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Three months have passed since we compiled our previous list of phones under Rs 40,000 in India, and most of the handsets we chose then are still making a solid case for inclusion in this one. Choosing just five smartphones in this price band remains a tough ask. So we decided on seven this time. We have handsets with flagship-grade processors, ample RAM and storage, 5G compliance, high refresh rate AMOLED displays, and excellent cameras. Let’s see who cut this quarter.
Best phones to buy under Rs 40,000 in India
Xiaomi’s Mi 11X Pro 5G comfortably retains its spot and is now available for an even better price. It is powered by Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 888 SoC. You get 8 GB RAM and a choice between 128 GB and 256 GB of internal storage to go with it. A 108MP camera at the back captures impressive shots in different modes and lighting. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 5MP macro camera. A 20MP front camera handles selfies and video calls reasonably well.
Its sharp display is one of the standout features of this phone. You get a 6.67-inch Super AMOLED Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance, and a peak brightness of 1300 nits. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5, and so is the phone’s glass back. A 4520 mAh battery keeps it running for over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 33 W fast charger can charge it fully in under an hour. Mi 11X Pro runs Android 11 with MIUI 12 on top.
The OnePlus 9R remains a great all-round player in this segment, and Amazon India is currently offering additional Rs 3,000 off on the phone to sweeten the deal. You can get 8 GB RAM and a 128 GB storage variant under 37K. The phone has a 6.55-inch Full HD+ Fluid AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance. The metal frame and glass body protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 make it look elegant. The phone runs OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11, which is still one of the better Android UI.
You get four cameras at the back: a 48MP primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 16MP ultrawide shooter, a 5MP macro camera, and a 2MP mono camera. The cameras manage to capture crisp images in different lighting and modes. A 16MP selfie camera is located in a tiny punch-hole at the top of the screen. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chip powers the OnePlus 9R. A 4500 mAh battery keeps the phone powered for over a day of moderate use, and the bundled 65W Warp charger juices it up in just around 40 minutes.
OnePlus 9R price in India: Rs 36,999 effectively for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage
The lesser-known Motorola Edge 20 Pro is another impressive option in this budget that offers unique features. This phone, too, is powered by a Snapdragon 870 chip and comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. Its large 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display flaunts a 144 Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ compliance, and the capability to display over a billion color shades. Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protects against scratches at the front and back.
The star of the photography department on the Motorola Edge 20 Pro is a 108MP primary camera with quite an impressive support cast. You get a 16MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS that gives you 5X optical zoom. Not to forget the 32MP front camera that is bound to impress the selfie crowd. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for over a day of moderate use and supports 30W fast charging. This phone runs Android 11, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface.
Motorola Edge 20 Pro price in India: Rs 32,999 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage
iQOO 7 5G/ iQOO 7 Legend 5G/ Vivo X60
There are two handsets from Vivo’s sub-brand feature in this list and one from the parent company itself. The iQOO 7 5G is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 chip, and you get the 8 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant in this budget. Its 6.62-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display has a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling incompatible apps. The rear camera department comprises a 48MP primary camera with OIS. Giving it the company is a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP depth sensor.
If you need more processing power and a few extra features for a 7K premium and are willing to sacrifice half the internal storage, you can opt for the 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant of the iQOO 7 Legend. It has a more powerful Snapdragon 888 SoC and comes with a 13MP telephoto camera that gives you 2X optical zoom. Both phones run Android 11 with FunTouch OS 11, and one can expect two more major Android updates in the future for these devices.
We are not done yet. Let me present another scenario. If you are fine with a Snapdragon 870 chip but want the rear camera department of the Legend, you should strongly consider the Vivo X60 for a good Rs 5,000 less than the iQOO 7 Legend. The phone is a lot more slim and stylish and boasts Zeiss optics for its cameras.
iQOO 7 5G price in India: Rs 32,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage
iQOO 7 Legend 5G price in India: Rs 39,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage
Vivo X60 price in India: Rs 34,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is now available in this budget. This phone has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and is HDR10+ compliant. This stylish handset has IP68 rated ingress protection. It is powered by Qualcomm’s previous-generation flagship chip, Snapdragon 865. You get 8 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage to go with it. The internal storage can be expanded further using a microSD card, a rare feature in these premium phones. The phone runs Android 11 with Samsung’s One UI 3.1.
The photography department is quite versatile and consists of a 12MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS for up to 3X optical zoom. Given that it’s a Samsung S series phone, the camera quality is excellent across different modes. You also have a 32MP camera at the front to please the selfie enthusiasts. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for well over a day of moderate use. It doesn’t just support regular fast charging but also fast wireless charging.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE price in India: Rs 36,990 for 8 GB RAM/ 128 GB storage
