The under Rs 25,000 price bracket is undoubtedly the most competitive segment in the smartphone industry. And with smart manufacturers like Poco, Realme, iQOO and others launching a new phone every week, it is almost impossible to find a phone that offers a good price-to-performance ratio without scouring the internet for hours on end. If you want to purchase a new mid-range device that delivers on almost all fronts, here are some of the best phones you can buy for less than Rs 25,000.
iQOO Z7
While the iQOO Z7 (review) may be the cheapest phone on this list, it is one of the best compact phones you can under Rs 20,000. It has a 6.38-inch FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED screen and comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is rare considering most phones in the price segment come with a side-mounted one.
Moreover, it comes with FunTouch OS 13 based on Android 13 and features a 64MP primary rear camera with OIS that can take good photos in daylight and record videos in 4K. The gaming performance is also good thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, but don’t expect the phone to run games on ultra settings at 90fps. However, it lacks an ultrawide sensor, stereo speakers and comes with a teardrop notch, which might not appeal to everyone. The iQOO Z7 starts from Rs 18,999.
Lava Agni 2
Lava recently launched the Agni 2, a mid-range device with a curved display. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050, a slightly faster version of the Dimensity 1080 chipset, it is one of the few phones in the segment that sports a 120Hz curved AMOLED display. On the back, you get a triple camera setup that consists of a 50MP primary sensor with OIS.
It is also one of the few curved phones in the under Rs 25,000 price bracket that comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. The device runs on stock Android 13 with Lava promising two years of Android updates and three years of security updates. Lava Agni 2 will go on sale from May 24 and can be purchased for Rs 21,999, but with bank offers and discounts, it will be available for as low as Rs 19,999.
Poco X5 Pro
Earlier this year, Poco launched the X5 Pro (review), a phone powered by the tried and tested Snapdragon 778G chipset. It has a bright AMOLED screen that is visible in bright sunlight, blazes through everyday tasks and can also play games.
What comes as a surprise is that the Poco X5 Pro sports a 108MP camera that can take good photos in daylight and nighttime. The only downside is that the phone runs on Android 12, and with the company offering only two Android upgrades, the Poco X5 Pro will be updated till Android 14, which is already in beta.
If you want to watch movies, play games, take photos and don’t care about the plastic back and Android updates, the Poco X5 Pro is a solid device. It is also one of the few devices in the price segment whose 256GB storage variant can be purchased for under Rs 25,000. The 6GB RAM and 128GB version of the Poco X5 Pro starts from Rs 22,999.
Motorola Edge 30
Those on the look for a good mid-range device that offers a stock Android experience can consider the Motorola Edge 30. Powered by the Snapdragon 778G chipset, the phone has a 6.5-inch FHD+ 144Hz AMOLED display and runs on Android 12 out of the box.
As we all know, the Snapdragon 778G performs well through everyday tasks and is capable of running even the most demanding mobile games in medium settings. On the back, you get a 50MP primary sensor accompanied by another 50MP ultrawide camera, which is rare for a phone under Rs 25,000.
If you are wondering, the only downside is that the phone has a 4,020mAh battery and it is still unclear if the phone will get the Android 14 update. The 6GB RAM and 128GB storage variant of the Motorola Edge 30 is priced at Rs 23,999.
Realme 10 Pro Plus
Realme 10 Pro Plus (review) is one of the most affordable phones that comes with a curved display. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1080 chipset, it has a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen that is one of the best if you want to watch movies or browse the internet.
Similar to other mid-range devices by Realme, the phone runs on RealmeUI 4.0 based on Android 13. And if you are someone who often posts photos on social media, the 108MP rear camera captures really good photos in low light and during daytime. If you want a phone that does not stutter during everyday tasks, and has a curved screen and camera that can click social media-ready photos, the Realme 10 Pro Plus is an easy recommendation and can be purchased for Rs 24,999.
