When you look for a smartphone around the Rs 45,000 price point, you know you’re expecting to get a premium device. Of course, many smartphone brands operate in this price segment, but the phone choices themselves aren’t that many. It’s like, the more you keep increasing your budget, the more options keep getting narrower. So, yes, the leading smartphone makers such as OnePlus, Xiaomi and others have got some pretty competitive smartphone choices for under Rs 45,000, but the main question is — which ones are the absolute best? Well, save yourself the trouble of researching, and follow this curated list of the best smartphones that you can buy in India this January for under Rs 45,000.
1. OnePlus 10R 5G
The OnePlus 10R 5G could probably qualify to be a solid option under Rs 35,000 if you plan to get the base variant of this phone. However, it is the phone’s mid-variant that makes absolute sense to buy. Of course, for what it’s worth, the OnePlus 10R features a flat 120Hz AMOLED screen that looks gorgeous, along with tiny bezels and a tiny centre-aligned hole punch. Additionally, the phone comes in a boxy design with a unique finish at the rear. It is powered by the Dimensity 8100 MAX SoC and coupled with bloatware-free OxygenOS software and 80W fast charging, the overall software experience is great.
The OnePlus is currently offered in two RAM and storage options. The 8GB + 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs 34,999. The 12GB + 256GB storage variant is priced at Rs 38,999. There’s also a top-tier variant featuring 12GB + 256GB storage, along with a 150W fast charging option, but this variant has been out of stock for a while now.
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2. OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G
The OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G is another smartphone from the house of BBK electronics featuring the Dimensity 8100 Max chip, 80W fast charging, and good endurance, along with probably one of the best-looking phone designs. But design aside, OPPO has also made sure that the phone can capture some sharp photos and videos, something that we also noted in our review of this smartphone. Now, of course, the ColorOS software might not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially folks who prefer stock Android and might want to look elsewhere. But, one also can’t deny the fact that when it comes to nifty features along with a snappy user experience, you can’t overlook OPPO’s custom take on Android.
The OPPO Reno 8 Pro 5G is currently priced at Rs 45,999 for the lone 12GB RAM + 256GB storage variant.
3. Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G
A premium design, a stellar camera performance for its budget, courtesy of the 108MP triple-rear camera system and a brilliant 120Hz 10-Bit AMOLED display are some of the key highlights that make the Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G an absolutely worthwhile purchase for under Rs 45,000. Additionally, the Xiaomi 11T Pro also features 120W fast charging, which might not be as fast as OnePlus’ 150W solution but is fast enough to fully top-up the phone’s 5,000mAh battery in about 20 minutes. Of course, one of the best parts about buying this smartphone is the software support, as just like the Pixel, the Xiaomi 11T Pro also gets a total of 3 years of Android OS updates and 4 years of security patches.
The Xiaomi 11T is currently offered in three RAM and storage variants in India. The base 8GB + 128GB storage option is sold for Rs 36,999. The middle variant with 8GB RAM + 256GB storage is sold for Rs 37,999. Finally, the top-tier 12GB + 256GB storage variant is sold for Rs 40,999.
Read More: Samsung Galaxy S21 FE to be available at an effective price of Rs 33,999 via Flipkart
4. Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
As of writing this article, the current deal on the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is a steal. So, usually, this smartphone retails for about Rs 45,000, i.e. for its base variant. And so, if you miss the current discounted deal, then you might have to pay the aforementioned amount. However, for what it’s worth, the Galaxy S21 FE brings Samsung’s brand reliability along with offering top-tier features borrowed from the company’s expensive flagship phones. In fact, some of the key features of the phone include a class-leading Super AMOLED display, a stellar camera, a refined software experience, and more. With that said, the Galaxy S21 FE can actually be called one of the last few OG flagship killers.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE is currently retailing at Rs 35,999 for its base 8GB RAM + 128GB storage option. This is, of course, the discounted price that Samsung can choose to continue with going forward or they can increase their prices. That is something that we’ll get to know in time. Otherwise, folks interested in a higher storage option can look at the 8GB + 256GB variant, priced at Rs 59,999. Although, we don’t recommend going for the latter right now.
