We’ve added the Samsung Galaxy M53 5G to our latest list. We are reviewing the Motorola Edge 30, which should be on the list too. If you pay less than Rs. 30,000, you can now get a variety of highly capable smartphones with premium features, modern hardware, and versatile cameras. Demand has risen in India’s sub-Rs—25,000 and sub-Rs—30,000 segments. In addition, prices across all markets and sectors have increased over the past year, so even budget-conscious buyers are looking at higher budgets than before.
Here are Gadgets 360’s picks of the best phones under Rs. 30,000 in India, in no particular order. We’ve reviewed and thoroughly tested all the phones on this list, including their raw performance, camera capabilities, software and ease of use, physical design, battery life, and charging speed.
Best phone under Rs. 30,000 to buy in India
Phone under 30,000 Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10) Price in India (as recommended) Samsung Galaxy M53 5G 8 Rs. 26,499 Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge 5G 8 Rs. 26,999 Realme GT Master Edition 8 Rs. 27,999 Oppo Reno 7 5G 8 Rs. 28,999 OnePlus North 2 8 Rs. 27,999 Poco F3 GT 8 Rs. 26,999 Mi 11X 8 Rs. 29,999
Samsung Galaxy M53 5G
Samsung’s latest smartphone features interesting hardware, such as a 120Hz Super AMOLED display, a MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC with vapor cooling, and a 108-megapixel primary camera. The Galaxy M53 5G is now at the top of Samsung’s M series, which now s a wide price range. One of the main things that work in favor of the Galaxy M53 5G is the Android OS warranty and security updates, which should keep it relevant longer than some of its direct competitors. In our opinion, the 6GB RAM variant offers much better value for money than the 8GB variant and is available to buy.
Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge 5G
Xiaomi certainly stands out – the 11i Hypercharge 5G lives up to its name with 120W fast charging, meaning the 4500mAh battery can go from zero to 100 percent in about 20 minutes. Of course, if you need that quick charge outside, you’ll need to carry the rather bulky charger. Furthermore, the Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge 5G looks smart with its frosted glass back panel but is relatively heavy at 204 g.
You get the MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC and 6 GB or 8 GB of RAM, depending on which variant you choose. There is 128 GB of storage, a 6.67-inch full-HD + 120 Hz AMOLED display, stereo speakers, and an IR emitter. You get MIUI 12.5 on top of Android 11. The Xiaomi 11i without a 120W charge costs slightly less and is otherwise nearly identical, so you’d pay a premium for this feature if you think it’s important enough.
Realme GT Master Edition
Realme’s GT Master Edition comes at a competitive price with a unique suitcase-like design. This Master Edition model in the first GT series impresses, even if it is not an all-rounder. The high-quality Super AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz is good for gaming and watching movies. You don’t get stereo speakers, but this phone does have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The gaming experience on the Realme GT Master Edition is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor, which is a worthy upgrade over the 768G and is comparable to MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200. The camera performance is quite good in daylight, but low performance. Light is only saved by night mode. The battery life is pretty good for a slim mid-range smartphone, and it charges quite quickly, going from zero to 100 percent in about 35 minutes.
Oppo Reno 7 5G
While very similar to its predecessor, the Reno 6, the new Oppo Reno 7 5G has some updates that keep it on our list. It’s slim and light, and the new laser-etched pattern on the back looks good, but the entire body is made of plastic. The Reno 7 uses the same MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC as the Oppo Reno 6, and this phone is only available with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 4500mAh is slightly larger than that of the previous model. It runs ColorOS 12 based on Android 11. The 64-megapixel main camera, 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and 2-megapixel macro camera are also largely the same as the ones on the Reno 6. Overall, this is a good phone and performed well in our review. Review, but some others at this price point offer better features, and the nearly identical OnePlus Nord CE 2 starts at a lower price.
OnePlus North 2
The OnePlus Nord 2 is the successor to the OnePlus Nord. It has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with a Full-HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It packs in a 4,500mAh battery and supports 65W Warp charging. The Nord 2 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200AI processor and is available in 6GB, 8GB, and 12GB RAM. Like most other OnePlus smartphones, the Nord 2 runs on OxygenOS.
The camera performance of the Nord 2 is good for its price. Daytime shots are sharp, but photos taken with the ultra-wide angle camera aren’t great. The Nord 2 handles close-ups and portrait shots very well. The camera’s low-light performance is also good, especially winNightscape mode. Overall, the OnePlus Nord 2 is a good choice for someone on a budget.
Poco F3 GT
The Poco F3 GT is designed around gaming features and performance. This new model has a premium body with a metal frame and a glass back. There are “maglev” trigger buttons that can be activated with sliders on the side. You get a large 6.67-inch HDR10+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a touch sampling rate of up to 480 Hz in Game Turbo mode. Poco has chosen the Dimensity 1200 SoC to power the F3 GT, and you can get this phone with either 6GB or 8GB of RAM.
The Poco F3 GT has a triple camera setup consisting of a 64-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. It took average-quality photos in both daylight and low light. On the plus side, the Poco F3 GT delivered a great gaming experience for the price.
Mi 11X 5G
The Mi 11X 5G is priced fatjust under Rs. 30,000, and it is very powerful thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC of almost flagship quality. Unlike some of its competitors, we like that the Mi 11X 5G looks refreshingly simple, with no elaborate embellishments and no over-the-top branding. The gaming performance is great, and the content looks good on the 120Hz AMOLED screen. Small details like fast charging, an IP rating, and stereo speakers add to the overall pleasant experience.
MIUI showed a lot of spam reports during our review period. We also noticed that the Mi 11X would get unusually hot while charging. The camera quality was average overall, although the “tele macro” camera can have some great shots. The Mi 11X 5G isn’t the best all-rounder, but it’s a strong competitor, especially if you’re looking for an SoC powerful enough for gaming.
