Here is our selection of the best smartphones tested by 01net journalists in recent weeks.
At 01net, we test a lot of smartphones each year and highlight the best in our thematic buying guides. Over the past few weeks, we’ve tested three phones that we think are worth your attention. Here they are.
The Honor 600: more than a clone of the iPhone 17 Pro?
The Honor 600 unabashedly bears its family resemblance to the iPhone 17 Pro. Now available for less than 500 euros, this mid-range benefits in particular from a fairly flashy orange color and a rectangular photo block which is also reminiscent of certain products from the apple brand. During our test, we particularly appreciated its excellent 120 Hz OLED screen, whose maximum brightness allows it to be used without problem in direct sunlight. The Honor 600 also benefits from IP68 and IP69K waterproof certifications, and a 6400 mAh battery, supported by very efficient fast charging.
Honor, on the other hand, had to make some concessions on finishes, such as a plastic back for example, to maintain an attractive price. Despite all its qualities, the screen suffers from rather disappointing colorimetry when it leaves the factory. On the photo side, the 200 Mpx main sensor does a good job and the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 ensures good general fluidity, but the digital zoom quickly shows its limits. Finally, the audio part is limited to the bare minimum and will mainly be used for troubleshooting. Despite these few concessions, the Honor 600 is a very relevant smartphone if you are looking for a good phone under 500 euros.
Honor 600 at the best price Base price: €549
The Poco X8 Pro: power for cheap
The Poco X8 Pro is a great pick if you’re looking for raw power, but don’t have a big budget. Xiaomi doesn’t beat around the bush and focuses on the fundamentals: a fast chip, solid battery life and a well-calibrated screen. Lovers of games and demanding applications will find what they’re looking for for less than 400 euros, with the added bonus of a metal chassis and waterproofing thanks to its IP68 certification. We also appreciate the small LEDs on the back, a welcome touch of originality.
As for the faults, the photo part remains very basic, the fault of sensors which pale in comparison to the telephoto lens of certain competitors like the Realme 16 Pro+. On the software side, the HyperOS interface suffers from the presence of too many unnecessary pre-installed applications, and the manufacturer is also a little stingy about the duration of updates. The absence of eSIM may also upset travelers. That being said, the Poco X8 Pro remains a benchmark in its category, with a performance-price ratio that the competition struggles to achieve for less than 400 euros.
Poco X8 Pro 8/256 GB at the best price Base price: €399
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The Oppo Find X9 Ultra: the new king of photography
The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is undoubtedly the most versatile camera phone of the moment. Where the direct competition seems to slow down on the overbidding of focal lengths, Oppo takes the opposite approach and offers impressive image quality over an ultra-wide focal range ranging from x0.6 to x20 zoom. For photography enthusiasts, it is a tool with which no other smartphone can currently compete, at least on the French market. The smartphone also features a superb screen, top-notch performance and benefits from competitive battery life, complemented by particularly fast charging. Certainly, the price is a bit steep, but it is ultimately not that far from that of the Samsung S26 Ultra with equivalent capacity (512 GB of basic storage).
But all this on-board technology has another price: its weight on the scale. At a time when the trend is towards slimness, its 238 grams and its general bulk are felt in the hand or pocket. On the optical side, if the zooms impress, the ultra wide-angle sensor slightly disappoints by remaining a tone below the rest of the photo block. But our main regret comes from software monitoring: 5 years of major updates. In 2026, faced with the 7 years guaranteed by the leaders of the sector, theOppo Find X9 Ultra loses points on durability. Flaws that some will consider prohibitive, while others will ignore it given its many qualities.
Oppo Find X9 Ultra at the best price Base price: €1,699
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