Anyone who buys a good smartphone for less than 500 euros will hardly notice any difference to devices twice as expensive; from the display to the cameras, the middle class is now almost as well equipped. ntv.de presents the top 4 from Stiftung Warentest and its own favorite.
Not only iPhones, but also top Android smartphones often cost more than 1000 euros. They are therefore not necessarily better than much cheaper devices; you often pay extra for extras that not everyone needs or wants. If you just want a smartphone with sufficient performance, a nice display, good cameras and sufficient endurance, you don't have to pay more than 500 euros, often even significantly less. ntv.de presents the top 4 in this price range from Stiftung Warentest as well as a device that will certainly soon be high there.
Xiaomi 13T Pro
When ntv.de tested the Xiaomi 13T Pro a year ago, it was still far from being listed in this article at around 800 euros. But you can now find it online for just under 490 euros including shipping. This means that the smartphone can now be called a “flagship killer”, which ntv.de did not do twelve months ago simply because of the relatively high price.
At Stiftung Warentest, the Xiaomi 13T Pro is the best smartphone in the 500 euro class with a quality rating of 2.1. It deserves the strong rating with a very good screen, good cameras, good basic functions, good endurance and good stability. Only the handling was rated as satisfactory. The reason for this, in addition to a lack of instructions for use, is the fact that the examiners were able to outsmart facial recognition with a photo. If you use the precise fingerprint sensor integrated into the display as recommended, this isn't a problem.
Samsung Galaxy A35
The other three top 4 smartphones at Stiftung Warentest are on par with an overall grade of 2.2, with the Samsung Galaxy A35 standing out. With a price of now less than 270 euros, it is not only the cheapest of the three runners-up, but also the most balanced. The Galaxy A35 achieved good ratings in every category, only for the cameras it was rated almost only satisfactory with an individual grade of 2.5.
Nothing Phone 2(a)
The Nothing Phone 2(a) with a flashing back is currently available for around 325 euros. Its highlight is a very good display; the testers found the basic functions and handling good. The product testers only gave the battery, stability and cameras satisfactory ratings, although the smartphone only narrowly missed out on good marks.
Xiaomi 13T
The reviews of the Xiaomi 13T are similarly mixed. The weaker brother of the best in class costs around 370 euros. This smartphone also has a very good screen, basic functions, stability and battery rated as good by Stiftung Warentest. As with the 13T Pro, the otherwise very good handling was only satisfactory due to a missing manual and outwitted facial recognition. The cameras received the same rating, but are almost good (2.6).
Google Pixel 8a
The Google Pixel 8a, which was introduced last May, has not yet been tested by Stiftung Warentest. But when the time comes, it has a good chance of challenging the Xiaomi 13T Pro for the top position in the 500 euro class. The predecessor has already achieved this with a quality rating of 2.1.
As far as the cameras are concerned, it's pretty safe to say that the reviewers will rate them as good. Because the 8a has adopted the good snapshots of the 7a unchanged. The cameras also benefit from the better Tensor chip – it's the same as Google's 8-series flagships. ntv.de definitely liked the photos and videos of the Pixel 8a in the practical test.
The fact that the device with the chip can also perform the same AI tricks as its more expensive brothers is just icing on the cake. This includes, among other things, the ability to automatically or manually remove distracting objects from photos, which works surprisingly well.
The display is at least good, and the handling and basic performance are unlikely to be rated any lower according to the test results from ntv.de. The testers could only find the battery satisfactory, as with its predecessor, because it did not prove to be a long-term runner in the practical test by ntv.de either.
Finally, what speaks in favor of the Pixel 8a is that Google will keep the Pixel 8a's operating system up to date for at least seven years and provide it with security updates. The device can currently be found online for around 420 euros.
