The best productive smartphones under 400 pounds sterling

The smartphone is one of the best options in terms of price and quality ratio: for a low price you get an original design, powerful hardware, and good cameras. And if usually “average” models look the same and boring, then Realme decided to play big and reconsider traditional approaches to design and materials. To do this, she enlisted the help of Matteo Menotto, a former print designer for the Italian brand GUCCI. The experiment was successful. The back panel of the smartphone is made of vegan leather, with a zipper-like seam running down the center. The display is rounded at the edges, which creates the feeling that text and images extend beyond the screen. And the large round block of the main camera is inspired by vintage style and is somewhat reminiscent of an old vinyl record. And all this in quite bright colors - beige and green. This gadget looks really original and bold and will definitely appeal to users who love things that stand out from the crowd. But there is also an option for those who prefer the classics - a black version with a traditional matte lid.

On the front side there is a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2412x1080 pixels, HDR10+ support and an image refresh rate of 120 Hz. The screen not only conveys rich, rich colors, but also takes care of the user’s vision. DC Dimming technology minimizes flicker, and artificial intelligence automatically adjusts brightness based on lighting conditions and your setting habits. A total of 20 thousand brightness levels are available for any use scenario. Also worth noting is the Always on Display function and the fingerprint scanner under the screen, which works clearly and quickly. A protective film is immediately applied to the display at the factory, and this is a big plus, given the difficulty of applying it to a panel with curved edges. In addition, buyers receive a simple silicone case, although if we talk about the leather version, it’s simply a sin to hide such beauty in a case. But this is a matter of taste.

Despite the rather large size of the camera unit, it only contains two modules. This is a 100-megapixel sensor with f/1.75 aperture and SuperOIS optical image stabilization and an additional 2 MP macro lens for shooting subjects at close range. The camera of stars from the sky is not enough, but fully corresponds to the average level. In good lighting, the frames are clear and detailed, but the less light there is, the more noise and distortion there is. There is a special night mode, but with it the smartphone “thinks” for quite a long time before producing the finished photo. The camera can also shoot video in 4K, but the stabilization is not visible at all. But the 16 MP front camera copes well with its tasks, taking nice selfies for social networks and personal photo collections. In general, the camera's capabilities fully correspond to the price tag of the device.

The model is based on the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, and it is also fully mid-range. Its capabilities are sufficient for everyday tasks and games, but not at maximum settings. The case does not heat up. The system optimizes memory allocation for smoother and more stable operation. Realme claims that up to 26 apps can run in the background with reduced lag. There is no slot for a memory card, so it is better to immediately take a sufficient amount of storage - there are versions to choose from 128 GB to 512 GB.

In addition, the smartphone is equipped with stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support and has all the necessary communications (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC chip). The autonomy is provided by a 5000 mAh battery, one charge of which is enough for a day or a day and a half, depending on how active the user is. 67W fast charging charges the battery to 50% in just 18 minutes, and a full charge takes about 40 – 50 minutes.

By the way, Realme also offers the 11 Pro Plus model, which is identical in design and many specifications, but has higher-end cameras, 100W charging and costs a little more.

The smartphone represents the Redmi Note 13 line of devices, in which, it seems, Xiaomi itself may get confused due to the large number of models with long and similar names. The Note 13 Pro 5G in this line occupies a kind of golden mean, offering the buyer the best value for money. Externally, this is not a very large gadget weighing just under 190 g with a glass back panel and shock- and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protective glass on top of the display. There is IP54 certification, which indicates protection against small splashes of water. The main camera block is quite massive, and the lenses protrude above the surface, which has already become commonplace with modern smartphones. Overall, the device looks good, although the back panel collects fingerprints and dust very quickly. Fortunately, the manufacturer included a case in the package, so you will most likely need it almost immediately.

The pride of the smartphone is the camera, since Xiaomi, as usual, does not skimp on megapixels. The main sensor (optical image stabilization, f/1.65 aperture) has a resolution of 200 MP, although as a result of pixel combining you, of course, get pictures with a much lower resolution - 12.5 MP. It is complemented by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 2-megapixel macro module. The camera is quite decent for the mid-price segment: high detail, natural colors, many effects for active users of social networks. However, in poor lighting, the quality of shooting suffers, and the difference with the flagship models is already visible to the naked eye.

Almost the entire front side of the smartphone is occupied by a flat 6.67-inch AMOLED screen, which is in no way inferior to more expensive competitors: there is an increased refresh rate of 120 Hz, support for Dolby Vision, the Always On Display function, and TÜV Rheinland certification confirming low blue light levels and screen flickering, which means reducing eye strain. The screen has a built-in fingerprint scanner, which not only identifies the user, but can also measure the pulse - to do this, you just need to touch the screen with your finger. People who monitor their health and do not have a fitness tracker or smart watch nearby will find this feature useful.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor is installed inside, which shows good results in the AnTuTu benchmark tests - almost 600 thousand points. Simply put, the performance is sufficient for both everyday use and gaming. There are several memory configurations to choose from, but due to the lack of a memory card slot, we recommend taking plenty of space, especially if you are used to storing a large number of photos, videos and other files in the archive. A capacious 5100 mAh battery provides 16 hours of continuous video viewing, 11 hours of gaming or 136 hours of listening to music. On average, one charge lasts for 1.5 – 2 days. 67W fast charging fully charges the battery in 44 minutes. In this case, the adapter is included in the package, and the smartphone itself does not heat up much during charging.

Users will also appreciate the presence of small things that many gadgets lack. First of all, this is a 3.5 mm audio jack for fans of wired headphones. For wireless ones, in turn, a connection via Bluetooth 5.2 is provided. There is also a traditional Xiaomi IR port. The rest includes speakers with Dolby Atmos and NFC (depending on the market). As the name suggests, the smartphone supports 5G, although for some countries this is not relevant due to the lack of fifth generation networks. It would seem, why not save money and buy Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G? But keep in mind that these models differ not only in the presence of 5G, but also in processors, cameras and other characteristics.

The annual assortment of new Google products cannot be called large, so at some point the company decided to release, in addition to flagships, more affordable models with the prefix “a” in the name: they are similar to top-end devices, have similar characteristics, but differ in some more modest functions in order to reduce cost. Pixel 7a is a simplified version of the 2022 flagships Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro. Externally, it is practically indistinguishable from the usual “seven”: a flat screen, a neat cutout in the display for the front camera and a separate compact insert for the main camera unit, which visually divides the back panel into two parts. Of course, everyone has their own taste, but the smartphone looks fresh and differs from most competitors of the same type, identical in appearance.

The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, the gadget's frames are metal, and the lid is made of plastic. But this does not spoil the impression in any way, since the plastic is made of high quality and imitates glass well - visually they are practically indistinguishable. The only thing that spoils the overall picture is the thick frames around the screen. It looks like Google was trying to draw a line between the Pixel 7a and the flagship models. Large frames also affected the overall dimensions: with a 6.1-inch display, the smartphone should be more or less compact, but, for comparison, the iPhone 15 with the same screen diagonal is noticeably smaller. At the same time, the “pixel” body has IP67 water protection, so it can withstand even short-term immersions in water to a shallow depth (up to 1 meter for a maximum of 30 minutes).

Google devices are most often chosen due to their stable software and long-term support. The smartphone will receive major Android updates until 2026, and security patches until 2028, which is not bad. If you want more, Google has significantly extended support with the release of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro - they are guaranteed new versions of Android and security updates until 2030. At the same time, the Pixel 7a boasts “pure” Android, that is, without a bunch of pre-installed unnecessary programs, numerous advertisements and system add-ons that other manufacturers love so much. In addition, Google smartphones are among the first to receive the latest versions of the OS.

Another difference from competitors is the proprietary Tensor G2 processor. Thanks to it, the device works quickly, the interface is smooth, and most games can be played at medium and high graphics settings. The only frustrating thing is that there is only one version with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of ROM. If there is enough RAM, then the storage volume may not be enough for active users, and, alas, there is no slot for a memory card.

A 4385 mAh battery is responsible for autonomy, one charge of which, on average, lasts for a day. There is wireless charging, but it is quite slow - 7.5 W. And regular wired charging is not much faster - 18 W, so it will take about 2 hours to fully restore energy.

Also, buyers often choose Google devices for good cameras. The fact is that the company is not chasing a large number of modules and megapixels, but simply does its job well. The model received a 13-megapixel front camera and a dual main camera, which includes a 64 MP sensor with optical image stabilization and a 13 MP ultra-wide lens with a viewing angle of 120 degrees. The result is decent photos and videos. In tests of the authoritative resource DxOMark, the main camera received 133 points. For comparison, the flagships Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and iPhone 14 Plus have the same ratings.

Otherwise, the model has a good set of characteristics: OLED display with a frequency of 90 Hz, support for 5G and eSIM, an NFC chip for contactless payments, an under-screen fingerprint scanner and stereo sound.

OPPO is positioning the smartphone as an expert in portrait photography. And for the mid-price segment, its cameras are really good. For selfies, there is a 32 MP front camera, and the main camera consists of three sensors: a 64 MP main (f/1.7), a 32 MP telephoto (f/2.0) and an 8 MP ultra-wide lens with a viewing angle of 112 degrees. The camera can shoot video in 4K resolution at 30 fps and supports 2x optical zoom and 20x digital zoom. The Portrait Expert Engine, which optimizes images of the face, skin and background, bokeh to blur the background and other effects, will help improve portrait shots. In general, the frames are decent, noise-free, with good detail and rich colors. For photos and videos in a personal archive or for social networks - just the thing.

Another feature of the smartphone is its design. The back panel, although made of plastic, does not look cheap. The entire body has a streamlined shape: the front and back parts are curved on the sides towards each other, resting against a thin frame. Displays with curved edges have their fans and detractors, so be sure to consider this nuance before purchasing: many find this design stylish and elegant, but some find it impractical. In any case, the smartphone itself visually leaves a pleasant impression and is quite easy to use. The thickness of the case is slightly less than 8 mm, and the weight is only 185 g, that is, the gadget is not too bulky. A nice bonus is the inclusion of a transparent silicone case, which does not block the beautiful colors and does not spoil the appearance of the device.

Otherwise, the characteristics are fully consistent with the middle class. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support provides crisp, rich colors, smooth animations and allows you to play video content in excellent quality. Its brightness is far from record-breaking - a maximum of 800 nits, but, in general, this is enough for both outdoors and indoors. There is an under-screen fingerprint scanner, 5G support, stereo speakers, NFC and an infrared port for remote control of household appliances. A capacious 5000 mAh battery guarantees a whole day of autonomy, or even more, depending on the activity of use. And fast charging with a power of 67 W will replenish the charge by 31% in just 10 minutes. It will take about 45 minutes to fully charge. OPPO has worked on the durability of the device and assures that for 4 years the smartphone will maintain performance and stability, and the battery capacity will remain at 80% after 1600 cycles (this is approximately the same 4 years of operation). It is not yet possible to verify this, since the model was released in 2023, so we can only take the manufacturer’s word for it.

The MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor is installed inside, although at this price I would like something more powerful. There will be no problems with more or less simple games, interface and programs, and the smartphone does not suffer from overheating, but you will not be able to play demanding games comfortably. Testing in the AnTuTu benchmark shows a result of 566 thousand points, although many competitors with the same price tag have higher scores. For example, Realme 11 Pro is equipped with the same processor, but has a more attractive price. The model is available in one version with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal memory. You can increase this volume using a microSD memory card, which is installed instead of the second SIM card.

The conclusion is that the OPPO Reno10 5G price seems a little high based on its performance, but these nuances are overshadowed by the cameras and design. Therefore, the model is suitable for users who are looking for a beautiful camera phone primarily for taking photos and videos.

The smartphone is close in price and characteristics to flagship-level models and takes a lot from its “big brothers” OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 11R. In terms of design, this is a minimalist, strict and not too massive device that is comfortable to hold in your hand. The back panel is made of glass, the frames around the screen are minimal, so the smartphone feels like an expensive high-end device. The manufacturer also did not skimp on the packaging: the gadget comes with a protective film glued to the display and a charging adapter.

But the most important thing is the “filling”. The OnePlus Nord 3 is based on the top-end Mediatek Dimensity 9000 processor, which is a real flagship solution. Therefore, it is not surprising that the performance of the smartphone is at a high level: it works quickly, smoothly, handles multitasking easily and allows you to comfortably play even demanding games like Genshin Impact. And the cooling system ensures safe and uninterrupted operation and prevents overheating. In addition, there is fast LPDDR5X RAM, a proprietary OxygenOS shell based on the Android operating system and a capacious 5000 mAh battery with support for 80 W fast charging. With normal use, one charge should last for a day, and a full charge will take about half an hour. OnePlus claims that thanks to the battery health controller, the number of charge cycles has been increased to 1600. Simply put, after 4 years of daily charging, the battery will retain more than 80% of its capacity.

The display of the model is quite large - 6.74 inches, but nowadays compact devices have already become endangered dinosaurs. This is a Fluid AMOLED panel with high resolution (2772x1240 pixels), HDR10+ support and an adaptive refresh rate from 40 to 120 Hz for smooth scrolling. The screen is good not only on paper, but also in reality: it provides pleasant color reproduction, has many settings, and is bright enough for use outdoors in sunny weather. The in-screen scanner quickly recognizes fingerprints, and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support provide rich, surround sound while gaming, listening to music and watching movies. Also worth noting is 5G support, a slot for two SIM cards (but no space for a memory card), an infrared port and NFC for contactless payments and connecting to other devices.

The smartphone is not positioned as a camera phone, but it takes good pictures. For this, there is a 16-megapixel front camera, which takes good selfies, and a main camera with three modules. This is a 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor with optical stabilization (exactly the same as the OnePlus 11), an 8 MP ultra-wide lens with a viewing angle of 112 degrees and an additional 2 MP macro lens. The pictures are detailed, without visible artifacts or distortions. Moreover, the camera performs well not only in good lighting, but also at night. All thanks to the TurboRAW algorithm and artificial intelligence, which remove noise, reduce blur and preserve colorful colors. The phone can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second, but the stabilization is weak.