Although the prices of high-end smartphone like the Galaxy Note 9 and iPhone XS Max continue to balloon upwards, it’s actually become easier than ever to find yourself a good-value smartphone for a third or even a fifth of that..
Sure, you have to be willing to make some compromises when it comes to camera and processing power. But, in terms of the overall experience and features involved, buying a mid-tier and budget smartphone (that doesn’t suck) is much easier than it used to be.
If our round-up of the best Apple and Android smartphones you can find for under $600 and $700 wasn’t good enough for you, here’s our latest list of the top 10 best Android and Apple phones you can find for under $400.
Note - we use real-world prices sourced from Shopbot and, as such, some of the entries in our roundup may surprise you.
1. Nokia 6 ($399 RRP, $364 Actual)
Credit: Fergus Halliday | IDG Though it could perhaps be branded as the most typical iteration in HMD Global’s current product lineup, the new Nokia 6 (also known as the Nokia 6.1) also happens to be one of the best. It features a Snapdragon 630 processor, 3GB of RAM, a 3000mAh battery and 32GB of on-board storage, which is expandable via MicroSD slot.
In our review of the Nokia 6, we said that “if you’re not interested in the company’s flagship offerings and happy to settle when it comes to the camera, the Nokia 6 might be one of the slickest, polished and overall best-value Android handsets you can get for $399. It’s the first mid-tier handset we’ve reviewed since Huawei’s Nova 2i that gives the latter a real run for its money and potentially the most compelling component of HMD’s 2018 Nokia lineup to date.”
2. Sony Xperia XZ ($999 RRP, $379 Actual)
Credit: Sony Mobile Though it lacks some of the lustre found in its Premium variant, the Sony Xperia XZ can still be considered to be a fairly modern flagship. It runs on a Snapdragon 820 processor, 3GB of RAM and comes with a hefty 23-megapixel rear camera. The Sony Xperia XZ also boasts a 5.2-inch full HD curved display and an IP68 rating against water and dust damage.
In our full review of the Sony Xperia XZ, we said that “it’s not a built-from-the-ground up innovative device designed to wow people that we’ve come to expect from premium phones. In many ways it’s an upgraded Xperia Z but with effort-levels stemming from the disappointing, recent X series.”
3. Moto Z ($699 RRP, $395 Actual)
Credit: Motorola The Moto Z was Motorola’s first effort at offering a flagship Android smartphone that connected to the company’s Moto Mod ecosystem at accessories. It does come with a few drawbacks, such as the absence of a headphone jack. However, there’s still a lot to like here - and doubly so at the price. It’s also completely compatible with even the most recent additions to the MotoMod ecosystem.
As we said in our review of the device at launch, “Let’s be real here: The Moto X was a great line of smartphones, but never particularly exemplary. The Moto Z, on the other hand, is the Lexus to the Moto X’s Toyota: It’s a sturdy, confidence-inspiring device that promises extra bits of luxury. In the Moto Z’s case, those luxury promises are the Moto Mods.”
4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 ($349 RRP, $269 Actual)
Credit: Xiaomi Though Xiaomi isn’t officially a brand that you can buy in Australia, like OnePlus, there are plenty of places out there for those willing to import. And if you’re looking for a value-driven reason to start, it’s hard to look past the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5. The phablet runs on a Snapdragon 636 paired with 3GBs of RAM and Android 8.0 with MIUI 9.
In our review of the Redmi Note 5, we said that “Between the solid material design and build-quality, performance that swings above its price-bracket and slick software experience, the Redmi Note 5 is a smartphone that’s very easy to recommend. What’s more, even with the usual caveats surrounding importing smartphones, it’s priced low-enough that, should you be looking for a low-risk introduction to the Xiaomi brand, this is probably the place to start.”
5. Motorola Moto X4 ($699 RRP, $349 Actual)
Credit: Motorola For the last few years, buying a top-of-the-line Motorola handset has meant buying into their MotoMod ecosystem. The Moto X4 sidesteps this. It’s premium hardware paired with one of the best cameras that Motorola have ever stuck in a smartphone.
As we said in our review of the device, “there’s nothing truly wrong with it, but there’s also little eye-catching about the Moto X4 aside from its ultra-reflective aesthetics. It’s a phone that’s sort-of inevitably defined by the absence of MotoMods rather than the advances it makes when it comes to the camera side of things.”
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