If you are buying a smartphone today, there are so many options to choose from. Apart from the sheer number of phones available today, one needs to consider factors such as performance, camera quality, battery life and more. Above all, there is the price, which is the most important factor for the average Indian smartphone buyer. So, whether you are buying a phone under 7000 or for 40K, you need the best of everything. To make things simpler for you, we have created this list of the best value for money smartphones available today. To make things easier for you, we have segmented the list according to various budget categories. We are not going above 40K here because, if you are buying a device above 40k, you are anyway not considering budget as a criteria. So, without any further ado, here is the list.
Under 10K
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
The Redmi Note 5 remains the same as its predecessor in terms of performance but offers a new display and an updated camera.
Specs:
Display: 5.99-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 7.1.2
Lenovo K8 Plus
Dual camera at the back, a powerful octa-core SoC, 1080p display and a big battery. It has everything you need at this price.
Specs:
Display: 5.2-inch, 1080p
SoC: MediaTeK Helio P25
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 13MP + 5MP, 8MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 7.1.1
Xiaomi Redmi 5
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 is one of the most popular budget devices under 10K and for good reason. It offers reliable performance and dependable battery life without breaking the bank.
Specs:
Display: 5.7-inch, 720p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 3300mAh
OS: Android 7.1.2
Under 15K
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
With a Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 powering the phone, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is the best phone under 15K.
Specs:
Display: 5.99-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 12MP + 5MP, 20MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 7.1.2
Moto G5 Plus
The older Moto G5 Plus still one of our favorites budget smartphones we have tested this year. Offering a really good camera and reliable performance, the Moto G5 is the only budget phone here which got updated to Android 8.0.
Specs:
Display: 5.2-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 3000mAh
OS: Android 8.0
Xiaomi Mi A1
With the permanent price drop, the Xiaomi Mi A1 is an even better contender on this list. Offering almost everything you may require from a budget device including stock Android.
Specs:
Display: 5.5-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 12MP + 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 3080mAh
OS: Android 7.1.2
Honor 7X
Replacing the older Honor 6X, the new 7X smartphone offers better performance and an all-new 18:9 aspect ratio display.
Specs:
Display: 5.93-inch, 2160 x 1080p
SoC: HiSilicon Kirin 659
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 16MP + 12MP, 8MP
Battery: 3340mAh
OS: Android 7.0
Under 20K
Honor 9i
The Honor 9i is currently the best phone in its price segment, despite its somewhat inconsistent camera performance.
Specs:
Display: 5.9-inch, 2160 x 1080p
SoC: HiSilicon Kirin 659
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 16MP + 12MP, 13MP + 2MP
Battery: 3340mAh
OS: Android 7.0
Oppo F3 Plus
The F3 Plus might be a last year’s phone, but the device with its capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 SoC still provides a punchy performance. The phone also has a very capable set of cameras.
Specs:
Display: 6-inch, 1920 x 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 653
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 16MP, 16MP + 8MP
Battery: 4000mAh
OS: Android 6.0
Xiaomi Mi Max 2
The Xiaomi Mi Max 2 is the best phone to buy if you like binge-watching videos on the go.
Specs:
Display: 6.44-inch, 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 5300mAh
OS: Android 7.1.1
Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro
With the J7 Pro, Samsung has managed to plant a solid foot in the sub-20K segment. The phone offers a good build quality, a superb display, and a good battery life.
Specs:
Display: 5.5-inch, 1080p
SoC: Exynos 7870
RAM: 3GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 13MP, 13MP
Battery: 3600mAh
OS: Android 7.0
Under 30K
Honor View 10
The best phone to buy for a budget of 30K is the Honor View 10. The Kirin 970 powered phone performs as good as the OnePlus 5T. It offers a good set of cameras and has a reliable battery life as well.
Specs:
Display: 5.99-inch, 1080p
SoC: HiSilicon Kirin 970
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Camera: 16MP + 20MP, 13MP
Battery: 3750mAh
OS: Android 8.0
LG G6
The LG G6 got a price drop recently and is now available under 30K. At this price, it is quite easily one of the better phones to buy. It offers a reliable performance and the rear camera is also quite good.
Specs:
Display: 5.7-inch, 1440p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 64GB
Camera: 13MP + 13MP, 5MP
Battery: 3300mAh
OS: Android 7.0
Samsung Galaxy S7
The Samsung Galaxy S7 might be two-year-old phone now, but it still looks better than most devices in this price category. It performs well and features a really good camera
Specs:
Display: 5.1-inch, 1440p
SoC: Exynos 8890
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32GB
Camera: 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 3000mAh
OS: Android 7.0
Under 40K
OnePlus 5T
On the extreme end of this list, we have the OnePlus 5T, which offers flagship class performance without making a big hole in your pocket.
Specs:
Display: 6.01-inch, 2160 x 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB
Camera: 16MP + 20MP, 16MP
Battery: 3300mAh
OS: Android 8.1
Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is another good option for the price, but it has an inferior camera to the OnePlus 5. However, it is the best looking phone on this list.
Specs:
Display: 5.99-inch, 2160 x 1080p
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM: 6GB
Storage: 128GB
Camera: 12MP, 5MP
Battery: 3400mAh
OS: Android 7.1