“Here are the top devices which users searched for in the month of September”

Nothing is permanent… this adage has proved itself time and again, and if you have any doubts regarding it then simply take a look at the most popular phones of September 2019. While the list of top 20 mobile phones doesn’t change too much month-on-month, that notion has been dispelled this time around. In fact, as per user searches on 91mobiles.com in the month gone by, there are as many as 11 new devices in the list – a feat that hasn’t happened till now. So without further ado, here’s a look at the top 20 chart of the last month.

The top 5

Barring the Xiaomi Mi A3 (review) – which sits at the fifth spot – all the other devices have made a debut among the table toppers. The throne has been occupied by Samsung’s latest mid-range offering, the Galaxy M30s, while Apple has made a stunning entry with the most affordable phone in this year’s lineup, the iPhone 11. At the third spot sits India’s first 64MP camera-toting Realme XT, whereas Vivo’s recently-launched flagship – the V17 Pro finds a place at the fourth position.

The complete list

The entire chart has seen a major shuffle, as quite a few biggies have been shown the exit door. And that also means that there are a lot of fresh faces. Take a dekko at the list of the top 20 mobiles phones in the past month of September.

Hits and misses

New entrants

Samsung Galaxy M30s: 1st position

The Galaxy M30s (review) is one of the most powerful options in the mid-range as it brings forth a 48MP triple-camera setup on the back and a beefy 6,000mAh battery… a capacity that puts it miles ahead of its rivals.

Apple iPhone 11: 2nd position

The successor to the iPhone XR (review) has made an impressive debut, and it’s not hard to see why. Priced cheaper than the XR, the iPhone 11 (first impressions) shares a lot of similarities with its expensive ‘Pro’ siblings.

Realme XT: 3rd position

The first 64MP camera smartphone in India, the Realme XT (review) is much more than the sum of its quad rear cameras. The 6.4-incher ships with the powerful Snapdragon 712 processor, up to 8GB RAM and 4,035mAh battery – all at a starting price of Rs 13,999.

Vivo V17 Pro: 4th position

Vivo has pioneered the pop-up camera trend, and with the V17 Pro (review) it’s taking that a step further by offering dual cameras inside the elevating module. The handset also has impressive imaging capabilities with its rear camera setup, comprising triple shooters with a 48MP primary sensor.

Infinix Hot 8: 6th position

While the Redmi and Realme’s of the world are the preferred choice in the sub-Rs 7k segment, Infinix’ Hot 8 (first impressions) stakes a solid claim in the entry-level segment by bringing forth features like a 6.52-inch HD+ display, triple rear cameras and a 5,000mAh battery.

Vivo Z1x: 7th position

Launched as an iterative upgrade to the Z1 Pro (review), the Z1x (review) ships with a 48MP camera on the back and 22.5W fast-charging support. It also gets an AMOLED panel which hides a fingerprint scanner.

Realme 5 Pro: 10th position

We’ve already applauded Realme for ensuring that it doesn’t remain a one-hit wonder, and the Realme 5 Pro (review) is no different. It’s among the very few smartphones that offers quad rear cameras, and has a loaded spec sheet otherwise too.

Samsung Galaxy A50s: 14th position

Within a few months of launching the A50 (review), the Chaebol has announced its successors in the form of the Galaxy A50s (review). It’s yet another mid-range offering that ships with a 48MP camera on the back, which is accompanied by two shooters, whereas at the front it gets a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with an in-display fingerprint scanner.

OPPO Reno 2: 16th position

OPPO’s Reno 10x Zoom (review) was able to stand out from other flagships by offering 10x zoom capabilities, and the brand believes it can repeat the feat with the Reno 2 (review). While it comes with 20x digital zoom (unlike the hybrid 10x zoom offered by its progenitor), the device is a capable all-round offering that also offers an impressive screen-to-body ratio, thanks to its shark fin-style pop-up camera.

Xiaomi Redmi 8A: 18th position

Launched within months of the Redmi 7A (first impressions), the Redmi 8A (first impressions) offers a compelling set of features, including a 6.22-inch waterdrop notch-toting display, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 439 processor and a powerful 5,000mAh battery with fast charging.

Realme 3i: 19th position

While the other new entrants have made a debut in the coveted list, the Realme 3i (review) has managed to find a place once again as it’s popularity has increased. While it’s difficult to ascertain the reason for the same, it could possibly be due to the price cut the Helio P70-powered handset has received.

Trend analysis

Xiaomi and Realme are fighting neck-to-neck

While earlier this year, it seemed that Samsung and Xiaomi would be locked in the battle, Realme is raining on their parade. With five devices each, both Realme and Xiaomi are sitting at the top, though it’s worth noting that the former’s offerings were more popular in the month gone by. It’d certainly be interesting to see how this rivalry plays out, so stay tuned.

Interestingly, following the two isn’t Samsung, but Vivo, which has four of its handsets in the top 20 chart, compared to the South Korean giant which has three.

Considering e-commerce giants and phonemakers are cashing in on the festive fervour of October, we’ll surely be on the lookout for how the popularity charts change, so keep an eye out.