Best Mid-Range Phone 2022: Top Picks for Performance and Value
We’ve rounded up what we think are some of the best mid-range phones around.
What’s the best mid-range phone you can grab right now? Well, of course, ‘best’ is quite a subjective term, but let’s take a look at what makes a good mid-ranger and why they’re worth buying.
The first real benefit is of course price, or more specifically, affordability. Mid-range phones of course tend to be less expensive than their flagship counterparts and in 2022, you still seem to get a shedload of features for your money.
In essence, a good mid-range phone is one that combines some flagship-level features with more pocket-friendly pricing. They may still contain great cameras to offer good photography and a speedy processor inside but cost less than major players such as the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, two of the best phones around.
This feature set even comes down to including features that flagships don’t tend to, such as a headphone jack in the case of the OnePlus Nord 2 5G or the powers of Touch ID on the iPhone SE (2020), so there are even some arguments that you get much better value for money with a mid-range handset than a premium one.
Of course, some sacrifices will have to be made and for a mid-ranger, you may have to compromise a little bit on build quality. A phone may be made of some smooth, hard-wearing plastics as opposed to featuring a glass back, for instance.
This is, however, a small price to pay when considering how much phone you can get for between £350/$450 and £600/$850 in 2022.
With all that in mind, we’ve selected these phones based on specs, general reviews, and features that we think make them worth considering.
We’ve also answered some of your most frequently asked questions, plus, we’ve highlighted some of the best upcoming mid-range phones that you’ll definitely want to keep your eye out for.
So, let’s get to it – here are some of the best mid-range phones you can buy today.
Best Mid-Range Phone
Best Mid-Range Phone Apple – iPhone SE (2020)
Brand: Apple | Processor: Apple A13 Bionic | Screen Size: 4.7 inches | Screen Resolution: 1334×750 | Camera: 12MP | Storage Options: 64GB, 128GB, 512GB | Battery Capacity: 4500mAh
For fans of iPhones, the best mid-range iPhone you can buy today is the iPhone SE (2020)
Inside it, you’ll find the same A13 Bionic chip that powers the iPhone 11 which is plenty speedy for day-to-day tasks with its 2.65GHz clock speed.
It can also run the latest version of iOS, namely iOS 15, which is handy so you can take advantage of new functions such as Spatial Audio within FaceTime calls as well as added privacy features and the convenience of redesigned notifications, amongst other features.
Read More: iPhone 14: Latest Leaks, Release Date, Specs and More
Moreover, you’ll also find the iPhone SE (2020) features a capable 12MP back camera for all your snapping needs, and its 4.7-inch screen should also mean if you’re a fan of more compact phones, you’ll definitely find something to like here.
There are also some decent storage options available with you having the choice of either 64, 128 or 512GB capacities, dependent upon what you need. Conveniently, you’ll also find support for Qi wireless charging here, meaning one of the best wireless chargers would work a treat.
Handily also, if you want to keep this phone safe, it’s got some wonderful compatibility with some of the best rugged phone cases, which is rather convenient.
In short, the iPhone SE (2020) looks like a great choice, that is until the iPhone SE 4 releases, although that may be a while away yet.
Best Mid-Range Phone OnePlus – OnePlus Nord 2 5G
Brand: OnePlus | Processor: Media Tek Density 1200 AI | Screen Size: 6.4 inches | Screen Resolution: 1040×2400 | Camera: 50MP, 8MP, 2MP | Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB | Battery Capacity: 4500mAh
The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is certainly one of the best mid-range Android smartphones around today.
First off, you’re getting something that looks to be solidly built and is also available in a couple of nice colours, be it grey or a bright blue.
Read More: Best Cheap Phones 2022: Our Top Picks For Budget Smartphones
Its 6.4-inch display is nice and big, and also features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth, fluid output. A 4500mAh battery should also allow for good battery life and 65W Warp Charging also means you’ll be back up to 100% in no time.
Inside, it is packed with a Media Tek Density 1200 AI processor which should allow for snappy processing speeds, and the options of 6,8, or 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM also give you plenty of headroom to run some intense apps.
It’s especially on the camera where the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is great with a triple setup that includes a 50MP main snapper, as well as an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP mono lens.
You also get the ability to shoot video at 4K, 30fps, which is handy, and the inclusion of handy optical image stabilization should mean shots are nice and smooth.
If you’re a fan of OnePlus phones, then you’ll want to keep an eye on the upcoming OnePlus Ace, which looks like quite the formidable customer.
Best Mid-Range Phone Samsung – Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
Brand: Samsung | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G/Exynos 2100 | Screen Size: 6.4 inches | Screen Resolution: 1040×2400 | Camera: 12MP, 8MP, 12MP | Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB | Battery Capacity: 4500mAh
Samsung makes some of the best phones out there today, and the same also goes for their mid-range offerings, the principal among which is the Galaxy S21 FE 5G.
It features a 6.4 inch Dynamic AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate so colours should be nice and vibrant with great contrast and it should also be silky smooth to the touch.
You also get a lovely triple camera setup round back with a 12MP wide, a 12MP ultrawide and an 8MP telephoto to provide some great shots, and as for the selfie camera, images should be detailed and crisp thanks to a 32MP sensor.
Read More: Best Rugged Tablet Case 2022: Our Top Picks
Moreover, expect to find a decent 4500mAh battery that should allow for a good battery life of around 17 hours or so which should mean the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G will last you a day or so comfortably. When you do need to charge it though, there’s 25W fast charging supported so you can be back up and running in no time.
There’s also a good selection of colours available if you’re interested, so you can get this phone in everything from silver to black and purple, and more besides.
If you’re thinking ahead for the future and you’re a fan of Samsung smartphones, then you may also want to check out our Samsung Galaxy S23 release date hub for all the latest news and leaks.
Best Mid-Range Phone Xiaomi – Xiaomi Poco F3
Brand: Xiaomi | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G | Screen Size: 6.6 inches | Screen Resolution: 1040×2400 | Camera: 48MP, 8MP, 5MP | Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB | Battery Capacity: 4520mAh
Xiaomi has become a handy manufacturer for mid-range handsets and their Poco F3 is a marvellous example of such.
Inside, you’re getting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G processor which will be nice and quick, alongside either 6 or 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM so you can run a load of applications without the phone breaking a sweat.
Read More: Best Drone For Battery Life 2022: Our Top Picks For The Longest Flight Time
Moreover, options of 128 or 256GB of storage mean you can install a nice amount of apps or load music and photos onto the phone without worrying too much about whether you need to delete any items, which is useful for peace of mind.
The Xiaomi Poco F3‘s display looks to be excellent with a 6.67-inch panel that boasts a 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling for rather smooth inputs, and also means this could be quite a handy gaming phone, too.
It features a convenient triple camera setup that’s comprised of a 48MP wide, 8MP ultrawide and 5MP macro lens for any closeup photography, giving you quite the versatile all-rounder.
Xiaomi says the 4520mAh battery inside the Poco F3 is good for 14 hours of video watching, which means for day-to-day usage, it’ll comfortably last a day, or even longer.
Best Mid-Range Phone Motorola – Motorola Moto G200
Brand: Motorola | Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G | Screen Size: 6.8 inches | Screen Resolution: 1040×2460 | Camera: 108MP, 13MP, 2MP | Storage Options: 128GB, 256GB | Battery Capacity: 5000mAh
The Motorola Moto G200 is a marvellous mid-range option also.
This comes thanks to its immense 6.8-inch display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G chipset that makes it quite the beast in the mid-range category.
In addition, it features a gorgeous triple camera array with a 108MP main sensor that gives some great flagships a run for their money, alongside a 13MP ultrawide and 2MP depth sensor. This should allow for crisp and sharp photos, whatever the lighting.
Read More: Motorola Razr (2022): Release Date Rumours, Price, Specs, and Features
A 5000mAh battery will also allow for some great battery life, and 33W fast charging will have the Moto G200 back up to full in a jiffy.
The storage options of 128GB and 256GB are definitely handy, and both configurations also allow for 8GB of RAM, providing you with both good storage capacities and decent headroom for any intense tasks the phone should be able to handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are always a few questions that pop up time and time again when it comes to mid-range phones, so here are our two cents to help you make an informed decision.
Should I buy a mid-range or flagship phone?
In short, this depends on your needs from a phone and of course, what budget you have. If you can afford to, we’d say to get a flagship phone simply due to the increasing amount of features they offer over mid-range phones such as arguably more powerful cameras and more storage.
However, if you want to save a bit of money, it’s worth looking at mid-range options due to their lower costs than flagships, like the ones we’ve got above.
What does mid-range mean in phones?
In essence, mid-range refers to a phone that sits in between cheaper options and flagships to offer a halfway house between them.
This can be done by combining flagship features with some more affordable build quality, for instance, and you get a good blend of power and affordability.
Are mid-range phones worth it?
In our humble opinion, we’d say that mid-range phones are worth a pick up.
This is just because you won’t be missing out on too many features, especially with the power that mid-range phones can offer these days alongside triple cameras and good-sized batteries.
What is the difference between midrange and flagship?
The main difference between mid-range and flagship phones concerns cost and majorly the internals of the phone.
Flagship phones are likely to use the most up-to-date components for the best possible performance, whilst mid-rangers may use some slightly older internals as a compromise, but these will still be capable enough for most people.
Is OnePlus better than Samsung?
This is, of course, a very subjective question as both manufacturers make some of the best mid-range phones out there, as exemplified by our selection above.
The key for this is to go out and try out the phones we’ve recommended and see what you like, and then you can determine whether one manufacturer is better than the other.