Which brands make the best smartphones under £400?
The brands with the best smartphones under £400 are as follows:
- OnePlus (Average overall score: 8)
- Google (Average overall score: 7.9)
- Nothing (Average overall score: 7.7)
Note: Only brands with at least 6 smartphone models in our database, released since 2022, were considered.
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How do smartphones under £400 compare to flagship models?
Smartphones under £400 perform well for most daily tasks, but they don't match flagship models in speed, camera quality, or premium build. You can browse, stream, and use social media apps without issues, but you’ll notice slower performance with demanding games or multitasking.
The best available smartphones under £400 (with the highest overall score) are as follows:
- Poco F7 Ultra (12GB + 256GB) (Overall score: 8.79 points)
- motorola Edge 40 pro (12GB + 256GB) (Overall score: 8.64 points)
- OnePlus Nord 5 (12GB + 512GB) (Overall score: 8.56 points)
What processor and RAM do smartphones under £400 have?
Smartphones under £400 usually use mid-range processors and come with 6 GB or 8 GB RAM. You can expect chips like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, Snapdragon 695, MediaTek Dimensity 6100+, Dimensity 7050, or the Exynos 1380. These processors handle everyday tasks well and support decent gaming performance and multitasking speed.
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How long does the battery last in smartphones under £400 ?
Smartphones under £400 usually deliver battery life that lasts around one to two days, depending on how you use the device. You can expect screen-on time between 5 to 8 hours for most models in this price range. Some phones push past 9 hours, but only with moderate use or battery optimization settings turned on.
Many sub-£400 phones use 5000 mAh batteries, which give you solid endurance. Phones with AMOLED screens and efficient chipsets (like Snapdragon 6 or Dimensity 700 series) last longer on a single charge. If you play games or stream video often, the battery drains faster, and you may need to charge again by evening. On the other hand, if you use mostly for calls, messaging, and browsing, it can last a full day or more without charging.
The available smartphones under £400 with the highest battery capacity are as follows:
- Ulefone Armor 33 Pro (32GB + 512GB) (Battery capacity: 25500 mAh mAh)
- DOOGEE S100 Pro (20GB + 256GB) (Battery capacity: 22000 mAh mAh)
- DOOGEE VMAX 5G (20GB + 256GB) (Battery capacity: 22000 mAh mAh)
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What display quality do smartphones under £400 have?
Smartphones under £400 usually have solid display quality, but not flagship-level performance. You often get AMOLED or IPS LCD panels with Full HD+ resolution, which gives sharp images and good color accuracy. AMOLED displays (found in brands like Samsung or Xiaomi) deliver deeper blacks and higher contrast, while IPS LCDs tend to show more natural colors but with lower contrast.
Brightness levels in this price range usually fall between 450 and 900 nits. This works fine indoors and in most outdoor conditions, but you might struggle with visibility under direct sunlight.
Refresh rates typically range from 60 Hz to 120 Hz. Color calibration and HDR support also vary, but some models support HDR10 or HDR10+, so you can stream content with better dynamic range. Still, budget displays sometimes lack consistent brightness or uniform color temperature across the panel.
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How good are the cameras in smartphones under £400 ?
Cameras in smartphones under £400 can deliver very good results, especially in well-lit conditions, and some models even perform well at night thanks to advanced processing and larger sensors. You can expect main cameras with resolutions between 48 MP and 108 MP, often paired with wide-angle lenses, and in some cases a macro or depth sensor. Many of these phones can record 4K video at 30 fps, and some support 60 fps for smoother motion.
You will find that photo quality depends not only on resolution but also on sensor size, aperture, and software optimisation. Brands like Xiaomi, Samsung, and OnePlus in this price range often include strong HDR performance and detailed colour reproduction, so your photos can look vibrant without losing detail. Night mode is common, and in better models, it reduces noise and improves brightness without overexposing lights.
Front cameras in this category usually range from 13 MP to 32 MP and can capture clear selfies with good skin tones, even in low light if there is a dedicated night mode. While flagship-level zoom and ultra-high-end image stabilisation are rare here, you still get enough versatility for everyday photography, social media, and casual video recording.
The best smartphones under £400 with the highest camera performance (DxOMark Mobile score) are as follows:
- Google Pixel 7 Pro (12GB + 128GB) (DxOMark Mobile score: 147)
- Huawei P50 Pro (8GB + 256GB) (DxOMark Mobile score: 143)
- Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra (8GB + 128GB) (DxOMark Mobile score: 131)
