Quick Overview<\/p>\n
Google Pixel 7a<\/h3>\nThe best midrange Android phone<\/h4>\n
$499 at Google<\/u><\/a> $400 at Walmart<\/u><\/a>$400 at Target<\/a>See more options<\/a> $398 at Amazon<\/u><\/a>$450 at Samsung<\/a>See more options<\/a> $190 at Amazon<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n While the term shows up frequently in articles and videos, there isn\u2019t an agreed-upon definition for \u201cmidrange\u201d beyond a phone that isn\u2019t a flagship or an entry-level option. Our recommendations for the best midrange smartphones cost between $400 and $600 \u2014 any less and you should expect significant compromises. If your budget is higher, though, you should consider flagships like the Apple iPhone 13<\/a> and Samsung Galaxy S22<\/a>.<\/p>\n Buying a new device can be intimidating, but a few questions can help guide you through the process. First: what platform do you want to use? If the answer is iOS, that narrows your options down to exactly one phone. (Thankfully, it\u2019s great.) And if you\u2019re an Android fan, there\u2019s no shortage of compelling options. Both platforms have their strengths, so you shouldn\u2019t rule either out.<\/p>\n Obviously, also consider how much you\u2019re comfortable spending. Even increasing your budget by $100 more can get you a dramatically better product. And manufacturers tend to support their more expensive devices for longer. It\u2019s definitely worth buying something toward the top limit of what you can afford.<\/p>\n Having an idea of your priorities will help inform your budget. Do you want a long battery life or fast charging speed? Do you value speedy performance above all else? Or would you like the best possible cameras? While they continue to improve every year, even the best midrange smartphones still demand some compromises, and knowing what\u2019s important to you will make choosing one easier.<\/p>\n Lastly, pay attention to wireless bands and network compatibility. If you don\u2019t want to worry about that, your best bet is to buy directly from your carrier. To make things easier, all the phones we recommend are compatible with every major US wireless provider and can be purchased unlocked.<\/p>\n Every year, the line between midrange and flagship phones gets blurrier as more upmarket features and specs trickle down to more affordable models. When we first published this guide in 2020, it was difficult to find $500 devices with waterproofing or 5G. Now, the biggest thing you might miss out on is wireless charging. Just remember to budget for a power adapter too \u2013 many companies have stopped including chargers with their smartphones. Performance has improved in recent years, but can still be hit or miss as most midrange phones use slower processors that can struggle with multitasking. Thankfully, their cameras have improved dramatically, and you can typically expect at least a dual-lens system on most midrange smartphones below $600.<\/p>\n The $500 Pixel 7a<\/a> delivers everything we look for in a great affordable phone. New features include a faster Tensor G2 chip, a smoother 90Hz display and for the first time on one of Google\u2019s A-series phones: support for wireless charging. And with a refreshed design with IP67 water resistance, it looks and feels like the standard Pixel 7 but for $100 less. You also get great support thanks to five years of security updates and at least three OS upgrades. The phone\u2019s only shortcomings are rather small and include a lack of a dedicated zoom lens and no support for mmWave 5G (unless you purchase a slightly more expensive $550 model from Verizon).<\/p>\n $499 at Google<\/a><\/p>\n If you can get past its dated design and small 5.4-inch display, the Apple iPhone SE<\/a> is the fastest phone you can buy for less than $600. No other device on this list has a processor that comes close to the SE\u2019s A15 Bionic. What\u2019s more, you can expect Apple to support the 2022 model for years to come. The company is only just ending support for the first-generation SE after six years. The company hasn\u2019t said how long it intends to furnish the latest SE with new software, but it\u2019s likely to support the device for a similar length of time.<\/p>\n For all its strengths, the iPhone SE<\/a> is held back by a dated display. Not only is the SE\u2019s screen small and slow, but it also uses an IPS panel instead of an OLED display, meaning it can\u2019t deliver deep blacks. Additionally, that screen is surrounded by some of the largest bezels you\u2019ll find on a modern phone. That\u2019s not surprising. The SE uses the design of the iPhone 6, which will be a decade old in two years. And if the SE looks dated now, it will only feel more tired in a few years.<\/p>\n $400 at Walmart<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$400 at Target<\/a><\/p>\n For the best possible display at this price, look no further than Samsung\u2019s $450 Galaxy A53 5G<\/a>. It features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display that is ideal for watching TV shows and movies. Plus the 120Hz panel is the fastest on this list. Other standout features of this Samsung phone include a 5,000mAh battery and versatile camera system. The A53\u2019s three shooters may not deliver photos with the same detail and natural colors as the Pixel 7a, but it can capture bigger scenes with its two wide-angle rear cameras.<\/p>\n Like the other Android smartphones on this list, the Samsung Galaxy A53 isn\u2019t the fastest performer. At best, Samsung\u2019s Exynos 1280 is a lateral move from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G found in the Galaxy A52 5G. And though the A53 is $50 cheaper than its predecessor, this Samsung phone no longer comes with a power adapter and headphone jack, so the difference may not end up being much.<\/p>\n $398 at Amazon<\/a>Explore More Buying Options$450 at Samsung<\/a><\/p>\n If you only have around $200 to spend on your next phone, you could do a lot worse than the OnePlus Nord N200<\/a>. To start, this budget phone features a big 5,000mAh battery that will easily last you a full day. The N200<\/a> also has a 90Hz display and 5G connectivity, which are tricky to find at this price. Best of all, it doesn\u2019t look like a cheap phone.<\/p>\n But the N200 is also a good illustration of why you should spend more on a budget phone if you can. It’s the slowest device on this list, due to its Snapdragon 480 chipset and paltry 4GB of RAM. Its triple main camera setup is serviceable during the day but struggles in low light and doesn\u2019t offer much versatility beyond a disappointing macro lens. OnePlus also doesn\u2019t plan to update the phone beyond the soon-to-be-outdated Android 12<\/a>. In short, the N200 is unlikely to last you as long as any of the other affordable phones on this list.<\/p>\nMore options<\/a><\/p>\n
Apple iPhone SE<\/h3>\n
The best iPhone under $600<\/h4>\n
More options<\/a><\/p>\n
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G<\/h3>\n
The midrange phone with the best display for streaming<\/h4>\n
<\/p>\n
OnePlus Nord N200 5G<\/h3>\n
The best cheap smartphone when on a budget<\/h4>\n
What is a midrange phone, anyway?<\/h2>\n
What factors should you consider when buying a midrange smartphone?<\/h2>\n
What won\u2019t<\/em> you get from a midrange smartphone?<\/h2>\n
The best midrange phones for 2023<\/h2>\n
Google Pixel 7a: The best midrange Android phone<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo by Sam Rutherford \/ Engadget<\/p>\n
Google Pixel 7a<\/a><\/h3>\n
The best midrange Android phone<\/a><\/h4>\n
iPhone SE (3rd generation): The best iPhone under $600<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Apple<\/p>\n
Apple iPhone SE<\/a><\/h3>\n
The best iPhone under $600<\/a><\/h4>\n
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G: The midrange phone with the best display for streaming<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo by Mat Smith \/ Engaget<\/p>\n
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G<\/a><\/h3>\n
The midrange phone with the best display for streaming<\/a><\/h4>\n
OnePlus Nord N200 5G: The best cheap smartphone when on a budget<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo by Brian Oh \/ Engadget<\/p>\n
OnePlus Nord N200 5G<\/a><\/h3>\n
The best cheap smartphone when on a budget<\/a><\/h4>\n