Sub $1,000 Mid-range 5G phone

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Taubin

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#323655 29-Dec-2025 21:57

It's about time I upgrade my S10. I refuse to pay current flagship prices so I'm looking for something mid-range. I love my S10 but it's not received updates in 3 years so it's past time.

My only real needs are nfc for google pay, a decent camera (doesn't have to be mind blowing), and a good update cycle (3+ years I guess). I've had a look around and nothing is really jumping out at me and I'm very out of the loop these days with what is good. I've kind of lost my love of new phone tech I guess. I just find this more dreadful than exciting sadly.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Bonus if it doesn't feel like cheap garbage.

ZL2TOY/ZL1DMP

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#3447955 29-Dec-2025 22:30

The Honor 400 Pro and Xiaomi 15T/15T Pro look pretty good for the price point. Never used either of them, but on paper they seem good.

lxsw20

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#3447958 29-Dec-2025 22:48

A56? If you're just looking for a newer version of what you have.

farcus

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#3447959 29-Dec-2025 22:54

I don't have one . . . but chatgpt recommended me a Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (I asked for something that wasn't running a 'skinned' android) or Pixel 9A

insane

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#3447961 29-Dec-2025 23:36

Samsung s25fe perhaps? I pickup up a s25 from PB tech some months ago when it went on fire sale - was $900 - have been very happy with it!

Qazzy03

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#3447963 30-Dec-2025 02:37

$850 last years flagship for 256gb

https://notbadtech.co.nz/products/samsung-galaxy-s24-256gb-onyx-black?_pos=1&_sid=21d706227&_ss=r

I have purchased Galaxy Buds 3 from notbadtech before

dvsdave

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#3448116 30-Dec-2025 11:49

kiruti:

The Honor 400 Pro and Xiaomi 15T/15T Pro look pretty good for the price point. Never used either of them, but on paper they seem good.

I did this recently, grabbed the 400 pro as it came with a free sports watch as well, getting a case was a challenge, ended up ordering one from amazon.

Great phone coming from a Huawei p30, 2 days battery life is quite surprising.

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kiruti

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#3448175 30-Dec-2025 15:16

dvsdave:

I did this recently, grabbed the 400 pro as it came with a free sports watch as well, getting a case was a challenge, ended up ordering one from amazon.

Great phone coming from a Huawei p30, 2 days battery life is quite surprising.

Good to hear! Seems strange though, Noel Leeming sell the phone but don't seem to sell anything else for it (such as phone cases and screen protectors).

mudguard

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#3448176 30-Dec-2025 15:25

kiruti:

The Honor 400 Pro and Xiaomi 15T/15T Pro look pretty good for the price point. Never used either of them, but on paper they seem good.

How will these phones be placed for the great 3G shutdown? That would be my worry, buying something outside the main telco offerings may have a slight risk soon.

dvsdave

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#3448180 30-Dec-2025 15:55

mudguard:

kiruti:

The Honor 400 Pro and Xiaomi 15T/15T Pro look pretty good for the price point. Never used either of them, but on paper they seem good.

How will these phones be placed for the great 3G shutdown? That would be my worry, buying something outside the main telco offerings may have a slight risk soon.

Financial controller will be miffed if its not, but fair to consider other things too like ongoing updates and repair availability. Coming from a Huawei that lasted forever I was prepared to take the risk. Was a consideration tho.

Radiotron

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#3448182 30-Dec-2025 15:56

Quite happy with an Oppo Reno12 I bought earlier in the year, the current Reno13F looks pretty equivalent, a decent phone for the money, no problems with VoLTE and 5G if you buy local. Cameras seem fine to me, good macro that I find useful too.

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MichaelNZ

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#3448183 30-Dec-2025 15:59

If you are on a plan shop around for specials. Its around the time they offer good deals on S-series to clear them out ready for the next model.

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KiwiSurfer

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#3448191 30-Dec-2025 16:31

I'd generally stick with Samsung as they're the only Android manufactuer as far as I am aware to both (1) commit and actually follow through with 5 years of software updates on all phones released since around ~2021 (IIRC) and (2) have full 100% support from all three NZ networks.

Agree with the suggestions above for older S-series phones. A-series phones could be a good option but I've found the quality to be nowhere as good. I have a personal S21 and work A73 released around the same time and the S21 is miles ahead of the A73. E.g. the S21 camera works nearly 100% of the time wheras as the A73 frequently has issues focusing and other issues so when taking phones at work I would use my personal S21 and transfer it across -- the A73 camera was so bad it was worth the hassle.

If you just want a phone and don't care about cameras, third party software, etc. then the A-series is good enough. Maybe go into a store and play with the phones to make sure you're happy with the camera quality and the general feel of the OS.

But I would try and get S-series, even the last year model would be a great investment and last a long time. My S21 finally got replaced this year after 4.5 years of use as my daily driver -- no regrets. I know if I went with a cheaper model I would probably have replaced it quite soon so you'd need to consider the TOC of getting a cheaper model and having to replace it sonner vs getting a more expensive model and staying with it for the long term.

kiruti

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#3448192 30-Dec-2025 16:34

mudguard:

How will these phones be placed for the great 3G shutdown? That would be my worry, buying something outside the main telco offerings may have a slight risk soon.

Unsure Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman would legally be able to sell them if they don't support VoLTE at least

farcus

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#3448257 30-Dec-2025 18:58

kiruti:

Unsure Noel Leeming and Harvey Norman would legally be able to sell them if they don't support VoLTE at least

I wouldn't guarantee that . . . but generally speaking, Xiaomi are pretty good with VoLTE support in NZ. VoWifi is another matter

Taubin

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#3448270 30-Dec-2025 23:16

Thank you all for the advice, I'll look at the S24 I think. I might wait a few more months and see if the S26 releases and the S25 comes down in price. There seem to be some issues with GPS and battery on the S24 from my brief reading (though it has to be better than my S10 at this point). If the S25 doesn't come down in price I might just go for one of the A series. I rarely upgrade my phone and want something that's going to last. I just refuse to pay nearly 2k for a phone.

ZL2TOY/ZL1DMP

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