Who wants to spend a fortune on a smartphone if you can get a similar, if not better, experience on a device that costs under Rs 25,000. Thankfully, we have many these days that cater to different sets of smartphone users. The segment didn't see much action in April and Poco X3 Pro was probably the last notable entrant to the category but, we have had few since the beginning of this year while few from 2020 still remain relevant. Xiaomi's Redmi Note 10 Pro Max probably remains to be the most complete smartphone in the category, even though it lacks 5G support. The Poco X3 Pro is more suited for gamers while the Realme 8 Pro and OnePlus Nord also make up for good options. Here is a look at the best smartphones under Rs 25,000 in India in May 2021.
Redmi Note 10 Pro MaxThe Redmi Note 10 Pro Max remains to be our top pick in the sub-Rs 25,000 category. It comes with a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080x2400 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 1200 nits. Xiaomi should be given credit for bringing AMOLED panels to the Note series. The camera setup includes a 108-megapixel main sensor, a second 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, a third 5-megapixel macro camera, and a fourth 2-megapixel depth sensor. Redmi Note 10 Pro Max's price starts at Rs 18,999.Our verdict - The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max will offer you an excellent display, great camera performance, decent battery life and amazing audio output. The Pro Max is definitely for those who don't want to compromise on anything and flaunt the most number of megapixels available but for most users, the Redmi Note 10 Pro would be enough.
Poco X3 ProThe Poco X3 Pro is an exciting alternative to the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. It has great hardware for the price and targets gamers on a tight budget. Poco X3 Pro is one of the most affordable smartphones with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8-series chip. It is powered by Snapdragon 860 processor. The chipset comes with Adreno 640 GPU which gives it an upper hand on other mid-range smartphones. The smartphone is priced at Rs 18,999 for the 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, while the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model carries a price tag of Rs 20,999. The better processor comes at a cost. Poco has used a 6.7-inch LCD screen with 120Hz refresh rate. It also uses a 48-megapixel main camera.Our verdict - The Poco X3 Pro isn't a disruptor as the Poco F1. But, it nails the value for money aspect, offering a top-level performance at a very aggressive price point. You also get more than a day's battery life, a good 120Hz LCD panel, stereo speakers, IP53 rating and 33W fast charging. All this makes the Poco X3 Pro an excellent buy for gamers around Rs 20,000.
OnePlus NordThe OnePlus Nord remains to be a great smartphone even after almost one year of its launch. The phone has an excellent design, is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset and offers a cleaner OxygenOS. The phone starts at a price of Rs 24,999 for the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage variant and goes up to Rs 29,999 for the top-end 12GB RAM and 256GB storage one. There is also Snapdragon 765G chipset which makes this smartphone 5G ready.Our verdict - What works in OnePlus' favour even then is its premium design language and impressive cameras. And possibly, above all else the fact that it is a no-nonsense OnePlus phone at heart. This more than anything else should help it find buyers in a market like ours where there is already a legion of loyal OnePlus fans.
Realme 8 ProThe biggest challenge for the Realme 8 Pro is to compete with the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max and Poco X3 Pro. It comes very close but falls behind in a few departments. Yet, Realme enthusiasts can definitely consider the phone. The smartphone comes with an AMOLED display with 60Hz refresh rate, continues to use last year's Snapdragon 720G chipset but offers a 108-megapixel camera at Rs 17,999. The only advantages it has over the Note 10 Pro Max is the 5G support and 50W fast charging.Our verdict - The Rs 17,999 price tag is lower than what Redmi Note 10 Pro Max asks. In turn, you are getting a 120Hz Super AMOLED display on the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. And this, I believe, should be more important than the 50W charging that Realme 8 Pro brings in comparison with Redmi Note 10 Pro Max's 33W charging.
Mi 10iXiaomi's Mi 10i was one of the highest selling 5G smartphones in India this year. It was launched at a starting price of Rs 20,999 and comes with a Snapdragon 750G processor which is better than the chip used on the Note 10 Pro Max. The smartphone has the same 108-megapixel Samsung HM2 primary sensor. It features a 6.67-inch Full-HD+ display and packs a 4820mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. It also supports the 5G network.Our verdict - At a starting price of Rs 20,999, we found the Mi 10i to be a good value for money device. It packs a good spec sheet and the 108-megapixel primary sensor at the back is a great addition at this price.