"Recommend a good smartphone for me": on offer 3 Motorola and Xiaomi, from €173 to €258, are smart choices

The request is often this: "recommend a smartphone that works well, but I don't want to spend too much." We hear it repeated quite often, and it's understandable: apart from those who aim for the high-end market with iPhones or similar Samsung models and a few others, many people choose more affordable solutions, sometimes much more affordable. However, there is a huge trap: between the price range of €150 and about €200, there are enormous differences that escape the non-enthusiasts.

What we consider a generally "good" phone must have at least 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, 5G, a main camera with OIS stabilization, and a recent, powerful SoC. Spending €50 less often means sacrificing all this, with consequences on the device’s longevity and smoothness.

Saving €50 for a tool that will be used for years makes no sense. The OIS camera is much more useful than it seems, especially for the less experienced: it ensures a much higher probability of taking still and non-blurry photos, as well as stable videos.

Following these parameters, today we selected 3 offers on Amazon that perfectly match our essential specifications, which are two Motorola and one Xiaomi, all presented in 2025 and thus not old stock, which we will now examine together.

Motorola Moto G86 8GB/256GB, €173-185

• MOTO G86 5G 8/256: €173.25
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• Motorola Moto G86 8/256GB, 50MP camera + anti-flicker sensor, 6.67" pOLED display 120Hz, 5200mAh battery, MediaTek Dimensity 7300, Android 15, Golden Cypress, g56, PANTONE Golden Cypress: €185.00
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This model remains one that we recommend most often in these cases. It’s inexpensive but boasts some truly interesting specifications, including a clean Android implementation, which is no small thing. We find 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, expandable via microSD. The SoC is a Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm), while the main camera is a 50MP OIS stabilized, accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide camera. Battery capacity is 5200mAh with 30W charging.

Motorola Edge 60 Fusion 8GB/256GB, €205

• Motorola Edge 60 Fusion 5G 8GB 256GB: 6.67'' pOLED 120Hz HDR10+ 4500 nit display, 50MP OIS (Sony LYTIA), 5200mAh TurboPower 68W, IP68/IP69, Android 15: €207.00
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The Edge series is theoretically superior to the previous one. In practice, however, not much changes. It has a better primary camera sensor, still a 50MP OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide, and faster charging at 68W, still with a 5200mAh battery. Again, there is an SD slot for memory expansion.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 15 Pro, €258

• XIAOMI Redmi Note 15 Pro, Smartphone 8+256GB: Massive 6500 mAh battery, 200 MP camera, IP65 resistance, 6.77" FHD+ AMOLED display, Black, 2-year warranty, charger not included: €299.90 → €258.49
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Those who can stretch their budget a bit but not too much should consider this Xiaomi. It slightly improves the SoC to a Mediatek Dimensity 7400 Ultra (4 nm), still with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage, but be careful as this one has no expansion options. The main camera is a stabilized 200MP OIS (with similar quality to the previous ones, don’t be misled by the megapixels), but it significantly improves battery capacity to 6580mAh, with 45W fast charging.