Top 5 Mid-Range Smartphones with Telephoto Lens in 2025 : From 2025 onwards, smartphone photography has grown very mature with the feature of telephoto lenses mainly confined within the mid-range segment. Previously, these features were available in costly flagship phones; with the advent of mid-range smartphones, keen users interested in detailed zoom shots with quality have been served under this feature. Those who yearn for Zoom experiences the best without digging holes in their pockets can consider these five best mid-range smartphones with telephoto capabilities to purchase in 2025.
1. Samsung Galaxy M55 5G
Samsung Galaxy M55 5G offers the best productivity coverage among mid-range features in a telephoto lens experience, i.e., a 10MP sensor telephoto lens that can achieve 3x optical zoom for clear shots of distant subjects, unclouded by distortion. Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 processor guarantees smooth performance, whereas seamless viewing with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate adds to the sheen. It is on such zoomed-in shots that Samsung processes all image shots to maintain sharpness and colour fidelity — a direct recommendation for mobile photographers.
2. Realme 12 Pro+ 5G
Realme’s 12 Pro+ 5G has a 64MP periscope telephoto lens that features optical zoom of 3x and digital zoom of 120x. Arguably, this is one of the mightiest zoom lenses available in the whole sub-30k category of devices, while the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chip adds further glitz to this phone, which can give a good photography experience with not much burden on the pocket. Gorgeous devices such as the curved AMOLED display with OIS support and pretty respectable low-light performance make it a great shooter all around for zoom fans.
3. iQOO Neo 9 SE
For those who want a telephoto lens for less, the iQOO Neo 9 SE is another good contender. The 50MP prime sensor is coupled with a 12MP telephoto sensor supporting a maximum 2x optical zoom; thus, it should end up producing fair shots. However, just because this is a camera-yet-another powerhouse does not mean it is not also a performance beast powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Neo 9 SE justifies itself for having fans who love taking portraits and close-up landscapes as clearly as possible.
4. Motorola Edge 50 Pro
Motorola Edge 50 Pro is for anyone interested in a clean Android experience as well as decent camera specifications. This phone has a 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom and OIS, further stabilising high-quality zoom shots. It also carries a 50MP primary camera alongside a 13MP ultra-wide lens. All in all, with one very attractive shape backed by a pOLED 144Hz display, Edge 50 Pro is a mid-ranger with definite camera applications.
5. Vivo V30 Pro
The Vivo V30 Pro was designed for mobile photography and especially tells the story of its 12MP 2x telephoto portrait lens, which was co-engineered with ZEISS, optimising the depth representation or depth that captures colour tone and clarity in all factors of zooming, as well as portrait shots. Furthermore, the phone picks up a further 50MP camera with OIS and another 50MP ultra-wide camera. Thanks to its great optimisation, the AMOLED display comes in a large, bright size with the MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chip just sweetening the deal as far as the Vivo V30 Pro is concerned, as much about zoom as it is about beauty and grunt.
No more are telephotos limited just to the boundaries of expensive flagship phones. In 2025, mid-range smartphones will take up a major bulk of such high-quality zoom and portrait functionalities. These five phones prove to be real contenders in the lower price range under ₹35,000 for one of the most powerful optical zooms, pro-grade portrait shots, or long-distance photographs sharp enough to qualify as clear. If photography were to take the stage in one’s life, one of these would surely become the best companion in setting one up close, figuratively and literally, to those objects of interest.