While budget and premium smartphones are now better and faster, the mid-range segment is where most of the innovation happens. With smartphone manufacturers stepping up their game in 2024, gone are the days when you had to shell out a ton of money to get flagship-like performance and cameras.
Whether you are a photography enthusiast or a mobile gamer looking to squeeze every last drop of performance, the mid-range segment has something for everyone. While mid-range devices priced under Rs 30,000 now have flagship-like chipsets and long software support, this year we saw impressive camera capabilities bundled with the latest chipsets on several premium mid-range devices.
Moto Edge 50 Neo brings wireless charging to the under Rs 25,000 price bracket. (Express Photo)
Moto Edge 50 Neo
Motorola phones are known to offer great value for money, but the company is also known for its unreliable software update policy. But it looks like the company is going to change for good with the Motorola Edge 50 Neo (review).
Featuring the Dimensity 7300 chipset, which also powers the likes of the Nothing Phone (2a), Redmi Note 14 Pro and the Oppo Reno 12 Pro, the phone has a vegan leather back with a minimalistic look that makes it look and feel premium.
While the chipset isn’t the fastest in the under Rs 25,000 segment, the Edge 50 Neo standouts with its MIL-STD-810 SGS certification, IP68 dust and water resistance, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and wireless charging, a feature that is currently limited to premium flagships.
You also get a 6.4-inch LTPO 1.5K AMOLED screen, which is perfect for one-hand usage and a clean interface, which is close to Pixel devices. It also happens to be one of the few Motorola devices to get 5 years of Android updates, but we will have to see if the company delivers on its promise.
The Pixel 8a will get 7 years of Android updates. (Express Photo)
Google Pixel 8a
Launched earlier this year for Rs 52,999, the Pixel 8a has received multiple price cuts and is now available for as low as Rs 39,999 Featuring the Tensor G3 chipset, the Pixel 8a offers a lag free clean interface and has one of the best primary cameras for the asking price.
Perfect for those looking to buy a compact Android phone, it has a 120Hz 6.1-inch OLED screen that gets really bright even under direct sunlight.
While the chipset won’t win any awards, the 64MP primary camera and the 13MP ultrawide shooter coupled with Google’s computational photography take some really impressive photos.
While the Pixel 8a may miss out on some AI bells and whistles introduced with the Pixel 9 series, Google’s promise of 7 Android updates and the slick minimalistic design make this a winner.
Poco F6 is aimed towards mobile gamers who want flagship-like performance at less than half the price. (Express Photo)
Poco F6
Another phone that set the benchmark for mid-range phones this year is the Poco F6. Poco’s latest F series phone not only offers flagship-like performance at about one-third the price but also features an equally impressive primary shooter that takes good photos during both day and nighttime.
Compared to other mid-range devices, the Poco F6 may feel cheap with its plastic back, but the performance of the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 and super smooth HyperOS experience puts most mid-range devices to shame. This is an easy recommendation for people who want a fast phone that will easily last them a couple of years.
Xiaomi 14 is one of the best compact phones of the year. (Express Photo)
Xiaomi 14
Xiaomi 14 is one of the few flagship devices that now competes in the premium mid-range segment. From camera to performance, this compact device has everything you can think of.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, the Xiaomi 14 has a 120Hz LTPO 6.36-inch, making it one of the few devices to comfortably use with one hand.
Xiaomi 14 (review) packs an impressive triple 50MP camera tuned by Leica, which easily outperforms most mid-range devices. If you are looking to buy a compact phone that will last for years and has an impressive point-and-shoot camera without spending much, this ticks all the right boxes.
Galaxy S23 FE is powered by the Exynos 2200 chipset. (Express Photo)
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
Samsung phones are known for their superior build quality and feature-packed interface, and the Galaxy S23 FE is no exception. Launched in October last year, the Indian variant of the phone is powered by the Exynos 2200, which isn’t the fastest chipset but is a beast when it comes to everyday tasks.
Like Samsung’s premium phones, the Galaxy S23 FE (review) comes with the Galaxy AI feature suite and has a premium glass-metal sandwich design with IP67 dust and water resistance. And while the cameras may not be as impressive as other mid-range phones, the phone makes up for it with its long software support. All in all, this is one of the best all-rounder phones under Rs 30,000.
Honourable mention:
Realme GT 6T
This year, Realme reintroduced its GT series in India with the Realme GT 6T. While the device originally launched for more than Rs 30,000, it has now received a significant price cut, which makes it one of the best mid-range phones of the year.
While the Realme GT 6T does miss out on a telephoto shooter, the performance Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 brings it on par with phones that cost twice as much. If you don’t mind slapping a cover on the shiny plastic back and don’t like Xiaomi’s HyperOS, the Realme GT 6T is an excellent alternative.
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