BEST MOBILE PHONES

Redmi Note 12 Pro+ 5G has launched in India with a relatively-expensive price tag. The Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G successor finds itself in the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge price category, courtesy of the upgrades on offer.

The phone comes with a glass back and a 120Hz AMOLED display. The 6.67-inch screen is flat and has a hole-punch cutout. Its headlining feature is the 200-megapixel primary camera. The triple-camera setup also features an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera.For selfies, there is a 16-megapixel front camera.

The Note 12 Pro+ 5G runs on the Android 12-based MIUI 13, which is a bummer considering rivals are shipping with Android 13.The phone features a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC. It has up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage on offer.

Another HyperCharge feature that the premium Note gets is 120W fast charging support for the 5000mAh battery.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro gets the premium treatment with a sharper curved edge display, more cameras and bigger battery. The Pixel 7 Pro looks premium compared to the matte-finished Pixel 7 even though the two smartphones share the same core hardware.

Inside you will find Google’s Tensor G2 processor which in India is available with 12GB of RAM. There’s a different ultra-wide-angle camera which now also doubles up as the macro camera because it features autofocus. The Pixel 7 Pro also packs in telephoto capability offering up to 5X optical zoom and 30X digital zoom.

Software performance is top notch and Pixel 7 Pro comes with no bloatware whilst delivering the fluid Pixel Android experience. Camera performance is top notch and so is the macro mode which is a first for Google Pixel lineup.

Battery performance is not the best as it only lasts a day on a single charge. Charging speeds too are relatively slow compared to the competition.

The Pixel 7 is Google’s latest flagship Pixel has an odd name given that it’s almost on par with the more expensive Pixel 7 Pro, be it design, performance or imaging quality. The Pixel 7 has the same core specifications as the Pixel 7 Pro, which includes the new Tensor G2 processor and the same primary and selfie cameras. 

Google has gone with minor changes to the phone’s design when compared to its predecessor, but the Pixel 7 gets a slightly different matte-finished frame and camera module instead of the polished finish of the Pixel 7 Pro.

Software performance is top-notch and the same can be said about its camera performance which lacks the newer macro capability on the ultra-wide camera and the 5X telephoto zoom camera from the Pixel 7 Pro.

Battery life is quite good with the phone easily lasting a day and half with casual use which also includes some gaming and camera usage. However, wired charging speeds are relatively slow.

The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion aims to strike the right balance by offering flagship-grade hardware wrapped inside a premium body. The phone sits between the Motorola Edge 30 5G and the Motorola Edge 30 Pro, which were launched earlier this year. Priced at Rs 42,999, the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage.

In terms of design, the Motorola Edge 30 Fusion features a glass back and an aluminium frame. The phone has an IP52 rating for water and dust resistance. The device offers great in-hand field due to its slim and lightweight form factor. The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion measures about 7.45mm and is only 175 grams heavy.

Software performance is also quite good. The Motorola Edge 30 Fusion runs on the Android 12-based MyUx skin to offer a near-stock Android experience. On top, you get some useful customisation options, such as Moto gestures, wallpapers, etc.

The phone promises smooth performance with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ SoC. It also packs a 4400mAh battery with support for 68W fast charging out of the box.

Camera performance is a bit shaky as the phone struggles to get the right skin tones when clicking human subjects. Otherwise, the main camera does a good job.

The iPhone 14 is virtually indistinguishable from the iPhone 13 in terms of design and it even uses the same SoC on the inside. With few differences and none of the headlining features that the iPhone 14 Pro can boast of, where does this phone fit in the lineup and should anyone really buy it? In terms of performance and camera quality, Apple has delivered consistent performance. Usage is smooth and the iOS ecosystem is refined, plus you have the company's promises of security and long-term updates. Crash detection and emergency satellite-based communciation is not available in India yet but these are new capabilties with this generation. Battery life is good but not great, and charging isn't as quick as what the competition offers. Apple might have bigger changes in store for next year's models, but for now a lot of people will be fine if they buy the iPhone 13 which costs less.

The iPhone 14 Plus is identical to the iPhone 14 in terms of features and most specifications, which means it has roughly the same capabilities as the iPhone 13. It does have a bigger screen and battery, so you get some of the benefits of the Pro Max models but at a relatively reasonable price. If you want a big screen or are looking for more of a reason to upgrade from an older iPhone, this might be the one for you. Battery life is fantastic, and overall performance is smooth. The cameras work very well in daylight and also do a decent job at night with favourable compositions. The iOS ecosystem promises security and software updates for many years. The iPhone 14 Plus might be a bit unwieldy but isn't too heavy. On the downside, you don't get features that many less expensive phones these days offer such as fast charging, a high refresh rate display with always-on functionality, and multiple rear cameras. 

The iPhone 14 Pro introduces a new Dynamic Island area instead of a notch, an upgraded 48-megapixel primary camera, and an always-on display. Other improvements such as crash detection and emergency satellite-based SMS communication aren't entirely relevant in India at the time of launch. It's available with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of storage. The new Deep Purple colour option is quite striking but not much has changed about this phone's looks compared to its past two predecessors. You get the A16 Bionic SoC on the inside, which powers only the new iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max this year. Battery life is decent, and everyday performance is very slick. iOS 16 has a few improvements to customisation and personalisation as well. All three rear cameras as well as the one in front have been improved in terms of low-light capabilities, and there's an Action Mode for video that delivers cropped and stabilised frames.  

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a premium smartphone that now not only caters to the fashion forward but also to the general user who is looking for something unique and special in Android smartphones.

Its design gets minor improvements compared to the previous model, but thanks to a smaller hinge it can now accommodate a bigger battery, which along with the new processor has drastically improved its battery life.

The displays appear to be the same as before with no differences in size. The cover display offers no additional functionality and still offers a rather restrictive experience forcing the user to open up the main display.

Photo quality has improved even though the camera setup appears the same on paper. The same can also be said about the low-light video quality which was a problem on the earlier model.

The Asus ROG Phone 6 comes with plenty of expected gaming upgrades over the previous model. The phone’s design sees some minor changes with a slightly pronounced camera bump and a second LED element on the rear panel.

Gaming performance is top-notch. The phone’s display is quick enough to give gamers an edge and the new Aeroactive Cooler accessory is also a must-have to take the phone’s performance to its limits. Having Android 12 is a bit disappointing, but Asus has included several software overlays to compensate for the same.

Battery life is excellent and the phone easily lasts a whole day with heavy gaming, and two days with casual use. Charging speeds are also quite fast despite using the bundled 30W charger. Camera performance has improved over the previous models when shooting during the day, but low-light performance is far from the best at this price point.

The Oppo Reno 8 Pro 5G is a premium smartphone from the company that is focussed on offering a premium design. The phone has a slim and elegant design that uses glass and metal.

Its display gets quite bright and colours appear vibrant. It features a thin bezel all around that adds to its overall premium appeal. The phone’s display is also HDR10+ certified and it all works as expected when it comes to streaming supported content.

The phone runs Oppo’s ColorOS 12.1, which is based on Android 12. Everything works as expected and Oppo’s O-Haptics vibration system enhances the software experience.

Camera performance in daylight is quite good, but the same cannot be said about the ultra-wide and macro cameras. In low light, the phone captures good photos, but its performance is not consistent. Battery life is quite solid and lasts a day and half on a single charge.

Vivo’s X80 Pro is the brand’s flagship replacement for the X70 Pro+. While the phone seems to have minor cosmetic changes, there’s plenty that’s changed on the inside.

The X80 Pro gets a new and updated Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC that is now paired with Vivo’s updated V1+ imaging chip, which assists with imaging and gaming performance.

Its 6.78-inch display mostly remains the same, but is still a high-end one with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2K resolution, which makes it quite sharp. The Vivo X80 Pro has a 4,700mAh battery that plugs into an 80W charger and also offers 50W wireless charging.

The cameras have been upgraded as well. There’s now a 50-megapixel Samsung-made GNV sensor for the primary camera and Vivo has moved its unique gimbal stabilisation technology to the 2x Portrait camera for clicking better Portrait photos in low light.

The Motorola Edge 30 Pro is the first smartphone in the new Edge 30 series. It sports a massive 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with a maximum refresh rate of 144Hz. Motorola has added stereo speakers into the mix, which will improve the overall content watching experience. The Edge 30 Pro has a glass back that makes it feel premium in the hand. However, it has a plastic frame that feels odd. It weighs 196g which is definitely noticeable, and its IP52 rated body is splash resistant.

The Edge 30 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. The Edge 30 Pro packs in a 4,800mAh battery and has support for 68W fast charging. Motorola also ships a compatible charger in the box. The company has launched only one configuration of the Motorola Edge 30 Pro with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. It runs Android 12 with Motorola’s custom My UX skin on top.

Motorola has gone for high-resolution camera sensors all around. This phone sports a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. For selfies, it sports a 60-megapixel shooter on the front. 

The iQoo 9 SE has a polycarbonate back panel and mid-frame but feels and looks quite premium. There's no official IP rating, but you get two high-quality stereo speakers that sound great while streaming video and playing games.

The phone has a 6.62-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED display, which produces punchy colours and is also HDR10+ certified, which is rare in this price segment.

The software experience with Android 12 is smooth and fluid, but the phone does come with too many preinstalled third-party apps. Gaming performance with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 SoC is top-notch, and the same applies to its 4,500mAh battery, which lasted a day and a half on a single charge in our tests.

Camera performance in daylight is impressive, but we expected better from the ultra-wide-angle camera. The iQoo 9 SE also shoots some good macros, and selfies shot in all kinds of lighting conditions came out nicely.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra brings together the camera capabilities of the Galaxy S series of smartphones and the S Pen that was popularised by the Galaxy Note series. The phone sports a 6.8-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR 10+. It has a peak brightness of 1750 nits. The display is crisp and can also take input from the S Pen Stylus. 

Powering the phone is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC paired with 12GB of RAM. It is offered with 256GB and 512GB storage options. Storage is non-expandable but the default storage is adequate. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is capable of running any app and game on the Play Store with ease. However, the phone does get warm under load. 

The Galaxy S22 Ultra has a quad-camera setup that is capable of 100X digital zoom. The phone clicks amazing photos irrespective of the lighting conditions. In low light, the phone can manage decent shots even without night mode. Video recording tops out at 8K for the primary camera and was stabilised.

The Samsung Galaxy S22+ does not offer any special features over the smaller Galaxy S22. It shares a similar design that’s a bit bigger and is available in the same RAM and storage variants as the latter.

Like the Galaxy S22 and the S22 Ultra, it too gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC in India. It features a large Dynamic AMOLED display that is good for gaming and streaming video. Its larger battery also makes it a two-day smartphone with casual use.The camera quality is quite good and the same applies to video recordings.

The cameras do a good job of capturing photos and video even in low light. Charging speeds are faster than the Galaxy S22, but not as fast as the competition.

The Realme 9 Pro+ elevates the 9 series from the mainstream segment to the mid-range. The 9 Pro+ is priced higher than the 9 Pro and offers some added features such as optical image stabilisation (OIS) in the camera, which has been missing from Realme’s lineup for a long time.

The Realme 9 Pro+ is available in a colour-changing Sunrise Blue finish. The back panel transitions from blue to red upon exposure to UV light if you choose this. It has a slim profile overall and is also quite light, which makes it comfortable for one-handed use.

The phone offers enough grunt with its MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC and it can easily handle demanding 3D games as well as take care of day-to-day tasks. Battery life is also quite good and it charges quickly using its bundled 60W charger.

Still camera performance is quite impressive. The primary camera with its OIS system captures clear and crisp photos in daylight and performs well in low-light conditions too. Android 12 also makes it here with Realme UI 3.0 and it brings most of its highlight features with it.

The iQoo 9 Pro is a solid offering in the premium segment and it comes packed with features and impressive core hardware. There’s a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset which offers ample performance whether its regular use or even hardcore mobile gaming.

The 6.78-inch AMOLED display is geared towards gaming with a 120Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate but is also quite colour accurate and delivers deep blacks when viewing videos. The loud stereo speakers also sound quite immersive.

Camera performance is top notch. All three cameras perform well in daylight and in low light. The primary camera’s gimbal stabilisation also works well for daylight video recordings, but quality drops a bit when shooting at night.

The iQoo 9 Pro’s 4,700mAh battery easily lasts a day and bit more on a single charge and charges up very quickly using the bundled 120W charger. There’s also 50W wireless charging using the company’s proprietary charging dock. While the phone looks good and feels premium, an official IP rating is missing and could be a deal breaker for some.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 is a solid offering from Samsung that seems a bit expensive on the surface, but offers all the premium features you would expect from a flagship in a compact form factor.

Its Dynamic AMOLED display is punchy and vibrant and does a good job when it comes to gaming. Its form factor is probably the main reason to pick it, as it’s small enough for one-handed use and also packs in enough battery life to last you a whole workday and some more.

The cameras do an excellent job in daylight and low light and the same goes for video recording, which is top-notch. One downside is that the phone does heat up when stressed. The Galaxy S22 gets quite hot when using the camera and this may turn out to be a deal-breaker for some.

The Realme 10 Pro+ is the latest mid-ranger from the company. It has received some upgrades in multiple departments over the Realme 9 Pro+, with the display being the highlight.

The Realme 10 Pro+ 5G sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate support. It is the most affordable smartphone to feature a curved screen. The phone's base model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at Rs. 24,999. The 8GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB storage options are priced at Rs. 25,999 and Rs. 27,999.

The phone comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 SoC, and a 5000mAh battery with 67W fast charging support.

The 108-megapixel main camera misses out on OIS support. Its triple-camera setup includes an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. For selfies, there is a 16-megapixel front camera. The handset runs on the Android 13-based Realme UI 4.0 out-of-the-box.

Lava Blaze 5G is the most affordable 5G smartphone in India. Priced at Rs. 10,999, the Lava Blaze 5G comes in a single 4GB + 128GB storage option. The budget 5G smartphone comes with support for eight 5G bands in India.

The Lava Blaze 5G comes with a premium glass back design and a plastic frame. It features a 6.5-inch IPS LCD with an HD+ resolution (720x1600 pixels). The screen also supports a 90Hz refresh rate.

There is a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, which is a budget 5G processor. The device packs a 5000mAh battery with 15W fast charging support. It weighs about 207g and measures 165.3x76.4x8.9mm.

The device has a triple-camera setup on the back with a 50-megapixel main camera. For selfies, there is an 8-megapixel front camera.In terms of software, the Lava Blaze 5G runs Android 12 out of the box. The company has promised to release the Android 13 update and provide two years of security support.

The Moto G72 is a new smartphone launched in India, under Rs. 20,000. The device is aimed at offering a no-compromise experience but lacks support for 5G networks in India. The Moto G72 scores points for its design. While the phone comes with a polycarbonate back and frame, the Polar Blue colour with a PMMA-acrylic finish makes it look premium. The phone is also fairly light at 166g and is 7.9mm thick.

There is a 6.6-inch pOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a full-HD+ resolution. The 10-bit display also comes with an HDR10+ certification. The mid-range smartphone features a MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, which is also found in the likes of the Redmi 11 Prime 4G and the Redmi Pad. Routine tasks can be performed smoothly and the phone also handles casual gaming fairly well.

The Moto G72 packs a 5000mAh battery and supports 33W fast charging. It also comes with a 108MP triple-camera setup on the back. There is a 16MP front camera inside the hole-punch cutout. Moto G72 runs on the Android 12-based MyUX skin and is promised to get the Android 13 update along with support for security patches for up to three years.

iQoo has launched the Z6 Lite 5G as its most affordable 5G smartphone in India. The iQoo Z6 Lite 5G sits at the bottom of the Z6 series. For its starting price of Rs 13,999, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G aims at providing reliable performance and 5G network support.

While design preferences are subjective, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G in its Stellar Green colour looks more premium than it is. The phone comes with a flat frame and a plastic body. It is 194g heavy and 8.3mm thick. The LCD display offers 120Hz refresh rate support, which is the highest in the price segment.

The highlight of the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G is its performance. There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC. The phone also packs a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. You do not get a charger in the box.

There is a dual-camera setup on the back. The phone features a 50-megapixel primary camera along with a 2MP depth sensor. The daylight shots are quite good but white balance is a hit or miss. For selfies, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G comes with an 8MP front camera.

Software-wise, the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G runs on the Android 12-based Funtouch OS 12 skin out of the box. It has its fair share of bloatware pre-installed along with some notifications from the browser app that spam a lot. The custom skin does offer options for customising and personalising the software experience.

Some of the features of the Nothing Phone 1 that really stand out are its premium build quality, vibrant display, good primary camera, and clean Android experience. The glyph lights are a nice differentiator but you may or may not find them actually useful for daily use. The one thing that needs the most improvement right now is the secondary cameras, especially in low light. Video recording could also benefit from better stabilisation and features.

Phones such as the Xiaomi 11T Pro and iQoo 9 SE offer better specs and features for a simialr price. However, if you want a phone that looks completely unique while still having all the essential features, there's nothing quite like the Phone 1 right now.

The OnePlus Nord 2T 5G comes with minor upgrades over the previous model. Its design mostly remains the same as before, but has some minor changes around the back, which includes a new layout for the cameras.

Its processor has been upgraded to a Dimensity 1300 SoC, which brings some performance improvements. The display remains the same as before and offers a 90Hz refresh rate.

The phone offers OxygenOS 12.1 which is based on Android 12. It has minimal bloatware and comes with just one preinstalled third-party app. Software performance is smooth and it all feels fluid thanks to the 90Hz display.

Gaming performance is quite good as well. The phone still lacks a macro camera unlike the original Nord, but the primary camera can shoot decent close-up images. Low-light performance is quite good. Battery capacity remains the same as before, but OnePlus has amped up the charging to 80W.

The Pixel 6a is a big upgrade and a step up from the Pixel 4a, which was Google’s last smartphone to make it to India. It packs in plenty of upgrades over the previous model but also a higher price tag.

Its design utilises glass for the display and a plastic panel for the rear, both of which are held together by an aluminium frame. While it feels solid, it's far from premium since the plastic panel is a massive smudge and dust magnet.

Software performance does not feel as fluid because of its 60Hz refresh rate display, but you do get the latest and greatest from Google which is Android 13 with no added bloatware.

Camera performance in all kinds of lighting conditions is top-notch, but video quality seems a bit lacking. Battery life is good for a day’s worth of use but charging is quite slow.

The Realme GT Neo 3 (150W) aims to offer an improved experience over the GT Neo 2 with a focus on gaming, but ends up falling a bit short of expectations in its attempt to offer more features.

Its design remains similar to the GT Neo 2, with some minor modifications to its finish. Performance with its MediaTek Dimensity 8100 SoC seems to have taken a bit of a hit when compared to what the competition offers. Gaming performance is good but not the best in this segment.

Camera performance is good both in daylight and in low light and it’s mainly down to the new OIS-enabled sensor from Sony. But it’s not as good as what the competition offers.

The 150W model offers a 150W charger in the box which does a good job of charging the smartphone quickly, but heats up the phone quite a bit.

​The OnePlus 10R 5G (150W) is the successor to the OnePlus 9RT. The phone’s frame and rear panel are made from polycarbonate and features a matte finish which does not feel premium even though it is good at rejecting fingerprints.

Its AMOLED display packs HDR10+ capability, showcases deep blacks, and gets quite bright. It also features a 120Hz refresh rate and a 720Hz maximum touch sampling rate which is useful for gamers.

The phone has MediaTek’s Dimensity 8100-Max processor which is a customised version of the regular Dimensity 8100. The customisations according to OnePlus are said to improve gaming and AI performance along with low-light video.

The primary camera's performance is good in daylight, but the ultra-wide-angle and macro cameras are quite average. Battery life is solid and the 150W charging system, a highlight of this phone, works as expected.

The Redmi Note series has always been about great features and specifications for less than Rs. 20,000, but the new Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G's price starts above that level. It has a 108-megapixel primary rear camera, 67W fast charging, Snapdragon 695 SoC, 5G, and 120Hz Super AMOLED panel. However, competition is tough and this balance at this price isn't really for everyone. The design is somewhat basic but there's a Mirage Blue option with a unique rear pattern that looks like waves of water. The display is sharp and punchy, but doesn't have HDR. General performance is great, and the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G ships with Android 11 at launch time. MIUI features lots of customisations. Gamers might find that other options at this price are more powerful. Photography was also just about average, with decent performance in the daytime but weak low-light results and no 4K video recording. Charging is super quick too.

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G is similar to the older Galaxy A52s 5G but borrows design elements from the new Galaxy S22 series. Thankfully, Samsung retains the older model's IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, making it stand out from the competition.

The new Exynos 1280 SoC delivers budget performance, so those looking for a good gaming phone will have to look elsewhere. The Galaxy A53 5G borrows most of its core hardware, including camera components, from the older Galaxy A52s 5G.

Camera performance is good in daylight but is average in low light. Video performance is quite good but below the mark in low light.

Its 5,000mAh battery lasts two days with casual use. Samsung does not offer a charger in the box, but the phone supports 25W fast charging. Charging speeds are slow when compared to the competition.