Best Smartphones Under Rs.30,000 (December 2021)

Are you the one looking to step up your geek game a bit? With a bunch of choices lying around in mobile phones under Rs.30,000, you’re sure to sweat it out to find the best.

But don’t worry we will walk you through the tough part. This list has been curated to provide you with an insight into the fourteen best phones under Rs.30,000 available for purchase in India.

Whether you are an amateur photographer, an avid gamer or a selfie lover, we’ve tossed the best smartphones with these features in this price range so that you can take your pick quite easily.

Without any further ado, here are the choices we have shortlisted for you.

Best Smartphones Under Rs.30,000

1. iQOO 7 5GOverall Best Pick
2. OnePlus Nord 2 5GRunner-up Pick
3. Apple iPhone SE 2020Best Affordable iPhone
4. Mi 11XBest Performance Smartphone
5. Realme X7 Max 5GBest 5G Smartphone
6. Poco F3 GTBest Gaming Smartphone
7. Motorola Edge 20Best Mid-range Smartphone
8. Realme GT Master EditionBest Versatile Smartphone
9. Samsung Galaxy M52 5GBest Smartphone for Regular Users
10. Mi 11 Lite NEFeature-rich Smartphone
11. Oppo Reno 6 5GErgonomic Smartphone
12. Vivo V21 5GBest Smartphone with Selfie Camera
13. Google Pixel 4aStock Android Smartphone
14. Samsung Galaxy A52Honourable Mention

Note: The price shown are the once when we reviewed the products. However, as the promotional offers changes on the given E-commerce sites, the price may vary. Bettershark is supported by it’s readers and when you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

1. iQOO 7 5G

IQOO 7 5G

Overall Best Pick

  • Powerful Snapdragon 870 5G chipset
  • High refresh rate FHD+ panel
  • Liquid cooling technology
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Pros

Adjustable in-game FPS up to 120

Android 11 out of the box

Premium design and build

Cons

No 3.5mm audio jack

IQOO was formed as a subsidiary of Vivo but later spun itself off to an independent smartphone manufacturer.

IQOO smartphones are performance-oriented devices that give brands such as OnePlus and Samsung a run for their money. 

The IQOO 7 5G is the latest smartphone from the IQOO stable to launch in the Indian market.

Design and Build Quality

The IQOO 7 has a polished finish and with the finely crafted polycarbonate back with round edges, this device feels premium in its hands.

This mid-range Android smartphone has a vertical rectangular-shaped camera design which also houses the IQOO branding.

The IQOO 7 weighs 196 grams and thanks to its excellent weight distribution, the smartphone feels comfortable in the palm.

Talking about the device’s physical overview, it has power and volume buttons on the right side of the frame and the USB-C port is located on the bottom section.

Sadly, there is no 3.5mm audio output therefore either you can use wireless earphones or else you can invest some money to purchase a converter (USB-C to audio jack).

Display

The IQOO 7 sports a 6.62-inch 120Hz AMOLED punch-hole display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

So, you might ask what’s new here? The panel of this device uses an Intelligent display chip that upscales SDR content to HDR for better colours and contrast levels.

This is a 120Hz refresh rate display panel that is capable of delivering buttery smooth visuals and a gaming experience.  

You can play every game in 60fps for sure but you can boost the frame rates for an even much greater experience. Not just the refresh rate, but this display also has an impressive 300Hz touch sampling rate for precision touch feedback. 

Being an OLED panel, the colours look gorgeous and the visuals appear sharp and clean without any sort of pixelation whatsoever. 

With a peak brightness of 1300nits, this display is a delight to use both indoors as well as outdoors. 

Processor and Performance

The showrunner of IQOO 7 is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 octa-core processor clocked at 3.2GHz, paired with 8GB RAM.

The performance of this smartphone is top of the line in this price segment. You can play any game and run multiple applications simultaneously without facing any lag or stutter.

Thanks to the liquid cool technology, this smartphone stays relatively cool even under intense usage.

Regarding storage, the IQOO 7 comes with super-fast 128GB UFS3.1 memory with no option to expand further. 

The IQOO 7 comes pre-installed with the FunTouch OS 11.1 based on Android 11 OS. The user interface is the same as other Vivo phones and it runs flawlessly.

Camera

The IQOO 7 has a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 48MP main lens, a 13MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.

The 48MP main camera comes with OIS support and the photos clicked from the primary sensor come out clear, crisp, and with ample details.

The dynamic range and details remain on par in the ultrawide sensor, however, a slight improvement is needed with colours in ultrawide.

The OIS will combine with the EIS to provide an ultra-stable mode in video recording and you will be amazed by the final results.

We thought that a 2MP depth sensor would fail at some point in portrait photography but the reality is different – the edge detection in portrait images is so accurate.

The 16MP selfie camera captures sharp selfie photos but the contrast is a bit on a higher side however you can still share them in your Instagram story.

Battery Life

The IQOO 7 is powered by the 4400mAh lithium polymer battery that will provide backup for about a day with normal to heavy use.

On gaming, the battery backup can vary as a high refresh rate takes a significant toll on battery life.

The bundled 66W fast charger will juice up the battery levels from 0-100% in less than 45 minutes.

Verdict

The IQOO 7 is an all in one package. You can get the best in class performance, camera and display for the price of around Rs.30,000.

This smartphone has almost all the features a user can ask for. Investing in this device will be worth every penny.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 870
Camera48MP + 13MP + 2MP Rear, 16MP Front
Battery4400mAh
Display6.62-inch 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED

2. OnePlus Nord 2 5G

OnePlus Nord 2 5G

Runner-up Pick

  • Powerful MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI processor
  • Good haptic feedback
  • Gorgeous display
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Pros

Under-display fingerprint scanner

Latest UFS 3.1 storage

Sony IMX766 sensor

Cons

Poor ultra-wide lens performance

OnePlus is known for providing flagship smartphones at affordable prices and OxygenOS is the second reason why many tech-savvy people prefer the smartphones from OnePlus.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is a significant upgrade over the original Nord and it is priced at Rs.29,999 currently in the Indian market.

Design and Build Quality

If we would like to give this smartphone a second name that would be the OnePlus 9 Lite because the device looks the same, the only difference is the form factor.

We didn’t notice much difference in design, it’s simple and ergonomic. This smartphone is available in three colours namely Grey Sierra – Blue Haze – Green Woods.

The Nord 2 5G smartphone has glass on the back and front and middle frame is made out of plastic. This device feels heavy in the hand and is not ideal for one-handed use.

You will get the premium smartphone features like an in-display fingerprint scanner, and alert slider with this device. The 3.5mm audio jack is not available on this smartphone but the dual speaker produces loud and ear-pleasing audio.

The haptic feedback of this smartphone has been improved from its previous version and you will get better vibration while typing, gaming or with general notifications.

Display

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G sports a 6.43-inch 90Hz Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED punch-hole display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

The touch response is precise and the 90Hz refresh rate makes the display fluid with animations and scrolling. 

Moving to the display quality, the visuals look vivid, sharp, and detailed. Also, thanks to the thin bezels on the sides that offers an immersive wide viewing experience.

The smartphone is convenient for indoor and outdoor use as the display goes bright enough.

Processor and Performance

The reason why the OnePlus Nord 2 5G is good for the price is because of the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 AI chipset that runs the show.

This chipset is fabricated on 6-nm architecture – it is power efficient and with the highest clock speed of 3GHz, you will have a fast-paced performance.

It’s not just the processor that dominates in performance – the 128GB UFS 3.1 storage and 8GB LPDDR4x RAM also play vital roles in offering the user a fluid performance.

Thanks to the UFS 3.1 storage technology, the applications will load faster, and the file transfer speeds are blazing fast as well.

We’ve heard rumors going around that Oxygen OS will merge with ColorOS soon and in the OnePlus Nord 2 5G we do find some hints of this merger.

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G comes pre-installed with the Oxygen OS 11.3 based on Android 11 for the time being it has no pre-rolled ads and bloatware but we have to wait how ColorOS features will be implemented.

Camera

The main 50MP Sony IMX766 is taken from the OnePlus 9 and we thought image processing might not live up to expectations, however, the results from the primary lens are astonishing.

In daylight conditions, the photos captured have sufficient detail, sharpness and images look vivid.

The 8MP ultrawide lens captures soft and less sharper images. We forgot to tell you the most important thing, the camera UI is the same as that of Oppo and Realme smartphones.

The main shooter on the rear has OIS support so you can record videos without having much shake in the final results but sadly, you can not record 4K/60fps video.

The 32MP selfie camera offers good selfies but it is a hit and miss with dynamic range.

Battery Life

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is powered by a 4500mAh lithium battery that is rated to last up to an entire day with normal use and with heavy use, it will last up to 6-7 hours.

The 65W warp charger will juice up the smartphone battery from 0 – 100% in less than 45 minutes.

Verdict

The OnePlus Nord 2 5G is probably the best smartphone for those who seek performance at the price of Rs.30,000.

The UI is clean and overall this smartphone offers a great user experience.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorMediaTek Dimensity 1200
Camera50MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front
Battery4500mAh
Display6.43-inch 90Hz FHD+ Fluid AMOLED

3. Apple iPhone SE 2020

Apple iPhone SE 2020

Best Affordable iPhone

  • Well optimized software and hardware
  • Powerful A13 bionic chip
  • Gorgeous IPS LCD retina display
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Pros

Touch ID

Dedicated alert slider button

Robust build quality

Cons

No night mode in the camera app

Apple iPhone SE was one of the highly anticipated smartphone releases last year. A handy little iPhone in this era of large-screen display smartphones is still a viable choice for many all around the world. 

The iPhone SE 2020 is one of the most affordable iPhone models to hit the market to date. 

Design and Build Quality

The iPhone SE 2020 has a premium glass sandwich design consisting of a front and back glass panel with an aluminium frame in between. 

These toughened glass slabs come with a specially treated oleophobic coating to repel water away from the surface of the phone. 

Certified IP67 dust and water-resistant, the iPhone SE 2020 is a well-built device that feels durable and sturdy in hand. 

Weighing at just 148g, this is one of the lightest smartphones available in the market as of now. 

Even though this device looks small and feels very light in hand, the performance isn’t compromised a bit.

On the left frame, there are volume up/ down buttons accompanied by the alert slider, which is kind of useful to instantly silent the phone without unlocking the device.

The good old power button still resides in the front lower chin and comes integrated with the TouchID fingerprint security. 

Display

The Apple iPhone SE 2020 features a 4.7-inch Retina HD+ display with a resolution of 750 x 1334 pixels.

Even though this isn’t a full HD panel, thanks to the smaller size and higher ppi count, the visuals and text look sharp and detailed.

This retina IPS LCD has Apple true tone colour technology support for true to natural colour reproduction. 

This display has a very good brightness level, usable enough both indoors and outdoors without any issues.

Processor and Performance

The Apple iPhone SE 2020 is powered by the same CPU that’s beneath the Apple iPhone 11 Pro – the 7nm+ A13 Bionic.

This hexa-core CPU from Apple beats even the Snapdragon 865 flagship processor from Qualcomm in terms of performance and power efficiency. 

You won’t notice any lags or stutters with apps, games or even with intense multitasking with multiple applications side by side. 

The performance is buttery smooth, thanks to the excellent hardware-software optimization done by Apple. 

The iPhone SE 2020 comes with 3GB RAM, which is more than enough to run iOS 14.2 smoothly and the 64GB storage is super fast as well.

There is no storage expansion with the iPhone SE 2020, so you might have to keep that in mind while purchasing the same. 

Camera

The iPhone SE 2020 features a single 12MP rear camera with an aperture size of f/1.8. 

This camera has OIS (optical image stabilization) for steady photos and jitter-free video capturing.

The images and videos from this single 12MP camera put to shame some of the similarly priced Android smartphones out there. 

Even without a secondary depth sensor, the portrait mode shots turn out to be stunning. 

In the front, the iPhone SE 2020 has a 7MP shooter with HDR support for a good dynamic range. 

The rear camera of this device supports 4K video recording at 60fps while the front camera is limited to 1080p at 30fps. 

Battery Life

This is one area where Apple has seen skimping a lot. The iPhone SE 2020 with its 1821mAh battery inside will last you around a day of light to moderate use.

If you use this smartphone a lot, expect the battery to come down within 5-6 hours. Apple has included a 5W charger inside the box that takes almost 2 hours to juice up the battery.

But it also supports fast charging up to 20W, so if you wish to juice up the battery quickly then you can invest in a fast charger.

Verdict

The iPhone SE 2020 is the cheapest iPhone available in India to date, priced around Rs.29,999.

If you are looking to purchase a smaller form factor smartphone with excellent performance and software experience, this is it.

Specifications

Operating SystemiOS 14.2
Internal Storage64 GB
RAM3 GB
ProcessorApple A13 Bionic
Camera12MP selfie, 7MP front
Battery1821mAh
Display4.7-inch HD Retina IPS

4. Mi 11X

Mi 11X

Best Performance Smartphone

  • Flagship chipset – Snapdragon 870 5G
  • Decent camera performance
  • 120Hz high-resolution AMOLED panel
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Pros

33W fast charging support

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

X-axis linear vibration motor

Cons

No dedicated 3.5mm audio jack

This phone from Xiaomi is rebranded for the third time after its initial launch – in other regions this smartphone is named as Redmi K40 and POCO F3.

In India, it is known as MI 11X. This smartphone is a performance beast for the asking price of Rs.29,999. Let’s find out what this has to offer at this price!

Design and Build Quality

The MI 11X has a premium build quality with a familiar glass sandwich design. This device comes in three different colours to choose from.

Being a glass back smartphone, the backside is highly reflective. It is easy to smudge this device with your fingerprints, so using it with a case is advised. 

The device is 7.8mm thin and it weighs somewhere around 196 grams but does not feel much heavy in the hand or inside pant pockets.

The X-axis linear motor inside this phone provides excellent haptic feedback to the touches and taps. 

Even though this device comes with an OLED display, it doesn’t have the in-display fingerprint scanner but instead, has the sensor located on the side-mounted power button. 

As usual, the IR blaster is given at the top and alongside it, there is a noise cancellation mic as well as the speaker grille.

Yes, this device has dual stereo speakers that produce a loud clear sound with audible vocals and punchy bass.

Speaking of ports, there is no audio jack but a converter (USB-C to audio jack) is available inside the box.

Display

The MI 11X features a 6.67-inch 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

The panel has a 360Hz touch sampling rate which means whenever you perform a touch gesture on the panel it will respond quickly compared to the standard 60Hz panel.

Thanks to the peak brightness level of 1300 nits, the display is convenient to use indoors as well as under direct sunlight.

The punch-hole size cutout on the front is very small and the bezels from all sides are also minimal which gives you an immersive wide viewing experience on content consumption.

The colours look punchier with inky deep blacks and with a theoretically infinite contrast ratio.

Processor and Performance

The MI 11X is powered by the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 octa-core SoC designed on 7-nm architecture.

The 6GB LPDDR5 RAM inside this smartphone will provide a buttery smooth performance when it comes to everyday usage and multitasking.

You can play all the modern games on this device at high graphics settings without any issues whatsoever.

The 128GB UFS 3.1 storage will help enhance the device overall performance such as the minimal application loading time and faster data transfer speeds. 

The MIUI 12 developed on top of Android 11 OS is what you get to use out of the box.

Camera

The MI 11X houses a triple lens in the rear consisting of a 48MP main lens, 8MP ultrawide and 5MP macro lens.

The photos from the main sensor come out balanced, we’d say. A little more colour accuracy is desirable with the greens but that can be easily fixed via a future software update.

Surprisingly, macro photography is great on this device but this lens is rarely used by normal users.

The ultrawide lens can click photos with a 120-degree wide field of view and the final results are satisfactory.

In the camera module at the back, there is a dedicated microphone and it activates when you record videos so if you’re into starting a content creation then it will be helpful.

The 20MP front shooter clicks sharp and clear images. The portrait selfies photos look nice and detailed enough for social media usage.

Battery Life

The MI 11X has a 4520mAh battery inside that will last up to a day with medium to heavy use.

The bundled 33W fast charger will take less than one and a half hours to recharge the battery fully.

Verdict

The MI 11X comes with a premium build quality and offers commendable performance for the asking price of Rs.29,999.

If you are looking for a performance smartphone with a great display then MI 11X is where your search ends.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM6 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 870
Camera48MP + 8MP + 5MP Rear, 20MP Front
Battery4520mAh
Display6.67-inch 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED

5. Realme X7 Max 5G

Realme X7 Max 5G

Best 5G Smartphone

  • Powerful MediaTek Dimesity 12000 processor
  • AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate
  • Ergonomic design
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Pros

Under display fingerprint scanner

Wi-Fi 6 support

SuperDart fast charger support

Cons

No glass back

Realme is on a roll releasing new devices every month to compete with Redmi neck and neck.

The X series smartphone lineup from Realme is an answer to the budget and upper mid-range smartphones from Xiaomi. 

The Realme X7 Max is one of the newest releases from the X series stable powered by the 5G capable MediaTek Dimensity processor available to purchase for just Rs.27,680.

Design and Build Quality

Hands down for the design, after almost 6-month of teasing, Realme has shown up with a new design, and to be honest, it’s impressive.

However, the back is still made out of polycarbonate material which does not feel cheap but a glass back would have made the phone felt premium. 

The rear side has a mix of matte and glossy finish. The reflective finish houses the camera module and the branding of Realme with its logo now settled in a small box instead covering the entire back panel area.

The curved sides provide a nice grip to the hands and talking about its usability, the device weighs just 179 grams and it feels comfortable in hands.

Realme has tried its best to provide a flagship-level experience. This device has an in-display fingerprint scanner that is very responsive.

Display

The Realme X7 Max 5G features a 6.43-inch 120Hz Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

This display is protected by Dragontrail Glass so the display remains safe from scratches and can survive the accidental falls.

The colour reproduction of this display is vivid and punchy. Being an OLED panel, the blacks are inky deep with an excellent contrast ratio. 

Thanks to the impressive 90.1% screen to body ratio, the media consumption experience is delightful, to say the least.

The 120Hz refresh rate makes everything looks buttery smooth including the visuals and the UI animations. Not just that, the Realme X7 Max 5G comes with an enhanced 360Hz touch sampling rate for instantaneous touch response. This will prove highly beneficial for those who game a lot on their smartphones. 

Everything on this display will work buttery smooth as it has a high refresh rate not only that but it has a massive 360Hz touch sampling rate so the display will respond much faster to touch and it will be beneficial in gaming as well.

This panel has a peak brightness of 1000 nits which makes it usable both indoors and outdoors effortlessly. 

Processor and Performance

The Realme X7 Max 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC which is the latest iteration in the Dimensity series.

Dimensity 1200 is capable of giving head to head competition to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chipset.

This device offers a flagship-level performance under Rs.30,000, and with the 8GB RAM onboard you can perform everyday tasks or do multitasking without facing any lag.

If you know anything regarding gaming, we would like you to know that you can run any Android game on this device at 60fps.

The 128GB UFS 3.1 storage adds more to the performance – it helps loading apps and games faster and it will reduce the boot-up time significantly.

The Realme X7 Max 5G comes pre-installed with the Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 OS.

Camera

The Realme X7 Max 5G has a triple rear camera consisting of a 64MP primary camera, 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro sensor.

From the previous model Realme X7 Pro, this one is short of one lens which is fine but the disappointing part is that they have downgraded the camera.

Instead of providing a Sony IMX686 sensor or above, the brand has provided an IMX682 sensor that takes decent photos.

In daylight conditions, the photos come out clear from the primary camera and the image has enough sharpness, dynamic range, and details but the colours are a bit on the softer side.

In low-lit conditions, the camera takes decent photos and the details in the photo can be identified easily. We don’t say it’s pathetic but compared to Realme X7 Pro, the camera performance is a little weak.

The ultrawide performs well in broad daylight and with the use of a macro sensor, you can take pictures of an object from a 4cm distance.

The 16MP selfie camera takes bright and sharp photos, in high artificial light the dynamic range is not good but it will be improved within software updates.

Battery Life

The Realme X7 Max 5G is powered by a 4500mah lithium battery that provides a screen on time up to 10-12 hours with normal to heavy use.

The bundled 65W charger will juice up the smartphone battery from 0 – 100% in less than an hour.

Verdict

The Realme X7 Max 5G is the first smartphone to be released in the Indian market with the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor and to be honest, currently, in the market, this is the only phone that can give tough competition to flagship smartphones in terms of performance.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8GB
ProcessorMediaTek Dimensity 1200
Camera64MP + 8MP+ 2MP rear, 16MP front
Battery4500mAh
Display6.43-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED 120Hz

6. Poco F3 GT

Poco F3 GT

Best Gaming Smartphone

  • MediaTek Dimensity 1200 processor
  • Responsive vivid display
  • Sturdy build quality
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Pros

Physical pop-up triggers

Good battery life

Ergonomic design for gamers

Cons

Average camera performance

The Poco series smartphones are known for providing value for money performance and after F1 we think the F3 GT will set new benchmarks for the price of Rs.28,999.

The Poco F3 GT is now equipped with the MediaTek processor and has a wide viewing display. Let’s see if this smartphone is any good.

Design and Build Quality

If there’s any phone that can match the design of a ROG smartphone it has to be the Poco F3 GT. Unlike its predecessors, this device features a completely different design that every gamer would love.

This gaming-centric smartphone is built like a tank. The middle frame is made of metal and there is glass protection on both sides offering a premium feel.

The left and right side frames are not completely plain, which is part of ergonomics as gamers can hold this smartphone comfortably without feeling pain on any fingers.

The back panel has minimal Poco branding and the looks of this device is just outstanding for its price.

Though, the device is heavy which is acceptable considering the internals and the performance.

This device has triggers on the right frame which Poco calls Maglev triggers with GT switch. Let us explain in simple terms. Two sliding buttons pull out the triggers from the smartphone body and offer you tactile feedback when you play games.

Poco has used three microphones – the normal ones are on the top and bottom frame but there is another at the left frame so while playing battle royal games like BattleGrounds Mobile India or Free Fire you can communicate with your pals easily.

Poco has put a lot in for gamers and we think for those who need an excellent gaming experience, this is the best mid-range smartphone available or it can be said as a lite alternative to ROG smartphones.

Display

The Poco F3 GT sports a 6.67-inch 120Hz Full HD+ AMOLED punch-hole display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

For gamers who need lightning-fast reflexes in their gameplay, Poco has provided this display with a 480Hz touch sampling rate.

The high refresh rate will provide a smooth user experience in regular use.

This display has a peak brightness of 500 nits which is adequate for indoor and outdoor use.

Thankfully, Poco has not compromised on colours and this AMOLED panel produces vivid colours and offers an excellent media consumption experience.

The panel has a 20:9 aspect ratio and it’s quite broad compared to other smartphones and big displays are always great for gaming.

Processor and Performance

The Poco F3 GT is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 that is the new chipset that offers flagship-level performance.

The 8GB RAM paired with the CPU can easily handle multitasking load without breaking a sweat.

The 9-core ARM Mali G-77 MC9 GPU easily handles games like BattleGrounds Mobile India and you will get 60fps so the game will run smoothly with no noticeable frame drops.

The 128GB UFS 3.1 storage should be sufficient for most users and it also helps elevate smartphone performance to a whole new level.

This device comes pre-installed with the MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 and you do get to see ads and notifications here and there.

Camera

The Poco F3 GT houses a triple-lens system at the rear which includes a 64MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro sensor.

The main sensor captures sharp and vivid photos in broad daylight so no complaints in that regard. 

The ultrawide shooter lets you click a wide field of view in one image and talking about results, the colours are a bit soft and a slight improvement in sharpness is needed.

Poco itself does not highlight the camera and considering the reason for its design we’d say if you need a camera then look for some other devices.

The 16MP front camera takes good selfies in daylight and it brightens up the skin tone sometimes so make sure to focus properly while taking selfies.

Battery Life

The Poco F3 GT is powered by a 5065mAh lithium battery that offers battery backup for up to an entire day with heavy use.

Surprisingly, Poco has provided a 67W fast charger inside the box that juices up the smartphone battery in less than an hour.

Verdict

The Poco F3 GT is the best smartphone for gaming and those who seek a smooth performance.

We also love the smartphone ergonomics and its rock-solid design that impresses anyone in the surroundings and for the price of Rs.28,999 we’d say this is a real upgrade of Poco F1.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorMediaTek Dimensity 1200
Camera64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 16MP front
Battery5065mAh
Display6.67-inch 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED

7. Motorola Edge 20

Motorola Edge 20

Best Mid-range Smartphone

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor
  • Stock Android 11 OS
  • 144Hz Colourful FHD+ display
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Pros

Good battery life

Water repellent design

Thin and lightweight

Cons

No 3.5mm audio jack

Motorola smartphones are giving tough competition to the brands like Oppo, Vivo, and Samsung when it comes to budget smartphones.

The Motorola Edge 20 is a premium-looking smartphone that is equipped with a 5G-enabled processor and is priced at Rs.29,999.

Design and Build Quality

The Motorola Edge 20 has a glass front, plastic back and aluminium middle frame.

Instead of providing a more curvy frame, Motorola has decided to go with the flat finish frames that provide a nice grip to the hand and the device weighs super lightweight at just 163 grams.

Motorola does claim that this smartphone has a water repellent design but there’s no confirmed IP rating. It can handle minor splash and drops but we recommend that you shouldn’t take it to the limits anyway. 

In terms of looks, Motorola has nailed it this time, and at times it feels like that they are inspired by the Oppo Reno 6 design.

The camera bump is relatively thick and the device does not rest evenly on the surface therefore it is advisable to use the protective case.

You do get a USB-C port but the audio jack is not there which can be a bummer for those who use wired earphones to listen to music. 

The side-mounted fingerprint sensor works like a charm though considering the price we expected an optical fingerprint scanner.

Display

The Motorola Edge 20 sports a 6.7-inch 144Hz Full HD+ OLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

As far as we know most smartphones in this price bracket features a 120Hz panel whereas the Motorola Edge 20 comes with a superior 144Hz panel. 

The display has touch latency up to 576Hz meaning whenever you perform a touch gesture it will register blazingly fast.

The panel has HDR10+ as well as 10-bit colour support.

This OLED panel has deep inky blacks and the visual looks vivid. Also, this thin-bezel display produces sharp quality visuals resulting in a delightful media consumption experience.

The display has the protection of Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 which is good as in any case if you drop the smartphone from your hands the chances are high that the display remains as it is.

Processor and Performance

What runs the show on Motorola Edge 20 is the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G octa-core SoC designed on 6-nm architecture.

This power-efficient CPU paired with the 8GB DDR4 RAM offers lag-free every day and multitasking performance.

Most of the modern Android games can be played at 45fps without many frame drops.

The 128GB UFS 2.2 internal storage provides enough space to keep your files offline on the device. Furthermore, it also boosts the performance by loading your installed apps quickly and offers faster data transfer speeds(copy/paste).

The Edge 20 smartphone comes pre-installed with the stock Android 11 OS. There are no ads or pre-installed apps.

Camera

The Motorola Edge 20 houses a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 108MP main camera, 8MP telephoto, and 16MP ultrawide sensors.

We like this type of camera setup where there are no gimmicky depth and macro sensors.

The 108MP captures sharp photos with lively colours. The captured photos have high contrast and a well-balanced dynamic range.

The 8MP telephoto provides 3x optical zoom and it captures sharp vivid photos without losing details.

The ultrawide is good too – the only downside we noticed is that details are not as good as the primary camera, but it is acceptable and reliable for taking group photos.

This camera can record videos in 4K/30fps and videos come out pretty sharp too though colour reproduction is not that astounding.

The 32MP selfie camera clicks a bright selfie and photos have a sufficient amount of colours, details, and sharpness.

Battery Life

The Motorola Edge 20 is powered by a 4000mAh lithium battery that will provide battery backup for up to an entire day with normal use and with intense use like gaming and multimedia consumption expect the battery to last up to 7-8 hours.

The bundled 30W fast charger will juice up the battery levels from zero to full in 1:30 hours.

Verdict

The Motorola Edge 20 is one of the best mid-range smartphones with stock Android under the price of Rs.30,000.It has a nice ergonomic design, fine camera setup, and delivers satisfactory performance.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 778G
Camera108MP + 8MP + 16MP rear, 32MP front
Battery4000mAh
Display6.7-inch 144Hz FHD+ OLED

8. Realme GT Master Edition

Realme GT Master Edition

Best Versatile Smartphone

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset
  • Narrow-bezel FHD+ vivid display
  • Fast charging support
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Pros

In-display fingerprint scanner

Vegan leather back

Lightweight and ergonomic design

Cons

No stereo speakers

Realme has been launching new smartphones every 2-3 months and the brand primarily deals in the budget to premium segment.

The Realme GT Master Edition offers good performance and has an attractive design.

Design and Build Quality

The Realme GT Master Edition has one of the best design and build quality when it comes to mid range smartphones in the Indian market.

The variant we discuss here is the Voyager Grey and there are two other colour options if you want to check out but we recommend sticking to the Grey model, the one we listed.

Why? Because this model has a vegan leather finish so it will not attract fingerprints and smudges while the other models of this same phone do attract it.

The suitcase design is implemented by the world-renowned industrial designer Naoto Fukasawa.

The device feels premium in hands and with the 180 grams of weight, it is lightweight as well.

The fingerprint sensor is positioned underneath the display and talking about the device’s physical overview, the power keys are on the right, at the bottom you will find USB-C and audio jack, and coming to the left you will notice the volume rockers.

This smartphone is good for one handed use thanks to its excellent weight distribution and ergonomic design.

Display

The Realme GT Master Edition sports a 6.43-inch 120Hz Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

This sAMOLED panel with 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut produces visuals with true to life colours and we love the minimal bezels on the sides that offer an excellent media consumption experience.

The high refresh rate is becoming common in mid-range premium smartphones and this one will please you with a jitter-free user experience.

You will also get a 360Hz touch sampling rate so the display will respond much more quickly than a normal panel that comes with 60Hz output.

With the peak brightness of 1000 nits, you can use this panel in any type of environment without having any problem noticing visuals.

Processor and Performance

The Realme GT Master Edition comes equipped with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC designed on 6-nm architecture.

Finally, Qualcomm has released a 5G chipset with more 5G bands though the 5G infrastructure is not yet ready, at least in the Indian market.

Moving back to the performance part, the device has 8GB of RAM inside that is capable of running multiple applications at once without any lag or stutter.

The 128GB UFS 3.1 storage has great read and write speeds resulting in an overall positive impact on the smartphone performance.

This smartphone comes pre-installed with the Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 OS.

Camera

The Realme GT Master Edition houses a triple rear camera setup consisting of 64MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro sensor.

The primary sensor is amazing – the photos taken in bright light conditions look sharp, vivid, and detailed.

The camera application is feature-rich. You can use a lot of filters and modes to click the best picture depending on the conditions.

The ultrawide photos look good with decent colour reproduction with sufficient details.

The portrait shots turned out to be decent and the AI of this smartphone is good enough that we have noticed no issues with the background blur.

The 32MP selfie camera takes good selfies without in daylight conditions even the portrait selfies look good that you can instantly share on your social media.

Battery Life

The Realme GT Master Edition is packed with a 4300mAh lithium battery that will offer power backup for up to an entire day with normal use.

The bundled 65W charger will juice up the smartphone battery levels from 0 – 100% in less than an hour.

Verdict

The Realme GT Master Edition is a good device for daily use. Like we said if you want a premium device feel then go for the variant that we’ve listed.

For the price of Rs.27,999, this smartphone of Realme is the best choice for regular users who need a capable device that can handle day to day tasks and casual gaming.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 778G
Camera64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front
Battery4300mAh
Display6.43-inch 120Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED

9. Samsung Galaxy M52 5G

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G

Best Smartphone for Regular Users

  • Power-efficient Snapdragon 778G processor
  • Gorgeous sAMOLED plus FHD+ display
  • Ergonomic design
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Pros

Responsive side-mounted fingerprint scanner

Support 25W fast charging

Latest One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 OS

Cons

No protective case inside the box

Samsung has been in the market for so long and many Indian users still prefer to buy smartphones from Samsung because of their product quality and after-sale service.

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is a feature-packed premium mid-range smartphone priced under Rs.30,000.

Design and Build Quality

Previously, the Samsung M-series smartphones used to be heavy and felt like a brick but they did some excellent homework when it comes to the design.

This smartphone weighs just 173 grams even with the massive battery inside.It has a lining design at the back which looks nice and the smartphone provides a good in-hand feel.

The design of this phone is pretty simple yet that’s the plus point as it suits anybody’s personality.

This middle frame features a USB-C port, primary and secondary microphones, side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and volume rockers but the one thing missing here is the 3.5mm audio jack.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G has a 6.7-inch 120Hz Full HD+ Super AMOLED plus display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

This is one of the best OLED panels you can get in a premium mid-range Android smartphone. 

This sAMOLED plus panel produces colour accurate and true to life colours. Watching sharp quality vivid visuals on a thin-bezel display is always a delightful experience which is what you will get with this smartphone. 

The 120Hz high refresh rate makes everything appear smooth and seamless. The panel is sufficiently bright and can be used indoors as well as outdoors quite comfortably.

Processor and Performance

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor. 

The 8GB RAM inside this smartphone is enough for running daily applications smoothly and it won’t break a sweat when it comes to multitasking.

The gaming experience is also pleasant and lag-free as the Snapdragon 778 is quite a capable processor.

The 128GB of storage offers enough space to store multimedia files and documents offline.

The One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 is what you get to use right out of the box and Samsung is quite good at providing regular system updates.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G carries a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 64MP main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 5MP macro sensor.

The images captured in broad daylight from the main camera deliver excellent results.

Speaking of the ultrawide sensor, the colour reproduction and sharpness of the photos are astonishing.

The macro sensor takes decent close-range photos. The camera app has a plethora of features such as single take, fun mode, live focus, pro mode, etc.

In single take mode, the camera will capture multiple images of a single scenery and after that, you can select which one looks the best.

The fun mode is for social media geeks – it has a lot of filters that you can use and later upload on social media.

You can record videos in 4K/30fps from both the front and rear camera.

The 32MP selfie camera lives up to our expectations and offers crisp quality selfie photos.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy M52 5G is powered by a 5000mAh lithium battery and it easily lasts up to an entire day with normal to intense use.

The only thing we did not like is that bundled 15W charger. Samsung should have at least provided a 25W charger.

Verdict 

Samsung has released a polished smartphone this time that has a great display, powerful processor, premium looks, and long-lasting battery life.

This smartphone is best for regular users, business professionals, and media enthusiasts.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 778G
Camera64MP + 12MP + 5MP rear, 32MP front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.7-inch 120Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus

10. Mi 11 Lite NE

Mi 11 Lite NE

Feature-rich Smartphone

  • Power-efficient Snapdragon 778G processor
  • Vivid FHD+ 90Hz display
  • Thin and lightweight
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Pros

Side-mounted fingerprint scanner

MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 OS

Good battery life

Cons

No dedicated audio jack

Xiaomi has released a Lite variant to its latest 11 series lineup and to be honest, it is one of the best devices from 11-series smartphones from Xiaomi.

In Mi 11 Lite NE, NE stands for New Edition and this Lite smartphone delivers powerful performance for its asking price.

Design and Build Quality

The Mi 11 Lite NE is so lightweight than even the Oppo F-series smartphones holds the current record for the same. 

It’s 6.8mm thin and weighs only 158 grams. This featherlight smartphone does not even feel like it’s there in the pocket and one-hand usability is not an issue with this mobile phone.

The back panel does not catch fingerprint marks or smudges and we must say, the design of this smartphone is premium and will turn heads in public.

This smartphone comes in four different colour options namely diamond dazzle, jazz blue, tuscany coral and vinyl black.

Unfortunately, this smartphone does not have a dedicated audio jack but don’t worry, inside the box, you will find a USB-C to audio jack converter.

The Mi 1 Lite NE features a hybrid SIM tray. You can either use two SIM cards at once or a SIM card and a SD card. 

Display

The Mi 11 Lite NE sports a 6.55-inch 90Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

This display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla glass 5.

Speaking of colour accuracy, this display supports 10-bit colour depth which simply means that the visuals will look vivid and vibrant. 

That being said, your binge-watching experience is going to be so amazing, especially for Netflix users. The company has optimized the display for Netflix content and thanks to the Widevine L1 support you will be able to stream OTT content in high definition.

The thin bezels also makes this panel look bigger which is another reason why multimedia experience will be great on this smartphone.

The 90Hz refresh rate delivers fluid user experience and the 240Hz touch sampling rate will drastically increase the touchscreen performance. 

Processor and Performance

The showrunner of the Mi 11 Lite NE is Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G SoC manufactured on a 6-nm fabrication process.

The listed variant has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Be it gaming or multitasking, this smartphone hardware is capable of handling all the tasks you throw at it.

The Mi 11 Lite NE comes pre-installed with the MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 OS. The MIUI based on Android 11 allows the user to remove some of the pre-installed applications.

Camera

The Mi 11 Lite NE comes with a triple rear camera which includes a 64MP primary lens, 8MP ultrawide lens and 5MP tele-macro lens.

Photos clicked from the main camera have good results, the images have vibrant colours and details are accurate however, in outdoor photography, the sky looks a bit faded but is nothing major deal-breaker.

The overall quality of the photos looks great.

The ultrawide sensor captures a 119-degree field of view in a single image and speaking of quality, the photos have good colours and details. A slight improvement in dynamic range will make the ultrawide photos more appealing.

The telemacro sensor is for taking photos of objects from a 3-9 meter distance and the results are truly incredible.

The camera app of Mi 11 Lite NE is feature-rich and you will get overwhelmed with the options so try using them one by one.

The 20MP selfie camera captures vivid selfies with natural skin tones.

Battery Life

The Mi 11 Lite NE has a 4250mAh lithium battery inside which provides up to 15 hours of power backup with normal to intense use.

The bundled 33W charger will take around 1 hour 15 minutes to fully recharge the battery levels from 0 – 100%.

Verdict

The Mi 11 Lite NE is a lightweight smartphone that provides snappy performance.

Priced at Rs.30,000, this device from Xiaomi is undoubtedly the best device to purchase. It has everything you need in a mid-range smartphone.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 778G
Camera64MP + 8MP + 5MP rear, 20MP front
Battery4250mAh
Display6.55-inch 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED

11. Oppo Reno 6 5G

Oppo Reno 6 5G

Ergonomic Smartphone

  • MediaTek Dimensity 900 CPU
  • Vivid FHD+ display
  • Good camera performance
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Pros

In-display fingerprint scanner

Premium design

Fast charging support

Cons

No 3.5mm audio jack

Oppo Reno series is less recognizable than other mid-range smartphones and we think the company lags in terms of marketing.

The all-new Oppo Reno 6 is equipped with the new Dimensity processor and the device is priced at Rs.29,990.

Design and Build Quality

If we have to rate the design of Oppo Reno 6 we will give it 10/10. Seriously, the design of this smartphone is premium and ergonomic at the same time.

The flat frame reminds us of the premium iPhones and not to forget, that frame is made of metal and the device is only 7.59mm thick.

The back of this smartphone is fingerprint-proof so even if you use it without a case it will not catch a single mark of your fingerprint and keeps the pristine look.

Weighing at 185 grams, this device feels so lightweight even with the use of a metal frame and we loved the Oppo work in terms of weight reduction and design.

Oppo has discarded the 3.5mm audio jack but you do get wired earphones inside the box with a USB-C plug.

The power button is on the right and volume adjustment keys are on the left. At the bottom frame, you will find a USB-C port and at the top, there is a noise-cancelling mic.

Display

The Oppo Reno 6 sports a 6.43-inch 90Hz Full HD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

The display has the protection of Corning Gorilla glass 5 so the device will be safe even if it drops accidentally from your waist height.

The colours of this panel are true to life and the display factor is the second most important reason to buy this smartphone.

It’s not just the colours but the panel has slim bezels which offer more screen area to use and experience the UI.

This panel is bright enough to make the smartphone easily legible both indoors as well as outdoors.

There is no noticeable pixelation while watching high-definition footage and you will love the picture quality for sure as it has a pixel density of 410 ppi.

Processor and Performance

The Oppo Reno 6 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC that is manufactured on 6-nm architecture.

The device has 8GB LPDDR4x RAM that will run every Android application and games smoothly and handles multitasking load without breaking a sweat.

To provide the user a flawless gaming experience, the device has Game Mode which turns off all background apps and interrupts the annoying notifications.

You can store all your files offline in the 128GB UFS 2.1 internal storage.

This device comes pre-installed with the ColorOS 11.3 based on Android 11. The ColorOS is much improved than before and it runs quite smoothly.

Camera

The Oppo Reno 6 has a triple camera setup at the back in which you will get 64MP main sensor, 8MP primary sensor and 2MP macro sensor.

The photos taken in broad daylight from the primary camera looks clear, sharper, detailed and vivid. It’s like almost everything a user needs from a photo. We love image processing in daylight conditions.

In night light conditions the results are not that bad there is a minimal amount of noticeable grains but overall the photos clicked at night look good.

The 8MP ultrawide has only one exception that is colour, the image looks a bit soft which will be improved within OTA updates.

The macro lens is for close-range photography and results are good. This device has bokeh flare mode in video, in this mode the background will get blurred but if you have lights in the background then it will also get blur but they look like a flare.

The 32MP selfie camera offers sharp selfies with good skin tones without missing out on details.

Battery Life

The Oppo Reno 6 is powered by a 4300mAh battery that will easily last for a day with heavy use.

The 65W bundled charger will juice up the battery levels from 0 – 100% in less than 40 minutes.

Verdict

The Oppo Reno 6 is a device with well-balanced specifications and it’s a device suitable for people who are seeking a versatile smartphone for a budget under Rs.30,000.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorMediaTek Dimensity 900
Camera64MP + 8MP + 2MP rear, 32MP front
Battery4300mAh
Display6.43-inch 90Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED

12. Vivo V21 5G

Vivo V21 5G

Best Smartphone with Selfie Camera

  • OIS support in front and rear camera
  • Latest Android 11 OS
  • MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G SoC
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Pros

In-display fingerprint scanner

Thin and lightweight

Premium looking design

Cons

No dedicated audio jack

Vivo is a Chinese technology company and a subsidiary of BBK Electronics that manufactures smartphones and related accessories.

The Vivo V21 5G is a new addition to the V series lineup released this year with the hype of a 44MP OIS selfie camera, retailing in the Indian market for Rs.29,990.

Design and Build Quality

In terms of design, the Vivo V21 looks exactly like its predecessor model Vivo V20 Pro 5G.

The back has an anti-glare matte glass design that prevents scratches and fingerprint smudges at the same time providing a premium in-hand feel.

The Vivo V21 5G might be the slimmest smartphone currently available in the market. The Vivo V21 is 7.29mm thin and weighs only 176 grams.

The device is available in three different colours, dusk blue – arctic white – sunset dazzle.

Moving to a physical overview of the device, this smartphone has sacrificed the 3.5mm audio jack favouring the slim form factor. However, Vivo is kind enough to include a Type-C to 3.5mm adapter inside the box. 

The device has an in-display fingerprint scanner that lets you unlock the phone quickly. The volume adjustment and power key is located on the right frame and are easily accessible.

Surprisingly, Vivo has also included a wired earphone inside the box which is a rarity these days. 

Display

The Vivo V21 5G features a 6.44-inch 90Hz Full HD+ AMOLED U-notch display with a resolution of 2404 x 1080 pixels.

This panel has the support of HDR10+ which delivers visuals with good dynamic range and colour accuracy. 

Thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate, the overall UI and visuals look extremely smooth when compared to a standard 60Hz panel.

The minimal bezels around the display help in achieving an impressive screen to body ratio, thereby offering an immersive visual experience.

Processor and Performance

What powers the Vivo V21 5G is the MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G octa-core processor clocked at 2.4GHz.

This smartphone has 8GB RAM inside delivering a lag-free performance on day to day use as well as with multitasking.

Most of the latest Android games are playable in high settings on this smartphone without any issues.

The 128GB UFS 2.2 built-in storage offers an ample amount of storage to save your files offline. Not only that, this UFS storage will help loading apps much faster and when you copy/paste files from one folder to another it will be done in a snap.

The device comes pre-installed with the FunTouch 11.1 developed on top of Android 11. The UI is simple to use and it comes with no pre-rolled ads to make the usability experience clean. 

Camera

This is where Vivo outranks its competition. The Vivo V21 5G has a triple rear camera system with a 64MP primary camera with OIS, 8MP ultrawide lens and 2MP macro sensor.

The main sensor on this smartphone works exceptionally well – the photos have a good dynamic range with punchy colours and details.

Even if your handshakes a little bit while taking photos the OIS will take care of your photos and make them look more clearer.

The AI in the smartphone is amazing. It identifies the subject like if you’re taking photos of food then it will apply the suitable filters to make it look more appealing and you can instantly share them on your social media.

The photos taken at night also look much better compared to any other smartphone that comes under the price of Rs.30,000.

While using the rear camera you can play with multiple modes to take a nice-looking picture.

The 44MP OIS selfie camera is the main attraction of this smartphone and the selfie photos come out just as advertised.

Even in night conditions, you can take selfies without any noticeable noise or grain. Also, while using a selfie camera you have options like slim your face, softening your skin and more alike features that help you take better selfies.

Battery Life

The Vivo V21 5G is powered by a 4000mAh battery and it will last for a day worth of heavy usage. 

The 33W bundled charger will juice up the battery levels from 0 – 100% in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Verdict

If you are into selfies a lot, then there is no device better than Vivo V21 currently in the market to be on top of the game.

This lightweight device captures the best photos and apart from that, you will have a smooth performance and a gorgeous display for the price of Rs.29,990.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128 GB
RAM8 GB
ProcessorMediatek Dimensity 800U
Camera64MP + 8MP + 2MP Rear, 44MP Front
Battery4000mAh
Display6.44-inch 90Hz Full HD+ AMOLED

13. Google Pixel 4a

Google Pixel 4a

Stock Android Smartphone

  • Gorgeous FHD+ AMOLED display 
  • Excellent camera output quality
  • One day battery life
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Pros

Lightweight and comfortable

A fast, accurate fingerprint scanner

Stock Android OS with guaranteed updates

Cons

Average processor for the price

The Google Pixel 4a was launched in the International market almost over a year ago with a lot of excitement behind it.

This smartphone has been officially launched in India just recently ironically following the latest Pixel 5 launch overseas. 

Priced at Rs.29,990, the Pixel 4a is still a winner in the sub. Rs.30,000 price segment? Let’s check out.

Design and Build Quality

The Pixel 4a has the most minimal designs we have ever seen on a premium mid-range smartphone to date. 

The unibody plastic construction weighs just 143g and feels extremely lightweight and easy to use.

The fit and finish as expected from Google are top-notch but obviously, the extensive use of plastic makes the overall structure a tad bit rigid than those devices with metal frame and back.

The power button and the volume rockers are located on the right side of the frame and offer excellent tactile feedback to the presses. 

There is a 3.5mm headphone jack up top for wired audio connectivity while the USB type C charging port and the loudspeaker can be found at the bottom. 

This device comes with a single nano-SIM slot and with the help of an e-SIM you can use two numbers at the same time. 

Even though this smartphone comes with an AMOLED display, Google has resorted to the tried and tested physical fingerprint scanner on the backside. 

Display

As we mentioned above, the Pixel 4a by Google features a 5.81-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels.

This 19.5:9 aspect ratio display comes with a punch-hole camera towards the left side and has a screen to body ratio of 83.3%.

With a relatively smaller display and FHD+ resolution, this panel has an impressive ~443ppi pixel density with sharp and clean visuals and text reproduction. 

Thanks to the OLED technology, the colours look bright and vivid and the dynamic range remains impressive as well.

If you are a media consumption enthusiast, you will love this panel for its colour accuracy and sharpness. 

Do note that this is a standard 60Hz refresh panel, unlike the other smartphones in its price segment with high refresh rates. 

Processor and Performance 

The Google Pixel 4a is very modest when it comes to processor firepower. 

Even though this device retails around Rs.30,000 in India, it features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G octa-core processor found on devices almost half the price. 

This octa-core processor coupled with 6GB RAM and 128GB of UFS2.1 storage runs the stock Android 10.0 OS very well without any lags or stutters.

Even gaming feels smooth and lags free but during multitasking with resource-heavy applications running in the background, a few occasional stutters are happening in between.

This device doesn’t come with an SD card slot, so remember 128GB is all you get in terms of storage. 

Camera

This is one area where Google is possibly the best in terms of hardware as well as software.

The Pixel 4a features a single 12.2MP sensor assisted with a flash in the rear. Thanks to the complex image processing algorithms running in the background, the image and video output from this single camera put to shame those devices with triple and quad cameras.

The images turn out to be very colour accurate, detailed and with excellent dynamic range. 

Even the low light photos come out vivid and bright and the bokeh mode photos have excellent edge detection simulating artificial depth effect without a dedicated sensor. 

Thanks to the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), the videos and still photos remain largely shake free.

In the front, there is a single 8MP sensor with auto HDR capability for selfie shots with good dynamic range and white balance. 

Battery Life

The Google Pixel 4a is powered by a relatively smaller 3140mAh Li-Po battery. This will last you for a day comfortably with moderate to heavy usage.

This smartphone supports 18W fast charging and the battery gets juiced up pretty quickly as well.

Verdict

If you want a smartphone with pure stock Android, excellent camera quality and decent everyday performance, the Pixel 4a is a great choice for a budget under Rs.30,000.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10.0 Q
Internal Storage128GB
RAM6GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 730G
Camera12.2MP Rear ,8MP front
Battery3140mAh
Display5.81-inch FHD+ AMOLED

14. Samsung Galaxy A52

Samsung Galaxy A52

Honourable Mention

  • Powerful Snapdragon 750G processor
  • Robust build quality
  • Gorgeous 120Hz FHD+ sAMOLED display
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Pros

In-display fingerprint scanner

One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 OS

Good battery life

Cons

Average selfie camera

The Galaxy series smartphones from Samsung covers entry-level, budget and premium smartphone segments. 

The Galaxy A52 is a premium mid-range smartphone with 5G support retailing in the Indian market for a budget under Rs.30,000. 

Design and Build Quality

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a plastic back, metal middle frame with glass in the front.  

The plain design of this smartphone makes it look premium and aesthetically pleasing. Weighing at 189 grams, this smartphone feels light in hand.

The Samsung Galaxy A52 comes with IP67 rating meaning it’s dust and water-resistant and can survive underwater up to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

The front grass is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 5 to prevent accidental scratches on the display. 

This device has an in-display fingerprint scanner that works reasonably well to unlock the device quickly. 

Display

The Samsung Galaxy A52 sports a 6.5-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.

What else do you need? It’s a surprise to see that Samsung has not cut the corners with this device.

This Super AMOLED display provides vivid and vibrant colours that you will not find in any other smartphone in this price segment. 

Furthermore, the 120Hz refresh makes it super smooth to use and you will notice it while scrolling or swiping on this smartphone.

Processor and Performance

The chip inside this smartphone is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G that is an octa-core SoC and is power-efficient.

The 8GB of RAM inside this smartphone is more than enough to run heavy games and multitask.

The One UI 3.1 based on Android 11 OS also runs without any lag or stutters.

The 128GB internal storage of this device is fast and offers adequate offline storage space out of the box. 

This Android smartphone has a hybrid SIM tray where you can either pop in two SIM cards at once or a SIM card and a SD card.

Camera

The Samsung Galaxy A52 has a quadruple camera setup at the back.

The 64MP primary sensor clicks remarkable photos in broad daylight – the vivid colours in the image makes it look more appealing, moreover, the detail in the photos is also on par when compared with its competitors.

The 12MP ultrawide lens takes good photos -, a slight improvement in sharpness is required otherwise the colours and dynamic range are good.

The other two sensors are a 5MP macro and depth sensor.

You can make use of the live photos option from the camera app to take great portrait photos. Speaking of options, you will also get Samsung’s popular single take feature; it creates 9 different versions of the same image.

The 32MP selfie sensor should have been a little better, the selfie image looks brighter even if the lighting conditions are normal or a bit dim.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy A52 is powered by a 4500mAh lithium battery and it easily provides up to 1-day battery life with full charge however, it varies depending upon your use.

The bundled 25W fast charger will juice up the battery levels from 0 -100% in 1:45 hours.

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy A52 is an excellent smartphone for people who want a reliable product from a reputable brand such as Samsung.

The gorgeous OLED display, decent battery life and the durable build quality makes this device a good purchase for a budget under Rs.30,000.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
Internal Storage128GB
RAM8GB
ProcessorQualcomm Snapdragon 720G
Camera64MP + 12MP+ 5MP + 5MP rear, 32MP front
Battery4500mAh
Display6.5-inch 90Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED

This list completes our hunt for the fourteen best smartphones under Rs.30,000 available in the Indian market.

We hope we helped you alleviate some of your concerns about picking up a mobile in this price range.

Now it’s your turn to decide. If you have any questions or queries regarding this article, let us know in the comments section below. As always, thanks for your time and have a great day!

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