In today’s discussion, we will explore the top 5 best smartphones around the 40k price point. Many of you have asked for recommendations within this budget, and it’s a price range flooded with options, especially from Chinese brands.
Selecting the right one can be tricky because nearly all of them offer great features. The smartphones we have in hand today are all currently available in the market, and there’s a reason why they stand out. We all know what to look for: a good display, solid battery life, an excellent camera, and overall balanced performance.
Let’s dive in. First, if your budget stretches slightly beyond 40k, the iQOO NEO 10 is a great option to consider. Launched recently, this device has been with us for about 10 days, and it impresses in several key areas. The NEO 10 comes in a 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant, offering great value for the price.
The device features an LTPO AMOLED panel with 1 billion colors and a 144Hz refresh rate, making for a smooth and vibrant display. It supports HDR10+ and reaches a peak brightness of 4500 nits, which makes it suitable for outdoor usage. Under the hood, it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, last year’s flagship chipset, ensuring powerful performance. Additionally, it has UFS 4.0 storage, which offers fast read/write speeds—a plus for heavy gaming and performance-oriented users.
The camera setup includes a 50MP primary sensor and an 8MP ultrawide camera, while the front-facing camera is 16MP. While the camera performance is decent, it may not be the best in this price range. However, for those who value gaming and overall performance, this phone ticks all the boxes.
It also boasts a large 6100mAh battery, which is impressive given the slim profile of the phone, and supports 128W fast charging, with the charger included in the box. This combination makes it an attractive all-rounder, with stereo speakers and a fast under-display fingerprint scanner. The only missing feature here might be a telephoto zoom lens, but it’s still a well-rounded package.
Next up is the Samsung Galaxy A55, priced at around Rs 43,100 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. While Samsung’s design language remains largely the same across many of its models, the A55 offers a Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support. The peak brightness is 1000 nits, which may seem lower than the 4500 nits of the iQOO NEO 10, but in real-world usage, 1000-1200 nits is plenty for visibility even under bright sunlight.
The Galaxy A55 is powered by the Exynos 1480 chipset, which offers solid performance. While the Exynos 1480 isn’t the top-tier chip in the market, it still delivers a smooth experience for most users.
Both of these devices are strong contenders in the 40k price segment, offering a good balance of display, battery life, camera, and performance. If you’re looking for a solid phone under 40k, these options will surely meet your expectations.
The performance of the Exynos 1480 in the Samsung Galaxy A55 is suitable for regular use, but it may struggle with more demanding tasks. Samsung’s One UI 6.1 is a standout feature, offering a smooth and enjoyable user experience. Many users will appreciate its design and functionality. However, for heavy gaming or high-performance tasks, you might face some limitations with this processor.
In terms of the camera, the A55 features a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 5MP macro lens, along with a 32MP front-facing camera. You can record 4K videos, and the front camera performs well, making it a solid option for those interested in photography or vlogging. The main camera and ultrawide lens deliver good results, while the 4K video recording adds versatility for content creators.
The A55 has a 5000mAh battery and supports 25W charging, but the charger is not included in the box. Despite this, the device is a solid choice for those who prefer Samsung’s ecosystem.
If you’re on a budget and looking for alternatives, the iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus could be a great option. Although the full review isn’t available yet, we’ve been using it for a while and can confirm that it offers a lot of value. It features an AMOLED display with 1 billion colors, a 144Hz refresh rate, and 4500 nits peak brightness, similar to the iQOO NEO 10.
Performance-wise, it is powered by the Dimensity 9300 Plus chipset, which offers strong performance, comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. The Z9 Turbo Plus is a great option if you’re looking for good performance within a budget, with UFS 4.0 storage for faster data access.
The camera setup includes a 50MP main sensor, an 8MP ultrawide camera, and a 16MP front-facing camera. The Z9 Turbo Plus offers a similar experience to the NEO 10 but with a MediaTek processor. It also boasts a larger 6400mAh silicon-carbon battery and supports 80W fast charging.
For those who prioritize camera performance, Samsung may have the upper hand, but the Z9 Turbo Plus offers great value overall, especially for those on a budget.
Finally, if you’re looking for a device in the 30-40k INR price range, the Moto S50 is worth considering. Priced at around 29-30k INR, it is slim, stylish, and military-standard certified with an IP68 rating. The P-OLED display features 1 billion color support, a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support, providing a solid visual experience.
In terms of cameras, the Moto S50 includes a 50MP main camera and a 10MP telephoto zoom lens, offering 3x optical zoom. This is a rare feature at this price point and makes the device stand out for photography enthusiasts.
In summary, whether you prioritize performance, camera quality, or battery life, the iQOO Z9 Turbo Plus and Moto S50 are excellent alternatives to Samsung, each offering unique features at competitive prices.
The Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, priced at around 38,500 INR, offers great value in this segment. It comes with a 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant, featuring an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+, along with a peak brightness of 3000 nits. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 7s Zen 3, which is a solid processor for this price point.
For photography, it boasts a 50MP main camera, a 50MP telephoto zoom lens, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 20MP front-facing camera. The portrait mode works well, and the telephoto lens provides a good zoom experience. You can also shoot 4K videos with the rear camera.
The battery is a strong point, featuring a 6200mAh silicon-carbon battery and 90W fast charging, which is impressive at this price. The phone also includes an under-display fingerprint scanner and stereo speakers, adding to its overall appeal.
In this price range, other options like the Realme 13 Pro+, Poco F6, Z9s Pro, and Neo 9 are worth considering, depending on your budget and preferences. However, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus stands out with its feature set, making it a great choice for those seeking a well-rounded phone with strong performance and camera capabilities.
For those on a tighter budget (around 35,000 INR), the performance of some other phones may not be as impressive, especially in terms of storage. For example, some models offer UFS 2.2 storage, which is slower compared to the UFS 3.1 or UFS 4.0 found in other devices in this range. If storage speed is a priority, you may want to look elsewhere for better value.
Overall, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus, along with other options in this segment, provides a balanced package that can be added to your choice list based on your specific needs and budget.
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