There does not exist as much choice in any device category as it does in the smartphone space. Smartphones also now offer an incredible gamut of features, giving users options of countless permutations and combinations. You can choose a smartphone that prioritises performance, content consumption, photography or even battery life. You even get devices that offer combinations of these features, making the choice even harder. And then there is the price. Going from anywhere between Rs 5000 to Rs 150000, you can buy a phone that excels at everything or just one thing, regardless of how much you want to spend. Choice, as good as it can be, becomes quickly a curse in the smartphone world due to the overwhelming number of options. This is why we have curated a list of the best phones under each budget segment along with their specifications and strengths so that you have fewer devices to sift through.
Under 7K
Realme C2
Price: Rs. 5,699
If your budget is limited to Rs 7000, the best phone to buy right now is the Realme C2. It has a classy design and a waterdrop notch on top along with dual cameras.
Specs:
Display: 6.1-inch, 720p
SoC: MediaTek Helio P22
RAM: 2/3GB
Storage: 16/21GB
Camera: 13MP+2MP, 5MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 8.1
Redmi 8A
Price: Rs. 6,499
The Redmi 8A replaces the Redmi 7A as Xiaomi's most affordable option and this time it brings a bigger 5000mAh battery with fast charging support and Type-C port.
Specs:
Display: 6.22-inch, 720p+
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 439
RAM: 2/3GB
Storage: 16/32GB
Camera: 12MP, 8MP
Battery: 5000mAh
OS: Android 9 (Pie)
Under 10K
Realme 5s
Price: Rs. 9,999
The Realme 5s runs on the Snapdragon 665 which is quite fast and capable of handling high-end games. The phone also features a quad-camera setup on the back with a 48MP primary camera.
Specs:
Display: 6.5-inch, 720p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 666
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 48MP+5MP+2MP+2MP, 13MP
Battery: 5000mAh
OS: Android 9 Pie
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Redmi Note 8
Price: Rs. 9,999
The Redmi Note 8 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 and features a quad-camera setup with a 48MP primary camera. It also comes with an 18W fast charger.
Specs:
Display: 6.3-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
RAM: 4GB/6GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB
Camera: 48MP+8MP+ 2MP+2MP
Battery: 4000mAh
Vivo U20
Price: Rs. 8,990
The Vivo U20 offers a handful of new features for a budget smartphone. 18W fast charging, 5000mAh battery, and is powered by the Snapdragon 665 SoC.
Specs:
Display: 6.53-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
RAM: 3/4GB
Storage: 32/64GB
Camera: 16MP+8MP+2MP, 16MP
Battery: 5000mAh
OS: Android 9
Under 15K
Realme 5 Pro
Price: 14,999
The Realme 5 Pro comes with a 48MP quad-camera setup and a Snapdragon 712 SoC inside. The phone also rocks a sexy diamond-cut design.
Specs:
Display: 6.3-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 712
RAM: 4/6GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 48+8+2+2 MP, 16MP
Battery: 4035mAh
Redmi Note 8 Pro
Price: 14,999
The Redmi Note 8 Pro brings a 64MP sensor coupled with an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens. It runs on the MediaTek Helio G90T and is backed by a 4500mAh battery.
Specs:
Display: 6.53-inch, 1080 x 2340 pixels
SoC: MediaTek Helio G90T
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP, 20MP
Battery: 4500mAh
OS: Android 9.0
Realme X2
Price: Rs 16,999
While this costs a little more, the Realme X2 combines the 64MP quad camera with the Snapdragon 730G. It also offers 30W fast charging and a larger 32MP selfie camera.
Specs:
Display: 6.4-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
RAM: 4/6/8GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP, 16MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 9
Samsung Galaxy M30s
Price: Rs. 13,999
Samsung Galaxy M30s packs a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED and is powered by an Exynos 9611. It features a triple rear camera setup with a 48MP primary sensor, 8MP ultrawide camera and a 5MP depth sensor.
Specs:
Display: 6.4-inch, 1080p
SoC: Exynos 9611
RAM: 4GB/6GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB
Camera: 48MP+8MP+5MP
Battery: 6000mAh
Under 20K
Nokia 7.2
Price: Rs 19,999
The Nokia 7.2 packs a 6.3-inch FHD+ camera that is powered by a Snapdragon 660 chipset. It also packs a triple rear camera setup with 48MP primary sensor.
Specs:
Display: 6.3-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
RAM: 4/6GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 48MP+5MP+8MP, 20MP
Battery: 3500mAh
OS: Android 9 Pie
Vivo Z1X
Price: Rs 18,990
The Vivo Z1X is made for gaming and photography. The phone comes with a triple camera setup led by a 48MP camera while inside is a Snapdragon 712 SoC.
Specs:
Display: 6.38-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 712
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 48MP+8+5MP, 32MP
Battery: 4500mAh
Click here to buy.
The Poco F1 is a flagship phone at a mid-range price. It is powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset and offers up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage along with a dual camera unit at the back.
Specs:
Display: 6.18-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 12MP + 5MP, 20MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 8.1
Under 25K
Redmi K20
Price: Rs 23,999
The K20 is powered by the Snapdragon 730G and sports a 48MP triple camera at the back.
Specs:
Display: 6.39-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 48MP + 13MP+8MP, 20MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 9
Samsung Galaxy A50s
Price: Rs 24,999
The Samsung Galaxy A50s looks slim and sleek with a Super AMOLED panel on the front and a 48MP triple camera at the back.
Specs:
Display: 6.4-inch, 1080p
SoC: Exynos 9611
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 48MP+8+5MP, 32MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 9.0
Under 30K
Realme X2 Pro
Price: Rs. 29,999
The Realme X2 Pro packs a 6.5-inch sAMOLED display with a FHD+ display. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC. At the back is a quad-camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor.
Specs:
Display: 6.5-inch, 2400 x 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
RAM: 6GB/8GB/12GB
Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Camera: 64MP+13MP+8MP+2MP, 16MP
Battery: 4000mAh
Redmi K20 Pro
Price: Rs. 27,999
The Redmi K20 Pro is the flagship from the brand with a Snapdragon 855 SoC and a 48MP triple camera setup.
Specs:
Display: 6.39-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 128/265GB
Camera: 48MP + 13MP+8MP, 20MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 9
Under 40K
OnePlus 7T
Price: Rs. 37,999
The OnePlus 7T is one of the fastest Android phone you can buy. It is powered by the Snapdragon 855+ coupled with 8GB RAM with up to 256GB storage. It also comes with a 90Hz display and a triple-rear camera.
Specs:
Display: 6.55-inch, 2400 x 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+
RAM:8GB
Storage: 128GB/256GB
Camera: 48MP+12MP+16MP, 16MP
Battery: 3900mAh
Oppo Reno 10X Zoom
Price: Rs. 39,999
The Oppo Reno 10X Zoom sports a periscope telephoto lens that can zoom in by 10X. There's a Snapdragon 855 inside along with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
Specs:
Display: 6.6-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
RAM: 6/8GB
Storage: 128/256GB
Camera: 48MP+13MP+8MP, 16MP
Battery: 4065mAh
OS: Android 9.0
Rs. 40,000 and above
Apple iPhone 11 Max Pro
Price: Rs. 1,23,900
The latest iPhones are faster, more powerful and now comes with three cameras on the back. But it's not really the best looking one.
Specs:
Display: 6.5-inch, 1242 x 2688 pixels
SoC: Apple A13 Bionic
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 256GB
Camera: 12MP + 12MP+12MP, 12MP
Battery: 3969mAh
OS: iOS 13.1
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+
Price: Rs. 89,999
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is the next best thing and if you are buying an Android phone, this is the one to get.
Specs:
Display: 6.8-inch, 3040 x 1440p
SoC: Exynos 9825
RAM: 12GB
Storage: 256/512GB
Camera: 12MP+12MP+16MP+ToF, 10MP
Battery: 4300mAh
OS: Android 9
Click here to buy
Google Pixel 3 XL
Price: Rs. 83,000
The Pixel 2 XL is another good phone, but it does not have as good a display or design as the Samsung Galaxy S9+. That said, it is the best camera phone you can buy.
Specs:
Display: 6.3-inch, 2880 x 1440p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64/128GB
Camera: 12.2MP, 8+8MP
Battery: 3430mAh
OS: Android 8.0
Huawei P30 Pro
Price: Rs. 71,990
The Huawei P30ro, simply put, is an over-engineered smartphone. Featuring class-leading Leica branded triple camera setup, 40W fast charging and the Kirin 980, the Huawei P30 Pro is quiet a smartphone to own.
Specs:
Display: 6.47-inch, 1080p
SoC: Kirin 980
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB
Camera: 40MP+8MP+20MP+ToF, 32MP
Battery: 4200mAh
OS: EMUI 9.0