Why spending more than 500 euros on a smartphone in 2022 is no longer so interesting


The year 2022 has been rich in very good smartphones under 500 euros. Proof that this price segment is called upon to play the leading roles in the market.

The Google Pixel 6a // Source: Chloé Pertuis – Frandroid

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus, Samsung Galaxy A53, Nothing phone (1), Google Pixel 6a, Oppo Reno 8, Honor 70, et cetera, etc. We are not going to lie to each other, the year 2022 was generous in good smartphones at less than 500 euros. This segment is quite special since it is paradoxical. It is still a little too expensive – even out of reach – for many people who do not want or cannot invest such an amount in a phone, but are nevertheless full of products with very good value for money.

At the top of the mid-range? At the gates of the high end? Smartphones launched between 400 and 500 euros have a strange status. However, despite this positioning with blurred borders, they are on track to be at the heart of a merciless battle between the different brands on the market. A battle that should intensify in the coming years for several reasons.

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The breathlessness of the ultra high-end sector

We were already talking about it in another article, but smartphone innovation is inexorably running out of steam. The market has consolidated and the most expensive mobile phones are so sophisticated today that with each generation, we are more entitled to tweaks rather than real upheavals. These devices have reached such a level of sophistication that the differences are mainly played on small details here and there, or on software assets specific to each manufacturer.

SAMSUNG A53 (5)
The Samsung Galaxy A53 // Source: Frandroid – Anthony Wonner

To a lesser extent, this observation also applies to price ranges below 900 or 800 euros. On the other hand, below the 500 euro mark, there is still plenty of room to bring significant innovations. In 2022, this was particularly confirmed.

Better and better at less than 500 euros

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus has fast charging that charges at 120 W. The Samsung Galaxy A53 shone with its complete and balanced experience. The Nothing phone (1) marked the spirits with its eccentricity. The Google Pixel 6a is amazing with its high-flying photo quality. All launched from a price between 400 and 500 euros, these smartphones obviously make compromises, some more than others, but they borrow beautiful qualities which could however have remained preserves of the high-end sector longer. For a reasonable sum, we can therefore afford the luxury of having the choice between a nice slew of very good smartphones.

Nothing phone 1
The Nothing Phone (1) // Source: Frandroid – Robin Wycke

Oled screen, refresh rate at 90 or 120 Hz, good photo quality, chip capable of running 3D games well, very fast charging, extended software monitoring… These types of characteristics are more and more often found at less than 500 euros . If we will have to wait a few more years a priori before finding a device at this price that ticks absolutely all the boxes, it is clear that these data sheet elements are no longer out of the ordinary in this price segment.

A ruthless market

The market is thus made that the most premium smartphones will always have arguments to justify their crazy prices exceeding 1000 euros.

Nevertheless, products under 500 euros show that it is no longer necessarily necessary to wait very long before seeing the most advanced technologies offered at reasonable prices. Good news for consumers’ wallets.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus camera module
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G // Source: Anthony Wonner – Frandroid

Though. As we said at the beginning of this article, investing more than 350 euros in a smartphone always constitutes a budgetary and/or psychological blockage. At the same time, in view of all the on-board technologies, these are not outliers either. In addition, a smartphone released at 450 euros may be 100 euros cheaper a few months after its launch. Information to keep in mind for the most limited budgets.

For all these reasons, we could almost speak of a golden age for the mid-range in 2022. And if we already see how competitive and ruthless the entry level could be at less than 300 euros, the segment below 500 euros could well follow the same path. 2023 promises beautiful fierce battles.

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