Mid-range

A monolithic rugged phone with a bright camping light, projector, night vision and huge battery, earning A tier.

A polished, fun mid-ranger that punches above its weight, though the regular 4a is better value.

Repairable with a microSD slot, but the camera, battery and chipset are disappointing for $400.

Great screen, storage and chip for $316, but the camera lets it down.

A rebadged Chinese phone sold in Turkey for roughly three times the price of the identical Lava.

Admirably repairable and sustainable, but dated, with weaker cameras and a slower chip than the Nothing.

A solid, reliable phone for business buyers, but dated looks and weak cameras mean individuals should spend a bit more on the iPhone 17.

Winner of the grandma's choice award for simple software, helpful tutorials, no bloatware and a forgiving camera.

A safe pick for less techy users with readable screens, big batteries, durability and Easy Mode.

Very well rounded, but the competition was too strong for it to win.

Overachiever award winner that blew past his expectations with flagship-level specs, Bose speakers and a grippy denim finish for $679.

Very well rounded, but the competition was too strong for it to win.

A distinctive, good-value $349 phone with a great screen and clean software, though the Glyph features lack depth and the cameras are only…

A stodgy but very comfortable small phone with decent mid-range specs and an unremarkable camera.

An exciting phone with a clever rotating camera and a standout screen, held back by durability worries, dull colours and a missing headphon…

Scores more points than the Pixel 9a overall, with stronger performance, audio, calls and battery, but costs 20% more and lacks an ultrawid…

Best mid-range phone of 2024, with better screen, battery, charging and zoom than the S24 FE at a lower price.

Impressively themed box, case and software, but only A tier-level: impressive without blowing him away.

A masterclass in branding with a fan-designed story, but the glow-in-the-dark finish is an underwhelming gimmick, so B tier.

Feels like a flagship at less than half the price, held back only by a soft ultrawide and no zoom.

Feels lazy next to the Xiaomi 14T, with a weak zoom camera for the price.

A lovingly detailed Harry Potter phone with lots of Easter eggs and great value at $500, though the software theming is a bit half-hearted.

Calls it an absolute game changer thanks to its detachable magnetic power bank charger, active Halo lighting and very fast 100W charging.

Won best mid-range phone as a home run from a new company, with intriguing design, reliable software and attention to detail.