Features
Best Midrange Smartphones from $300 to $600 (June 2017 Edition)
When premium phones are out of financial reach and entry-level handsets just don’t make your cut, something in between is the next best thing. This is our updated list of the best midrange smartphones retailing from $300 to $600.
Formulating this category was tricky, since you can’t set an exact price and some of these devices are, in fact, the flagship phones of their respective brands. To simplify things, we chose a price range that simply sits between our two other lists for best budget and premium smartphones.
Here they are in no particular order:
ASUS ZenFone 3 Zoom ($490)
The ZenFone 3 Zoom is best known for its dual-camera setup that lets you zoom in without quality loss, but less advertised is the massive battery and efficient processor it comes with. Combine both, and you get an ASUS gadget perfect for this selection.
OnePlus 3T ($439)
We previously had the OnePlus 3T in our premium smartphone category, but with its nearly year-old design and the ever-increasing prices of high-end phones, there’s no better fit than right here. Speedy performance, great build quality, and a seamless Android interface are still its primary highlights.
REVIEW: OnePlus 3T (3 months later)
Huawei P10 ($580)
While it may seem odd placing Huawei’s latest and greatest smartphone in a midrange list, the P10’s price is surprisingly competitive, especially when compared to other flagships launched alongside it at Mobile World Congress 2017 (MWC). If you’re after something a little more beefed up, there’s always the more expensive P10 Plus.
OPPO F3 Plus ($480)
No other phone on this list does selfies better than OPPO’s F3 Plus. It continues the “selfie expert” hook with a dual-camera setup in front — one handles high-resolution shots while the other does super-wide-angle selfies. Its great for media consumption as well, with a 6-inch Full HD display, 4000mAh battery, and fast charging.
Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 ($400)
Samsung hit all the right notes with its newest Galaxy A5 variant, owning a design reminiscent of older Galaxy flagships, as well as specs fit for its price point. Best of all, it has both water and dust resistance, which no other phone on this list can boast.
REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)
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It’s not every day you get to see Han So Hee in person. On September 13, I found myself at her Manila fan meeting. This was my first time at a fan meet, and the energy was noticeably different from the K-Pop girl group concerts I frequent—softer, more intimate, but just as filled with devotion.
Han So Hee was visibly tired, but that almost made the night more moving. You could see her push through with genuine effort to show appreciation for her fans. At one point, she even stepped off the stage to take a selfie with a fan who had shared a deeply personal story. I wasn’t fast enough to capture it, but the moment spoke volumes.
The fanmeet
The program had playful bits too. A highlight was when she was asked to copy poses from fan art. It was a treat both for the fans and for my camera—visually sharp, fun to shoot, and perfectly suited for social feeds.
Somewhere in between, she also revealed a small but telling personal preference: she’s a binge-watcher. She wants to know how a story ends, so she’d rather power through a series than wait week after week.
And then there was the hi-touch session. I wasn’t sure how I’d react until it was my turn. I walked up, scrunched my nose at her, and she did the same back.
It wasn’t a hi-five, it was a firmware upgrade for my soul.

We weren’t allowed to take photos or videos during hi-touch so this is So Hee with a cute pouty face instead.
The funny thing is, before the event, a friend had asked me which of her dramas they should watch. Without hesitation, I rattled off a list—My Name and Soundtrack #1 topping my recommendations. That’s when I realized I wasn’t just there to test a device. Somewhere along the way, I’d actually become a fan.
vivo V60
Still, I did bring along the vivo V60. Seated further from the stage, it became the perfect challenge for the phone’s telephoto camera and Stage Mode. I was a bit disappointed to learn that Stage Mode only worked for photos this time around. I’d had such a good time using it for fancams on the vivo X200 Pro that it felt like a step back.
Even so, the V60 held up. Shots within a reasonable range looked clean, and those where I didn’t push the zoom too hard were the best. Once you go beyond 10x, things get dicey.
At that point, it’s less ‘zoom’ and more ‘interpretive art,’ but Han So Hee’s face card refused to fold.
But that’s also the charm—having a camera that helps you capture fleeting moments, even from a distance, made me appreciate the fan meeting differently.
That night wasn’t really about testing tech. It was about being present for a star who, despite the fatigue, showed up wholeheartedly. The V60 was just my lens into it all—a reminder that sometimes the best shots are the ones that let you relive how it felt to be there.
Here are a few more photos from the fanmeet.
Gaming
Unboxing: Ghost of Yotei Collector’s Edition
The Collector’s Edition captures that spirit in every piece
@gadgetmatch Unboxing the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition. #MatchPlay @PlayStation @Sucker Punch productions ♬ original sound – GadgetMatch
Ghost of Yotei isn’t just a game you play, it’s a story you carry with you. The Collector’s Edition captures that spirit in every piece.
Front and center is a full-scale replica of Atsu’s Ghost mask — cast in resin, sized to match Jin’s mask from Ghost of Tsushima, and ready for display on its own stand. Place them side by side and you’ve got a legacy in the making.
You also get Atsu’s sash, stitched with the names of the Yotei Six. It stretches a full 71 inches and feels right at home draped across your wall or pulled into a cosplay.
Then there’s the replica Tsuba from Atsu’s katana — the twin wolves forged by her father, now forged for your shelf.
The set goes beyond display pieces, too. Inside the box you’ll find a pouch of coins with rules for Zeni Hajiki, letting you play the same game of skill Atsu does in her journey. There’s a papercraft ginkgo tree with a wolf at its base, and a set of four art cards that capture the game’s heart in frameable snapshots.
And of course, all of this comes with the Digital Deluxe content and a digital copy of the game itself.
The Ghost of Yotei Collector’s Edition will retail for $249.99 | €249.99 | 31,980 JPY. For Southeast Asia, pricing is SGD 318.90 / MYR 969 / IDR 3,349,000 / THB 7,449 / PHP 11,490 / VND 5,799,000.
This isn’t just a bundle of items — it’s a tangible extension of the story, crafted for fans who want to keep Yotei alive long after the credits roll.
SEE ALSO:
It’s been 10 years since Apple and Hermès first teamed up to bring French luxury craftsmanship to the Apple Watch.
From iconic leather straps to exclusive watch faces, this partnership has transformed how we see wearable tech.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes the Apple Watch Hermès experience so special — or if the 10th Anniversary Edition is worth it — you won’t want to miss this.
Here’s our 10-year special of the solidified partnership between Apple x Hermès alongside the latest series of the premium Apple Watch.
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