For the past few years, I've been arguing that midrange phones offer some of the best value of any handset you can buy, seeing as how the best cheap phones we've reviewed pack in enough premium features to hold their own against pricier devices. And in 2026, I'm willing to bet that a lot more smartphone shoppers are going to come around to my way of thinking.
Midrange phones figure to be more attractive than ever this year if, as expected, phone makers get socked with rising component costs and wind up having to raise the prices of their flagship phones in response. And while we won't know what the leading device makers plan to charge for their latest phones until those prices are actually announced, the current signs are not encouraging.
