You want to buy a smartphone with good performance and design, but you think it will be expensive? With only 400 €, you will have plenty of choice among different brands! To give you an overview of all these possibilities, feel free to consult our comparative guide for this purpose.
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Our selection
"This 4G unlocked smartphone for under €400 is the best of the best. It features a 5.8" Infinity display, 64GB of ROM and 4GB of…"
"Go for the Ulefone Note 10 if you want a powerful product that is cheap. With its 6.52" widescreen display and 32GB of ROM +…"
"Samsung offers its Galaxy A70 at a price defying all competition. This smartphone includes a 6.7" screen and a storage capacity of 128 GB of…"
"The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 has established itself in the smartphone market, with its 6.53 " screen. It has a large storage capacity with its…"
This 4G unlocked smartphone for under €400 is the best of the best. It features a 5.8" Infinity display, 64GB of ROM and 4GB of RAM.
287 £ on AmazonThe futuristic design of this smartphone already offers a glimpse of its outstanding performance. Indeed, its screen is devoid of borders, unlike its counterparts. In addition, its Android Nougat 7.0 operating system and Exynos 8895 processor offer good speed in running applications.
With a powerful 3,000 mAh Lithium-ion battery, it can charge quickly and wirelessly to boot. In addition, it is equipped with a fingerprint sensor for added security. On the photo side, Samsung has equipped it with a 12MP camera on the back and an 8MP front sensor that allow for great shots.
Go for the Ulefone Note 10 if you want a powerful product that is cheap. With its 6.52" widescreen display and 32GB of ROM + 2GB of RAM, have an amazing experience.
75,99 £ on AmazonThe Ulefone Note 10 has a rather teasing design with its beautiful black color. What's more, its 6.52" HD display offers a good resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. Moreover, it gains smoothness thanks to its Android 11 operating system and its powerful Unisoc SC9863A octa-core 1.6GHz processor.
In terms of battery life, it has a large 5,500 mAh battery that adopts fast charging at 10 W, 5 V / 2 A. Besides, this smartphone is equipped with facial identification and fingerprint functions to ensure better security. If you are concerned about the image quality, notice that its photo sensors are 8MP + 2MP + 2MP x 8MP.
Samsung offers its Galaxy A70 at a price defying all competition. This smartphone includes a 6.7" screen and a storage capacity of 128 GB of ROM + 6 GB of RAM.
304 £ on AmazonThe Samsung Galaxy A70 is very aesthetic by its compact shape and its black color. It is topped by a 6.7" widescreen Super AMOLED display offering a definition of 2400 x 1080 pixels. It is equipped with Android 9.0 as operating system. Added to that, its Snapdragon 675 processor only enhances its performance.
Thanks to its 4,500 mAh Li-Po battery, you will have a longer battery life. In addition, it has a gyroscope and a fingerprint sensor placed just under its screen. Finally, it will be a great help to succeed in your photos every time, with its 64MP x 8MP x 5MP + 32MP sensors.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 has established itself in the smartphone market, with its 6.53 " screen. It has a large storage capacity with its 128 GB ROM + 4 GB RAM.
123 £ on AmazonThis smartphone is pleasing to the eye with its soothing polar white color. You will have an interesting visual experience with its 6.53 " display for a resolution of 2340 x 1080 pixels. Moreover, it runs on Android 10 Q combined with a Mediatek Helio G85 2GHz processor.
Moreover, you will have the chance to take full advantage of its large battery capacity of 5,020 mAh. In terms of security, it has a fingerprint sensor for locking and unlocking. This smartphone also offers very good image quality with its 4 back cameras 48MP x 8MP x 5MP x 2MP and its 16MP front sensor.
Any specific needs?
The best smartphone under 400 euro in 2021
The best entry-level smartphone under 400 euro
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | ALTERNATIVE | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
7/10 |
9/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Samsung Galaxy S8
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Ulefone Note 10
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Samsung Galaxy A70
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Xiaomi Redmi Note 9
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This 4G unlocked smartphone for under €400 is the best of the best. It features a 5.8" Infinity display, 64GB of ROM and 4GB of RAM.
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Go for the Ulefone Note 10 if you want a powerful product that is cheap. With its 6.52" widescreen display and 32GB of ROM + 2GB of RAM, have an amazing experience.
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Samsung offers its Galaxy A70 at a price defying all competition. This smartphone includes a 6.7" screen and a storage capacity of 128 GB of ROM + 6 GB of RAM.
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The Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 has established itself in the smartphone market, with its 6.53 " screen. It has a large storage capacity with its 128 GB ROM + 4 GB RAM.
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Processor
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Exynos 8895
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Unisoc SC9863A octa-core 1.6GHz
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Snapdragon 675
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Mediatek Helio G85 2GHz
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Operating system
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Android Nougat 7.0
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Android 11
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Android 9.0
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Android 10 Q
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Storage
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64 GB ROM + 4 GB RAM
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32GB ROM + 2GB RAM
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128 GB ROM + 6 GB RAM
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128 GB ROM + 4 GB RAM
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Photo sensor
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12 MP x 8 MP
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8MP + 2MP + 2MP x 8MP
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64 MP x 8 MP x 5 MP + 32 MP
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48 MP x 8 MP x 5 MP x 2 MP + 16 MP
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Battery
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3,000 mAh lithium-ion
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5,500 mAh
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4,500 mAh Li-Po
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5,020 mAh
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The first thing to have in mind is to ask yourself what type of processor is involved in the exchange of data from the smartphone. Of course, we often tend to imagine that the cheaper it is, the less efficient the device is. But, depending on the model and brand, a smartphone for less than 400 € can compete with products with exorbitant prices.
As a result, it is possible that a given product may be equipped with a quad-core processor (4 cores) or even more, an octa-core processor (8 cores). Therefore, it is recommended to find out before purchasing.
The power of the battery measured in mAh varies according to the model and the brand. The higher it is, the more likely it is that the autonomy is greater. However, it all depends on how often the smartphone is used. In addition, it should not be forgotten that excessive settings of basic parameters such as brightness, sleep after use and many others can significantly reduce the autonomy.
On this particular point, it should be noted that 2 operating systems are competing with each other in terms of ingenuity in order to impose themselves as masters on the market. These are none other than Android and IOS. Between these two competitors, there are no photos, because everything depends on the preference of the user. Indeed, they are both equal.
However, if you prefer an Apple smartphone for less than 400 €, you will inevitably fall on the IOS. Despite this, it is currently possible to migrate to one or the other, with the development of new technologies.
Nowadays, we are in a sort of transition phase towards 5G. Of course, it is more powerful than previous cellular networks such as 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA or 4G LTE-FDD. But it should be noted that some brands do not yet have it at this price. Therefore, it is essential to consult the technical details related to the device in order not to make the wrong choice.
Just because a smartphone costs less than €400 doesn't mean it doesn't have a good resolution. At this price, different brands offer products that can stand up to newer and more expensive models.
Indeed, you can find smartphones with a fairly high refresh rate of up to 90 Hz. It is therefore recommended to check in the settings of the smartphone if it is really the resolution prescribed on the manual.
Do not clean your smartphone with chemicals that may be corrosive. This could partially or permanently alter the touch response time of the screen.
New, used or refurbished, a smartphone under 400 € is still an electronic device that deserves special care. Find out below how to proceed so that it remains constantly functional.
Frequent handling of this kind of device can lead to malfunctions on several levels. It is therefore necessary to proceed to a systematic cleaning according to some precise rules to respect. First of all, the device must be turned off. If the shell can be opened without having to unscrew it, remove the back to gain access to the battery. If the battery is removable, do not hesitate to remove it carefully.
Now it's time to start cleaning. To do this, start by wiping the screen with a soft, hairless cloth soaked in a cleaning product. An eyeglass cloth or chamois can always be used. But preferably use the microfiber cloth that came with your device. After this step, it is important to wait for the shell to dry on its own before wiping it again with another clean cloth.
With this type of operating system, acquiring a smartphone at this price is no longer a utopia. Its practicality and its wide range of options make it a first choice among most consumers. Indeed, many internationally renowned brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi and many others swear by this smartphone management software. Moreover, this kind of smartphone is easier to maintain and reset in the worst case scenarios.
The system under IOS is currently the prerogative of the Apple brand that developed it. It is quite complex at first sight. But, once you get used to it, it's hard to do without. According to the testimonies of many users, the Apple brand has put everything on this software to avoid the many bugs that can occur in case of system failure. However, it is rare to find the IOS on a smartphone under 400 €, other than devices produced by the brand.
The processor being the nerve center of all smartphones, it must be supported by a RAM for more performance. If your device has 2 GB of RAM, you will have a rather limited possibility to use some software and other recently developed applications.
Indeed, this is currently the minimum required to open an application and launch some services in the background. Moreover, the most recent Android versions will not work normally or at all. However, the 2 GB of RAM on a smartphone under 400 € will be enough to enjoy a certain fluidity of execution.
If you're looking for a smartphone that costs less than €400 but has good fluidity for certain games, you'll need 4 GB of RAM. Indeed, the worldwide craze for the Internet is growing exponentially and is not likely to stop any time soon. Online games, interbank exchanges are now done via a smartphone and the list is not exhaustive.
In addition, having 4GB of RAM offers more performance when running multiple applications simultaneously. With this in mind, LPDDR4 chips with 4GB of RAM have been designed to increase data throughput.
RAM or Random Access Memory is one of the key components to make your smartphone run smoothly. Therefore, whether you have a smartphone under 400 € with 2 GB of RAM or 4 GB of RAM, the key is to know how to make the right choice.
In conclusion, the higher the RAM of the smartphone, the better it is to optimize the performance of your processor. However, it all depends on how you want to use it. If it's for the most basic use (like making calls, sending a text message, etc.), 2GB of RAM is more than enough. But for intensive use (like playing online games, running storage-intensive applications, etc.), you'll have to opt for a smartphone under €400 with at least 4GB of RAM.
Are you in the market for a high-performance smartphone under €400, but you're worried about getting ripped off? Here are some important points to consider so that you can find the one that suits you best.
Elegance is not measured in price! In fact, it's a given that for most smartphones under €400, you'll be able to find a product that looks just like one of the latest models. This is quite possible as some brands do not hesitate to create true-to-life copies. These smartphones may not have the same features, but they will still be quite powerful.
Currently, for less than €400, you can have a smartphone that is compatible with almost all networks. In general, even the least capable models easily support 4G and LTE. The only concern is, with the advent of 5G, whether they will be able to support such a large frequency. So the best way to proceed is to ask the seller directly if this is the case.
This particular point is the most important requirement for many buyers. Indeed, with the exponential development of social networks, the majority of consumers are looking for a good quality image to post at all times. However, who says that with less than 400 € it would not be possible? Well, think again, because at this price, some smartphones are capable of producing 4K video that is very close to Full HD. You just have to test the device well before you check out.
Don't think that at less than 400 € the operating system of a smartphone is not very interesting. On the contrary, these data exchange applications are easier to handle due to their simplicity. Of course, they are not as sophisticated as those developed nowadays. Nevertheless, you will still have the possibility to make updates to make them more ergonomic.
For less than 400 €, you will surely be surprised by the performance that some smartphones can provide. Indeed, some models are equipped with a 4,500 mAh battery. This is the case of the Samsung Galaxy A7O. This allows for an autonomy of about 2 days of use.
In our opinion, the best brands of smartphones under 400 euros in 2022 are :
Since its creation in 1969, the Samsung Electronics subsidiary of the Korean group Samsung has surpassed itself by outpacing its biggest competitors. The Samsung brand is undoubtedly one of the most present leaders on the market in the field of telephony. The brand is known for its high-end products, both in terms of smartphones and other devices such as televisions, washing machines, LCD screens, etc.
Under the leadership of Lei Jun, Lin Bin, Li Wanqiang, Zhou Guangping, Huang Jiangji, Liu De and Hong Feng, experienced Chinese entrepreneurs, the Xiaomi brand was born in 2010. Not limited to China, Xiaomi is currently holding its own against the biggest brands, tapping into their customer base around the world. Backed by Singapore's Temasek, the brand was able to release its new MIUI operating system to compete with its main rivals like Android.
It is with a strong comeback that the Nokia brand returns to the market in 2017, after it was acquired by its new parent company HMD. The launch of the Nokia 8.3 in 2020, a device that can support the 5G network, has only confirmed its notoriety in terms of high-end smartphones.
Since its creation on April1, 1976, the apple brand called Apple has become the undisputed leader in terms of electronics. It has not only conquered the American market. Indeed, its products are making the buzz all over the world like the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple Watch, the Apple TV, the Macintosh, the iOS and especially all its generations of smartphones which do not stop evolving.
The Chinese brand Huawei has come a long way since the year 1987, thanks to its founder Ren Zhengfei. It has contributed to the expansion of the 4G network via its dedicated equipment in this sense. In collaboration with various foreign operators, the firm is gradually winning the European market by developing different brands of phones, including smartphones that far surpass the giants of the industry.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Opt for a device that can pick up more networks
Smartphones for less than 400 € are plentiful on the market. But it should be noted that some models are better at capturing networks than others. So, prefer devices compatible with LTE, H+, 3G, 4G at least. However, some products already have 5G.
Protect your smartphone under 400 € from shocks
There are different methods of protection when it comes to shocks. Unless the model you have located already has the necessary equipment in this regard, you will have the choice between a screen cover, a shockproof cover, and the list is not exhaustive. But the best method is to be careful.
Save your battery
Avoid charging your battery overnight, even if it doesn't discharge completely. Take care of its charger so that it is always functional by ensuring that it does not generate too much heat during this step. Do not handle your device while it is charging to avoid a short circuit or even an explosion.
Protect your smartphone under 400 € from humidity
Take every precaution to ensure that your smartphone does not get wet. Don't rely too much on the waterproof rating advertised by the seller. For example, during rainy periods, put it in an airtight bag if you absolutely have to go out with it. However, if you have a waterproof bag, your device will be safe.
Opt for an expandable device via micro-SD
The internal storage capacity of smartphones under 400 € varies according to the brand. Among other things, you can end up with a 16GB, 32GB, 64GB or even 128GB ROM. But the question about the possibility of expansion arises when it starts to fill up. If this is not possible, you will be forced to delete some data or move it elsewhere.
First of all, you will have the choice between the two most common operating systems of the moment which are Android and IOS. Android is the most used on the majority of smartphones. As for IOS, it is only found on Apple products. However, for both, you can have it at your leisure for up to €400.
The 5G network has not yet managed to conquer all countries in the world and is still misunderstood. However, given the positive impact it will be able to have on the speed of data transfers, it won't be long in coming. Of course, a smartphone that is not compatible with 5G is already satisfactory. But it would be a shame not to take advantage of it for €400.
This is indeed possible as long as you opt for models with the IPX8 waterproof rating, which is the highest. However, as this is quite rare, you can always fall back on smartphones under 400 € with IPX4 or IPX7 waterproof ratings which are less waterproof, but quite interesting. It's up to you!
Most people tend to imagine that big brand smartphones are always single SIM and cost more. However, this is just a misconception. In fact, smartphones under 400 € can be single SIM or dual SIM. This is the case of the Samsung Galaxy S9 64GB.
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