This past week I bumped into an old friend who was window-shopping for a new phone to replace her current one and she asked me for my opinion on whether to buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 10(an old flagship) or should she buy the Samsung A73(a midrange) and save money. I had no immediate answer. While the Note 10 may have an upper hand when it comes to the processor, I couldn't rule out the A73.
First, what is a flagship device and what is a midrange device? A Flagship Smartphone is the most premium product of that particular brand which they could manufacture with no budget limit, it usually has the best hardware and software combination so that the users can get the feeling of using an ultra-premium device every time they pick up their smartphones. A Midrange smartphone is a product that has some limits while manufacturing it, which covers the overall built quality and the internal hardware like the old Display technology, Slower battery charging technology, Old flagship camera hardware & many more.
Whilst flagships come with the best high-end technology, their prices can only be afforded by a select group of people. For a normal day to day user, some of the features offered by a flagship phone may seem "exaggerated". For instance, in the case of a Samsung Galaxy S22, how often will you use 100x camera zoom? Rarely ,I assume. In addition to that, the average user cannot distinguish between a 120Hz and a 90Hz refresh rate screen. That being said, midrange devices try to cover the essential features needed by a the average user-they come with a decent processor, a decent camera, a fairly bright screen, and just 'enough' storage.
With mid-range phones offering all that for a lower price, many users have been lured to buy them and not flagships to save on the extra cost especially in these tough times. Smartphone companies like Samsung, OnePlus, Google, Redmi, Huawei are taking advantage of this wave by manufacturing phones competing amongst themselves with each company trying to manufacture a better device than the other. Samsung has gone as far as having 3 classes of midrange devices, the A, M, and the F series. Apple, to the surprise of many, also launched a series of mid-range device (SE series) which usually offers flagship processors and a state of the art camera system. It provides a chance for many who can't afford the $700 base model flagship.
In conclusion, it all comes down to personal taste and funds available. If you can afford flagship, you're assured of a premium experience and software updates that will last a couple of years. Whereas a midrange device will serve you for a shorter time at a lower cost, you will however have the latest technology. It is therefore down to an individual to reflect on what works well for them. Personally, I vouched for the A73 since it offers the latest & better features and more years of updates. The tech scene is always evolving, newer is sometimes better.
