Are mid-range phones the best?
THE smartphone market seems awash with new devices with one being launched every few weeks.
The ones you usually hear the most about are the high-end devices. They are the ones companies make the most money from and they are the ones many people aspire to own.
However, they are also the most expensive and can have a lot of features not needed by many people.
That’s where the mid-range phones come in. They are priced around $350 to $650 and often their tech for the most important features is very good.
Every phone manufacturer makes one though Apple’s iPhone 5C has now been discontinued, though you can still buy them in many shops.
Here are five reasons why midrange phones are great:
DURABILITY
The lack of shiny metal or glass on the back is a big part of their appeal as it means they are more durable and you save money by not having to buy a case.
Glass-backed cases are vulnerable to cracking and metal scratches easily. Why pay extra for great design if you have to hide it away in a case?
SAME SYSTEMS
An iPhone 5C has the same operating system as the latest 6S model. Sure, the 5C may run a bit slower and doesn’t have access to some of the features such as 3D touch, but you are getting a similar experience.
It’s not so clean cut with Android phones, but many affordable phones can run Android 5.0 (which is just being replaced) which many top-end phones still use.
The point is that many of the apps and the user interface available on affordable phones are the same as more expensive devices.
TRICKLE-DOWN TECH
All the fancy tech goes into the most expensive phones first.
Many top phones can now record 4K video so expect that feature in mid-range phones in a few years.
The same with fingerprint scanners – they first appeared a few years ago and by next year many more affordable devices will have them. Mid-range phones can include both newly released devices that are affordable, as well as former top-tier phones that are a few years old and now have a reduced price.
For example, the Samsung Galaxy S5 now costs about $650, which is a great phone and has a fingerprint scanner. Don’t be afraid of older models, especially if they can run Android 5.0 and the latest iOS.
CAMERAS
This is where some mid-range cameras can potentially come unstuck. If you like taking pictures with your phone take 1. Moto X 2nd gen ($520): 5.2-inch screen, 4K video, 16GB storage, 13MP camera, 4G, Android. 2. Samsung S5 Mini ($450): 4.5-inch screen, 16GB storage, 8MP camera, 4G, Android 3. Sony M4 Aqua ($500): 5-inch screen, 8GB storage, 13MP camera, 4G, Android 4. Huawei P8 Lite ($400): 5-inch screen, 16GB storage, 13MP camera, 4G, Android 5. iPhone 5C ($600): 4-inch screen, 8GB storage, 8MP camera, 4G, iOS. care when purchasing as some phones in this price range can have poor cameras. Some can take good photos but have very slow autofocus or lag between taking pictures.
Check out dxomark.com for independent reviews, or else go into a store and try out the phone in person.