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The Indian smartphone market is a battleground, particularly in the fiercely competitive sub-₹30,000 segment. This price bracket offers a sweet spot, delivering a blend of flagship-level features and affordability. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a gaming aficionado, or a multitasking maestro, there’s a smartphone tailored to your needs. This article delves into the top contenders, dissecting their features, performance, and value proposition.

The ₹30,000 price range is where smartphone manufacturers often showcase their most compelling offerings. It’s where you find powerful processors, high-resolution cameras, vibrant displays, and robust battery life, all without breaking the bank. In this guide, we’ll explore the best options, helping you make an informed decision.
Before diving into the specific models, let’s outline the key criteria we used for our selection:
Performance: Processor, RAM, and overall speed.

Now, let’s explore the leading smartphones in this segment.
1. OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G
OnePlus has carved a niche for itself in the mid-range segment, and the Nord CE 3 5G is a testament to their commitment to delivering value.
Performance and Specifications
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G processor, offering a smooth and responsive experience. It’s paired with up to 12GB of RAM, ensuring seamless multitasking and gaming. The device runs on OxygenOS, based on Android, providing a clean and intuitive user interface.
Camera Capabilities
The camera setup is a highlight, featuring a 50MP Sony IMX890 primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. It delivers impressive image quality, especially in well-lit conditions. The front-facing 16MP camera is also capable of capturing detailed selfies.
Display and Battery
The Nord CE 3 5G boasts a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering vibrant visuals and smooth scrolling. The 5000mAh battery, coupled with 80W SuperVOOC charging, ensures long-lasting usage and rapid charging.
Overall Impression
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G strikes a perfect balance between performance, camera quality, and battery life, making it a strong contender in this segment.
2. iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G
iQOO is known for its performance-oriented smartphones, and the Neo 7 Pro 5G lives up to its reputation.
Performance and Specifications
The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, a flagship-level chipset that delivers exceptional performance. It’s paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample storage space. The phone is designed with gaming in mind, featuring a dedicated gaming chip and advanced cooling system.
Camera Capabilities
The camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The image quality is excellent, with vibrant colors and sharp details. The front-facing 16MP camera is also capable of capturing detailed selfies.
Display and Battery
The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering immersive visuals and smooth scrolling. The 5000mAh battery, coupled with 120W FlashCharge, ensures rapid charging and long-lasting usage.
Overall Impression
The iQOO Neo 7 Pro 5G is a performance powerhouse, making it an ideal choice for gamers and power users.
3. POCO F5 5G
POCO has consistently delivered value-packed smartphones, and the F5 5G is no exception.
Performance and Specifications
The POCO F5 5G is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor, offering a significant performance boost over its predecessor. It’s paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample storage space. The phone runs on MIUI, based on Android, offering a feature-rich user interface.
Camera Capabilities
The camera setup includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The image quality is impressive, with sharp details and vibrant colors. The front-facing 16MP camera is also capable of capturing detailed selfies.
Display and Battery
The POCO F5 5G features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, offering immersive visuals and smooth scrolling. The 5000mAh battery, coupled with 67W turbo charging, ensures long-lasting usage and rapid charging.
Overall Impression
The POCO F5 5G offers excellent performance, a great display, and a solid camera setup, making it a well-rounded smartphone in this segment.
4. Motorola Edge 40 Neo
Motorola has been making a strong comeback with its Edge series, and the Edge 40 Neo is a notable addition.
Performance and Specifications
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7030 processor, offering a balanced performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. It’s paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The phone runs on near-stock Android, providing a clean and bloatware-free user experience.
Camera Capabilities
The camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor with OIS, and a 13MP ultrawide lens that also functions as a macro lens. The image quality is commendable, with good dynamic range and accurate colors. The front-facing 32MP camera is excellent for selfies.
Display and Battery
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo features a 6.55-inch pOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering smooth visuals and vibrant colors. The 5000mAh battery, coupled with 68W TurboPower charging, ensures long-lasting usage and rapid charging.
Overall Impression
The Motorola Edge 40 Neo stands out with its clean software, excellent display, and capable camera system, making it a strong contender for those seeking a near-stock Android experience.
5. Realme GT Neo 5 SE
Realme is known for pushing the boundaries of value, and the GT Neo 5 SE is a prime example.
Performance and Specifications
The Realme GT Neo 5 SE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor, delivering flagship-level performance in the mid-range segment. It’s paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, ensuring smooth multitasking and ample storage space. The phone runs on Realme UI, based on Android, offering a feature-rich user interface.
Camera Capabilities
The camera setup includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The image quality is good, with sharp details and vibrant colors. The front-facing 16MP camera is also capable of capturing detailed selfies.
Display and Battery
The Realme GT Neo 5 SE features a 6.74-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate, offering immersive visuals and smooth scrolling. The 5500mAh battery, coupled with 100W SuperVOOC charging, ensures rapid charging and long-lasting usage.
Overall Impression
The Realme GT Neo 5 SE offers exceptional performance, a great display, and rapid charging, making it a compelling choice for power users.
Before making a final decision, consider these factors:
Your Usage: Determine your primary use case (gaming, photography, etc.).
The sub-₹30,000 segment offers a plethora of options, each with its unique strengths. The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G, iQOO Neo 7 Pro