It is quite easy to make a list of cheap smartphones that do not cost more than 200 Euros, however it is difficult to recognize the best models for quality and price ratio, because if it is true that in this price range the quality should start to to be satisfactory, it is also true that the rip-off is around the corner and it is easy to buy something already old. It is the usual risk of when trying to save money, especially when it comes to technology: buying something already old at the time of purchase, perhaps left on sale as a redundancy.
We discover in this purchase guide the best smartphones for € 200 that we can buy without problems because they are modern, sufficiently equipped and fast to perform any daily activity.
Technical features
Discovering the best smartphones for € 200 becomes more difficult because to avoid rip-offs we have to compare, rather than the technical characteristics, the reviews of those who have used them and the general impressions, to find out the weak points (which are always there for these figures) and if it is an excellent smartphone. Surely, with these figures, we will never talk about top of the range (even if we are looking for refurbished or refurbished), but those who care about saving money can find excellent compromises.The features that must not be missing in a smartphone from € 200 are:
- Fingerprint reader : everyone now uses it and integrates it on smartphones, so we do not choose models without this fast access security system. On many smartphones we also find facial recognition, so you can unlock the phone with your eyes.
- At least 3 GB of RAM : with this amount of RAM Android (the reference operating system in this price range) and the associated apps can run without any problem. Many models already have 4 GB, which makes them very fast and almost free of any slowdown.
- At least 32 GB of internal memory (expandable) : this quantity is now the minimum necessary to contain all the apps and multimedia files that we can generate during use; make sure there is a microSD slot so that we can expand the capacity at any time. Also in this case smartphones with 64 GB increase, which therefore offer a lot of space for apps and data.
- At least 5.5-inch display : we don't go below this display size anymore, but let's focus on models with displays slightly higher than 5.5 inches; if we love large displays we will also find models with 6-inch screens or more in this price range.
- Octa-core processor : octa-core processors have now become the standard, since they offer an excellent compromise between power and energy savings (since there are basically two quad-core processors side by side, one more powerful and the other designed for the energy saving).
- Dual SIM : having the dual slot will allow us to use two different SIMs (one for home and one for office for example) without having to have two separate smartphones.
- 3000 mAh or higher battery : to be able to arrive safely in the evening with good autonomy we recommend focusing only on models that provide at least 3000 mAh of lithium battery: the more capacious, the longer it will last (although much depends on the optimization of the system operating).
- LTE support : now all smartphones support LTE technology, we avoid those that only have 3G as data connectivity.
- Recent operating system support : we try to focus only on models with Android 8.0 or higher, since previous versions are likely to become obsolete in a year.
These are the characteristics that we must absolutely look at before purchasing; the other sponsored features on the information sheets or on the cards (such as megapixels of the cameras, pixel display, number of speakers, NFC etc.) can also be ignored, given that they are not up to the most expensive products or are not present at all ( for example NFC, useful only if we use contactless payment services).
The best Smartphones for 200 Euros
After seeing together the features must have a good smartphone under € 200, now let's see which smartphone models should be aimed for value for money.Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite
Let's start immediately with a Xiaomi model, the Chinese brand increasingly famous also in Italy. This Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite features a 5.84-inch HD screen, octa-core processor, 12MP dual rear camera, 4000 mAh battery, 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable internal memory, Dual SIM slot and operating system Android 8.1 Stock (Android One).
If interested we can view it from here -> Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite (157 €)
Huawei P Smart 2019
If we love the elegance and speed of Huawei smartphones but do not want to spend too much, we recommend focusing on the Huawei P Smart model 2019, which has a 6.21-inch FHD + screen, octa-core processor, 13MP dual rear camera, 3400 mAh battery, 3 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable internal memory, Wi-Fi Dual Band, Dual SIM slot and Android 9.0 operating system.
If interested we can view it from here -> Huawei P Smart 2019 (167 €).
Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
Another Xiaomi smartphone that we can find in this price range is the Mi 8 Lite, which has a 6.26-inch FHD + screen, octa-core processor, dual 12 MP rear camera, 3350 mAh battery, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable internal memory, Dual SIM slot, Dual Band Wi-Fi and MIUI 10 operating system, based on Android 8.1.
If interested we can view it from here -> Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite (171 €).
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
If we are looking for the smartphone with the best camera in the segment, the best phone is the Redmi Note 7, which has a 6.3-inch FHD + screen, octa-core processor, 48 MP dual rear camera, 4000 mAh battery, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable internal memory, Wi-Fi Dual Band, Dual SIM slot and MIUI 10 operating system, based on Android 9.0.
If interested we can view it from here -> Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 (177 €).
Motorola Moto G7 Power
If we were satisfied with the Motorola and want to bet on a smartphone from this manufacturer, we can bet on the Moto G7 Power. This smartphone features a 6.2-inch FHD + screen, octa-core processor, dual 12MP rear camera, 5000 mAh battery, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable internal memory, Dual SIM slot and Android 9.0 operating system.
If interested we can view it from here -> Motorola Moto G7 Power (184 €).
Samsung Galaxy A40
We want a Samsung smartphone at all costs "> Samsung Galaxy A40 (199 €).
Conclusions
If we intend to spend less than € 200, the phones available are much higher than those that were sold up to 3 or 4 years ago: they have everything you need, are fast, have good cameras and have excellent operating systems (optimized to work with good quantities of RAM and internal memory).
Do we want to find out if the cheap smartphone chosen is good or not? We can also rely on the advice in our guide on How good is a cheap Android smartphone?
