In Rs. At the 30,000 price segment, smartphone manufacturers need to cater to two types of customers, those who are upgrading from budget smartphones and those who simply crave more premium features but don’t necessarily want to spend too much. The ultimate mid-range smartphone is a solid combination of performance, premium design, and extras that have dropped from the premium segment. In 2023, we should see some exciting new models. There’s the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, which offers a 200-megapixel main camera, IP53 rating, and 120W wired charging.
Another new competitor in this segment is Phone nothing 1. It’s been heavily discounted lately, making it a very accessible device that offers quite a few premium features like a unique design, wireless charging, and an IP53 rating.
Here are Gadgets 360’s picks of flagship phones under Rs. 30,000 in India, in no particular order.
| Phones under Rs. 30,000 won | Gadget Rating 360 (out of 10) | Prices in India (according to recommendations) |
|---|---|---|
| Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G | 9 | Rs. 29,999 won |
| Phone nothing 1 | 8 | Rs. 25,999 yen |
| Oppo Reno8 5G | 8 | Rs. 29,999 won |
| Poco F4 5G | 8 | Rs. 27,999 won |
| Super charger Xiaomi 11i | 8 | Rs. 26,999 won |
| Realme GT Main Version | 8 | Rs. 25,999 yen |
| OnePlus Nord 2T 5G | 8 | Rs. 28,999 yen |
| iQoo Neo6 5G | 8 | Rs. 29,999 won |
Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G
The Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is the most advanced device in Xiaomi’s Note series this year. Price from Rs. 29,999, which is also the most expensive Redmi Note device to date. Thankfully, it comes with good enough hardware and performance to justify that higher-than-usual price tag. It’s IP53-rated for dust and water resistance, and you get a quality, adaptive 120Hz AMOLED panel with support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10 streaming content. The phone feels good though. high-end but it also has enough power thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC.
Battery life with the 4,980mAh battery is pretty good, and charging the phone with a 120W charger only takes 25 minutes (with BoostCharge). Another highlight of the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G is the 200-megapixel main camera, which does not have optical image stabilization (OIS) but delivers quality still images in all kinds of lighting conditions. In terms of software, buyers will be stuck with MIUI and Android 12 out of the box. But an Android 13 update is in the works.
Phone nothing 1
The Phone nothing 1 At first glance it looks style-oriented, but it offers well-balanced performance and great features to warrant its asking price. That price has now been lowered to Rs. 25,999, which is impressive as it offers features like wireless charging and an IP53 rating. Those upgrading from a low-cost smartphone will be very pleased with this without having to pay for additional features. The design of the Nothing Phone 1 really stands out with its unique LED lights mounted under the transparent rear panel and can be controlled and customized using the phone’s software.
Besides the flashy lights and premium design, there’s the leading Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+ SoC that provides enough power for everyday tasks and some mid-range games. Having dual speakers and a large screen also makes for good entertainment. Camera performance, while good in daylight, is not as impressive in low light. Battery life is a bit problematic but usually lasts all day with typical use.
Oppo Reno8 5G
Those just looking for a stylish smartphone will find Oppo Reno 8 5G in the exciting Shimmer Gold variant. With hardware close to OnePlus Nord 2T 5G, it costs a bit more but offers good camera performance in all kinds of lighting conditions. There’s a 90Hz AMOLED panel, which seems a bit low compared to the competition but should suffice for a non-gaming audience.
At the top is the MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC, which is suitable for some mid-range games and more than enough for casual multi-tasking. While the software is fully loaded with third-party apps, they can be uninstalled and we didn’t experience any issues with overall performance either. Although Reno 8 5G is quite thin and light, Oppo has managed to make enough space for a 4,500mAh battery that can be charged quite quickly with the included 80W charger.
Poco F4 5G
The Poco F4 5G is a premium looking smartphone that is also good for gaming. It’s not very thick at 7.7mm and looks premium thanks to the frame and frosted rear glass. The phone also has an IP53 rating. There are stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, and the phone’s 6.67-inch E4 AMOLED panel also supports Dolby Vision HDR playback in streaming apps. Get enough gaming horsepower thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC. This makes it more than capable of handling graphics-intensive games at high settings.
Poco offers a 64-megapixel camera with OIS, providing a quality daytime photography experience. However, low-light performance ended up falling a bit short of expectations. Battery life with a 4,500mAh battery is quite solid and charging is also quite fast.
Xiaomi 11i Super Charger 5G
If you are looking for a smartphone with super fast charging, Xiaomi 11i Super Charger 5G won’t be disappointed. Supposedly just released Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G also offering 120W charging, the 11i’s HyperCharge 5G still makes little sense for price-conscious buyers. Although it’s more than a year old, it still makes a splash with the MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC, which responds well to gaming and casual tasks. Unlike Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G, the dual SIM tray also has expandable memory.
Camera performance isn’t the best in its class, but the 108-megapixel main camera is capable of good daytime image quality. Low light performance isn’t bad either. The phone offers a slightly smaller 4,500mAh battery than the newer Note 12 Pro+ 5G, but it can charge from 0 to 100% in just 20 minutes.
Realme GT Main Version
like Phone nothing 1the Realme GT Main Version It is also a smartphone that mainly focuses on mid-range design and performance. The base model is available at Rs. 25,999, but the most relevant one is the Voyager Gray variant, which comes with more RAM and has a unique faux-leather finish that resembles a travel suitcase.
While the design is subjective, the phone certainly feels unique in this finish and packs in enough performance from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC, for both everyday tasks and a bit of gaming. There’s a 120Hz AMOLED display, and the camera performance is decent in daylight but average in low light. The phone’s 4,500mAh battery offers good battery life that can be quickly charged using the included 65W charger.
OnePlus Nord 2T 5G
The OnePlus North 2T 5G is a true mid-range smartphone from OnePlus. It checks all the boxes when it comes to features one would expect from a mid-range device and combines it with a premium design. Just like other OnePlus smartphones, the software experience is quite good as it offers a smooth experience with minimal bloatware. The MediaTek Dimensity 1300 SoC ensures good software performance and can also handle games quite well.
Camera performance is also quite good. The phone has the same camera setup as Oppo Reno8 5G and deliver equally good performance in daylight or low light. The Nord 2T 5G’s 4,500mAh capacity provides excellent two days of battery life with typical usage, and can also be quickly charged using the included 65W charger. The phone also recently received the Android 13 update.
iQoo Neo6 5G
If you’re looking for incredible value and don’t mind a bit of a chunky design, then iQoo Neo6 5G could be the perfect fit. The phone may not appear as premium as other smartphones in this price bracket, but what it lacks in looks makes up for in sheer power. The phone comes with a 120Hz E4 AMOLED panel that also offers a 360Hz touch sampling rate, which is great for gamers. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC is paired with 8GB of RAM (base variant) and this makes it a smartphone capable of playing high-end 3D games.
The smartphone also offers a 64-megapixel main camera with OIS. Has good battery life and fast charging.
