If the notion of flagship has long been reserved for devices sold between 500 and 1000 euros, smartphones at much more accessible prices are now competing with them.
Not long ago, you often had to make a choice between design, photo quality, endurance and performance. Fortunately, actors like Xiaomi, Realme or Honor have entered the dance, marketing what are called flagship killer, smartphones that shine in all areas without being ruinous to buy.
Faced with Chinese firms, the historic manufacturers are still there, but are finding it increasingly difficult to resist. Of the ten smartphones in our selection, eight are Chinese brand.
Finally, know that the iPhone SE (2020), from Apple, would have had its place in this ranking if its autonomy had not weighed down its overall rating. At 489 euros, this smartphone remains a very interesting option. We recommend it to you.
Read also :
– Comparison: smartphones less than 200 euros
– Comparison: smartphones between 200 and 500 euros
– Comparison: high-end smartphones
01net.com updated its smartphone rating scale in early 2021, tightening it up, to better reflect the reality of the market.
10. Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite
Very enduring, the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite is one of the few 5G smartphones in this ranking. Equipped with the Snapdragon 765G processor, this smartphone delivers excellent performance and at the same time benefits from a very good quality OLED screen.
There are only photos that we hoped for better. Regardless, the Mi 10 Lite is an excellent value for money smartphone.
General note : 8.42 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 379 euros | 5G compatibility : yes | Read our full review of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite
9. Realme 7 Pro
Able to recharge in just 37 minutes thanks to its ultra powerful 65W charger, the Realme 7 Pro is one of the most interesting mid-range smartphones on the market.
Very enduring, this mobile is also entitled to an OLED screen and a quality quadruple camera module (with a 64 Mpix main sensor from Sony).
General note : 8.50 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 329 euros | 5G compatibility : no | Read our full review of Realme 7 Pro
8. Google Pixel 4a 5G
The Pixel 4a 5G is not only the largest (6.1 inches) of Google smartphones, it is also the most durable. Indeed, this device withstood our versatile battery life test for more than 19 hours, which is an exceptional performance.
For the rest, it is a mid-range 5G compatible smartphone (Snapdragon 765G processor) designed to work miracles in photos. In addition to a main sensor doped with artificial intelligence, the Pixel 4a 5G has an ultra wide-angle module.
General note : 8.55 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 499€ | 5G compatibility: yes | Read our full review of the Google Pixel 4a 5G
7. Motorola Edge 20
With its Edge 20, Motorola is proving to us that it is capable of competing with Xiaomi, Oppo and other Chinese manufacturers. At 499 euros, this smartphone stands out as one of the best mid-range terminals on the market. Its screen is bright, performance is excellent and its autonomy is satisfactory. Special mention for its exceptional design that rivals devices sold much more expensive.
General note : 8.55 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 499€ | 5G compatibility: yes | Read the Motorola Edge 20 technical sheet while waiting for the publication of our full test
6. OnePlus North
With the North, tested by our lab in its 12 GB version and 256 GB of storage (499 euros), OnePlus has successfully achieved its first mid-range smartphone.
To a very correct autonomy, the manufacturer adds an efficient fast charge. But it is above all the superb 90 Hz OLED display from the North that convinces, as well as its excellent user comfort, thanks to one of the best interfaces on the market. In short, we really recommend it! (Please note, the OnePlus Nord 2, its successor, is the first in this ranking)
General note : 8.58 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 369 euros | 5G compatibility: Yes | Read the full review of the OnePlus Nord
5. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
Despite its low price (279 euros excluding promotion), the Redmi Note 9 Pro is one of the best smartphones in this ranking. Equipped with a powerful and very enduring processor, this device even manages the feat of positively surprising us from the point of view of the photo. This is undoubtedly the best value for money in this ranking … provided you like large devices.
Indeed, the 6.7-inch screen of the Redmi Note 9 Pro is huge. Its little brother, the Redmi Note 9, is unfortunately much more disappointing.
General note : 8.59 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 279 euros | 5G compatibility: no | Read the full review of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
4. Google Pixel 4a
If you are looking for a photo-gifted smartphone, the Pixel 4a is the chosen one in this ranking (with the Pixel 4a 5G in sixth place). Once again, Google is showing us its incredible know-how in terms of algorithmic processing.
All the photos taken by the Pixel 4a are sublimated by software that manages to make it play on an equal footing with high-end cameras sold two to three times more expensive.
The rest of the smartphone, including its autonomy, is quite satisfactory for a device sold for 349 euros. One of the favorites of our editorial staff.
General note : 8.59 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 349 euros | 5G compatibility: no | Read the full review of the Google Pixel 4a
3. Realme 8 Pro
With its OLED screen, ultra-fast charging 50, its incredible autonomy and its 108 Mpix photo sensor, the Realme 8 Pro is one of the most complete mid-range smartphones on the market. At less than 300 euros, it is without a doubt one of the best value for money devices on the market.
General note : 8.62 / 10 | Manufacturer price: 299€ | 5G compatibility: no | Read our Realme 8 Pro review
2. Realme GT Master Edition
Able to recharge in just 25 minutes, the Realme GT Master Edition is a pretty impressive smartphone. Equipped with the Snapdragon 778G processor, a large 6.43-inch OLED screen and a very convincing battery life, it is one of the best-equipped mid-range smartphones on the market.
General note : 8.64 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 349 euros | 5G compatibility: yes | Read our first tests of the Realme GT Master Edition
1. OnePlus Nord 2
Like its predecessor before it, the OnePlus Nord 2 is, in our opinion, the best mid-range smartphone on the market. Powerful thanks to its Dimensity 1200 chip, enduring and able to recharge in 31 minutes thanks to its 65 W charger, it ticks almost all the boxes. Its OLED screen is of very good quality, its software interface is still as pleasant, its cameras are doing well … We really recommend the OnePlus Nord 2.
General note : 8.66 / 10 | Manufacturer price: from 399 euros | 5G compatibility: yes | Read our first tests of the OnePlus Nord 2 while waiting for the publication of our full test