Best Mid-Range Phone 2026: Top Picks Between $400 and $700
The $400–$700 tier is where the smartest phone buyers spend in 2026. You give up the latest chipset and some camera flexibility but get 90% of the flagship experience for half the price. Here are the picks anchored to MKBHD's Smartphone Awards.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones currently selling in the $400–$700 range that won or placed at MKBHD's awards or are heavily-discounted last-gen flagships with multi-year support remaining.
- #1
Best mid-range overall — runner-up 2024 Best Small Phone
Samsung Galaxy S24
Samsung · 2024 · From $799
Runner-up Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Now $599–$699. Flagship Snapdragon chipset, Galaxy AI, and 5+ years of updates remaining. Best mid-range value if you want a flagship without paying flagship prices.
Pros
- Runner-up Best Small Phone 2024
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip
- Five+ years of updates
Cons
- Smaller battery than S24+
- Camera trails Pixel pipeline
- #2
Won Best Small Phone at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Now $599–$699. Full Apple Intelligence support and 5+ years of iOS updates remaining.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Best Small Phone
- Full Apple Intelligence
- Five+ years of iOS support
Cons
- 60Hz display
- No telephoto
- #3
Runner-up Best Value at MKBHD's 2024 awards. $499 with seven years of updates, Tensor G3, and Google's full computational photography pipeline.
Pros
- Runner-up Best Value 2024
- Seven years of OS updates
- Best photography under $500
Cons
- Plastic frame
- Tensor G3 isn't fast
- #4
Runner-up Best Camera at MKBHD's 2023 awards. Now $500–$700 used. The cheapest path to a 5x telephoto with Magic Editor and Best Take.
Pros
- Runner-up Best Camera 2023
- 5x telephoto
- Now $500–$700 used
Cons
- Tensor G3 thermals
- Average battery
- #5
Won Best Camera at MKBHD's 2023 Smartphone Awards. Refurbished at $599–$699. Supports Apple Intelligence and ProRes video — the cheapest iPhone Pro with both.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2023 Best Camera winner
- Apple Intelligence supported
- ProRes video
Cons
- Two generations behind on chipset
- 8GB RAM tight for AI
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best mid-range phone in 2026?
Samsung Galaxy S24 at $599–$699 — runner-up at MKBHD's 2024 Best Small Phone awards. For Apple buyers, iPhone 16 at $599–$699 (2024 Best Small Phone winner).
Is a mid-range phone worth it over a flagship?
Often yes — current mid-range phones (Pixel 8a, Galaxy S24, iPhone 16) deliver 80–90% of flagship capability at half the price, with multi-year update commitments.
Mid-range or last-gen flagship?
Last-gen flagships (S24, iPhone 15 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro) often beat current mid-range on cameras and chipset for similar money in 2026.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.