With Reliance Jio shaking up the 4G market last year, there’s been a sudden inflow of 4G VoLTE capable devices as well. What was once considered a flagship feature is now available from as low as 5K to as high as 50K. So, if you’re in the market for a VoLTE device, here’s the phone to go for.
5K-7K
Xiaomi Redmi 3s
The Xiaomi Redmi 3s is the go to phone if your budget is less than 7K. It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC, has 2GB of RAM and offers 16GB of internal storage. There is a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. Its USP, though is battery life. The 4100mAh battery on this small 5-inch device will last you for two days. The Redmi 3s runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.
7K-10K
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
The Redmi Note 4 replaces the Redmi Note 3 from last year. It offers the best battery life you can get under 10K, lasting for more than 2 days easily. The Redmi Note 4 is not as powerful as its predecessor, running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC, but it’s a dependable device. There is 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The 13MP camera at the back is an improvement over the camera on the Redmi Note 3. It runs on Android Marshmallow out-of-the-box.
10K-15K
Coolpad Cool 1
If you are looking for a 4G VoLTE enabled smartphone in the sub-15k segment, the Coolpad Cool 1 is the best overall smartphone to buy. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 powered device is faster than the Redmi Note 4 and the dual 13MP rear camera takes really good images as well. It has 4GB of RAM and 32GB storage, but offers no microSD card support. The Cool 1 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.
15K-20k
Lenovo Z2 Plus
Lenovo made owning a device running on a flagship SoC really pocket friendly with its Z2 Plus. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 powered smartphone is available at Rs. 14,999. The Z2 Plus has 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. It is a 5-inch smartphone offering 1080p resolution and a 3500mAh battery. On the camera front, the phone is using a 13MP rear sensor and an 8MP front-facing camera. The Lenovo Z2 Plus runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.
20K-25K
Xiaomi Mi 5
The Xiaomi Mi 5 is still the fastest smartphone in the sub-25k price range. This flagship phone from Xiaomi may not have been the company’s best attempt, but it is definitely the best phone to buy if your budget can’t be extended beyond 25K. The Snapdragon 820 powered device offers best in class performance. It is compact, thanks to its vibrant 5.15-inch 1080p display. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. It has a 16MP camera on the back, which is supported by OIS and there is a 3000mAh battery to boot. The Xiaomi Mi 5 runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box.
25K-35K
OnePlus 3T
The OnePlus 3T was one of the best smartphones to be launched last year. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 SoC and 6GB of RAM, this is one of the fastest Android devices available today. The OnePlus 3T is available in 64GB and 128GB storage variants and a 5.5-inch 1080p display. It has a 16MP camera at the back, but takes far better images than any other phone in the sub-35k category. OnePlus’ Oxygen OS does not have bloatware and offers a vanilla UI experience as well.
35K-40K
Moto Z
Moto’s latest flagship brought the best rendition of a modular smartphone into reality. It is a flagship device offering a slim design and snap-on Moto Mods. Like every other Android flagship, it is also powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC. There is 4GB of RAM and is available with 64GB of internal storage. The phone has a very capable 13MP rear camera and is the most innovative phone of the year.
40K and above
Apple iPhone 7/7 Plus
If all you want is the best phone available today, the iPhone 7/7 Plus is the one for you. The larger variant is for those who want the best camera no matter what. Yes, it obviously supports VoLTE and is the fastest smartphone we tested last year. Apple has kept the design unchanged from the iPhone 6s and the phone is also well built, with the best camera in the market at the moment, nudging just ahead of the Google Pixel on our tests. Although, the difference really comes down to user preference at times.