The RAM prices have been soaring and we had a tough time finding smartphones with 12 GB RAM even in this respectable budget of Rs 30,000; we managed to find just one worth buying.
Of course, we haven’t settled for anything less than 8 GB RAM either, which isn’t bad at all. Add to that ample processing power, excellent displays, competent cameras and a fair degree of elegance.
Let’s look at the best smartphones you should consider under 30K in India this month.
Best phones to buy under Rs 30,000 in India
Xiaomi 14 CIVI
The Xiaomi 14 CIVI is the only phone in the list that offers 12 GB RAM and also 512 GB storage. Though a little old, it is still a very good option under 30K for its all-round goodness.
This Xiaomi phone is equipped with a HDR10+ and Dolby Vision compliant 6.55-inch AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, 1.5K resolution, peak brightness of 3000 nits and support for up to 68 billion colour shades. It is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
The Xiaomi 14 CIVI is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC, and as stated earlier, you can get its 12 GB RAM and 512 GB UFS 4.0 storage variant in this budget.
The cameras on this phone have been designed in collaboration with Leica. At the back, you get a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS), a 12MP ultra-wide shooter with 120-degrees FOV and a 50MP telephoto camera that provides 2X optical zoom.
This phone targets the selfie enthusiasts with two 32MP front cameras that are quite good at solo as well as group selfies. The phone’s 4700 mAh battery lasts well over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 67W fast charger promises to juice it up fully in less than 45 minutes.
The Xiaomi 14 CIVI launched with Android 14 with the company’s HyperOS UI. An Android 15 update with HyperOS 2.0 started rolling out a while ago.
Xiaomi 14 CIVI price in India: Rs 29,999 for 12 GB RAM/ 512 GB storage
iQOO Neo 10R 5G
The iQOO Neo 10R 5G too is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip with fast 8 GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256 GB faster UFS 4.1 internal storage. The phone is less than 8 mm in thickness despite hosting a large 6400 mAh battery.
The bundled 80W fast charger promises to juice it up briskly. The phone has an IP65-rated ingress protection to keep it safe from dust and splashes.
The iQOO Neo 10R 5G has a 6.78-inch 10-bit OLED HDR display with 1.5K resolution, 144 Hz refresh rate and 4500 nits peak brightness. Photography is handled by two rear cameras comprising a 50MP primary with Sony IMX882 sensor and OIS and an 8MP ultra-wide shooter.
You also get a 32MP front camera to please the selfie crowd. The phone launched with Android 15 with the company committing to 3 major Android updates and 4 years of security updates for the device.
iQOO Neo 10R 5G price in India: Rs 28,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage
Motorola Edge 60 Pro
The Motorola Edge 60 Pro is another solid all-round device and great for those who prefer a clean and near-stock Android UI. The phone sports an attractive design courtesy of its eco-leather back. It also flaunts top-of-the-line IP69 rating for dust and water resistance, and the protection goes beyond a few splashes.
It has a curved 10-bit 6.7-inch 1.5K P-OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, 4500 nits peak brightness, HDR10+ compliance and Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
The Motorola Edge 60 Pro is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Extreme SoC with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB UFS 4.0 internal storage. The camera department here is quite versatile and the three cameras at the back cover more bases than other phones in this list.
It consists of a 50MP primary camera with OIS, a 10MP telephoto camera with OIS that offers 3X optical zoom and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with auto-focus, which doubles up as a quality macro camera. Add to that a 50MP front camera that can record 4K videos.
Its large 6000 mAh battery can keep the phone powered for close to two days of moderate use and the bundled 90W turbo charger promises to take it from 0 to 100 per cent in under 45 minutes.
The Edge 60 Pro launched with Android 15, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface. The company has promised three major Android updates for this device going ahead.
Motorola Edge 60 Pro price in India: Rs 29,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage
OnePlus Nord CE5
The OnePlus Nord CE5 is another reliable option in this budget with excellent battery backup. It is powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Apex SoC with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage. The phone launched with OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, and the company has committed to 4 major OS updates and 6 years of security updates over time, which will keep the phone secure and relevant for long.
The OnePlus Nord CE5 has a 10-bit 6.77-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance. Photography is handled by a 50MP primary camera with OIS and a Sony LYT-600 sensor, along with an 8MP ultra-wide shooter and a 16MP selfie camera. The Nord CE5 has a massive 7100 mAh battery that lasts well over two days of moderate use and close to three on a lighter load. The bundled 80W SuperVOOC charger can recharge it fully in about 70 minutes.
OnePlus Nord CE5 price in India: Rs 26,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage
Samsung Galaxy M56 5G
For the brand conscious and those looking for an even greater software update commitment, the Samsung Galaxy M56 5G would be a good fit. The phone launched with Android 15 with Samsung’s One UI 7, and the company has promised a whopping 6 major Android updates and as many years of security updates going forward. The phone is quite slim and stylish measuring just 7.2 mm in thickness with metallic accents around the rear cameras.
The Samsung Galaxy M56 5G has a sharp 6.74-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, protected by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. The phone offers a 50MP primary camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter and a 2MP macro camera. The 12MP selfie camera does its job well. The phone is powered by an Exynos 1480 SoC with 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage. A 5000 mAh battery keeps it running for close to a day and a half of moderate use and supports 45W fast charging.
Samsung Galaxy M56 5G price in India: Rs 26,499 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage
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