BEST MOBILE PHONES

The Galaxy Z Fold 7 is a new standard set by Samsung for foldables. It features the absolute best SoC - the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy, which promises a beastly performance, and the device looks stunningly sleek and lightweight. The cameras are excellent, and the display is of flagship-grade quality. If you've the money, then the Fold 7 should not disappoint you in any department. In areas that could have been improved, the battery department, along with charging speed, is the only one that should have received an upgrade.

OnePlus 13s is a premium smartphone equipped with a 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from Qualcomm, along with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. It runs on Android 15 with the company's OxygenOS 15 user interface, and is slated to receive four Android OS upgrades and six years of security updates.

This compact flagship sports a 6.32-inch LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate, along with Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid support. It offers vibrant visuals with up to 1600 nits peak brightness, in a more compact form factor than its more expensive sibling, the OnePlus 13. The display features Crystal Shield Glass protection and the phone has an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance.

The OnePlus 13s has 50-megapixel main camera capable of 4K video recording, and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 2x optical zoom. It also has a 32-megapixel selfie camera. The phone packs a 5,800mAh battery with support for 80W SuperVOOC charging. The phone also features an infrared port, and biometric authentication is handled by an under-display optical fingerprint sensor.

Motorola’s Razr 60 Ultra has a familiar design made of aluminium, stainless steel, glass and synthetic fabric. The phone’s IP-rating has been bumped up to include dust resistance as well. Its hinge remains similar in terms of form and function.

The new Razr gets a high-end processor which powers the new Moto AI experience. Its software remains familiar, but there’s two AI models to choose from which can get confusing for some. The phone’s cover display UI experience remains second to none with the ability to run most apps on it.

Its displays pack everything under the sun and perform really well both indoors and outdoors. The phone’s cover display is perfectly legible in direct sunlight and both displays offer LTPO technology.

Battery life has improved and can now last beyond a day thanks to increased capacity and excellent software optimisation.

Oppo Find X8 Ultra raises the bar for what a flagship camera smartphone should look like. The cut down on the weight works wonders for the Find X8 Ultra in daily use. The performance is top-notch, and the display is fantastic. Of course, the cameras are the biggest marquee feature and will remain one of the reasons why people may opt to buy this one. However, the limited availability of the Find X8 Ultra makes this one a tough recommendation. In China, the phone starts at roughly Rs. 76,000.

Samsung Galaxy S25+ comes with a tried and tested formula proven for the company. It nails performance, packs one of the best displays for multimedia, offers decent battery life, and there's AI baked in well. The cameras are solid for the price segment and can also be your go-to gaming device. Samsung offers seven years of software promise for people who wish to hold onto their devices for longer. Overall, the Galaxy S25+ is a solid package at its price.

Samsung Galaxy S25 ticks all the right boxes for what a premium smartphone should offer under Rs. 1 lakh. It packs a solid design, an IP68 rating, the fastest SoC you will find in phones this year, and the best seven years of software promise from Samsung, the current industry benchmark. If you have always wanted a compact phone, the Galaxy S25 fits all the requirements and is actually better than the Google Pixel 9, another compact phone in the premium tier, in most things, plus AI features. Long thing short, it is a better offering than last year's S24.

Poco X7 Pro is the all-new mid-range smartphone that's priced under Rs. 30,000. This is the first phone to debut with MediaTek 8400 Ultra processor and packs the largest battery at this price. Poco's new X7 Pro is also the company's first with HyperOS 2.0, based on Android 15. The dual camera setup is decent, and the phone weighs under 200 grams. At its price, the X7 Pro is a great value proposition and is a perfect choice for anyone eyeing anything around this price segment.

The OnePlus 13 has a brand-new design that’s now available in a vegan leather option as well. Accompanying the new design are new cases with magnets in place to hold the new wireless charging accessories. The phone is both IP68 and IP69 certified for dust and water resistance.

OnePlus has a new quad-curved screen for its mostly flat display, which is a departure from the curved edge displays on previous models. The phone runs OxygenOS 15, which is based on Android 15 and comes with many new and useful AI-enabled features.

The phone offers plenty of raw performance for regular use and demanding tasks like gaming and camera usage thanks to its new 3nm processor. The camera performance is unparalleled at this price point, and the same holds true for video recording.

The high-capacity battery life easily lasts beyond a day of casual use and also charges up faster than most premium devices using both wired and wireless sources.

The Oppo Find X8 Pro goes with the typical Oppo design language consisting of curved sides and rounded corners. It sticks with metal and glass but goes with 3d-curved screens offering a quad-curved panel for its display.
While the quad-curved display looks attractive, it’s not the best outdoors as it produces one too many reflections which can get distracting.

Oppo has included top-notch camera hardware but sadly hasn’t optimised it well, resulting in images that aren’t really best in class. Contrary to its camera capabilities, we were impressed by its video recordings.

Battery life thanks to its new energy-dense battery technology is stellar. The same applies for charging speeds which are class-leading both for wired and wireless charging.

Software is a bit of a mixed bag. Oppo has added plenty of customisation options especially for its lockscreen, but fumbles a bit when it comes to AI features.

Vivo X200 Pro is an all-rounder with outstanding cameras. If you're a camera enthusiast, your search should end with this phone, as it offers a better camera setup than most phones in this price segment. In terms of performance, the phone delivers flagship-grade prowess with no complaints. The battery performance is class-leading, too, with no match in the entire premium Android smartphone range. 

The iPhone 16 Pro Max adds more screen real estate and offers one of the best battery life we have ever recorded in an iPhone. The new Camera Control is a fun addition and makes using the camera handy. Apple Intelligence features look promising, though some wait for that as it is not here. Cameras are a big step up, and it offers a stunning display. If you're still using the iPhone 14 Pro Max or older models, then the 16 Pro Max makes total sense.

The iPhone 16 Plus is for those who want the latest iPhone under a lakh but do not want a smaller screen and compromise on the battery front. The 16 Plus should appeal to heavy multimedia users who love to be on their phones while on the go. The battery performance is amazing, and this one can handle anything and everything thrown at it during everyday use. The cameras are solid and overall, the 16 Plus is the iPhone to consider this year under a lakh, which can offer pro features without actually buying one. 

The Pixel 10 at Rs. 79,999 is for those who want a pure Android experience and would love to have a Google phone. It is one of the best entry-level Pixels in a long time. The biggest addition is the 5x telephoto lens that's missing on a lot of rival devices. The AI features on board are still worth trying, and some of them work better than what iPhones (up to iPhone 16) were offering till now. The primary camera is a solid one and won't disappoint in any situation. Overall, the Pixel 10 is for purists who love a raw Google experience.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a brand new design that is not only slim but a bit wider as well. Made from the same armour aluminium used in other models, there’s now a large cover display with floating cameras in it. Despite its slimmer design and new hinge, the phone has an IP48 rating against dust and water.

Inside, there is a homegrown processor which offers enough performance for everyday multitasking but falls a bit short when it comes to gaming. The processor runs hot and bogs the phone down when stressed, be it when playing games or using the camera app.

Camera performance is pretty average as the camera hardware remains unchanged from the previous model. Video recording is quite stable but not the best we have seen at this price point.

Battery life is a bit underwhelming as the phone barely gets through the day with heavy usage. Charging too is relatively slow and Samsung does not include a charger in the box.
 

OnePlus Nord CE 5 is a mid-range smartphone that offers some notable upgrades over its predecessor, the Nord CE 4. These include a more powerful processor and a larger battery. The phone has a plastic rear panel and edges, a dual rear camera setup, a single bottom-firing speaker, and a USB Type-C port. 

The 6.77-inch AMOLED screen on the OnePlus Nord CE 5 has slim bezels and a hole punch cutout for the selfie camera. It runs on Android 15 with OxygenOS 15, and promised four years of OS upgrades and six years of security updates. The handset also supports some OnePlus AI software features.

Performance is driven by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex SoC, offering improved CPU performance over the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chip in the Nord CE 4. It can handle demanding tasks like 4K video editing and games. The 6.77-inch OLED display has a refresh rate between 60Hz and 120Hz and is Widevine L1 certified for HD and HDR video streaming.

The Oneplus Nord CE 5 has a 50-megapixel primary rear camera (Sony LYT-600) with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera (OV08D10), and a 16-megapixel selfie camera (Sony IMX480) with EIS.

You get a large 7,100mAh battery on the Nord CE 5, and it provides at least two days of battery life on a single charge. It also supports 80W SuperVOOC wired charging, which can fully charge the phone in just over an hour.

The OnePlus Nord 5 offers notable improvements over last year's Nord 4 model, including a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and enhanced cameras. A key design change is the replacement of the alert slider with a new "Plus Key," which can be remapped for various functions, including the new Plus Mind feature. 

The Nord 5 runs OxygenOS 15 based on Android 15, offering AI features like Plus Mind, AI VoiceScribe, AI Call Assistant, and AI Translation. It's slated to receive four years of OS upgrades and six years of security updates. The phone features a glass and metal design with a 6.83-inch screen and a substantial 6,800mAh battery.

It features a Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 SoC from Qualcomm, and the handset is the first Nord series phone with an 8-series chip. While not the latest, it's optimised for smooth day-to-day operation and demanding applications. The 6.83-inch Full-HD+ AMOLED screen refreshes at 144Hz and supports up to 1,800 nits peak brightness.

Camera capabilities include a 50-megapixel primary sensor with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide, and a 50-megapixel selfie camera. The primary camera performs well in various lighting conditions, while the ultrawide is decent when there's enough light. It also supports up to 4K/60fps video recording on the main and selfie cameras.

The 6,800mAh battery is quite reliable, lasting up to a day and a half with moderate usage, and supports 80W SuperVOOC fast charging. Overall, the OnePlus Nord 5 is a strong contender in its price range, offering reliable performance, a good primary camera, optimised software, and long lasting battery life.

The Vivo X200 FE is the latest compact smartphone in the X200 series, offering a perfect blend of compact design and powerful performance. The smartphone features a premium design and offers a bright display that offers vibrant colours and crisp texts. The device also performs well, though it features last year’s MediaTek chipset. The cameras are the major selling point of the device, and do a good job in most light conditions. The battery life is good for the compact form factor. Overall, if you are looking for a compact premium smartphone with good camera capabilities, then you can consider the Vivo X200 FE.

The Realme GT 7T serves as the entry point for consumers in the GT 7 series, offering better value than the GT 7. The battery backup sets a benchmark for the segment, while performance credentials are reassuring. The dual camera setup is decent but could have been better, while the display is top-notch. The GT 7T also features a host of AI capabilities that keep it up-to-date. If you're looking for a smartphone that guarantees performance without compromise, then look no further than the GT 7T.

Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge has a slim and light design, that is more light than slim. Its sandwiched glass design uses a titanium frame which also helps keep things light and rigid. Despite its slim design, you get the usual set of features like stereo speakers, wireless charging and more. 

The phone’s display is top notch. Colours are accurate and the touch sampling rate is great for gaming. However, outdoors it cannot sustain its maximum brightness for too long because of its heating issues.

Despite packing a revised vapour chamber cooling system, the phone throttles down its maximum performance very quickly. Regardless, casual users will not notice these performance issues except when using its camera, which is when it gets noticeably hot.

Primary camera performance is solid, but the ultrawide camera leaves a lot to be desired. The smaller battery capacity limits usage to a day and nothing more. Charging is also relatively slow for a premium device.
 

The Realme GT 7 delivers a powerful performance in terms of battery, display, and overall capabilities. The 7,000mAh battery, combined with 120W fast charging, sets a benchmark at this price point, while 6000 nits of peak brightness makes it brighter than the iPhone 16. The camera department is not the biggest highlight of the GT 7, though. For gaming enthusiasts, the phone can deliver on every front. Keeping in sync with market trends, the GT 7 features a host of AI enhancements, which is a welcome addition. 

The CMF Phone 2 Pro brings a lot of improvements to the CMF series. The latest smartphone from the brand offers a sleeker design language and a good in-hand feel. The handset provides decent performance and a good value-for-money proposition in this price segment. The cameras are capable of taking some good photos in different lighting conditions. The CMF Phone 2 Pro also has a good battery life, lasting slightly more than a day and having moderate to heavy usage. That said, if you are looking for an all-around package and want to experience a clean user interface, consider this smartphone. 

Motorola’s Edge 60 Pro has a slim and stylish tapered design, which uses a polycarbonate frame and has top-notch IP rating for dust and water. Unlike most brands, there are several different textured finishes to choose from.

Its display has skinny bezels and offers a vibrant viewing experience but lacks HDR support in OTT apps. The top-end mid-ranger processor offers more than enough performance for daily multi-tasking, but cannot offer sustained gaming performance. The software experience is smooth, but does pack some bloatware which can be uninstalled.

Camera performance is very good for this price point. The telephoto camera offers good performance in daylight but shoots slightly softer images in low light. Selfie camera captures oversharpened images.

Battery life did not perform well in our benchmark tests, but did very well in real-world testing. Charging speeds are still relatively fast and the phone also offers fast wireless charging.

The Vivo T4 has a slim and stylish design that is inspired by premium models in the company’s lineup of smartphones. Its frame and rear panel are made of polycarbonate, but the phone still manages an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance.

Performance is not a problem with the Vivo T4 as the phone handles applications and multitasking without breaking sweat. 3D games also work well with the phone maintaining its cool.

The phone only offers one user-accessible rear facing camera which offers good daylight and low light performance provided you don’t zoom in. Video recordings come out well and also pack in good detail in all lighting conditions.

The phone’s high-capacity battery can easily last days with light usage. With heavy usage it can still easily last over a day. It is also surprisingly quick while charging with the bundled charger.
 

The iQOO Z10x is a budget smartphone that uses a polycarbonate frame and rear panel but still manages to offer an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. The phone offers a textured rear panel, which makes it appear attractive given its price tag.

Performance is not exactly a problem, given the capable processor. However, we did notice some stutters from time to time, which points to software optimisation issues. The phone is updated to the latest Android 15, but only supports 2 years of software updates.

Camera is not the iQOO Z10x’s biggest drawback. Daylight images are far from the best we have seen in this segment. Low light images are not usable. Video recording isn’t great either.

Despite packing a high capacity battery, charging speeds are pretty good. Standby time is also very good and the phone can easily last two days with light usage.

Motorola’s Edge 60 Fusion is a stylish mid-range smartphone that offers a premium design with its various vegan-leather finishes. The phone offers both IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Its display curves aggressively on the left and right sides but this only enhances the premium look and feel of the smartphone. It’s also bright enough to tackle direct sunlight.

The phone’s software experience remains near-stock in terms of visuals but comes stuffed with plenty of bloatware underneath. Luckily, performance is on point and one can enjoy gaming on it as well.

Camera performance is great as well. Both the primary camera and ultrawide camera perform well in all types of lighting conditions. Also good is its video recording capabilities. Battery life is average but can easily get past a day even with heavy use.
 

The iQOO Neo 10R has a frame and rear panel made of polycarbonate but still manages an IP65 rating for dust and water resistance. The phone’s design and choice of materials do feel basic and this also makes it a smudge and dust magnet.

Its display is a contrast to its rear panel. It offers a high refresh rate and works well for consuming content outdoors and for gaming. The bright display also supports HDR10 for video streaming.

The device is a performance powerhouse given its price and so multitasking is a breeze. Also included are some AI tools some of which perform as expected.

Imaging is not this phone’s strong point. Video quality in daylight is impressive but we cannot say the same about low light shooting. The phone’s massive battery and fast charging make it a solid road warrior and great for those who are constantly streaming video or playing games on the move. 

The Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G brings a lot of improvements as compared to its predecessor. The latest smartphone from the brand offers the iconic transparent back panel with an improved Glyph interface. Moreover, the new camera module gives it a distinct look and feel. The handset comes with an IP64 rating, which makes it dust and water-resistant. 

The Nothing Phone 3a has a unique design which sets it apart from any other smartphone at its price point. The phone’s rear panel is made of glass, which also allows for a better IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. The Glyph interface present on all Nothing phones remains the same as before in terms of form and function.

Software performance with everyday use is quite solid. It works smoothly without any hiccups and contains no bloatware either. Everything from wallpapers to fonts to themes is very tastefully accomplished. And the same applies to the AI feature called Essential Space.

Camera performance is a bit of a mixed bag. The main camera performs well, but the newly introduced telephoto camera works best in daylight. Low-light video recording needs work and is strictly average.

Despite its standard battery, Nothing has managed to optimise it well with Nothing OS. It can easily handle a whole day of heavy usage. Charging speeds are relatively a bit slow.

The Apple iPhone 16e is a brand-new product line meant to replace the brand’s SE series of smartphones. A fresh new name brings a new but recycled design, that feels premium and maintains the compact dimensions of its predecessor.

The display is a bit dated both in terms of appearance and capability, thanks to its large notch with thick borders and its 60Hz standard refresh rate, which makes the software experience feel a bit sluggish.

Packing the latest chipset, performance is through the roof. So whether it regular apps or high-end games, everything works as expected. Camera performance is decent for the most part and lacks the flexibility offered by the standard numbered iPhone models. Low light performance is a bit below average.

Battery life is one of the iPhone 16e’s strong points. It easily manages a whole day of use, which is good for a compact smartphone. Both wired and wireless charging are relatively slow.

The Realme P3 Pro seems like an intriguing low-priced mid-ranger aimed mainly at the youth. Its design offers a selection of bright, loud colourways with interesting textures and finishes. Its rounded design is also IP68 and IP69-rated for dust and water resistance.

The phone offers a quad-curved display with thin borders. The curved edges do add some distracting reflections but make for an immersive viewing experience. Still, the display somehow does not feel bright outdoors.

Performance is not a problem with daily use, and casual users will see no slowdowns or hiccups of any sort. However, the phone comes loaded with plenty of bloatware and double apps.

Its camera performs well in daylight but not so much in low light. Video recording is a bit below average overall. Battery life is good, but we did expect better given the battery’s higher than usual capacity. 

The Vivo V50 offers a slim and stylish design despite using a mix of glass and polycarbonate. It’s design is also IP68 and IP69-rated for dust and water resistance. Vivo makes good use of a quad-curved display to give the phone a slim silhouette, but it still feels a bit heavy because of its large battery.

The display is quite bright and is properly legible in the bright outdoors. However, its quad-curved design does produce some unnecessary and distracting reflections. The phone has the same chipset used in the past two models, but the software handles it all well with a hiccup.

Its lower raw performance is more evident when playing games, as it’s not able to hold a stable frame rate while doing so. However, heating issues are not a problem. Camera performance is a mixed bag and is far from the best we have seen in this segment.

Battery performance stands out, easily managing more than a day of heavy usage. Charging speeds are also quite fast for a device equipped with such a large battery.

The Poco X7 is packed with features to the brim and, on paper, is a great device for everyday use. Starting with the display, the peak brightness is on par with the competition, and the additional IP rating offers consumers peace of mind. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Ultra and is a decent processor for everyday tasks. The phone also packs AI features and comes with 3+4 years of software update. The camera isn't the strongest highlight, but its performance credentials make it an excellent choice for its price segment.

The Oppo Reno 13 Pro 5G brings a lot of improvement to the Reno series. The latest smartphone from the brand offers a sleeker design language with aluminium frames and an  IP69 rating. The handset also packs a punch in terms of performance and gives you a good value-for-money proposition in this price segment. The cameras are capable of clicking some good photos in different lighting conditions. The Oppo Reno 13 Pro also has a good battery life, lasting slightly more than a day and having moderate to heavy usage. That said, if you are looking for an all-round package, consider this smartphone. 

The Realme GT 7 Pro has an IP69-rated design that is made of metal and glass. Both the front and rear glass panels have 3D-curved edges on all four sides, making it comfortable to hold given its large footprint.

The phone processor offers more than enough raw performance for casual use and can handle any game you can throw at it without breaking sweat. The software experience is buttery smooth and has been updated to the latest version of Android.

Camera performance is good for its price tag, but this performance is mainly limited to its primary and telephoto cameras. The ultrawide camera is subpar, and the video recording quality is average for a smartphone in this price bracket.

Battery life, given the battery’s massive capacity, easily lasts two days with regular use. Charging speed is speedy even for a flagship device. However, this phone lacks wireless charging.

The Oppo Find X8 has a modern-looking design that uses a mix of metal and glass. Its design is also IP68 and IP69 rated for dust and water resistance and despite its slim overall appearance manages to squeeze in features like high-speed wireless charging as well.

The phone’s highlight apart from its cameras is also its compact design, which makes it one of the few compact flagships available in the market.

The Find X8 is well-equipped when it comes to cameras. They offer good overall performance and are also good when it comes to recording video.

Software is a bit of a mixed bag with Oppo attempting to be the jack of all trades. It offers immense customisation options with a new found focus on the lockscreen, but comes up a bit short with its image editing tools.

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is a leap forward in design and battery. The performance is also great, and the feature list is long - which is good. It gets an IP68 rating, which should give consumers peace of mind and additional brownie points for durability tests. The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ is a game changer for the Note series and a solid contender under Rs. 40,000. It also packs some AI features. However, there are a few areas where Redmi Note 14 Pro+ could have been better, like the software support window. Overall, it is a phone you can easily recommend under Rs. 40,000.