Best Smartphones Under Rs. 30,000 in India

The Sub Rs. The 30,000 smartphone segment in India is full of high quality hardware. If you’re looking to upgrade from a budget smartphone, the mid-range currently offers plenty of choice and good value for money if you’re willing to break the bank a bit. In 2023 there will be little difference between mid-range smartphones and the next level, which are premium devices. Camera performance aside, most mid-range devices offer more than enough performance with good battery life and reliable software support.

Our latest additions include the Motorola Edge 40, the Poco F5 5G replacing the older Poco F4 5G, and Samsung’s new Galaxy A34 5G. Also on our list is the Google Pixel 6a, which saw a price drop of sorts after launch Pixel 7a in India.

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

Motorola Edge 40

With the software experience being spot on, Motorola certainly seems to be working on its hardware game and latest release edge 40 is proof of that. It has a stunning design that’s sleek and curvy, and the faux leather back screams premium. With the war half won, it lures you in with software experience that’s close to stock and a promise of years of software and security updates.

However, this moto performs just as well as it looks. There’s a 144Hz POLED display, an IP67 rating and even Motorola wireless charging round out the package. When it comes to camera performance, the Motorola Edge 40 falls a bit short, although that’s more down to portrait mode than low-light performance (which seems pretty good). Gaming performance with the MediaTek Dimensity 8020 SoC is also quite good, but the battery life is a real drag on this phone. With regular use, it only lasts a day and not more. Luckily, Motorola includes a 68W fast charger in the box.

Poco F5 5G

The Poco F5 5G replaces its predecessor Poco F4 5G on this list, which was a solid mid-range contender in this segment. The F5 5G doesn’t offer the premium feel of its predecessor, but it makes up for it in terms of performance, earning the base IP53 rating for dust and water resistance. There is a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC that shares many similarities with the premium Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 SoC found in premium smartphones.

The software is riddled with bloatware, but the hardware handles it all without breaking a sweat. It really shines in gaming performance and the phone is easily capable of running demanding titles like Genshin Impact. Battery life is decent too, with the Poco F5 5G lasting more than a day with heavy use. There’s no wireless charging, but you get 67W fast charging, which takes an hour to top up the large 5,000mAh battery. The camera performance of the main camera is decent both in daylight and in low light.

Samsung Galaxy A34 5G

The Samsung Galaxy A34 5G The design is a real evolution of its predecessor’s more boxy and recycled rectangle with rounded edges. The A-Series has received decent design updates over the years and, like previous models, is also inspired by the premium Galaxy S-Series. In fact, Samsung even added an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which puts it almost on par with a premium device in terms of build quality and design.

Despite its focus on design, Samsung has made an odd choice with its display, opting for a waterdrop-style notch that feels a bit dated though. Other than that, you get a high-quality AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, smooth software performance with One UI, and five years of software support, which is good for those who don’t frequently update their devices. The camera’s performance in daylight is pretty good, but the same can’t be said for low light. With a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, this phone is clearly not designed for gaming. The charging process is also relatively slow and Samsung does not include a charger.

Google Pixel 6a

The Google Pixel 6a was replaced by the Pixel 7a, which commands the same premium price the former launched at. However, the Pixel 6a is now given a more down-to-earth price tag, making it a very attractive 5G smartphone despite its weak hardware compared to the competition. These include its now somewhat outdated Google Tensor SoC and its OLED display, which runs at a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz despite being HDR capable.

A key factor in this is the stock Android software, which is also updated to the latest Android version on the day it is made available by Google. Being near stock with some Google tweaks, it also lacks the bloatware found on every other smartphone on this list. Another highlight are the cameras, which easily take one of the best photos you can get from a smartphone in this segment. While it lacks features like wireless charging, you still get an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, which seems like a big plus given the current price.

iQoo Neo 7 5G

The iQoo Neo 7 5G does a lot of things right. It offers top-notch performance with great battery life and fast charging. The large display and speakers also make this phone ideal for multimedia consumption. Although the software has gotten better, there is still room for improvement.

A big plus is that the iQoo Neo 7 5G comes with the latest software. In terms of cameras, the iQoo Neo 7 5G is not very versatile and there are better options in this segment, such as the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G. However, if you are a gamer and have a budget of around Rs. 30,000, the iQoo Neo 7 5G is definitely recommended.

Nothing phone 1

The Nothing phone 1 At first glance, it seems more about style, but it offers balanced performance and great features that justify its price. Although it is no longer the only smartphone in this segment that offers wireless charging and IP53 protection, it still has some other features. The design of the Nothing Phone 1 is characterized by its unique LED lights, which are placed under the transparent back and can be controlled and adjusted via the phone’s software.

Aside from the flashy lights and premium design, it’s powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC that offers enough power for everyday tasks and some mid-level games. There are two speakers and a large display, which also makes for good entertainment. Camera performance, while good in daylight, isn’t as impressive in low light. Battery life is a bit of an issue, but typically lasts a full day with occasional use.

Oppo Reno 8 5G

If you are only looking for a stylish smartphone, you will find it Oppo’s Reno 8 5G interesting in the Shimmer Gold variant. With hardware almost similar to the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, it’s a bit more expensive but offers good camera performance in all lighting conditions. There’s a 90Hz AMOLED panel, which seems a little low compared to the competition, but should be sufficient for the non-gaming crowd.

At the top is a MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, which is good for mid-level gaming and more than adequate for regular multitasking. While the software is chock-full of third-party apps, they can be uninstalled and we didn’t have any issues with overall performance either. While the Reno 8 5G is quite slim and light, Oppo has managed to squeeze enough space for a 4,500mAh battery that can charge it up fairly quickly with the included 80W charger.

OnePlus Nord 2T 5G

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

The camera performance is also quite good. The phone has a camera setup similar to that of the Oppo Reno 8 5G and performs equally well in both daylight and low light conditions. The Nord 2T 5G’s 4,500mAh offers an excellent two-day battery life with occasional use, and it can also be quickly charged using the included 65W charger. The phone has also received its Android 13 update.