You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a new cell phone. There are smartphones for less than 200 euros that offer good performance and are worthwhile as a cheap alternative or entry-level cell phone. In our GIGA comparison, we show you 4 models that are worth their price.
Update notice: We last checked the prices and availability of the products mentioned here on 9/12/2022 at 8:20 am.
You don’t always have to dig deep into your pocket when looking for a new cell phone. Well-known brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi and Motorola already offer smartphones up to 200 euros with impressive features – be it a strong battery, NFC or 5G mobile technology. In many cases, however, you have to accept compromises with the display, the camera or performance. You can find out which models are still worth a look in our GIGA selection.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11: a lot of performance for little money
GIGA tip With the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 (view at Amazon), you get a 90 Hz display that, thanks to AMOLED technology, ensures a high-contrast image. Similar to the other smartphones up to 200 euros in our selection, the Xiaomi runs with Android 11 right from the start, but don’t worry: the update to Android 12 is definitely still to come. The processor and RAM cope with everyday tasks without any problems, and the Redmi Note 11 should also be able to handle a game that is not too demanding.
However, the Xiaomi needs good lighting conditions for good pictures. However, the cell phone convinces with a wide feature set, including a fingerprint sensor and face recognition for unlocking, as well as slots for two SIM cards and a micro SD card. Furthermore, the Redmi Note 11 supports the NFC function and enables contactless payment.
Motorola Moto G22: Strong competitor for Xiaomi
Price tip It’s not just Xiaomi that brings well-equipped smartphones onto the market at a reasonable price – Motorola has also developed a powerful smartphone for up to 200 euros (see MediaMarkt). The Moto G22 is not only equipped with a battery capacity of 5,000 mAh, but also joins the other cell phones in our selection with a refresh rate of 90 Hz.
However, the display only has a resolution of HD+ (1600×720 pixels), so you have to make compromises in that regard. Although Motorola does not use 5G mobile communications in the Moto G22, Android 12 is already preinstalled and the smartphone has a powerful camera that can keep up with the Xiaomi above.
Advantages:
Android 12 preinstalled
Strong camera
Enduring battery
Disadvantages:
No 5G cellular
HD+ resolution only
No IP certification
Realme 8 5G: Strong processor, but mediocre camera
With the Realme 8 5G you get a 5G cell phone that convinces with a lot of performance for a smartphone up to 200 euros (see Otto). The refresh rate has been increased to 90 Hz, so that together with Dimensity’s system-on-a-chip (SoC) you can also enjoy one or the other, not quite as demanding game. The strong battery should also withstand this without any problems. Other features include the triple slot for 2 SIM cards and a memory card. And the jack connection has not been omitted either.
Although Realme focuses more on performance with the 5G model, compromises have been made with the camera: the manufacturer does not use an ultra-wide lens on the smartphone, among other things. In general, the camera performance is slightly lower than that of the Realme 8 above. In addition, savings were made on the display: Instead of a color-intensive AMOLED display, the Realme 8 5G has an LC display, which experience has shown is less rich in contrast.
Advantages:
5G cellular
Long battery life
Triple slot for SIM and memory cards
Disadvantages:
Poor camera performance
No IP certification
Samsung Galaxy A22 5G: future-proof thanks to 5G
Even Samsung fans don’t have to do without the South Korean market leader in our overview of smartphones up to 200 euros. While the Galaxy A22 5G (check it out on Ebay) doesn’t boast an AMOLED display like the Xiaomi above, it does have a crisp FHD+ display, which the Galaxy A32 5G lacked in our review. In addition, thanks to the 90 Hz refresh rate, animations look nice and fluid, especially in direct comparison with conventional cell phone screens (usually only 60 Hz).
Despite the eight-core processor, we don’t get a gaming smartphone with the Samsung, but it is completely sufficient for everyday applications. Rather, we have to make some compromises in terms of camera performance – at Stiftung Warentest it is only enough for a satisfactory grade. However, the Samsung Galaxy A22 5G shines with a long battery life and features such as NFC. The eponymous support for 5G connections rounds off the phone and makes it future-proof.
Advantages:
5G cellular
Sharp display despite LC display
Disadvantages:
Low camera quality
No IP certification
