Top 3 Smartphones to Dominate Midrange Market in Early 2025

The midrange smartphone segment is heating up as three of the biggest players in the industry (Apple, Google, and Samsung) are set to release their highly anticipated affordable devices in early 2025. These include Apple’s iPhone SE 4, Google’s Pixel 9a, and Samsung’s Galaxy A56, anticipated to lead the upper midrange market with cutting-edge features, competitive pricing, and strategic positioning. These smartphones promise a blend of premium aesthetics, powerful performance, and modern camera capabilities with the brand name. As competition intensifies, these devices will offer exceptional choices for tech enthusiasts and budget-conscious buyers. So, let’s take a look at the leaked specifications and market potential of these upcoming smartphones.

Apple iPhone SE 4

Apple will reportedly launch the iPhone SE 4 in March 2025, which is tipped to arrive with major improvements over its predecessor. The new design is rumored to be inspired by the iPhone 14 and features a 6.1-inch OLED display with thin bezels. So, it will be the first iPhone SE model that will arrive with an AMOLED screen and without a home button.

In terms of performance, the smartphone the expected to be equipped with an A18 Bionic chip paired with 8GB of RAM, offering flagship-level performance. For photography lovers, the SE 4 will feature a 48MP main camera with 2x optical zoom and a 12MP TrueDepth front camera, ensuring decent photo and video quality. It’s also rumored to debut Apple’s in-house 5G modem (codenamed ‘Centauri’), promising faster connectivity.

Moreover, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the next iPhone SE 4 should support Apple Intelligence. This is a bit surprising, but it seems that Apple wants to put Apple Intelligence in as many hands as possible. It implies that the iPhone SE 4 may arrive with several new features, such as Writing Tools, Photos Clean Up, Genmoji, and an all-new Siri.

The estimated starting price of $499 makes it a strong contender in the midrange segment.

Google Pixel 9a

The Google Pixel 9a is designed for users seeking the unique Pixel experience at an affordable price. The smartphone is expected to debut in March 2025 with a minimalist design. It is rumored to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Performance-wise, it will likely arrive at the Tensor G4 chipset, paired with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and Gemini AI features. 

Moreover, the Google Pixel 9a will arrive with Android 15 and will reportedly get up to seven years of software support. The smartphone is expected to arrive with a 5000 mAh battery, with 18W wired charging and 7.5W reverse charging. It is certainly something that Google should work on as smartphones around $250-$300 are offering around 45W fast charging.

Photography remains a key highlight with an expected 64MP main camera backed by Google’s advanced computational photography. In addition, the 12MP ultra-wide selfie camera is tipped to offer impressive group selfies and video calls. Besides, it is also rumored to arrive with guaranteed software updates for several years, which is a plus point. The Google Pixel 9a is likely to be priced at around $499.

Samsung Galaxy A56

The Samsung Galaxy A56 is anticipated to launch in the first quarter of 2025, making it another lucrative midrange to look for. The smartphone has recently passed its Bluetooth SIG certification, confirming its Bluetooth 5.4 support for enhanced connectivity. It is expected to be powered by the Exynos 1580 chipset, offering a blend of efficiency and performance. In addition, recent leaks suggest that the Galaxy A56 5G will feature a 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a triple-camera setup.

In terms of design, the Galaxy A56 is expected to arrive with thin bezels, a flat frame with rounded edges, and a centered punch-hole camera. The rear camera module will be slightly raised reportedly, with the triple-camera array aligned vertically in the top-left corner of the back panel. The leaks also suggest that the phone will support 45W wired charging, a significant upgrade from its predecessor’s 25W charging. This move is expected to boost the phone’s appeal to consumers seeking fast-charging options and also to counter the intensifying competition.

For photography lovers, the rear cameras are expected to feature a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP macro sensor. Moreover, the A56 is tipped to arrive with a 32 MP selfie camera. According to a source, the phone will also arrive with Samsung’s software support for up to four years of Android updates. It is expected to be around $450, making it an attractive choice for consumers.

Our Take

These three devices highlight a growing trend of bringing flagship features to the midrange market. Apple’s shift to a modern design and advanced specs with the SE 4 targets those wanting an affordable entry into its ecosystem. With it’s AI-driven performance and camera prowess. Google’s Pixel 9a will remain a go-to choice for Android enthusiasts Meanwhile, Samsung’s Galaxy A56 combines hardware reliability and the latest innovative features, appealing to a broad audience.

With expected prices around $450-$499, these devices aim to dominate the midrange segment and provide stringent competition to companies like Xiaomi, Tecno, Infinix, Realme, etc. As consumers increasingly seek value-for-money options, 2025 could mark a turning point for midrange smartphones.

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