Summary
OnePlus Nord 2Xiaomi Poco F3OnePlus Nord CEVivo V21 5GFAQReviewsThe segment between 300 and 400 euros is the heart of the mid-range in the smartphone market. Here are our recommendations for finding the best value for money.
TOP 3 of the best smartphones under 400 euros
A good compromise8 /10OnePlus Nord CE
The test €329Our choice8 /10OnePlus Nord 2
The test 399 €The player at a low price9 /10Xiaomi Poco F3
The test 369 €For a smartphone, the price range between 300 and 400 euros is that of the mid-range par excellence. You can usually find phones there with excellent value for money, with few compromises in terms of both features and performance. Buyers are not mistaken, since the average price of a smartphone in 2020 was 420 €.
This also ensures them a good lifespan since they will not be obsolete after one or two years.
Choosing the right one, however, is not easy. The references are legion and you have to sort the wheat from the chaff. The good news is that we have taken care of it for you and that we have chosen the best products of the moment.
And for an overview of the market, we recommend that you read our comparison of the best smartphones. Can your budget go a little higher? Take a look at our guide to the best smartphones under 500 euros. A refurbished Samsung smartphone may also be interesting. And if you are a fan of iOS, a refurbished iPhone is a more than valid option.OnePlus Nord 2Our pick
8 /10Product sheetSee the Fnac test €399Available at €399 on FnacWith the first Nord of the name, OnePlus had scored a big blow and had established itself as one of the references in the mid-range. However, things were a little less convincing with the rest of the Nord range, so we were waiting for this new model.
The OnePlus Nord 2, an efficient suite. // Source: Frandroid – Anthony Wonner
The design retains the same general lines with some notable changes. We thus notice the transition to a single selfie sensor and a now larger photo block. The device generally offers a good finish and is pleasant in the hand. The AMOLED screen is of good quality, even if its characteristics are not as impressive as last year. We are thus satisfied with a refresh rate of 90 Hz and a fairly average brightness.
On the processor side, OnePlus is abandoning Qualcomm in favor of MediaTek. The SoC Dimensity 1200 — IA surprises with its excellent performance. The Nord 2 thus stands out as one of the most powerful smartphones at this price level. It is still a notch below the Xiaomi Poco F3 on this point. The autonomy of a day and a half is weak, but in return, we are however entitled to the Warp Charge 65 W which fills up in about 30 minutes!
The photo is probably the most disappointing point of the phone. If the results are quite correct, the very saturated rendering will clearly not please everyone, just like the excess compression that is often noticed. We hoped that OnePlus would do better on this point.
If it does not come to revolutionize the market, the OnePlus Nord 2 replaces its predecessor with honors. It is balanced and offers more than adequate value for money. Too bad the photo prevents it from really breaking the house. We tell you more in our OnePlus Nord 2 test.
Where to buy the OnePlus Nord 2 at the best price?See more offersXiaomi Poco F3The gamer at a low price
9 /10Product sheetSee the Amazon test €369Available at €369 on AmazonWith its Poco series, Xiaomi has been able to offer powerful smartphones for a few years at attractive prices. The Poco F3 is no exception to the rule with impressive performance for its price. The phone adopts a rather imposing and sober design.
Fortnite on the Xiaomi Poco F3 // Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid
Given its price, we already appreciate the presence of a quality OLED panel, but the fact that it is 120 Hz compatible is a very significant bonus. However, this mode is neither adaptive nor activated by default. It will therefore be necessary to think about putting it into operation.
But the real surprise is to be found on the processor side: the Snapdragon 870 used is a real little racing beast that allows it to compete without worries with much more expensive phones. In practice, we therefore manage to play Fortnite in epic mode at 30 fps. The autonomy is solid enough to have fun without stressing too much and the fast charging relatively efficient. Xiaomi has therefore achieved a good balance on this point.
However, everything could not be perfect and the Poco F3 sins on photo quality. The rendering is average, with colors a little washed out and the ultra wide-angle lacks detail. In short, if the photo is important to you, it will be better to find your happiness on a Google Pixel 4a for example.
Despite this weakness, it is clear that the Poco F3 is a success. If you like to play or if power is a priority for you, we clearly do not do better at this price level. If the basic version is now at 300 euros, the model with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage has seen its price drop to 359 euros, so we recommend it. We tell you all the good things we think of him in our Xiaomi Poco F3 test.
Where to buy the Xiaomi Poco F3 at the best price?See more offersOnePlus Nord CEA good compromise
8 /10Product sheetSee the Amazon test €329Available at €329 on AmazonAfter the frankly bad Nord N10 and N100, OnePlus continues in this range with the Nord “CE” for “Community Edition”. Fortunately, the Chinese manufacturer is no longer trying to make ultra entry-level here, but rather comes to hunt on Xiaomi's land.
Source: Frandroid – Anthony Wonner
The Nord CE is pleasantly thin and light, with a pleasant grip. The AMOLED screen offers a refresh rate of 90 Hz. The panel itself offers faithful colors and correct brightness, but below what Xiaomi offers at this price level. We also regret that the glass is very prone to scratches.
The downgrade compared to the original Nord continues at the processor level since there is a Snapdragon 750 G under the hood. However, the performance of the chip remains very correct for most uses. You can even play in good conditions by cutting into the level of detail. The autonomy leaves us mixed: it lasts two days without worries, but the fast charge is quite average with an hour needed to refuel.
The photo is the main weakness of the phone. The shots often lack detail and the rendering is unrealistic, with very saturated colors that will clearly not please everyone.
Less powerful than a Poco F3 and less gifted in photography than the Pixel 4a, the Nord CE however represents a good compromise. It arises between these two headliners both in terms of format and performance.
It can therefore be a good choice for those who are not quite seduced by the extreme approaches of its direct competitors. And to top it all off, it's regularly on sale! We recommend that you go for a version with 8 GB of RAM. For more information, we refer you to our OnePlus Nord CE test.
Where to buy the OnePlus Nord CE at the best price?See more offersVivo V21 Selfies but not only!
8 /10Product sheetSee the test Cdiscount €261Available at €261 on CdiscountLittle known in our regions (the brand launched at the end of 2020 in France), Vivo is however one of the new Chinese telephony giants, with nearly 10% market share worldwide. The Vivo V21 5G comes for its part to attack the mid-range segment for the less saturated. The model intends to stand out with particular attention paid to selfies.
Source: Frandroid – Anthony Wonner
In form, the V21 5G is very classic, but benefits from good manufacturing quality. It is also IP 52 certified. We would have preferred a real seal, but it's always good to take. The 6.44-inch screen is "only" 90 Hz where more and more competitors are going up to 120 Hz. The colorimetry is excellent, however, as is the brightness, which rises to 700 cd/m2.
The SoC used is an MTK Dimensity 800 U. Quite unusual, the chip is slightly less powerful than a Snapdragon 765G and offers a generally fluid experience. The only exception: the photo, which lacks a bit of responsiveness.
The photo rendering itself is generally good, with however a somewhat dull wide-angle. The dual front flash sold as revolutionary for selfies turns out to be more of a gadget in practice. The autonomy of the phone is in the low average, count a short day and a half of use on a charge.
If it clearly does not come to upset the hierarchy of the moment, the Vivo V21 5G poses as a balanced and solid option in its category. We present it to you in depth in the test of the Vivo V21 5 G.
Where to buy the Vivo V21 at the best price?See more offersThings to know before buying a mid-range smartphone
Before buying a smartphone for less than 400 euros, many questions may cross your mind. We've listed a few of them here with answers that we hope will shed some light for you.💡 What can you do with a smartphone under 400 euros?
If you plan to put this price in a smartphone, it means that you expect a minimum of standing. At this price, you will find excellent smartphones that will satisfy most needs without having to break the bank to buy a premium smartphone. They generally make the right compromises to offer a pleasant overall experience, where some smartphones do not hesitate to emphasize power or photography, for example – in addition to their other qualities.
🤔 What concessions should I make at this price?
In this price range, the concessions are more of a gimmick. You can very well find a powerful smartphone, equipped with a beautiful OLED screen and also with good autonomy for less than 400 euros. On the other hand, it will be necessary to ignore the little extras reserved for high-end smartphones, such as wireless charging on the one hand, and IP certification to guarantee protection against water and dust on the other.
👍 What are the trusted marks?
The champions under 400 euros vary more often than on the more premium slices, so you can't always trust a brand. We therefore advise you to refer to regularly updated buying guides, such as ours. That being said, Xiaomi, Oppo and Samsung regularly appear in our selections.
📶 Which plan should I choose to save money after buying my smartphone?
Buying a smartphone in this price bracket represents an investment. To save money, we recommend that you choose your package, in particular through the non-binding offers of the various French operators. Find the best prices of the moment thanks to our comparator of mobile plans.
Depending on your budget, do not hesitate to also consult our guide to smartphones under 300 euros, our guide to smartphones under 500 euros or our guide to high-end smartphones.
What are the best smartphones under 500 euros in 2022?Although the prices of premium smartphones have been climbing over the years, it is still quite possible to find excellent smartphones under 500 euros in 2022. Here are our recommendations.Read more
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