The best mid-range phones you can buy right now

The OnePlus Nord 4 is a superb phone which offers everything most people are looking for in a mid-range phone.

That includes superb build quality, with the metal unibody design ensuring top-class durability, even if the reflective plastic window around the cameras will divide opinion.

The Snapdragon chip under the hood isn’t quite Qualcomm’s flagship, but performance is still very strong, while the excellent display could pass for a device twice the price.

Solid battery life is supported by 100W fast charging (albeit without the charger in the box), while the six-year update commitment is the best on a non-Samsung or Google phone.

The downsides are concentrated around the cameras, with OnePlus opting for a disappointing ultrawide lens instead of any telephoto. But the main and selfie sensors are good enough that you can mostly ignore that.

And considering everything else you’re getting, the Nord 4 is superb value for money.

If you want a mid-range phone that could easily pass as a flagship, the Xiaomi 14T is for you. It looks and performs a lot like the regular Xiaomi 14, yet starts at just £549 in the UK.

And there’s a lot to slick here, including a premium design complete with a stunning large OLED display. The cameras are surprisingly great, despite being a clear step down from Xiaomi’s class-leading 14 Ultra.

Solid battery life is supported by impressive 67W fast charging, even if the necessary charger isn’t in the box and there’s no wireless charging.

This is a phone with almost no hardware weaknesses, though the software is still underwhelming at times. Google’s Circle to Search feature is genuinely useful, though Xiaomi’s own AI attempts aren’t always successful.

Xiaomi’s commitment to four major OS updates and five years of security patches is solid, though. And as an all-rounder, you’ll struggle to find anything better at this price point. You could step up to the 14T Pro, but the extra £150 (it starts at £699) simply isn’t worth it for most people.

If you’re worried about buying an older phone and want the reassurance of long software support, go for the Galaxy A35 5G instead.

Samsung’s 2024 mid-ranger offers a lot for your money, including a class-leading promise of four major OS updates and five years of security updates to its slick One UI software, even if you don’t currently get Galaxy AI features.

Elsewhere, the Galaxy A35 offers strong main and selfie cameras for the price (albeit not quite as good as the Pixel 7a), plus an excellent 120Hz display and very good battery life. If you can look beyond the plastic build and performance that won’t blow you away, it’s easy to recommend.

Samsung also has a more premium option in the Galaxy A55 5G, but it’s not worth the upgrade for most people, and isn’t available in the US.

The Pixel 7a is no longer Google’s latest mid-range phone, but it’s still the best for most people. The Pixel 8a introduces a few upgrades, most notably seven years of updates, but a price rise in the UK means it’s no longer the excellent value it once was.

By comparison, the Pixel 7a is regularly discounted well below its £449/$499 RRP, yet it still offers everything most people are looking for. That includes solid Tensor G2 performance and slick Android software, all within a durable and water-resistant design.

Its outstanding main camera is the same as on the Pixel 8a, plus you get decent battery life and wireless charging.

A 90Hz refresh rate isn’t the best around, but the attractive display still can’t be considered a weakness. Overall, the Pixel 7a offers incredible value for money, meaning it’s still a go-to mid-range phone for most people.

There are two mid-range phones in the Redmi Note 13 range, but we think you’re better off with the cheaper one.

As good as the Note 13 Pro+ is, it’s also £110 more expensive at launch than the Note 13 Pro. For a slightly more powerful chipset, IP68 water and dust resistance (as opposed to IP54) and faster 120W charging (rather than 67W), we don’t think it’s worth it.

For just £339, the Note 13 Pro still delivers a premium experience, including the excellent 120Hz OLED screen. Performance and charging are still key strengths, as is the high-end design and strong battery life.

The only real issues are on the software side, where Xiaomi’s MIUI skin still leaves a lot to be desired and the company only officially commits to two years of updates.

If you can put up with that, though, the Redmi Note 13 Pro is a superb phone for the money,

Nothing has been turning heads ever since it began life in 2020, but 2024 was the year the company shifted its attention to more affordable handsets.

That’s included two versions of the Phone (2a), with this Plus model building on the strong foundations of the regular version. The most eye-catching upgrades are a new chipset, which boosts the already-strong performance, and a much better selfie camera.

It means the device retains that distinctive, semi-transparent rear design, complete with a trio of customisable ‘Glyph’ lights. The 120Hz OLED display is excellent, while Nothing’s take on Android stands out for its extensive customisation options.

With solid battery life and a price tag that still makes it relatively affordable, the Phone (2a) Plus is a very good mid-range phone.

The OnePlus 12R isn’t the best mid-range phone at any one thing, but it performs well in nearly all key areas.

That includes a large, gorgeous 120Hz OLED display, strong performance from the older flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and a 5500mAh battery that can stretch to two full days. Alongside 100W fast charging and slick software, it’s almost the full package.

However, cameras are an obvious weakness, with a decent main rear sensor supported by some underwhelming secondary lenses. It’s also missing some of the features you might be hoping for at this upper mid-range price, including wireless charging and a flagship-level IP68 water resistance rating.

But if you can live without these, you won’t be disappointed with the OnePlus 12R. However, it’s also worth considering the cheaper OnePlus Nord 3 and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite.

The Pixel 8 is another example of Google’s 2023 phone being better than its successor for mid-range buyers.

Here, it’s because the Pixel 9 starts at £799/$799, making it too expensive to be considered here. The good news is that this older model is likely to be regularly discounted, and it remains a strong choice in 2024.

The main camera lens remains the highlight, delivering stunning stills in a variety of environments – including at night. The ultrawide and selfie lenses aren’t bad either, though you miss out on the telephoto from the Pixel 8 Pro.

Performance from Google’s Tensor G3 chip is only slightly inferior to Qualcomm’s latest and greatest, and it enables a range of clever software features – including Best Take. The rest of the Android 14 software isn’t bad either, especially with Google promising six more years of updates.

Battery life is the main weakness, and it becomes even more frustrating when combined with slow 27W charging and no charger in the box.

But the combination of premium design and 6.2-inch, 120Hz OLED display means the Pixel 8 is definitely worth considering. But if your budget does stretch a little further, the Pixel 9 is definitely worth a look.

The middle phone in Motorola’s Edge 50 range, the Pro model has a long list of features that make it one of the best phones under £600 (not yet available in the US).

That includes a gorgeous 144Hz OLED display, 4500mAh battery with 125W wired and 50W wireless charging and slick Android 14 software (3 OS updates, 4 security), all within a premium, comfortable design.

Performance is solid, while the 50Mp main rear lens and 50Mp selfie camera take very good photos. Unfortunately, the same can’t always be said for the 13Mp ultrawide and 10Mp 3x telephoto cameras, which are frustratingly hit and miss.

Alongside a curved screen that’s prone to accidental presses and a price tag that’s higher than many options in this round-up, there are enough reasons to hesitate before buying one. But if you’re ready to commit to buying it, you’re unlikely to be disappointed.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, it’s also worth considering the Edge 50 Fusion.

The Poco X6 Pro is the second Xiaomi phone in this round-up, though its Poco sub-brand is focused on speed.

And that’s very apparent here, with the X6 Pro offering some truly excellent performance. Its MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Ultra chipset is rapid for pretty much all tasks – including gaming.

It’s supplemented by a very good 120Hz OLED display a core part of a very premium albeit plain design. Strong battery life pretty much guarantees a full day of usage, while the necessary 67W fast charger is included in the box.

Cameras are the obvious weakness, and Xiaomi’s MIUI replacement (known as HyperOS) still needs work, but it’s still a stellar cheap phone for day-to-day usage.

Alternatively, you can save money by opting for the regular Poco X6 5G or step up to the Poco F6 or F6 Pro, but the X6 Pro is still the sweet spot for most people.