The most effective midrange smartphone for 2025

An awesome telephone doesn’t must break the bank. In 2025, options as soon as unique to high-end units – massive batteries, multi-camera arrays, excessive refresh fee shows and extra – have trickled right down to extra inexpensive fashions. Positive, you’ll nonetheless want to purchase a flagship smartphone to get the perfect digicam or quickest processor, however you don’t must compromise practically as a lot anymore when you’re on the lookout for an incredible handset at an affordable worth. When you’ve got lower than $600 to spend, allow us to assist you determine what options to prioritize when looking for the perfect midrange smartphone.

Desk of contents

The most effective midrange telephones for 2025

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Learn our full Google Pixel 9a review

The Pixel 9a is not particularly flashy and it would not have any particular options that are not already out there on its costlier siblings. In truth, it really has slower charging and it is lacking help for a few of Google’s homegrown software program just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply needs a easy telephone with a strong design, a pleasant display screen, wonderful cameras and powerful battery life, the Pixel 9a is basically onerous to beat. So whereas it is not tremendous fancy, the telephone has all of its most essential bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this telephone looks like an unbelievable deal that punches nicely above its worth. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

Professionals

Glossy design
Superior battery life
Good show
Nice cameras
IP68 score for mud and water resistance

Cons

Charging could possibly be quicker
No Pixel Screenshot app
Macro Focus mode could be a bit finicky

$498 at Amazon

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Learn our full iPhone 16e review

The iPhone 16e is nearer in specs to the iPhone 16 than the iPhone SE was to the iPhone 13. And that makes selecting which iPhone to purchase more durable than ever. Do you have to save $200 and quit a twin digicam, Dynamic Island, Digital camera Management and MagSafe? That relies upon largely in your priorities and price range.

Whereas I feel that anybody who can afford the worth distinction ought to go for the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 16e, I can’t deny that that is Apple’s finest entry-level iPhone thus far. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display screen and an A18 chip that permits Apple Intelligence. My greatest issues with it are limitations introduced on by its single rear digicam setup — issues like not having the ability to seize ultrawide pictures or Portrait mode not working if there isn’t a face within the scene. When you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or newer, it is best to take into account whether or not the improved digicam sensor is price giving up an ultrawide digicam for. Whether it is, and when you can stay with out snapping portraits of objects and faceless objects, the iPhone 16e’s digicam might be satisfying.

There are different components to think about, like whether or not you often use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. When you do, then the iPhone 16e will frustrate you because it doesn’t work with the magnetic attachment system (you may get a MagSafe case to treatment this) and prices at a slower velocity than the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 (however there’s no repair for this). You possibly can take into account the $699 iPhone 15 for a greater digicam and wi-fi charging expertise, however you’ll be giving up Apple Intelligence and an Motion button. — Cherlynn Low, Managing Editor

Professionals

Stable efficiency
Lengthy battery life
Clear, sturdy design
Vibrant, vibrant display screen

Cons

Just one rear digicam, resulting in many limitations
Costly in comparison with earlier iPhone SE
No MagSafe

$599 at Apple

Nothing

Learn our Nothing Phone 3a Pro review

If you need one thing totally different out of your subsequent telephone, there are few if any units on the market just like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. It has a translucent glass again that evokes the design of previous Recreation Boys, permitting you to see a few of its inner parts, together with the NFC antennas. At $459, it’s additionally the most effective offers within the trade, due to a compelling mixture of options. The Telephone 3a sports activities a brilliant 6.77-inch OLED show with a 120Hz refresh fee. It additionally comes with a 5,000mAh battery, a decently speedy Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset and a 3x periscope telephoto digicam. That final characteristic is one thing that’s tough to seek out within the 3a Professional’s worth vary, particularly in North America.

Professionals

Enjoyable design
Massive 120Hz AMOLED display screen
Clear however customizable Android pores and skin

Cons

Restricted US guarantee
No wi-fi charging
Tinny audio system

$459 at Amazon

OnePlus

When it first got here out, the Nord N30 had mainly every thing you would need in a telephone that price $300. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset delivers robust efficiency together with speedy wi-fi connectivity that’s appropriate with all the massive US carriers, to not point out good specs together with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It additionally has a giant 6.7-inch show with a 120Hz refresh fee, which is uncommon on a price range telephone as most rivals characteristic slower 60Hz or 90Hz panels. And due to its 50-watt wired charging, you’ll be able to high it up rapidly, too. However most significantly, the Nord 30 not too long ago bought a worth drop from $300 to $250, making it an unquestionably whole lot and our high decide on this house.

Professionals

Good efficiency for the worth
120Hz show
50W wired charging

$300 at Amazon

What’s a midrange telephone?

Whereas the time period steadily seems in articles and movies, there isn’t an agreed-upon definition for “midrange” past a telephone that isn’t a flagship or an entry-level choice. Most of our suggestions price between $400 and $600 — any much less and it is best to count on vital compromises. When you’ve got extra to spend, you may as nicely take into account flagships just like the Apple iPhone 16 and the Samsung Galaxy S25.

What to think about earlier than shopping for a midrange smartphone

Shopping for a brand new machine could be intimidating, however a couple of questions will help information you thru the method. First: what platform do you need to use? If the reply is iOS, that narrows your choices down to precisely one telephone. (Fortunately, it’s nice.) And when you’re an Android fan, there’s no scarcity of compelling choices. Each platforms have their strengths, so that you shouldn’t rule both out.

After all, additionally take into account how a lot you’re comfy spending. Even growing your price range by $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product. Furthermore, producers are likely to help their costlier units for longer with software program updates and safety updates, so it’s price shopping for one thing towards the highest restrict of what you’ll be able to afford.

Having an concept of your priorities will assist inform your price range. Would you like an extended battery life or quick charging? Do you worth speedy efficiency above all else? Or would you want the very best cameras? Whereas they proceed to enhance yearly, even the perfect midrange smartphones nonetheless demand some compromises, and understanding what’s essential to you’ll make selecting one simpler.

What received’t you get from a midrange smartphone?

Yearly, the road between midrange and flagship telephones blurs as extra upmarket options and specs trickle right down to extra inexpensive fashions. When Engadget first printed this information in 2020, it was difficult to discover a $500 telephone with waterproofing and 5G. In 2025, the largest factor you may miss out on is wi-fi charging – and even then, that’s turning into much less true.

One factor your new telephone in all probability received’t include is an influence adapter; many firms have stopped together with chargers with all of their smartphones. Efficiency has improved lately, however can nonetheless be hit and miss as most midrange telephones use slower processors that may battle with multitasking. Fortunately, their digicam techniques have improved dramatically, and you may sometimes count on a minimum of a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones beneath $600 with respectable digicam high quality, selfie efficiency and software program help to maintain issues operating easily for years to return..

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