The best mid-range phones to buy in 2025

Mid-range phones have become increasingly popular and more impressive throughout the last half of the decade. The main objective of a mid-ranger is to offer premium feel and performance for a price that is considerably lower than that of the current flagship options on the market.

Now, of course, price is a very subjective topic, but if we take a look at the high-end and then the best budget phones, we can assume the middle range fits somewhere between the $400 and $700 mark. So, keeping that in mind, here are our top contenders for the best mid-range phones in 2025.

Keep in mind that, since we are in the beginning of the year, all of the models below are from last year, but we will be updating this list whenever a great new mid-ranger comes along, so make sure you come back once in a while to see which models have made it here.

Galaxy S24 FE

A flagship in mid-ranger's clothing

The Galaxy S24 FE feels like some happy accident that happened at Samsung — it is simply too good to be true. While on paper the latest Fan Edition sounds impressive, it proved to be even more so during our review.

While the S24 FE does not come with the exact same processor that powers the flagship Galaxy S24 models, the Exynos 2400e managed to give us very similar performance. But the processor is not where the similarities end. Samsung has even added the same 50MP main camera, which produces image quality that is just as good as the standard Galaxy S24 and the S24 Plus.

The one downside we noticed during our time with the Galaxy S24 FE, and the one that keeps it from being a perfect mid-range phone, is its battery life. While it is not exactly bad, it is also nothing to write home about. Our battery life tests gave the new Fan Edition an estimated 6 hours and 20 minutes.

But for the starting price of just $649.99 from Samsung's online store, the Galaxy S24 FE is a total bargain. Especially if you consider the 7 years of software support, the awesome display, and the great dual speakers it comes with.

Read more:Galaxy S24 FE review

The Google Pixel 8a shines with its camera system, especially considering its mid-range price tag of $499. It boasts a 64MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera, capturing crisp and detailed photos.

The phone features a vivid 6.1-inch OLED display with a high peak brightness of 2,000 nits, ensuring excellent clarity even in bright sunlight. We should mention that the bezels are a bit thick for today's standards, but you kind of get used to them with time.

Under the hood, the Google Tensor G3 processor delivers smooth performance, allowing you to tackle everyday tasks and even some light gaming without issues. You also get 8GB of fast LPDDR5 RAM and between 128GB or 256GB storage.

The truly nice thing about the Pixel 8a is that it comes with the new AI assistant called Gemini. It wakes up with a long press of the power button, voice commands ("Hey, Google" or "Ok, Google"), and seems to work similarly to Google Assistant. However, it will likely receive features such as composing and sending emails/texts, transcribing meetings, as well as smart home appliance control.

Battery life is decent, but charging speeds are on the slower side compared to some competitors like the OnePlus 12R or the Motorola Edge (2024).

Read more: Google Pixel 8a review

Samsung Galaxy A35 5G

Samsung's great camera handset with a vivid display

This year Samsung decided to not offer the better specced Galaxy A55 5G midranger in the US market, so we are left with the more budget-friendly Galaxy A35 5G instead.

Nevertheless, we are still looking at quite to good phone for the starting price of $400. For that money, you get a capable main camera, great battery life thanks to a 5,000 mAh battery and the power-efficient Exynos 1380 chipset, as well as a stellar display.

Read more: Samsung Galaxy A35 Review

The iPhone 16e replaces the SE and 14 models, ushering in the "e" series.

While "e" has no official meaning, the phone is designed for everyone. It features a modern design similar to the iPhone 14, including a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, USB-C, and the Action Button.

Key upgrades include the A18 chip (same as the iPhone 16), 8GB RAM, a 48MP main camera, and significantly improved battery life. It runs iOS 18 with new Apple Intelligence features.

However, it has some drawbacks: a single rear camera (no ultra-wide), no Cinematic or Action video modes, no MagSafe, and a higher price of $600 compare dto the $500 of the SE series from past years.

While the iPhone 16e excels in performance and video quality (4K60), the lack of MagSafe and an ultra-wide camera are notable omissions. It's positioned against phones like the Galaxy S24 FE and Pixel 8a, both of which offer a second camera. But the neat thing about the 16e represents a shift away from truly budget iPhones, offering flagship-level performance at a mid-range price.

The OnePlus 13R strikes a sweet spot for anyone wanting a near-flagship smartphone experience without breaking the bank. With its 6.78-inch ProXDR AMOLED display, it’s a real standout. During our hands-on use, the colors were vibrant, the 2800 x 1260 resolution looked razor-sharp, and the 120Hz refresh rate made everything feel smooth as butter. Features like TÜV Rheinland Eye Care 4.0 and Aqua Touch 2.0 were a pleasant bonus, making it just as comfortable to use outdoors as it is indoors.

Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powers this phone, and it really delivered during our time with it. Whether it was juggling multiple apps or running demanding games, the 13R handled everything with ease. Honestly, it even outperformed a few competitors, like the Pixel 8a, in most of our tests. The option for up to 16GB of RAM ensures that multitasking is snappy, and the performance overall feels surprisingly close to what we’ve seen in last year’s flagship phones.

Now, let’s talk cameras. The 13R’s main 50MP Sony LYT-700 sensor (with OIS) paired with a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x zoom delivers sharp, detailed images, especially when lighting conditions are good. That said, the 8MP ultrawide camera was a bit underwhelming, and video stabilization could’ve been better—it wasn’t bad, just not great. Still, considering the price point, the camera setup as a whole is solid.

Battery life was another highlight for the most part. The 6,000mAh battery held up well during daily use, although it didn’t last quite as long as its predecessor, the OnePlus 12R. But here’s the thing: the 80W fast charging more than makes up for it. We got from 0 to 62% charge in just 30 minutes during our tests, which is super convenient if you’re always on the go. Plus, OxygenOS 15 adds a layer of smart features, like Task Prediction and real-time translations, which we found useful without being intrusive.

At $599, the OnePlus 13R feels like a great deal. You’re getting a stunning display, solid performance, and a sleek design—all for a fraction of what some flagship phones cost. If you’re thinking about upgrading and want something high-performing but affordable, this phone deserves a serious look.

The Motorola Edge (2024) is a mid-range phone that recently launched in the US. It boasts a large 6.6-inch P-OLED display, a decent Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor, and a capable camera system with a 50MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide sensor.

The phone excels in battery life with its long-lasting 5,000mAh battery that supports both speedy 68W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. That said, its processor and camera system are not the best at this price range. So, if these are your top priorities, you might want to consider exploring other options like the OnePlus 12R or Pixel 8a.

The Motorola Edge (2024) will cost you $549 for a 256GB storage variant.

Read more: Motorola Edge (2024)

Nothing made a solid entrance with its Nothing Phone (1) last year, so the company decided to stick to its guns and play it safe with the Nothing Phone (2). Its higher price was a bit of a controversial topic because of the rather hefty increase in price (from $299 to $599), but in return the second generation came with a much more capable chipset, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1.

The company also doubled down on the iconic Glyph system that the Nothing Phone is so well known for, making it more customizable by adding more LED lights. Now users can track things like a timer or delivery with one of the lights functioning as a progress bar, or assign a very specific notification to be presented via one of the Glyph LEDs on the back.

The third part that makes the Nothing Phone (2) stand out from other mid-rangers is its software support. Nothing has promised 3 years of major OS updates and 4 years of security patches. Nothing OS, which is what the Nothing Phones run on, is almost as unique as the phone's hardware, and it is bound to improve much more in the coming years given how early in its development it still is.

Even though they try to steal the thunder from the more premium flagship models, mid-range phones still need to make some sacrifices in order to achieve the lower price tags they come with. In other words, there usually is some areas that they are best at and others that have room for improvement, so you would have to really pinpoint what you want from your new phone.

Best way to start is by figuring out how much cash you are willing to spend on a so-called "mid-range" phone. If you know your budget, then all that is left is to weigh in your personal pros and cons for each device. Are you looking for long battery life? Or maybe it is maximum performance?