While the budget smartphone segment today offers phones with a decent mix of good software and hardware features, those who want better camera performance or additional features will often look to mid-range smartphones. The phones in our sub-Rs. The mid-range starts at around the 25,000 price range and some of them offer impressive performance for their price, for example in the camera area.
Features like optical image stabilization (OIS) and high refresh rate OLED displays are becoming more common, with some manufacturers even offering curved edge displays in this segment. The newest participant is the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G that is fixed by Rs. 24,999 and is really good value for money in terms of hardware. Another new addition to our list is the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G which has recently received a price cut and is now available from Rs. 23,990 in India. There are those too Xiaomi 11i 5G which we’ve added as a special mention as it’s virtually identical to the 11i Hyper Charge (review), except for the load bit.
Here is our list, in no particular order.
| Phones under Rs. 25,000 | Gadgets 360 Review (out of 10) | Price in India (as recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Realme 10 Pro+ 5G | 8th | Rs. 24,999 |
| Samsung Galaxy M53 5G | 8th | Rs. 23,990 |
| Motorola Edge 30 | 8th | Rs. 24,999 |
| iQoo Z5 | 8th | Rs. 23,990 |
| Xiaomi 11i 5G | – | Rs. 24,999 |
Realme 10 Pro+ 5G
the Realme 10 Pro+ 5G replaces the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G, a phone that offered excellent value for money even in the Sub-Rs. 25,000 price range and has now fallen in price to under Rs. 20,000. The new Realme 10 Pro+ 5G offers more style and performance. Realme unveils its new “Hyperspace” design language that makes the phone both light and thin while looking leagues ahead of its predecessor.
Inside is a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, which offers enough power for everyday tasks and is also good for gaming. It’s one of the few smartphones in this price range that offers a 120 Hz AMOLED display with curved edges. It gets a 108-megapixel primary camera, which sadly doesn’t offer OIS, but delivers good overall performance. The 5,000mAh battery combined with 67W charging also offers good battery support. While the software experience is smooth and you get Android 13, the phone is loaded with bloatware that we hope to fix with updates.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G
the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G recently received a price cut for the 6GB RAM variant which now costs Rs. 23,990 in India. At that price point, you’re getting Samsung’s powerful Super AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, which should be good for mid-range gaming and entertainment. The phone is made out of polycarbonate but sure looks premium with its matte back. Samsung also promises two years of Android OS updates and four years of security updates, which should be helpful for those who don’t frequently update their smartphones.
The Galaxy M53 5G also has a 108-megapixel primary camera that offers good daylight performance as well as decent low-light performance. There’s a 5,000mAh battery, which offers decent battery life but is limited to just 25W fast charging and takes a while to fully charge. Samsung doesn’t put a charger in the box either.
Motorola Edge 30
the Motorola Edge 30 offers an interesting balance of design and performance. It features a sleek yet understated design that uses a polycarbonate frame and acrylic back panel instead of glass. This makes it possible to keep the phone quite light at only 155g and also quite thin at 6.79mm. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC, which is good enough for routine tasks and games, takes care of the performance. The Motorola Edge 30 is also the only smartphone in this segment to offer a pOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate, making it more than ideal for gaming.
Motorola’s specialty has always been its software experience, which remains free from bloatware and third-party apps. You get two years of Android OS updates and three years of security updates. The camera setup includes a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide camera and even a 3x telephoto camera, making it well-equipped when it comes to photography. Battery life isn’t the main feature, but the 4,020mAh battery should last most users for a full day.
iQoo Z5
Although replaced by the newer Z6 series, the iQoo Z5 is still top in terms of value. It’s not as flashy as the other smartphones in this segment and takes a more practical design approach with a matte polycarbonate back. The iQoo Z5 features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC which is good for daily tasks and gaming.
The base storage variant is offered with 8GB of RAM and there’s a 5,000mAh battery that can be quickly charged with the included 44W charger. There’s an LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is good for regular use and gaming, but doesn’t look very modern due to the really thick chin. While the rest of its specs are on point, its 64-megapixel camera isn’t the best around and struggles quite a bit in low light.
Xiaomi 11i 5G
the Xiaomi 11i 5G gets a special mention because while we didn’t review it, we do have its nearly identical sibling, the 11i Hyper Charge (review). In all respects, both phones should be identical in terms of software, general performance, gaming and camera quality.
Unlike the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge, which supports 120W wired charging, the 11i 5G is limited to 67W. Battery capacity also varies, but the company promises all-day battery life. If you’re ok with slightly “slower” charging, the 11i 5G offers plenty of features for the price. It packs a 108-megapixel main camera, a 120Hz AMOLED display, dual stereo balanced speakers, and even a 3.5mm headphone jack. It also looks and feels premium with its smooth, anti-reflective glass back.
