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Today, an upper-middle-range phone is always a success, since technology has become one of the star gifts in recent years. Although Father's Day has already passed, surely you will find a fantastic moment to give one of these mobiles that do not exceed 400 euros.
Smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016, Weimei We plus, Huawei P8, ZTE Axon Mini and the Sony Xperia M5 are running as ideal candidates not to exceed the 400 euro threshold but that have fantastic performance in relation to value for money.
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
We started this selection with the Samsung Galaxy A5 2016, a phone that made its appearance on the market at the end of 2015. One of its great novelties was the glass back, inherited from the S6, and the fingerprint reader.
If you like large screens, the A5 has 5.2 inches and Full HD resolution that reaches 1920 × 1080 pixels. Keep in mind that it is a Super Amoled screen , which give more vividness of vivid colors and a good viewing angle, this being one of the strongest points of the terminal.
The fingerprint reader of this model is on the Start button, which will not only have a function to increase the security of this device, it will also serve for Samsung's mobile payment platform.
As for the processor, it has an eight-core that reaches 1.6 Ghz. It has 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory that is expandable thanks to its internal slot. The main camera is 13 megapixels with optical stabilization, the front one is five megapixels and it comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop. The battery, meanwhile, is 2,900 mAh and is compatible with fast charging.
PLEASE
-Super Amoled screen.
- Fingerprint reader
AGAINST
- Only 2GB of RAM
- Camera a tad fair
Weimei WePlus
The Weimei WePlus is the second terminal of this Spanish company, a team that is in a middle way between the mid-range and the high-end.
We will find a 5.5-inch screen that supports HD resolution at 1280 x 720 pixels, which despite not having Full HD solves quite well by having Super AMOLED technology, which optimizes the color and brightness levels of the terminal.
Speaking of the processor, we will have one with eight cores accompanied by the 3 GB of RAM that will give the mobile a lot of brilliance. Speaking of the rear camera, we will have a total of 13 megapixels. As for storage, 32 GB that will be expandable thanks to the microSD slot.
One of the strengths of this terminal is its design, which can be classified as premium. And is that the WePlus comes with a one-piece aluminum body, where its thin thickness of just 6.9 millimeters stands out.
Its weight must be taken into account, which at 145 grams make it one of the lightest terminals on the market. The inclusion of a double slot to carry two SIM cards in the same terminal stands out, and the use of a USB type C port, a connector that we will see much more in the coming years.
And finally, autonomy too. Its 3150 mAh battery will give us many hours of duration, something that accompanies the improvements of the WeOS software layer on Android that reduces energy consumption by a third.
PLEASE
- USB Type-C port
- Dual-SIM, microSD compatible
AGAINST
- It does not have Full HD
- Screen resolution somewhat fair
Huawei P8
Huawei's P8 could not be missing from the list. A 5.2-inch phone that comes to offer us a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels at Full HD.
A screen that comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 technology, which will protect our smartphone from shocks. Making this feature one of its attractive points.
Despite the size of its screen, the weight is 144 grams. A phone that is based on a metal body, which accompanies it on the back and on the sides. Of course, the glass finishes give it a very elegant look.
Its main camera is 13 megapixels, with optical stabilization and autofocus, digital zoom, geotagging, a mode for panoramic images and HDR. In addition, it has renewed camera modes that will delight all those who enjoy trying different things.
The front camera will also convince lovers of self-portraits, since with 8 megapixels and its beauty modes make it an optimal terminal for us to upload our best photos to social networks.
With an eight-core processor, a HiSilicon Kirin 935, we can choose a version with 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, and another with 3 GB of RAM with 64 GB of internal memory.
As for the battery, its 2680 mAh means that the autonomy does not reach us a day if we think to give it intense use. On the other hand, with normal use, it would last up to a day and a half.
THE BEST
- Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display
- Elegant design
THE WORST
- Little autonomy
ZTE Axon Mini
Don't let the name of the ZTE Axon Mini fool you, this mini Chinese terminal has very little. With the same design as the Axon Elite, it is not a reduced version of it. With a Snapdragon 616 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage, its characteristics make it a very interesting phone.
Although they call it "mini", we will find a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED screen, with 420 ppi. In other words, the screen is one of the strengths of this phone.
The camera, like its competitors, has 13 megapixels on the rear, for 8 megapixels on the front.
As for the operating system, it comes with Android Lollipop but modified by ZTE. One of the most interesting points of this modification is the Force Touch. Depending on how we press the screen, the phone will do one thing or another. For example, if we press one way we will take a normal photo or a selfie.
With a 2,800 mAh battery, it would be just right if we give it intensive use. Something that happens on many smartphones. But this phone incorporates a power manager to manage those that are in the background.
THE BEST
- The screen
- Force Touch
WORST
- The battery -
Risky design in some areas
Sony Xperia M5
Finally, the Sony Xperia M5 could not be missing from this selection, the brand's commitment to the upper-middle range. A terminal that has a 5-inch Full HD screen.
And it is that the line at the design level is the one that the Japanese company usually uses in the rest of Xperia terminals: rectangular format with rounded corners, a circular button to turn the screen on and off on the right and the aluminum body that gives it a distinguished touch.
One of the strengths of this phone is that it comes with IP68 certification, that is, we can submerge the phone in water without causing any damage. Something to keep in mind.
The Xperia M5 comes with an eight-core processor, the MediaTek Helio X10 at 2 GHz per core. With a 3 GB RAM memory, the internal memory of the phone is 16 GB, and can be expandable up to 200 GB using a micro SD card.
The camera is another of the M5's strongest points. Its rear camera goes up to 21 megapixels with Exmor RS sensor, hybrid autofocus, HDR mode and image stabilizer and video. And if you have a 4K TV, we can record videos in this resolution.
And in the front camera, the Exmor RS sensor will make it easy for us to take selfies with 13 megapixels, in addition to automatic focus, HDR mode and high quality video at 1080p.
The phone comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop, with the option to sync with other devices such as the PlayStation. If we talk about the battery, we will have 2600 mAh, which according to Sony would give us up to 12 hours of conversation, 8 of video playback and 62 playing music.
IN FAVOR
- The camera
- Great performance
AGAINST
- Android version
- Internal memory only 16GB
