Best Mid-Range Smartphone ($300 ⇆ $500) in 2020

scrimshaw on 27/07/2020 - 15:16
Last edited 27/07/2020 - 15:16

Moderators at OzBargain are now running yearly polls to decide the best products in popular categories that get asked repeatedly in the forum. Our aim is to have a central thread where users can vote on the items, suggest options and also change their vote throughout the year. For more information on how these polls work, or if you want to suggest a new poll that isn't covered already, please refer to our announcement thread here.

Question

What is your favourite Mid-range Smart Phone for the year 2020?

Mid-range: Phones with market prices between $300 AUD to $500 AUD. Good phones don't always have to be expensive, and there lots to choose from in this category.

The Winner of last year's poll was the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 followed closely by the LG V30 Plus.

Remember: You can change your votes at anytime, and suggest more than 1 product over the course of the poll.

How do I suggest products to What Should I Buy polls?

If you have a product that you would like to suggest for the poll (that is currently not in the Poll Options), you'll need to make a top-level comment (i.e. not replying someone else's comment) and fill up "Suggestions" text box just above your comment:

Suggestion box

Do try to make a sensible suggestion (e.g make sure the phone is still available to purchase) and include a brief argument as to why you would recommend the product. You can only suggest 1 product at a time.

Poll Options expired

This is part of What Should I Buy poll for 2020. Check out other recommendations from the OzBargain community.
Mobile Google Huawei LG Mobile Phone Nokia Oppo realme Samsung TCL What Should I Buy Xiaomi Android

Comments

  • DannyC on 27/07/2020 - 16:33
    +2
    Suggested Google Pixel 3A XL

    Google Pixel 3A XL

    • kurisu on 17/08/2020 - 15:15
      +1

      Could you please share a link to where you got it for under $500? Might be worth posting it as a deal too since the lowest deal expired deal that comes up in a search is over that.

  • slingyz on 05/08/2020 - 14:24

    This just came out but will it make it in time for Oz?

    EDIT: Sorry just realised the price cap was $500.

  • slingyz on 05/08/2020 - 14:25

    For iphone users out there…

    EDIT: Sorry just realised the price cap was $500.

  • morgs640 on 06/08/2020 - 16:55

    If you wan't a phone that goes flat halfway through the day this is also a good choice.

  • billy_bob on 16/08/2020 - 20:43

    Oppo A52, great bang for buck and massive battery life, Gcam support.

  • zrmx on 17/08/2020 - 20:47
    +1

    If the Moto G 5G Plus is priced right (when it comes to Au market), it might be a contender when it goes on sale at the $500 mark.

    • shiggaz on 21/08/2020 - 08:45

      How did they decide this was a good name considering they already sell a phone called the "Moto g5 Plus"??

      • zrmx on 21/08/2020 - 09:22
        +1

        Lol I was wondering the same at the very alike names, but then, I remember there are tech companies with products that have much worse naming schemes. ( Looks to all the computer monitors 😂)

    • the Unforgiven on 05/09/2020 - 14:00

      I bought the G5S+ 2 years ago for $300
      I just bought an OPPO a91 on a plan as I have no money &
      the G5S+ was dropping out during voice calls

  • Bargainjustifier on 18/08/2020 - 20:06
    +1

    oppo 10x zoom/ oppo reno 5g

  • nickj on 25/08/2020 - 14:48
    Suggested Xiaomi Mi 9T

    Xiaomi Mi 9T for $399 was pretty great value for the mid-range: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/xiaomi-mi-9t
    Upsides: Unlockable bootloader, custom ROMs, good battery life (finally a phone that goes all day!), dual SIM, band 28, NFC, large full screen 6.4" display with no notch, regular MIUI updates and security patches, has GCAM mods, more RAM than most at 6 GB, in-screen fingerprint reader, and could be bought with local warranty & from local bricks and mortar retailers.
    Downsides are: the weight (e.g. 24 grams heavier than Pixel 3a XL), no wireless charging (but it's not a given feature in this price range, e.g. the 3a doesn't have it), and the faffing about to remove MIUI if you decide to use a custom ROM (but you don't need to if you don't want to).
    Issue now is getting stock - no idea if it's out of stock forever, or just temporarily because of COVID-19.

    • Arthur Dunger on 25/08/2020 - 15:37

      I bought one for $399 in March from that deal but haven't seen it at JB since.
      Awesome phone for that price, using it now. Too bad those deals were so rare.

      • nickj on 25/08/2020 - 15:43

        Yeah, I got it in Feb from JB, then I set up an alert on it to monitor for price changes, then it went out of stock, then back in stock in March for a few weeks at the same price, then out of stock again, and exactly as you say, nothing since. Which is a bit annoying since I bought it on a Coles MasterCard with price protection, so ideally I want them to keep stocking it, at a progressively lower price, so I can get the drop refunded to me ;-)

  • arislan on 29/08/2020 - 20:59

    A lot of these phones are released prior to 2020. Shouldn't a 2020 poll be about phones released in 2020?

    From GSMArena:
    Google Pixel 3a - released 2019
    LG G8s - released 2019
    Samsung Galaxy A51 - released 2019
    Google Pixel 3A XL - released 2019
    Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 - released 2018
    Huawei Nova 5T - released 2019
    Oppo A91 - released 2019
    Google Pixel 3 - released 2018
    TCL Plex - released 2019
    Samsung Galaxy A50 - released 2019
    Realme XT - released 2019
    Nokia 7.2 - released 2019
    Xiaomi Mi 9T - released 2019

    How about some actual phones released 2020?

    Moto G8 Power
    Oppo A92
    Nokia 5.3
    LG K61
    Xiaomi Redmi 10X 5G

    • Fobsessive on 29/11/2020 - 15:45

      If those older phones are available "in 2020" then technically they qualify for the poll, right?
      The poll isnt asking for best "of 2020"

  • Xtreamdoze on 01/09/2020 - 09:38
    Suggested Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite

    Hope its is better option.

    Mi 10 lite

  • KLoNe on 06/09/2020 - 14:55

    Huawei Mate 20 leaps and bounds over all these.

    • capslock janitor on 23/10/2020 - 15:08
      +1

      Where can we buy this new from? Legit wanna get it.
      (Preferably the Blue or twilight colours)

  • inasero on 11/09/2020 - 07:16
    +1
    Suggested Xiaomi Poco X3

    Poco X3

  • Oneshot on 17/09/2020 - 00:58
    +1

    If you want to another odd 30 bucks on top off the $500 A71 is an excellent choice from Samsung and it ticks all the box for me. Only catch grab it from samsung educayional store and subscribe to newsletter for extra $50 off.
    With the cellphone department changing so rapidly how many times have we found ourselves stuck with old tech before it even gets old. Or even worse get stuck with repair costs( been there done that way too many times) worth half the price of the phone itself.
    A71 in my view is excellent choice. Period.

    • OssieA on 21/10/2020 - 05:46

      The 8gb ram international version can be had for under $500.

  • Sygnoze on 17/09/2020 - 15:27

    Xiaomi Poco X3

  • lasterato on 25/09/2020 - 07:30

    Pixel 4a

  • Diji on 29/10/2020 - 20:49
    +4

    What's a good buy around the $400 mark prioritising battery, camera, and screen? Poco X3 is interesting but I'd rather compromise in the gaming department for a better camera, while they went the opposite direction. Doesn't help that the rear of the phone is absolutely hideous, or the chances of device updates past Android 11.

  • Herb Utsmellz on 29/11/2020 - 07:02
    Suggested Xiaomi Redmi Note 9s

    Can be had for under $300

    • Snapdragon 720G
    • 6GB, 128GB, microSD
    • 6.67 inches IPS LCD, 1080 x 2400, 395 ppi
    • Rear Camera: 48.0 + 8.0 + 5.0+2.0 MP
    • Front Camera: 16.0MP
    • Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
    • Bluetooth 5.0
    • 5020 mAh battery
    • placard on 18/12/2020 - 15:15

      Would you say this is better or worse than Poco X3 NFC? What does the poster you're responding to mean when they say worse camera? I thought Poco X3 had better camera than Note 9?

  • scrimshaw on 02/12/2020 - 16:21

    The polls will be closed soon at the end of this month. Make your choices (or don't) and revote if you have changed your minds

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