1. Google Pixel 7 Pro – this year’s mid-range model is the flagship of last year

Examining the flagship models from the previous year is one of the finest methods for finding deals on smartphones. Technically speaking, the Google Pixel 7a is more recent than the Google Pixel 7 Pro, but if you’re willing to wait for a discount, you can regularly find the full-fledged Pixel 7 Pro for as little as $520 on websites like Amazon.

In our comprehensive assessment, we discovered that the Google Pixel 7 Pro outperforms its rivals in everyday chores, but its real strength is in the area of photography. With a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, a 48 MP 5× telephoto lens, and a versatile 50 MP primary camera with OIS, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is a great contender for the title of cut-rate photography champion.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro will receive fewer Android upgrades than its less expensive 7a siblings due to the older Google Tensor G2 processor, but it will still receive security updates and Android version updates through October 2027.

2. The Galaxy S24 rival, Xiaomi 13T

For almost half the price, the Xiaomi 13T has everything you could want in a flagship smartphone. The Xiaomi 13T is available for as low as $472 on Amazon, while the Samsung Galaxy S24 starts at $799. We tested the Xiaomi 13T and discovered that it offers a good flagship experience with very little compromise. It is remarkably performant.

The 144 Hz AMOLED display of the Xiaomi 13T produces 1,250 nits of brightness, the 5,000 mAh battery is more than enough for even the average power user, and the MediaTek Dimensity 8200-Ultra processor is quick enough to handle daily chores and even play a little game.

With a 50 MP primary sensor with OIS and a Leica lens, a 12 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50 MP 2× telephoto camera, the Xiaomi 13T’s camera system also makes minimal concessions. Its low-light performance is exceptional for the category, and considering the budget, its colour rendition and detail levels are pretty excellent.

3. The reasonably priced ultra video Xiaomi 14 Pro

Devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 15 Pro Max are situated at the higher end of the flagship spectrum in terms of price. These gadgets, like as the Xiaomi 14 Pro, are the ones to be wary of. We appreciated the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s camera system in our review for producing clear, vibrant photographs in a variety of lighting settings and zoom capabilities.

The Xiaomi 14 Pro’s primary 50 MP lens has a clever trick up its sleeve. It is especially well-suited for video because of its f/1.9–4.0 variable aperture, which lets smartphone videographers switch between brightness settings while keeping a constant frame rate. Because of this, the Xiaomi 14 Pro is a very formidable competitor for those gadgets that cost $1,000 or more, such as the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (which costs $1,199.99 at Best Buy) and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (which costs $1,299.99 on Amazon).

Although those who are sensitive to PWM flickering has better go elsewhere, the Xiaomi 14 Pro’s huge battery, sharp 2K OLED screen that produces 1025 nits of brightness, and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC make it a comfortable device to live with.