The smartphone market is flooded with numerous options from several brands in the mid-range segment. They come with different specifications ranging from high refresh rate display to flagship-grade processors and multi-camera setups. Thus, picking the right smartphone that fits your needs can be a bit troublesome. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our curated list of best smartphones under Rs 25,000.
1. Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
Price: Starts at Rs. 18,999 | Available at Amazon
Specs:
- 6.67-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED Display with 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G Processor
- 6GB / 8GB RAM | 64GB / 128GB ROM (Expandable Up to 512 GB)
- Android 11 (MIUI 12)
- 108MP + 8MP + 5MP + 2MP Rear Camera | 16MP Front Camera
- 5020mAh Battery | 33W Fast Charging
Over the years, Xiaomi has generally dominated the mid-range segment with its Redmi Note line-ups. This time Xiaomi has upped its game with the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max by providing the best value for money features in the segment. The display is an impressive 120Hz Super AMOLED panel with a tiny cutout for the camera. It boasts a 108MP primary camera that delivers detailed images, and its 5MP tele-macro camera clicks some of the best macro shots among its competitors.
Snapdragon 732G is a reliable chipset to get through your day-to-day tasks, but not meant for hardcore gaming. It also features dual stereo speakers, which is absent in most of the devices in this segment. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max wins the title for the all-rounder, and you won’t regret picking this one. For more in-depth details about the device, read the review.
2. iQOO Z3 5G
Price: Starts at Rs. 19,990 | Available at Amazon
Specs:
- 6.58-inch FHD+ IPS LCD Display with 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G Processor
- 6GB / 8GB RAM | 128GB / 256GB ROM (Expandable Up to 512GB)
- Android 11 (Funtouch OS 11.1)
- 64MP + 8MP + 2MP Rear Camera | 16MP Front Camera
- 4400mAh Battery | 55W Fast Charging
iQOO debuted in India in early 2020 with its flagship iQOO 3, which received a mixed response from the consumers. After more than a year, the brand has now made its entry in the mid-range segment with the iQOO Z3. The device has a somewhat dated design with a water-drop notch and skimps out on the AMOLED panel, which may raise some eyebrows.
However, the hero of the show is Qualcomm’s brand-new Snapdragon 768G SoC, which is a 5G capable chipset. In terms of sheer performance, no other device can hold a candle to the iQOO Z3 in the mid-range department under Rs 25,000 (Poco X3 Pro being the exception). So, if you want a capable mid-ranger and care about future-proofing your handset for the 5G revolution, iQOO Z3 can be your pick.
3. Poco X3 Pro
Price: Starts at Rs. 18,999 | Available at Flipkart
Specs:
- 6.67-inch FHD+ IPS LCD Display With 120Hz Refresh Rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 Processor
- 6GB / 8GB RAM | 128GB ROM (Expandable Up to 1TB)
- Android 11 (MIUI 12 For POCO)
- 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP Rear camera | 20MP Front Camera
- 5,160mAh Battery | 33W Fast Charging
After a long hiatus, Poco made a comeback in 2020 in the smartphone scene as a separate entity from Xiaomi. Fast forward a year later, Poco has finally launched its flagship (kind of) smartphone, the Poco X3 Pro. The smartphone recreates the same price to performance ratio, which made Poco’s first offering, Poco F1, famous. It is superior to every other handset in the segment in terms of raw performance. Simply put, it is made for gaming enthusiasts who demand power.
The Poco X3 Pro comes with a beast of a chipset, the Snapdragon 860, a slightly tweaked version of Qualcomm’s previous flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 855+. Whether it be playing graphic-intensive titles like Battlegrounds Mobile or CoD at max settings or doing CPU intensive video rendering, it can handle everything you throw at it with ease.
As there are two sides to the same coin, Poco X3 Pro also comes with some shortcomings, which might not affect a gamer a lot but could be a letdown for someone looking for a wholesome package. Such as it does have a 120Hz refresh rate support, but its display isn’t AMOLED. Further, the camera system isn’t that promising as compared to the competition. So grab it if gaming is your top priority.
4. Mi 11 Lite
Price: Starts at Rs. 21,999 | Available at Flipkart
Specs:
- 6.55-inch FHD+ 10-bit AMOLED Display With 90Hz Refresh Rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G Processor
- 6GB / 8GB RAM | 128GB ROM
- Android 11 (MIUI 12)
- 64MP + 8MP + 5MP Rear Camera | 16MP Front Camera
- 4250mAh Battery | 33W Fast Charging
Most smartphones under Rs 25,000 offer powerful specs, but the Mi phone takes a different route altogether. The main USP of Mi 11 Lite is its design – the slimmest and lightest smartphone out there. Though the smartphone is unusually slim at 6.81mm and weighs just 157g, it does not compromise battery capacity, which is a modest 4,250mAh. For achieving crazy slimness, it sacrifices the 3.5mm headphone jack. Its next major feature is the gorgeous 10-bit AMOLED display, which is sharp and offers vibrant colours. Thus, the Mi 11 Lite is best suited for those who watch shows or movies on their phones. It is a treat for those craving for slim and lightweight phones with a premium aesthetic.
5. OnePlus Nord CE 5G
Price: Starts at Rs. 22,999 | Available at Amazon
Specs:
- 6.43-inch FHD+ Fluid AMOLED Display With 90Hz Refresh Rate
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G Processor
- 6GB / 8GB / 12GB RAM | 128GB / 256GB ROM
- Android 11 (Oxygen OS 11)
- 64MP + 8MP + 2MP Rear Camera | 16MP Front Camera
- 4500mAh Battery | 30W Fast Charging
OnePlus Nord CE 5G is another mid-range offering from OnePlus and aims to offer an experience similar to the original Nord at an even lower starting price. OnePlus states that the device is capable of delivering a core smartphone experience and hence named it CE, which stands for Core Experience.
The smartphone ticks all the right boxes in terms of specifications. It upgrades over the Nord with a more capable 64MP camera, has a slightly newer Snapdragon 750G SoC and has a 3.5mm headphone jack. OnePlus is known for its Oxygen Os, which is close to stock Android and provides an excellent experience. So if you are in the market looking for a smartphone with a clean and smooth UI, then you can grab the OnePlus Nord CE 5G.