Best Phone Under 25000 - "Premium Performance"

Hey friends, I’ve noticed something quite strange happening in the Indian smartphone market recently. Specifically, in the ₹30,000 price range, I feel the phones aren’t offering much value for money. The reason is that if you look closely at the specifications and overall product, many recent launches this year seem to focus more on offering premium features like IP rating, leather backs, and curved displays at the ₹30,000 price point. Because of this, I feel that the best value for money is actually found around the best phone under ₹20000 range.

Believe me, the list of phones I’ll share today offers great value for money. You’ll find both premium and well-rounded phones in this segment. Of course, it depends on your personal preferences, but today, I’ll try to suggest the best phone for your specific use case.

Before we start, let me introduce myself. I’m Sam Rana, and I aim to share the best tech experiences with you. Now, let's get into the list of value-for-money phones, starting with the Realme 12 Plus, which is available for exactly ₹20,000. For the features it offers at that price point, it’s definitely a value-for-money device. However, I should clarify that the Realme 12 Pro is quite similar, but I don’t recommend it as much. Instead, consider only the Realme 12 Plus. 

The reason is simple: the camera tuning in the 12 Plus is much better compared to the Narzo series, and overall, the Realme 12 Plus has some excellent qualities. The design, with its glossy frame and vegan leather finish, feels quite premium. Personally, I really like how it looks, and in-person, the phone definitely gives off a premium vibe.

Moving on to the display, it features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display, but the highlight is its 2,000 nits of peak brightness, which is especially useful for HDR videos. Even in direct sunlight, the phone performs well with 1,200 nits of brightness. At ₹20,000, you’re also getting a 5,000 mAh battery with 67W fast charging, which is great. The camera setup includes a 50 MP primary sensor with some decent photo quality for the price. The colors might be a bit oversaturated in my opinion, but many users will love the photos. The portrait mode, given the price point, is also quite impressive.

Now, for the drawbacks: the processor is the Dimensity 750, which isn’t the best in this price range, but it still offers decent performance. For example, you can easily play Call of Duty on high settings, and in BGMI, you’ll get a consistent 60 FPS. Additionally, the base model comes with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS 3.1 storage, which is quite fast. The major downside is the software experience, which comes with quite a bit of bloatware and ads, though you can disable or uninstall most of them.

 If you don’t want a Realme device, you can also check out the Redmi K50i, which offers more power in the same ₹20,000 range thanks to its Dimensity 8100 processor. It can run Call of Duty at 90 FPS, which is impressive. The only downside is the lack of an ultra-wide lens and slightly slower 44W charging compared to the Realme 12 Plus.

Next up is a phone I recommend only for users who prioritize premium software experience: the Nothing Phone 2. Priced at around ₹30,000, this phone stands out with its transparent back and unique Glyph lighting, making it look different from anything else in this segment. The software is where the Nothing Phone 2 really shines. Running on a clean, bloatware-free Android 14, the experience is smooth and clutter-free. The Nothing OS has unique features like black-and-white icon packs, highly customizable widgets, and a minimalistic design.

In terms of performance, it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, which will handle most tasks without a hitch. However, it’s not the best option for gaming enthusiasts, as it isn’t optimized for that. One downside is that the phone doesn’t come with a charger in the box, so you’ll need to buy one separately. But the 4,500 mAh battery and 45W fast charging are quite decent, offering good battery life.

Finally, I have to mention the OnePlus Nord CE 4, priced at around ₹25,000. This is a balanced all-rounder with solid performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor and 100W fast charging. It’s also a powerful performer on paper, scoring over 8 lakh on AnTuTu. The design with a polycarbonate frame looks premium, and the speakers are loud and clear. While the battery life is excellent, with a 5,000 mAh capacity, the display isn’t the best in direct sunlight.

Overall, for those seeking a well-rounded phone with solid performance, the OnePlus Nord CE 4 is hard to beat in this price range. It may have some compromises, but they’re easy to overlook considering everything else it offers.

That’s my take on the best phones across different price segments. I hope you can pick the right one based on your preferences. If you have any doubts, feel free to ask, and let me know in the comments which phone from this list you think is the best.