The best 'mid-tier' smartphones
Everyone loves something shiny and new, but in reality, paying for a new smartphone at over $1,500 is far out of reach for most of us.
The problem is, because of that, far too many people get stuck in lengthy telco contracts to pay off a brand-new smartphone. The good news is, in 2023 those telco deals aren't inflating the price of the phone, you're literally just paying it off over a set of months. However, you are stuck with a big-three telco mobile plan and that's where the savings really are.
So, my advice is always to buy your phone outright, find the best and most affordable mobile deal and be prepared to switch and save regularly.
If you do that, you could save hundreds per year in mobile costs, but you do need to own a smartphone which brings me to my recommendations in the 'mid-tier'. These are smartphones between $250 and $800 roughly, and you'll be surprised by just how good they are!
What to look for when choosing a smartphone
For most of us, there are really only a few features of a smartphone that matter. Battery life, camera and usability.
The great news is, there are no bad performers in those categories. We're at a point where smartphones of all prices are fantastic.
But, those are still the key things to look out for.
So when comparing a few phones in this mid-range, phones you might not have seen or heard of before, I recommend you consider these things:
Screen size
Camera capabilities
Speed
Battery life
Here are five great options which won't disappoint in any of those areas...
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
Apple iPhone SE
I've started with the most expensive of the bunch, but also, the cheapest brand-new Apple iPhone you can get.
The iPhone SE is the body of an iPhone 8, but the power and brains of a much more modern iPhone.
This means it will run all the latest apps, be able to get Apple's and app updates for many years to come, and won't feel sluggish or slow.
And the battery will be an all-day affair for you.
The only real compromises here are it's the smallest of the iPhones (which suits many people), it has a single lens camera (so no Ultra Wide or Zoom), and it still has the 'home' button (so no FaceID or full screen to body ratio design).
That said, it's a cracking great iPhone – well worth a look!
My advice is always to buy your phone outright, find the best and most affordable mobile deal and be prepared to switch and save regularly.
OPPO Find X5
Oppo is a sleeper brand, they are huge overseas, and do very well in Australia, but still lag behind Samsung and Apple on their brand awareness.
None of that is a reason not to buy one. They make exceptional phones, and the Find X5 has a 6.55-inch screen making it one of the biggest here. It also offers 5G, dual-SIM capabilities, and an AMOLED 120hz screen.
These are genuine flagship features.
Plus, I'll give this the tick for the best design of this bunch too – it's a true premium look and feel, but you're only spending around $800.
Quite possibly the best bang for your buck phone on the market.
Samsung A54
I've just hyped up the Oppo, but anyone in the market for a mid-tier smartphone absolutely must consider the Samsung Galaxy A54.
This is all of Samsung's best tech in an affordable package.
That triple-lens camera, nope, it doesn't do 100x zoom like its big brothers, but it does most of the other party tricks.
Samsung has packed this with the power to game, and not just Candy Crush, I'm talking solid mobile gaming.
Its 5,000mAh battery is generous and will get you through a full, exhaustive day with no problem.
Honestly, I only felt this phone was mid-range when I sat it beside the Galaxy S23 and noted that it has a budget look to the edges, with a brushed grey plastic edge as opposed to the premium chrome look of the S23.
Particularly if you've got an older Samsung phone and are looking to upgrade, the A54 is an upgrade, despite what you might think at the price.
Nokia G22
Remember when we could replace the batteries in our phones? Well, Nokia is ahead of the curve here in returning to those days. Though, it's not just a simple swap-and-go process. However, with the environment and longevity in mind, the G22 is one of several Nokias that are now self-repairable.
Thanks to a repair kit and spare parts, you can replace the battery on this for under $100 – meaning you will probably get many many years of life from it as the battery is really the only part of a phone that degrades.
Besides that, it's a cracking entry-level smartphone. 6.5-inch screen, decent bright display, and fantastic battery life, which will probably be its most impressive feature to most.
Lacking 4G and probably not up to the performance of the A54 for gaming, Wordle, Candy Crush, and the like will be A-OK.
OPPO A76
About the same size as the Find X5 I mentioned earlier, the A76 is a great example of just packing an affordable package with decent tech to get it working.
Again, great battery life, a 90Hz display with a couple of great cameras, and a hole-punch selfie camera on the front – the thing Oppo has done here is make this feel like a phone that cost you two or three times what it does.
And for someone who just needs a great working smartphone but doesn't want to look like they got one that's plastic and cheap, this is a great option that still performs when you need it, like taking those family or holiday photos and sharing them with friends.
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