2020 certainly was one of the hardest years in our lives due to the ongoing pandemic. We had to adapt in several forms, we were forced to stay at home, we struggled in a battle against an invisible enemy. And the whole situation of the economy changed. But we are here, we overcome the challenges and we’re ready for one more year and the good things that it may bring. The year was quite unusual for smartphone enthusiasts, especially in the first quarters of 2020. But most OEMs managed to overcome the issues and have kept the flow of smartphones for one more year. This year we saw the expansion of the 5G era, the arrival of powerful chipsets, the increasing competition in the 5G segment. Furthermore, we saw the consolidation of the mid-range smartphone market as a segment that has much more to offer than just cheap devices. But what are the best midrangers of 2020?
We saw insanely good mid-rangers coming to the market with high-refresh-rate displays, powerful chipsets, and even, in some cases, 5G connectivity. Just like in previous years, the mid-range smartphone market is the key segment for driving smartphone sales. Flagships are just part of an equation where midranges play an important role. We saw a huge plethora of mid-range phones coming this year, but what is the best of them? Which devices bring the best value for money in 2020? We’ve elaborated a list to prize the best midrangers of 2020 with the Gizchina Phone Awards.
The BEST MIDRANGERS OF 2020
Take in mind that Gizchina Phone Awards 2020 isn’t meant to rank smartphones. After all, our preference may not be your preference. For that reason, we opted for just selecting the best mid-range phones (all-rounders) of 2020, without ranking them. Without further ado, let’s dive into Gizchina Phone Awards – The Best Midrangers of 2020!
Galaxy A51 / A51 5G
The list starts with the Galaxy A51. Well, we can’t start a list without talking about the best-selling device of the world’s top smartphone maker. Samsung released the Galaxy A51 in mid-December 2019. However, for all effects, this is a 2020 smartphone with competitive prices and specifications. It brings a 6.5-inch AMOLED display to the table with a Quad-Camera setup on the back led by a 48MP primary camera accompanied by a 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and 5MP depth lens. Under the hood, the device came with the Exynos 9611 chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Expandable Storage. The device has a 4,000mAh battery with 15W fast-charging. Later in April, Samsung unveiled the A51 5G with an Exynos 880 5G SoC and incremental upgrades in the package of specs. The device is the company’s best selling phone in 2020 and certainly helped Samsung to recover the Indian market top spot.
Realme 6 / Realme 6 Pro
Realme is a phenomenon in the smartphone market. In just two years, the company came from flat zero to become one of the most relevant smartphone makers in the market. It plays a big role in the mid-range market constantly urging Xiaomi to improve its Redmi Note series to keep up with the competition.
In the beginning of the year, Realme unveiled the Realme 6 and 6 Pro to continue its standard numbered series of mid-range phones. The Realme 6 and 6 Pro certainly are two of the best midrangers of 2020. The vanilla device came with a 6.5-inch LCD with FHD+ resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. It was one of the first mid-range phones to come with a high-refresh-rate display. The 6 Pro has a slightly bigger 6.6-inch LCD with the same resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the vanilla phone brings the MediaTek Helio G90T SoC, whereas the 6 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G.
Both devices bring 4,300mAh batteries with 30W fast-charging. The vanilla phone has a Quad-Camera array comprising a 64MP primary camera, an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor. The Realme 6 Pro has a 64MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto lens, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro shooter. The Pro model brings the controversial pill-shaped punch hole that houses its dual-selfie camera setup. The Realme 6 series came to suffocate the next devices in our list.
Redmi Note 9 Pro / 9S / Note 9 Pro Max
In 2020, Xiaomi’s Redmi started its market strategy with the Redmi Note 9 series in India. Instead of a vanilla device, the company introduced the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Note 9 Pro Max in the country. Both devices were later released in global markets as Redmi Note 9S and Redmi Note 9 Pro. Pretty confusing, huh? It’s Xiaomi.
The Redmi Note 9S and Note 9 Pro share similar specifications, but the Note 9 Pro takes the lead. Both devices have a 6.67-inch display with FHD+ resolution and center-aligned punch holes. Both devices have a Quad-Camera setup. The Redmi Note 9 Pro brings a 64MP primary camera, whereas the Note 9S has a 48MP camera. Under the hood, the very same Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G gives power to both handsets. Both devices have up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage.
The same battery feeds both devices. It’s a 5,000mAh unit that is charged with an 18W rate in the 9S and 33W on the Note 9 Pro. The devices are good in many aspects, but the 60Hz display certainly has a drawback in comparison to its main competitor Realme 6 Pro.
Redmi 9
The Redmi 9, certainly was one of the biggest surprises of 2020. The device packs a MediaTek Helio G80 chipset that leaves behind many devices in the low-end segment in terms of performance. The device can hold most games in the Play Store at average settings. The Redmi 9 has a 6.53-inch LCD with FHD+ resolution. It’s also one of the cheapest devices offering a Quad-Camera setup. It’s a modest setup though, coming with a main 13MP camera, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth lens.
The device draws power from a massive 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging. In fact, the device seems to bring better value for money than the vanilla Redmi Note 9 (the non-Chinese variant) which is more expensive but has just an incremental performance in terms of specifications.
Honor 30
Honor unveiled the Honor 30 is the vanilla member of the 2020 smartphone series and the less packed device. For that reason, we’re classifying it as a mid-range phone. It packs a Kirin 985 5G chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage.
The device packs a 6.53-inch OLED with FHD+ resolution. In the phone department, it has a 40MP wide camera, an 8MP periscope telephoto, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP depth sensors. The device has a 4,000mAh battery with 40W fast-charging.
Galaxy M31
One of the best mid-range phones unveiled by Samsung this year was the Galaxy M31. It deserves a place in the list of best midrangers of 2020 thanks to its good package of specs and stellar battery life. The device has a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. Under the hood, we have the same Exynos 9611 found in the Galaxy A51. The device has a massive 6,000mAh battery and brings a powerful camera combo led by a 64MP shooter. It’s an all-rounder device that conquered the hearts of many Samsung enthusiasts.
Oppo Reno4 / Reno4 Pro
Oppo unveiled its Oppo Reno4 series earlier this year with 5G chipsets in the Chinese market. The devices were powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G SoC. Unfortunately, those devices didn’t make their way to global markets. In counterpart, we got improved camera setups, but the chipset was sacrificed and the Snapdragon 720G was put in place.
The Oppo Reno4 has a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, whereas the Reno4 Pro has a 6.5-inch diagonal. Under the hood, both devices bring a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G. The vanilla has up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage. The Pro model has up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage.
Both models have a primary 48MP camera, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth lens. The vanilla model has a 4,015mAh battery with 30W VOOC charging, whereas the Pro brings a 4,000mAh battery with faster 65W fast-charging technology.
OnePlus Nord
This device is important, it may not be the cheapest in the list, but it marks the beginning of a new era for OnePlus. In July 2020, the company announced the OnePlus Nord as its first mid-range phone in years. The device has a 6.44-inch Fluid AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution. Under the hood, the phone comes with the 5G-enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 SoC with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage. The device has a pill-shaped punch-hole cutout in the front comprising a 32MP selfie snapper and an 8MP ultrawide shooter.
The device has a 4,115mAh battery with 30W fast-charging technology. It started a new series of OnePlus midrange phones and certainly is one of the best midrangers of 2020. The device is one of the few devices in the segment to offer Optical Image Stabilization.
Moto G9 Plus
Motorola is behind other mid-range smartphone makers in 2020. However, it brought some fresh air with the release of the Moto G9 series. We have to say that the Moto G9 Plus is one of the company’s best offerings. It certainly deserves a place among the best midrangers of 2020. After all, we believe that it will sell like hotcakes in markets where Motorola has a huge presence.
The Moto G9 Plus comes with a 6.81-inch IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution. It also is one of the most powerful Motorola phones thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G chipset paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage. The device has a Quad-Camera setup with a 64MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth sensor.
The device has a 5,000mAh battery and comes with 30W fast-charging technology. It packs a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The G9 Plus is the device that is closest to what the competition is offering in 2020.
Samsung Galaxy A71 5G
Samsung introduced the Galaxy A71 5G a couple of months ago. It packs a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, the phone brings the Exynos 980 chipset with a 5G modem with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Expandable Storage.
The device flaunts a 64MP primary camera with PDAF, a 12MP ultrawide shooter, a 5MP macro, and a 5MP depth lens. Samsung put a 4,500mAh battery with 25W fast-charging technology. The device will get a new sequel in the next month dubbed Galaxy A72 5G.
Gizchina News of the week
Moto G Plus 5G
The second device in Motorola’s list is the Moto G Plus 5G. It certainly is one of the most attractive and cheapest 5G phones reaching the market right now. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage. The device packs a 6.7-inch LTPS IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and HDR10 support. The only downside is that this display has only a standard 60Hz refresh rate.
The Moto G Plus 5G brings a 48MP main camera with PDAF, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro shooter with auto-focus. The device has Bluetooth 5.1, FM Radio, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The device draws power from a 5,000mAh battery with 20W fast-charging.
Vivo V20 Pro
If Vivo’s range of flagship devices shine with the Vivo X50 series and the newly launched Vivo X60 series, the mid-range segment received the Vivo V20 family. The Vivo V20 Pro certainly was one of the most interesting devices released by the company this year. Apart from the good specifications, the devices were also among the first handsets to receive an Android 11-based update.
The device has a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display with HDR10 support and a 60Hz refresh rate. You’ll dislike the panel if you’re not a fan of wide-notch solutions. This cutout is here to house the 44MP selfie snapper and its 8MP ultrawide companion. This setup effectively makes the Vivo V20 one of the best midrangers of 2020 for selfie photography. In the rear, we have a main 64MP camera followed by an 8MP ultrawide and 2MP macro shooters.
Under the hood, the device brings the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G ready for 5G navigation. The chipset is paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage. The device draws power from a 4,000mAh battery complete with 30W fast-charging.
Realme 7 Pro
After releasing the Realme 6 Pro in the beginning of the year, Realme unveiled the Realme 7 family in the second half of the year bringing incremental upgrades. The Realme 7 Pro is the star of the duo bringing competitive specifications, a premium look, and crazily fast-charging technology.
The handset Realme 7 Pro brings a 6.44-inch AMOLED panel with FHD+ resolution. Under the hood, we have the very same Snapdragon 720G found on its predecessor. The device is available in variants with 6GB of RAM and 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of Internal Storage.
The camera department brings a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. The device draws power from a 4,500mAh battery with the whooping 65W fast-charging technology.
Realme X7 Pro
The Realme X7 Pro was the real surprise of Realme’s H2 2020. Under the hood, the phone has a MediaTek MT6889Z Dimensity 1000+ chipset with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage. The phone has a 6.55-inch FHD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate covered with Corning Gorilla Glass.
In the camera department, the phone has a 64MP wide camera, an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. The device has a 4,500mAh battery with 65W fast-charging in China. The global model has 50W fast-charging.
The device is yet to make its big arrival in India. But that may happen early in 2021.
OnePlus Nord N10 5G
The OnePlus Nord N10 is the second mid-range phone unveiled by the company. It’s cheaper than the vanilla OnePlus Nord and comes with a 6.49-inch LCD with FHD+ resolution and Gorilla Glass 3. Under the hood, the device runs with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 5G. It’s the only device in this list that has the 5G chipset of the SD6xx family. It is paired with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage.
In the camera department, the phone has a 64MP primary camera paired with an 8MP ultrawide shooter, 2MP depth, and 2MP macro lens. The handset comes with a 4,300mAh battery with 30W fast-charging. The device’s availability is limited but we can say that it is the true mid-range phone of the OnePlus Nord N10.
POCO X3 / X3 NFC
Back in September 2020, POCO unveiled its first original phone of 2020. It took a long time, but the device is basically everything that POCO fans have been waiting for since the days of Pocophone F1. The device isn’t a flagship killer but brings an excellent set of specifications.
The POCO X3 NFC boasts a 6.67-inch LCD IPS panel with Full HD+ resolution and a gorgeous 120Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, it has the improved Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G SoC paired with up to 6GB of RAM (8GB of RAM in China) and 128GB of Internal Storage. Moving around to the back, the device brings a 64MP primary camera, 13MP ultrawide shooter, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth helper. The devices have stereo speakers and MIUI 12 straight out of the box.
The global variant has a 5,160mAh battery with 33W fast-charging and NFC (if the name didn’t spoil that for you). In India, the handset has a 6,000mAh battery, the same fast-charging tech, but lacks NFC.
POCO M3
Not long after the POCO X3 NFC release, the brand unveiled the POCO M3. The device has smaller aspirations than the POCO X3, but still is a solid smartphone. Better than that, it’s the company’s second original phone. The device comes with a 6.53-inch IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass coating.
Under the hood, the phone brings the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 with up to 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal expandable storage. The device comes with a triple-camera setup with a main 48MP shooter, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. The device has a waterdrop notch housing a 13MP selfie snapper.
The POCO M3 draws power from a 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging. The device certainly is one of the best midrangers of 2020.
Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G
You may be thinking this is a Deja Vu. After all, what explains a second Redmi Note 9 Pro device in the list? Well, Xiaomi to skip China during its Redmi Note 9 campaign due to the ongoing pandemic. Back in the last month, the company unveiled the Redmi Note 9 5G series featuring 5G chipsets and a third model with 4G specifications.
The Redmi Note 9 Pro 5G is the first mid-range phone to come with a 108MP Quad-Camera. The setup is aided by an 8MP ultrawide, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. The handset came with a 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel with a gorgeous 120Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution. Under the hood, the phone brings the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G in tow with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage.
The handset has a 4,820mAh battery with 33W fast-charging. The device is only available in China, however, it will reach India and possibly global markets early in 2021 as Mi 10i.
Redmi 9 Power
When Xiaomi unveiled its Redmi Note 9 series in China, we got the second Redmi Note 9 4G device in the year. Well, it has been rebranded recently for a release in India. The device reached the sub-continent this month as Redmi 9 Power.
Redmi 9 Power packs a 6.53-inch LCD panel with FHD+ resolution and a peak brightness of 400 nits. The device has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 under the hood with up to 4GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Expandable Storage. The device has a Quad-Camera setup comprising a 48MP main camera, an 8MP ultrawide shooter, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor. Interestingly, the Chinese variant only has a Triple-camera setup.
The Redmi 9 Power also brings a 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging. Other specs include stereo speakers, FM Radio, and reverse charging. The device is really similar to the POCO M3.
The device still has a long path to trace, but we can say that it’s one of the best midrangers of 2020.
iQOO U1x
This year, Vivo’s iQOO unveiled a batch of competitive smartphones. Today, iQOO unveiled the iQOO U1x with competitive specifications and an affordable price tag. We can say that this is the true mid-range of the iQOO series.
The iQOO U1x packs a 6.51-inch panel with HD+ resolution and a Snapdragon 662 chipset. The device has up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage. The camera department has a triple-array with a 13MP main camera, a 2MP macro shooter, and a 2MP depth helper. The device draws power from a 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast-charging technology.
Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G
This month, Oppo unveiled its Reno5 Pro 5G series in China. While the device’s availability in international markets is uncertain, the Chinese variant is here and figures as one of the best midrangers of 2020. The device has a 6.55-inch OLED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and 800 peak brightness. The device has 2,400 x 1,080 pixels of resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. Under the hood, the phone packs a MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ chipset paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of Internal Storage.
The device has a 64MP camera with PDAF, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensors. It draws power from a 4,350mAh battery and is complete with Oppo’s 65W SuperVOOC fast-charging technology. The device has Android 11 and ColorOS 11 running on top.
Infinix Zero 8
We close the list with a device that may not be the most popular. However, it truly deserves a place along with the best midrangers of 2020. For those unaware, Infinix is a brand that belongs to Transsion Holdings, a huge conglomerate in China. The company always focused in Asian and African markets but launched the Infinix Zero 8 as a global smartphone in a bid to take a slice of the market. The device has solid specifications and an affordable price tag.
The Infinix Zero 8 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G90T paired with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of Internal Storage. The device flaunts a 6.85-inch LCD with a 90Hz refresh rate and a pill-shaped notch housing a 48MP main camera and an 8MP ultrawide unit. In the rear, it brings a diamond-shaped camera that comprises a 64MP unit, paired with an 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, and 2MP macro lens.
The device has a 4,500mAh battery with 33W fast-charging.
Best Midrangers of 2020 for you
The devices above represent Gizchina’s list for the Best Midrangers of 2020 if you’re looking for a device that offers a good value for money and certainly does not disappoint in specifications. Of course, we don’t represent everyone. For that reason, we want to ask you in the end of this article, what are the best midrangers of 2020 in your opinion?
