The three best mid-range smartphones of 2022

The battle to dominate the mobile phone market does not stop. Particularly in the mid-range segment, space which is not always in the spotlight but which is undoubtedly the most coveted by manufacturers. Of course, if it is the stratum that has the most demand.

Although the headlines are monopolized by high-end models, not everyone is capable of shelling out a million pesos – or more – for a smartphone top of the line. For this reason, the mid-range is the one that best strikes the balance between performance, design, camera and, of course, price.

But going in search of a model that meets our needs in this price range – between 300,000 and 650,000 pesos – can be somewhat overwhelming. It’s not uncommon to end up with a headache after comparing the sheer number of makes, models, and variants of each phone. To ease this burden, and after testing dozens of smart phones, we have selected the three most interesting mid-range models of the year. Note: they all come with 5G included.

OnePlus is not yet a well-known brand in Chile. And it may not be strictly speaking its first model to land in the country, but it is the one that does officially and launched with great fanfare by the company that is now part of Oppo.

OnePlus, founded in China in 2013, aimed to create smart phones high-end but at lower prices than the competition. Ultimately, the company grew, expanded and was acquired by Oppo, also Chinese, last year. OnePlus has two defined product lines: one has the same name as the brand, for its high-end range (curiously, it is very popular in the United States), and the other is Nord, for its smart phones a little cheaper.

Precisely, the OnePlus Nord CE2 Lite (confusing name for a phone, let’s face it) is the most recent of these models: it appeared in 2022 and was launched very recently in Chile. It’s not a standout phone per se, but it’s a new player on the market and a breath of fresh air in the crowded mid-range.

Among the highlights of this model, which comes in “Navy Blue” and “Twilight Black” tones, is its large 6.6″ LCD screen, with 84% utilization, 120Hz refresh rate – something more typical of the higher-than-average range – and 2K resolution. Its good 5,000mAh+ battery and 33W fast charging (which reaches 50% charge in 30 minutes) also shine. The processor is an octa-core Snapdragon 695, it has 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and it’s 5G ready.

In the photographic section we have a triple-lens rear camera with artificial intelligence and a 64 MP main sensor, well above average. Plus, it has a few details that can make a difference: the phone includes a wired headphone jack input and a microSD card slot in the SIM card slot, which can expand storage up to 1TB. gestures that are rarely found in the high end today.

There are more interesting features: in addition to good performance, its OxygenOS 12.1 system makes navigation very smooth and convenient. And other little things, like the traditional red number in the hour, make this model visually unique. And besides, very cheap.

• Filter : 6.59 inch LCD
• lester : 195g
• Dimensions : 164.3 × 75.6 × 8.5mm
• Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
• Memory : 6 GB RAM
• Storage : 128 GB
• Operating system : Android 12 / OxygenOS 12.1
• cameras : 3 rear cameras (Primary lens: 64 MP)
• Drums : 5000mAh
• Mobile network :5G

Vivo, another Chinese brand but with a few more years in the Chilean market, launched a new model a few months ago that fits perfectly into this range, with good features and some design details that make it unique. After the acclaimed launch of its top of the range, the Vivo X80, the company returns to a broader and more accessible field with the V25.

Available in two colors – Sunrise Gold and Diamond Black – and weighing just 186 grams, this model looks a lot like an iPhone at first glance. It has rounded edges, a rich glass finish on the back, and a look that doesn’t hide its desire to look like the Apple phone.

But that’s as far as the similarities end. Because apart from that, the first thing that catches the attention of the V25 is its iridescent fluorite back, capable of changing color (from yellow to blue, for example) if exposed to the sun or to a source. bright. It returns to its original tone once the shadow hits it. Although it also comes in black (the best known version), I think this is the first time I’ve seen such a design on a smartphoneregardless of scope.

The 6.56-inch screen is AMOLED – technology more typical of high-end phones – and with Full HD + definition and a refresh rate of only 90 Hz. Under the hood, there is a MediaTek Dimensity 900 (5G) processor and up to 12 GB of RAM. The battery is 4,500 mAh and includes 44 W smart fast charging (which does not overheat): that is, with 15 minutes we already have a 40% charge, which is not not bad at all.

The camera also stands out, as usual in the brand: in the V25 we have three lenses, where the main one reaches 64 MP and includes features such as optical stabilization, portrait mode and an intelligence system artificial which obtains very good results with night photographs

Its operation is very smooth (it works with a proprietary Funtouch layer on Android 12) and it’s one of the lightest models we’ve tested lately, which is really pleasing. Like the OnePlus, it also includes storage expansion via a microSD card, although in terms of audio it falls somewhat short by only including a single speaker. All of the above makes the V25 a good choice for young people or anyone who wants a phone that stands out when taken out of a pocket or purse, as well as an all-around camera set. reliable ground.

• Filter : AMOLED 6.56″
• lester : 190g
• Dimensions : 158.9 × 73.52 × 8.62mm
• Processor : MediaTek Dimension 900 5G
• Memory : 8/12 GB of RAM
• Storage : 128 / 256 GB
• Operating system : Android 12 / Fun Touch OS 12
• Camera : 3 rear cameras (Primary lens: 64 MP) / Front 50 MP
• Drums : 4500mAh
• Mobile network :5G

Motorola is one of the kings of the mid-range. In fact, you could say it’s his specialty. In the local market, the brand owned by Lenovo has a large portfolio of inexpensive phones, both entry-level and mid-range. But this model, which is part of the Edge family – whose attractive Pro model we already tested a few months ago – is an excellent alternative given its design, specifications and price. Oh, and their packaging is 100% eco-friendly and recyclable.

The Edge 30 Fusion, in addition to having a very sophisticated and elegant design —which comes in three different colors—, has a 6.55″ pOLED screen (Full HD+ and HDR10+ definition) and a robust 144Hz refresh rate (the average of smart phones of its price is 60 Hz). Since it has no edges but has elegant curved ends, the utilization is maximum: it reaches 90.8%. Its aluminum frame and glass finish give it strength.

It weighs only 175 grams, making it one of the lightest models of the year and a treat in the hand or in the pocket. This does not mean that taking it feels like a robust mobile phone with very good finishes.

Inside, it packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ (5G) processor, 8 or 12GB of RAM, a 4,400mAh battery, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and a powerful 68W charger.

As for the cameras, the main has 50 MP and the front is 32 MP with autofocus for selfies. Motorola, as usual, occupies Android in its latest version (12), without needing to occupy an additional layer for customizations. In that sense, it’s Google’s operating system in its purest state. For its part, the sound of smartphone it’s stereo and sounds more than decent, and its screen has very realistic colors, a benefit of its partnership with Pantone.

The Fusion is clearly the most expensive model in this selection, but that’s also because it’s the most complete on the list. Anyway, if the price is still prohibitive, there is also the Fusion’s little brother, called Neo, which is the entry level model of the Edge 30 and which is around $350,000 .

• Filter : p-OLED 6.55″
• lester : 175g
• Dimensions : 154.48 × 71.99 × 7.45mm
• Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ 5G
• Memory : 8/12 GB of RAM
• Storage : 128 / 256 GB
• Operating system :Android 12
• Camera : 3 rear cameras (Main lens: 50 MP) / Front 32 MP
• Drums : 4400mAh
• Mobile network :5G

*Prices for products in this item are updated as of December 6, 2022. Values ​​and availability may change.