MID-RANGE PHONES

Who needs a flagship phone anyway? If you’re canny these days you can find solid specs, sharp design and smart features for less cash…

LESS TODAY WANTS MORE: HOW TO CHOOSE

● You’ll already have a budget in mind if you’re looking at mid-rangers, so focus on what you most want it to be good at. Play a lot of games? Look for the most powerful processor.

● Don’t obsess over camera counts. Clever processing means some snappers deliver ace results with just one or two lenses.

● Big batteries usually mean big stamina, but also look at how quickly they charge. Wireless refuelling might not be worth paying extra for if it’s really slow.

● The days when cheaper phones used LCD screens are gone. OLED is the standard now, but check the brightness rating for ease of use outdoors.

● Want to keep your handset for the long haul? Pay attention to how many years of OS updates and security patches are included.

Nothing Phone 3a Pro

What’s the story?

With a camera island that bulges out from its clear rear panel, the Phone 3a Pro makes room for the sort of snappers you’d expect from the class above. Subtle it is not, especially once Nothing’s signature glyph lights blink into life.

This distinctive-looking device is otherwise a dead ringer for the Phone 3a (from £329), which loses the periscope lens but delivers identical specs, the same widget-heavy version of Android, and the same unique on-device AI.

Is it any good?

Swapping polycarbonate for Gorilla Glass helps this feel like a fancier phone than its predecessor, and the step up to IP64 protection is welcome. The circular camera bump is a bit ‘me too’ for a firm like Nothing, though.

But with 3x optical zoom and 6x shots that hold up to Nothing’s ‘lossless’ claim, there’s no doubting the advantage this phone has over its baby brother, which has a 2x telephoto. Neither model has a great ultrawide, but the main lenses deliver clean shots with supreme detail. That’s handy, as the camera app isn’t as customisable as the competition.

The Snapdragon chip is a half-step quicker than the MediaTek in the old Phone 2a Plus. It’s still very much in mid-range territory, and has only really gained half an hour or so of battery life. Nothing OS 3 feels nippy, but the promise of three new Android generations is merely average.

If you rarely reach for the zoom button, the Phone 3a is the obvious choice. But if you’re sold on the brand’s features and also want its best camera setup, go Pro.

£449 / go.stuff.tv/3aPro

Key specs

● 6.77in 2392x1080 120Hz OLED

● Snapdragon 7s Gen 3

● 256GB

● 50+50+8MP rear, 50MP front

● 5000mAh

● 164x78x8.9mm, 211g

STUFF SAYS Divisive design aside, this is a capable phone with personality ★★★★✩

[ Words Tom Morgan-Freelander ]

Samsung Galaxy A56

What’s the story?

The Galaxy A-series rarely offers the best hardware for your buck, but Samsung fans flock to it anyway. Getting 80% of the Galaxy S experience for half the cash does admittedly sound like a great deal – and unless you’re paying close attention to that new camera bump, you’ll struggle to tell which is which.

This year’s effort even bests its pricier peer in one or two areas. The Galaxy A56 stretches the definition of ‘affordable’ even further than its predecessor did, though, and the competition has only got stronger.

Is it any good?

A metal frame that’s a mere 7.4mm thick makes this feel every bit the high-end hero, and the AMOLED display is no slouch either: the extended 1080p resolution looks crisp enough and the colours are striking. It’s got brighter too, at 1900 nits peak, so sunshine doesn’t hamper visibility.

It has the same 50MP lead lens, 12MP ultrawide and 5MP macro shooter as the last two Galaxy A generations, and image processing improvements are subtle. Fans of Samsung’s HDR-heavy colours and contrast will feel right at home, but this sits near the middle of the pack for outright quality.

Performance is fairly ordinary as well. Samsung’s homegrown Exynos 1580 brings a welcome power hike over the last-gen Galaxy A55 and has enough oomph to run the firm’s One UI Android skin smoothly enough, but the cheaper Poco X7 Pro on p63 outmuscles it across the board. Expect to lower the detail settings for playable framerates in most games. Still, it’ll last a day and night on a single charge, and wired top-ups are at 45W, which puts the Galaxy S25 to shame.

You’ve got to really want a Samsung phone in your pocket – and not be able or willing to save more for an S25 – to buy one of these. But for that audience, the A56 is in a class of one.

£499 / go.stuff.tv/A56

Key specs

● 6.7in 2340x1080 120Hz OLED

● Exynos 1580

● 256GB

● 50+12+5MP rear, 12MP front

● 5000mAh

● 162x78x7.4mm, 198g

STUFF SAYS Keeps the faith for Samsung fans, but won’t convert anyone else ★★★★✩

OnePlus Nord 4

What’s the story?

Anyone sick of today’s ‘glass sandwich’ smartphones will love the Nord 4’s return to a metal unibody. The single slab of aluminium makes this OnePlus mid-ranger unique among 5G handsets, and much tougher to boot.

Don’t think the throwback looks also mean outdated internals either: modern Qualcomm silicon, a generous battery and rapid wired charging make this a very easy phone to live with. OnePlus hallmarks like the alert slider and ace haptics also make an appearance.

Is it any good?

It launched with Android 14, but the Nord 4 has since been updated to version 15. We’re promised three more generations will follow, along with six years of new security patches. That’s not up to Google’s seven-year standard, but better than many rivals. And OxygenOS is as slick as ever, with customisation aplenty and some AI tricks.

The Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 chipset provides more than enough punch to keep it running smoothly and can hold its own in games. That it can also last two days on a charge is superb.

The 6.74in OLED screen is a standout, with over 2000 nits of peak brightness and the sort of colour and contrast you’d expect from a much pricier phone. Software trickery even lets you use it while your hands are wet. It’s only rated IP65, though.

I like that OnePlus hasn’t overdosed on camera lenses; and even though the ultrawide snapper is a humble 8MP, it’ll get the job done. Meanwhile, some image processing inherited from the flagship line gives the 50MP lead lens lots more nuance. Colours are vibrant, dynamic range is consistently strong, and 2x zoom snaps are essentially lossless. Low light is more of a struggle, so it can’t quite topple class leaders, but it gets very close.

Photography podium place aside, this is an otherwise fabulous all-rounder with no serious weaknesses.

£399 / go.stuff.tv/Nord4

Key specs

●6.74in 2772x1240 120Hz OLED

●Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3

●512GB

●50+8MP rear, 16MP front

●5500mAh

●163x75x8mm, 200g

STUFF SAYS The metal build is a nice throwback; the rest is as compelling as ever ★★★★★

Xiaomi 14T Pro

What’s the story? Most phone makers love the two-tier approach: take your recent flagship, dilute the hardware a tad and charge a little less cash. Xiaomi prefers a bit of cheeky rebranding. The 14T Pro started out as a China-only Redmi, but made it to Europe wearing fresh looks and a Xiaomi badge.

Leica-assisted cameras and high-end MediaTek internals belie its asking price, and it’s one of very few mid-rangers that can be had with a gargantuan 1TB of onboard storage (if you don’t mind paying a premium for it).

Is it any good? Flat screens and squared-off frames are the epitome of cool right now, so it’s no shock to see Xiaomi follow suit. The 14T

Pro’s matt metal shell and frosted rear glass are great at shrugging off smudges, and the textured power button adds a dash of personality. Like all great mid-price models it has a colourful AMOLED display that makes HDR photos and videos really pop.

It landed before silicon-carbon batteries were a thing for mid-range phones, but I’d hardly call the 5000mAh capacity cell ‘making do’: you’ll still manage a full day between top-ups, which can be at an obscenely quick 120W with the right power brick. And 50W wireless charging is impressive too. Xiaomi hardly skimped on power to achieve that longevity: the Dimensity 9300+ is a true flagship chipset.

Leica’s involvement means getting to pick between ‘authentic’ and ‘vibrant’ photo styles for each of the three rear lenses, which use sensor cropping to offer five focal lengths. Quality is consistently great, with even exposure and high clarity. Only low-light snaps fall behind the best in this class, by the narrowest margin.

The styling might not be especially standout, but the 14T Pro feels like a flagship to hold and performs like one in most areas. Given it costs a whole lot less, that sounds like a job well done.

from £465 / go.stuff.tv/14TPro

Key specs

●6.67in 2712x1220 144Hz OLED

●Dimensity 9300+

●256/512GB/1TB

●50+50+12MP rear, 32MP front

●5000mAh

●160x75x8.4mm, 209g

STUFF SAYS Lacks any wow factor, but this is an uncompromising sub-flagship ★★★★★

Poco X7 Pro

What’s the story?

Poco phones always impress with how they deliver such capable hardware for relatively little cash. Cutting back on the features found in parent company Xiaomi’s premium handsets means you’re getting mid-range vibes at affordable prices –and the X7 Pro is no different.

It embraces modern phone design, has potent custom-tuned MediaTek innards, and can last multiple days of regular use before needing to refuel. There’s also a large OLED screen and a capable main camera.

Is it any good?

Black and green versions of the X7 Pro get plastic rear panels, but I’d pick this two-tone yellow vegan leather model every time –it adds a sense of character that’s missing from a lot of phones right now. This handset also ticks more than its fair share of feature boxes, with IP69 resistance, an under-display fingerprint sensor, and stereo speakers that don’t sound shrill when cranked.

The OLED panel is a bit muted, but a quick trip to the settings screen can up the saturation –and it shines brightly enough to use outside without squinting. Gorilla Glass 7i should withstand most scrapes and scratches, aided by the pre-fitted screen protector.

Fair play to Poco for not going down the ‘more cameras is better’ route –that statement is rarely true in this price range after all. The 8MP ultrawide is merely OK, but the 50MP primary lens does a better job across the board. You’ll need a steady hand at night, but the gap to the best in the sub-£600 market is a lot smaller than you’d think.

That’s also true of performance, which is nicely smooth in daily use and powerful enough for games at moderate detail settings. Even more impressive is the easy two-day stamina.

The pre-installed app bloat is the only letdown here. The rest of the package should redefine your expectations for a smartphone at this kind of price.

from £308 / go.stuff.tv/X7Pro

Key specs

●6.67in 2712x1220 120Hz OLED

●Dimensity 8400-Ultra

●256/512GB

●50+8MP rear, 20MP front

●6000mAh

●161x75x8.3mm, 195g

STUFF SAYS No gimmicks and no major compromises, just great value for money ★★★★✩

Honor Magic7 Lite

What’s the story?

This deceptively slim phone hides one of the highest-capacity batteries in its class. Cutting-edge chemistry means the Magic7 Lite finds room inside for a 6600mAh cell, which is 30% more juice than you’ll get from flagships costing three times the price.

It also makes some bold claims about ruggedness, but elsewhere it has a lot in common with last year’s model. Reusing a processor that wasn’t exactly setting speed records when new was a bold move; 512GB of onboard storage goes some way to make up for it.

Is it any good?

Can’t spot a family resemblance to the Magic7 Pro flagship on p43? Don’t worry, there isn’t one. This is effectively a rebranded version of the China-only Honor X9c, complete with curved-edge glass that’s no longer the height of phone fashion. That glass is seriously tough, mind, surviving being run over by a quad bike (don’t ask) and 2m drops onto concrete pavements. That’s good news for anyone who insists on using their phone without a case.

The AMOLED screen is no larger than last year’s, but brightness has taken a welcome step up to make outdoor use that bit easier. Colours really pop and contrast is fantastic, while black levels are up there with the best affordable phones of 2025.

A superfluous macro shooter earned the old Magic6 Lite a lot of flak, so it’s refreshing to see its successor arrive without it. The ultrawide is still modest, but optical image stabilisation means the 108MP lead camera has upped its low-light game. Honor’s processing isn’t as nuanced as some, but it’s fine for the cash.

Ultimately you’ll bag this blower for its battery life. Two full days of use is a given, and three is doable with more restrained use. When you’re getting that from a handset that doesn’t look like an actual brick, you’ll forgive the limitations everywhere else.

£399 / go.stuff.tv/7Lite

Key specs

● 6.78in 2700x1224 120Hz OLED

● Snapdragon 6 Gen 1

● 512GB

● 108+5MP rear, 16MP front

● 6600mAh

● 163x76x8mm, 189g

STUFF SAYS The colossal battery and tough build are unheard-of at this price ★★★★✩

Apple iPhone 16e

What’s the story?

Think of the iPhone 16e as a like-for-like iPhone SE replacement and you might be disappointed by the bump in size – and bigger bump in asking price. But look at it as a new device in Apple’s lineup that knocks £200 off the iPhone 16, while retaining enough power and features for the majority of users, and you’ll be a lot more impressed.

Ditching the Touch ID home button for Face ID and squeezing in a bright OLED screen has brought the design bang up to date, while newer internals bring support for Apple’s AI smarts.

Is it any good?

The design isn’t a carbon copy of the iPhone 16 – Apple has made cutbacks, such as losing the camera control button on the side. There’s also only one rear snapper, but it’s a good ’un: colour accuracy is excellent, sharpness is on point, and details can often put the pricier Samsung Galaxy S25 to shame. It’s also more convincing in low light than the Google Pixel 8a.

The omission of MagSafe is a bummer, as upgraders from older iPhones won’t be able to use their existing charging stands or battery packs… unless they put the phone in a MagSafe-compatible case, that is, as regular wireless charging is still on board. Time spent tethered to a charger is minimal anyway, as this is comfortably an all-day phone and usually has enough in the tank to last to mid-morning the next day.

That’s despite being powered by the same A18 processor as the iPhone 16, albeit with a slight GPU downgrade. Benchmarks walk all over the mid-range Android competition, and iOS has a wider selection of productivity apps to make the most of that muscle. Games deliver buttery-smooth framerates, and there’s no multitasking drama.

The Android alternatives cost less, with more versatile camera setups and smoother 120Hz displays – but you don’t buy oranges when you fancy an apple. If you’re an iOS diehard, this is probably all the iPhone you really need.

from £599 / go.stuff.tv/16e

Key specs

● 6.1in 2532x1170 60Hz OLED

● A18

● 128/256/512GB

● 48MP rear, 12MP front

● 4005mAh

● 147x72x7.8mm, 167g

STUFF SAYS Not the perfect cheap iPhone, but as good as iOS gets for the cash ★★★★✩

[ Words Britta O’Boyle ]

Redmi Note 14 Pro+

What’s the story?

Few phones mix up their styling as often as Redmi’s keenly priced Note series. This year’s effort borrows its huge rear camera squircle from the flagship world but resists the trend for flat screens and sides: you get curved edges, with a frosted finish stopping it being as droppable as a wet bar of soap.

It was first out of the gate with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 silicon, packs a much brighter screen than its predecessor, and gets a fine optically stabilised main snapper.

Is it any good?

The 200MP lead lens is the only one of the three rear shooters worth your time: macro snaps are super-noisy and the ultrawide struggles to focus on distant subjects. The main cam captures lots of detail, contrasty colours and clean 2x cropped zoom shots. Night mode stays true to life and the stabilisation keeps everything crisp.

Redmi’s promise of three new Android generations is a long way short of what Google and Samsung are pledging –and even worse when you realise this phone lands running Android 14. At least the HyperOS skin is up to date, with Gemini as the default voice assistant and Circle-to-Search available at a tap. The handful of AI-assisted apps aren’t too in-yer-face, with text summaries and voice recorder transcription being the most useful.

The mid-tier CPU delivers the sort of performance you’d expect for the money, and can handle most Android games at a decent lick with sensible settings. It’s not a big step up from the Note 13 Pro+, though. Battery life hasn’t come on very far either, managing just over a day of moderate use.

The brighter-shining OLED is a treat, coping well outdoors and producing impactful colours, but the rest of the phone just hasn’t evolved enough. You don’t have to look far for more well-rounded alternatives.

from £359 / go.stuff.tv/14ProPlus

Key specs

●6.67in 2712x1220 120Hz OLED

●Snapdragon 7s Gen 3

●256GB/512GB

●200+8+2MP rear, 20MP front

●5110mAh

● 163x75x8.8mm, 205g

STUFF SAYS Fresh looks and a new CPU keep the Redmi current, but only barely ★★★✩✩