2024-07-29 15:08:26
Even cheap cell phones are “good”
Stiftung Warentest shows the best smartphones in the test
Updated on 29.07.2024 – 15:01Reading time: 6 min.
The smartphone throne is highly coveted: every year, Stiftung Warentest tests which manufacturer makes the best cell phone. With a completely new testing procedure, two manufacturers are at the top.
The most important things at a glance
A good camera, a lot of battery, a sharp display and a stylish casing: the demands on modern smartphones are high. Stiftung Warentest regularly tests the latest devices and constantly updates its comparison. 32 more cell phones have been added for the “test” issue 07/2024.
Last year, Apple made a first: The iPhone 15 Pro Max was the first cell phone to ever achieve the final grade of “very good”. Stiftung Warentest is adjusting its test criteria in the test: There is now a splash water test and the performance assessment is more stringent. The result: The two rivals Apple and Samsung are “roughly on par”. We present the smartphones with the best test results.
The smartphone tests focus on basic functions such as voice quality, network sensitivity, processing power, camera quality, user-friendliness, battery life and display quality. The stability of the device is also tested in detail. One new feature is the splash water test that all cell phones have to undergo. The camera’s zoom function is also examined more closely.
The test winners: These are the best cell phones 2024
Apple and Samsung regularly compete for the best places. With the new test criteria, Samsung is in the lead. The Galaxy S24 Ultra impresses with its camera, screen, battery life and handling. It achieved the “test” quality rating of “good (1.6)”.
Apple has not yet introduced a new model this year. iPhones traditionally come onto the market in September. iPhone 15 Pro Max was therefore tested using the old criteria and is the first smartphone to achieve a “very good” overall result (1.5). However, the two results can no longer be compared directly. However, the testers concluded that both devices are on par.
In addition to the two top models, there are many affordable mobile phones. The price winner with the rating “good (2.2)” is the Samsung Galaxy A35 5GIt gets a “good” rating in all areas and only costs around 300 euros.
If you like taking photos and don’t want to spend more than 1,000 euros, you should Google Pixel 8 It takes “very good” photos in daylight and especially in low light and achieves the “test” quality rating of “good (2.5)”.
All results of the Stiftung Warentest smartphone test can be found in the “test” issue 07/2024.
Test winner mobile phone 2024: The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
The test result: With the “test” quality rating of “good (1.6)”, the Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best smartphone in the test. The razor-sharp display and the powerful camera are particularly impressive.
Product details: The flagship is particularly characterized by its high-resolution OLED display with a 6.8-inch diagonal. With a powerful battery and an improved camera, the S24 offers more features than its predecessor.
However, there is one negative point: the display is more susceptible to scratches than the previous model and the mobile reception could be better. On the other hand, the camera of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is very good. It has a 200-megapixel sensor and is equipped with four lenses, including two telephoto lenses and an ultra-wide angle.
The processor comes from the manufacturer Qualcomm: The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 impresses with strong results in performance tests. In the other models of the S24 series, however, Samsung’s own Exynos processor is used.
The battery has a capacity of 5,000 milliampere hours (mAh), which can last at least a day without recharging even with intensive use. A special feature is the S-Pen, which can be used to control the phone. Samsung also promises seven years of security updates for the operating system, which contributes to the long service life of the device.
The best phone from Apple: iPhone 15 Pro Max
The test result: With a rating of “very good (1.5)”, the iPhone came first in the last test. The phone can proudly point to being the first smartphone to receive the rating “very good”. The flagship model also impresses with an excellent display and a powerful camera.
Product details: Apple’s top model impresses with extensive features, high speed thanks to the powerful processor, an outstanding camera and a sharp OLED display with a 6.7-inch diagonal and a resolution of 2,556 x 1,179 pixels. One innovation is the introduction of the “USB-C socket”, which eliminates the need for an additional cable and offers a universal plug.
The iPhone’s camera has three lenses, with the main camera offering a resolution of up to 48 megapixels. Battery life reaches an impressive 30 hours and 30 minutes at maximum brightness. The pre-installed operating system is iOS 16, and as usual with Apple devices, you’ll get regular updates in the coming years.
The test result: The Samsung Galaxy A35 is the best value in the test. The phone achieved a grade of “good” in all of the criteria examined and thus also the final grade of “good (2.2)”.
Product details: The Samsung phone is recommended as a price-performance tip because it offers good features for less than 300 euros. The smartphone has a display with a 6.6 inch diagonal and a resolution of 1,080 x 2,340 pixels.
Inside, the 8-core Exynos 1380 processor developed by Samsung provides enough power for apps and smooth operation. This is now standard for mid-range cell phones, as the chips are fast and have enough power even in cheaper devices.
There are three cameras on the back: the main lens has a resolution of 50 megapixels, a macro lens for close-ups and an ultra-wide-angle lens are also installed. The battery lasts around 40 hours and, at 5,000 mAh, is the same size as the top model S24 Ultra. The internal memory of the entry-level version is 128 GB and can be expanded using a memory card.
The test result: The Google Pixel 8 is positioned in the middle range with the “test” quality rating of “good (2.5)” and stands out mainly with its good camera. If you like to take a lot of photos but don’t want to spend more than 1,000 euros on a flagship model, this is a good compromise.
Product details: The Google Pixel 8 is a recommendation for photography enthusiasts. The camera delivers excellent images even in low light. The camera module consists of a 50-megapixel main lens and an ultra-wide-angle lens with 12 megapixels.
The Pixel 8 has a display diagonal of 6.17 inches. The refresh rate is 120 Hertz, which leads to smooth movements on the screen. The Tensor G3 processor provides computing power. It was developed in collaboration with Samsung. The Pixel 8 comes with 8 gigabytes of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of device storage. Android 14 is used as the operating system.
In terms of battery life, it can’t quite keep up with the competition from Samsung. The battery is a bit smaller at 4,575 mAh. This means that the model runs out of power about 10 hours earlier than Samsung’s price tip.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra is the best smartphone in the test selection and is the iPhone 15 Pro Max about the same. So it’s a draw until Apple presents its new model for this year. It’s encouraging that more and more affordable devices are getting good marks. You don’t always have to spend a lot of money to get a powerful smartphone.
The price tip is the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G with consistently good ratings and long battery life and if you like taking photos, you should Google Pixel 8 look at it closer.
Stiftung Warentest has given the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s camera a “very good” rating. This puts it in first place in the rating. In the camera ranking, iPhones, Samsung models and the Google Pixel lead the list with ratings ranging from “very good” to “good”.
The features in the low price segment have improved significantly in recent years. Above all, the storage space and cameras have increased. In addition to the very expensive premium devices from Samsung and Apple, there are also cheaper alternatives. You can get good features for 200 euros or more. Nowadays, you can count on the following points when buying a cheap smartphone:
- Colorful and large displays
- 128 gigabytes of memory
- Fingerprint sensor
- face recognition
- Quad camera on the back
- Plastic housing
- 5,000 mAh battery and fast charging
You will notice the differences to the more expensive models especially in the casing. Very cheap devices often use plastic casings. However, developments have improved in this area too.
Embed
The newer smartphone models are almost impossible to open or often very difficult to open. Anyone who still wants to repair their phone themselves should consider the following points:
- Instructions: To begin with, find detailed instructions with all the important steps and tools.
- Spare Parts: In most cases, the original spare parts are not available in stores. You can only use products from third-party suppliers. When it comes to these products, make sure they are of good quality.
- Work surface: Your work surface should be one thing above all: clean! The electronic components should be protected from dirt and dust at all times. The same applies to water protection.