Introduction
The summer isn't always the best time to get a new smartphone. Most
people have other things on their mind and even the makers are taking a
break after a busy start of the season. CES, MWC and a couple of major
one-off launches have filled in the blanks as far as flagships go. The
next major event is IFA, a couple of months from now.
So, to buy or not to buy? This sounds like the right question right
now but there's more than one way to look at it. The current season's
flagships will only be getting cheaper from now until Christmas but the
prices have at least somewhat settled after the post-launch euphoria.
Last season's best have stepped down the food chain and their prices have responded accordingly.
In the midrange, some fresh offers are joining, with post release's sales momentum just settled down.
As usual for our shopping guides, this summer edition will be driven
by price tag. We'll warm up with a look at the sub-€100 category first,
and each chapter to follow will raise the bid. There's plenty on offer
for every budget, taste and need.
The entry-level segment is where the picture is the most diverse -
there are different shapes and sizes, camera specs and operating
systems. As you move up the budget scale, you start stumbling upon
former flagships, long past their glory days but with still enough to
offer the right users. The expensive premium categories are growing
thinner but we've tried to find the right picks in each.
- Under €100
- €100-€200
- €200-€300
- €300-€400
- €400-€500, €500 and above
- What didn't make the cut
While we strived for variety and value, it's important to note that
we only listed phones of reasonably wide availability. Single carrier or
single country phones did not make the cut. Of course, many phones
didn't get a nod either as others were cheaper or better, or both. Check
the final chapter for what was left out and why.
Under €100
Believe it or not, the under €100 category has always been the most
difficult. This is where the hidden gems are but amidst plenty of
potential disappointments. Usually the people looking to get a new
budget smartphone are either first-timers or really need a specific
smart feature but can't afford to splash. Both types deserve a proper
purchase, otherwise a poor choice can affect their whole perspective on
smartphones.
The €50 Alcatel Fire E keeps its place for yet another edition of our
Buyer's guide. It's an incredibly affordable phone running on the
newborn Firefox OS, which is good at making novice users comfortable.
The specs are similar to the Moto E, you get a 4.5" IPS qHD display, a
dual-core processor, a 5MP camera, 4GB of expandable storage, but half
the RAM at 512MB. Don't you worry though, the Firefox OS can run
perfectly fine on 512MB RAM as it was designed to manage with even less.
And our personal favorite in this category, the Motorola Moto E,
which you just can't go wrong with. It's a beautiful little gadget that
manages to stay relevant more than a year since launch. The original
Moto E is built around a 4.3" qHD display, with 256ppi.
The Moto E is powered by an entry-level Snapdragon 200 chip with a
dual-core 1.2GHz processor, Adreno 302 GPU and 1GB of RAM. The latter
has been a rarity among the KitKat phones of 2014 and a bright highlight
into the Moto E key features. The hardware package is wrapping up with a
5MP rear cam and expandable 4GB storage. Oh, and there is a dual-SIM
version as well.
The best thing about the Moto E is it's already running the latest
Android 5.1 Lollipop, a feat even an HTC One M9 can envy. The snappy
vanilla Android, in our opinion, is better for newbies than any skinned
Android out there.
The Microsoft Lumia 532 costs as much as a Moto E, but packs more
punch under the hood. It has a 4" WVGA display and is powered by a
quad-core 1.2GHz processor on 1GB of RAM. The Lumia 532 has 8GB
expandable storage, a 5MP camera and dual-SIM flavor.
Windows Phone 8.1 is quite a treat and offers a plethora of free apps
right out of the box. You get a complete office package, voice-guided
navigation, pre-installed Skype, various camera apps, among others.
The Tizen OS, which has been in development for quite a while, turned
out quite a capable and lightweight mobile OS. The Samsung Z1
originally launched in just one market, but has expanded its reach
since. Its specs are pretty basic - a 4" WVGA screen, a dual-core 1.2GHz
processor, 768MB RAM, 4GB of expandable storage and a 3MP camera.
One particular reason for buying a Tizen phone is its native Android
app support. The TouchWiz influences can be both pros and cons.
The new Acer Liquid Z220 is now on sale for about €95, which gets you
a 4" WVGA display and a dual-core 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM. It
doubles the storage of the predecessorto 8GB, upgrades the main camera
from 2MP to 5MP and introduces a 2MP front snapper for video chats. And
the new Liquid Z220 runs on Android Lollipop. What an upgrade indeed!
If you're after a Lumia smartphone with a bigger screen, an extra €25
on top of the Lumia 532 will get you the Lumia 535. It boasts a bigger
5" qHD IPS display, an autofocus 5MP camera, and a 5MP selfie camera,
all powered by a bigger battery. You can opt for a dual-SIM model as
well.
Finally, the €99 Lenovo A6000 once again makes the sub-€100 category.
It is the best equipped phone of the bunch with a 5" 720p IPS display, a
64-bit quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP camera and 8GB of
expandable storage. It is also the cheapest LTE-enabled phone you can
buy today.
Unfortunately, the Lenovo A6000 is still available in just a few
markets, but if you're lucky you may come across the Lenovo K3, which is
the same device under a different name.
€100-€200
Ah, the most popular category comes next. The sweet spot for millions
of smartphone buyers is between €100 and €200 and the competition is
fierce. There is a good chance you may find your perfect match right
here.
The HTC Desire 320 has seen a price drop since we last met and the
current tag of about €110 keeps it for another round in our guide. The
4.5" phone uses a FWVGA display, a quad-core 1.3GHz processor and a 5MP
camera with 1080p video recording. Note that the North American version
has only 512MB of RAM and omits an LED flash, compared to the European
version.
The Sony Xperia E4g is one of the best value-for-money options. Sony
has equipped the phone with a 4.7" qHD screen, there is a 64-bit 1.5GHz
quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, a 5MP camera with 1080p
recording and, of course, LTE connectivity. The phone runs Android
KitKat but there is a good chance it will eventually receive Lollipop,
given Sony's excellent track record this year.
We can say the same about the second generation Moto E. Its specs are
slightly different, yet still relevant. The Moto E 2nd Gen has a 4.5"
IPS qHD display, a quad-core 1.2GHz Cortex-A53 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8
gigs of expandable storage, a 5MP camera, LTE connectivity and Android
5.1 Lollipop. Motorola's on-time firmware updates are the reason Moto E
series has grown so popular.
Note that there is an underpowered 3G model, which has the same specs
as the original Moto E from 2014. It's cheaper and in some markets is
sold as an updated version of the first-gen Moto E.
The Xiaomi Redmi 2 is an excellent smartphone, if available where you
are. The smartphone is built around a 4.7" 720p IPS display and runs on
the 64-bit Snapdragon 410 with a quad-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of
RAM. Its 8MP still camera is doing great and it's capable of recording
1080p videos. The handset has 8GB internal storage and supports LTE
connectivity. For merely €20 more you can get its enhanced version which
doubles the RAM and storage, but its availability is rather spotty.
The Microsoft Lumia 640 was released in quite a few flavors: 3G, 3G
with Dual SIM, LTE and LTE with Dual SIM. At about €140 you can get the
regular 3G Dual SIM flavor. The Lumia 640 series come with a 5" 720p
display, run on Snapdragon 400 with a quad-core processor and 1GB of
RAM, there is 8 gigs of storage, a capable 8MP still camera and Windows
Phone 8.1 soon to be updated to Windows 10.
Microsoft and its Lumia smartphones have been targeting the lower
midrange and they have become a popular choice for lots of people.
By the way, the Microsoft Lumia 640 is available in an XL version
with a 5.7" display and a 13MP camera. It adds about €50 to the regular
Lumia 640's price tag, but you can still opt for a 3G Dual SIM, LTE and
LTE Dual SIM models.
Just like Xiaomi, the ZTE phones aren't available on sale everywhere,
but if you can get one you won't be disappointed. The €140 ZTE Blade
Vec 4G is a good example. The 5" phone has an HD display and a quad-core
processor, packs 8GB of storage, 1GB of RAM and there is either a 13MP
or an 8MP camera, depending on the market. Android KitKat is in charge
and the chance for it to get Lollipop is slim.
The BlackBerry Q5 is both for the fans of hardware QWERTY and native
BlackBerry services. The company might be struggling with the hardware
sales lately, but it is still one of the recognizable brands on the
market and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Switching to Android or
not, that's yet to be decided.
The BlackBerry OS has finally come to terms with touchscreen and even
supports Android apps, so you can get the best of both worlds if you
want.
The Q5 's key specs are hardly impressive: a 3.1" square 720p IPS
display, a dated Snapdragon S4 Plus chip with a dual-core processor and
2GB of RAM, a 5MP camera with 1080p videos and LTE support. Those are
enough to give you a hassle-free BlackBerry experience though. This is
the cheapest Berry you can get, but it surely looks classy.
The LG G2 mini wouldn't have made this edition of the guide, had LG
not announced a few days ago its Lollipop update. Released more than a
year ago, its specs are still quite relevant: a 4.7" qHD display,
Snapdragon 400 chipset with a quad-core CPU and 1GB RAM, an 8MP camera
and LTE connectivity.
The LG G2 mini is among the first generation LG smartphones to use
the trademark design with rear controls. Now with Android Lollipop, the
LG G2 mini is quite tempting at about €130.
If you like the idea of getting the latest Android updates as soon as
they arrive, the Moto G series should be the right place to look for
your next phone. The Motorola Moto G 4G offers LTE connectivity and a
microSD slot in addition to the original specs - a 4.5" 720p display, a
quad-core processor, a 5MP still camera and 8GB of expandable storage.
An extra €30 will allow you to opt for the second generation of the
Moto G. It promotes the display to 5", keeping the resolution,
processor, RAM and storage. The other upgrade is the 8MP camera, but it
still doesn't offer 1080p video recording. Oh, and the second-gen Moto G
isn't LTE-enabled.
Finally, if you really need LTE and like Motorola, there is the €195
Motorola Moto G 2nd Gen 4G, which adds LTE support to the Moto G 2nd
Gen. Everything else is the same.
Sony's keen to give its old phones the Lollipop treatment, which is
why we can now suggest the Sony Xperia M2 Aqua. It has a 4.8" qHD
display, runs on the old but decent Snapdragon 400 chip and has a rather
unimpressive 8MP camera as we discovered in our review. But the phone
looks good and is water and dust proof, which should be enough to get
you interested. It's probably the cheapest water-proof handset out
there.
How does a triple-SIM phone sound? Those are extremely rare, but if
you are tempted by the idea you should give the Acer Liquid E700 Trio a
try. The E700 is a 5" smartphone with a 720p display, a quad-core
Cortex-A7 processor, an 8MP camera and 3G connectivity. You can get it
in 4GB flavor with 1GB RAM or 16GB model with 2GB of RAM. Both versions
have a microSD slot.
The Nokia Lumia 730 and Lumia 735 are smaller than the Lumia 640
lineup but offer enhanced main and selfie cameras. The Lumia 73x series
feature a 4.7" OLED 720p display with ClearBlack tech, run on Snapdragon
400 chips with 1GB of RAM and there is 8 gigs of expandable storage.
The main camera has a 6.7MP sensor and ZEISS optics and produces great
stills, while 5MP selfie cam is optimized for Skype video.
The 3G Lumia 730, Lumia 730 Dual SIM and Lumia 735 with LTE are among
the first on the waiting list to get Windows 10 this fall and their
prices all revolve around €160-€170.
The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE500CL is finally on sale across Europe. It
offers a 5" IPS HD display, runs on Intel Atom Z2560 with a dual-core
processor and capable GPU, there is 2GB of RAM and 16GB of inbuilt
storage. The camera is 8MP with 1080p video recording, there is LTE
connectivity and Android Lollipop makes it all sound even better. You
can get it for about €180, but its availability is still limited.
The last recommendation in this category is the €199 Huawei Honor 4X.
Its availability is expanding, it comes with a 5.5" HD display, runs on
an octa-core or a quad-core processor depending on the market, there is
a 13MP camera, LTE connectivity and Android Lollipop with Emotion 3.0
UI. Other features worth mentioning are the dual SIM option and a 5MP
selfie shooter.
€200-€300
The midrange category is crowded as usual and some of the options
here are quite popular. We've tested quite a few of them and you can
easily check their pros and cons in our in-depth reviews. The list below
includes some retired flagships, which still deliver quite a punch and
imaging performance.
We kick off with the Meizu m1 note. If you live in Europe, you can
get it for about €200, while those living in Asia can find it even
cheaper. It has a 5.5" 1080p display, which uses an IGZO matrix, a type
of LCD usually found on high-end devices, and a pixel density of over
400ppi, which was flagship grade a year ago.
The m1 note offers a 13MP/1080p main camera and a 5MP front facer.
The Meizu m1 note is a dual-SIM device, but the second compartment
doubles as a microSD slot. So if you need more than the base 16GB or
32GB storage you'll have to settle for only temporary dual-SIM use.
The growing popularity of the Android Lollipop-powered Alcatel Idol 3
duo is probably well deserved. The smaller Idol 3 (4.7) costs about
€220 and comes with a 4.7" 720p IPS display plus Snapdragon 410 chip
(quad-core CPU, 1.5GB RAM, LTE). The camera specs are solid with a
13MP/1080p main unit and a 5MP selfie cam.
Some extra €60 will get you the bigger Alcatel Idol 3 (5.5) with a
5.5" IPS 1080p display and a more powerful Snapdragon 615 chipset with
an octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM. The main camera stays at 13MP,
while the front facer is promoted to 8MP.
The BlackBerry Leap enters our guide for the first time, replacing
the aging BlackBerry Z10. The Leap isn't a massive upgrade but hopes to
to make a difference. The recently released device costs about €230 and
ups the display to 5", keeping the resolution at 720p. The chipset
remains the same too, a Snapdragon S4 Plus with a dual-core Krait,
Adreno 225 GPU and 2GB of RAM. The camera combo is untouched as well:
8MP/1080p rear and 2MP front. The 16GB expandable storage and LTE
connectivity are intact, too.
BlackBerry OS supports Android apps, you can use the Amazon App Store as well as a side-loaded Play Store.
The LG Optimus G Pro is frankly getting old, released early 2013, but
that makes it pretty cheap - offering a good 5.5" 1080p screen, a
Snapdragon 600 chipset (which compares quite favorably to S400 chips)
and a 13MP camera with 1080p videos.
It was updated to Android 4.4 KitKat and that may be its last stop
(at least officially). Also, supplies may be running low, but if you
find one, it's a good value for money deal.
If the camera is the focus of your purchase, then you should check
out the Lumia 830. Its price has settled at about €240, which sounds
like a bargain for a 5" IPS 720p display, a quad-core processor, 16GB of
storage, LTE connectivity and a premium 10MP ZEISS camera with optical
image stabilization and some PureView tech.
The Lumia 830 has some metal on its body, aluminum trim on both the glass front and the polycarbonate back.
Another classic, the Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is small, metal-clad, water-proof and powerful.
Okay, the bezels around the 4.3" screen make it bigger than it needs
to be, but the Snapdragon 800 chipset makes it more powerful than most
phones so far. The 20.7MP camera is a serious contender too, it matches
the Xperia Z3 for stills though it lacks the 2160p video option.
The camera is good enough to compete with the Lumia 830. The Xperia Z1 Compact will be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop.
For a bit more cash you can have the full-size Sony Xperia Z1 too. It
upgrades the screen to 5" 1080p and has a bigger battery but other than
that both phones are equals.
The Xperia M4 Aqua can dive just as deep (and wards off dust better),
plus it has a big 5" 720p screen. It is already on sale for about €250
and brings a 64-bit octa-core processor and Android 5.0 Lollipop. The
camera department isn't quite as impressive, but still great with a
13MP/1080p main camera and 5MP/720p selfie camera.
The middle member of the Zenfone 2 trio, if available near you,
sounds great on paper. The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE550ML uses a 5.5" 720p
display, runs on a capable Intel Atom Z3560 with a quad-core processor
and 2GB of RAM, there is 16GB expendable storage and LTE connectivity.
The camera specs seem fine too: a 13MP/1080p rear and a 5MP selfie
camera.
The handset runs on Android Lollipop, has a good looking Zen launcher and a selection of Asus pre-installed apps.
The retired flagships are becoming even more tempting and the 5.5"
Oppo Find 7a is a good example. It has a 1080p screen and a Snapdragon
801 chipset with 2GB of RAM. It offers 2160p video recording and
high-framerate modes like 1080p@60fps and 720p@120fps.
This phone is the hardware base for the OnePlus One. The offshoot
company sold phones on an invite-only basis and while that's no longer
the case, it has been plagued by some reliability issues. Not to mention
the software drama with Cyanogen OS and the delay of the in-house
Oxygen OS.
The LG G2 packs a bigger 5.2" screen in a smaller body than the
Xperia Z1. Like it, the G2 has a Snapdragon 800 chipset and the Lollipop
update is already rolling out. The 13MP/1080p camera boasts optical
stabilization. One big drawback is that there's no microSD card slot and
the base storage is 16GB, so we've picked the 32GB option. At least it
leaves you some room for downloading games and movies.
€300-€400
This is where the midrange collides with the high-end and the lines
get blurred. After that it's an all-out war between phones that offer
countless variations on a common theme: great cameras, metal frames,
waterproofing and stereo speakers (few manage to check all these boxes
at the same time though).
Alcatel makes phones in every size segment, but the Hero 2 is the
biggest. It has a 6" 1080p screen and a stylus, a 2GHz octa-core
processor with 2GB of RAM ensuring smooth multitasking. The phone is a
looker too, with thin bezels and a metal chassis.
It features a 13MP camera with optical stabilization and 1080p video
capture, plus a 5MP selfie camera also capable of 1080p video recording.
The Alcatel Hero 2 runs Android 4.4 KitKat and while it lacks the
extensive multitasking add-ons of TouchWiz it can make a great budget
alternative to the Galaxy Note.
The LG G3 continues to skew the market being one of the cheapest
phones with a QHD screen money can buy and its price is going down by
the day. The thin bezels keep the size down, while the Snapdragon 801
chipset and 13MP OIS camera put extra pressure on 2014 flagships. The
camera has "laser focus," which improves accuracy in low light.
Overall, the LG G3 is the phablet to buy if you want bang for the
buck. The back is made out of quality plastic with a brushed metal
finish and can be popped off to access the battery and microSD slot for
extra flexibility.
The Samsung Galaxy Alpha is the result of Samsung trying to make a
compact flagship. In a way it's a prototype of the Note 4, but at 6.7mm
slim and 115g it still has a place on the market. The thin body also
features a metal frame combined with faux perforated leather that is
more premium than the Galaxy S5.
The Galaxy Alpha has either an Exynos 5 Octa or a Snapdragon 801
chipset. We tested the Exynos model, which offers great performance and
managed to squeeze decent uptime out of the small 1,860mAh battery. The
Home key is a fingerprint sensor, which enables PayPal transactions and
Private mode, but it's the less-convenient swipe to scan kind.
Тhe Alpha's 12MP camera produces great stills and does 2160p videos.
The Sony Xperia Z3 Compact will have an edge in a beauty contest with
its sturdy plastic frame and glass back. It has a screen of almost the
same size, 4.6" 720p, but the phone is smaller (if a bit thicker). True,
it lacks the hardware Home key with a fingerprint sensor, but it makes
up for it with stereo speakers on the front.
It's waterproof too, so it can go where the Alpha can't, plus Sony's
20.7MP camera promises higher resolution stills. While the quality
doesn't quite live up to the megapixel count, the 2160p video is quite
good.
The Xperia Z3 uses the same Snapdragon 801 chipset as one of the
Alpha’s versions, but has stellar battery life. As part of the Z-series,
the phone is already receiving the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.
The Motorola Moto X (2014) is not as camera-obsessed as the phones
above but it takes better care of its looks. With a metal frame and a
selection of genuine wood and leather backs, the phone is highly
customizable via the Moto Maker.
It has a large 5.2" AMOLED screen of 1080p resolution and is based on
the Snapdragon 801 chipset. While not a cameraphone proper, the Moto Z
does a good enough job with a 13MP unit that shoots 2160p video. You get
stereo speakers on the front, plus some basic waterproofing - it will
survive splashes, but not submersion. Without a microSD card slot
though, the base 16GB version won't cut it.
The Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML deserves a spot bringing one of the most
impressive flagship specs you'll see nowadays. It has a 5.5" IPS 1080p
display and runs on a powerful Intel Atom chipset. You can opt for the
quad-core 1.8GHz processor and 2GB RAM model or the more powerful
version with a quad-core 2.3GHz CPU and 4 GB RAM. The rest of the specs
including camera and connectivity are on par with the rest of the
entries here - but regardless of the impressive horsepower, the Zenfone 2
can only do 1080p videos @30fps.
You can get a Lollipop-running Zenfone 2 with either 16, 32 or 64GB storage, expandable via a microSD slot.
The metal Oppo R7 made quite an impression recently - it's one of the
best looking devices on the market, with a beautiful 5" 1080p AMOLED
screen, enough power courtesy of the Snapdragon 615 chip and an average
13MP snapper for its €350 price tag.
The Nokia Lumia 930 also has a 5" AMOLED screen and focuses on
imaging and performance. The large 20MP sensor features PureView tech
with optical stabilization and since the Denim update it records 2160p
video.
The 5" 1080p AMOLED screen rivals Samsung's Super AMOLEDs and with
ClearBlack tech it's clearly visible in the sun. It's the current
Windows Phone flagship and will offer the premium W10 experience until
Microsoft starts unleashing the new flagships.
The camera shootout continues with the HTC Desire Eye, though this
one is more interested in you than the scenery. It has a best-in-class
13MP selfie camera with its own dedicated LED flash. Most other phones
in this category have just 2MP snappers. The main camera is a 13MP unit
too, both record 1080p video.
The Desire Eye may not have a metal unibody like its One siblings -
or the Xperia Z2 - but it does borrow their front-facing speakers and
it’s IPX7 certified. It's powered by a Snapdragon 801 chipset with 2GB
of RAM and is getting Android 5.0 Lollipop.
The Sony Xperia Z2 now costs as much as the Xperia Z3 Compact. It is
seemingly a generation behind the Z3 Compact, but keep in mind' it's a
Sony half-generation. It has a 5.2" IPS screen with 1080p resolution and
stereo speakers and a metal frame. You don't get a choice of backs,
just glass, but the Z2 has true waterproofing.
The camera is the Sony usual, a large 20.7MP sensor with 2160p video
capture. The Xperia Z2 is powered by a Snapdragon 801 chipset with 3GB
of RAM and will run Android 5.0 Lollipop in short order.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 rounds off the waterproof shooters for this
chapter. It has IP67 certification and a 16MP camera with 2160p video
capture that has several advantages over the Galaxy Alpha’s camera
(including phase detection AF).
It has a 5.1" 1080p Super AMOLED screen similar to the Lumia 930 and
Moto X (2014), as well as a similar Snapdragon 801 chipset. It has a
swipe-to-scan fingerprint sensor like the Galaxy Alpha and unlike the
Galaxy S6 you get a replaceable battery and a microSD card slot.
Believe it or not, the LG G Flex 2 price has almost halved since we
met it last quarter. It now costs about €390, which makes it our final
suggestion in this chapter. It has a curved - a 5.5" P-OLED that makes
the Flex2 more compact and manageable than its predecessor, higher
resolution too - 1080p up from 720p.
It was the first device with a Snapdragon 810 chipset and launched
with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box. It uses the rear button design
of the LG G3, but the back has a special self-healing coating, which
can heal away mild scratches in a matter of minutes.
The LG G Flex also borrows the 13MP camera with OIS, laser autofocus and 2160p video capture of the LG G3 too.
Basically, the LG G Flex 2 is a flagship of the current generation,
one of the most powerful phones out there, and you can have it at a
midrange price.
