The perfect midrange smartphone for 2025

An excellent cell phone doesn’t have to break the bank. In 2025, options as soon as unique to high-end units – large batteries, multi-camera arrays, excessive refresh price OLED shows and extra – have trickled all the way down to extra reasonably priced fashions. Positive, you’ll nonetheless want to purchase a flagship smartphone to get the perfect digicam or quickest processor, however you don’t have to compromise practically as a lot anymore should you’re on the lookout for an excellent handset at an affordable value. In case you have 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 perfect 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 accessible on its dearer siblings. In reality, it really has slower charging speeds and it is lacking assist for a few of Google’s homegrown software program just like the Screenshots app. However for everybody who simply needs a easy cellphone with a strong design, a pleasant AMOLED show, glorious digicam high quality and powerful battery life, the Pixel 9a is actually laborious to beat. It handles low gentle pictures impressively nicely for a cellphone at this midrange value, and Google’s good AI options improve each the primary digicam and enhancing expertise. So whereas it is not tremendous fancy, the cellphone has all of its most vital bases coated (after which some). However most significantly, beginning at simply $499, this cellphone appears like an unimaginable deal that punches nicely above its value level. — Sam Rutherford, Senior Reporter

Execs

Smooth 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 is usually a bit finicky

$499 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 system, 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 greatest entry-level iPhone up to now. It has an Motion button, USB-C, a bigger, brighter display and an A18 CPU that permits Apple Intelligence. My greatest issues with it are limitations introduced on by its single rear digicam setup — issues like not with the ability to seize ultrawide pictures or Portrait mode not working if there isn’t a face within the scene. In the event you’re coming from an iPhone 11 or newer, it is best to think about whether or not the improved digicam high quality is price giving up an ultrawide digicam for. Whether it is, and should you can stay with out snapping portraits of objects and faceless gadgets, the iPhone 16e’s selfie digicam might be satisfying.

There are different components to think about, like whether or not you usually use MagSafe equipment or wi-fi charging. In the event you do, then the iPhone 16e will frustrate you because it doesn’t work with the magnetic attachment system (you will get a MagSafe case to treatment this) and expenses at a slower velocity than the iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 (however there’s no repair for this). You possibly can think about 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

Execs

Stable efficiency
Lengthy battery life
Clear, sturdy design
Shiny, vibrant display

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’d like one thing totally different out of your subsequent cellphone, 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 Sport Boys, permitting you to see a few of its inside elements, together with the NFC antennas. At $459, it’s additionally among the best offers within the business, because of a compelling mixture of options. The Telephone 3a sports activities a brilliant 6.77-inch AMOLED show with a 120Hz refresh price. It additionally comes with a 5,000mAh battery, a decently speedy Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 CPU and a 3x periscope telephoto digicam — a standout characteristic at this midrange value. That final characteristic is one thing that’s troublesome to seek out within the 3a Professional’s value level, particularly in North America. The digicam system additionally performs higher than anticipated in low gentle and helps useful AI options for enhanced pictures.

Execs

Enjoyable design
Giant 120Hz AMOLED display
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 all the pieces you might need in a cellphone that price $300. Its Snapdragon 695 5G chipset delivers sturdy 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 an enormous 6.7-inch show with a 120Hz refresh price, which is uncommon on a price range cellphone as most rivals characteristic slower 60Hz or 90Hz panels. The show isn’t AMOLED, so it’s possible you’ll discover deeper bezels and barely decrease distinction, however it’s nonetheless a strong display. And due to its 50-watt wired charging speeds, you’ll be able to high it up rapidly, too. However most significantly, the Nord 30 lately acquired a value drop from $300 to $250, making it an unquestionably whole lot and our high choose on this house.

Execs

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

$300 at Amazon

What’s a midrange cellphone?

Whereas the time period continuously seems in articles and movies, there isn’t an agreed-upon definition for “midrange” past a cellphone 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 important compromises. In case you have extra to spend, you may as nicely think about flagships just like the Apple iPhone 17 and the Samsung Galaxy S25 if you would like the perfect smartphone expertise. Gadgets like Pixel telephones usually sit on this value vary too, providing a number of the greatest worth for Android consumers.

What to think about earlier than shopping for a midrange smartphone

Shopping for a brand new machine might be intimidating, however a number of questions can assist information you thru the method. First: what platform do you wish to use? If the reply is iOS, that narrows your choices down to precisely one cellphone. (Fortunately, it’s nice.) And should 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.

In fact, additionally think about how a lot you’re comfy spending. Even rising your price range by $100 extra can get you a dramatically higher product. Furthermore, producers are inclined to assist their dearer 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 a protracted battery life or quick charging? Do you worth speedy efficiency above all else? Or would you want the very best cameras with excessive megapixel counts? Whereas they proceed to enhance yearly, even the perfect midrange smartphones nonetheless demand some compromises, and figuring out what’s vital to you’ll make selecting one simpler.

What gained’t you get from a midrange smartphone?

Yearly, the road between midrange and flagship telephones blurs as extra upmarket options and features trickle all the way down to extra reasonably priced fashions. When Engadget first printed this information in 2020, it was tough to discover a $500 cellphone 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 cellphone most likely gained’t include is an influence adapter; many corporations have stopped together with chargers with all of their smartphones. Efficiency has improved in recent times, however can nonetheless be hit and miss as most midrange telephones use slower processors that may wrestle with multitasking. Fortunately, their digicam methods have improved dramatically, and you may usually count on no less than a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones beneath $600 with respectable digicam high quality, selfie efficiency and software program assist to maintain issues operating easily for years to return..

Midrange smartphone FAQs

How lengthy do midrange telephones get software program updates?

Assist varies by model, however most midrange telephones obtain round three to 5 years of software program and safety updates. Apple tends to assist iPhones longer whereas corporations like Google and Samsung now promise a number of years of Android and safety patches for his or her midrange fashions. Finances-focused manufacturers may supply much less so it’s price checking the replace coverage before you purchase.

Are midrange telephones good for gaming?

Sure, many midrange telephones deal with gaming nicely, particularly widespread titles like Fortnite, Genshin Impression and Name of Responsibility Cell. They often embrace succesful processors, although you gained’t all the time get the smoothest efficiency in essentially the most demanding cellular video games or at max settings. In the event you play casually or stick with much less graphically intensive titles a midrange cellphone will really feel greater than sufficient.

Georgie Peru contributed to this report.

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