If you’re in the Indian market for a new Android smartphone and are wondering what the best Android phones are across different categories, we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled a list of the best Android phones in India that you can buy right from the affordable budget segment to the premium flagships with top-of-the-line features and specifications. We have categorized the smartphones based on specific user requirements like gaming, cameras, etc., so there’s something for everyone.
Our attempt has been to try and keep this list as mainstream as possible and to make sure that all the phones we mention are easily accessible. If you want something unique, we suggest you check out the best foldable phones as they offer a completely new experience.
Here are some of the best Android phones to buy in India:
- Best Android Phone Overall: Mi 11 Ultra
- Best Foldable Phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
- Best Gaming Phone: Asus ROG Phone 5
- Best Affordable Flagship: iQOO 7
- Best Android Phone for Most People: Mi 11X
- Best Camera Phone: Vivo X60 Pro+
- Best Mid-range Phone: Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
- Best Affordable 5G Phone: Realme 8 5G
- Best Budget Android Phone: Redmi Note 10
- Best Entry-level Android Phone: Realme Narzo 30A
Best Android Phone Overall: Mi 11 Ultra
Xiaomi had been refraining from launching their flagship smartphones in India for quite a while. They changed that with the Mi 10 last year, but that still wasn’t the best phone Xiaomi had to offer, and hence, it didn’t really do that well. This year, they went all-in and announced the Mi 11 Ultra, their best flagship smartphone in India, and boy does this phone pack a punch! You get the Snapdragon 888 for the best performance, along with a Quad HD+ AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz. It’s also the brightest display on any phone at 1700 nits.
The rear of the Mi 11 Ultra is as interesting as the front. You get three cameras, a 50MP primary shooter with one of the largest sensors on a smartphone, accompanied by a 48MP ultra-wide and a 48MP periscope lens for zoom. There’s even a secondary display on the back that can be used as a viewfinder or for displaying notifications. There’s a 5000mAh battery that can charge at 67W both via wired as well as wireless charging. The Mi 11 Ultra offers arguably the best hardware on any phone, but the software is something you might want to be slightly wary of since MIUI isn’t as clean as some other custom UIs.
While the MI 11 Ultra was announced quite some time back, it’s finally going on sale soon and you can also pre-book the device to avail of some extra benefits like free screen replacement, a merchandise box with goodies, etc.
- The Mi 11 Ultra offers top-of-the-line hardware and is one of the most well-rounded smartphones that you can get. If you can deal with MIUI, this smartphone surely won't disappoint you.
Also Great: OnePlus 9 Pro
OnePlus in its initial few years as a brand was known to produce flagship killers which were essentially phones with flagship specs but at a much lower price. In the last few years though, OnePlus has moved up several tiers and is now competing directly against other flagship smartphones not just in terms of specs but also the price. With the OnePlus 8 Pro last year, the brand included some vital features from other flagships like IP68 rating and wireless charging. This year with the OnePlus 9 Pro, they’ve gone all-in with the cameras.
Performance has never been an issue with OnePlus smartphones. In fact, they’re among the snappiest phones in the market. The OnePlus 9 Pro doesn’t disappoint in that regard either. The Snapdragon 888 is the best chip Qualcomm has to offer and when coupled with a smooth 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED display, the overall experience of using the phone is as premium as it can get.
Cameras have usually been the Achilles’ heel on OnePlus smartphones but by partnering with Hasselblad, they seem to have done a pretty good job this around with the OnePlus 9 Pro. While the cameras weren’t extraordinary at launch, regular software updates have improved them considerably to a point where they’re now comparable with other flagship phones. The battery life is decent too and you get OnePlus’ 65W Warp charging which is super-fast, alongside compatibility with other fast charging standards too. Overall, the OnePlus 9 Pro offers a complete package and a no-frills experience for anyone who wants the best Android experience. This makes it our pick for one of the best Android phones in India.
If you’re an enthusiast and love flashing ROMs and kernels on your phone, this is a good option for you too since OnePlus phones generally have a bootloader that’s easy to unlock.
- The OnePlus 9 Pro offers one of the best Android experiences with OxygenOS and when coupled with top-of-the-line hardware, it is an easy recommendation.
Honorable mention to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra which misses out on the top spot due to the fact that it comes with an Exynos 2100 SoC in India which is inferior compared to the Snapdragon 888 in the US.
Best Foldable Phone: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2
If you like being at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and want the ultimate phone to flaunt and a productivity powerhouse that’s great for multitasking, you cannot go wrong with the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Foldables are still relatively new and given the complex technology, they’re also more expensive than conventional candy bar phones. But of course, they come with a novelty factor that makes them stand out. Samsung was one of the pioneers of foldable phones and the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is of the best foldables you can buy in India right now.
It has the Snapdragon 865+, a large 120Hz internal display along with a tall external display, a triple camera setup, and a 4500mAh battery to power it all. The phone is quite heavy and chunky which is understandable given that it folds in half. If you want a tablet that folds and fits into your pocket and can double up as a productivity or entertainment companion, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a great pick. Provided you don’t mind spending that much money, of course.
- The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a tablet that folds in half and conveniently fits into your pocket. If you love cutting-edge technology and want a phone to flaunt, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is the best foldable phone you can buy right now.
Best Gaming Phone: Asus ROG Phone 5
Asus has been killing it with its ROG series of gaming phones that come fitted with one of the best hardware that you can find on any smartphone. Of course, there’s the Snapdragon 888 at the heart of it which means you can play the best of games without any issues. Given that it is a gaming phone, the display is large and does not have any sort of notch or cutout. Instead, it has slightly chunky bezels at the top and bottom which also house dual front-facing stereo speakers.
The display itself refreshes at 144Hz which looks and feels ultra-smooth. The battery is massive at 6000mAh which allows for extended gaming sessions. There are two USB-C ports for charging as well as attaching accessories like a cooling fan or a gamepad. Touch capacitive triggers flank the right edge of the phone and with gaming, and you even get an RGB logo matrix at the back contributing to the gamer look. The headphone jack on the ROG Phone 5 has a dedicated hi-fi DAC for better audio processing. The only downside with the ROG Phone 5 is that the cameras aren’t as good as other phones in this price range. If you’re serious about mobile gaming, this is the smartphone to get.
- If you're a competitive smartphone gamer or just a mobile gaming enthusiast, the ROG Phone 5 provides great performance and is arguably one of the best gaming smartphones to buy in India.
Also Great: iQOO 7 Legend
iQOO made its debut in India in early 2020 with the iQOO 3 but after that, we hadn’t heard from the brand in a while. Fast forward more than a year later, iQOO is back from its hiatus with the BMW-themed iQOO 7 Legend. Just like the carmaker, iQOO is emphasizing speed with this smartphone and it surely delivers on that front. The Snapdragon 888 makes gaming a breeze on this smartphone and the 120Hz OLED display ensures the viewing experience is great too.
Not just performance, but the iQOO 7 Legend doesn’t disappoint with its 48MP triple camera setup and a 4000mAh battery that can charge at up to 66W. It’s also one of the most affordable flagship smartphones which is a cherry on top. For gaming, this is surely one of the best Android phones in India.
- If you're looking for a smartphone primarily for gaming, you just cannot go wrong with the iQOO 7 Legend. The Snapdragon 888 and the dedicated display chip take the gaming experience on this device to the next level.
Best Affordable Flagship Phone: iQOO 7
Just like its elder sibling, the iQOO 7 provides excellent value for money which is why it’s the best affordable flagship smartphone to buy in India. The iQOO 7 carries over all the goodness from the Legend to a more affordable price-point with some minor changes that don’t really affect the overall usability a lot. The Snapdragon 870 comes in place of the Snapdragon 888 on the Legend which by the way is no slouch. The iQOO 7 can also handle extended gaming sessions with ease.
What makes the iQOO 7 stand out from the crowd is a dedicated chip that drives the 120Hz AMOLED display. The primary camera is also the same 48MP shooter, so you can expect some good shots. The battery is slightly higher than the Legend at 4400mAh with support for the same 66W fast charging. If you’re looking to buy a flagship smartphone without spending a bomb, the iQOO 7 is among the best Android phones in India in the budget flagship category.
- The iQOO 7 is an affordable flagship smartphone that gets most things right. If you want a flagship smartphone especially for gaming without breaking the bank, the iQOO 7 is for you.
Best Android Phone for Most People: Mi 11X
The Mi 11X was recently launched in India alongside the Mi 11X Pro and Mi 11 Ultra. Out of the three, the Mi 11X is the most affordable smartphone and is the one most of you should get. In terms of value for money and price to performance ratio, the Mi 11X offers a solid package that should suffice the needs of almost every smartphone user. The Snapdragon 870 is a flagship chip, there’s a 120Hz AMOLED display, 5G, and a 48MP primary camera.
For the price that the Mi 11X sells for, it offers an experience that most users will enjoy and most average users will not have anything to complain about. The glass back adds a premium touch and the powerful SoC means that mobile gamers will be happy too. MIUI on the Mi 11X offers a slightly cleaner experience compared to what you get on an affordable phone from Xiaomi, so that’s a plus. If you want a reliable phone that offers good performance, this is the one to consider.
- The Mi 11X has a flagship chip, an AMOLED display, a 48MP camera setup, and a 4520mAh battery that lasts all day. This is more like a one size fits all kind of a device.
Also Great: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
If you’re looking for a reliable phone from a reputed brand that can handle most of your day-to-day activities with ease, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G does a great job. Note that we’re specifically talking about the S20 FE 5G since the 4G variant which was launched earlier in India comes with the older Exynos 990 SoC which is underpowered and chews through battery like nobody’s business. The 5G variant, on the other hand, has the exact same specifications but swaps out the inferior chipset for the Snapdragon 865 which performs really well and even offers 5G which is good for future-proofing.
You get a nice AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a triple camera setup, stereo speakers, 4500mAh battery with 25W fast charging, wireless charging, and IP68 water resistance as well. There’s 128GB of fast UFS 3.1 storage on the base variant with 6GB of RAM. The selfie shooter is a 32MP unit and the phone also has an under-display fingerprint scanner. Be it for gaming, cameras, or just general day-to-day performance, the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G ticks all the right boxes.
- The Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a reliable phone that gets most things right and offers a good experience overall.
Best Camera Phone: Vivo X60 Pro+
Vivo introduced its gimbal camera technology with the Vivo X50 Pro last year which was one of the best camera phones of its time. This time around, Vivo has taken it up a notch by launching the Vivo X60 Pro+ which has even better optics and a partnership with Zeiss that brings back old Nokia memories. The Vivo X60 Pro+ has a 50MP primary camera accompanied by an array of 48MP+32MP+8MP sensors making it one of the most versatile camera setups on a smartphone.
Not just cameras, but the rest of the package that Vivo has provided with the X60 Pro+ is also top-notch. The Snapdragon 888 resides under the hood so performance is right up there with the best smartphones. The curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate adds to the premium design which is complemented well by the leather panel on the back. There’s a 4200mAh cell fueling everything with support for 55W fast charging. If cameras are your topmost priority, this is one of the best Android phones in India.
- If cameras are at the top of your priority list, the Vivo X60 Pro+ will not disappoint, Be it low-light photography or shooting videos, the X60 Pro+ holds its own and is one of the best Android phones in terms of camera performance.
Best Mid-range Phone: Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
It’s no surprise that Xiaomi generally offers some of the most value-for-money smartphones, especially in the mid-range category. This time though, they took it to a whole other level with the Redmi Note 10 series. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max has everything you would need from a mid-range smartphone, plus more. The display is a gorgeous 120Hz AMOLED panel with a tiny hole punch. The primary camera on the rear is a 108MP sensor that shoots some of the best pictures in this price range.
In terms of performance, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max gets the Snapdragon 732G which should be good for most people. However, this phone skimps out on 5G which, to be honest, is not a big deal at least at this point of time in India. There’s a large 5020mAh battery with 33W fast charging which will get you through a full day’s worth of use. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max offers a complete package for the price and you just cannot go wrong with this one.
- The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is an all-round smartphone that does almost everything right especially considering the price. If you want a great display and solid cameras, the Note 10 Pro Max is a great option.
Best Affordable 5G Phone: Realme 8 5G
Realme initially launched the Realme 8 and Realme 8 Pro that were compatible only with 4G networks. However, they followed it up with the Realme 8 5G. Since 5G is all the rage currently across the globe (if only for the marketing hype), brands are cashing in by launching 5G phones that are slightly pricier than 4G phones and are pitching them as future-proof. In India, 5G is still a long way off so if you’re going to change your phone in the next two years, getting a 4G-enabled phone, for now, seems like a smarter option.
Even then, if you still want a 5G smartphone and are going to use your phone for more than three to four years, the Realme 8 5G is a good option. It has the Dimensity 700 chip from MediaTek that’s quite powerful, a 90Hz IPS LCD display, a 5000mAh battery, and a 48MP triple camera setup. As you can probably tell, apart from the SoC, the rest of the specifications aren’t that impressive which is a compromise you make to get 5G at an affordable price. If you really want 5G and a chipset that performs the best at this price range, go for it.
- The Realme 8 5G is only for someone who specifically wants 5G on their smartphone. The performance is solid too so if you want a good smartphone for gaming on a budget, the Realme 8 5G is an option you can consider.
Also Great: Poco M3 Pro 5G
Poco has been launching great value for money smartphones in the Indian market be it the Poco F1 from back in the day that came with a flagship SoC, or the Poco X3 Pro that was launched a few months back targeted towards mobile gamers looking for a powerful phone under Rs. 20k. The Poco M3 Pro is also one such smartphone that aims to democratize 5G connectivity (albeit the fact that there are no 5G networks yet in India). The Dimensity 700 handles CPU duties and does a fairly good job at it. There’s a 90Hx IPS LCD display with a punch-hole cutout.
The back house three cameras out of which you would probably use just the primary 48MP shooter. A 5000mAh battery is what powers everything with support for 18W fast charging. On the software side of things, there’s MIUI 12 running on top of Android 11. Given that this is a phone from Poco, MIUI is relatively cleaner with no ads. There are phones in this price range that offer better specs and value so we would recommend the Poco M3 Pro 5G strictly only to someone looking for a 5G phone that they plan to use for the next 2-3 years since that’s when 5G will actually be available to use on a large scale in India.
- The Poco M3 Pro has a MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip with a 90Hz display and a 5000mAh battery. 5G connectivity is a marquee feature of the M3 Pro so if you want to be future-proof, this is an option to consider.
Best Budget Android Phone: Redmi Note 10
As we mentioned earlier, Xiaomi hit it out of the park with the Redmi Note 10 series launch in India this year. Even the base Redmi Note 10 offers solid value for money especially in terms of display and cameras. You can get a Full HD+ AMOLED display which is quite rare in this segment along with a 48MP camera quad-camera setup that can shoot some good pictures. The build quality is also solid on the Redmi Note 10 thanks to a glass back.
One area where the Redmi Note 10 slightly falls short is in terms of performance. You get a Snapdragon 678 chip which is fine for day-to-day activities and social media apps but starts to struggle a bit when pushed with some heavy games. The 5000mAh battery ensures good all-day battery life and you get a 33W fast charger in the box which is a bonus. If you consume a lot of content, you are going to love the Redmi Note 10, especially for its display. This is easily one of the best Android phones in India in this price bracket.
- The Redmi Note 10 is the best budget smartphone you can get thanks to a beautiful AMOLED display and a capable set of cameras. Good build quality and design are positives and if you watch a lot of videos and movies online, you are going to enjoy using this phone.
Best Entry-level Android Phone: Realme Narzo 30A
As we go down the price ladder, there aren’t a lot of smartphones that offer compelling specifications at a competitive price. However, the Narzo 30A from Realme offers a fairly good package for the price and can be a nice option for someone looking to get their first smartphone, or a secondary phone to go along with another phone that you already have. The processor under the hood is a strong point in favor of the Narzo 30A. The Helio G85 performs well and can even play some heavy games albeit at low graphics settings.
It has a 6.55-inch HD+ display and a 13MP + 2MP camera setup on the rear with a fingerprint scanner beneath it. A major highlight of the Narzo 30A is its 6000mAh battery which, when coupled with a 720p display, means you can expect really good battery life from the smartphone. At this price, the Realme Narzo 30A is a good option that offers lag-free performance and great endurance.
- The Realme Narzo 30A is an entry-level smartphone that offers good performance and a large display to view content on. You also get the benefit of a large battery that can power through even two days with moderate usage.
These were our picks for the best Android phones in India across various categories and price brackets. The Mi 11 Ultra and OnePlus 9 Pro remain strong picks for the Indian market for a flagship, while the iQOO 7 is a good pick if you’re a bit cash-constrained but still want a flagship. If you have a mixed usage style and do a little bit of everything on your phone and are also looking for great value, the Xiaomi Mi 11X is what should go into your pocket. And of course, the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is a no-brainer when it comes to mid-range smartphones and offers the best overall experience thanks to the 120Hz AMOLED display and the 108MP camera.
The post These are the Best Android Phones in India in July: OnePlus, Xiaomi, iQOO, Realme, and more! appeared first on xda-developers.
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