Best camera phones under Rs 40,000 in 2026: expert picks for overall value, portraits, low light, and more
Getting a decent camera phone under Rs 40,000 has become really tricky in 2026. The global memory shortage has increased smartphone prices across the board by roughly 30-40 percent, meaning manufacturers have to carefully think about what hardware is suitable at what price points.
In 2025, you could expect a phone at this price to come with a powerful triple rear camera setup and a decent selfie lens, without significant performance compromises. That’s not the case anymore, and you have to choose between performance or camera capabilities. Even so, in this current situation, we’ve brought you a list of some great camera phones launched in 2026, available under Rs 40,000 currently.
| Device | Starting Price | Best for |
| Motorola Edge 70 Pro | Rs 39,999 | Best cameras overall |
| Tecno Camon 50 Ultra | Rs 39,999 | Best portraits |
| Realme 16 | Rs 35,999 | Best selfies |
| Samsung Galaxy A27 | Rs 31,999 | Best daylight |
| Vivo T5 Pro | Rs 35,999 | Best low light |
If you want a good versatile camera phone, the Motorola Edge 70 Pro is the one to go for. If you enjoy human shots and portraits more, the Tecno Camon 50 Ultra is worth looking at, thanks to its telephoto lens. Want great selfies? The Realme 16 offers a great front camera. The Samsung Galaxy A27 is very capable for static shots in good lighting. If you shoot in the dark or at night often, the Vivo T5 Pro’s camera setup won’t disappoint you.
Let’s now take a closer look at each phone’s camera setup and its key strengths below.
Table of Contents
Motorola Edge 70 Pro — Best cameras overall
Price: Starting at Rs 39,999
Camera specs: 50MP OIS main + 50MP ultrawide, 50MP selfie with AF
Why we chose it
The Motorola Edge 70 Pro’s (review) camera setup remains one of its biggest strengths this year. Its cameras performed consistently well in most of our tests, making it the most versatile camera phone on this list. Its primary camera takes excellent shots in both daylight and low light, with punchy colours and good contrast.
The 50MP ultrawide camera outputs images consistent in style and colours to the primary camera, with a great level of detail and minimal distortion. Finally, the selfie camera comes with autofocus and takes very appealing selfies in almost every scenario. You’ll like the phone’s cameras in most situations you use it in.
Tecno Camon 50 Ultra — Best portraits and human shots
Price: Starting at Rs 39,999
Camera specs: 50MP OIS main + 50MP OIS telephoto + 8MP ultrawide, 50MP selfie
Why we chose it
The Tecno Camon 50 Ultra (review) brings with it a telephoto lens and is the only device currently under Rs 40,000 to offer one. You get a 50MP front camera, and at the back there is a 50MP 1/1.56-inch main camera with OIS, a 50MP 3x telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultrawide camera. The telephoto lens is what immediately gives it a big advantage in this segment.
The telephoto lens is very useful for zoom and portraits, with believable skin tones and great detail. The lens has a mixed output at night, with softer and less consistent results, but the shots are still very likeable. If you take a lot of human and portrait shots, it’s hard to match the Tecno’s output without a telephoto lens, which is why it’s positioned this low.
Realme 16 — Best selfies
Price: Starting at Rs 35,999
Camera specs: 50MP main + 2MP auxiliary, 50MP selfie
Why we chose it
While the Realme 16 (review) has a slightly downgraded rear camera system compared to its predecessor, its selfie lens remains one of the best in the segment. It’s a 50MP sensor that outputs some exceptional results, particularly in good lighting conditions.
Selfies captured on the Realme 16 deliver accurate colours, natural-looking skin tones, and the subject’s details come out sharp and better defined. If you enjoy taking selfies, this device is worth looking out for.
Samsung Galaxy A27 — Best daylight
Price: Starting at Rs 31,999
Camera specs: 50MP OIS main + 5MP ultrawide + 2MP macro, 12MP selfie
Why we chose it
The Samsung Galaxy A27 (review) takes the top spot here because it outputs extremely likeable results in good lighting conditions. Its primary camera is a 50MP sensor with OIS, and its images come out rich, detailed and very authentic to the actual scene.
If you primarily use the camera to take static shots in the day, you’ll be pleased with the Galaxy A27’s output.
Vivo T5 Pro — Best lowlight
Price: Starting at Rs 35,999
Camera specs: 50MP OIS main + 2MP depth sensor, 32MP selfie
Why we chose it
Vivo toned down the camera system in the T5 Pro (review) this year, but you still get the 50MP Sony IMX882 primary camera with OIS, paired with a 2MP depth sensor and a 32MP selfie camera. The primary camera is no slouch, however, and still outputs some pretty good results in daylight and low light both.
The Vivo T5 Pro and Motorola Edge 70 Pro are both extremely capable low-light shooters with different strengths. The Edge 70 Pro’s images come out closer to the actual scene with good contrast and sharp details. It’s good for users who prefer a more realistic output.
If you enjoy more stylised night shots with excellent detail levels and lively colours, the Vivo T5 Pro’s cameras do that better. There’s minimal loss of detail, the frame remains sharp throughout, and it controls exposure and lens flares excellently, meaning no ambient light to make your images hazy.
FAQs
Will the global memory shortage continue to drive up phone prices?
Rising memory costs have already pushed smartphone prices up by 30–40 percent. Because production costs remain high in 2026, manufacturers are cutting back on secondary camera sensors, so buyers have to choose between raw processing power and specialised camera setups at these multiple price points.
Do I really need a dedicated telephoto lens for good portraits?
Digital crop will work just fine for slightly zoomed shots (think 2x, 3x), but it cannot recreate the realistic depth and blur of an optical lens. The Tecno Camon 50 Ultra is the only phone under Rs 40,000 with a physical telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, giving you much sharper human shots and natural skin tones.
How much does Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) actually matter?
OIS helps physically offset hand movements to keep shots steady. It prevents blurry photos in low light and keeps videos smooth, giving phones a massive advantage in dim environments and videography.
Which phone works best if I create video content or vlogs?
Choose the Motorola Edge 70 Pro for vlogging since it offers 4k support on both rear and front cameras. Its 50MP front camera also includes autofocus to keep your face sharp on the move, while its main rear camera records clear, stabilised footage across most lighting conditions.
How should I decide between the sub-Rs 36,000 options?
Pick the Samsung Galaxy A27 for Rs 31,999 if you want detailed, true-to-life daylight photos. Grab the Vivo T5 Pro for Rs 35,999 if you frequently take pictures in dark or nighttime settings. Choose the Realme 16 for Rs 35,999 if high-quality front-camera selfies are your main priority.
