The price range between 300 and 500 euros is that "place" where there are smartphones capable of doing well in many contexts, without however being able to fully reach the top of the range. The mid-range represents just this: they are excellent devices, which however always have some flaw that justifies the cost of less than 500 euros. However, these are valid products and, in some cases, able to satisfy even users who use the smartphone a lot. The last few weeks have been chock full of announcements in this range, although the current situation has not allowed critics to test the devices properly. The models in our ranking are therefore essentially the same as last month, but there are still many news to discuss, from the announcement of Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G to the leaks on Google Pixel 4a. So let's summarize the situation of Android market in April 2020, reminding you that the prices taken into consideration are only those of Amazon Italy and the manufacturers' sites.
Realme X2 Pro
Realme X2 Pro is a smartphone that has very few rivals in this price range, it has very few flaws in fact. One of the criticisms raised to this model was related to ColorOS, but now the smartphone has received the Realme UI based on Android 10, so even from that point of view there is very little to say. On the other hand, the gaps linked to the non-expandable memory and the weight not exactly "feather" remain, but you understand well that a certain type of user can safely turn a blind eye. For more details, we invite you to consult our review of the X2 Pro. This is, in general, a model with excellent quality / price; has above-average performance (thanks also to the Snapdragon 855+ SoC), a quick 50W charge, an excellent screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz, a good photographic sector (not at the level of the top cameraphone, but not bad for this price range), an excellent constructive solidity and an autonomy that does not disappoint expectations.
There is little to criticize also in terms of connectivity, given that NFC, 3.5 mm headphone jack and USB Type-C port are in place. Realme X2 Pro is currently sold at 485 euros on Amazon Italy through resellers (12 / 256GB, we have tested the 8 / 128GB, which at the time of writing is out of stock).
Samsung Galaxy A71
Arrived in Italy in January 2020, Samsung Galaxy A71 is a smartphone that was immediately appreciated by critics and audiences. It is a device that has important strengths: good autonomy, a photographic sector that does not disappoint expectations and an excellent connectivity department (complete with NFC, 3.5 mm audio jack for headphones and triple Dual SIM + microSD slot). There are, however, also sore points, from performances not exactly at the top, albeit in line with the price range, to some burrs linked to the speed of the unlocking sensors. For the rest, one of the most criticized aspects was the launch price, given that Samsung had set the recommended cost at 479.90 euros, a figure deemed too high by a certain type of user. However, now the Galaxy A71 can be purchased for 395 euros on Amazon Italy through resellers (6 / 128GB). In short, the price drop is interesting and the smartphone is becoming increasingly "attractive".
OPPO Reno2
Launched in our country in the second half of last year, OPPO Reno2 is a smartphone that has demonstrated a very important thing: it is possible to make a good device even starting from the excellent base of a previous generation and remaining "conservative". The Chinese company has improved its proposal, without distorting it, in practically every aspect. All this without raising the price, an operation certainly well seen by critics and enthusiasts. For more details on the device, we recommend that you take a look at our OPPO Reno2 review. The major strengths of the smartphone are to be found in the excellent screen, in the autonomy that does not disappoint the expectations, in good design, in theexcellent constructive solidity and in the photographic sector capable of not disfiguring in front of higher-end devices. If you are interested in deepening the topic, you can take a look at our test on cameras, in which we have compared the smartphone with one of the most famous devices of the moment.
There is no shortage, as for every smartphone in this price range, some flaws: the dimensions are not the most contained and the performances are not exactly at the top. As for ColorOS, the seventh version is finally seeing its rollout start, so from that point of view there may soon be important news. For the rest, the connectivity compartment is complete: NFC, 3.5 mm headphone jack and USB Type-C port are in place. OPPO Reno2 is currently sold at a price of 449 euros through the official channels (8 / 256GB).
Red Magic 3S
If you are a gaming lover you should definitely consider Red Magic 3S. We are talking about a smartphone sold at 479 euros on the official website (8 / 128GB) which manages to provide an excellent experience in terms of video games while belonging to a lower range than the classic gaming devices. For all the details of the case, we invite you to take a look at our review of Red Magic 3S. The smartphone gives its best in above average performance in the price range, in the excellent screen with 90 Hz refresh rate, in the granite autonomy (5000 mAh battery), in the interesting gaming features (RGB LED, trigger and much more) and in the possibility of using accessories such as Magic Adapter. The main flaws are instead to be found in the software not exactly the most cared for, in the photographic sector below average, in the non-expandable memory and in some lack of connectivity (there is no NFC). In any case, Red Magic 3S is definitely a device to consider in this price range.
Market choice: Xiaomi Mi Note 10
Landed in our country in the last months of 2019, Xiaomi Mi Note 10 has been noted above all for its photographic compartment with 108MP main sensor. The latter is among the strengths of the smartphone, but there is also an excellent autonomy, a complete connectivity compartment (which includes NFC, audio jack and USB Type-C) and a good display. For all the information related to the data sheet, we recommend that you take a look at our news dedicated to Xiaomi Mi Note 10.
Of course we are not talking about a perfect device: the performances are not exactly at the top and there are several flaws on the software side, even if the latter do not compromise the general experience too much. A very interesting aspect is the fact that the smartphone has recently undergone a substantial price drop, going from the original 599 euros to the current 390 euros on Amazon Italy through resellers (6 / 128GB). A device that certainly deserves its place in the ranking, also because it turns out to be the smartphone of this range most purchased by Italians in this period, according to the ranking of Amazon's Bestseller smartphones.
Special mention: Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G
As far as we can postpone, it is clear that sooner or later it will also happen here the transition to 5G. At that point, the time will come to take the "big step" for everyone. However, if you are a person who wants to play in advance, there is a smartphone that has recently become particularly interesting. We refer to Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G, device arrived in Italy in 2019, as well as one of the first "experiments" of the Chinese company with this connectivity. The smartphone is currently sold at around 380 euros on Amazon Italy through resellers (6 / 64GB) and if you live in an area already covered by 5G you could think about it. For the rest, it is a device from last year, so we find a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor. Its main strengths are to be found in the complete connectivity sector (there are also NFC and USB Type-C port, but the jack is missing ), in good autonomy, in the camera that does not disappoint expectations and in the interesting all-screen design (there is the "slider" to let the body come out).
Too bad only for a weight not exactly contained and for a software that unfortunately Xiaomi is not keeping too updated. It is not exactly the latest model available and, although it may be interesting for those who want to immediately enter the 5G era, perhaps it is better to wait for Mi 10 Lite 5G or TCL 10 5G, which will have a similar price.
Upcoming Arrivals: From Honor 30 to Google Pixel 4a
We warned you at the opening: the last few weeks have been full of news in this band. Starting from the smartphones already announced, we have seen Honor unveil his in China Honor 30 range, which includes both the "basic" and the Pro variant. The Chinese company has focused particularly on the photographic sector, but also the other technical characteristics are not bad. For all the details of the case, we refer you to our news dedicated to Honor 30. The model that should remain below 500 euros is the "standard" one. Moving on, the first details are starting to arrive regarding the possible price of the previously announced Sony Xperia 10 II. In particular, there are rumors of a European cost approaching € 400.
There was no lack of announcements even in the OPPO house, since OPPO Reno3 (4G) has arrived in Sri Lanka, which is sold at a price equivalent to about 370 euros. Speaking of the Chinese company, it has also recently been unveiled OPPO Find X2 Lite, which has support for 5G and will be sold at a price of € 499.99 starting in the coming weeks. We have to say that the choice of names by the Chinese company can make the identification of the various models a little complicated. In addition, the Reno3 series is currently not available in Italy, despite someone talking about a launch from March 2020. In short, we will have to wait a little longer for it to be clarified once and for all (obviously we will provide you with all the necessary indications ).
For the rest, TCL has revealed to the public its TCL 10 Pro and TCL 10 5G smartphones, which are sold for € 499 and € 399 respectively. For all the details relating to these devices, we refer you to our news dedicated to the announcement of TCL. Do not underestimate the announcement, for the moment only for the Chinese market of Redmi K30 Pro, which has a starting price equivalent to about 390 euros. If you want to learn more about this smartphone, we refer you to the announcement news. Instead the arrival in Italy of Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G. For more details, we refer you to our dedicated news. The last device we are talking about today, but no less important, is Google Pixel 4a. Rumor and leak on this Pixel 4a are becoming more insistent and the announcement seems to be imminent. The price, which showed up on a billboard in the US, is expected to be $ 399. We'll see.
