Best mid-range smartphone 2023: top phones that won’t break the bank
On the search for the best mid-range smartphone below $500/£500? You're in the right place
There was a time when any smartphones short of a pricey top-tier flagship would serve up a disappointing experience. Bland designs, poor build quality, and a slow, stuttery experience all featured frequently in mid-range smartphone bingo. But those days are over – here’s our guide to the best mid-range smartphones in the $450/£450 to $650/£650 range.
Today, you can buy cracking handsets that are nigh-on inseparable from smartphones that cost twice as much, covering almost all of your needs without bleeding your wallet dry. From premium builds to nippy performance, all-day battery life, and even decent cameras, there are plenty of handsets out there that more than nail the basics, while capable of serving you well for years to come.
The best mid-range phone to buy today
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The new iPhone SE (aka the iPhone SE 3, released in 2022) is one of the best-value iPhones ever made. While it looks seriously old-fashioned by today’s standards thanks to its home button and thick bezels, it more than makes up for it on the inside — despite costing less than half the price of the iPhone 13, it’s still rocking the same incredibly powerful A15 Bionic processor.
If you prefer dinkier screens for easy one-handed use, then its 4.7in LCD display (sadly not OLED) will be an absolute joy to use, banishing over-stretched thumbs for good. If you don’t mind the fact that it’s only got a single camera, smaller battery, and no Face ID smarts, then this should definitely be a consideration for Apple fans on a budget. Is it the best mid-range smartphone on sale? No siree – but it is the best mid-range Apple one.
Stuff Says…
If you’re iOS rather than Android, there’s no better option. Flagship power in a compact shell
Good Stuff
Familiar design
Incredibly powerful
Bad Stuff
No Face ID
Display not as good as some
Google Pixel 7
That’s right — the Pixel 7, while part of Google’s 2022 flagship line-up, is technically a mid-range handset by our priced-based definition, which, depending on how you look at it, makes it a superb bang-for-buck option. And there’s lots to love here.
From its impeccable camera skills and punchy performance, to a minimalist Pixel design and pure Android experience, this could be the ultimate choice for Google fans. Sure, it has a few specs that are lagging behind some of the competition (including a 90Hz display and slower charging), but on the whole, there’s little else as well-rounded as the Pixel 7 for the money, making it a very tempting option indeed…
Stuff Says…
The smaller Pixel steps up on camera quality and finally feels like a premium phone, while keeping price on its side. It still feels artificially held back compared to the Pro, though
Good Stuff
Same superb photography skills we expect from Pixel phones
Build is slicker than last year’s effort
No price increase
Bad Stuff
90Hz refresh rate limit feels arbitrary
Plays second fiddle to Pixel 7 Pro
RedMagic 8 Pro
Searching for an excellent value gaming phone? Your answer is the RedMagic 8 Pro. For a reasonable mid-range sum, you’re getting Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 2 power and 256GB storage, along with a seriously geeky, fit-for-purpose UI that’s perfect for gamers and tinkerers alike.
We particularly loved its large, uninterrupted near-bezel-less display in our review, along with its transparent back that offers something different from the norm. And while its camera won’t deliver best-in-class performance, it’s hard to argue with its overall features at this price — making it a great choice for overall best mid-range smartphone as well as best mid-ranger gaming phone.
Stuff Says…
Quite simply the best value gaming phone around right now
Google Pixel 7a
The Pixel 7a might have received a price bump over its predecessor, but is still a lesson in budget-minded brilliance. It distills the two-tone styling of its premium Pixel siblings, with a metal frame and composite shell that does a convincing impression of glass. Up front, the 6.1in OLED panel is perfectly crisp and pleasingly vibrant, and now benefits from a faster 90Hz refresh rate. Rivals are faster still, but scrolling is a little slicker than before.
A Tensor G2 chip inside bests almost everything in this price bracket. A Google smartphone in purest form, it flies through Android 13 without a stutter. Same goes for its camera skills: powerful algorithms extract impressive results from the 64MP main sensor, which is even more impressive in low light than last year’s model. Autofocus is rapid, colours well-judged and almost every still is stuffed with detail. Unless you need a telephoto, this is a heck of a lot of Android phone for your cash.
Stuff Says…
Gains features missing from its predecessor, while staying fast, long-lasting and able to take a killer photo. The Pixel 7a is the mid-range Android phone to beat.
Motorola Moto G82
Hitting the price-performance sweet spot, the Moto G82 is a welcome reminder that Motorola knows how to nail a keenly priced all-rounder. A surefire steal of a smartphone, it packs a superb OLED panel with high refresh rates, a giant 5000mAh battery and an optically stabilised 50MP main camera – all specs you’d expect to find in handsets costing a good chunk more.
It’s not the last word in performance for the money, and you can get more power for not much more cash. But Motorola’s marvellously minimalist take on Android runs bloat-free and briskly enough, while 30W charging means a full refuel in an hour. Provided you don’t need the option to record 4K video, you’re getting a lot of smartphone here for your readies.
Stuff Says…
It’s not the pinnacle of performance, but the G82 is more evidence that Motorola is a master of well-specced smartphones that don’t drain your wallet
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G might have a horrifically convoluted name, but it more than makes up for it with a beautiful, premium design, bolstered by quality specs and performance in all the right places. Slathered front and back in gorilla glass, it’s available in grey or a head-turning Jade Fog finish, making it one of the best looking mid-range handsets money can buy.
Ready for super-fast 5G, it’s powered by MediaTek’s powerful Dimensity 1300 processor, which has made a name for itself as one of the best mid-range CPUs currently available. It’s got a triple-camera setup too, though its main snapper will be the one that gets the majority of the legwork done.
Throw in speedy Google, Samsung and Apple-trouncing 80W fast charging, a 90Hz AMOLED display, and a dual-SIM slot for extra flexibility, and you’ve got one of the top mid-range Android picks around.
Stuff Says…
A neat 5G smartphone with decent specs at a tidy price: the Nord 2T is one of the best mid-range Android smartphones you can buy
Nothing Phone 1
Don’t be fooled by the see-through shell: the Nothing Phone 1 is no gimmick. Sure, the transparent design and lighting strips do plenty to catch the eye, but there’s also one of the best mid-range smartphone models on sale lurking beneath the surface.
Both the OLED display and 50MP rear cameras punch above their weight, while the construction materials give it the feel of a more premium device. The CPU isn’t class-leading, but it’s no slouch either: running Nothing’s minimalist take on Android 12, it operates smoothly in day-to-day use, with no noticeable slowdowns.
Battery life is a weak point. Powering 120Hz refresh rates and glyph LEDs means the relatively modest 4500mAh cell can just make it through the day. But if you’re keen for a genuinely refreshing take on the affordable smartphone formula, the Phone 1 should sit near the top of your list.
Stuff Says…
It doesn’t get everything right, but distinctive styling and clever lighting make Nothing’s first handset a fresh twist on the affordable phone formula
Poco X5 Pro
A better budget gaming phone than its forebear, with a UI that runs delightfully smoothly – not always a given when talking this sort of cash. The Poco X5 Pro is also thinner and lighter than the phone that came before, and brings back great battery life (and fast charging). Adding 4K video recording is welcome, but there haven’t been too many meaningful updates to the camera hardware, so this isn’t the phone for photographers with tight purse strings. The screen doesn’t get quite as bright as the X4 Pro, and the weird-feeling plastic back won’t be to all tastes. But ultimately it doesn’t make you feel like you’re compromising in too many areas, so find one at the right price and it’s still a good buy.
Stuff Says…
Far from perfect, but a welcome refinement to Poco’s wallet-friendly line.
Realme 9 Pro+
The Realme 9 Pro+ might just be the best overall choice for most people searching for the best mid-range smartphone (unless, of course, you’re after an iPhone).
Its primary selling points are a 90Hz OLED display, and a best-in-class main camera that genuinely goes to to toe with premium flagships come day or night. It can even shoot HEIF 10-bit photos like the iPhone 13 Pro, for smoother gradients and colours for enthusiasts to work their editing magic. Its digital zoom isn’t too shabby either, and the same goes for its 8MP ultra-wide snapper.
As usual the third macro camera isn’t really worth using more than a few times for experimentation, but given the imaging quality elsewhere, that’s fine by us. Powerful enough for smooth gaming with 60W charging thrown in for good measure, this is one of the best mid-range handsets currently available, at a borderline budget price tag.
Stuff Says…
A killer camera makes the Realme 9 Pro+ a winner
Honor Magic 5 Lite
One of those phones for people who spend more time in Google Chrome than Call of Duty, the Honor Magic 5 Lite is a great looking handset that sticks with a modestly mid-range CPU in order to go big in other areas, like its screen. A 6.67in AMOLED is a treat for the eyes, especially at 120Hz, and the 5100mAh battery is capable of excellent longevity away from the mains.
While its secondary snappers don’t add a whole lot of value, the main sensor does a decent job to justify the price. The super slim dimensions, glass rear and choice of head-turning colours are what give the Magic 5 Lite its strongest appeal, so if you like your tech to make a design statement, it’s a great choice.
Stuff Says…
A keenly-priced mid-ranger with sharp looks, a quality screen and stellar battery life – although mobile photographers have better options for similar cash.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Despite no Galaxy S22 FE seemingly in the works at Samsung HQ, the Galaxy S21 FE remains a formidable option if you’re after the best mid-range smartphone. It’s got Qualcomm’s mighty Snapdragon 888 CPU running the show, for a start, along with up to 8GB RAM for multitasking shenanigans.
Unlike most of its rivals, it’s got a decent camera setup across the board too, with 3x optical zoom offering the ability to get closer to subjects without sacrificing on detail. There’s even a 32MP camera for selfie lovers, and, of course, the premium design and build you’d expect to find in a Samsung handset.
It’s certainly a lot less garish and more muted compared to some of the competition, and we particularly like the more minimal rear lens setup. At just under £500 though its considerably more expensive, and only offers 25W charging speeds.
Stuff Says…
A step below the flagship Galaxy S22 series in certain areas, but also significantly kinder to your bank account.
