The best mid-range phones for 2021, tested by our expert editors

Top Pick for

Amazingly powerful phone

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Top Pick for

Guaranteed updates and a great low-light camera

Google Pixel 4a

Top Pick for

Wide camera choice

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Top Pick for

Affordable 5G option

OPPO Find X3 Lite

The best mid-range phones for 2021, ranked

1. Apple iPhone SE (2020)
2. Google Pixel 4a
3. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
4. Oppo Find X3 Lite
5. Nokia 8.3 5G

Compare the best mid-range phones of 2021

Apple iPhone SE (2020)

Apple's nimble and compact iPhone impresses

Finder Score:

★★★★★

Read Apple iPhone SE (2020) Review

Pros

• Apple A13 processor is very powerful
• A lower cost entry point for iOS phones
• Small size is easy to carry

Cons

• Only a single lens camera feels cheap
• Low light shooting is poor
• Battery life is sub-par

Why we chose it

Apple is not known for being an "affordable" brand, but the iPhone SE (2020) is the exception, thanks to the inclusion of the exact same processor that's found in the much more expensive iPhone 11 line, the Apple A13 Bionic. It puts it astonishingly far ahead of its Android competition when it comes to running apps of any type.

There's a definite passion for iPhones amongst Australian phone buyers, but that brings with it a big problem. Apple's premium smartphones are hands-down expensive, unless you go down the risky refurbished/second-hand route. That's where the Apple iPhone SE enters the picture. While it's not as slick as a fresh iPhone, its Apple A13 Bionic processor still gives it plenty of processing grunt to run the wide array of easy-to-use Apple iOS apps. Its smaller size also makes it pocket-friendly if you prefer a smaller phone. The big downside for the SE really is its battery life – so it would be wise to invest in a battery pack as well.

Read our full Apple iPhone SE 2020 review

• Compare Apple iPhone SE (2020) plans

Google Pixel 4a

A clean Android experience and guaranteed updates at a pocket-friendly price

Finder Score:

★★★★★

Read Google Pixel 4a Review

Pros

• Better night photography than similarly priced phones
• Decent storage
• Has a headphone jack

Cons

• Plastic body
• No wireless charging
• Average battery life

Why we chose it

Google's affordable Pixel 4a is an impressive effort even in the busy mid-range space. While its design is somewhat plain and battery life is equally mid-range, it's also first in line for Android updates. Google leaves it up to you what to install or how it should look, with a clean and fast Android experience your reward as a result. It's also one of the easiest smartphones to get top-quality photo results from, thanks to Google's AI-assisted camera. If you're keen on the Pixel 4a, it's also worth checking prices on the Google Pixel 4a 5G, not so much for its 5G capabilities as its larger screen.

Read our full Google Pixel 4a review

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G

Samsung distils its best features into the affordable Galaxy S20 FE

Finder Score:

★★★★★

Read Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G Review

Pros

• Great app performance
• Good low light camera
• Flexible shooting for video or stills
• Range of colour choices

Cons

• Battery life could be better
• 5G model carries a stiff price premium
• 4G model uses a lower spec processor

Why we chose it

Samsung has its range of premium phones in the Galaxy S series and its mid-range Galaxy A phones… and then there's the Galaxy S20 FE, which bridges the gap between the two, resulting in a phone that can be purchased at mid-range prices with features you'd typically find in top-end devices instead. The Galaxy S20 FE's camera is a standout, and it's no slouch in the app performance stakes instead, especially if you can score the 5G model at a good price.

Read our full Galaxy S20 FE review here

• Compare Android phone plans

OPPO Find X3 Lite

Large 90hz display and top battery life

Finder Score:

★★★★★

Read OPPO Find X3 Lite Review

Pros

• 90Hz display
• Good battery life
• 5G ready

Cons

• No expandable storage
• No wireless charging
• Cameras are middling for an Oppo device

Why we chose it

Oppo's Find X series is meant to be its flagship line, but like other makers it's also got a cut-down or "lite" option – quite literally in the case of the Oppo Find X3 Lite. Its highlights include a sharp 90Hz capable 6.4 inch FHD+ display and good battery life, which is a real rarity in 90Hz-capable handsets. Surprisingly for an Oppo phone, where usually the cameras are a standout, here they're a little more ordinary, however.

Read Finder's full Oppo Find X3 Lite review.

Nokia 8.3 5G

Like a Pixel with all the trimmings, it's an enticing prospect

Finder Score:

★★★★★

Read Nokia 8.3 5G Review

Pros

• Exceptional battery life
• Clean Android UI with guaranteed updates
• 5G ready

Cons

• Cameras could be better
• Side fingerprint sensor isn't great
• Side Google Assistant button is awful
• No water resistance or wireless charging

Why we chose it

The easiest way to describe the Nokia 8.3 5G is that it's essentially what would happen if you took a Google Pixel phone and added luxury features and style. That's because like HMD Global's other Nokia devices, it's an Android One phone with guaranteed updates and a clean Android interface to play with, along with just a little more luxury in a handset that can easily be had for mid-range pricing now. You don't quite get the upper tier of premium features like IP-rated water resistance or wireless charging, however.

Read Finder's comprehensive Nokia 8.3 5G review

Compare the best mid-range phones of 2021

Compare the specs and and purchasing options of each phone in the table below. Click on "View details" for more product specifications.

Sort by:

Name	Product	Display	Display	Rear camera	Battery size	Overall rating	More info	More info
Apple iPhone SE (2020)		4.7 inches 1334 x 750	Display 4.7 inches 1334 x 750 Rear camera 12MP Battery size 1,821 mAh	12MP	1,821 mAh		Buy at eBay View details	Buy at eBay View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Google Pixel 4a		5.8 inches 1080 x 2340	Display 5.8 inches 1080 x 2340 Rear camera 12.2MP Battery size 3,140 mAh	12.2MP	3,140 mAh		Buy at eBay View details	Buy at eBay View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G		6.5 inches 2400 x 1080	Display 6.5 inches 2400 x 1080 Rear camera 12MP + 12MP + 8MP Battery size 4,500 mAh	12MP + 12MP + 8MP	4,500 mAh		Buy at eBay View details	Buy at eBay View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
OPPO Find X3 Lite		6.4 inches 2400 x 1080	Display 6.4 inches 2400 x 1080 Rear camera 64MP + 8MP + 2MP Battery size 4,300 mAh	64MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP	4,300 mAh		Buy at eBay View details	Buy at eBay View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Methodology

150+
Mobile phones reviewed

10,000+
Hours spent testing

10
Best mid-range phones ranked

• 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? Because we want to fairly assessed 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.