Sub $1,000 Mid-range 5G phone

Forums › Android › Sub $1,000 Mid-range 5G phone

1 | 2 | 3

BDFL - Memuneh
80653 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 41045

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3448881 2-Jan-2026 10:15

The OPPO A5 5G is a solid phone. Wife's using one. Great battery life too.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

Taubin

592 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 243

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3448976 2-Jan-2026 13:29

Thank you all very much for the help. I spent the last two days looking at and holding phones. I ended up just getting an A56, my needs just aren't very high, and phones seem to no longer hold the magic they once did for me. The A56 seems to fit everything I need. It is a bit big (and will probably feel even huger with a case) but overall it seems like a decent phone.

Thank you all again.

ZL2TOY/ZL1DMP

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3454535 20-Jan-2026 10:09

I hope the OP does not mind me jumping into their thread. I managed to assassinate my iPhone 15 Pro Max over the weekend. I am looking for a good mid range Android handset. I no longer wish to endure iOS. Key features ...... 6.3" - 6.7" 120hz display with good brightness for out door viewing. 5G and WiFi 6 and above connectivity, 256+ GB storage, cameras good for happy snaps as I use a DSLR for serious photography. I no longer want to spend MacBook Air money on a phone anymore. Reliability, one hand friendly. Any suggestions?

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

WyleECoyoteNZ

1055 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 372

#3454588 20-Jan-2026 12:02

MikeB4:

I hope the OP does not mind me jumping into their thread. I managed to assassinate my iPhone 15 Pro Max over the weekend. I am looking for a good mid range Android handset. I no longer wish to endure iOS. Key features ...... 6.3" - 6.7" 120hz display with good brightness for out door viewing. 5G and WiFi 6 and above connectivity, 256+ GB storage, cameras good for happy snaps as I use a DSLR for serious photography. I no longer want to spend MacBook Air money on a phone anymore. Reliability, one hand friendly. Any suggestions?

The Motorola G56 could be worth a look at. All the NZ spec ones I've seen) played with in stores have 8GB RAM and NFC.

Considering this myself as a replacement for a aging Oppo A91

SEEN

216 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 25

ID Verified

#3454590 20-Jan-2026 12:11

Happy owner of a Pixel 9A on Kogan Mobile. Both VoWiFi and VoLTE are working perfectly on GrapheneOS and were also working on the original Google ROM.

Spending way too much time and money on Unraid servers!
Lenovo SR630: 2x Xeon Gold 5120, 384GB RAM, 2.4TB array, NVIDIA Tesla T4
Dell EMC Isilon NL410: 2x Xeon E5-2470 v2, 96GB RAM, 83.2TB array, NVIDIA Quadro K600
Dell PowerEdge R630: 2x Xeon E5-2640 v4, 384GB RAM, 1.2TB array, NVIDIA T400

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3454645 20-Jan-2026 14:03

WyleECoyoteNZ:

The Motorola G56 could be worth a look at. All the NZ spec ones I've seen) played with in stores have 8GB RAM and NFC.

Considering this myself as a replacement for a aging Oppo A91

I forgot about the Moto G56, I purchased one of those for my grandson for his school trip to Europe. It's one of a rare breed that has expandable microsd storage which I thought would be handy for him.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3454646 20-Jan-2026 14:05

SEEN:

Happy owner of a Pixel 9A on Kogan Mobile. Both VoWiFi and VoLTE are working perfectly on GrapheneOS and were also working on the original Google ROM.

I like the Google offerings but I am nervous about their connectivity going forward into an Aotearoa without 3G. Due to disabilities connectivity is vital for me.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

caffynz

317 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 139

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3454653 20-Jan-2026 14:26

MikeB4:

I hope the OP does not mind me jumping into their thread. I managed to assassinate my iPhone 15 Pro Max over the weekend. I am looking for a good mid range Android handset. I no longer wish to endure iOS. Key features ...... 6.3" - 6.7" 120hz display with good brightness for out door viewing. 5G and WiFi 6 and above connectivity, 256+ GB storage, cameras good for happy snaps as I use a DSLR for serious photography. I no longer want to spend MacBook Air money on a phone anymore. Reliability, one hand friendly. Any suggestions?

What about looking at the Nothing 3a phones? There's a 256gb model, 12gb RAM.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#3454655 20-Jan-2026 14:41

caffynz:

What about looking at the Nothing 3a phones? There's a 256gb model, 12gb RAM.

I have looked at and fondled those in JB HiFi a few times. I love the quirkyness of the design and they are not just another boring slab clone. The Camera bump on the 3a Pro is certainly no shrinking violet. They lowish IP rating is a bit of a concern at only 64 but that could be lived with.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#3454662 20-Jan-2026 16:20

My vote for a Samsung A54 at the time was because it could pair with a Samsung tablet. Before wifi calling we had patchy mobile coverage and could leave the phone upstairs and phone or txt with the tablet downstairs. Even with wifi calling it is very handy to have the 2 devices paired.

Taubin

592 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 243

ID Verified

Subscriber

#3454663 20-Jan-2026 16:28

I had no idea you could do that, I have a samsung tablet sitting around doing not a whole lot. I may have just found a new use for it.

ZL2TOY/ZL1DMP

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

Bung

6733 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2926

Subscriber

#3454666 20-Jan-2026 16:47

This should list which phones and tablets can do it.

https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10001614/

farcus

1626 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 437

#3454729 21-Jan-2026 00:33

MikeB4:

I like the Google offerings but I am nervous about their connectivity going forward into an Aotearoa without 3G. Due to disabilities connectivity is vital for me.

You needn't worry. Pixels 6 and up support VoLTE and VoWiFi in NZ on all networks. These pixels for a while now have had carrier profiles for all three networks.

DamageInc

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 73

Lifetime subscriber

#3454730 21-Jan-2026 06:12

caffynz:

MikeB4:

I hope the OP does not mind me jumping into their thread. I managed to assassinate my iPhone 15 Pro Max over the weekend. I am looking for a good mid range Android handset. I no longer wish to endure iOS. Key features ...... 6.3" - 6.7" 120hz display with good brightness for out door viewing. 5G and WiFi 6 and above connectivity, 256+ GB storage, cameras good for happy snaps as I use a DSLR for serious photography. I no longer want to spend MacBook Air money on a phone anymore. Reliability, one hand friendly. Any suggestions?

What about looking at the Nothing 3a phones? There's a 256gb model, 12gb RAM.

This is the phone i purchased October last year, very happy with it.

Pop! OS

Noig

457 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

Lifetime subscriber

#3455444 23-Jan-2026 15:36

SEEN:

Happy owner of a Pixel 9A on Kogan Mobile. Both VoWiFi and VoLTE are working perfectly on GrapheneOS and were also working on the original Google ROM.

Can I ask you, where did you get the P9A from?

1 | 2 | 3