In a column for Tom’s Guide, John Velasco argues that the Google Pixel 10a is the best mid-range phone to buy for $700.
Mid-range phones have seen substantial price increases over the last year, though they still cost less than flagship models priced at $1,299 and above. Velasco tested the iPhone 17e, Pixel 10a, and Galaxy A57 over six months to evaluate their cameras, battery life, charging speeds, and software features.
The Apple iPhone 17e now costs $699, up from its previous $599 launch price. It features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and runs on Apple’s A19 chip.
The device comes with 256GB of starting storage, MagSafe wireless charging support, and an IP68 water and dust resistance rating. Its single 48MP main camera performs well in low light, but the phone lacks an ultrawide lens.
In Tom’s Guide lab testing, the A19 chip delivered a Geekbench 6 single-core score of 3,606 and a multi-core score of 9,229.
“The iPhone 17e feels more like what the iPhone 16e should’ve been from the start,” Velasco writes.
Google Pixel 10a Sells for $599
The Google Pixel 10a retails for $599 following a $100 price increase from its predecessor. It features a 6.3-inch Actua pOLED display with a 60Hz to 120Hz refresh rate and houses a 5,100 mAh battery. The phone uses the Tensor G4 processor and offers 128GB or 256GB of storage. Rear cameras include a 48MP main sensor and a 13MP ultrawide lens, complemented by a 13MP front camera.
Battery performance reached 15 hours and 16 minutes in testing, the longest among the three devices. Wired charging reached 64% in 30 minutes using a 30W charger, alongside 10W wireless charging support. The Pixel 10a also includes Gemini AI software features and desktop mode functionality when connected to an external monitor.
Samsung Galaxy A57 Offers Triple Cameras
The Samsung Galaxy A57 matches the Pixel 10a with a $599 price tag after a $50 price increase. It includes a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a 60Hz to 120Hz refresh rate and a glass-and-metal build with an IP68 rating. The device runs on an Exynos 1680 chip and lacks wireless charging support.
The rear camera system features a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5.0MP macro camera. In benchmark testing, the Exynos 1680 scored 1,385 on single-core and 4,508 on multi-core tests in Geekbench 6. The phone supports side-by-side app multitasking and Galaxy AI features such as an object eraser and voice transcription.
Mid-Range Phone Display Test Results
Display performance varied across peak brightness, sRGB color gamut, DCI-P3 coverage, and color accuracy in lab testing. The iPhone 17e reached a peak brightness of 1,002 nits with sRGB and a DCI-P3 color gamut. The Pixel 10a hit 1,896 nits peak brightness, sRGB in adaptive mode, and DCI-P3 coverage. The Galaxy A57 achieved 1,495 nits peak brightness, sRGB in vivid mode, and DCI-P3 coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mid-Range Phones
The Google Pixel 10a averaged 15 hours and 16 minutes of battery life in Tom’s Guide lab testing. The iPhone 17e starts with 256GB of storage and is also available in a 512GB configuration. Which phone features a triple-camera system?
The Samsung Galaxy A57 is the only phone in the trio with a three-lens rear camera setup, featuring 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro sensors. The Galaxy A57 does not include wireless charging capabilities, supporting only 45W wired charging.