While the Rs. 25,000 smartphone segment already offers compelling choices, the sub-Rs. 30,000 category truly distinguishes itself. It provides that extra edge, whether it’s a stunning display, enhanced durability, lightning-fast charging, or even a dedicated telephoto camera. For users upgrading from budget-friendly devices, this upper-midrange price point is incredibly appealing, delivering premium features without a flagship price tag. Manufacturers work hard to differentiate their offerings in this competitive space, and for consumers, that added value must clearly justify the investment. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the top smartphones we’ve rigorously reviewed, all priced under Rs. 30,000, presented in no specific order.
| Phones under Rs. 30,000 | Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10) | Price in India (as recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Vivo V50e | 8 | Rs. 26,999 |
| OnePlus Nord CE5 | 8 | Rs. 24,999 |
| Nothing Phone 3a Pro | 8 | Rs. 29,999 |
| Realme 14 Pro+ | 8 | Rs. 29,999 |
| Redmi 14 Pro+ | 8 | Rs. 29,999 |
Vivo V50e
The Vivo V50e, a recent addition to this guide, truly excels in style. It boasts a stunning quad-curved panel that gives it a premium look and a remarkably thin bezel. But it’s more than just aesthetics; this elegant design also carries an IP69 rating for dust and water resistance. This means the phone can easily handle not just splashes but even high-pressure water sprays, making it exceptionally durable.
Equipped with the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor, the V50e delivers ample performance for daily multitasking and a bit more. However, it’s not primarily designed for hardcore gamers, as its raw performance isn’t top-tier for its class. In our review, the 5,500mAh battery paired with a 90W charger ensured excellent battery life and speedy charging. Its camera performance is quite strong, though it doesn’t quite match up to the higher-end Vivo V50 or the newer V60 models.
OnePlus Nord CE 5
The OnePlus Nord CE 5 is engineered to provide exceptional value. It features a sleek, minimalist design that marks a significant departure from earlier Nord models. You’ll find a flat display with slim bezels on the front, complemented by flat sides and a flat rear panel. This design isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it’s also highly durable, thanks to its IP65 rating for dust and water resistance.
Under the hood, the phone runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex processor, delivering more than enough power for daily tasks and ensuring smooth, lag-free gaming. Its HDR10-certified OLED display guarantees a top-notch media viewing experience. While its primary camera performs admirably across various lighting conditions, the secondary ultrawide camera could use some improvement. The standout feature of the Nord CE 5 is its colossal battery, which impressed us by lasting a full two days during real-world usage tests.
Nothing Phone 3a Pro
Without a doubt, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is the most distinctive smartphone in its price bracket. Nothing truly outdid themselves this year by launching this new model at a highly competitive price. Regardless of whether you adore or detest its retro-futuristic, semi-transparent aesthetic (or the unconventional camera placement), it undeniably offers a premium feel and boasts an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance.
The Phone 3a Pro features the same familiar flat AMOLED display as the standard Phone 3a, but it distinguishes itself with an additional telephoto camera. This camera, enhanced by optical image stabilization, captures impressively detailed photos. Furthermore, the Phone 3a Pro comes with robust software support, offering 3 years of major software updates and 6 years of security maintenance releases – a significant advantage. While its battery capacity isn’t the largest compared to other phones in this guide, excellent software optimization ensures it comfortably lasts over a day on a single charge.
Realme 14 Pro+
The Realme 14 Pro+ stands as the flagship model of the brand’s numerical series, even with the recent introduction of the Realme 15 Pro. This phone showcases a sophisticated and minimalist design, a refreshing contrast to the more flamboyant 13 series smartphones. Its elegant aesthetic is further enhanced by a premium quad-curved AMOLED display. Despite its understated appearance, the 14 Pro+ boasts an impressive IP69 rating and meets MIL-STD-810H standards, ensuring robust durability for outdoor use.
Powering the device is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, providing ample performance for smooth scrolling, effortless multitasking, and even demanding gaming sessions. Similar to the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, the Realme 14 Pro+ features a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with optical image stabilization, capable of 3x optical zoom and delivering highly detailed photos in both bright and low-light conditions. Thanks to its advanced silicon-carbon battery technology, Realme has impressively integrated a large 6,000mAh battery into its slender frame, easily providing a full day of usage.
Redmi Note 14 Pro+
Over the past few years, Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has successfully transitioned from a budget-focused lineup to a formidable mid-range contender. The latest Redmi Note 14 Pro+ stands as the pinnacle of the Note series, delivering an impressive all-round experience. This phone is exceptionally well-equipped with cutting-edge hardware and specifications, complemented by a premium IP68-rated design. Its elegant curved-edge display further enhances its sophisticated look, and notably, it’s the only smartphone in this price segment to feature both Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.
Xiaomi has also included a versatile telephoto camera in the Redmi Note 14 Pro+, offering 2.5X magnification. Despite this, its 50-megapixel resolution ensures it’s a highly capable camera for capturing stunning portraits or zooming in on distant subjects. Powering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 processor, which provides robust performance for daily tasks and enjoyable gaming. Moreover, its substantial 6,200mAh battery can effortlessly power the phone for up to two days on a single charge.