This is the best time to buy a 5G phone as telecom operators across the country prepare to launch the next-generation network in the upcoming months. Fortunately, the smartphone market is now flooded with several excellent 5G smartphones that you can consider. 5G smartphones under the price bracket of Rs 30,000 offer a particularly great experience since they bring great hardware to the table along with an excellent value proposition. For the price of Rs 30,000, you can get a phone that is great for gaming, media consumption, photography, and many other use cases. With several manufacturers including top brands like Mi, Relame, Samsung, OnePlus, iQOO, and others frequently bringing several phones to the market it can get a little confusing to get the right phone that meets your needs. That’s why we have prepared a list of the best smartphones you can buy on the market for under Rs 30,000. So without further ado, let’s get started with our list of the best smartphones for under Rs 30,000 on the market.
Things to consider while buying a smartphone
- Display type, resolution, and refresh rate: Most of the current smartphone market is either dominated by IPS or AMOLED panels. Out of these two technologies, AMOLED panels provide better picture quality and viewing angles since they offer deeper blacks and a higher contrast ratio. If you want punchy colours, deeper blacks, and wider viewing angles than the IPS panels, opt for AMOLED display smartphones.
- Processor, RAM, and storage: If you plan to run heavy games or run other intensive tasks, you should get a phone that has a powerful processor coupled with at least 4GB to 6GB of RAM for smooth multitasking and quick response times. Similarly, a large amount of storage will help you store more of your favourite stuff like apps, games, photos, movies, and other things.
- Camera: When you’re paying a premium for a smartphone, you must also ensure that you’re getting an excellent camera. Make sure the cameras support OIS (optical image stabilisation) so you can capture blur-free photos and videos. And if you frequently take group selfies or shoot wide-angle scenery — ensure that the cameras feature sufficient wide-angle coverage for the needs.
- Battery capacity and fast charging: Always ensure that the phone can at least last through the day on a single full charge. Keep an eye on the battery life claims made by the manufacturer. While a larger battery capacity will statically give you more runtime on paper, the results don’t always translate to real-world numbers. Because the battery life depends on several nuanced factors — such as your use cases and hardware configurations like the refresh rate- and the type of display used by the manufacturer, as well as on-board software optimisations. So before you make that purchase decision make sure to check out online reviews to ensure the smartphone actually offers the battery life you need in real-world scenarios. Another thing to make sure of here is the availability of fast charging solution on the smartphone, so you can juice up the battery faster.
iQOO Neo 6
We start our list with the latest iQOO flagship, the iQOO Neo 6. It's a really well-rounded device that features everything you could ask for in a mid-ranger -- including a sleek and beautiful design. iQOO Neo 6 comes with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 for smooth gaming and multitasking performance. Additionally, iQOO is also using an improved heat dissipation system, which covers a 36907mm² area for a no-throttle high frame rate gaming. It also packs amazing camera hardware backed with a GW1P 64MP main sensor (IOS) along with useful features such as Party Portrait, Long Exposure Mode, and Super Night Mode for versatile photography.
Thanks to its gorgeous HDR+ 6.62-inch E4 AMOLED panel, which features vibrant and vivid visuals, iQOO Neo 6 is perfect for media consumption as well. Add to that, the display also features a 120hz high refresh rate for smooth scrolling; perfect for pro gamers out there. Add to that, iQOO has also certified the display with Netflix HDR for a good Netflix experience, and SGS Eye Care to protect your eyes. You also get a big 4,700mAh battery with an 80W FlashCharge that gets the device from zero to 100 percent in around 30 minutes. To sum it up, if you're seeking a perfect device for consuming media and a phone that provides a no-fuss gaming experience, the iQOO Neo 6 is a great choice.
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G
Samsung's mid-range M-series of smartphones have always been one of the best devices on the market, and the company is once again upping its game with the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G with minor but notable improvements -- particularly with the camera hardware. You get a high-resolution 108MP main sensor with a quad-camera setup this time, along with a slightly improved ultra-wide sensor, for highly detailed photography. On the front, the company has retained the same great 32MP front camera for selfies and video calls. Samsung is also including features like Object Eraser, Video Call Effects, and Photo Remaster for an even improved camera experience.
There is a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD resolution at the front. The display also gets a 120Hz high refresh rate for smooth scrolling across the system. It also gets Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection for scratch resistance and increased drop protection. As for the audio, the company is using Dolby Atmos speakers for a booming and immersive sound. There is also a 5,000mAh battery, which the company says should last you through the day. It also gets a 25W fast charging support, but it is worth noting that Samsung is not including a charger in the box.
At the heart, the Galaxy M53 5G packs the power-efficient MediaTek Dimensity 900 processor, which also brings support for a total of 12 bands of 5G for improved wireless connectivity. For an improved gaming experience on the Galaxy M53 5G, the company is using an efficient Vapour Cooling Chamber, which reduces the overall device temperatures so there are fewer frame drops. Add to that you can further increase the RAM by up to 6GB with the RAM Plus virtual RAM feature for even more improvements in gaming and multitasking.
Mi 11X 5G
Mi 11X 5G is yet another feature-packed device worth considering if you're in the market for a 5G smartphone. It packs a gorgeous DislayMate A+ certified 6.67-inch HDR10+ (AMOLED) display and sports a beautiful design with just 7.8mm thickness, making it one of the thinnest devices around. At the core, it gets a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 for impressive gaming performance. Moreover, the display also supports 120Hz high refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling rate for a more responsive gaming experience. You also get Dolby Atmos-backed speakers with support for Hi-Res audio playback for a powerful, immersive, and booming sound. In terms of optics, Mi 11X 5G features a 48MP triple rear camera setup along with an 8MP ultrawide lens and a 5MP Super macro camera for a detailed and high-resolution photography experience. Additionally, you get a 20MP on the front for beautiful selfies. There is a large 4,520mAh battery along with 33W fast charging support so you can juice up the device faster. Mi 11X also supports a wide range of 5G bands for seamless and fast wireless connectivity. If you're seeking a device that is good at gaming and multimedia consumption, the Mi 11X 5G is another great choice for you on this list.
iQOO 7 5G
iQOO 7 5G is a feature-packed device and is one of the best camera smartphones you can buy currently. iQOO 7 5G sports an HDR10+ certified 6.62-inch 120Hz (AMOLED) panel that peaks up to an impressive 1,300nits brightness for a smoother, brighter and more colourful image reproduction. It runs on the capable Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor at the core, making it one of the most powerful smartphones you can buy on the market currently. You get 8GB of RAM for even smoother multitasking. The handset also includes an improved Liquid Cooling System that covers a large 6,000mm² of area for efficient thermal management; resulting in much-improved gameplay. You can further add up to 4GB of virtual RAM on top of the existing physical RAM using the Extended RAM for added smoothness.
In terms of optics, the device features a 48MP Sony IMX598 (IOS) rear sensor for blur-free and high-resolution shots. The phone also features a large 4,400mAh battery with 66W FlashCharge, which charges the phone from zero to 100 percent in around 30 minutes. You also get Hi-Res dual speakers for a theatre-like sound immersion. iQOO is also promising up to 2 major Android upgrades and 3 years of security patches to make the device further future-proof.
Vivo V23
Vivo V23 sports a stunningly beautiful design and comes with a 6.44-inch 90HZ AMOLED panel with HDR10+ certification for gorgeous and popping visuals. It also sports one of the slimmest designs built with aviation aluminium; measuring just 7.4mm in thickness. And it's not just beauty -- packing a powerful MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor at the core -- it gets the heavy tasks done in a jiffy, including gaming. Vivo V23 also gets a 50MP Eye AF Dual Selfie front camera, which takes beautiful selfies and photos with multiple filters such as Dual-Tone Spotlight, Super Wide-Angle Night Selfie, AI Extreme Night, Party Portrait, and more. At the back, it gets an 8MP Super Wide-Angle camera along with a 64MP Night camera, and a Super Macro Camera for stunning night photography. The device also supports 4K/30fps video recording so you can shoot detailed videos. The smartphone draws its power from the 4,200mAh battery, which also supports 44W FlashCharge. The company has also certified Vivo V23 with Hi-Res certification for a powerful and booming sound. To sum it up, if you want a stylish and sleek device, which also packs great cameras along with powerful hardware, Vivo V23 is definitely worth checking out.
Vivo iQOO Z6 Pro
iQOO Z6 Pro 5G is yet another choice for one of the best 5G smartphones. It comes with Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor for smooth performance. It also gets a 90Hz AMOLED panel with up to 1,300nits of peak brightness for vibrant colours and great sunlight legibility. Further, the display also supports a 180Hz touch sampling rate for improved responsiveness while scrolling. Additionally, the iQOO Z6 Pro has a VC Liquid Cooling System, which covers a total of 32,923mm² of a large area for efficient heat dissipation and decreases the CPU temperatures by up to 12 degrees and surface temperatures by up to 3 degrees, thus proving you with a lag-free gameplay experience. There is also a 4D Game Vibration with an improved linear vibration motor to provide you with next-level haptic feedback while gaming. In terms of optics, you get a high-resolution 64MP main sensor along with a 117 degrees wide-angle camera and a 4cm macro camera. There is a large 4,700mAh battery for a long battery backup as well. Add to that, it also supports 66W FlashCharge, which takes the device from zero to 50 percent in just 18 minutes. Users who purchased iQOO Z6 Pro 5G highly recommend it for its excellent cameras and great value.
Realme 9 Pro+ 5G
The recently launched Realme 9 Pro+ 5G is one of the most well-rounded devices on this list. The smartphone sports a premium Light Shift Design, which is stunning to look at. And its 6.4-inch AMOLED display makes with 90Hz refresh rate makes everything on the screen fly. Powering the phone is a MediaTek Diminsity 920 5G processor, which is capable of running even the most high-end games, albeit at lower frame rates than its more powerful counterparts. It also gets a big 4,500mAh battery along with a 60W SuperDart charge that gets the smartphone up to 50 percent juice in about 15 minutes.
There is a triple camera setup at the back to help you photograph that includes a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor along with a 2MP macro camera and 8MP Super wide camera. The camera is also backed with the AI Noise Reduction Engine 3.0, which ensures noise-free shots in low-lighting conditions. And what's more, the device offers optical image stabilisation (OIS) to help you capture blur-free photos and videos. This is in addition to the extensive set of camera filters that realme is already including with the phone -- such as Street Photography 2.0, Light Trail Portrait, Long Exposure Mode, and more. All this is to say the Realme 9 Pro+ 5G is perfect for photography.
And it doesn't just end there, Realme 9 Pro+ 5G also includes Vapour Chamber Cooling System, which reduces the device temperatures by up to 10 degrees while under intense pressures to help you play games smoothly. It also gets Dolby Atmos dual speakers for booming sound and an X-axis linear motor for great haptic feedback.
OPPO Reno7 5G
Oppo Reno7 5G comes with a powerful mid-range Mediatek Dimensity 900 processor, which can cut through most daily tasks with ease. It gets 7.8mm thin and is lightweight and boasts a beautiful Shooting Star design at the back. One of the main highlights of the Oppo Reno7 5G is its excellent display. Its 6.4-inch AMOLED display gets a 90Hz high refresh rate along with Netflix HD and Amazon Prime Video HD certification; making the device perfect for multimedia consumption. The display also gets low blue light emission to protect your eyes.
It also gets a large 4,500mAh battery that can be charged through the included 65W SuperVOOC charger, which gets the battery juice from zero to 100 percent in just 30 minutes. You also get 8GB RAM for smooth multitasking and 256GB of internal storage with this variant of the Oppo Reno7. Add to that, you can extend the RAM by up to 5GB with the RAM Expansion feature. Oppo Reno7 also gets capable camera hardware, which promises to get you DSLR-like portrait shots with its Sony front-facing camera. You also get multiple photography modes and filters to make sure you can click that perfect shot you always wanted. Along with a good front-facing camera, you also get a high-resolution 64MP rear sensor with up to 188 degrees wide angles so you take stunning photographs with incredible details. To sum it up, Oppo Reno7 is an all-rounder smartphone that can help your game as well as take impressive photographs.
