The ₹40,000 price segment is a tricky one as it nears the flagship segment and you should expect top-of-the-line specifications and features at this price point. All the phones in this list are nothing short of powerful pocket computers that can undertake multiple tasks – from the basics such as calling and texting to more advanced activities such as streaming, gaming, video and photo editing, and more. So, users are more ready than ever to spend a little extra on phones. The sub-₹40,000 smartphone segment usually sees very little action given the price-conscious nature of Indian consumers, but over the last couple of years, we have actually had quite a surge of offerings at this price. This is primarily because consumers are more open to spending on a reliable smartphone that would serve them for years. Under ₹40,000, you are more likely to see powerful flagship-grade processors, think Snapdragon 8-series and Dimensity 9000-series, as well as more robust camera systems packing utilitarian features and specifications such as OIS, larger sensors, useful ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and more. Several OEMs have enticing offerings at this price including standout products such as the OnePlus 12R, iQOO Neo9 Pro, Moto Edge 50 Pro, OPPO Reno11 Pro, iQOO Neo 7 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE.
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The OnePlus 12R is a versatile all-rounder priced at ₹40,000, featuring premium flagship features like a robust aluminium frame, an LTPO 4.0 AMOLED display with Dolby Vision, and 100W SUPERVOOC charging. Despite OnePlus’ departure from its flagship killer roots, the 12R deserves praise for its display, improved battery life, and performance, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. However, it falls short in areas like camera innovation and storage speed discrepancies. Overall, the 12R is recommended for those seeking a new phone in its price range, offering significant upgrades over its predecessor.
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The iQOO Neo9 Pro is the most powerful mid-range smartphone we’ve tested so far. Not only does it outperform the competition, but it also puts flagship devices to shame with its outrageous performance numbers. The battery life and super fast charging speeds also make it stand out amidst the crowd. The camera has improved considerably as well and will serve casual users quite well. The red and white colour scheme is unique and eye-catching too. Overall, this phone provides excellent bang for your buck and is a gamer’s dream.
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The Motorola Edge 50 Pro stands out as a feature-rich smartphone offering impressive specifications. Boasting a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, it delivers vibrant visuals and smooth performance. Powered by a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset and 5G capability, it ensures swift processing and connectivity. Its camera setup, highlighted by a 50 MP main sensor, offers decent image quality and versatile shooting options. The device also features a 4,500 battery with 125 W fast charging support, enhancing its usability. Overall, the Motorola Edge 50 Pro appears to be a compelling choice for users seeking a holistic mid-range phone experience.
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The OPPO Reno11 Pro is a decent choice for those who covet great smartphone design. It is one of the most premium-looking smartphones in its price range, with a unique rear panel that sets it apart. The AMOLED Full HD+ display is also fantastic for daily usage. However, the performance isn’t the best, with many similarly-priced phones outperforming it. So, if you’re into gaming, you should look elsewhere.
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The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G offers the absolute best price-to-performance ratio. For its inexpensive price, you get a flagship-level performer that cranks up the heat and makes phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro sweat. The brand has included an Independant Gaming Chip alongside the powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. With their powers combined, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro flies through task after task including intensive ones such as heavy-duty gaming. Battery life is also decent and it seems well optimised to handle long hours of gaming as well. The 120 W fast charging is another feature in the iQOO Neo 7 Pro’s cap. Altogether, this is the best-performing smartphone you can get under ₹40,000. In fact, it is one of the best-performing smartphones on the market, period.
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The OnePlus 11R is a solid phone for OnePlus fans and a phone that sees them come back to their roots by offering great performance at an affordable price. The AMOLED display is plenty bright and very colour accurate. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset offers speedy performance but it is not as mind-blowing as the numbers achieved by the iQOO Neo 7 Pro. Yet, most users won’t be able to tell the difference in day-to-day usage. Gaming is also excellent on the 11R with the phone running games smoothly with little to no frame drops. Battery life is also commendable – the phone lasts over a day on a full charge. When it’s out the 100 W charger tops it up within just 25 minutes. The cameras are good; the primary lens clicks detailed pictures with vibrant colours and the ultrawide sensor is not bad. Overall, this is an excellent high-end smartphone that is a performer through and through.
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The Vivo V29 Pro is a stunning phone with a curved front and rear panel. The display is Full HD+ resolution and supports 120 Hz refresh rate. Colours are pretty accurate and the peak tested brightness was 722 nits, which is pretty decent but not the best in this segment. Cameras are great and vivo’s new Aura Light is capable of changing low light shots’ colour tone dramatically. The MediaTek Dimensity 8200 is extremely powerful; in fact, it even beats out the OnePlus 11R in some synthetic benchmarks. So, the phone can easily breeze through most tasks you throw at it. Battery life, however, is very disappointing. Thankfully, the phone charges extremely fast though.
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Another beast of a performer on a budget is the POCO F5. Sporting the new Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset, the phone comes very close to flagship-level performance while costing a fraction of the price. The design is pretty simplistic though, we get a polycarbonate back and a basic plastic frame. The display, however, is stunning with accurate colours and responsiveness. The battery life is, once again, impressive, so the phone should easily last more than a day for more users. The 67 W charger is decent, but not the fastest at this price.
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If you’re a Stock Android fan and love Google’s computational photography chops, the Pixel 6a is a great device to get your hands on at this price. In this budget segment, it offers one of the best camera experiences. Photos come out looking stunning in daylight and low-light, however, the video performance drastically needs improvement. Nevertheless, you get a solid, clean UI, a decently powerful chipset, and good battery life. However, some deal breakers may include the 60 Hz display, clunky bezels, and minor heating issues. The phone did heat a lot on launch, but Google’s OTA updates have relieved some of those problems.
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Motorola phones have become significantly popular due to their clean software experience and stylish and lightweight designs. The Moto Edge 40 is a prime example of that. It is one of the best mid-rangers you can buy under ₹30,000 right now. The build quality is great and the leather back looks extremely premium, the display is punchy and crisp, and the performance is reliable. The Dimensity 8020 chipset throws up some solid numbers in benchmarks and we found the day-to-day usage and gaming experience to be quite hitch-free. The cameras are good as well and the main lens can even capture good low-light photos. Overall, a great phone and an easy recommendation!
