Here I have gathered the top 13 best stock Android phones that come in the mid-range budget. These include Google’s Pixel phones, Motorola phones, Nothing phones, Asus phones, and also the durable Nokia phones.
These phones offer good camera quality and performance, allowing you to play games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty without any lag. So, let’s dive in.
Related: Top 15 Best Mid-Range Phones 2023: Review Starting $300
Now, your first choice when it comes to stock Android smartphones should always be Google’s own Pixel blowers.
1. Pixel 7a
The most affordable of which is this here Pixel 7e, which will cost you $499. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the Pixel 7 or even the mega-sized Pixel 7 Pro if your wallet is getting a bit weighty. Most people should be perfectly happy with the Pixel 7a, which boasts similar specs to the Pixel 7 and some of the best camera tech at this price point. So, you can point and shoot and get great-looking pics day or night. The Pixel 7a also boasts another benefit, the fact that it is a proper pocket pleaser at just 6.1 inches.
You don’t get a premium glass finish like with its siblings, but it still looks and feels great, and it is water-resistant too, so no worries if it gets super damp. Packed into the Pixel 7’s plastic frame is Google’s own Tensor 2 chipset, which is the same bit of tech that powers the flagship phones. This can handle everything up to and including some hot gaming action, although the Pixel 7A can get a wee bit toasty at times.
That OLED screen is a stunner, boasting a creamy smooth 90 Hertz refresh rate, and you’ve got a stereo speaker setup, so your flicks sound as good as they look. And of course, as this is a Google handset, you’ve got a lovely stock Android finish with guaranteed timely updates for years to come. Plus, those brilliant Pixel-exclusive features, like call screening, which is worth its bloody weight in gold.
For this price, it’s one of the best mid-range phones right now, never mind one of the best stock Android handsets.
2. Pixel 7, and Pro
Now, if you’ve got a bit more cash and you want some more premium tech, well, you might want to chuck a little bit more cash at Google’s flagship Pixel. Both the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 7 Pro upgrade the primary camera sensor to a 50-megapixel quad-bayer effort. This definitely proves more capable in ambient lighting, and you’ve got a more dependable focus. You’ve once again got Google’s fresh Tensor G2 chipset, plus extra memory on the Pro model. And although it’s not Snapdragon AirGen 2, the Pixel 7 handsets can occasionally heat up a bit. These phones will cope with anything you throw at them.
And as for the media chops, well, these flagships once again serve up some stunning AMOLED screen tech. 90 Hertz on the Pixel 7 and 120 Hertz on the Pro. Plus, you get an upgraded Quad HD Plus resolution. And of course, like the Pixel 7a, you’ve got that gorgeous stock Android experience with years of updates to come. You’ve also got wireless charging support, again like the Pixel 7 here, but the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro boast faster wired charge and support. And if you upgrade to that Pro model, you’ve got an almighty 5000 milliamp-hour battery. That said, any of these Pixel phones should last you the full day, even with several hours of screen-on time.
3. Asus Zenfone 9
Now, if you’re not swayed by a Pixel but you fancy a compact just like the Pixel 6A, well, definitely don’t sleep on the Asus Zenfone 9. This 5.9-inch smartphone is one of the most lovable little buggers launched in 2022, and it’s the perfect alternative to the also excellent Xiaomi 12. If you want a compact smartphone with a stock Android experience, some top-notch hand feel, and effortless one-handed action, it’s just the cherry on the cake.
Asus has crammed in Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset for proper beefcake performance, and they’ve also smartly improved the cooling system of last year’s blower, so the Zenfone doesn’t get all sweaty and moist under pressure like when you’re smashing these weed troll knobbers into mushy paste.
And even more impressively, for such a dinky handset, the battery life is off the scale. You’ll easily make it through the most intensive of days on a full charge with this thing, even with lots of camera play, gaming, and media streaming. All that heavy lifting, other way you do finally manage to kill the Zenfone 9. Sadly, there isn’t any wireless charging support. As for the software, it’s as close to stock Android as you could possibly hope for, with just a few extra bits bolted on top, like some nifty gesture support.
You’ve also got a pretty bloody good gaming mode packed in there as well, with all kinds of features similar to Asus’s Rog phones. However, don’t dive on in expecting the same level of software support as you would get from Google’s Pixel blowers, because unfortunately, it’s just two guaranteed Android OS updates and then just over two years of security updates as well.
4. Nothing Phone 1
If you’re after a stock Android smartphone, another quite jazzy alternative is called Piers. Nothing Phone 1 which sports the most talked-about rear end since Beyonce. Yes, all the headlines are focused on that flashing disco bollocks known as the glyph lighten. It is basically just a glorified notifications light, though. And if you dive beneath the literally very flashy exterior, you’ll find a serious competitor to the Google Pixel 6.
The performance is much better here compared to the Pixel 6, especially for gaming. You once again have a gorgeous OLED display, this time with a faster refresh. The camera tech is pretty bloody good too, coming close to the Pixel a lot of the time. You can really chuck up a bad-looking pic. And you’ve even got support for wireless charging, something that’s missing from Google’s mid-range Pixel.
The Nothing launcher does tweak the aesthetics with a 2core for School dot matrix design, and the less said about those wallpapers and ringtones, the better. But otherwise, this is stock Android through and through, with three years of guaranteed Android OS updates and four years of security support as well. So definitely an improvement on that Zenfone, gotta say.
When I first reviewed the Nothing Phone One, the battery life was pretty CAC, and the face recognition worked about as well as a chocolate dildo. But thankfully, updates have sorted out these problems. So now it is one of the better Pixel rivals out there. And if you’re tempted by the Nothing Phone, well, don’t forget that Carl Pei has already confirmed that the Nothing Phone 2 is on its way, should be launching in just a couple of short months.
5. Motorola Edge 40 Pro
The Motorola Edge 40 Pro also serves up an almighty 6.67-inch, 165 Hertz OLED screen and stereo speakers slapped into a stunning and skinny chassis. Now, that’s not just a looker either. This Motorola blower is powered by a Snapdragon AirGen 2, so it is a proper beefy bugger.
There’s also space for a 4,600 milliamp-hour battery with 125-watt wired charging support, and a bit of wireless charging as well if you want it. Not to mention up to half a terabyte of storage. And last year’s Motorola Edge 30 Ultra is still available, sporting very similar specs plus that 200-meg snapper. So, if you see a good deal on it, it could well be worth it.
6. Motorola Edge 40
Motorola is another mobile manufacturer that loves to slap a bit of stock Android on all of its smartphones. And if you’ve got plenty of cash stuffed under your mattress, well, I highly recommend checking out the fresh new Moto Edge 40 Pro. There’s no 200-megapixel camera slapped on here, unlike the previous flagship, but that 50-meg shooter does a proper job, even in quite taxing conditions. And you’ve also got a 50-meg ultra-wide and a telephoto snapper for a bit of flexibility.
Now, if that’s all too much tech for your face to handle, or you don’t have quite enough cash for the Pro or the Ultra, well, no worries. You can always nab yourself the regular Motorola Edge 40 for almost 300 quid less than the Pro model. This more affordable option is powered by MediaTek’s still pretty beefy Dimensity 8020 and boasts premium bits like a 144Hz Pure LED screen and a capable 50-megapixel camera. The battery has only shrunk slightly compared to the Pro effort, with 68-watt wired charging and 15-watt wireless charging to just back it up.
7. Motorola Edge 30 Fusion
You can also grab the slightly more sedate Moto Edge 30 Fusion, which again boasts a 50-meg main camera that’s absolutely fine for everyday photography. Performance is smooth enough with an older Snapdragon 888 Plus chipset running the show. Well, the 4400 milliamp-hour capacity battery puts on a proper shift, giving you all-day play without worries. You’ve also got 68-watt wired charging, which fills it back up in a jiffy. Although sadly, there’s no wireless charging support here on the Fusion.
8. Motorola Edge 30 Neo
Then there’s the Moto Edge 30 Neo, a pleasantly compact 6.28-inch blower, similar to the Zenfone 9 and Pixel 7A. This comes in special colors hand-picked by Motorola’s latest partner, Pantone, including this spangly Very Perry option. On the other side is a gorgeous 120Hz Pure LED display. Although the Neo offers more basic performance than its siblings, with a Snapdragon 695 running the show, it still has enough grunt for the latest games, albeit on lower graphic settings if they’re proper memory guzzlers like Genshin Impact.
On the flip side, the Neo is considerably cheaper than the other two Motorola smartphones I just mentioned. The 4000 milliamp-hour capacity battery, while a little bit smaller, still offers good returns helped by the more energy-efficient platform. And you’ve got that 68-watt wired charging and full wireless charging support here as well, unlike the more expensive Fusion.
However, the 64-megapixel primary camera sensor lags behind similarly priced rivals such as the Pixel 7A. So, if photography is a priority for you, I’d say go for Google. And I also have to say, in my experience so far, Motorola isn’t quite as dependable as Google and some of its other rivals when it comes to software updates. So, if that’s a big thing for you, you might want to look elsewhere.
9. Motorola RAZR 2022
If you happen to be partial to a bendy smartphone and who isn’t?, well, Motorola can also drain your savings account with the rather snazzy new Motorola Razr 2022. This third-generation Razr reboot smooths over all of those bumpy, crappy bits from the previous pair, boosting the battery life as well as the power.
This thin beauty runs off the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, so you can game away on whatever your lovely little heart fancies. The 50-megapixel camera does a decent job for snaps, whether it’s day or night, and it can also capture your mug using that big and bright external display as a kind of viewfinder. It’s a strong rival to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4, and it’s $50 cheaper too.
10. Motorola Moto G82
If you don’t happen to have the cash for any of these Motorola smartphones that I’ve been telling you about, well, no worries. Maybe try the Motorola G82 instead, which costs under 300 quid here in Blighty. The highlight here is that gorgeous OLED screen. It’s another 120Hz, 10-bit eye-pleaser backed by stereo speakers for a mural Netflix session.
You’ve got a big old 5000 milliamp-hour capacity battery and expandable storage. Performance comes courtesy of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695, not the beefiest chipset around, so no one’s going to be dribbling into their neck flesh thinking about all of that raw power. But it is good enough for gaming on Call of Duty and PUBG, and even Genshin Impact can run at an alright nip at the lowest graphics settings.
The Motorola G82’s 50-megapixel primary camera sensor comes with optical image stabilization built in, and it’s a pretty decent everyday snapper. That stabilization helps out in dimmer light, and you get sharp, colorful results the rest of the time. If you can look past the limited software support, the Motorola G82 is a banger at this price with a lovely stock Android vibe to boot.
11. Motorola Moto G62
For even less cash than the Motorola G82, you can snag yourself the Motorola G62. This plastic slab boasts a water-repellent design, so it can handle splashes without any issues. You’ve got all the usual features, including NFC, a headphone jack, and micro SD support. Plus, of course, you’ve got all the Motorola’s added features thrown in, like the dedicated gaming mode and the excellent karate double chop to turn on the torch feature, which I absolutely love.
The 6.5-inch IPS screen isn’t anything special, but it does support a 120Hz refresh rate. The Snapdragon 480+ chipset is good enough for your everyday shenanigans and some light gaming while also offering 5G support, naturally. The 5000 milliamp-hour battery keeps you going all day, no matter what you’re up to.
The camera may struggle in testing conditions, but it does pack in Motorola’s AI smarts to help you capture the best pics possible.
12. Nokia X30 5G
If you’re after an affordable stock Android smartphone, you should definitely check out Nokia’s latest devices. One of the best options right now is the Nokia X30 5G, an eco-friendly mobile built with a fully recycled aluminum frame and mostly recycled plastics. Packed inside this environmentally friendly body is the Snapdragon 695 chipset, which once again does a solid job for everyday usage.
The Nokia X30 5G features a 6.43-inch OLED display and a stereo speaker setup, ensuring a great experience when streaming content from platforms like Disney+ or watching your favorite YouTuber. Manufacturer HMD Global is also generous in guaranteeing three OS updates, extending beyond Android 12. This means you’re covered all the way up to Android 15, so you won’t have to worry about the phone becoming obsolete and ending up in the bin after just a year or two. Additionally, they are also offering a three-year warranty, providing further peace of mind.
The 50-megapixel camera on the Nokia X30 5G comes with built-in optical image stabilization and performs admirably, even in low-light conditions, although it may not reach the same level as some of its mid-range rivals or the Pixel standards. The Nokia X30 5G is also fully water-resistant, adding to its durability. While the 4200 milliamp-hour battery cannot be wirelessly charged, it will easily last you through a full day of use without any issues, as long as you’re not constantly engaging in resource-intensive activities such as playing demanding games like Genshin Impact.
Overall, the Nokia X30 5G offers an affordable option with stock Android, sustainability features, a reliable camera, and a warranty that ensures long-term support and customer satisfaction.
13. Nokia G60 5G
The Nokia G60 5G is another respectable everyday smartphone priced at just 300 quid, and it comes with the added bonus that it’s mostly constructed from recycled materials. This means that its production has a lower impact on the planet compared to other phones. With several years of OS and security updates guaranteed, you won’t have to worry about quickly discarding it and replacing it with another phone.
Powering the Nokia G60 is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 chipset, which once again ensures smooth performance for most tasks and even handles gaming without any issues. The 6.58-inch screen uses IPS technology, which is not as impressive as other display technologies, but it still offers a decent panel with vibrant colors, even though it may not be as bright as desired. Battery life is on par with most phones in this budget range, and you also get extra perks like expandable storage and an actual headphone jack.
While the Nokia G60 5G may not match up to the Pixel and some other smartphones in terms of photography capabilities, it still delivers decent performance in that department. Overall, it’s a reliable and environmentally friendly option that offers good value for the price.
Conclusion
I hope you find the best phone from the list of 13 stock Android phones. Please comment and share your opinion on which one you think is good for you. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for the latest updates.
