Premium Picks: Best Phones under ₹40,000 – Expert-Curated for 2024!

Premium Picks: Best Phones under ₹40,000 – Expert-Curated for 2024!

The ₹40,000 price segment is a tricky one as it nears the flagship segment and you should expect top-of-the-line specifications and features at this price point. All the phones in this list are nothing short of powerful pocket computers that can undertake multiple tasks – from the basics such as calling and texting to more advanced activities such as streaming, gaming, video and photo editing, and more. So, users are more ready than ever to spend a little extra on phones. The sub-₹40,000 smartphone segment usually sees very little action given the price-conscious nature of Indian consumers, but over the last couple of years, we have actually had quite a surge of offerings at this price. This is primarily due to the fact that consumers are more open to spending on a reliable smartphone that would serve them for years. Under ₹40,000, you are more likely to see powerful flagship-grade processors, think Snapdragon 8-series and Dimensity 9000-series, as well as more robust camera systems packing utilitarian features and specifications such as OIS, larger sensors, useful ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and more. Several OEMs have enticing offerings at this price including standout products such as the OnePlus 11R, Tecno Phantom X2, Moto Edge 30 Fusion, OPPO Reno10 Pro, Google Pixel 6a, iQOO Neo 7 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S21 FE.

  • 1.

iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G

Specs Score
7.5/10
Screen Size: 6.78u0022
Rear camera : 50 MP
Storage: 128GB
Battery capacity: 5000 (mAh)
Feature
8.2
Performance
7.2
Value
7.6
Design
7.6
PROS:
  • Beast of a performer, Premium vegan leather design, Brilliant colour accurate display,
CONS:
  • Front camera is average, Battery drains sometimes, No expandable storage

The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G offers the absolute best price-to-performance ratio. For its inexpensive price, you get a flagship-level performer that cranks up the heat and makes phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and iPhone 14 Pro sweat. The brand has included an Independant Gaming Chip alongside the powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. With their powers combined, the iQOO Neo 7 Pro flies through task after task including intensive ones such as heavy-duty gaming. Battery life is also decent and it seems well optimised to handle long hours of gaming as well. The 120 W fast charging is another feature in the iQOO Neo 7 Pro’s cap. Altogether, this is the best-performing smartphone you can get under ₹40,000. In fact, it is one of the best-performing smartphones on the market, period.

  • 2.

OnePlus 11R

Specs Score
7.6/10
Screen Size: 6.7u0022
Rear camera : 50 MP
Storage: 128GB
Battery capacity: 5000 (mAh)
Feature
8.5
Performance
7
Value
7.7
Design
7.8
PROS:
  • Powerful chipset, Good cameras, Fast charging
CONS:
  • No wireless charging

The OnePlus 11R is a solid phone for OnePlus fans and a phone that sees them come back to their roots by offering great performance at an affordable price. The AMOLED display is plenty bright and very colour accurate. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset offers speedy performance but it is not as mind-blowing as the numbers achieved by the iQOO Neo 7 Pro. Yet, most users won’t be able to tell the difference in day-to-day usage. Gaming is also excellent on the 11R with the phone running games smoothly with little to no frame drops. Battery life is also commendable – the phone lasts over a day on a full charge. When it’s out the 100 W charger tops it up within just 25 minutes. The cameras are good; the primary lens clicks detailed pictures with vibrant colours and the ultrawide sensor is not bad. Overall, this is an excellent high-end smartphone that is a performer through and through.

  • 3.

vivo V29 Pro

Specs Score
6.7/10
Screen Size: 6.78u0022
Rear camera : 50 +12 + 8 MP
Storage: 256 GBGB
Battery capacity: 4600 mAh (mAh)
Overall
6.7
Features
7.6
Build and Design
5.8
Performance
6.6
Value for Money
6.8
PROS:
  • Brilliant cameras
  • Good display
  • Beautiful design
CONS:
  • Battery backup is not good
  • Bad software experience
  • No stereo speakers

The Vivo V29 Pro is a stunning phone with a curved front and rear panel. The display is Full HD+ resolution and supports 120 Hz refresh rate. Colours are pretty accurate and the peak tested brightness was 722 nits, which is pretty decent but not the best in this segment. Cameras are great and vivo’s new Aura Light is capable of changing low light shots’ colour tone dramatically. The MediaTek Dimensity 8200 is extremely powerful; in fact, it even beats out the OnePlus 11R in some synthetic benchmarks. So, the phone can easily breeze through most tasks you throw at it. Battery life, however, is very disappointing. Thankfully, the phone charges extremely fast though.

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  • 4.

Poco F5

Specs Score
6.7/10
Screen Size: 6.67u0022
Rear camera : 64 MP
Storage: 256GB
Battery capacity: 5000 (mAh)
Feature
7.7
Performance
6
Value
6.7
Design
6.9
PROS:
  • Outstanding performance, Seamless, lightweight design, Stunning display
CONS:
  • Back panel is a fingerprint magnet, Bloatware, Front camera is average

Another beast of a performer on a budget is the POCO F5. Sporting the new Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 chipset, the phone comes very close to flagship-level performance while costing a fraction of the price. The design is pretty simplistic though, we get a polycarbonate back and a basic plastic frame. The display, however, is stunning with accurate colours and responsiveness. The battery life is, once again, impressive, so the phone should easily last more than a day for more users. The 67 W charger is decent, but not the fastest at this price.

  • 5.

Google Pixel 6a

Specs Score
6.8/10
Screen Size: 6.14u0022
Rear camera : 12.2 MP
Storage: 128GB
Battery capacity: 4410 (mAh)
Feature
6.9
Performance
6.8
Value
6.8
Design
7
PROS:
  • Stock Android experience, Solid battery life, Reliable camera system
CONS:
  • Low internal storage, no expansion, No wireless charging, 60 Hz refresh rate is dated

If you’re a Stock Android fan and love Google’s computational photography chops, the Pixel 6a is a great device to get your hands on at this price. In this budget segment, it offers one of the best camera experiences. Photos come out looking stunning in daylight and low-light, however, the video performance drastically needs improvement. Nevertheless, you get a solid, clean UI, a decently powerful chipset, and good battery life. However, some deal breakers may include the 60 Hz display, clunky bezels, and minor heating issues. The phone did heat a lot on launch, but Google’s OTA updates have relieved some of those problems.

  • 6.

OPPO Reno10 Pro

Specs Score
6.1/10
Screen Size: 6.5u0022
Rear camera : 50 MP
Storage: 256GB
Battery capacity: 5000 (mAh)
Feature
7.1
Performance
5.5
Value
6.2
Design
5.9
PROS:
  • Premium and ergonomic, Good display, Brilliant camera
CONS:
  • Underwhelming performance, Battery backup is average

The OPPO Reno10 Pro is one of the most stunning phones you can buy under ₹40,000. The phone looks and feels extremely premium and it has some beautiful colour options. The display is accurate and the fast refresh rate makes it feel very smooth and responsive. The cameras on the OPPO Reno10 Pro are amongst the best at this price, but the phone’s wide angle lens could be better. However, if you want a performance monster or enjoy gaming, there are much better options in the market such as the iQOO Neo 7 Pro or OnePlus 11R.

Rs. 34,990
Rs. 44,999
in stock
2 new from Rs. 34,990
as of 18 Mar 2024 17:41 17:41
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  • 7.
Screen Size: 6.4u0022
Rear camera : 50 MP
Storage: 256GB
Battery capacity: 5000 (mAh)

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a pretty decent choice under ₹40,000. It has a clean and minimalistic design that emulates that of the company’s flagship S23 series. The primary camera is capable of clicking some stunning HDR photos, good portraits, and even pretty decent low light shots. The phone comes with an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, which makes it pretty durable against external elements. The performance, however, doesn’t match up to competition. So, if you’re looking for the absolute best performer in the segment – take a look at the iQOO Neo 7 Pro or OnePlus 11R.

  • 8.

Motorola Edge 40

Specs Score
7.1/10
Screen Size: 6.55u0022
Rear camera : 50 MP
Storage: 256GB
Battery capacity: 4400 (mAh)
Feature
8.2
Performance
6.5
Value
7.2
Design
7.2
PROS:
  • Premium and sleek design, 15 W wireless charging, Good primary camera, IP68 dust and water resistance, Vibrant and bright pOLED display
CONS:
  • Adaptive Refresh Rate doesn’t go up to 144 Hz, Inconsistent selfie camera, Not the best for gaming

Motorola phones have become significantly popular due to their clean software experience and stylish and lightweight designs. The Moto Edge 40 is a prime example of that. It is one of the best mid-rangers you can buy under ₹30,000 right now. The build quality is great and the leather back looks extremely premium, the display is punchy and crisp, and the performance is reliable. The Dimensity 8020 chipset throws up some solid numbers in benchmarks and we found the day-to-day usage and gaming experience to be quite hitch-free. The cameras are good as well and the main lens can even capture good low light photos. Overall, a great phone and an easy recommendation!

  • 9.
Screen Size: 6.73u0022
Rear camera : 108 MP
Storage: 256GB
Battery capacity: 4600 (mAh)

The Xiaomi 12 Pro is often available around ₹40,000 on e-commerce sites. Even though the phone is around a year old now, it is still one of the best camera-centric devices on the block. Photos from the 50 MP primary camera have plenty of detail and excellent dynamic range. The telephoto camera can also capture some extremely detailed pictures. Portrait mode is fantastic with really brilliant edge detection and these photos look very stylistic. The phone’s processor is also good enough to handle almost anything you throw at it.

  • 10.
Screen Size: 6.7u0022
Rear camera : 50 + 12 + 5 MP
Storage: 128 GBGB
Battery capacity: 4500 (mAh)

The OnePlus Nord 3 is one of the best mid-rangers in the market. The performance is superb for the price, the display looks brilliant and the cameras are comparable to competition. Multitasking is also handled well because of the massive 16 GB RAM. The phone looks basic though which can be a bummer in the age of beautiful leather-back curved phones. The battery sometimes drains a bit too much when using GPS or camera, but the 80 W charging makes up for it in a way.

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Dhriti Datta

Dhriti Datta

Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile

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