Mid-range phones usually offer the best balance of price and performance, packing in high-end features and powerful cameras while still sometimes costing half the price of top flagships, or even less – usually by using cheaper materials or omitting luxury features like wireless charging and waterproofing. We define a mid-range phone as one that costs between $350/£250 (the higher limit of our even cheaper budget phones chart) and $850/£600 on a SIM-free basis – perfect to pair with a SIM-only plan. You’ll find anything more expensive than that in our general best smartphone ranking, which tends to focus on flagship fare, along with our pick of the best Android phones. Phones from the likes of OnePlus, Motorola, and Google are all great buys, and if you live outside north America you may find you have even more options from brands like Realme, Xiaomi, and Poco. Every phone in this list is available in either the US or UK, but not every model is available in both. Read past our rundown for more mid-range phone buying advice.
Best mid-range phone 2022
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Top performance Smaller size Outstanding camera Guaranteed software updates
Rear plastic scratches easily Charges slow and hot Only 60Hz display
The big downsides are the slow charging speeds on a phone that charges hot, the easily scratched rear plastic material, and the 60Hz display lagging behind similarly priced phones. Yet, this is a Pixel, which means it has a superlative Android experience and camera with a software polish and premium hardware feel you won’t find on other brands in this price range.
Excellent software Strong main camera Super-fast charging
Only 90Hz display Only 2 Android updates
What the OnePlus Nord 2T really demonstrates is the company’s ability to prioritise the features that users are looking for right now and wrapping them up in an attractive package with a compelling price point. The Nord 2T misses out on flagship niceties like wireless charging and waterproofing, but those are really the only compromises made here. There’s also the OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G available, which delivers a stripped-back version for a slightly lower price.
120Hz AMOLED display 108Mp main camera Attractive design
Middling MIUI software Plastic body
The 6.67in, 120Hz AMOLED display is essentially flagship-level, and it’s matched by a slick, elegant design elsewhere. Even the camera impresses, with a surprisingly solid 108Mp sensor for the main shooter – though the accompanying ultrawide and macro cameras aren’t as impressive. It’s all made of plastic, so doesn’t feel too premium, and we don’t love the MIUI software running on here (shared by all Xiaomi, Poco, and Redmi phones). But overall this is an excellent package for the price.
Excellent software Great cameras IP68 rating
Only 90Hz display Divisive design Slow charging
That extra expenditure gets you one of the best cameras around at this price, with an exceptional main lens backed up by an equally strong ultrawide. Both benefit from a few clever AI tricks delivered by Google’s second-generation Tensor chip and can take a few shots that no other phone can. You also get a display jump to 90Hz, though this is still behind the 120Hz common in other phones this price, as is the slow 21W charging – with no charger included in the box either. The Pixel 7 is pretty big and heavy too, so won’t suit anyone hoping for a small phone.
65W charging 120Hz AMOLED display Good main camera
Basic secondary cameras Plastic build
Last year’s Snapdragon 888 makes a return as the chipset, but it’s still plenty powerful. A 120Hz AMOLED display, big battery, and excellent 65W fast charging round out the strong spec sheet. It’s built out of plastic, which some don’t mind but others might find holds it back from feeling like a flagship, but the biggest downside is that the strong main camera isn’t well supported by the secondary lenses.
Unique, eye-catching design Impressive dual rear camera Wireless charging
Average performance Below average battery life A little buggy
Ahead of launch much was made to hype up the Phone (1) as a smartphone revolution, but really the boldest thing about it is the design: a semi-transparent rear intersected by LED light strips that can flash for notifications, illuminate while charging, and even serve as a fill light for the camera. Set aside the lights, and the Nothing Phone (1) is really just a regular mid-range device, albeit one of the better ones around. Battery life is a bit disappointing, but the trade-off is you get a decent display, a pair of good rear cameras, and both wireless charging and an IP53 rating.
Solid performance Great cameras for the price 120W fast charging
Underwhelming battery life MIUI not for everyone No wireless charging
Performance from the MediaTek Dimensity 8100 Ultra chip is superb too, despite the occasional app crash or stutter, while verything looks great on the 6.67in OLED display, especially when combined with a 120Hz refresh rate. That 108Mp main camera is another highlight, but all four lenses on the 12T hold their own. With a slick, premium design and that rapid 120W charging, there’s a lot to like here. But in exchange for those charging speeds, you’ll have to contend with underwhelming battery life. Xiaomi’s MIUI skin over Android 12 also leaves a lot to be desired. If you can look beyond those inconveniences, the Xiaomi 12T is an excellent phone – especially for the price. But for the average consumer, an alternative mid-range phone will suit you better.
Lightest 5G smartphone on the market Gorgeous 6.5in 144Hz AMOLED display Great performance
All-plastic build Middling battery life & fast charging Only 2 years of OS updates
The 6.5in AMOLED display is crisp and detailed, and the 144Hz refresh rate makes things feel smoother and more responsive, though without an adaptive resolution there is a hit to overall battery life. It can still last all day with average use – though heavy users and gamers may need a top-up to get through to the end of the day. 33W charging helps, but it’s a far cry from the exceptionally fast charging of some rivals. The camera setup is also decent for the money, with the main 50Mp snapper able to capture detailed, well-lit shots in both light and dark environments, but the dynamic range leaves something to be desired. The 50Mp ultrawide is also a nice touch for scenic shots. Essentially, it comes down to what’s best for your needs: if you prioritise design and display, the Motorola X30 Pro is a great choice. But if things like performance, battery life and fast charging capabilities are what’s most important, there are better mid-range phones available.
Stunning colour-changing finish Two-day battery life Speedy charging Capable performance
Mixed camera set-up Only two years of guaranteed software updates No variable refresh rate
Aside from the design you get capable performance, a user-friendly OS, speedy charging, and a lengthy battery life. The main camera is also largely impressive – though the other lenses aren’t anything to shout about. If you want to spend a little more you could consider the Pro variant of this phone, which improves the processor, refresh rate, and the IP rating, but the regular Reno 8’s price tag is much better situated in the mid-range market. It’s a true gem, and a worthy rival to other phones from OnePlus and Google.
Flagship-like design Near-flagship performance Super clean and classy software
Mediocre battery life Average secondary cameras Only IP52 rated
Its camera, while short of the very best, can capture good shots in reasonable lighting. As ever, Motorola’s software is a delight to use, with minimal bloat and thoughtful customisations. Charging is appreciably swift, too, courtesy of a bundled-in 68W plug. The drawbacks include underwhelming battery life, only basic waterproofing, and a fairly average camera offering beyond the main sensor. Motorola needs to push the boat out a little further to produce a genuine stand-out mid-ranger, but the Edge 30 Fusion is easy to recommend to anyone looking for a classy phone on a slightly reduced budget. Some mid-range phones will take the all-round good-value approach, with capable specs in each area; others will focus on a key trait, such as the camera or display, and promise flagship-rivalling capabilities in that one aspect; others still used to be those flagships, so will offer fantastic specs at a brilliant price, but may be running on slightly older hardware. After that, it’s about deciding on your priorities. Are you looking for long battery life, fast charging, an AMOLED display, or a powerful camera? Few mid-range phones offer all of them, so pick which matters most to you. One common element is that you’ll likely have to give up on nice-to-haves like wireless charging or a waterproof rating – these still tend to be reserved for the most expensive phones on the market, though a few mid-range devices do offer one or the other. Try to remember that it’s not always about specs either. We’ve hit something of a ceiling when it comes to smartphone tech anyway, so although these phones may not be as fast as your average flagship, they are almost certainly fast enough for most users. Go for a phone that balances value, performance, features and design in a way that appeals to you and your needs. Instead, you’re probably better off looking at an older flagship iPhone – the iPhone 12 is still on sale direct from Apple, and even older models are available from third-party stores. Since Apple’s software support runs for so long, even an old iPhone should still run well for a few years, but bear in mind that you’ll likely miss out on some of the snazzy new features found in modern Android mid-rangers. Chinese phones are a great choice in the mid-range market because they often balance very good specifications with a lower price than you’d expect. The likes of Xiaomi, Realme, and Poco often offer staggering value, but for anyone in the US they’ll be import-only. Tech Advisor’s Deputy Editor, Dom covers everything that runs on electricity, from phones and laptops to wearables, audio, gaming, smart home, and streaming - plus he’s a regular fixture on the Tech Advisor YouTube channel.
