With Black Friday deals already springing up and all of the big-name phone makers rolling out the last of their new models for the year, it's the perfect time to pick up a new phone — whether as a gift for someone else or as a treat for yourself. And if you are planning on a new phone purchase in the coming weeks, I'm going to encourage you to broaden your search beyond the big names out there.
I know it can be appealing to lock up the latest and greatest hardware, and certainly, many of the leading flagship phones to debut in 2025 are well represented in our best phone rankings. But I also know that most of us are keeping a closer eye on our budgets these days, and setting your sights on a midrange phone rather than a pricier flagship can get you more value for your dollar.
Why you should consider midrange phones
Besides the lower prices — we're talking phones that let you save $200 and more from the cost of a flagship device — there are several other reasons why midrange phones are more compelling options than you might think.
The cameras have gotten better
There used to be a big gap in camera quality between flagship phones and their cheaper counterparts. Some of those trade-offs remain — you're unlikely to find a dedicated zoom lens on a sub-$500 phone for example — but midrange phones produce higher-quality images these days, thanks to a mix of improved hardware and better photo-processing features.
Google's Pixel 9a sets the standard here, producing shots that are right at home among the best camera phones. But that extends to other phones in this price range, too. When I tested the OnePlus 13R earlier this year, I was struck by how well its camera setup handled color and low-light shots. Even the single-lens iPhone 16e produces great photos, though obviously you lose the flexibility of an ultrawide lens with that phone.
AI features have hit midrange models
While phone makers are taking pains to pack their flagship devices with AI-powered capabilities, cheaper models aren't getting shut out of the push for smarter features. You may not get every cutting-edge AI tool on your midrange phone, but you will find some if those capabilities are important to you.
With the exception of a handful of features, the Pixel 9a can support just about any of the AI capabilities Google introduced with the Pixel 9. (The Pixel 10 series, which arrived after the 9a and runs on amore advanced chip, does offer more in terms of AI.) Apple's less expensive iPhone 16e offers a more level playing field supporting the same Apple Intelligence features you can find on newer iPhone 17 models.
Even Samsung's Galaxy A models have stepped up their AI game. While you'll get amore complete set of Galaxy AI tools with phone maker's Galaxy S flagships and Galaxy Z foldables, more affordable devices like the $499 Galaxy A56 support AI-powered photo editing, writing suggestions and Circle to Search features.
No compromises on battery life
By now, it's no surprise that cheaper phones are just as capable of lasting a long time on a charge as more expensive flagships. In fact, phone makers often turn to battery life as a selling point for their lower-cost offerings.
Certainly, that's been the case for Motorola's budget Moto G phones, with two of the 2025 versions claiming spots on our best phone battery life list. The OnePlus 13R also happens to be one of the longer-lasting phones to undergo our battery test this year, as it lasted 19 hours, finishing just behind the more expensive OnePlus 13 flagship.
You get longer software support these days
An oft-overlooked tradeoff for buying a cheaper phone has typically involved more limited software support, especially for Android devices. While flagships could count on extended software and security updates, midrange phones were often cut off after a couple years.
Things have improved dramatically, though. The Pixel 9a features seven years of support, matching what Pixel flagships receive. Samsung has upped software and security updates toi six years for its Galaxy A models. And the iPhone 16e figures to get as much support as the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup — at least five years — since it features the same A18 silicon.
Moto G phones used to be notorious for their stingy software policies. But starting with the 2025 models, Motorola boosted the number of guaranteed Android updates to two instead of just one; you also get three years of security patches.
Midrange phones I'd recommend
So which midrange phone should you consider, either as a gift or a treat for yourself? Two models stand out to me based on my time with the phones and feedback from my Tom's Guide colleagues.
The Pixel 9a is our pick for the best cheap phone under $500 and for good reason — it delivers outstanding camera performance along with an impressive suite of Google AI tools. I'm also impressed by how bright then6.3-inch display can get, and both the Peony and Iris color options look particular eye-catching to me.
Right now, the best deal on the Pixel 9a lets you save $100 off the regular $499 price at Best Buy when you activate the phone with a carrier. But Google is expected to introduce deals of its own this week that could mean more discounts on the Pixel 9a as well as other devices.
I'm also a fan of the Nothing Phone 3a, which is one of the few sub-$400 phones to feature a dedicated zoom lens. The cameras performed pretty well in my testing, too, with colorful, detailed images. I like the phone's long battery life and bright screen, though I'll admit its glyph-centric look may be an acquired taste.
The trickiest thing about the Nothing Phone 3a has been tracking down the model at its listed $379 starting price. Amazon sells the phone, but generally at mark-up, requiring you to purchase the device directly through Nothing. As of this writing, though, Walmart is selling the Nothing Phone 3a, and at a $71 discount, too.
I have been recommending the Moto G (2025) as the cheap phone to get if you don't want to spend more than $200 on your next handset. I still like the epic battery life and a design that hides this phone's budget origin story, but the 2026 edition of the Moto G arrives next month. It may be worth seeing what improvements the new version brings, though you can save $50 on the Moto G (2025) at Amazon.
Two midrange photos I'd normally recommend would be the OnePlus 13R and iPhone 16e. We're still waiting to find out if the newer OnePlus 15R makes it to the U.S. in the coming year, and an iPhone 17e is reportedly in the works for the spring. You'd be better off waiting for new versions of these devices.
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