TECH

Top 5 mid-range gadgets of 2021

1. OnePlus Nord 2...The OnePlus Nord 2 builds on the first Nord, with which the OnePlus was very successful in the mid-range market. The new version is a better smartphone in almost every way. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor is very fast and we are familiar with the 50 megapixel main camera, which is superior to the OnePlus 9. You can take excellent pictures with it, although the wide-angle lens is much less good.

More and more midrange smartphones charge quickly. The OnePlus Nord 2 is no exception, as the box contains a 65 Watt charger, with which the device is completely full in half an hour. This is obviously a beautiful luxury. The 6.43 inch OLED screen looks unchanged from its predecessor and shows beautiful images. That's good, because it's a good screen with a 90Hz refresh rate. While the first Nord had a dual selfie camera, the new version only has one. As a result, the hole in the screen is much smaller.

Check the price comparison below if you want to buy the OnePlus Nord 2. You can also buy the device in combination with a subscription.

2. Samsung Galaxy S20 FE...With the Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung targets people who want a flagship for a little less. Yes, it's made of plastic, but that's also one of the few disadvantages of this device.

You get a still very fast Snapdragon 865 chip, a water resistant housing, smooth 120Hz screen and decent cameras. Battery life is also good. So we were very excited about this smartphone in our review of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. A year ago, we couldn't have counted this phone among the middlemen. The 5G version of the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE cost 749 euros at launch. Now you can buy it for less than 500 euros and that's a great deal. There is also a 4G version of the device, but it is hardly cheaper. Therefore, we recommend that you choose the 5G model as it is a little more future-ready. In the price comparison below you can check the stores that offer the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S20 FE. Or buy the smartphone in combination with a subscription.

3. POCO F3...In our review of Poco F3, we are left without superlatives. For just 349 euros you get an almost flagship with a big, smooth screen, 5G support and super-fast Snapdragon 870 chip. In the meantime, the price has dropped even further and you get the Poco F3 for just over 300 euros. That makes it not only one of the best, but also one of the cheapest mid-range smartphones you can buy in 2021.

Admittedly, cameras are not the strong point of this phone. Still, they're fine if you only occasionally post a snapshot to social media. Furthermore, the sleekly designed device has a lot to offer in almost every other area. You can easily spend the day on battery power and Poco's upgrade policy is also in order for this price range.

4. Xiaomi 11T...Xiaomi launches a mountain of smartphones every year, which tend to be very similar. For example, instead of the Xiaomi 11T, we could have included the Xiaomi Mi 11i in this overview. Our choice for 11Q is based mainly on two points. This device charges the 5000 mAh battery in just 36 minutes with the included 67 Watt adapter. Plus, you get three major updates for Android 12, 13, and 14, plus four years of security patches. This is longer than previous models from this manufacturer.

The 6.67-inch screen looks pretty good and the chip is the fast MediaTek Dimensity 1200 from the OnePlus Nord 2. In terms of camera, the Xiaomi 11T does a little less well than the OnePlus.

5. Motorola Moto G100...We also count the Motorola Moto G100 among the best mid-range smartphones of 2021. Thanks to the fast Snapdragon 870 chip, it's the most powerful phone Motorola has made to date. Tastes vary, but we also think it's the prettiest. The back has a matte finish and a nice color gradient. In contrast to cheaper Motorolas, the G100 therefore exudes luxury.

The Moto G100's 6.7-inch screen has a resolution of 2500 by 1080 pixels. That means it's an elongated screen with a 21 to 9 aspect ratio. The smartphone therefore fits comfortably in the hand, although it's difficult to operate with one hand. The pixels are refreshed 90 times per second for a smooth image, but unfortunately it's an LCD display. The other phones in this comparison have an OLED screen, which offers better colors and greater contrast. 

*Third party assessment