Best Phones Under Rs 30,000: Best Options to Up Your Smartphone Game

The under Rs. 30,000 or the ‘premium midrange’ segment, as it is widely known, is one of the most hotly contested in the smartphone market. All smartphone brands want a slice of this lucrative pie, so they have launched several smartphones that give flagships a run for their money.

Too much choice? Don’t worry, we have you covered. We have narrowed down three smartphones, each appealing to a different type of user – the iQOO Neo 10R for those who want a flagship processor in this price range, the Nothing Phone (3a) for those who want a unique-looking phone, and the Moto Edge 60 Fusion for those looking for a durable and solid all-rounder.

Each of these phones stands out in its own right—whether it’s raw performance, standout design, or well-rounded durability, they top the list in their respective departments and deliver exceptional value for what they promise.

iQOO Neo 10R: Best Performer

Looking for a flagship-level processor and the best specifications in this price range? The iQOO Neo 10R has got you covered. Avid gamers and performance enthusiasts will love the top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, 12GB of RAM, and speedy UFS 4.1 storage (256GB variant). A massive 6,400mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging and a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with support for HDR 10+ round off a solid overall package.

Those who want a clean and simple software experience should look at the two other options in this list. FunTouch OS 15, while feature-packed, is slightly cluttered and bloated. The Neo 10R ships with Android 15, and iQOO promises three Android updates and four years of security patches.

PROS

• Flagship-grade Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset
• Sizeable 6,400mAh battery
• Fast UFS 4.1 storage

CONS

• Cluttered and bloated software

• Display: 6.78-inch AMOLED screen, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR 10+ and 4,500 nits of peak brightness.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3.
• RAM and Storage: Up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
• Software: Funtouch OS 15, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera:  50-megapixel Sony IMX882 with OIS and an f/1.79 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Front Camera: 32-megapixel camera with an f/2.45 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 6,400 mAh battery, 80W wired fast charging.
• Other Features: Optical in-display fingerprint scanner, IP65 rating.
• Dimensions and weight: 163.7 x 75.9 x 7.98 mm, 196 grams.
• Colours: Raging Blue, MoonKnight Titanium.

The iQOO Neo 10R is available in three variants on Flipkart:

Nothing Phone (3a): Best Design

The Nothing Phone (3a) is a great option for those looking for something unique that stands out from the sea of drab-looking smartphones. Nothing’s signature transparent back panel with the Glyph light interface is certainly striking, if questionably useful. Pair this distinctive design with good build quality, capable cameras, and decent specifications, and you have a well-rounded phone.

The (3a) ships with Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15, and Nothing promises three years of Android updates and six years of security patches. Nothing OS is clean and relatively bloat-free, and it adds to the smartphone’s appeal.

PROS

• Striking design with unique Glyph lights
• Bloat-free software

CONS

• Mediocre chipset

• Display: 6.77-inch AMOLED screen, 120Hz refresh rate, 3000 nits peak brightness, and 387ppi.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 SoC.
• RAM and Storage: 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
• Software: Nothing OS 3.0, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel with OIS and an f/1.88 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Tertiary Camera: 50-megapixel telephoto with an f/2.0 aperture.
• Front Camera: 32-megapixel with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,000 mAh, 50W fast charging.
• Other Features: IP64 rating and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 163.52mm x 77.5mm x 8.35 mm, 201 grams.
• Colours: Black, White, and Blue.

Motorola Edge 60 Fusion: Best Overall

If you are looking for a sleek and durable smartphone with a clean and stock Android-like user interface, the recently launched Moto Edge 60 Fusion is worth considering. The phone features MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability and segment-leading IP69 dust and water resistance. Motorola’s Hello UI based on Android 15 comes pre-installed, and is uncluttered and relatively bloat-free. Motorola has also upped its game when it comes to software support, and the company promises three Android OS upgrades and four years of security patches.

The specifications are solid, if not spectacular, with the new MediaTek Dimensity 7400 chipset, a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution, and a 5,500mAh battery that supports 68W wired fast charging.

PROS

• MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability
• IP69 dust and water resistance
• Uncluttered and bloat-free software

CONS

• Underwhelming performance

• Display:  6.7-inch All-Curved pOLED, 1.5K resolution, 2712×1220 pixels, 4500 nits of peak brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate.
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7400.
• RAM and Storage: 8GB RAM + 256 GB storage and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage.
• Software: Hello UI, based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel Sony LYTIA 700C with OIS and an f/1.8 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 13-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Selfie Camera: 32-megapixel with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,500 mAh battery, 68W wired fast charging.
• Other Features: In-display fingerprint scanner, MIL-STD-810H certification, IP69 rating, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 8.2mm thickness, 180 grams.
• Colours: Pantone Slipstream, Pantone Amazonite, Pantone Zephyr.

The Moto Edge 60 Fusion is available in two variants on Flipkart:

Verdict

All three smartphones mentioned in this price range are worth considering, but they cater to different kinds of users.

• Want flagship performance without the flagship price? Go for the iQOO Neo 10R.
• Want to stand out from the crowd with a bold design? The Nothing Phone (3a) has you covered.
• Need a durable phone with solid specifications and clean UI? The Moto Edge 60 Fusion is your best bet.