Finding the best smartphone within your budget has become increasingly challenging due to the multitude of options available in every price segment. An ideal smartphone should offer an excellent display, a good processor that offers quick performance across day-to-day tasks, a decent set of cameras, and a robust battery life so that you can go about your day without worrying about a dying battery. In order to simplify your next smartphone purchase, we have meticulously curated a list of the best phones to buy across price ranges, ensuring you get the best value for your money.
Best phone under Rs 10,000
itel P55 5G
Price – Starting at Rs 9,999
The itel P55 (review) is one of the best offerings in India under Rs 10,000. The handset comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC, which enables 5G network support. There is a 50MP primary camera with AI support for better photography results. We get a large 6.6-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate support on board as well.
The display delivers an immersive viewing experience for the segment, be it for content consumption or gaming. There’s a substantial 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support, and this should be more than just a day with moderate usage. The handset delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks, and while the cameras might not be its strongest suit, the daylight photos are good considering the price.
Pros
- The performance is good for everyday use
- The 5,000mAh battery ensures extended usage
- The display quality is respectable for the price
Cons
- Bloatware
- The cameras could use some improvement
Best phone under Rs 20,000
Redmi Note 13 5G
Price – Starting at Rs 17,999
The Redmi Note 13 5G (review) stands out as one of the best value-for-money options under the Rs 20,000 bracket. It strikes a good balance between features and specifications, performing well across all key metrics. The smartphone features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,400 x 1,080 pixels (Full HD+), a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and a peak brightness level of 1,000nits. The display provides an immersive visual experience with its thin bezels and good viewing angles. The MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC powers the smartphone, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Compared to its predecessor, the new Note 13 gains a performance boost across the board, offering a reliable performance output, and can even play heavy games, albeit with lower graphical settings. For photography, the smartphone equips a 108MP primary camera paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens. For selfies and video calls, there’s a 16MP front camera. Both rear cameras and selfie cameras take great daylight images with ample details and good colours. A 5,000mAh battery fuels the smartphone, and the battery backup is excellent, easily lasting an entire day with moderate to heavy usage. The Redmi Note 13 comes with 33W charging support to quickly top up the battery and let you carry on with the day.
Pros
- Good multi-tasking and some light gaming capabilities
- Impressive battery life
- Good daylight primary camera
Cons
- The software has bloatware and ads
- Average selfie camera
Best phone under Rs 30,000
POCO X6 Pro 5G
Price – Starting at Rs 26,999
The POCO X6 Pro 5G (review) launched recently in India and offers a good range of specifications for its price. Let us take a quick rundown of its specifications. The POCO X6 Pro features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,712 x 1,220 pixels (Full HD+), 120Hz refresh rate, and 1,800nits of peak brightness. The MediaTek Dimensity 8300 Ultra SoC powers the smartphone along with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. In terms of optics, the smartphone houses a 64MP primary camera paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens. There’s a 16MP front camera for selfies. A 5,000mAh battery powers the smartphones, along with 67W charging support.
Now, let’s discuss what the smartphone brings to the table. The POCO X6 Pro offers an excellent display with razor-thin bezels and great viewing angles. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support enhance the content streaming experience significantly. The smartphone is a performance-oriented offering, and it does not pull its punches. It tackles everything you throw at it with ease, be it multi-tasking or heavy games. While the cameras are not the standout feature of the POCO X6 Pro, they are surprisingly decent for a performance-focused smartphone. Finally, the battery backup is excellent, and the fast 67W charging quickly charges the battery to full capacity in just under 45 minutes.
Pros
- Standout display with good refresh rate
- The best-performing smartphone in the segment
- The handset can last at least a day between charges
Cons
- The UI comes with several pre-installed apps.
- Cameras could be better
Best phone under Rs 50,000
OnePlus 12R
Price – Starting at Rs 39,999
The OnePlus 12R (review) continues the legacy of the 11R and is one of the best smartphones available under Rs 40,000. The phone comes with a gorgeous 6.78-inch Super Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,780 x 1,264 pixels, an adaptable refresh rate up to 120Hz, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, a substantial 5,500mAh battery, and support for 100W SUPERVOOC fast charging. For photography, it features a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary camera paired with an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP macro lens. There’s a 16MP camera at the front for selfies.
The OnePlus 12R boasts a terrific display that showcases vibrant colours and good sharpness, enhanced by Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, making content streaming enjoyable. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 ensures the device can handle all your performance needs, including excellent gaming performance. However, there’s no major improvement in the cameras from the 11R, as it uses the same set of cameras. The OnePlus 12R features the biggest battery yet on a OnePlus device and continues to support 100W fast charging. The battery backup is great, and the device takes just around 30 minutes to go from 0 to 100 percent charge.
Pros
- Premium build and standout display
- Excellent performance output and clean OS
- Great battery backup and super quick charging speed
Cons
- Ultra-wide and macro sensors could be improved
- Only 3 major OS upgrades and 4 years of software updates
Best phone over Rs 50,000
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Price – Rs 1,24,999
Surprising probably no one, our pick for the best smartphone over Rs 50,000 is the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (review). As Samsung’s latest flagship, it comes equipped with all the bells and whistles that define a premium flagship device. The handset packs a 6.8-inch dynamic AMOLED 2X panel with a resolution of 3,120 x 1,440 pixels (Quad HD+), 2,600nits of peak brightness, and a 120Hz refresh rate. A custom Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powers the smartphone, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.
The smartphone gets a quad-camera setup on the rear with a 200MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle sensor, a 10MP telephoto sensor, and a 50MP telephoto sensor with support for 3x and 5x optical zoom, respectively. For selfies and video calls, the handset has a 12MP camera on the front. A 5,000mAh battery with 45W fast charging support fuels the smartphone.
The Galaxy S24 Ultra appears to be an incremental upgrade compared to its predecessor, featuring a flagship with a flat screen and an upgraded chip at its core. Where it differs is, however, in its AI features, which were the key focus during its launch event. The smartphone offers a plethora of productivity-based AI features, making it ideal for power users, professionals, and creative individuals. It performs admirably across all key aspects and is undoubtedly one of the most well-rounded smartphones currently available for purchase.
Pros
- Excellent display with anti-glare that minimises most reflections
- Excellent cameras
- Solid performance and battery life
- S Pen is still unmatched
