Best phones under €400 in 2026

The Pixel 9a is the phone we would recommend to most people with up to €400 to spend. It launched in 2025 for considerably more, but since the Pixel 10a arrived it has dropped well into this range.

Google's camera processing is the main reason to buy it. The 48MP main camera with optical stabilisation is backed by Google's camera processing, and there is a 13MP ultrawide. There is no telephoto lens, so zoomed shots are crops.

The 6.3-inch pOLED screen is smaller than most rivals here, which makes the phone easier to use with one hand. It refreshes at 120Hz and has a quoted peak of 2,700 nits. The 5,100 mAh battery is a large capacity for a compact phone.

The Pixel 9a is IP68 rated and is the only phone on this page with wireless charging. Google promises up to seven Android upgrades, so it should be supported into the 2030s. The weaknesses are slow 23W charging and a Tensor G4 chip that is fine for daily use but not the best for heavy gaming.

The Poco X8 Pro is the performance pick under €400. Its MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra is a big step above the chips in most phones at this price, so demanding games, video editing and heavy multitasking all run smoothly. It is the smaller sibling of the Poco X8 Pro Max from our €200-€500 guide, with a more manageable 6.59-inch screen.

That screen is a sharp 1.5K AMOLED panel at 120Hz. Xiaomi quotes 3,500 nits for HDR highlights.

The battery is a large 6,500 mAh cell with 100W wired charging; check whether a charger is included in your region. A flat metal frame and IP68 rating make it a sturdy build.

The camera is where Poco saves money: the 50MP main camera has optical stabilisation and is fine, but the 8MP ultrawide is basic and there is no telephoto. HyperOS also comes with pre-installed apps. Xiaomi promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches.

The Galaxy A37 5G is the 2026 update to the A36 in our €200-€500 guide, and it is now regularly sold well under its launch price, which brings it comfortably into this range. It is the safe, familiar choice: Samsung's One UI software, six years of Android and security updates, and a slim 7.4 mm body with Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an IP68 rating.

The 6.7-inch Super AMOLED screen is large and colourful at 120Hz and great for video. Samsung quotes a 1,900-nit peak.

The Exynos 1480 chip handles everyday apps smoothly, but it is a mid-range chip, so gamers should look at the Poco X8 Pro. The 5,000 mAh battery is a typical size, and charging is 45W with no adapter in the box.

The 50MP main camera has optical stabilisation and is joined by an 8MP ultrawide and a 5MP macro. If you can find the 8GB/256GB model at a good price, it is the better buy.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is Xiaomi's top Redmi Note, and it usually sells well below its launch price, bringing it into this range. Its headline is a 200MP main camera with a large 1/1.4-inch sensor and optical stabilisation. It outputs 12.5MP photos by default and offers 2x and 4x zoom by cropping the sensor, which works better than digital zoom on most budget phones.

It is also built to last, with IP68 and IP69K ratings, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The 6.83-inch AMOLED screen has a quoted 3,200-nit peak, and the 6,500 mAh battery with 100W charging is a strong combination.

The compromises are under the skin. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip is fine for everyday use but a tier below the Poco X8 Pro. HyperOS includes extra pre-installed apps.

If you do not need the 200MP camera, the near-identical Poco M8 Pro in our under-€300 guide costs less. Xiaomi promises four Android upgrades and six years of security updates.

The Oppo Reno15 F stands out for its front camera. Most phones at this price have a 12MP to 20MP selfie camera; the Reno15 F has a 50MP one with a 100-degree wide field of view, so you can fit a whole group into a selfie or video call without a stick.

It is also one of the smaller phones here, with a 6.57-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, and it is very tough, rated IP68 and IP69. Unusually for 2026, it keeps a microSD slot. The European model has a 6,500 mAh battery and supports 80W wired charging.

Performance is the trade-off. The Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 is an older mid-range chip; it suits social apps and video but is a tier below the Poco X8 Pro and Galaxy A37 for games. The screen's 1,400-nit peak is also lower than most rivals.

On the back, the 50MP main camera has optical stabilisation; the 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro are basic. Oppo does not state an update promise on its spec page. Oppo sells it in Ireland, the UK and across Europe.

The moto g86 Power is the endurance pick of this page. Its 6,720 mAh battery was the largest Motorola had fitted when it launched. For people who forget to charge or spend long days away from a socket, it is a reassuring choice.

Around that battery is the same sharp 6.67-inch pOLED screen as the cheaper moto g86, with 120Hz, HDR10+ and a quoted 4,500-nit peak, and the same Dimensity 7300 chip, a capable upper mid-range part. It is rated IP68 and IP69 and passes MIL-STD-810H tests, though its vegan-leather-style back is less glassy than the Galaxy A37's.

Storage is generous, with up to 512GB plus a microSD slot. The 50MP Sony main camera has optical stabilisation; the 8MP ultrawide doubles as a macro and is basic.

The weak points are slow 30W charging and short software support: two Android upgrades and four years of security updates, to about mid-2029. Retailers often discount it, so it may also suit buyers browsing our under-€300 guide.