Top 5 Best Midrange Phones of 2024

What is your maximum price range for a smartphone? This will be the first choice you have to make, unless you want to sign a lengthy (and frequently costly) contract.

Budget phones make sense when it comes to getting the best value for your money. On the other hand, only a flagship phone will do if you’re looking for the finest of the best.
The iPhone SE (2022) is the sole mid-range iPhone that Apple offers, but it isn’t good enough to be listed here. That means there are still plenty of options, but the list below only includes Android phones. Devices from Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Nothing, Motorola, Oppo, Realme, and Fairphone are listed here.

QUICK LIST

Last update on 2024-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Top 5 Best Midrange Phones of 2024

1.Google Pixel 7a

Last update on 2024-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Although it’s no longer Google’s newest mid-range phone, the Pixel 7a is still the best option for the majority of users. A few improvements are included with the Pixel 8a, most notably seven years of updates, however due to a price increase in the UK, it is no longer the great value that it previously was.

In contrast, with its current price, the Pixel 7a is almost as cheap as a phone can get, and it still has all the features that most people need. This combines sleek Android OS with reliable Tensor G2 performance in a robust, water-resistant construction.

It has the same excellent primary camera as the Pixel 8a, along with wireless charging and a respectable battery life.

Although a 90Hz display isn’t the greatest available, the appealing display still can’t be considered a weakness. Overall, the Pixel 7a offers staggering value for money, meaning it’s still the go-to mid-range phone for most people.

However, there are variations. The phone is somewhat more compact overall because to the smaller screen than even the Pixel 7 standard. While it’s not as little as devices like the Asus Zenfone 9 or iPhone 13 Mini, it’s still smaller than the majority of contemporary smartphones and roughly the same size as the 6a from the previous year.

One of the few visible cues about the 7a’s price point is that it is marginally thicker than the 7; however, this also means that the camera bar doesn’t stick out from the body as much.

The phone weighs a full 15g more than the 6a, even though their sizes are nearly identical. Although it weighs 193g less than the Pixel 7, it’s not longer an especially lightweight handset.

At least some durability comes with its weight. Google claims that the revised design is more durable than before, with Gorilla Glass covering the glass display, plastic covering the back, and a metal frame. With an IP67 rating, the phone offers remarkable water and dust resistance for its cost.

And lastly, it has a variety of vivid colors. I’ve been testing the rather boring Charcoal, but most retailers also have it in Snow (white) or Sea (blue), with Google being the only place to get the Coral (red/orange) color.

2.OnePlus Nord 3

Last update on 2024-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

At last, the OnePlus Nord 3 is available! Nord 2 has been on the market for more than two years, and it appears that the wait was worthwhile. The flagship-caliber Fluid AMOLED, the state-of-the-art Dimensity 9000 5G chip, and an enhanced primary camera featuring a premium Sony IMX890 sensor are all included in the third Nord model.

Alright, so we’re not going to act like the Nord 2T never existed, but it was such a minor upgrade that added nothing more than faster 80W Super VOOC charging. Fortunately, the Nord 3 now has access to this charging solution.

Let us begin at the outset. The iconic dual-glass design with dual-circle camera setup is retained by the OnePlus Nord 3, but with some minor adjustments. The phone has a cleaner shape because the rectangular camera housing isn’t protruding, and it has been officially rated IP54 for dust and splash resistance.

The 6.74-inch Fluid AMOLED display has been enhanced in size, speed, and color. It boasts a dynamic 120Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color depth, up to 1000Hz touch sensitivity, and HDR10+ compatibility, which is compatible with Netflix and Prime right out of the box.

Now for the chipset: it’s the flagship-grade Dimensity 9000 5G, which is a huge improvement over the previous generation’s Dimensity 1200/1300 with a powerful processor and graphics that can rival those of a flagship.

At first glance, the triple camera on the back of the Nord 2 appears to be the same as well: a 50MP OIS main, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. However, the primary camera now has a top-tier Sony IMX890 sensor (found on the OnePlus 11 and Oppo Find X6 Pro), which ought to enhance the quality of the images and videos. Also, 4K at 60 frames per second video capture was made possible by the new hardware platform.

In addition, the OnePlus Nord 3 has a huge 5,000mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC charging, Dolby Atmos-capable stereo speakers, and the most recent OxygenOS 13.1 launcher for Android 13.

3.Nothing Phone (2)

Last update on 2024-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The goal of The Nothing Phone (2) is to combat an unpleasant reality about modern cellphones. Most smartphones on the market today have very standard designs, with the exception of the greatest foldable phones. Slabs of metal and glass are used to construct phones’ bezels. The days of people stopping me in the street and asking what phone I was using are long gone.

However, Nothing, the startup founded by Carl Pei of OnePlus and creator of the recently released Nothing Phone (2), is putting a strong emphasis on design in all of its products. The Nothing Phone (1) was a low-cost smartphone that debuted last year and was distinguished by a novel design language and an eye-catching Glyph Interface lighting system. And that’s what the Nothing Phone (2) aims to do.

Most notably, the new phone rocks the same transparent design that lets you see inside of it while its Glymph Interface has been expanded to provide even more lighting effects with notifications. There’s even a shiny new Sony IMX890 sensor behind the Nothing Phone (2)’s main camera, which should help to erase our memory of last year’s underwhelming camera performance.

The sleek look of the Nothing Phone (2) is unquestionably the best reason to get one. I can’t stress how much I enjoy talking about the new phone’s translucent design everytime I take it out in public, even if I wasn’t able to test out the one from last year.

In terms of technical specifications, however, the Nothing Phone (2) is larger than its predecessor in every manner, including weight (7.09 ounces) and overall size (6.38 x 3 x 0.33 inches). I was surprised to find that using this smartphone one-handedly was much easier than using my iPhone 14 Pro Max, even though they are identical in size. The Nothing Phone (2) is remarkably light, but even the little things, such how the edges of the glass on the back curve around the edges, lend to making for a comfortable feel in the hand.

The Glyph Interface on the rear of the Nothing Phone (2) manages to draw even more attention to its appearance. To provide customers with additional alternatives for differentiating phone notifications, the LED strips have been separated into smaller pieces this time around. The Glyph Interface illuminates for phone calls, notifications, and other functions exactly as it did previously.

This version adds support for third-party integration, which makes other helpful features available. To display how much time is left before an Uber ride arrives to pick you up, for instance, the Nothing Phone (2) has a progress timer with lights. The fact that these alerts are subtle rather than obtrusive makes them helpful.

4.Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro

Last update on 2024-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

The Redmi Note 13 series includes two mid-range phones, but we believe the less expensive model is the better choice for you.

Despite the Note 13 Pro+’s superior quality, it costs £110 more at launch than the Note 13 Pro. We don’t think it’s worth it for a somewhat more potent chipset, IP68 water and dust resistance (instead of IP54), and faster 120W charging (instead of 67W).

Even with its affordable price of £339, the Note 13 Pro offers a high-end experience thanks to its superb 120Hz OLED screen. Performance and charging remain excellent points, as does the upscale appearance and long battery life.

The software is where the major problems lie, as Xiaomi’s MIUI shell still needs a lot of work, and the Company only officially commits to two years of updates.

More of the same from Xiaomi in terms of design, but that’s not a terrible thing. In my opinion, the Note 13 Pro continues the tradition of stylish Redmi phones.

Although it has a striking resemblance to its predecessor, most prospective consumers won’t care. There are other improvements and adjustments, some of which are not evident to the unaided eye, despite its bland style.

The first involves a frontward leap to Gorilla Glass Victus (up from 5). The rear is likewise made of glass, however it’s unclear what kind. Additionally, Xiaomi has strengthened the corners of the frame and added a shock-absorbing layer as well as other toughness measures.
The body weighs 187g, which is a beautifully balanced amount, although I wouldn’t mind if it was a little lighter. The body is thin at 7.98mm (so let’s call that 8mm then). These days, flat sides on the phone’s frame are very fashionable, and a tiny bezel makes the phone comfortable to grip.

This year, the camera module is more precisely placed into a visually attractive square at the back, shouting, “Look at me.” The diameter and distance of the two primary lenses are large.they stick out of the phone, but luckily the supplied case ensures the phone doesn’t wobble on a flat surface.

These bundled cases tend to be transparent but it’s matt black here, which looks nice, but you can’t see the colour of the rear glass.

5.OnePlus 12R

Last update on 2024-07-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon.

Although it doesn’t excel in any one area, the OnePlus 12R is a good mid-range phone overall.

This includes a powerful performance from the older flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 CPU, a huge and stunning 120Hz OLED display, and a long-lasting 5500mAh battery. With its sleek software and 100W rapid charging, it’s practically the whole package.

But the camera is clearly a weak point, with a good primary rear sensor backed up by some mediocre secondary lenses. Additionally, it lacks a few features that you might be expecting at this higher mid-range pricing point, like as wireless charging and an IP68 water resistance rating, which is the flagship level.

However, the OnePlus 12R won’t let you down if you can live without these. But it’s also worth considering the cheaper OnePlus Nord 3 and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.

The OnePlus 12R may have a similar appearance and feel, but it comes with an incredible battery life and an excellent screen at a price below flagship models. Although there are a few regrettable omissions, this is a clever repurposing project at a competitive cost.
Following the release of the OnePlus 9 Pro and OnePlus 9 in 2021, OnePlus has not provided two global flagship phone options. That same year, the OnePlus R-series debuted, offering a more straightforward and reasonably priced flagship experience to a few Asian markets.

The OnePlus 12R, the company’s competitively priced R-series, is the first to be made available internationally. It brings together these two historical events. The OnePlus 12 offers an almost flawless experience.

At first look, it appears that this is, in every way save name, a return to the Pro/non-Pro double act. In actuality, the OnePlus 12R provides a package that is comparable to that of the OnePlus 11, with a few changes that reflect the passing of time and a few reductions that allow for a lower price point.

Similar in appearance and texture to the OnePlus 11, the OnePlus 12R is the OnePlus 11. Because the longer edges on the front and rear of the phone have been chosen to curve, this larger phone also feels surprisingly thin. Although curved screens are undoubtedly more aesthetically pleasing, flat screens are typically more useful.

In actuality, at 8.8 mm, it is somewhat thicker and 207 g heavier than the model from previous year. However, it still seems pleasant and elegant—at least when contrasted with all the bulky, flat-edged phones that are out there trying to imitate Apple’s iPhone design.
The unique camera module design from the OnePlus 11 is also back, however it doesn’t quite blend in with the side frame nearly as well. There’s an obvious seam,though your eye will likely be drawn away from this by the striking ridged circular ring that encompasses the three camera sensors and flash.

Mid-range phones buying advice

What is a mid-range phone?

Although there isn’t a precise definition, we classify mid-range phones according to pricing, as previously mentioned: anything that costs more if you purchase it SIM-free.

Anything beyond that is essentially a flagship phone, and anything under that is a budget phone.

Some mid-range phones will adopt an all-around good-value strategy, offering capable specs in every category; others will concentrate on a single, crucial feature, like the camera or display, and promise capabilities that rival those of flagships; still others, which were once flagships, will offer incredible specs at an incredible price, but they might be running on slightly outdated hardware.

What specs do I need?

Every mid-range phone attempts to strike a balance between flagship-level performance and affordability by offering a compromise. You still shouldn’t cut corners on some specifications, though. For seamless performance, go for a Snapdragon 7 or 8 CPU (or a brand equivalent) with at least 6GB of RAM and at least 128GB of storage.

The next step is to determine your priorities. Which features—a great camera, an OLED display, quick charging, or a long battery life—are you searching for? Select the one that is most important to you as not many mid-range phones come with all of them.

One thing in common is that you’ll probably have to forgo features that are considered nice-to-haves, like waterproof certification or wireless charging, which are typically found on the priciest models.

Is there a mid-range iPhone?

The 2022 iPhone SE is the only mid-range iPhone available, but we don’t think it’s very good value when compared to competitors running Android. If you know you need an iPhone, then go ahead and consider it; otherwise, don’t.

You would be better off looking at an older flagship iPhone instead, especially considering the frequent reductions offered by independent merchants. Even an ancient iPhone should still function effectively for a few years because Apple provides such long software support; however, keep in mind that you won’t be able to use some of the more recent capabilities available in mid-range Android smartphones.