Although not every person can manage the cost of a flagship phone like the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra or the iPhone 13 Pro, fortunately, a lot more affordable models also give an incredible customer experience.
The ideal mix between price and performance is typically found in mid-range phones, which frequently cost half as much as or even less than top flagships while still having high-end capabilities you won’t find in the least expensive phones on the market.
Because “midrange” covers such a wide range of prices, we further separated it into price groups.
You may argue that the subcategories of €200, €250, and €300 are too close together, but we do find that €50 represents a significant price differential in this market. Then there is the group of products we refer to as “premium all-rounders,” which is below the full-fledged flagships.
Realme, Xiaomi, and Poco telephones are fantastic decisions, yet remember that a considerable lot of these models aren’t accessible in the US and Canada, where OnePlus, Motorola, and Google are better choices. However, each phone on this list is accessible in the US or the UK (or both).
Best mid-range phone to buy in 2022
Google Pixel 6a
The Pixel 6a is a superb mid-range telephone with a lead-level processor, an essential camera that is totally wonderful, 5G connectivity, the latest variant of Android, five years of security support, and a conservative plan.
The hot charging phone’s poor charging speeds, the easily damaged rear plastic, and the 60Hz display’s inferiority to comparably priced phones are the main drawbacks.
Nonetheless, in light of the fact that it is a Pixel, it flaunts a predominant Android experience, a camera with a premium equipment feel, and a programming shine that you will not get on different brands in this cost range.
Apple iPhone SE
One of the most affordable iPhones ever built is the new iPhone SE. Although it costs less than half as much as the iPhone 13, it still sports the same very powerful A15 Bionic chipset, giving it an outdated appearance by today’s standards because of its large bezels and home button.
Its 4.7 LCD display will be an absolute delight to use, banishing over-extended thumbs for good, if you like smaller screens for simple one-handed operation. This is undoubtedly something Apple lovers on a budget should take into account if they don’t mind the fact that it just has a single camera, a lower battery, and no Face ID capabilities.
Poco X4 Pro 5G
Even though the Poco X4 Pro 5G is just barely costly enough to qualify as a mid-range smartphone in our eyes, it nevertheless provides rather great value.
The 6.67-inch, 120Hz AMOLED display is virtually flagship-level, and the rest of the device is designed with sleek, sophisticated flair. Even the camera is fantastic, with a surprisingly reliable 108Mp sensor for the primary shooter. However, the ultrawide and macro cameras aren’t quite as good.
Every last bit of it is plastic, so it doesn’t feel extremely top of the line, and we could do without the MIUI programming that sudden spikes in demand for it (shared by all Xiaomi, Poco, and Redmi telephones).
Realme 9 Pro+
For the majority of individuals reading this list, the Realme 9 Pro+ will likely be the best option overall (unless, of course, you’re looking for an iPhone).
The key selling factors of this device are its 90Hz OLED screen and best-in-class main camera, which can compete with high-end flagships day or night. It can even take HEIF 10-bit images like the iPhone 13 Pro, allowing aficionados to create stunning edits with softer gradients and colors. Its 8MP ultra-wide camera and digital zoom are also respectable features.
Google Pixel 6
The fact that the Pixel 6 doesn’t cost all that much more than the Pixel 6a and can, despite being a flagship phone, be purchased at a price that allows it to appear in our mid-range list is arguably its biggest rival.
With an excellent principal focal point and a similarly powerful ultrawide, this is one of the most mind-blowing cameras that anyone could hope to find at this price tag. Both take advantage of a few nifty AI techniques provided by Google’s own Tensor processor and are capable of a couple of shots that no other phone can.
Conclusion
Some mid-range phones will adopt an all-around good value strategy, with capable specifications in each area; others will concentrate on a key feature, like the camera or display, and promise capabilities that rival those of flagship phones in that one area; still others will still be those flagships, so they will offer fantastic specs at an even better price, though they might be using slightly older hardware.
