Best mid-range phones

High-end features without the usual price. ANYRON COPEMAN reports

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After deciding between Android and iOS, the next big decision you need to make is how much you are willing to spend on a new phone. For some people, only the very best phones will do, and they're willing to pay for it. At the other end of the scale, the best budget phones deliver a solid core experience at a fraction of the cost.

But what about if you're somewhere in between? You still want some of those premium features, but your budget can’t quite stretch to flagship prices.

That's where a mid-range phone comes in. To be eligible here, a phone must cost between £300 and £700 when bought outright at launch. That's a fairly wide price range, with dozens of possible devices, but only the very best have made it into the top 10 below.

The only mid-range iPhone that Apple sells is the iPhone 16e, but we haven't had the chance to review it yet. It means the list below is exclusively Android phones, though there's still plenty of choice. Below, you'll find devices from OnePlus, Google, Samsung, Xiaomi, Nothing, Motorola and Poco.

Honourable mentions go to the Nubia Flip 5G, the only mid-range folding phone, and the Fairphone 5, which has impressive sustainability and repairability credentials.

BUYING ADVICE

Every mid-range phone offers a compromise, trying to deliver the best of a flagship without costing quite so much. Still, there are some specs you don't want to skimp on. Look for at least 6GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 7 or 8 chipset for smooth performance (or another brand equivalent), along with at least 128GB of storage.

After that, it's about deciding on your priorities. Are you looking for long battery life, fast charging, an OLED display, or a powerful camera? Few mid-range phones offer all of them, so pick which matters most to you.