Best phones under Rs. 30,000 in India

In the R. 30,000 price range, smartphone makers have to cater to two types of customers, those who are upgrading from a budget smartphone and those who are simply looking for more premium features but don’t necessarily want to spend too much. . Mid-range smartphones end up being a solid mix of performance, premium design, and extra features that trickle down to the high-end segment. In 2023, we will see some interesting new models. There’s the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, which offers a 200-megapixel main camera, an IP53 rating and 120W wired charging.

Another new entrant in this segment is the Nothing Phone 1. It recently got a big price drop, making it a very accessible device that offers a lot of high-end features such as a unique design, charging wireless and an IP53 rating.

Here are Gadgets 360’s picks of the best phones under Rs. 30,000 in India, in no particular order.

Phones under Rs. 30,000	Rating Gadgets 360 (out of 10)	Prices in India (as recommended)
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G	9	Rs. 29,999
Nothing Phone 1	8	Rs. 25,999
Oppo Reno 8 5G	8	Rs. 29,999
Poco F4 5G	8	Rs. 27,999
Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge	8	Rs. 26,999
Realme GT Master Edition	8	Rs. 25,999
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G	8	Rs. 28,999
iQoo Neo 6 5G	8	Rs. 29,999

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G

The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is the top device in Xiaomi’s Note lineup this year. Priced from Rs. 29,999, it is also the most expensive Redmi Note device to date. Thankfully, it comes with good enough hardware and performance to justify that higher-than-usual price. It’s rated IP53 for dust and water resistance, and you get a quality 120Hz adaptive AMOLED panel with support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10 streaming content. packs enough power too thanks to a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC.

The battery life with its 4,980mAh battery is quite good and charging the phone with the 120W charger only takes 25 minutes (with BoostCharge). Another highlight of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is its 200-megapixel main camera, which lacks optical image stabilization (OIS), but delivers quality stills in all types of lighting conditions. Software-wise, buyers will be stuck with MIUI and Android 12 out of the box. But an Android 13 update is in the works.

Nothing Telephone 1

The Nothing Phone 1 may seem more about style at first glance, but it offers balanced performance and great features to justify its asking price. That price has now been lowered to Rs. 25,999 which is impressive considering it offers features like wireless charging and an IP53 rating. Those upgrading from a budget smartphone will be more than happy with it, without having to pay extra for the extra features. The design of the Nothing Phone 1 really stands out with its unique LED lights which are mounted under the transparent rear panel and can be controlled and customized using the phone’s software.

Flashy lights and premium design aside, there’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC at the helm that offers enough power for everyday tasks and some mid-level gaming. There are two speakers and a large screen which also makes it good for entertainment. Camera performance, while good in daylight, isn’t as impressive in low light. Battery life is a bit problematic but usually lasts a full day with occasional use.

Oppo Reno 8 5G

Those who are only looking for a stylish smartphone will find Oppo’s Reno 8 5G in the Shimmer Gold variant interesting. With almost similar hardware to the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, its price is a bit higher but offers good camera performance in all types of lighting conditions. There’s a 90Hz AMOLED panel which feels a bit weak compared to the competition but should be sufficient for non-gaming audiences.

At the helm is a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC which is good for some mid-level gaming and more than enough for regular multitasking. Although the software is loaded to the brim with third-party apps, these can be uninstalled, and we didn’t experience any issues with overall performance either. While the Reno 8 5G is quite thin and light, Oppo has managed to make enough space for a 4,500mAh battery that can charge it quite quickly with the bundled 80W charger.

Poco F4 5G

The Poco F4 5G is a high-end smartphone that is also suitable for gaming. It’s not very thick at 7.7mm and looks premium thanks to its rear glass and frosted frame. The phone also has an IP53 rating. There are stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and the phone’s 6.67-inch E4 AMOLED panel also supports Dolby Vision HDR playback in streaming apps. There’s enough gaming horsepower available thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC. This makes it more than capable of handling graphics-intensive games at high settings.

Poco offers a 64-megapixel camera with OIS that provides a quality daylight shooting experience. However, low-light performance ends up being a bit below expectations. Battery life with the 4,500mAh battery is pretty solid and charging is pretty fast as well.

Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G

If you are looking for a smartphone with really fast charging, the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge 5G will not disappoint. Given that the recently launched Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G also offers 120W charging, the 11i HyperCharge 5G still makes a bit of sense for the price-conscious buyer. Although it’s over a year old, it still packs a punch with its MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC, which is good for gaming and regular tasks. Unlike the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, there is also expandable storage in the dual-SIM hybrid tray.

Camera performance isn’t best in class, but the 108-megapixel main camera is capable of good image quality in daylight. Low-light performance isn’t bad either. The phone offers a slightly smaller 4,500mAh battery compared to the new Note 12 Pro+ 5G, but it can charge from zero to 100% in just 20 minutes.

Realme GT Master Edition

Just like the Nothing Phone 1, the Realme GT Master Edition is also a smartphone primarily focused on mid-range design and performance. The base model is available at Rs. 25,999, but the one to opt for is the Voyager Gray variant, which comes with more RAM and has a unique leatherette finish that resembles a travel suitcase.

While the design is subjective, the phone surely feels unique in this finish, and there’s enough performance available from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, both for day-to-day tasks and a bit of gaming. 120Hz AMOLED display and camera performance is quite good in daylight but average in low light. The phone’s 4,500mAh battery, which offers good battery life, can be recharged quickly using the included 65W charger.

OnePlus Nord 2T 5G

The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is a true mid-range smartphone from OnePlus. It ticks all the boxes when it comes to the features one would expect from a mid-range device and combines it with a premium design. Just like other OnePlus smartphones, the software experience is quite good as it provides a smooth experience with minimal bloatware. The MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC ensures good software performance and can also handle games very well.

Camera performance is also quite good. The phone has a similar camera setup to the Oppo Reno 8 5G and performs equally well whether in daylight or low light. The 4,500 mAh of the Nord 2T 5G offers excellent two-day battery life with occasional use and can also be recharged quickly with the supplied 65W charger. The phone also recently received the Android 13 update.

iQoo Neo 6 5G

If you’re looking for incredible value and don’t mind a slightly bulky design, then the iQoo Neo 6 5G might be the perfect fit. The phone might not appear as premium as other smartphones in this price range, but what it lacks in looks it makes up for in power. The phone comes with a 120Hz E4 AMOLED panel which also offers 360Hz touch sampling rate which is good for gamers. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM (base variant), making it a smartphone capable of playing high-end 3D games.

The smartphone also offers a capable 64-megapixel main camera with OIS. There’s also good battery life and fast charging.

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