Are you looking for the best phones under 30000 in India? You’ve come to the right place precisely. Choosing the best phone among many choices is a tough job. With smartphone manufacturers launching phones every month, it creates a lot of dilemmas. Thus making a choice gets more stringent over time. Give it or take it, but these days most smartphones under 30000 come with hefty bumped-up specs. So it’s hard to decide a phone among the best phones under 30000 in India.
You need not worry about it. We’re here to take the tiresome job for you and analyze all the smartphones available in the market to provide the best possible choices. Most of the phones you get under this price range include top-of-the-line specifications. These smartphones offer you as many flagship features as possible under 30000 only. So here is the list of the best phones under 30000 in India.
Best Phones Under 30000 In India (2021)
1. iQOO 7 5G- Best Phone Under 30000 in India
iQOO being silent for the whole last year, decided to bring the iQOO 7 5G — successor to their already well-received iQOO 3. It is a bang for the buck deal, mainly because it combines excellent hardware with good software. Thus, it is #1 on our list of the best phones under 30000 in India.
The iQOO 7 5G comes with a 6.62″ FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED Display with 1300 nits of peak brightness and a touch sampling rate of 300Hz. No doubt, this display is gorgeous and undoubtedly one of the key selling points of this phone. It houses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G, and because Snapdragon 888 has some heating issues on many phones, this could be the best android processor of 2021. As a result, you can call this one of the best phones under 30000 for gaming as well.
It comes with a Sony triple camera setup on the rear — 48MP, 13MP, and 2MP. It even has optical image stabilization on the primary sensor to shoot stable videos and better quality low light photos. On the front, this phone has a 16MP sensor that clicks some good selfies. It has a battery capacity of 4400 mAh and supports jaw-dropping 66W fast charging that takes a mere 40 minutes to charge from 0-100%. It runs on Funtouch OS 11.1 based on Android 11 and offers a truckload of customization features but also comes with a few uninvited bugs in the software.
I don’t think that this phone needs any better description, and hence, it is #1 on our list. So be it gaming, display, battery and charging, Camera, or even build quality — this phone wouldn’t disappoint anyone. Although the software isn’t as good as OnePlus’ or Samsung’s, it comes down to personal preference. Safe to say, it is the best phone under 30000 in India, provided you are okay with FuntouchOS, as not many people like it.
| Display | 6.62″ FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED 1300 nits Peak Brightness SCHOTT Xensation UP protection In-Display fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G One 5G band supported |
| OS and Speakers | Funtouch OS 11.1 based on Android 11 Dual stereo speakers |
| RAM | 8GB/12GB LPDDR5 Extended RAM Feature up to 3GB |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Rear Camera (s) | 48 MP Sony IMX598, f/1.8 (Wide) OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 13 MP, f/2.4 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Mono) |
| Front Camera (s) | 16 MP, f/2.0 |
| Battery | 4,400 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 66W FlashCharge |
| Price | Starts at ₹31,990 |
2. OnePlus Nord 2 5G
The much anticipated OnePlus Nord 2 5G meets the consumer’s expectations to the fullest. With not many compromises, it becomes the go-to choice for most people. The Nord 2 has nothing special, but most importantly, it has nothing missing. It thus makes its way to our list of best phones under 30000.
The OnePlus Nord 2 features a 6.43″ FHD+ Super AMOLED Display, a 90Hz fast refresh rate, and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Although the design might look flat, OnePlus has ensured that the form factor is spot on. For most users jumping from their old phones, the display ought to amaze them. Still, we can’t unsee that its competitors offer higher peak brightness levels and refresh rates. The MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI 5G processor placed inside performs godlike. There are absolutely no stutters or frame drops in the UI whatsoever. The gaming performance is undoubtedly and deserves a podium finish for sure.
The 50MP Sony IMX 766 sensor is as good as it gets. Photos come out to be laudable, with great details and eye-pleasing colors. Night mode works like a charm and could be best in class. The 8MP ultra-wide Camera performs mediocre, as it captures soft pictures, and the 2MP tertiary sensor is easily forgettable. Thanks to OIS, the videos come out to be stable. Selfies are palpable and natural-looking, which isn’t shabby, but they sometimes mess with skin tones. The 4500mAh battery performs very well, even better than the iQOO 7 5G. 65W Warp charging is like a cherry on top, filling it up in about 35 minutes.
Pushing the merger of Oppo and OnePlus’s codebase aside, it’s the result that matters the most. OxygenOS is still the king of Android skins, no doubt. The UI might have some traces of ColorOS, but it stills feels refined, junkware free, and works flawlessly. Dual stereo speakers, six 5G bands, and the alert slider make our decision of ranking it #2 on our list of best phones under 30000 even stronger.
| Display | 6.43″ FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection In-Display fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI 5G Six 5G bands supported |
| OS and Speakers | OxygenOS 11.3 based on Android 11 Dual stereo speakers |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB/12GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Rear Camera (s) | 50 MP Sony IMX766, f/1.88 (Wide) OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 8 MP, f/2.25 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Mono) |
| Front Camera (s) | 32 MP Sony IMX615, f/2.45 |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 65W Warp Charge |
| Price | Starts at ₹27,999 |
3. Motorola Edge 20
A phone of firsts from Motorola is an excellent offering overall but falls behind others due to a lack of perfect fundamentals. That said, if the cons aren’t of much concern for you, then choosing it makes total sense, and thus it resides in our list of best phones under 30000 in India.
The display ought to be the best so far in this entire list. Motorola uses a quality 6.7″ FHD+ 10-Bit AMOLED Panel. With that, there’s a 144Hz fast refresh rate and a 576Hz touch sampling rate. Although the brightness levels are slightly lower than the Poco F3 GT, the display feels gorgeous. The Moto Edge 20 houses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor with 8GB of RAM. Thanks to the fluid stock android 11, the overall performance remains spectacular. Everything runs extremely fast, including games; credit to the refresh rate and touch sampling rate.
Motorola Edge 20 features the best hardware in this price range, but sadly, software processing is just too poor. For context, the 108MP primary, 16MP ultra-wide+macro, and an 8MP telephoto lens might sound fantastic, but the pictures turn out to be mediocre. Relying too much on hardware, things like night mode, HDR, exposure management need improvement. On the other hand, landscape photos, ultra-wide shots, macro and portrait mode are on par with the competition. The 32MP selfie camera is a good one, but even it sometimes struggles with dynamic range. Summing up, its competitors offer a consistent and reliable camera experience, so you might want to look out for other choices if cameras are higher on your priority list.
The Moto Edge 20 packs a 4000mAh cell in a body that’s just 6.99mm thin and weighs a mere 163 grams. Yes, the form factor is excellent, but the battery life is just passable. Heavy users might need to charge their phones later in the evening using the 30W adapter, which still takes around 70 minutes to charge fully. The software is clean and bloatware-free, but Motorola never usually provides updates on time, so you got to note that. Nevertheless, if you don’t want great cameras or a battery champ and can live without timely updates, then Motorola Edge 20 is for you. Thus, it is #3 on our list of best phones under 30000.
| Display | 6.7″ FHD+ 10-bit 144Hz AMOLED Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection Side-mounted Fingerprint Scanner |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G Eleven 5G Bands Supported |
| OS and Speakers | Stock Android 11 Single Mono Speakers tuned by Waves Maxx® Audio Mobile |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 2.2) |
| Rear Camera (s) | 108 MP, f/1.9 (Wide) 16 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide+Macro) 8 MP, f/2.4 (Telephoto); OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) |
| Front Camera (s) | 32 MP, f/2.25 |
| Battery | 4,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 30W |
| Price | ₹29,999 |
4. Poco F3 GT
Poco F3 GT — the successor to the almighty Poco F1, couldn’t have been skipped. Safe to say, Poco threw everything they had, and it became the most feature-loaded phone in this price range. Thus, we’ve included it on our list of best phones under 30000.
The Poco F3 GT features a 6.67″ FHD+ 10-bit Super AMOLED Display, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 480Hz touch sampling rate. The display is protected using Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and can be concluded in just a single phrase — the best of the bunch. Like the Nord 2 and Realme X7 Max, it houses the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G processor, with just two 5G bands. Physical touch buttons, a 480Hz touch sampling rate, and RGB lighting make it an ideal choice for gaming. It runs on MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11, which has improved quite a lot. Though the software feels heavy, it feels polished for sure.
The 64MP+8MP+2MP triple camera setup on the rear clicks excellent photos and is comparable to the top rankers in this list. The images come out to be contrasty, which results in the crushing of shadows to some extent. Dynamic range is pretty good, and the ultra-wide Camera performs mediocre like most other phones in this list. The 16MP selfie camera needs some urgent improvements in exposure management. 5065mAh battery inside it can last a full day of usage effortlessly. For context, it can survive a tad bit longer than the Nord 2, although the 67W charger can’t fill it as quickly as Nord 2’s 65W Warp charger.
To be frank, most users won’t even notice those triggers and RGB lighting after a few weeks. If you want a gaming device specifically, well, any phone with equivalent specifications will perform more or less the same. You can get the Realme X7 Max for cheaper, which offers a similar experience, or the iQOO 7 5G, compensating for those extra bucks with better optics. Nonetheless, it has a fanbase and thus, #4 on our list of best phones under 30000.
| Display | 6.67″ FHD+ 10-bit 120Hz Super AMOLED 1300 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Protection Side-mounted Fingerprint Scanner |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 1200 5G Two 5G Bands Supported |
| OS and Speakers | MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 Dual Stereo Speakers |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB/256GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Rear Camera (s) | 64 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) |
| Front Camera (s) | 16 MP, f/2.5 |
| Battery | 5,065 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 67W |
| Price | Starts at ₹26,999 |
5. Mi 11X 5G
Mi 11X 5G — the company’s offering for the budget flagship category is not as celebrated as the last year’s K20 Pro, which had revolutionized the whole market. It has many good things to talk about. At the same time, the fundamentals like a good camera setup and polished software somewhat lack in this device. With that said, it arrives on our best phones under 30000 list.
The positives include its praiseworthy display, which is one of the best in this price range. It has a 6.67″ FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED Display with 360Hz touch sampling rate and 1300 nits of peak brightness, protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 both on the front and backsides. However, some users have reported lower peak brightness levels, which could be a bug specific to their devices, but we aren’t sure. Do note that those dimensions are not small so that it might feel uncomfortable for some people.
Continuing the trend of positives, it includes the best in class Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G processor, just like the iQOO 7 5G. Performance is marvelous, nothing to complain about at all. It comes with the rather infamous MIUI 12 based on Android 11.
The Camera is not a highlight of this phone, and when compared with its competitors like iQOO 7 and the Realme X7 Max, it falls behind. The rear Camera includes a Sony setup of three lenses — 48MP+8MP+5MP. The overall camera quality is average and could’ve been better for the price.
However, macro shots come out exceptionally well, thanks to a higher resolution sensor. The selfie camera is a 20MP little guy, which takes some good selfies, unlike the rear Camera. With a 4520mAh cell, battery life is pretty great and can last one day of usage effortlessly. Charging speeds are satisfactory at 33W, and they fill up the battery from 0-100% in about 70 minutes.
So apart from the Camera and software, everything else works and feels fantastic. Talking about the software, it lacks refinement. Minor stutters and noticeable lags in the UI, uninstallable bloatware, untimely updates, etc., are the shortcomings of MIUI. Still, we can’t judge and buy a smartphone relying on future promises from the company. Overall, this phone is a good choice and deserves #5 place on our list of the best phones under 30000 in India.
| Display | 6.67″ FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED 1300 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection Side-mounted Fingerprint Sensor |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G Two 5G bands supported |
| OS and Speakers | MIUI 12 based on Android 11 Dual Stereo Speakers |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 3.1) |
| Rear Camera (s) | 48 MP Sony IMX582, f/1.79 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-wide) 5 MP, f/2.4 (Telemacro) |
| Front Camera (s) | 20 MP, f/2.45 |
| Battery | 4,520 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 33W |
| Price | Starts at ₹29,999 |
6. Oppo Reno 6 5G
The Oppo Reno 6 5G is a direct competitor to Vivo’s most popular V-series. It boasts a beautiful design and an incredibly comfortable form factor. In addition, it is the first phone in India to offer the Dimensity 900 5G processor. Thus, it deserves a place on our list of best phones under 30000 in India.
The Oppo Reno 6 5G features a 6.43″ FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED Display with a touch sampling rate of 180Hz and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The display is sufficiently bright, has excellent viewing angles, and feels modern. However, we can’t deny that the competition offers slightly better panels, making the Reno 6’s display not stand out. It houses the MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G processor, which is not the best, but good enough to handle day-to-day tasks. If you are in search of an absolute powerhouse, then maybe this phone is not for you. It runs on ColorOS 11.3 based on Android 11, which is a pleasant piece of software.
The triple camera setup on the rear consists of a 64MP primary, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 2MP macro sensor. Pretty much like every other Oppo device, the cameras capture eye-pleasing shots. The dynamic range is excellent, and the details are well enough. You will have a tough time exploring all the camera modes, as they are countless. By default, the 32MP selfie camera adds a white filter to your face, which looks a bit artificial. It packs a 4300mAh battery coupled with 65W SuperVOOC charging. The battery capacity is just enough to last a full day of moderately heavy usage, but the 65W charger can fill up the cell in about 30 minutes flat.
Lastly, it comes down to whether or not you wish to sacrifice a little for that beautiful form factor. Its highlights are flat edges, lightweight body, metal frame, fantastic design, and thirteen 5G bands. Overall, it is a balanced offering with more focus on ergonomics than on-paper specifications. Hence, this phone secures 6th place on our list.
| Display | 6.43″ FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED 800 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection In-display Fingerprint Sensor |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G Thirteen 5G bands supported |
| OS and Speakers | ColorOS 11.3 based on Android 11 Single Mono Speakers |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 2.1) |
| Rear Camera (s) | 64 MP, f/1.7 (Wide) 8 MP Sony IMX355, f/2.2 (Ultra-wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) |
| Front Camera (s) | 32 MP Sony IMX615, f/2.4 |
| Battery | 4, 300 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 65W SuperVOOC |
| Price | Starts at ₹29,990 |
7. Apple iPhone SE 2020
The Apple iPhone SE 2020 exists for the sole purpose of satisfying the budget iPhone seekers. To be dead honest, this phone doesn’t deserve to belong on this list at all. Still, it might appeal to individuals looking for an economical iPhone. If you like iPhones, this could be one of the best phones under 30000 you can get.
The display is seriously underwhelming — 4.7″ 720p 60Hz Retina LCD Display with 625 nits of peak brightness protected by custom Corning Gorilla Glass. Trust me, Android phones, even half its cost, come with groundbreaking displays. The main strength of this phone is Apple A13 Bionic and iOS. The processor is still a beast in 2021 and can easily stand against the modern-day Snapdragon and MediaTek processors. iOS acts as a cherry on top with genius optimizations and seamless integration with other Apple products. For people worrying about privacy, nothing can beat iOS as such. The compactness of this phone makes it easy to hold and is the most compact phone on our list of the best phones under 30000.
The camera setup might sound unappealing, but it clicks some great pictures. The rear Camera includes an optically stabilized 12MP sensor, which takes photos in a typical Apple algorithm — bang on color reproduction, incredible dynamic range, and excellent skin tones. Just like other iPhones, it is unbeatable when it comes to recording videos. The selfie camera is decent and is a 7MP f/2.2 sensor. The main reason for this phone being so bad is primarily because of its battery life.
1821mAh in 2021 with a powerhouse like A13 Bionic could be concerning. The battery will get squeezed out very quickly, which should be pinned firmly in your mind while buying. However, the idle battery drain is almost nil, so it’s not like the battery will be dead by lunchtime. And following the tradition of removing essentials like the 3.5mm headphone jack, Apple won’t be including that slothful 5W adapter anymore. So keep an extra 2000 bucks ready for buying Apple’s official power adapter if you don’t have one.
In general, the iPhone SE 2020 is built specifically for those who want a budget iPhone only. Android users should try and keep away from it. Battery life and display are pretty awful, and this is why we’ve held it at the #7 place on our list of the best phones under 30000 in India.
| Display | 4.7″ 720p 60Hz LCD Retina Display 625 nits Peak Brightness Custom Corning Gorilla Glass IP67 Rated Touch-ID |
| Processor | Apple A13 Bionic chip |
| OS and Speakers | iOS 14 Dual Stereo Speakers |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB/256GB |
| Rear Camera (s) | 12 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) |
| Front Camera (s) | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery | 1821 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 18W (Supported) Wireless Charging |
| Price | Starts at ₹32,999 |
Honorable Mention
Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G
The Galaxy A52s 5G, somewhat identical to the Vanilla A52, comes with a slight asterisk. A much-enhanced processor, slightly better display, and 5G support make it an ideal choice for most people, thanks to Samsung’s trust and updates history over the past few years. We’ll explain why we gave it an honorary mention instead.
Keeping the same size as the Galaxy A52, the Galaxy A52s 5G sees an upgrade in refresh rate. Overall, it’s a 6.5″ FHD+ Super AMOLED Display with a 120Hz fast refresh rate. Although a peak brightness level of 800 nits might not sound astounding, it still is more than sufficiently bright outdoors and looks relatively modern, thanks to the tiny hole punch cutout. Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G is what you get here, and just like every other phone with that processor, the phone performs fluently. Even gamers wouldn’t be disappointed by it, and everyday users would be more than just satisfied. The phone boots OneUI 3.1 based on Android 11 and does come with Samsung exclusives like Knox Security, Secure Folder, Dex mode, etc., which are appreciable features to have.
The camera setup is identical to the Galaxy A52, including the Camera results. No doubt, it is still one of the best phones for camera lovers. Speaking of the specs, it has a quad-camera setup containing a 64MP optically stabilized sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and two 5MP sensors for macro and depth assist. On the front, the Galaxy A52s 5G features a 32MP selfie clicker. Samsung’s color processing never displeases. The photos contain ample details with a slightly aggressive dynamic range; for example, while capturing pictures of the sky, it enhances the blue color a bit, which might look somewhat artificial but eye-catchy for sure. Despite having OIS, video stabilization in 4K resolution doesn’t work as intended, but it works well in 1080p resolution. Apart from that, general video quality is praiseworthy and selfies, too, come out to be very good.
The smartphone packs a 4500mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. However, you only get a 15W adapter in-box. Battery backup should suffice most people, and heavy users can drain it entirely by the end of the day. For sure, Samsung should’ve given the 25W adapter in-box, as the phone takes almost 2 hours to fill up. Lastly, this phone features “extraordinary” features like a 3.5mm headphone jack and SD-Card slot, with IP67 water and dust resistance.
The asterisk is its price; it doesn’t sell for under 30000 or even 33000; it costs ₹35,999. On the bright side, it is usually present with offers and bank discounts, so chances for getting it under 33000 aren’t low. And if you are a Samsung fan, appreciate things like longer software updates, polished software experience, and want a phone that nails the basics, you might want to pay some extra bucks. Let me also clarify that it doesn’t make much sense for its original price; it only does after applying offers. Its cost being the prime reason, we gave it an honorary mention instead.
| Display | 6.5″ FHD+ 120Hz Super AMOLED 800 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection IP67 Rated In-Display Fingerprint Scanner |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G Twelve 5G bands supported |
| OS and Speakers | One UI 3.0 based on Android 11 Dual Stereo Speakers 3.5mm Headphone Jack |
| RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128GB (UFS 2.1) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 64 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) 12 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide) 5 MP, f/2.4 (Depth) 5 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) |
| Front Camera(s) | 32 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 25W Adaptive Fast Charging (Supported) |
| Price | Starts at ₹35,999 (Without offers) |
Conclusion
We’ve included only seven smartphones on this list of the best phones under 30000 because we think you need a smartphone that suits your usage. Thus we didn’t include smartphones that are not worth their price. Given that, while choosing smartphones from our list of best phones under 30000 in India, make sure that you invest your money in the right phone. Some may be very good for your needs, but you might still not want so many features.
Before you choose, make up your mind on what feature you want. Is it the processor, OS, UI, storage, battery, Camera, or anything else? We recommend the iQOO 7 5G, OnePlus Nord 2 5G, and the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G (after offers) as our choices on this list. Our previous pick, the Realme X7 Max 5G, is usually available for ₹24,999 or less during sales, and we recommend you grab it at that price if possible. Thus, it doesn’t belong on this list anymore. If you want to go under budget and still get a near-flagship experience, then you should keep an eye on the Realme X7 Max 5G during price drops.
We’ll keep this list updated over the upcoming months.
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