Among high-end smartphones, an IP rating is a kind of must-have feature. More and more smartphone makers are joining the bandwagon, offering some kind of IP rating for dust and water protection in an effort to draw in more users. And as technology advances, this feature is gradually making its way to smartphones at lower price points. The market is currently flooded with smartphones with an Ingress Protection (IP) rating, with prices starting as low as Rs 14,000. We have compiled a list of the top smartphones with an effective IP rating in the market under Rs 30,000.
What is an IP rating?
It’s crucial to understand what an IP rating is, in actuality, before we proceed with the list. You can determine a device’s level of protection against solids and liquids by looking at its IP rating. The “IP” stands for Ingress Protection and is followed by two numbers. The International Electrotechnical Commission establishes these. The first number, which varies from one to six, represents the degree of protection against solid particles (dust, dirt, etc.). The second number, which ranges from one to eight, indicates how much water a device can withstand before becoming damaged; the greater the number, the better the protection. An X may occasionally appear in the rating, which denotes that the device maker skipped that particular test.
For instance, a phone with an IP67 rating is completely dust-tight and can withstand immersion in water up to one meter deep (3.3 feet) for no longer than 30 minutes, whereas a phone with an IP68 rating is completely dust-tight and can withstand immersion in water up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) deep for 30 minutes.
Now that we have gotten a quick brief on the IP rating, let’s get into the list.
POCO M4 5G
The POCO brand has a reputation for offering high-quality gear at competitive costs. The POCO M4 5G is undoubtedly the market’s most affordable smartphone with an IP certification. The phone has an IP52 rating and packs in a 6.58-inch LCD panel with a Full HD+ resolution, 90Hz smart refresh rate, and up to 240Hz touch sampling rate.
The handset is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC which adds 5G capability. The phone has a dual camera system with a 50MP main sensor and a 2MP secondary sensor on the back. An 8MP sensor is used for selfies. The POCO M4 5G has a big 5,000mAh battery, supports 18W fast charging, and comes pre-installed with Android 12 and the most recent MIUI software.
Price – Rs 10,999
Moto G52
Motorola is likewise not holding back when it comes to offering features. The IP52 certification of the Moto G52 is the highest we have seen in this price range. The handset excels in other aspects as well, with a 6.6-inch AMOLED panel, a Full HD+ resolution, and a 90Hz refresh rate.
The handset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC, with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The Moto G52 has a triple camera setup in the rear with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. There is a 16MP camera up front for selfies. The handset runs Android 13 out of the box and has a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging.
Price – Rs 11,999
Redmi Note 11
The Redmi Note 11 has an IP53 rating and is perhaps the best device in the Note series this year. The phone has a 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 90Hz. Here, the show is run by the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 SoC. A quad-camera array with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor is included on the phone’s back. The 13MP front-facing sensor meets all selfie requirements. The Note 11 gets power from a 5,000mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging.
Price – 11,999
Moto G82 5G
The Moto G82 receives an IP52 grade, exactly like other smartphones made by Motorola. The grade enables the device to withstand dust and brief water splashes. The handset has a 6.6-inch pOLED panel with Full HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It is driven by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695, another well-liked mid-range processor. It has recently been the most sought-after mid-range 5G SoC for smartphones.
The Moto G82 gets a triple camera setup on the back with a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. A 16MP front camera on the phone is used for taking selfies. The handset gets its juice from a large 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging. The Moto G82 also includes stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos and Lenovo’s Thinkshield function, among other things.
Price – 19,999
Samsung Galaxy A33 5G
As the price range increases, we come across the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G, which has an IP67 rating. Only premium smartphones with an IP68 rating will have a higher IP rating than this one. The Galaxy A33 sports a 6.43-inch Super AMOLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a dew-drop notch. The handset is powered by the Samsung-made Exynos 1280 mid-range SoC.
As for the cameras, the Galaxy A33 gets a quad-camera setup on the rear with a 48MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide angle lens, a 5MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. A 13MP sensor up front handles all the selfie needs. The handset gets its power from a 5,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging.
Price – 25,999
Nothing Phone (1)
The Nothing Phone (1), the brand-new entrant in the smartphone market, is well-known for its unique transparent design. In contrast to what Samsung is providing in the same price range, the phone has an IP52 rating. Phone (1) comes with a 6.55-inch Full HD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage.
On the camera side of things, the Nothing Phone (1) gets a dual camera setup on the rear with a 50MP main sensor that gets OIS and a 50MP ultra-wide angle sensor. The selfies on the handset come out through a 16MP sensor. The Phone (1) has a 4,500mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging. It runs on an almost stock Android version.
Price – Rs 27,499
Google Pixel 6a
Smartphones from Google’s “Pixel a” series have gained popularity in international markets, including India. With the Pixel 4a and the Pixel 6a, Google continued to have a significant impact. Building upon the same legacy, the Pixel 6a has a sturdy design and an IP67 rating. It sports a 6.1-inch OLED panel with a Full HD+ resolution. Like Apple, Google is still sticking with a 60Hz refresh rate panel on their budget smartphones, despite the market trends going in the opposite direction.
The Pixel 6a has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and is powered by Google’s own Tensor SoC. As for the cameras: an 8MP sensor up front for selfies and a dual sensor setup on the back with a 12.2MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens are found on the handset. The handset draws the current from a 4,410mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.
Price – Rs 30,000
