Four current Android phones at or under €500, compared on what decides whether one still feels right in three years: updates, battery, durability and camera.
If you want one phone under €500 and plan to keep it for years, buy the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G. It has Samsung’s six-year update promise, an IP68 body and a main camera that reviewers rate well. If you care more about zoom photos and design, choose the Nothing Phone (4a). If you care about battery life and toughness, choose the Motorola edge 70 fusion. If €300 is your real limit, the Galaxy A17 5G is the one to get.
How we picked. Each phone went on sale in Europe in the last 24 months, has no successor on sale yet, and has an official euro price of €500 or less on its maker’s own store. Each one also has a maker spec page and at least one full review from an established outlet. Several phones missed the cap: the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro (€529), Galaxy A57 5G (€579), Motorola edge 70 plus (€598.99) and Google Pixel 10a (from €649). We kept one phone per role and left out close alternatives such as the Galaxy A27 5G (€379) and moto g87 (€399).
This comparison is based on specifications and cited reviews; Tech & Roll did not test these phones.
Comparison table
| Spec | Samsung Galaxy A37 5G | Nothing Phone (4a) | Motorola edge 70 fusion | Samsung Galaxy A17 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official price (checked Nov 9, 2026) | €469 (6GB/128GB) | €379 (8GB/128GB) | €439.99 (8GB/256GB, 7,000mAh) | €299 (4GB/128GB) |
| Display | 6.7″ Super AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.78″ AMOLED, 120Hz | 6.78″ AMOLED 1.5K, 144Hz | 6.7″ Super AMOLED, 90Hz |
| Chip | Exynos 1480 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 | Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 | Exynos 1330 |
| Rear cameras | 50MP OIS + 8MP ultrawide + 5MP macro | 50MP OIS + 50MP 3.5x periscope (OIS) + 8MP ultrawide | 50MP OIS + 13MP ultrawide/macro | 50MP OIS + 5MP ultrawide + 2MP macro |
| Max rear video | 4K30 | 4K30 | 4K30 | 1080p30 |
| Battery / wired charging | 5,000mAh / 45W | 5,080mAh / 50W | 7,000mAh / 68W | 5,000mAh / 25W |
| Updates promised | 6 OS upgrades, 6 years security | 3 OS upgrades, 6 years security | 3 OS upgrades, security until 2031 | 6 OS upgrades, 6 years security from Q3 2025 |
| Water/dust | IP68 | IP64 | IP68 + IP69, MIL-STD-810H | IP54 |
| Weight | 196g | 205g | 193g | 192g |
| eSIM | Yes | No (per GSMArena) | Yes | No |
| microSD | No | No | No (per Tech Advisor) | Yes (shares the second SIM slot) |
Official euro prices; prices vary by country and retailer.
Updates: Samsung leads by years
The update promise is the main reason to pick a Samsung. The Galaxy A37 gets six Android upgrades and six years of security updates. Samsung lists both of its A-series phones for quarterly patches, not monthly ones. The A17 has the same six-and-six promise, but the clock started when the phone launched globally in the third quarter of 2025, so it has already used more than a year of it.
Nothing and Motorola each promise three Android upgrades. Nothing adds six years of security patches. Motorola’s own page states the three OS upgrades, and Notebookcheck reports security patches until 2031. Notebookcheck still calls Motorola’s update period short of what EU rules require. A phone that gets fixes into the 2030s from any of these makers is fine for most buyers. If you want the newest Android features in 2030, though, only the Samsungs will still be getting them.
Battery and charging: the Motorola lasts longest
The edge 70 fusion we list has a 7,000mAh silicon-carbon battery, about 40% more than the others, and it doesn’t weigh more for it: 193g, lighter than the A37 or Nothing. Notebookcheck ran the edge 70 fusion and the Galaxy A37 through the same Wi-Fi browsing test. The Motorola lasted 24 hours 27 minutes and the Samsung 18 hours 33 minutes. At 68W, it charged from empty in about 45 minutes in Notebookcheck’s test.
The others are respectable. GSMArena measured almost 22 hours of video streaming on the Nothing Phone (4a), and a full charge took just over an hour. Engadget’s video test kept the A37 going for 29 hours 10 minutes. The A17 is the weak point. Engadget got 23 hours 8 minutes of video from it, but Tom’s Guide measured only 7 hours 52 minutes in its battery test, and its 25W charging is the slowest here.
Motorola also sells the edge 70 fusion with a 5,200mAh battery for €419.99. The battery options on sale differ by country, so check which one you are buying.
Durability: the ratings differ widely
The Galaxy A37 and the Motorola are rated IP68, which covers submersion as well as dust. The Motorola adds IP69 for high-pressure water jets and the MIL-STD-810H durability standard. Both have plastic frames (per Engadget and GSMArena for the A37, per Motorola for the edge 70 fusion). The A37 has Gorilla Glass Victus+ on the front and back; the Motorola has Gorilla Glass 7i on the front.
The Nothing Phone (4a) is rated IP64, and Nothing says it was tested under 25cm of water for up to 20 minutes. It has toughened glass on both sides, though GSMArena lists a plastic frame. GSMArena calls IP64 uncompetitive at this price, and we agree. The A17 is rated IP54, so it is safe from splashes and nothing more. If your phone goes to the beach, the pool or a building site, buy the Motorola or the A37.
Camera: only the Nothing has a zoom lens
All four phones put a 50MP stabilized sensor on the main camera, so the gap shows in the extra lenses. The Nothing Phone (4a) is the only phone here with a telephoto: a 50MP periscope with 3.5x optical zoom and its own stabilization. GSMArena found it strong at 3.5x and still good when stretched to 7x. Its reviewers were less impressed by the 8MP ultrawide and by the phone’s night shots.
The Galaxy A37’s main camera did well in Engadget’s comparison with the Pixel 10a at night, though Samsung oversharpens. Tech Advisor and Notebookcheck saw little change from the A36. On the Motorola, Notebookcheck found the new Sony Lytia 710 main sensor sharp, but selfies need plenty of light. The A17 records video at only 1080p30, and Engadget found its low-light photos clearly behind the Pixel 9a’s.
On speed, the three pricier phones land close together: Geekbench 6 multi-core scores of 3,374 for the Nothing and 3,345 for the A37 (both GSMArena), and 3,309 for the Motorola (Notebookcheck). The A17 scored 2,048 for GSMArena, and both GSMArena and Tom’s Guide saw it lag in everyday use.
Pros and cons
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G (€469)
Pros
- Six Android upgrades and six years of security updates
- IP68, with Gorilla Glass Victus+ front and back
- eSIM and a main camera reviewers rate well at night
Cons
- 6GB of RAM and 128GB with no microSD
- Plastic frame; little camera change from the A36
- Patches arrive quarterly, not monthly
Nothing Phone (4a) (€379)
Pros
- 3.5x periscope zoom, unusual at this price
- Cheapest of the three mid-range picks, with 8GB of RAM
- Clean software; GSMArena found almost no throttling under load
Cons
- IP64 only
- No eSIM, per GSMArena
- Three Android upgrades, against Samsung’s six
Motorola edge 70 fusion (€439.99)
Pros
- 7,000mAh battery; 24 hours 27 minutes in Notebookcheck’s Wi-Fi test
- IP68, IP69 and MIL-STD-810H in a 193g body
- 256GB of storage and 68W charging
Cons
- Three Android upgrades
- PWM flicker, quiet speakers and occasional Wi-Fi drops, per Notebookcheck
- Pre-installed extras and app suggestions, per Tech Advisor
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G (€299)
Pros
- Six-year update promise for under €300
- AMOLED screen and a 50MP stabilized main camera
- microSD slot
Cons
- 4GB of RAM; laggy in GSMArena’s and Tom’s Guide’s use
- Dim screen (657 nits measured by Tom’s Guide) and short battery life in Tom’s Guide’s test
- IP54 and 1080p video only
Verdict
Best overall
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G
It has the longest update promise of the three mid-range phones, plus IP68 and eSIM. It’s the safest phone here to keep until 2030.
€469 official price, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Best camera and best value
Nothing Phone (4a)
It’s €90 cheaper than the A37, with a real zoom lens and more RAM. The trade-offs are weaker water resistance and fewer Android upgrades.
€379 official price, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Best battery and toughest build
Motorola edge 70 fusion
It has a two-day battery, the strongest protection ratings here and double the storage. Updates are shorter than Samsung’s.
€439.99 official price, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Best on a budget
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G
It’s slow and its screen is dim, but it’s the only phone under €300 here with six years of updates. It was out of stock on Samsung’s own store when we checked, so you may need a retailer.
€299 official price, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How long will these phones get updates?
Per the makers, the Galaxy A37 gets six Android upgrades and six years of security updates, and the Galaxy A17 gets the same counted from the third quarter of 2025. The Nothing Phone (4a) gets three Android upgrades and six years of security updates. The Motorola edge 70 fusion gets three Android upgrades, with security patches until 2031 per Notebookcheck.
Do any of these phones charge wirelessly?
No. Engadget reports no wireless charging on either Samsung, GSMArena none on the Nothing and Tech Advisor none on the Motorola.
Is the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro worth the extra money?
It costs €529, over our cap. In its review of the standard Phone (4a), GSMArena found the two phones close in overall capability and called the cheaper model the more sensible buy.
Should I buy a discounted older flagship instead?
Usually not. A two-year-old flagship has already used part of its update window, and it can still cost more than these phones. A new A37 or Phone (4a) gets security updates into the next decade.
Sources
- Samsung Galaxy A37 5G product page, Samsung (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A17 5G product page, Samsung (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Security Updates Scope, Samsung Mobile Security (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Phone (4a) product page, Nothing (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Phone (4a) store page, Nothing (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Nothing Phone (4a) review, GSMArena (Mar 30, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Motorola edge 70 fusion product page, Motorola (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Motorola Edge 70 Fusion review, Notebookcheck (Apr 6, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Motorola Edge 70 Fusion review, Tech Advisor (Chris Hall, Jul 2, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A37 5G review, Engadget (Sam Rutherford, May 5, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A37 5G review, Notebookcheck (Jun 26, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A37 review, Tech Advisor (John McCann, May 11, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A37 5G specs, GSMArena (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A17 5G review, Engadget (Sam Rutherford, Feb 2, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A17 review, Tom’s Guide (John Velasco, Apr 21, 2026) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Samsung Galaxy A17 5G review, GSMArena (Aug 18, 2025) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Motorola launches new mid-range Android phone globally, Notebookcheck (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Phone (4a) Pro store page, Nothing (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Galaxy A57 5G product page, Samsung (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Pixel 10a, Google Store (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
- Smartphones, Motorola (European store) (accessed November 9, 2026)
Written November 9, 2026. Official euro prices; prices vary by country and retailer.
