Ameya DalvikAugust 26, 2022 16:05:11 IST

While a lot of new phones hit our list of phones under Rs 30,000 this month, the picture is a bit different in the sub-40K price segment. The phones on our previous list put up a very strong fight to stay in their place. Of course, this time we have some new options and the price of some old options has changed this month. All factors considered, we have handpicked eight phones for you to choose from this month under Rs 40,000. We know the choice is not that easy, but we have tried to make it easy for you.

Best phones to buy under Rs 40,000 in India

iQOO 9 SE 5G/ iQOO 9 5G
The iQOO 9 SE 5G from the Vivo sub-brand retains its place in the list and remains a great option. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s previous flagship Snapdragon 888 chip, which is still extremely powerful for anything you throw at it. In this budget, you can easily get its top variant with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage. It sports a 6.62-inch HDR10+ compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1300 nits and a 120Hz refresh rate.

In the rear camera department, there is a 48MP primary camera with OIS, a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP depth sensor. The 16MP front camera works well with selfies and video calls. The iQOO 9 SE 5G packs a 4500 mAh battery that lasts for a day of moderate usage, and the bundled 66W fast charger claims to fully charge it in less than 40 minutes. The phone runs on Android 12 on Funtouch OS 12.

But it’s not the only iQOO phone that you can get this month for under 40K. At the time of writing, the generally more expensive iQOO 9 5G was also seen for just under Rs 40,000 but with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant. It offers several enhancements over the SE in various departments, but the most prominent ones are in the cameras and charging. This phone also has three cameras at the back but the primary camera offers gimbal stabilization and the 2MP depth sensor is replaced by a more useful 13MP 50mm professional portrait camera. The bundled 120W fast charger claims to fully charge it in just 18 minutes!

iQOO 9 5G price in India: Rs 39,990 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage

iQOO 9 SE 5G price in India: Rs 37,990 for 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

Realme GT 2/Realme GT Neo 3/OnePlus 10R
Like the iQOO, we also have two Realme phones that share a lot of similarities and just two major differences. The Realme GT 2 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 SoC, while the new Realme GT Neo 3 is powered by Mediatek’s flagship Dimensity 8100 chip, which is comparable in performance. While the former has a 6.62-inch AMOLED display, the latter has a slightly larger 6.7-inch AMOLED screen that supports 10-bit color depth. Both the screens are HDR10+ compliant, feature 120 Hz refresh rate and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.

You get 256GB internal storage variants of both the phones in this budget, with the GT2 showing 12GB of RAM as opposed to the 8GB on the Neo 3. The camera department is the same for both with a 50MP primary camera with OIS that captures some impressive shots. In different modes and lighting. It is accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide snapper and a 2MP macro camera. The 16MP front camera handles selfies and video calls well.

Both phones have a 5000mAh battery that keeps them running for over a day and a half of normal use, and the bundled fast charger can fully juice them up in half an hour. The Realme GT 2 and Realme GT Neo 3 run Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0. If you like the Realme GT Neo 3, then there is another phone with precise specifications that you should strongly consider before slashing your money. We are talking about the OnePlus 10R which is now available at the same price and offers more RAM.

Realme GT 2 Price in India: Rs 38,999 for 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

Realme GT Neo 3 Price in India: Rs 38,999 for 8 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

OnePlus 10R Price in India: Rs 38,999 for 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

Poco F4 5G
The top variant of the recently launched Poco F4 5G is also a solid option in this budget, given its sub-35K price tag. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 SoC, and you get 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. You get an impressive 6.67-inch AMOLED Full HD+ screen with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision compliance, and 1300 nits peak brightness. The display is protected from scratches by a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 5.

Apart from an impressive display, it has a stylish design with a glass back and it is only 7.7mm thick. The photography department is handled by a 64MP primary camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide shooter, and a 2MP macro camera. The 20MP front camera is good enough for selfies and video calls. Its 4500mAh battery lasts for a day of moderate use, and the bundled 67W fast charger promises to fully juice it up in less than 40 minutes. Poco F4 5G runs Android 12 with MIUI 13. This is one of the rare phones that offers a 2-year warranty.

Poco F4 5G Price in India: Rs 34,999 for 12 GB RAM / 256 GB storage

Motorola Edge 20 Pro
The Motorola Edge 20 Pro comfortably holds its place on this list, courtesy of some solid features. This phone is powered by Snapdragon 870 chip and comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. Its large 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display is impressive and flaunts a 144 Hz refresh rate with HDR10+ compliance and the ability to display over a billion color shades. The front and back are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 from scratches.

The photography department of the Motorola Edge 20 Pro is quite versatile. It has a 108MP primary camera and impressive support cast. You get a 16MP ultra-wide camera and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS that features 5X optical zoom. The 32MP front camera is bound to impress the selfie crowd. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for a day of normal usage and supports 30W fast charging. The phone launched with Android 11, and like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and near-stock user interface. Android 12 update has started rolling out.

Motorola Edge 20 Pro Price in India: Rs 34,999 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is a good option for the brand conscious buyers in this budget, and now it is even more affordable. It has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED HDR10+ compliant display with 120Hz refresh rate. It also has IP68 rated ingress protection. It is powered by Qualcomm’s previous generation flagship chip, the Snapdragon 865. You get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage that can be further expanded with a microSD card; A rare feature in premium phones. Samsung’s One UI 4.0 with Android 12 update is available for this device.

The photography department includes a 12MP primary camera with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3X optical zoom. Camera quality is excellent in various modes as expected from Samsung S series phones. You also have a 32MP front camera for selfie enthusiasts. Its 4500 mAh battery lasts for more than a day of normal usage. It supports regular fast charging as well as fast wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE Price in India: Rs 33,090 for 8 GB RAM / 128 GB storage