||
| Brightness middle | 758 | 954 | 1006 | 1034 | 1023 | 905 | 915 | 632 | 1180 | 940 |
| Brightness | 758 | 961 | 1010 | 1033 | 1042 | 904 | 914 | 630 | 1202 | 935 |
| Brightness Distribution | 99 | 98 | 95 | 93 | 90 | 99 | 98 | 92 | 88 | 99 |
| Black Level * | ||||||||||
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1 | 1.1 | 1.46 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 3.1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 3 | 2.7 | 3.32 | 4.8 | 3.2 |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.2 | 2 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Gamma | 2.06 107% | 2.24 98% | 2.25 98% | 2.24 98% | 2.27 97% | 2.23 99% | 2.24 98% | 2.209 100% | 2.25 98% | 2.05 107% |
| CCT | 6378 102% | 6254 104% | 6531 100% | 6917 94% | 6457 101% | 6382 102% | 6457 101% | 6755 96% | 6489 100% | 6422 101% |
| Heat | ||||||||||
| Maximum Upper Side * | 35.4 | 34.7 | 48.3 | 44.8 | 46.9 | 34.1 | 31.7 | 46.5 | 47.7 | 37.4 |
| Maximum Bottom * | 35.3 | 34.1 | 46.7 | 45.9 | 48.9 | 32.6 | 30.3 | 48.5 | 44.4 | 37.6 |
| Idle Upper Side * | 31.8 | 29.4 | 28.6 | 29.6 | 29.5 | 28.8 | 26.9 | 37.8 | 36.9 | 27.3 |
| Idle Bottom * | 28.7 | 27.7 | 28.2 | 28.4 | 28.3 | 27.2 | 25.9 | 37.2 | 32.6 | 26.6 |
| Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
| Reader / Idle | 1430 | 1328 | 1324 | 2272 | 2240 | 1578 | 1604 | 1239 | 2591 | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 594 | 686 | 821 | 1014 | 924 | 822 | 984 | 638 | 901 | 941 |
| Load | 388 | 252 | 343 | 304 | 321 | 256 | 268 | 247 | 284 |
* ... smaller is better
Benchmarks
| WebXPRT 3 - --- (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco F5 | |
| Motorola Edge 40 | |
| Xiaomi 13 Lite | |
| Xiaomi 12T | |
| Motorola Edge 30 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 5G | |
| PUBG Mobile - HD (sort by value) | |
| Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G | |
| Xiaomi Poco F5 | |
| Motorola Edge 40 | |
| Xiaomi 13 Lite | |
| Xiaomi 13 Lite | |
| Xiaomi 12T | |
| Motorola Edge 30 | |
| Honor 90 5G | |
| Samsung Galaxy A54 5G | |
