US
- Google Pixel 5a 5G – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The Pixel 5a is the latest midrange phone from Google and is only sold in US and Japan presumably because of the chip shortage. It is a very well-rounded device covering most if not all of the basics with its Snapdragon 765G processor, 128 GB of UFS 2.1 storage, 6 GB RAM, metal construction (with a grippy plastic bioresin on top) with IP67 water and dust resistance, dual SIM with 5G connectivity (one physical+an eSIM) and Full HD AMOLED display. The camera hardware might not be comparable to rival products but the image processing is the best in this segment which compensates for the hardware leading to a great camera experience. The 5a will get three years of Android version and security updates since it’s a phone developed and sold by Google and it will be first in line to get those updates. There are some drawbacks, the display is a standard 60 Hz refresh rate when many of its rivals have moved on to 90/120 Hz displays and the phone is available in one storage configuration which cannot be expanded. Additionally, the phone has a large 6.3-inch display so it may not be suitable for people who want a more compact option.
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The A53 gets a faster processor and larger battery and maintains most of the improvements bought over by the A52 except for the omission of the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Samsung are also promising four years of Android updates and five years of security patches for this phone. It also has Micro SD card expansion, something that is often missing in this segment.
- Motorola G100 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The G100 is Motorola’s most powerful G series phone yet with a Snapdragon 870 inside. The phone is sold in one configuration with 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 3.1 storage (expandable via Micro SD). A headphone jack is present just like the other Moto G phones. The phone also includes Motorola’s Ready For platform that allows the use of the phone as a computer replacement on monitors and enables one to access their applications on a desktop/laptop. The rest of the package feels decidedly lower end with a 6.7-inch 90 Hz LCD encased in a plastic body. The cameras are decent but aren’t as good as the competition. Motorola does not have the best reputation with updates (this phone is supposed to get two years of Android updates and security patches) and are slower to provide them. However, the software itself is pretty close to the Pixel’s UI with additional customization options.
Other options: The S20 FE 5G is worthy of consideration if an older flagship phone is desired and can be found under $500 new. The OnePlus 8T may also be a good option for T-Mobile customers as it is available for $349 on OnePlus’s website. The Moto One 5G Ace is one of the few options that costs under $300. Unfortunately the US midrange space isn’t so there aren’t many compelling options. A used or refurbished flagship from 2021 (Galaxy S21/S21+, Pixel 6/6 Pro) may be available on websites like Swappa.
| Summary | Google Pixel 5a | Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | Motorola G100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.34-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 60 Hz | 6.5-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.7-inch 1080 x 2520, IPS LCD, 90 Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, aluminium frame and back (covered with bioresin); IP67 certified | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back; IP67 certified | Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, plastic frame and back |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 156.2 x 73.2 x 8.8 mm, 183 g | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm, 189 g | 168.4 x 73.4 x 9.7 mm, 215 g |
| Operating system | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12, 13 and 14; security updates up to August 2024) | Android 12 (scheduled: Android 13, 14, 15 and 16; security updates up to March 2027) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12; security updates up to January 2023) |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G | Exynos 1280 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 6 and 128 | 6 and 128, 8 and 256 (Expandable via Micro SD card slot) | 8 and 128 (Expandable via Micro SD card slot) |
| Camera | Rear: Primary (12.2 MP, f/1.7, 1/2.55″, 1.4μm, OIS) + Ultrawide (16 MP f/2.2, 119˚, 1μm); Front: 8 MP f/2.0 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7″, 0.8μm, OIS) + Ultrawide (12 MP, f/2.2) + Macro (5MP) + Depth (5 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.2 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.7, 1/2″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (16 MP, f/2.2, 118˚); Front: Primary (16 MP, f/2.2) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.4) |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 4680 mAh, 18 W, 18 W charger included in the box | 4500 mAh, 25 W, no charger in the box | 5000 mAh, 20 W, 20 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (3.1), 3.5 mm jack, rear-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, single SIM | Type-C (2.0), in-display fingerprint reader (optical), NFC, single SIM | Type-C (3.1), 3.5 mm jack, side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, single SIM |
| Price | $449 | $449 | $399 |
Canada
- Samsung Galaxy A53 5G – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The A53 gets a faster processor and larger battery and maintains most of the improvements bought over by the A52 except for the omission of the 3.5 mm headphone jack. Samsung are also promising four years of Android updates and five years of security patches for this phone. It also has Micro SD card expansion, something that is often missing in this segment.
- Motorola One 5G Ace – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The One 5G Ace is Motorola’s latest One series device and is the first one with 5G. A 6.7 inch Full HD+ screen is paired with a Snapdragon 750G, 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage that can be expanded via Micro SD. A massive 5000 mAh battery powers the phone. As with other Motorola phones, the One 5G Ace will work with all mainstream Canadian carriers. Updates are another matter though, the phone may not receive an update beyond Android 11.
| Summary | Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | Motorola One 5G Ace |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.5-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.7-inch 1080 x 2400, IPS LCD, 60 Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back; IP67 certified | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm, 189 g | 166.1 x 76.1 x 9.9 mm, 212 g |
| Operating system | Android 12 (scheduled: Android 13, 14, 15 and 16; security updates up to March 2027) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12; security updates up to January 2023) |
| CPU | Exynos 1280 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750 G |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 6 and 128, 8 and 256 (Expandable via Micro SD card slot) | 6 and 128 (Expandable via Micro SD card slot) |
| Camera | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7″, 0.8μm, OIS) + Ultrawide (12 MP, f/2.2) + Macro (5MP) + Depth (5 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.2 | Rear: Primary (48 MP, f/1.7, 1/2″, 0.8μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚); Front: Primary (16 MP, f/2.2) |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 4500 mAh, 25 W, no charger in the box | 5000 mAh, 15 W, 10 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), in-display fingerprint reader (optical), NFC, single SIM | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm jack, rear-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, single SIM |
| Price | $590 | $449 |
Europe
€200-300
- Poco F3 – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The Poco F3 is the device Poco claims is the true successor to the F1 and the pricing indicates they’re positioning it that way. True to Poco’s motto of providing you the most bang for the buck; the F3 has a Snapdragon 870 chipset, 6 or 8 GB of RAM paired with 128 or 256 GB of storage. The front and back of the phone is covered by Gorilla Glass 5 but the headphone jack is absent which is disappointing considering it was highlighted as one of the key features of the F1 and the F2 Pro. Poco’s reliance on Xiaomi means they’re using the controversial MIUI skin which hasn’t exactly been well optimised for Poco branded devices.
- Realme GT Master Edition – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The GT Master Edition is the lowest end model of the confusingly named GT lineup in Europe. This particular model has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor along with 6 or 8 of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of storage. There’s a choice between two materials on the back with a glass variant resembling other phones and a vegan leather variant that was designed alongside a Japanese Designer. Realme bought back the headphone jack on the GT series after removing it on the X50 series last year however the frame has been downgraded to plastic and the ultrawide has been downgraded as part of a cost-cutting exercise. The focus on speed is evident with the presence of a GT mode that is supposed to boost gaming performance.
- Galaxy A52S – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The Galaxy A52s is a midcycle refresh of the A52 that significantly improves the processor and the overall value of the device. The phone is now powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G processor which is the newest and most capable 700 series chipset from Qualcomm. The rest of the hardware is identical to the A52 5G which means you’re getting a 120 Hz AMOLED display, 6 or 8 GB of RAM and 128 or 256 GB of storage (RAM and storage depends on country). This is one of the only devices to have an IP67 certification in this segment in Europe. There’s also a headphone jack which is a feature missing on many of its competitors.This is a phone that could be considered even if you have a higher budget as the options in the €300-400 price range do not have the same overall feature set and do not match Samsung’s update policy.
Other options: The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE is a great option for anyone wanting a slimmer device. The Redmi Note 10 Pro and the Poco X4 Pro are also options if none of these options are available.
| Summary | Poco F3 | Realme GT Master Edition | Samsung Galaxy A52S 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.43-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.5-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, plastic frame | Unknown glass on the front, plastic frame, plastic / vegan leather back | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back; IP67 certified |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm, 196 g | 159.2 x 73.5 x 8.0/8.7 mm (plastic / vegan leather), 174/180 g (plastic/vegan leather) | 159.9 x 75.1 x 8.4 mm, 189 g |
| Operating system | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to March 2024) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to August 2024) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12, 13 and 14; security updates up to August 2025) |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 6 and 128, 8 and 256 | 6 and 128, 8 and 256 | 6 and 128, 8 and 128, 8 and 256 (dependent on country); expandable via Micro SD |
| Camera | Rear: Primary (48 MP, f/1.79, 1/2″, 0.8μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚) + Macro (5 MP); Front: 20 MP, f/2.45 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/2″, 0.7µm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.5 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.7″, 0.8μm, OIS) + Ultrawide (12 MP, f/2.2) + Macro (5 MP) + Depth (5 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 4520 mAh, 33 W, 33 W charger included in the box | 4300 mAh, 65 W, 65 W charger included in the box | 4500 mAh, 25 W, 15 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), IR blaster, side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, Dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm jack, optical in-display fingerprint reader, NFC, Dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm jack, optical in-display fingerprint reader, NFC, Dual SIM (two SIMs/one SIM + Micro SD) |
| Price | €280-330 | €250-300 | €280-350 |
€300-400
- OnePlus Nord 2 – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The Nord 2 is OnePlus’s sucessor to the Nord which was a popular mid-ranger last year. The processor and the camera have gotten huge upgrades with the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 replacing the Snapdragon 765G and the two-year old IMX586 has finally been replaced with the IMX766. The Nord 2 undercuts OnePlus’s flagships by a significant amount while providing a lot of features that are associated with them such as the alert slider for instance. It is also the first OnePlus device to use the merged OxygenOS and ColorOS codebase which may be a positive or negative depending on the user.
- Motorola Edge 20 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Motorola Edge 20 is the successor to last year’s Motorola Edge. The name is misleading as the Edge 20 does not have a curved screen. We’ve got the typical year over year upgrades with the Snapdragon 778G replacing the Snapdragon 765G and the display now refreshes at 144 Hz instead of 90 unlike last year’s model. The device keeps the telephoto camera from last year and adds OIS to that camera however it is missing from the main camera where the 64 MP sensor of last year’s model has been upgraded to a 108 MP sensor. There are downgrades in other departments however – the headphone jack has been removed and expandable storage is no longer available.
- Realme GT Neo 2 – Manufacturer’s spec sheet, GSMArena spec sheet
The Neo 2 is probably the best option for gamers in the segment with it’s large battery and powerful processor with one caveat being the lack of a headphone jack. It is a cheaper alternative to the GT2 with a worse camera setup but makes up with better battery life as the Snapdragon 870 is a more balanced processor than the 888 on the GT and GT2.
Other options: The A52s (mentioned in the earlier section) is very competitive against most of these phones and actually has several advantages as it has a headphone jack and an official IP rating. The Moto G100 may be another option if someone is keen on a Snapdragon 870 powered phone with a headphone jack and Micro SD card slot.
| Summary | OnePlus Nord 2 | Motorola Edge 20 | Realme GT Neo 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.43-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 90 Hz | 6.7-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 144 Hz | 6.62-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 144 Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, plastic frame | Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, aluminium frame, plastic back | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm, 189 g | 163 x 76 x 6.99 mm, 163 g | 162.9 x 75.8 x 8.6 mm, 200 g |
| Operating system | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to July 2024) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to August 2023) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to October 2023) |
| CPU | MediaTek Dimensity 1200 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 8 and 128, 12 and 256 | 8 and 128 | 8 and 128, 12 and 256 |
| Camera | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, OIS) + Ultrawide (8 MP f/2.25, 119.7˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.45 | Rear: Primary (108 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚) + Telephoto (8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS); Front: 32 MP, f/2.3 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.73″, 0.8µm) + Ultrawide (8 MP f/2.3, 119˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 4500 mAh, 65 W, 65 W charger included in the box | 4000 mAh, 30 W, 30 W charger in the box | 5000 mAh, 65 W, 65 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), optical in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), side-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), optical in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM |
| Price | €340-380 | €300-350 | €300-380 |
€400-500
- Realme GT2 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The GT2 is a minor upgrade over the GT with a vastly improved primary camera and bigger battery. Some cuts have been made with the phone omitting the headphone jack. The vegan leather option on the GT has now evolved into a biopolymer based finish to the GT2. The GT2 is no longer the highest end phone from Realme and thus misses out on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. Realme are also providing three years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches which is better than most of the competition in this segment.
- Motorola Edge 20 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Edge 20 Pro has got a price cut and is on this list due to it’s optical zoom capabilities. It is the one of the only devices to offer a periscope lens at this price point. Motorola’s software is also clean and resembles stock Android visually. There are a few Moto specific apps for added customization and functionality. Motorola aren’t the greatest with updates and the Edge 20 Pro is only guaranteed to get Android 12 and 13 along with security updates up to September 2024.
- Oppo Find X3 Neo – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Find X3 Neo’s design and build resembles more expensive phones. It is one of the few phones to offer a telephoto lens in this segment. There are a few drawbacks though, the display is limited to refreshing at 90 Hz instead of the 120 Hz that’s found on most of the competition and the phone will only get security updates for another two years as it is already a year old at the time of this update.
| **Summary | Realme GT2 | Motorola Edge 20 Pro | Oppo Find X3 Neo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.62-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.7-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 144 Hz | 6.55-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 90 Hz, curved |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame, glass or biopolymer back | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, aluminium frame (covered by plastic), Gorilla Glass 5/vegan leather on the back; IP52 certified | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, aluminium frame |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 162.9 x 75.8 x 8.6 mm, 195 g/200 g (biopolymer/glass) | 163 x 76 x 7.99 mm, 190 g/185 g (glass/vegan leather) | 159.9 x 72.5 x 8 mm, 184 g |
| Operating system | Android 12 (scheduled: Android 13, 14 and 15; security updates up to February 2026) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to October 2023) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to March 2023) |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 8 and 128, 12 and 256 | 12 and 256 | 12 and 256 |
| Camera | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, OIS) + Ultrawide (8 MP f/2.2, 119˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 16 MP, f/2.5 | Rear: Primary (108 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, AF) + Periscope Telephoto (8 MP, f/3.4, 5x optical zoom, OIS); Front: 32 MP, f/2.3 | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, OIS) + Ultrawide (16 MP f/2.2, 123˚) + Telephoto (13 MP, f/2.4, 2x optical zoom); Front: 32 MP, f/2.4 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 5000 mAh, 65 W, 65 W charger included in the box | 4500 mAh, 30 W, 30 W charger included in the box | 4500 mAh, 65 W, 65 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), optical in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM | Type-C (3.1), side-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), optical in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM |
| Price | €450-550 | €450-500 | €500 |
India
₹12,500-15,000
- Moto G52 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Moto G52 is a near stock Android device and is one of the few options to get Android 12 right out of the box. We think it’s a better option than the Redmi Note 11 as it has the same chipset but will get an update to Android 13 which the Redmi won’t. The cameras seem to be identical as well. The Redmi has a few advantages such as an IR blaster and a triple card slot for two SIMs and Micro SD which the Motorola doesn’t so it may be a more appealing option for some people.
- Poco M4 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Poco M4 Pro is a Redmi Note 10S with a Redmi Note 11’s display. It has a more powerful chipset (Helio G96) than the Note 11 and a primary camera that is more capable. This phone is not to be confused with the M4 Pro 5G which is a completely different product with a different display and chipset. The software on Poco phones is generally cleaner than their Redmi cousins.
- Motorola G51 5G – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The G51’s display is one of the largest in this segment at 6.8 inches. Unlike previous Motorola phones at this price, Motorola have finally added a compass to the G51. Motorola’s Android skin is also cleaner than the software on Redmi, Poco and Realme phones.
Other Options: The Redmi Note 11 is an alternative to the G52 with similar cameras but in a smaller form factor but ships with Android 11 out of the box. The Poco M4 Pro 5G may be considered if a more powerful phone is required although it’s cameras are worse than the regular M4 Pro. The Realme 8 is one year old but is similar to the M4 Pro in terms of hardware but with software that resembles Google’s version of Android more than Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco.
| Summary | Motorola Moto G52 | Poco M4 Pro | Motorola Moto G51 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.6-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 90 Hz | 6.43-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 90 Hz | 6.8-inch 1080 x 2400, IPS LCD, 120 Hz |
| Build | Glass on the front, plastic frame and back | Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, plastic frame and back | Glass on the front, plastic frame and back |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 161 x 74.5 x 8 mm, 179 g | 159.9 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm, 179.5 g | 170.47 x 76.54 x 9.13 mm, 208 g |
| Operating system and updates | Android 12 (scheduled: Android 13; security updates up to April 2025) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12; security updates up to February 2025) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12; security updates up to November 2024) |
| SOC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 | MediaTek Helio G95 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+ |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 4 and 64, 6 and 128 (expandable via Micro SD card slot) | 4 and 64, 6 and 128, 8 and 128 (expandable via Micro SD card slot) | 4 and 64 (expandable via Micro SD card slot) |
| Cameras | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76″, 0.64μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚)+ Macro (2 MP) + Depth (2 MP); Front: 13 MP, f/2.45 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.73″, 0.8μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 16 MP, f/2.5 | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76″, 0.64μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 5000 mAh, 33 W (33 W charger included in the box) | 5000 mAh, 33 W (33 W charger included in the box) | 5000 mAh, 20 W, 20 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, dual SIM (two SIMs or one SIM+micro SD) | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, IR blaster, side-mounted fingerprint reader, dual SIM (two SIMs+micro SD) | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, dual SIM (two SIMs or one SIM+micro SD) |
| Price | ₹14,500-17,000 | ₹14,000-17,000 | ₹14,000 |
₹15,000-20,000
- Redmi Note 10 Pro – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet – look for Redmi Note 10 Pro India
The Indian edition of the Redmi Note 10 Pro gets a 64 MP Samsung GW3 sensor instead of the 108 MP HM2 sensor found on the international variant (which is renamed as the Pro Max for India). The rest of the specifications are the same. This is the cheapest device with a 120 Hz AMOLED panel in India. The phone has a relatively premium build with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and the back with a plastic frame in between. The triple card slot (two SIMs+ micro SD) is a useful feature that hasn’t been carrier over to the Note 11 Pro which is an inferior device in terms of processing power and camera performance. This is the reason why we’re recommend the Redmi Note 10 Pro over a newer model. Both the Note 10 Pro and the Note 11 Pro were released with Android 11 out of the box so it’s unlikely either of them gets Android 13 or a newer Android release. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max may be considered if the larger 108 MP HM2 sensor is appealing but the difference in the pictures isn’t enough to warrant the price hike.
- Samsung Galaxy M33 5G – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The M33 is one of Samsung’s most powerful midrange phones in India. It gets the same processor as the more expensive A33 and A53. Samsung have a good track record with updates and will update the phone to Android 13 and 14 and provide security updates for four years. The phone retains the Micro SD card slot via the hybrid SIM tray. The rest of the phone is underwhelming, it has an LCD panel unlike the other two recommendations in the section and the flash storage is eMMC which is significantly slower than the UFS 2.2 on most of its competitors.
- Motorola Edge 20 Fusion – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Edge 20 Fusion is the cheapest and most affordable model in the Edge 20 series and retains some of the features found on the more expensive phones such as the 10-bit 90 Hz AMOLED panel and Motorola’s Ready For platform. It has now received a price cut which makes it an even better recommendation. The Edge 20 Fusion retains the headphone jack and has a Micro SD card slot (hybrid SIM tray) for expandable storage unlike the rest of the Edge 20 family. Additionally, the phone has NFC and supports 20+ LTE and 13 5G bands thus making it a good option for international travelers. Motorola’s MyUX software is similar to Google’s version of Android in look and feel but Motorola haven’t been the best at updating the phone long term.
Other options: The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and the Poco X4 Pro are decent options if a 2022 phone with 5G is desired. The Moto G71 may also be considered for this reason. The Redmi Note 11S and 11 Pro should be avoided as they are inferior phones to the Redmi Note 10 Pro and Pro Max from last year.
| Summary | Redmi Note 10 Pro | Samsung Galaxy M33 5G | Motorola Edge 20 Fusion 5G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.6-inch 1080 x 2408, IPS LCD, 120 Hz | 6.6-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 90 Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, plastic frame | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back | Glass on the front, plastic frame and back |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 164.5 x 76.15 x 8.1 mm, 192 g | 165.4 x 76.9 x 9.4 mm, 215 g | 166 x 76 x 8.3 mm, 185 g |
| Operating system and updates | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12; security updates up to March 2024) | Android 12 (scheduled: Android 13 and 14; security updates up to March 2026) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to August 2023) |
| SOC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G | Exynos 1280 | MediaTek Dimensity 800U |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 6 and 128, 8 and 128 (expandable via Micro SD card slot) | 6 and 128, 8 and 128 (expandable via Micro SD card slot) | 6 and 128, 8 and 128 (expandable via Micro SD card slot) |
| Cameras | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.97″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 118˚) + Macro (5 MP)+ Depth (2 MP); Front: 16 MP, f/2.45 | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.8, 1/2.76″, 0.64μm) + Ultrawide (5 MP, f/2.2, 123˚) + Macro (2 MP) + Depth (2 MP); Front: 8 MP, f/2.2 | Rear: Primary (108 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (16 MP, f/2.2, 118˚, AF) + Depth (2 MP) ; Front: 32 MP, f/2.3 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 5020 mAh, 33 W, 33 W charger included in the box | 6000 mAh, 25 W, charger not included in the box | 5000 mAh, 30 W, 30 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, IR blaster, side-mounted fingerprint reader, dual SIM (two SIMs+micro SD) | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, dual SIM (two SIMs or one SIM+micro SD) | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, dual SIM (two SIMs or one SIM+micro SD) |
| Price | ₹16,000-19,000 | ₹18,000-19,500 | ₹19,500-21,000 |
₹20,000-25,000
- Samsung Galaxy M52 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The M52 is powered by the same chipset as the other options in this section and and all are 5G capable. Unusually for an M-series phone it gets the fully featured version of OneUI. Like most upper midrange and flagship Samsung devices you get an excellent AMOLED panel that is capable of refreshing at 120 Hz. Unfortunately, there’s no headphone jack but there’s a Micro SD card slot in the Hybrid SIM tray. Samsung have become one of the best OEM’s at providing updates so that shouldn’t be an issue with the M52 either.
The IQOO Z5 is the second Snapdragon 778G option and is the one which is touted as IQOO as the fastest phone in this segment as it is the only one of the three to use a UFS 3.1 storage based system. This means storage speeds can be twice as fast as the UFS 2.2 storage found on the competition. It is also the cheapest of the three and has been available for less than ₹20,000 in sales. However, it is not all positive as the display is the worst of the phones in this section and the cameras are average at best. IQOO are a Vivo spin-off so they use Vivo’s Funtouch OS with all it’s quirks.
- Motorola Edge 20 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Edge 20 is Motorola’s re-entry into the premium midrange segment of the Indian market. It Is powered by a Snapdragon 778 and is the only phone in this segment that offers a proper telephoto camera available in a slim package that is 6.99 mm thin and 163g light. The display is the highlight of this phone as it has a 10-bit 144 Hz AMOLED panel with 576 Hz touch sampling rate. The primary camera is 108 MP sensor which does not have OIS. The Edge 20 is only available in one storage configuration (with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage) and is sold exclusively on Flipkart. It has received a price cut that makes it better value now.
Other Options: Xiaomi’s Mi 11X and 11 Lite NE should be considered if they’re available under ₹25,000. They aren’t as appealing at a higher price as there are better options with better camera systems, more optimized software and better performance. The 11X is the more powerful of the two whereas the 11 Lite NE is for users wanting a slimmer and lighter device.
| Summary | Samsung Galaxy M52 | IQOO Z5 | Motorola Edge 20 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.7-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz | 6.67-inch 1080 x 2400, IPS LCD, 120Hz | 6.7-inch 1080 x 2400, AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Build | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front, plastic frame and back | Glass front, plastic frame and back | Gorilla Glass 3 on the front, aluminium frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 164.2 x 76.4 x 7.4, 173 g | 164.7 x 76.7 x 8.5 mm, 193 g | 163 x 76 x 6.99 mm, 163 g |
| Operating system and updates | Android 12 (scheduled: Android 13 and 14; security updates up to October 2025) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to September 2023) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to August 2023) |
| SOC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 6 and 128, 8 and 128 | 8 and 128, 12 and 256 | 8 and 128 |
| Cameras | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.97″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚) + Macro (5 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.2 | Rear: Primary (64 MP, f/1.8, 1/1.97″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 16 MP, f/2.5 | Rear: Primary (108 MP, f/1.9, 1/1.52″, 0.7μm) + Ultrawide (16 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, AF) + Telephoto (8 MP, f/2.4, 3x optical zoom, OIS); Front: 32 MP, f/2.3 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 5000 mAh, 25 W, 15 W charger included in the box | 5000 mAh, 44 W, 44 W charger included in the box | 4000 mAh, 30 W, 30 W charger in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), side-mounted fingerprint reader, NFC, dual SIM (two SIMs or one SIM+micro SD) | Type-C (2.0), 3.5 mm headphone jack, side-mounted fingerprint reader, dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), side-mounted fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM |
| Price | ₹25,000-27,000 | ₹22,000-25,000 | ₹25,000 |
₹25,000-30,000
Note: We would recommend looking at the ₹30,000-40,000 category as these products are one year old and some products like the Realme GT2 may be available at the upper range of this segment through card offers/sales.
- IQOO 7 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet – Look for Vivo IQOO 7 (India)
The IQOO 7 is one of the most balanced midrange phones you can get in India with a powerful chipset, good camera system, good display and reasonable battery life. It is one of the only phones to have a primary camera with optical image stabilization under a budget of ₹30,000. The ultrawide lens is also one of the best you can get in this segment as it uses a larger sensor with a higher resolution which means images won’t look as soft as the 8 MP sensor used on most options at this price. Vivo’s IQOO skin has it’s quirks and may not be the best option for people who want a cleaner software experience. The phone lacks a headphone jack unlike cheaper IQOO devices but it does have NFC unlike them.
- OnePlus Nord 2 – Manufacturer’s information page, GSMArena spec sheet
The Nord 2 is excellent value in India and is one of the best options under ₹30,000. It is the successor to the Nord which was a popular mid-ranger last year. The processor and the camera have gotten huge upgrades with the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 replacing the Snapdragon 765G and the two-year old IMX586 has finally been replaced with the IMX766 (with OIS). The Nord 2 undercuts OnePlus’s flagships by a significant amount while providing almost all of the features associated with them (including the lack of expandable storage and headphone jack). It is also the first OnePlus device to use the merged OxygenOS and ColorOS codebase which may be a positive or negative depending on the user. It can be bought from online and offline retailers whereas the IQOO 7 is only available online. The 90 Hz display may be a bit of a shortcoming when the competition provides 120 Hz at the same price point. The Nord 2 is expected to be replaced with the Nord 2T shortly. The 2T is expected to have an upgraded Dimensity 1300 but the rest of the package remains the same.
Other options: Samsung’s Galaxy A52s may be available under ₹30,000 with sales and would have been on this list if that was a permanent price cut. Samsung have replaced the A52s with the A53 so the phone may not be available for long. The A52s is a wonderful all-rounder and is the only phone to have an IP67 certification for water and dust resistance. Poco’s F3 GT may be considered if one wants a phone with physical gaming triggers and a metallic build but the cameras aren’t comparable to the other options.
| Summary | IQOO 7 | OnePlus Nord 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.62-inch 2400 x 1080, AMOLED, 144 Hz | 6.43-inch 2400 x 1080, AMOLED, 90 Hz |
| Build | Glass on the front, plastic frame and back | Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions (height x width x depth) and weight | 163.3 x 76.4 x 8.4 mm, 196 g | 159.1 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm, 189 g |
| Operating system and updates | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to October 2023) | Android 11 (scheduled: Android 12 and 13; security updates up to July 2024) |
| SOC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 | MediaTek Dimensity 1200 |
| RAM and storage (in GB) | 8 and 128, 12 and 256 | 8 and 128, 12 and 256 |
| Cameras | Rear: Primary (48 MP, f/1.8, 1/2″, 1.0µm, OIS) + Ultrawide (13 MP f/2.2, 120˚) + Depth (2 MP); Front: 16 MP, f/2.0 | Rear: Primary (50 MP, f/1.88, 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, OIS) + Ultrawide (8 MP f/2.25, 119.7˚) + Macro (2 MP); Front: 32 MP, f/2.45 |
| Battery (typical capacity) and charging | 4400 mAh, 66 W, 66 W charger included | 4500 mAh, 65 W, 65 W charger included in the box |
| Ports and sensors | Type-C (2.0), optical in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM | Type-C (2.0), optical in-display fingerprint sensor, NFC, dual SIM |
| Price | ₹30,000-34,000 | ₹28,000-38,000 |
