Testing Smartphones: The Winners Of Stiftung Warentest

2023 Author: Sheila Hailey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 04:29

Samsung Galaxy S10 + (6.4 inch) 128 GB prism black

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Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (64 GB) - Space Gray

Now from € 1,099.00 on Amazon Similar offer at Cyberport Price can now be higher. Price from 2020-26-07 11:43 p.m.

Samsung Galaxy A50 (6.4 inch) 128 GB, blue

Now from € 289.90 at Notebooksbilliger Similar offer at Amazon Price can now be higher. Price from 17.03.2020 08:43 a.m.

Apple iPhone XR (6.1 inch) 64GB - White

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Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 (6.3 inch) dual SIM

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Smartphones in the test: How the cell phones were rated

While only one of the system warehouses is possible for many customers, all smartphones naturally have to meet the same criteria in tests. At GIGA, these include workmanship, display, camera quality and performance - see the individual tests linked below.

As part of the international test program, Stiftung Warentest, together with other institutions, sets slightly different priorities that are weighted differently for the overall grade:

Telephone (15 percent)
Internet and PC (15 percent)
Camera (15 percent)
Location and navigation (10 percent)
Music player (5 percent)
Handling (20 percent)
Stability (5 percent)
Battery (15 percent)

Special product defects can also lead to a devaluation of the overall grade.

GIGA attaches great importance to the practicality of a smartphone. The processes in the test program of the Stiftung Warentest, on the other hand, are not all taken from a buyer's everyday smartphone life, but the laboratory conditions ensure that the models are optimally comparable.

Since the use of smartphones differs from user to user due to the wide range of functions, every buyer should consider: Which criteria are very important to me personally? The best cell phone in the overall rating does not have to be the best choice for everyone - especially since the top devices are very expensive.

The best smartphones according to Stiftung Warentest and GIGA

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus: the test winner

Samsung Galaxy S10 + (6.4 inch) 128 GB prism black

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In the 11/2019 issue, Stiftung Warentest voted the Samsung Galaxy S 10 Plus the best smartphone ever with a grade of 1.6. The inspectors emphasize that it has a great display, a good camera and a very good battery.

GIGA also sees the smartphone as the best overall package; there are no real weaknesses. In addition to the judgment of the Stiftung Warentest, we would like to mention: The smartphone is lightning fast and packs the great technology in a beautiful glass housing. In addition, there are functions such as memory expansion and headphone jack, which are still essential for many users. In the test on GIGA, the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus achieved a top rating of 93 percent.

Advantages:

Excellent in every area

Disadvantage:

No

iPhone 11 Pro Max: Best smartphone camera

Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max (64 GB) - Space Gray

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The Stiftung Warentest lists four Samsung devices among the ten best camera smartphones - the rest are exclusively iPhones. The best camera can be found on the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. With an overall grade of 1.7, it is the top device for everyone who wants a top-of-the-line iPhone. Because like the Galaxy S10 Plus, there are no weaknesses.

If the Max model is too big, you can use the smaller iPhone 11 Pro. At least that's what we at GIGA mean, but not the Stiftung Warentest: The smaller version did not survive the test in the case drum and was therefore downgraded to 3.0 by the examiners. In practice, it probably boils down to the fact that in the event of an unfavorable fall, both models - and also a Galaxy S10 Plus - break, or not. In the test, we liked the iPhone 11 Pro (Max) in addition to the camera, among other things, the great display and the fast chip - the fastest ever on a smartphone. iOS friends enjoy a reliable operating system from a developer who makes his money from hardware and not from customer data. GIGA test rating: 90 percent.

Advantages:

Excellent in every area

Disadvantage:

iOS more restricted than Android

Samsung Galaxy A50: the price-performance winner

Samsung Galaxy A50 (6.4 inch) 128 GB, blue

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The test winners are expensive - many buyers want to spend significantly less on a smartphone. As a price-performance tip, GIGA recommends the Samsung Galaxy A50. The Super AMOLED display is large (6.4-inch diagonal) and sharp enough (2,340 x 1,080 pixels), the processor is fast, the triple camera takes good pictures and the battery lasts a long time, the individual test found.

Advantages:

Large battery
Triple camera

Disadvantage:

Nothing worth mentioning

iPhone XR: The cheaper Apple smartphone

Apple iPhone XR (6.1 inch) 64GB - White

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As a price-performance tip among iPhones, we recommend the iPhone XR. Apple continues to sell the predecessor of the iPhone 11, the street price has dropped slightly. In the table of the best smartphones, Stiftung Warentest also listed it with a grade of 2.0 in November 2019. Although it was launched on the market in 2018, it is a top device that can easily keep up with current top devices in most properties. Only ambitious photographers will be happier with the newer iPhone generation thanks to the ultra-wide angle and night mode. More in the long-term test.

Advantages:

Powerful smartphone

Disadvantage:

Camera without night mode
iOS more restricted than Android

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7: smartphone under 200 euros

Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 (6.3 inch) dual SIM

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If you want to pay even less, the Stiftung Warentest recommends the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 as the best smartphone under 200 euros. It received the grade 2.4 - GIGA has not tested this device. As a special feature, the camera offers a 48-megapixel sensor, the photos are down-calculated to 12 megapixels. This trick for better image quality only works to a limited extent: According to the Stiftung Warentest, users have to cut back on the camera.

Advantages:

Reasonable battery life

Disadvantage:

Moderate camera quality
No headphones included

Smartphone purchase: what should I know?

Android versus iOS - which operating system is better?

Nowadays, smartphone buyers basically only have a choice between Android and iOS (iPhone). In terms of functionality, both systems have largely harmonized in recent years, but Android smartphones are still more flexible and offer a larger selection of end devices. iPhones are particularly suitable for people who already use other Apple products. Another advantage is the regular and long software updates directly from the manufacturer.

How much memory do you need for a cell phone?

Most smartphones are available with different memory sizes. How much you need depends on your personal usage behavior. If you choose an Android smartphone with expandable memory, 32 GB could be enough. In general, this space is - if you take photos and videos with your device - but limited.

View SanDisk memory card on Amazon

Better and already in the middle class standard: 64 GB. If you snap a lot of photos, play graphically complex games or want to take your music collection with you on the go, you should choose a cell phone that brings at least 128 GB - preferably even more. Warning: Apple smartphones cannot be expanded with memory cards. Here you have to be clear in advance about what you want to do with your iPhone and choose the right memory variant.

Buying a smartphone with or without a contract?

If you want a new smartphone, you should take a look at your contract: How long will it last? Are the price and scope still up to date? Cancellation (often necessary at the latest three months before the end of the term) and then ordering the tariff plus smartphone could make sense.

Every now and then there are such good offers that you don't pay much more for a tariff plus smartphone over 24 months than for the hardware at other retailers alone. GIGA regularly points out such deals.

Are there any cheap iPhones?

If the iPhone XR suggested above is still far too expensive, you can of course use an even older generation of Apple smartphones. If you don't have high expectations, you will still be happy with the iPhone 7. It gets even cheaper if you use a refurbished (used) product.

View refurbished iPhone 7 on Amazon

Buying a used smartphone - useful or not?

The best way to get a used smartphone is from a trustworthy dealer. With a private seller, the risk is higher that parts have already been replaced - for inferior ones. An exchange is also excluded, while some dealers often give a guarantee for used products. If the device including the battery is still in good shape, a purchase may well be worthwhile. At Amazon, the used products run in the warehouse deals area.

Used smartphones on Amazon