Looking for the best mid-range smartphone between £300-£500? You are at right place.
Time was it, any phone lacking an expensive top-tier flagship would inevitably provide a disappointing experience. Bland design, poor build quality, and a slow, stuttery feel are all often featured in mid-range smartphone bingo. But those days are over.
Today, you can buy cracking handsets that can’t be separated from a smartphone, which cost more than twice as much, to meet almost all your needs without draining your wallet. From premium builds to nippy performance, all-day battery life, and even decent cameras, there are plenty of handsets that do more than just the basics, while still being able to serve you well for years to come.
Here are our picks of the best mid-range smartphones in 2022:
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
The new iPhone SE (aka iPhone SE 3, released in 2022) is one of the best-value iPhones ever. While it looks old-fashioned by today’s standards thanks to its home button and thick bezels, it makes up for it on the inside—despite costing less than half the price of the iPhone 13, it still has the same incredible look. Shaking off the mighty A15 Bionic. processor
If you prefer a dinkier screen for easier one-handed use, its 4.7in LCD display (sadly not OLED) will be an absolute pleasure to use, ditching the over-stretched thumb for good. If you don’t mind the fact that it only has one camera, smaller battery, and no Face ID smarts, it’s definitely a must-consider for Apple fans on a budget.
Technology Specification
show: 4.7in HD+ LCD Processor: Apple A15 Bionic • to hit: 4GB storage: 65/128/256GB • Camera: 12MP Rear, 7MP Front • battery: 2018 mAh • weight: 144g
realme 9 pro+
The Realme 9 Pro+ will probably be the best overall choice for most people reading this list (unless, of course, you’re after an iPhone).
Its primary selling point is a 90Hz OLED display, and a best-in-class main camera that really goes toe-to-toe with the premium flagships, day or night. It can also shoot HEIF 10-bit photos like the iPhone 13 Pro for smooth gradients and colors 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 getting used to more than a few times, but considering the imaging quality elsewhere, it’s fine for us. Powerful enough for smooth gaming with 60W charging thrown in for good measure, this range is one of the best mid-range handsets currently available at a budget price tag.
Poco X4 Pro 5G
The Poco X4 Pro 5G is a cheaper 5G alternative to the OnePlus Nord 2T. It looks like it’s in mid-range position, its big rear camera bump and “laser-like” reflections help it stand out from the crowd – especially if you opt for the bright yellow model.
Look aside, one of its best features is its butter-smooth 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, which accompanies some of the top flagships we’ve tested. It’s powered by a massive 5000mAh battery for all-day stamina, with fast 67W fast charging to top up in a flash if you run low.
As with most mid-range handsets, the main camera is comfortably the best on offer here, and is the only one of the X4 Pro’s cameras to offer a dedicated Night Mode. If a big, fast-charging battery, crisp display, and main camera performance are high on your list of priorities, this could be a great option for you.
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G name may sound horrifyingly convoluted, but it more than makes up for it with an elegant, premium design that’s bolstered by quality specifications and performance in all the right places. Slated at the front and back in Gorilla Glass, it’s available in either a gray or head-turning Z fog finish, making it one of the best-looking mid-range handsets money can buy.
Ready for super-fast 5G, it is 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 also has a triple-camera setup, though its main snapper will be the one that does most of the legwork.
Throw in fast Google, Samsung, and Apple-trusting 80W fast charging, a 90Hz AMOLED display, and a dual-SIM slot for added flexibility, and you’ve got one of the top mid-range Android picks.
Technology Specification
show: 6.43in 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED Processor: MediaTek Dimension 1300 • to hit: 8/12GB storage: 128/256GB • Camera: 50+8+2MP Rear, 32MP Front • battery: 4500mAh • weight: 190g
Poco X4 GT
If you are into tops, the Poco X4 GT certainly warrants a closer look. The most powerful phone on our list after the iPhone SE, it is powered by MediaTek’s flagship Dimensity 8100. Coupled with its incredibly smooth 144Hz display, it’s a perfect choice for serious mobile gamers.
However, that higher-than-average refresh rate costs an LCD screen as opposed to an OLED screen, which means you won’t enjoy true blacks and super-vivid colors. Battery life doesn’t seem to be affected though, and we’ve comfortably had a heavy day of use on a single charge. 67W fast-charging is also on the cards, far surpassing the more expensive handsets from Samsung and Apple.
As always, with good shots in bright environments, only the main 64MP camera is worth writing home about. Night shots are fine, though you’ll need a steady hand to get the best of them due to the lack of a dedicated night mode or optical image stabilization.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE
Despite rumors that there are no plans for the Galaxy S22 FE at Samsung headquarters, the Galaxy S21 FE remains a formidable option in the mid-range category. It has Qualcomm’s powerful Snapdragon 888 CPU running the show, for a start, along with 8GB of RAM for multitasking shenanigans.
Unlike most of its rivals, it also has a decent camera setup across the board, with a 3x optical zoom that offers the ability to get up close to subjects without sacrificing on detail. There’s also a 32MP camera for selfie lovers, and of course, the premium design and build that you expect to find in a Samsung handset.
It’s certainly a lot less garish and more muted than some of the competition, and we particularly like the more minimalist rear lens setup. At just under £500, it’s significantly more expensive, and only offers 25W of charging speed.
honor 50
The Honor 50 resembles the more expensive Huawei P50 Pro, and despite its plastic construction, looks just as smart in the hands, feeling like a premium bit of kit. Importantly, unlike Huawei’s offering, it has the full Google-app experience, which unlocks the full power of the Play Store.
On the front you’ll find a 120Hz OLED display that’s in line with some of the best we’ve seen, though it doesn’t quite reach the retina-searing brightness levels of more expensive flagships like Samsung’s Galaxy S22 range. While the rear camera setup looks impressive, only the main 108MP camera gives really good results, however, capturing the details of the bucket with each shot.
Despite having a smaller battery than some competitors, we found it to comfortably last more than a full day of use, with added nippy 66W fast charging for added convenience. You can get slightly better performance for the money, but if you’ve been chasing the looks of the P50 Pro for the very least, it’s got you covered.
