Best phones to buy across price ranges (January 2024)

Finding the best smartphone within your budget has become increasingly challenging due to the multitude of options available in every price segment. An ideal smartphone should offer an excellent display, a good processor that offers quick performance across day-to-day tasks, a decent set of cameras, and a robust battery life so that you can go about your day without worrying about a dying battery. In order to simplify your next smartphone purchase, we have meticulously curated a list of the best phones to buy across price ranges, ensuring you get the best value for your money.

Best phone under Rs 15,000

iQOO Z9x 5G

Price: Starting at Rs 12,999
Display: 6.72-inch FHD+ 120Hz LCD display, 1000nits peak brightness
Performance: Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor, up to 8GB of RAM & 128GB storage 
Cameras: 50MP AI rear camera, 8MP front camera
Battery: 6000mAh + 44W fast charging

The iQOO Z9x 5G (review) is a powerhouse for its price, delivering top-tier performance in its segment. The display is bright and smooth, holding up well even in sunlight, and the stereo speakers enhance the multimedia experience. While the camera setup is basic and struggles in low light, the phone excels in everyday performance. Its largebattery ensures all-day usage, making it a reliable option for heavy users on a budget.

The iQOO Z9x faces strong competition from the Vivo T3x (review) and Redmi 13 5G (review) in this price segment. While the Vivo T3x and iQOO Z9x have similar specs, the T3x edges out slightly in benchmark scores. However, the iQOO Z9x pulls ahead with better real-world gaming performance. On the other hand, the Redmi 13 5G falls short with lower benchmark scores, slower charging, shorter battery life, and significant heating issues during gaming.

Benchmarks iQOO Z9xVivo T3xRedmi 13 5G
AnTuTu5,52,1685,49,4944,45,212
Geekbench single-core 938 940 952 
Geekbench multi-core 273527672261
PCMark20 hours, 19 minutes 23 hours, 33 minutes 14 hours, 1 minute
Charging time (20-100%)61 minutes (44W)60 minutes (44W77 minutes (33W)

iQOO Z9x review at a glance: 

Pros

  • Impressive visual experience, both indoors and outdoors.
  • The device is an excellent performer.
  • Excellent battery life and charging speed. 

Cons

  • The cameras could have been better. 
  • Third-party apps.

Best phone under Rs 25,000

OnePlus Nord CE4

Price: Starting at Rs 24,999
Display: 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, 1100nits peak brightness
Performance: Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, up to 8GB of RAM & 256GB storage 
Cameras: 50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide camera, 16MP front camera
Battery: 5500mAh + 100W fast charging

The OnePlus Nord CE4 (review) offers a well-rounded experience with an immersive display and stereo speakers for a great multimedia experience. It delivers smooth performance, making it one of the best in its price range. The camera captures natural-looking photos, with good performance in portraits and low-light shots, though the ultrawide sensor isn’t its strongest suit. With a 5,500mAh battery and 100W fast charging, it easily lasts a full day, making it a reliable choice for everyday use.

The Motorola Edge 50 Neo (review) and Vivo T3 Pro (review) are strong rivals to the phone in this price range. The Motorola Edge 50 Neo stands out with its unique compact design and more versatile cameras, thanks to a dedicated telephoto lens. However, it lags behind the Nord CE4 in battery life, charging speed, and overall performance. On the other hand, the Vivo T3 Pro shares the same chipset and battery size as the Nord CE4, delivering similar performance. But it falls short with a slower charging speed, a more cluttered UI filled with third-party apps, and slightly weaker camera quality compared to the Nord CE4.

Benchmarks OnePlus Nord CE4Motorola Edge 50 NeoVivo T3 Pro
AnTuTu8193476,69,7608,12,119
Geekbench single-core 1138 1054 1147 
Geekbench multi-core 295030583117
PCMark16 hours, 2 minutes NA15 hours, 52 minutes 
Charging time (20-100%)35 minutes (100W)37 minutes (68W)50 minutes (80W)

OnePlus Nord CE4 review at a glance: 

Pros

  • The OnePlus Nord CE4 offers excellent battery backup. 
  • The software experience is clean and responsive. 
  • The camera performance in daylight and dim conditions is impressive. 

Cons

  • The two-year software update promise is behind the industry standards.
  • The OnePlus Nord CE4 also offers average video stabilisation. 

Best phone under Rs 35,000

Realme GT 6T

Price: Starting at Rs 30,999
Display: 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, 6000nits peak brightness
Performance: Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 processor, up to 12GB of RAM & 512GB storage 
Cameras: 50MP primary + 8MP ultrawide camera, 32MP front camera
Battery: 5500mAh + 120W fast charging

The Realme GT 6T (review) is the best smartphone you can buy under Rs 35,000, offering a top-tier display with exceptional brightness and vibrant colours. While its cameras aren’t its strongest suit, they perform well in good lighting. The phone delivers smooth performance, handles demanding tasks effortlessly, and packs a solid battery with 120W fast charging for quick top-ups. If you’re after a powerful all-rounder in this price range, the Realme GT 6T is a good choice.

The Realme GT 6T faces tough competition in its price range, particularly from the Motorola Edge 50 Pro (review) and OnePlus Nord 4 (review). The Motorola Edge 50 Pro offers slightly better cameras and faster charging than the Realme GT 6T, but it falls behind in performance and battery life. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Nord 4 packs the same chipset and similar battery life as the Realme GT 6T, but its performance is a bit lower, and its cameras don’t quite match up to what the GT 6T delivers. 

Benchmarks Realme GT 6TMotorola Edge 50 ProOnePlus Nord 4
AnTuTu14,50,9498,27,23111,69,622
Geekbench single-core 1826 1142 1744 
Geekbench multi-core 454431194365
PCMark13 hours, 16 minutes 12 hours, 30 minutes 16 hours, 58 minutes 
Charging time (20-100%)32 minutes (120W)16 minutes (125W)24 minutes (100W)

Realme GT 6T reveiw at a glance:

Pros

  • The phone delivers solid gaming and multitasking performance.
  • The 6000nits peak brightness level ensures the display is legible at all times.
  • The primary camera exhibits high level of detail and good colours.
  • The handset has an impressive battery life and rapid charging speed.

Cons

  • The design looks a bit underwhelming
  • Cameras are not the strongest point for the smartphone.

Best phone under Rs 45,000

OnePlus 13R

Price: Starting at Rs 42,999
Display: 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED with 4500nits peak brightness 
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage 
Cameras: 50MP primary + 50MP telephoto + 8MP ultrawide, 16MP front camera 
Battery: 6000mAh + 80W fast charging 

The OnePlus 13R (review) builds on the success of the OnePlus 12R, bringing some meaningful upgrades along the way. It comes with a more powerful chipset, a bigger battery, and an improved camera system with a telephoto lens—addressing one of the key weaknesses of its predecessor. The OnePlus 12R was a solid performer but fell short in the camera department. The OnePlus 13R fixes that by adding a telephoto lens, which delivers decent results. 

Performance and battery life remain strong points for the phone, though in our review, we found it slightly behind the OnePlus 12R in battery life. In this price range, the OnePlus 13R goes up against the iQOO Neo 9 Pro (review) and the Realme GT 6 (review). The iQOO Neo 9 Pro is a great option from last year, but it lacks a telephoto lens, has a more cluttered UI, and comes with a smaller battery. Similarly, the Realme GT 6 doesn’t quite match up in performance, has a smaller battery, and its cameras feel limited without a telephoto lens.

Benchmarks OnePlus 13RiQOO Neo 9 ProRealme GT 6 
AnTuTu17,09,07716,11,01515,01,830
Geekbench single-core 22102023 1852 
Geekbench multi-core 657255644761
PCMark14 hours, 42 minutes 14 hours 14 hours, 36 minutes 
Charging time (20-100%)47 minutes (80W)23 minutes (120W)27 minutes (120W)

OnePlus 13R review at a glance: 

Pros

  • Excellent performance for gaming and regular usage.
  • Stunning display with Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.
  • Useful telephoto camera for portraits.
  • Reliable battery life for gaming and streaming.

Cons

  • The design might not appeal to all.
  • It charges slower than the OnePlus 12R.
  • The phone has underwhelming selfies and ultrawide cameras.

    Best phone under Rs 55,000

    iQOO 13 5G

    Price: Starting at Rs 54,999
    Display: 6.82-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED with 4500nits peak brightness 
    Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage 
    Cameras: 50MP primary + 50MP telephoto + 50MP ultrawide, 32MP front camera 
    Battery: 6000mAh + 120W fast charging 

    The iQOO 13 5G (review) is India’s most affordable Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphone and one of the earliest to adopt the chipset. It delivers a smooth and immersive experience, backed by a capable camera system that captures detailed shots in all lighting conditions. The phone’s battery life easily lasts a full day, and with 120W fast charging, it powers up in no time. If you’re after flagship performance without the premium price tag, this device is worth considering.

    The iQOO 13 goes head-to-head with the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra (review) and Honor 200 Pro (review) in its price range. When it comes to performance, neither of the competitors can quite match the iQOO 13, and the same goes for battery life, cameras, and charging speeds. It offers incredible value for its price, making it the best choice in this segment. The only area where the Motorola Edge 50 Ultra does better is its clean OS, where the iQOO 13 could use a bit more polish.

    Benchmarks iQOO 13Motorola Edge 50 UltraHonor 200 Pro 
    AnTuTu28,05,92414,44,59112,79,909
    Geekbench single-core 3093 1944 1619 
    Geekbench multi-core 985450704714
    PCMark13 hours, 9 minutes 13 hours, 27 minutes 9 hours, 28 minutes 
    Charging time (20-100%)23 minutes (120W)15 minutes (125W)32 minutes (100W)

    iQOO 13 review at a glance:

    Pros

    • The iQOO 13 is a performance beast, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.
    • The phone ships with an impressive AMOLED display with a peak refresh rate of 144Hz.
    • The iQOO 13 comes with top-notch durability, thanks to IP68 and IP69 ratings.
    • The Night mode on the handset is quite capable of taking clear shots.

    Cons

    • The phone comes with a lot of pre-installed apps.
    • The periscope lens from the last year’s model has been removed.

    Best phone under Rs 75,000

    OnePlus 13

    Price: Starting at Rs 69,999
    Display: 6.82-inch QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED with 4500nits peak brightness 
    Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage 
    Cameras: 50MP primary + 50MP telephoto + 50MP ultrawide, 32MP front camera 
    Battery: 6000mAh + 100W wired + 50W wireless fast charging 


    The OnePlus 13 (review) builds on its predecessor’s legacy with solid upgrades across the board. It brings a more durable design, a better chipset, an improved camera system, a larger battery, and now, wireless charging support. At its core, this is a well-rounded smartphone that does well in every aspect. It delivers great performance, captures stunning images, and runs a clean, responsive OS. The battery life is improved, and charging remains fast. Overall, the OnePlus 13 is a true jack of all trades. 

    Its main competitors are the Vivo X200 (review) and OPPO Find X8 (review), both solid, well-balanced phones in their own right. The Vivo X200, in fact, offers a more capable camera system, though its software experience and performance fall slightly behind the OnePlus 13. The OPPO Find X8, on the other hand, has a unique compact form factor but lags in battery life, performance, and software experience compared to the OnePlus 13. 

    Benchmarks OnePlus 13Vivo X200OPPO Find X8
    AnTuTu26,89,62525,37,18123,39,136
    Geekbench single-core 310920472203
    Geekbench multi-core 947463397295
    PCMark17 hours, 34 minutes 11 hours, 24 minutes 17 hours
    Charging time (20-100%)29 minutes (120W)40 minutes (100W)30 minutes (120W)

    OnePlus 13 review at a glance: 

    Pros

    • The OnePlus 13 features a tall, vibrant display.
    • It offers long battery backup and fast charging speeds.
    • Its durability has been improved with IP68 and IP69 ratings.
    • There are loads of AI features for productivity and cameras.

    Cons

    • The OnePlus 13 utilises the same design with minor tweaks.
    • Some proprietary apps aren’t useful and there’s no option to delete them.

    Best flagship smartphone

    Vivo X200 Pro

    Price: Rs 94,999
    Display: 6.78-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED with 4500nits peak brightness 
    Performance: MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage 
    Cameras: 50MP primary + 200MP telephoto + 50MP ultrawide, 32MP front camera 
    Battery: 6000mAh + 90W wired + 30W wireless fast charging

    The Vivo X200 Pro (review) is a camera-focused phone that also does excellently as a flagship device. While it doesn’t introduce a lot major upgrades over the Vivo X100 Pro, it refines an already great formula. The camera system is among the best on any smartphone right now, delivering stunning shots in daylight, low light, and portraits. Performance is snappy, everyday usage feels smooth, and the larger battery pushes runtimes even further. There are also AI-powered features to enhance photography and streamline daily tasks. While 90W charging might not seem the fastest, it still tops up the battery in under 30 minutes — making it more than convenient.

    Its main rivals include the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (review) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (review). The Galaxy S25 Ultra isn’t in contention yet, as it launched recently, and we’re still testing its full potential. Compared to its competition, the Vivo X200 Pro leads with a superior camera system, longer battery life, and significantly faster charging. It also outperforms both phones in performance, making it one of the best flagship options you can buy right now.

    Benchmarks Vivo X200 ProSamsung Galaxy S24 UltraiPhone 16 Pro Max 
    AnTuTu25,18,92817,70,10517,74,620
    Geekbench single-core 26852208 3285 
    Geekbench multi-core 774167528021
    PCMark13 hours, 43 minutes 16 hours, 18 minutes 8 hours, 1 minute (YouTube video loop)
    Charging time (20-100%)29 minutes (120W)40 minutes (100W)30 minutes (120W)

    Vivo X200 Pro review at a glance:

    Pros

    • Excellent and versatile camera system
    • Fast and smooth performance
    • Solid battery life
    • Stellar display

    Cons

    • Low-light portraits and selfies tend to soften facial features
    • Slower charging speeds compared to its predecessor

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