Your guidebook to smartphones across all budget ranges (2017)

Xiaomi Redmi 4

A weirdly named chipset, octa-core million megahertz CPU, unlimited gigabytes of RAM, apocalypse-proof, etc. Every manufacturer's brochure confuses a smartphone buyer these days with these complicated technical specifications. More so is the wide variety of similar smartphones in a price range. It becomes a painstaking task for a non-geeky person to go through all that Silicon Valley terminology and figure the better choice for a reliable as well as functional touchscreen pocket mate. While manufacturers tend to push more details regarding the internals of their products for appealing to the consumer, it makes for a rather hard time in understanding what is what.

However, now you can reduce your confusion to a lesser extent by going through our budget guide for the Indian smartphone market. We explain the price segments and the best option in those categories. If you are planning to a get a new smartphone, then read on.

Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 (the budget category)

This is the most affordable range of smartphones with necessities that a smartphone should offer. These phones are good for first-time smartphone buyers or for those looking of a secondary/temporary device. Smartphones in this category have a major focus on battery life than anything else.

They generally receive late system updates or won’t at all. If you are looking for the most appealing specification combo and a bigger battery, then we recommend the Xiaomi Redmi 4 3GB+32GB variant. If you want a device with stock Android experience, then you can opt for the Moto G4 Play. You can also look at the Lenovo K6 Power for a good battery life.

Rs 11,000 to 15,000 (lower mid-range category)

This is a category where the smartphones are good all-rounders. They have an equal importance for build, battery, performance and practicality. These phones can be a pretty good daily driver for someone on the move who prefers to change phones within a short span of time. The most popular choice of this segment is Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 with a good battery life, good performance and a good build.

Xiaomi also sells the entry-level variant of the Xiaomi Mi Max with a 6.4-inch display, a performance-focused SD650 chipset and large battery. If you are looking for performance over everything else, then you can also opt for the Lenovo Z2 Plus with an SD820 chipset,3GB RAM and 32GB storage.

Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000 (mid-range category)

In this category, the build quality of the devices takes lead, followed by mid-range performance, decent battery life and decent camera performance. These are designed keeping in the mind the white-collar people who could rely on these for a hassle-free smartphone experience. These phones are good for those who want a reliable yet stylish daily driver.

The Moto G5 Plus is a good option in the category with a stock Android experience, good performance, a metal build, good cameras and decent battery life. The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime can be a good option for those looking for a classy design, good build and average performance. The Honor 8 Lite has a glass-metal body combo, which is a first in this category, along with a decent everyday performance.

Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 (higher mid-range category)

This is where quality and quantity go together. Phones in this category have a great build, appreciable if not amazing everyday performance and good cameras. If you want a no-nonsense smartphone that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, then this is the category to go for. The highly hyped OnePlus 3T is the ruler of the segment with the best specifications – SD821, 6GB RAM, a good camera and a premium metal build.

The Moto Z2 Play is a latest entry with stock Android and modular accessories. Other notable options are Samsung Galaxy A5 2017, Xiaomi Mi 5, Samsung Galaxy C7 Pro and the old iPhone 6 32GB variant.

Above Rs 30,000 (Flagship category)

If you want the best of every world, then this is the category for you. You get the best hardware, the best software albeit average battery life. Phones in this category have latest specifications, great build quality, gimmicky features and great cameras. The more you are willing to spend, the more ‘premiumness’ you are going to enjoy.

The latest entrant to rule the charts and the minds of the people are the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ with a great display, mighty build, good software and everything you can imagine. You also have the consistently great selling iPhone 7 with the best hardware and software combo. HTC’s U11 is a new entrant with flagship specifications and its useful ‘Edge Sense’ feature. If you want something understated yet powerful, Google’s Pixel line-up will delight you with the latest Android software and exceptional camera.

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