In recent years, India has seen a significant increase in the sales of mid-range smartphones, which range between ₹25,000 and ₹40,000 rupees. The reason behind it is the balance of performance and price that is offered by mid-range smartphones. By omitting several luxury features or by using economic materials, these smartphones are priced at half or sometimes even less than the flagship models. Here is a list of 5 that you should target during this festival season.
Vivo V25 Pro
The design and cameras of the Vivo V series have always been top-notch, and with the Vivo V25 Pro, the company has again done it. The exquisite design and glass build with a 6.5 in AMOLED display are just breathtaking. The device runs on Android 12 (Funtouch 12), has a 120 Hz refresh rate, and 1300 nits of peak brightness, which makes scrolling smooth and enhances outdoor visibility. The triple camera module, which consists of 64 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), and 2 MP (micro), helps to take close to flagship-level snaps. The 4830 mAh battery performs decently, and you can charge the battery to 71% capacity within 30 minutes with the 66 W wired charger. The absence of stereo speakers, average night photography, and the presence of bloatware are some of the downsides of this device. Priced at ₹35,999 the Vivo V25 Pro is a great mid-range smartphone that provides flagship features.
Realme GT 2
Realme GT 2 comes in a unique design and with beautiful colors like Paper Green, Titanium Blue, Paper White, and Steel Black. The Snapdragon 888 5G processor and Android 12 (Realme UI 3.0) offer sublime performance, but the device is loaded with an ample amount of bloatware. The 6.62 in AMOLED display is pretty amazing, with a 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and 1300 nits of peak brightness. In the triple-camera setup of 50 MP, 8 MP, and 2 MP, the primary 50 MP lens is noteworthy. The 5000 mAh battery is a bit inconsistent, and when charged with the 65 W wired charger, the phone gets slightly overheated. Priced at ₹34,999, the Realme GT 2 is a good choice for daily usage.
Google Pixel 6a
The two-toned premium design and flagship-level camera are the most intriguing features that make the Google Pixel 6a one of the most appealing mid-range smartphones on this list. With minimal effort, you can take pleasing photos with true color accuracy, and clarity. It goes without saying that the powerful Tensor chip is the secret ingredient behind this. The software experience is clean and excellent, with several years of software update support. The 6.1 in OLED display is decent, but it has only a 60 Hz refresh rate and around 500 nits of brightness, which could have been more. The 4410 mAh battery performs well on light usage while draining quickly on heavy usage, but the 18 W charger feels like a tortoise in this market. The haptic feedback and stereo speakers are satisfactory, but the limited storage option is a dent in the device. With a price of ₹29,999, the Google Pixel 6a is no doubt a value-for-money mid-range smartphone.
OnePlus Nord 2T
The company’s ability to pack the necessary features that users request at this price point is truly commendable. Weighing on the lighter side at 190 g, the OnePlus Nord 2T has a 6.43 in AMOLED display, which provides crisp visuals but only supports a 90 Hz refresh rate and around 449 nits of brightness. The device runs on Android 12 (OxygenOS 13), which is upgradable to Android 13, and is powered by Mediatek Dimensity 1300. The device handles multitasking and gaming satisfactorily but has throttling issues. The primary camera of 50 MP (wide) is decent, but the 8 MP (ultrawide), and 2 MP (depth), are pretty average. The stereo speakers are capable of producing loud and clear audio, and the 4500 mAh battery provides great performance at this price and also comes with an 80 W fast charger. The OnePlus Nord 2T is priced at ₹28,999 and is a real competitor of the Google Pixel 6a and Nothing Phone 1.
Nothing Phone (1)
Nothing Phone (1) was probably the most talked about smartphone in 2022. The semi-transparent design with the Glyph interface has turned many heads. But do not be fooled by its design alone, as the device is packed with some serious power. The Nothing Phone (1) comes with a 6.55 in OLED display that supports HDR10+, a 120 Hz refresh rate, and 700 nits of peak brightness. It runs on Android 12 (upgradable to Android 13) with a patch of Nothing OS 1.5.2 and has the Snapdragon 778G+ processor under its hood. The device is free of any bloatware, and provides a decent performance at this price. The dual camera setup of 50 MP (wide) and 50 MP (ultrawide) takes beautiful snaps in daylight conditions but struggles at night. The speakers are a bit unbalanced, and the absence of a charger in the box is a real bummer, while the 4500 mAh battery provides average performance. With the recent updates made by Nothing, the device has become a bit polished and is a worthy mid-ranger with a starting price of ₹26,999.
Benchmark Scores
| Model Name | AnTuTu | Memory | CPU | GPU | UX |
| Vivo V25 Pro | 705,961 | 138,348 | 170,722 | 246,447 | 149,444 |
| Realme GT 2 | 812,162 | 148,572 | 199,387 | 309,683 | 154,520 |
| Google Pixel 6a | 688,083 | 99,285 | 190,511 | 261,687 | 136,600 |
| OnePlus Nord 2T | 608,879 | 113,736 | 155,241 | 231,940 | 107,962 |
| Nothing Phone (1) | 538,711 | _ | _ | _ | _ |
Conclusion
Mid-range smartphones are ideal for those who are willing to pay a reasonable price for flagship features while making few sacrifices. Expect great deals on the devices mentioned in the list during Holi, and take advantage of them to purchase them at your desired price. There were numerous other devices in this category, but the 5 mentioned in the list have performed admirably thus far.
See more: Best Flagship Smartphones That You Can Buy On Holi 2023
