The best smartphone: comparison test by Stiftung Warentest

Stiftung Warentest
Warentest compares the latest smartphones: Apple is fighting back, Nothing is off to a good start

It’s been a constant back and forth for years: Apple dominates at the end of the year, while Samsung takes the lead in the summer. This year as well – the iPhone has the last word again.

The results are in – Stiftung Warentest honors the best smartphones of the year – including (almost) all new products that were added in autumn. But not only expensive luxury models can be found among the recommendations, but also cheap entry-level smartphones from around 200 euros. However, as is so often the case in winter comparisons, the crown gets the newest iPhone 14 Pro (here in star-Test).

Since the test procedure was changed, the devices have to prove themselves in six categories, the most important being “basic functions” such as computing power and voice quality, “camera” including video performance, “display”, “handling” and “battery”. The “stability” also makes up a small part of the grade – here the testers subject the devices to drop, scratch and folding tests as well as rain and immersion tests.

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iPhone 14 Pro almost “very good”

With the grade “good” (1.6), the iPhone 14 Pro for 1300 euros is just a hair’s breadth from “very good” and the previous test winner, Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra for 1160 euros (“good”, 1.7). According to the goods test, photos are taken with the iPhone 14 Pro better in normal lighting, snaps were more responsive, and videos were of higher quality. The iPhone 14 Pro also proved to be a bit more stable in the drop test and the biometric unlocking was more reliable.

That too iPhone 14 for 1000 euros minimal sat down in front of that Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, both devices are rated “good” (1.7) in the table. However, the differences in the hardware – of course different from the system – are minimal. Both devices convinced the testers across the board. As far as the larger iPhone 14 Plus and 14 Pro Max models are concerned, Stiftung Warentest has to put off the upcoming test – because the devices were not available in time for the current comparison.

Nothing debuts with a good rating

Among the many new devices, including clamshell smartphones like this Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 (1660 euros, here in startest) or that Galaxy Z Flip 4 (875 euros), a surprisingly inexpensive device with a rating of “good” (2.0) placed itself directly behind the top dogs from previous comparisons. That Nothing Phone 1 (500 euros, here in the stern test) received the best grade among all newcomers, and in many disciplines it was almost able to keep up with devices that were sometimes twice as expensive.

This puts it in second place among mid-range smartphones, just behind Google Pixel 6 for 575 euros, which has been on the market for a comparatively long time and is still a reasonable choice with a rating of “good” (1.9) – at least until Stiftung Warentest released the successor in October Pixel 7 Pro (here in startest) into the field.

Cheap devices have bad cameras

The cheapest smartphone in the test, the Motorola Moto G22 for 155 euros, it only got the grade “satisfactory” (2.9). The testers only certify the device’s average performance in all areas. Buyers have to make compromises, especially in terms of performance and photo quality. That cut a little better – and only slightly more expensive Oneplus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G away. The device for 237 euros got the grade “good” (2.4) and convinced with a long battery life and satisfactory performance. As far as photos are concerned, the following still applies: the more expensive, the better.

You can find the complete test and all devices for a fee test.de.

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