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Finder's expert review team has tested every single phone on this list extensively, considering design, camera output, performance, battery life and any special features for each handset.
Our editorial team selected the phones on this list based on their overall quality and value compared to other phones on the market. Get more detail on the methodology below.
If you're a fan of iPhones, your choices in the mid-range typically extend to either refurbished old models or the current-model iPhone SE. That would be the iPhone SE 2022 (the iPhone SE 3 or even iPhone SE 5G), which like its predecessors is effectively an iPhone 8 with a rocket stuffed into its innards.
And what a rocket the A15 Bionic is. You're effectively getting the performance of the iPhone 13 generation, but in a smaller and lighter 5G-capable handset. Apple's generally very good with software updates, so iPhone SE 2022 buyers should be comfortable there throughout the likely lifespan of the handset.
There are trade-offs to bear in mind. The iPhone 8 wasn't a superb battery performer when it was new, and the needs of both the A15 Bionic and 5G mean that its battery life is sub-par for the category. You're also limited to just 1 front and 1 rear camera lens. A number of camera apps can help you make the most of it, but it's a hard technical limitation if smartphone photography is important to you.
If you're a fan of the iPhone range, your typical mid-range choice will be a couple of generations behind the latest phone.
As it stands you could get the iPhone 12 for under $1,000 in Australia.
If you were to choose this phone, your device would be powered by the powerful A14 Bionic Chip at a minimum giving you strong performance. Your mobile device will be able to connect to the 5G network and it is part of Apple's ecosystem meaning you'll get frequent updates.
The downside is the iPhone 12 doesn't come with the largest storage and if you were to connect to the 5G network, it can be a drain on the phone's battery life.
How do Australians rate Apple's mobile phones?
97% of surveyed Australians recommend Apple
4.1
Value for money
4.5
Overall
4.7
Performance
4.7
Ease of use
4.7
Features and design
4.1
Battery life
How Apple compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For mobile phones, Apple was ranked 10th for value for money, 1st for performance, 1st for ease of use, 1st for features and design and 4th for battery life.
16 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
For those who prefer Android it's hard to go past the Google Pixel 7A.
This phone is powered by the Tensor G2 chip which offers strong performance and decent AI features including screening and voice recording. This should help you with everyday use.
Where this phone really shines is its 64MP sensor and impressive camera array that allows you to take exceptional photos regardless of the light.
On the downside, the Pixel 7 hasn't got the greatest battery life and it can be slow to charge. Some users have reported to fully charge the phone it will take nearly 2 hours and the charger itself needs to be bought separately.
How do Australians rate Google's mobile phones?
89% of surveyed Australians recommend Google
4.3
Value for money
4.3
Overall
4.5
Performance
4.4
Ease of use
4.3
Features and design
4
Battery life
How Google compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For mobile phones, Google was ranked 6th for value for money, 2nd for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 8th for battery life.
16 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Samsung's Galaxy A series phones are meant to be all about offering premium features at lower prices, which means that they're a balancing act.
Of its A series phones, we reckon the Galaxy A33 gets the balance most right out of any of them. It sits at the more affordable end of the mid-range price space, but with only a few compromises to get there. You get the same processor as in the more expensive Galaxy A53, a decent camera array for everyday photography and a really stunning 90Hz-capable Super AMOLED display to see it all through.
The balance against that is that its battery life is only average and you'll need to bring your own charger along for the ride. It's fast becoming the norm for premium phones to skip out on chargers, but it's far less common in the mid-range space. The Exynos 1280 processor that runs the A33 is also only adequate rather than being particularly fast.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For mobile phones, Oppo was ranked 1st for value for money, 5th for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 3rd for battery life.
16 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
The Oppo Find X5 Lite is nearly half the price of the Oppo Find X5, but what you get for that saving is still quite an exceptional phone.
You might expect an Oppo phone to impress on the camera front because it's been such a big focus for Oppo over the years. Instead, the factor that propels the Find X5 Lite to its position in our rankings is its battery life, which is really great for a phone in its price range. It's very easy to make it through a day even with heavier app or camera usage, although predictably 5G can sap that battery a little faster. It's also capable of insanely fast 65W SuperVOOC charging to top it up quickly even when it does run low on power.
Oppo's trade-offs for that lower price point are ones worth careful consideration. There's no IP-rated water resistance and wireless charging is also notably absent. App performance is fair, but those who like pure Android may find Oppo's ColorOS a tad overbearing.
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For mobile phones, Oppo was ranked 1st for value for money, 5th for performance, 3rd for ease of use, 3rd for features and design and 3rd for battery life.
16 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Boasting a resilient polymer composite back and a Corning Gorilla Glass Victus front, the Nokia XR21 ranks among the toughest smartphones available.
It is resistant to scratches, drops, water and dust, making it ideal for adventurous individuals or those with a propensity for accidents.
Nokia asserts that this phone can endure falls from heights of up to 1.8 metres and its IP68 waterproof rating ensures it can withstand submersion at depths of up to 1.5 metres for 60 minutes. It will operate reliably in temperatures ranging from -21 to 55 degrees Celsius.
Other impressive features include loud dual speakers, a 64-megapixel AI camera, regular monthly security updates and a remarkable 2-day battery life. In the rare event of phone damage, it is backed by a generous 3-year warranty.
How do Australians rate Nokia's mobile phones?
63% of surveyed Australians recommend Nokia
3.8
Value for money
3.8
Overall
3.8
Performance
4
Ease of use
3.7
Features and design
3.9
Battery life
How Nokia compares
In the 2023 Finder Retail Awards, we surveyed over 34,000 Australians about their retail purchases to discover which were their favourite brands across 170 product categories and over 1,200 total brands.
For mobile phones, Nokia was ranked 16th for value for money, 14th for performance, 14th for ease of use, 13th for features and design and 11th for battery life.
16 brands were rated across these decision criteria.
Compare the best mid-range phones of 2023
Compare the specs and purchasing options of each phone in the table below. Click on "View details" for more product specifications.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
We've spent thousands of hours testing and reviewing mid-range mobile phones.
Our editorial team has a combined 60+ years of experience writing about tech and reviewing the latest devices.
The phones on this list were chosen by our editorial team and were not based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
We comprehensively test every single phone that comes into Finder for review in the same way, whether it's a budget cheapie or a flagship phone costing thousands of dollars – and that naturally captures the mid-range phone market as well.
We consider the design of each mid-range phone. While at one time you could only get premium design features like alternative colours or materials or high-refresh-rate screens in high-end phones, we're starting to see those appear in more affordable models as well. We also assess the feel and usability of a phone's design, considering aspects like the quality of any biometric sensors, whether the build feels robust and any features that might make it more or less attractive to most users.
Cameras on mid-range phones have also improved markedly in recent years, with most sporting AI-assisted multi-lens arrays. We extensively test phone camera performance including low-light performance, video quality, any special features built into manufacturer software and how they compare against similarly priced phones available at the time of release. Rear and front cameras are equally assessed, which means we've taken thousands of rather unfortunate selfies over the years.
We use a range of commercial benchmarks to give a comparative viewpoint of how a given mid-range phone compares to the market at the time of release. Benchmarks are fine for synthetic comparison, but we then test for everyday tasks such as web browsing, social media, video streaming and gaming as well as any pre-installed software that's unique to that handset to get a more rounded picture of performance over time. Network features such as 4G and 5G speeds are also considered, although the variability of mobile networks must be taken into account there.
Every single phone maker will wax lyrical about how amazing their phone's battery life is, but not all phones are created equal. That's why we assess battery life in a comparative sense with a video streaming test to see how it ranks in the field as well as testing over multiple days to get a feel for general battery performance for each handset. We also consider charging speeds and whether features such as fast wired charging or wireless charging are available with a handset.
Finally, we consider the asking price for each phone. Why not consider that first, as you might in a store? It's because we want to fairly assess the phone on its physical merits before weighing it up against its price competition. That's especially important for mid-range handsets because the pressure for value hits them both from above with premium models and below with the improving quality of true budget phones.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some of the links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners.
Frequently asked questions
The Google Pixel is an excellent mid-range phone. It is jam-packed with features without the price tag of some of the bigger players. These include a generous camera and smart in-built AI to improve everyday tasks.
A mid-range phone will set you back between $599 and $1,200. But this will largely depend on the brand you choose and the features you want in the new device.
Yes you can certainly get a good mid-range phone, but it will all come down to how you use your device. If you just want to do basic internet browsing and keep in touch with your friends and family a mid-range smartphone will more than suit your needs. You would only need a higher-range phone if you want to take sharper-quality photos or want high-end performance for entertainment purposes such as gaming.
This is really dependent on your individual device. In some cases they'll have better battery compared with a traditional top-of-the-range phone, in other instances it will have a worse battery life.
A mid-range phone can cost anywhere between $550 and $1,200, depending on the model, features and brand.
Flagships are phones with the best features, specs and software that a brand offers. They are usually priced $1,000 and above. Mid-range phones have some of the features of a flagship option but are a fraction of the cost.
Your mid-range phone can last a minimum of 2–3 years, depending on the model, your usage and software updates offered by the brand.
A multi-award winning journalist, Alex has written about consumer technology for over 20 years. He has written and edited for virtually every Australian tech publication including Gizmodo, CNET, PC Magazine, Kotaku and more. He has also been the Editor of Gizmodo Australia, PC Mag Australia, CNET.com.au and the Tech and Telco section at Finder. Alex has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New England and a serious passion for retro gaming.
We've gone snap-happy to sort and rank the very best phones for photographers, whether you're a seasoned pro or just somebody who wants the sharpest photos every time you hit the shutter button.
Looking for an alternative to your iPhone? We've rounded up the best smartphone alternatives whether your passion is for better photography or more battery life.
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