In this society where technology has no limits, owning a smartphone is absolutely essential. Mid-range smartphones are the best option if you are looking for quality for the price. Moreover, you will find almost all the same features as a high-end smartphone. But there are so many of them on the market that it's hard to choose. To better guide you, here are the best mid-range smartphones of the year.
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Our selection
"The Mi 10T Pro launched by Xiaomi is undoubtedly the best mid-range smartphone. Its 6.6" full-view display and high-speed 5G network is excellent."
"If you're on a tight budget, the Redmi Note 9S is the mid-range smartphone for you. With a built-in virtual assistant, it will make your…"
"Huawei has always been a benchmark for quality. With its power and excellent photo quality, the Mate 20 Pro is proof of that."
"The photo is the main asset of the Huawei P30 Pro. Without equaling the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the quadruple sensor on the back and the…"
The Mi 10T Pro launched by Xiaomi is undoubtedly the best mid-range smartphone. Its 6.6" full-view display and high-speed 5G network is excellent.
383 £ on BoulangerLooking for a mid-range smartphone? Go for the Mi 10T Pro! Enjoy the best videos on its huge 6.6" screen. On top of that, this smartphone comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage capacity. Thanks to its triple ultra high definition camera, your shots will be clearer and more realistic than ever.
Regarding its battery, it has a capacity of 5,000 mAh. Just like high-end smartphones, the Mi 10T Pro has a "fast charge" option, which makes it very convenient. As a bonus, it comes with a pedestrian kit, charging pad, USB Type-C cable, user guide and SIM card ejector tool.
If you're on a tight budget, the Redmi Note 9S is the mid-range smartphone for you. With a built-in virtual assistant, it will make your life much easier.
See priceXiaomi will fulfill your needs with its Redmi Note 9S smartphone. It has a 6.67" full HD screen and a fingerprint sensor on the side. The latter guarantees better security for your smartphone and allows you to unlock it faster than with a password or a pattern. In addition, thanks to its 48 MP AI quad camera, you can take very detailed photos by playing with the different effects.
Also, this smartphone uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 720 G as its processor. Being very powerful, it ensures the smooth launch of all your applications. But still, it has a built-in virtual assistant, named Alexa. With a simple voice request, you can listen to music, open applications and much more.
Huawei has always been a benchmark for quality. With its power and excellent photo quality, the Mate 20 Pro is proof of that.
599 £ on AmazonThe photo is the main asset of the Huawei P30 Pro. Without equaling the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the quadruple sensor on the back and the excellent front camera make the Chinese smartphone a new reference of the genre.
476 £ on AmazonLet's get right to the point! The Huawei P30 Pro has a photo block composed of 4 sensors: a main sensor 40 Mpx 27 mm f/1.6 OIS, an ultra wide-angle 20 Mpx 16 mm f/2.4, a x5 zoom of 8 Mpx 125 mm f/3.4 OIS and a TOF or Time Of Flight sensor to measure the distance between the subjects and to realize the background blurs. Note the quality of the 32MP front camera, capable of producing sharp selfies.
The P30 Pro also has 8GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a beautiful 6.47-inch display with curved edges and above-average battery life. However, the Kirin 980 SoC in this smartphone proves to be slower than the Snapdragon 855 in the Galaxy S10 Plus, its main rival. As for the EMUI 9.1 overlay of the Android 9 Pie system, it lacks originality and looks a lot like iOS.
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The best mid-range smartphone in 2021
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The best mid-range smartphone for everyone
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TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | ALTERNATIVE | |
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OUR SELECTION |
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro
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Mid-range smartphone - Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S
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Huawei Mate 20 Pro
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Android smartphone - Huawei P30 Pro
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The Mi 10T Pro launched by Xiaomi is undoubtedly the best mid-range smartphone. Its 6.6" full-view display and high-speed 5G network is excellent.
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If you're on a tight budget, the Redmi Note 9S is the mid-range smartphone for you. With a built-in virtual assistant, it will make your life much easier.
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Huawei has always been a benchmark for quality. With its power and excellent photo quality, the Mate 20 Pro is proof of that.
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The photo is the main asset of the Huawei P30 Pro. Without equaling the Galaxy S20 Ultra, the quadruple sensor on the back and the excellent front camera make the Chinese smartphone a new reference of the genre.
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Technical Specifications
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Screen Size
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6.6"
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6.67"
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6.39"
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Battery
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5,000 mAh
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5,020 mAh
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4,200 mAh
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6.47"
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Camera
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108 Mpx
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48 x 8 x 5 x 2 MP + 16 MP
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40 x 20 x 8 MP + 24 MP
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4,200 mAh
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Storage
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256 GB
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128 GB
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128 GB
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Kirin 980
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A mid-range smartphone has a reasonable battery with a capacity between 4,000 mAh and 5,000 mAh. Its autonomy is not bad, but frequent charging is still necessary. If you're going to use your smartphone a lot, you'll want to choose a high-capacity battery for better battery life. Also, make sure it has a fast charge function.
A mid-range smartphone should have at least 2GB of RAM for the best possible performance. As for the internal memory, it is quite high and varies from 64 GB to 128 GB. However, there are some smartphones that allow expansion by micro-SD card for more storage. The choice will depend on your needs.
The screen size of a mid-range smartphone can go beyond 6 ". However, it may be a bit bulky. If you want to be able to store it easily in your pocket, a size of 4.5 to 5 " will suit you best. For a comfortable reading and viewing of videos, prefer screens in the 5 to 6 " range. Also consider the resolution of your screen. Theoretically, the higher the resolution, the better.
When it comes to the processor, it's mostly about looking at the number of cores and the frequency. The more cores, the more your smartphone is able to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Regarding the frequency, if it is high, your phone will go faster. Among mid-range smartphones, quad-core (four cores) is currently the most common. But some can have up to 8 cores.
This is an important criterion for evaluating the range to which a smartphone belongs. Generally, we rely on the number of megapixels to define the quality of the camera. The higher the number, the better the quality. On the camera side, full HD is the best option for a mid-range smartphone.
Currently, most people choose to invest in a mid-range smartphone. But what should we expect from this class of smartphone?
Benefits
A mid-range smartphone allows us to get the most out of technology. You will be able to take excellent photos and watch realistic videos and movies. You will also be able to enjoy the best applications, store a lot of data and even control home automation devices remotely by installing a virtual assistant in your device. Best of all, a mid-range smartphone gives you quality at a very reasonable price.
Capabilities and performance
Mid-range smartphones are powerful and durable. Some are even waterproof and can be immersed in water for a set period of time. As far as features are concerned, they also impress us. Also, they have a very good front camera for the best selfies, as well as a rear camera often with multiple lenses and high resolution for quality photos. The different details that make up their cameras allow you to express your creativity by playing with angles and effects. The mid-range smartphones are definitely high performance smartphones.
Disadvantage and limitation
Most of the mid-range smartphones have a screen size of 6" and above, which is not always practical in everyday life. As a limitation, these smartphones don't have the advantage of 4K or UHD which are currently the best screen definitions available. And they are still far from having the excellence of a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra!
These are usually the iPhones developed by Apple. Almost every year, new models are released and sometimes they are accompanied by a new version of the iOS operating system. For example, with the release of the iPhone 6, we also see the appearance of iOS 8. These smartphones have their peculiarities. First of all, they do not allow the presence of a micro-SD card for memory expansion. However, instead they have the iCloud. This is a service that allows you to backup your data online. Also, they do not have a removable battery. iPhones are quite exceptional smartphones, but sometimes a bit complex to use.
They are the most common smartphones on the market. The Android operating system is developed by Google, and unlike iOS, it is not attached to a smartphone brand. Therefore, you can choose between several brands that offer this system: Samsung, Huawei, LG, etc. The manufacturers adopt the Android system and they make certain modifications to it according to their needs. There are different versions of Android, the best of which are included in the latest smartphones. And it is quite possible to see the same Android version in two smartphones of different brands. The advantage of Android smartphones is that they have unlimited accessibility.
Refurbished mid-range smartphones are no longer new, but they have been put back on sale after repair, cleaning, and boxing by specialists. However, they work perfectly well. However, they have some external imperfections, such as scratches or impact marks. In addition, their battery life sometimes leaves something to be desired. But they have the advantage of costing up to 50% less than new versions.
An older mid-range smartphone can be bought new, but it is less capable than newer models, even if the latter are refurbished. Its screen is smaller, and its video and image quality may not be as good as the new models. The same goes for its functionality. However, it is still a quality smartphone.
Between refurbished and old model, it all depends on your preferences. A refurbished smartphone is a new model and can be more powerful than an old model. But the old model has the advantage of being new. If you want to play it safe and be sure to have a working phone, then in this case opt for an old model smartphone. Indeed, you can never be sure of what you will get with a refurbished smartphone.
Consider the size of the SIM card
Be sure to order a suitable SIM card size for your smartphone from your operator. There is a distinction between micro and nano size.
Don't neglect connectivity and SAR
Connectivity defines the quality of your connection, and SAR refers to the ability of your smartphone to capture the network. Important points to consider for Internet enthusiasts.
Think about the design of the mid-range smartphone
Even if quality is the main concern, don't neglect the design of your smartphone. Choose one that you like.
Watch out for its protection against shocks and scratches
You need to make sure your smartphone is well protected. Think about using a protective film and a shockproof case.
Consider the device's charging time
When charging your smartphone, you must respect the indicated charging time to avoid your battery from swelling.
There is no exact amount, as it varies depending on the brand and performance of the smartphone. However, in general, we can say that the price is between 200 euros and 500 euros.
You can use waterproof shells, or some types of protective films. But when you buy your smartphone, you can also check if it is IP67 or IP68 certified, as this means that it is fully protected from dust and is water resistant.
Regarding refurbished smartphones, there are still some doubts. You may come across an excellent deal or, on the contrary, a mediocre phone. It's up to you if you want to take the risk or not.
Indeed that it is possible, but you still have to take into account some criteria like sufficient autonomy, a good screen refresh rate and a high enough RAM memory.
Yes, a mid-range smartphone has a GPS like any other model.
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