Samsung Galaxy A36
The Samsung Galaxy A36 is one of the finest phones you can buy in the sub-Rs 30,000 price bracket. It is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 chipset and runs the Android 15-based One UI 7 out of the box. Samsung has promised 6 major OS upgrades for this device. Its 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 1,900 nits. The vertical camera island on the back panel houses a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro sensor. The 5,000mAh battery pack supports 45W wired charging.
Pros
- Fluid display
- Lightweight
- Good cameras
Cons
- Heats up when gaming
OnePlus Nord CE5
The OnePlus Nord CE5 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset and runs the Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 OS out of the box. It flaunts a 6.77-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,430 nits. OnePlus’s iconic Alert Slider has been replaced by the Plus Key on this phone. It gives you access to ‘Plus Mind’ by default. You can customise it to switch sound profiles like the Alert Slider. The rear camera array of this phone comprises a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 7,100mAh battery pack supports 80W wired fast charging.
Pros
- Smooth display
- AI features
- Expandable storage
Cons
- Lacks a secondary speaker
Vivo V60e
The affordable variant in the camera-centric Vivo V60 series packs an amazing 200MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. Right next to the camera panel lies a solitary Aura Light. At the heart of this device lies the MediaTek Dimensity 7360 Turbo chipset. Handling the software duties is the Android 15-based Funtouch 15 OS. The 6.77-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 5,000 nits. The 6,500mAh Si/C battery pack supports 90W wired fast charging.
Pros
- Bright display
- Amazing main camera
- IP68/IP69 rating
Cons
- Not the best audio output
Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro incorporates two essential elements of the brand’s design philosophy – see-through back panel and LED Glyphs. Powering this device is the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset. It runs the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3 out of the box. The giant circular cutout on the back panel houses a 50MP primary shooter, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 6.77-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The 5,000mAh battery pack supports 50W charging.
Pros
- Unique design
- Telephoto lens
- Great software
Cons
- Mediocre ultrawide lens
Realme P4 Pro
The plastic back panel of the Realme P4 Pro has a unique wooden finish. It is powered by the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 SoC. Realme’s Hyper Vision AI chip works alongside the Snapdragon processor. OS duties on this device are handled by the Android 15-based Realme UI 6. It has been promised 3 major OS upgrades. The 6.8-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 6,500 nits. The rear camera array comprises a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 7,000mAh battery pack supports 80W wired charging.
Pros
- Nice design
- Bright display
- Fast charging
Cons
- Mediocre ultrawide lens
iQOO Neo 10R
If you’re thinking of buying a gaming smartphone under Rs 30,000, the iQOO Neo 10R is one of the first options you should consider. This device is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and runs the Android 15-based Funtouch 15 OS out of the box. Its 6.78-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The rear camera panel houses a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 6,400mAh Si/C battery pack supports 80W wired charging.
Pros
- 144Hz display
- Powerful processor
- Fast charging
Cons
- Lacks an IP67 rating
Oppo K13 Turbo
What sets the Oppo K13 Turbo apart from other gaming devices in this price bracket is its active cooling fan on the back panel. The air gets sucked in from a small cutout on the back panel and is channelled out of a slit on the right edge of the frame. At the heart of this device lies the MediaTek Dimensity 8450 chipset. It runs the Android 15-based ColorOS 15 out of the box. The 6.79-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach 1,600 nits in High Brightness Mode. The rear camera array comprises a 50MP primary shooter and a 2MP monochrome lens. The 7,000mAh battery pack supports 80W wired fast charging.
Pros
- Cooling fan
- Big battery
- Good chipset
Cons
- No ultrawide lens
Infinix GT 30 Pro
The Infinix GT 30 Pro has unique shoulder triggers that give you the edge in intense shootouts and other gaming scenarios. You can map your desired controls on these triggers with ease. When you’re not gaming, these capacitive controls can be used to trigger apps, take pictures, and do a whole lot of other tasks. The GT 30 Pro flaunts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 chipset and runs the Android 15-based XOS 15 out of the box. Its back panel has customisable segmented LED strips. The rear camera panel houses a 108MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 5,500mAh battery pack supports 45W wired and 30W wireless charging.
Pros
- 144Hz display
- Shoulder triggers
- Wireless charging
Cons
- Mediocre ultrawide lens
Poco X7 Pro
The Poco X7 Pro is a midrange all-rounder. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset and runs the Android 15-based HyperOS 2 out of the box. The 6.67-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,200 nits. The camera array on the black and yellow dual-tone back panel houses a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 6,550mAh battery pack supports 90W wired fast charging.
Pros
- Fast charging
- Good chipset
- IP69 rating
Cons
- The dual-tone colour theme may not be for everyone
Honor X9c
The X9c is one of the best smartphones in Honor’s limited catalogue in India. It is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor and runs the Android 14-based MagicOS 8 out of the box. Its 6.78-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,000 nits. Its rear camera array comprises a 108MP primary shooter and a 5MP ultrawide lens. The 6,600mAh Si/C battery pack supports 66W wired charging.
Pros
- Durable
- Bright display
- Big battery
Cons
- Selfie camera cannot record 4K videos