India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world, and the most competitive. Value dominates the entire conversation around phones, and as a result you'll find incredible deals across the board — from flagships like the OnePlus 8 Pro to affordable options like the POCO X2. I've used every phone launched in India over the last 12 months, and these are the best Android phones you can buy in the country right now.
Best Overall: OnePlus 8 Pro
The OnePlus 8 Pro is the best Android flagship in India right now. The phone ticks all the right boxes: you get a premium design backed by the absolute latest internal hardware money can buy, the cameras are much better than previous generations, and there are 30W wired and wireless charging, as well as IP68 dust and water resistance.
Let's start with the display: the 6.78-inch 120Hz QHD+ AMOLED display is one of the best you'll find on a phone today, and there are no issues with color tint or other panel-related problems. The 48MP primary camera takes fantastic photos, and there's a secondary 48MP wide-angle lens that is just as good, and it takes macro shots that are actually usable, although the front-facing camera is just alright. The 4,510mAh battery lasts all day, and with 30W wired or wireless charging, you won't have to leave your phone plugged in overnight.
As for the hardware, you're getting the latest Snapdragon 865 chipset with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard. Combine all of that with clean software in the form of OxygenOS, and you get the best overall package in India. The fact that the OnePlus 8 Pro is selling for ₹54,999 ($725) is the icing on the cake — that's $175 (₹13,300) less than what the device costs in other markets.
Pros:
- Sublime QHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display
- Premium design
- 30W wired and wireless charging
- Incredible performance with clean software
- IP68 dust and water resistance
Cons:
- Selfie camera is average
- Software issues at launch
Best Overall
OnePlus 8 Pro
The flagship to beat right now
With a gorgeous design backed by the latest internals and upgraded cameras, the OnePlus 8 Pro is the best phone in India.
Best Camera: Xiaomi Mi 10
The 108MP camera on the back of the Mi 10 is absolutely fantastic. It takes incredible images in any lighting conditions, and you get 8K video recording with the best video stabilization I have seen yet. With the Pixel 4 series not available in India and the Galaxy S20 Ultra retailing for an eye-watering ₹97,999 ($1,286), the Mi 10 is the default choice if you want a phone with the best camera right now.
It's incredible when you consider what you're getting with the Mi 10 for ₹49,999 ($655). The internal hardware is right up there with the best that Android has to offer — you get a Snapdragon 865 chipset with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, 30W wired and wireless charging, and all the other extras like Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and NFC. The 4,780mAh battery is more than adequate to deliver a day's worth of use, and Xiaomi's 30W wireless charger is my favorite charging accessory.
The Mi 10 has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, and it is a delight to interact with it on a day-to-day basis. You also get a premium design, and in general the Mi 10 just gets a lot of basics right. The only downside is MIUI 11 — it still has its share of issues, but most of these can be fixed with a third-party launcher. For the most part, the software here is much better than budget Xiaomi phones. The 108MP camera more than makes up for the software quibbles, and if you're in the market for a phone with the best camera, just get the Mi 10.
Pros:
- Incredible 108MP camera
- Gorgeous design
- Stunning 90Hz AMOLED display
- Latest internal hardware
- 30W wired and wireless charging
Cons:
- MIUI has a learning curve
- Macro camera doesn't work
Best Camera
Xiaomi Mi 10
Setting a new standard
If you're looking for a phone with the best possible camera, this is it. The 108MP sensor on the Mi 10 is absolutely fantastic.
Best Value: OnePlus 7T
You might be wondering why I put a phone that costs ₹34,999 ($460) as the best value pick. That's because the value you're getting with the OnePlus 7T is incredible. I re-evaluated the phone after six months of use, and came away astonished by how well it holds up in 2020.
You don't need to buy a 5G phone yet in India. It will be at least two to three years before 5G networks are available for consumers in the country, so in that context, buying a 4G phone makes a lot of sense in 2020. The OnePlus 7T is the best of the 4G-enabled phones, featuring the Snapdragon 855+ chipset with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard. You'll miss out on features like wireless charging, but that keeps the price so low.
If you want excellent performance backed by a 90Hz AMOLED screen and clean software with regular updates, there isn't a phone that delivers quite as much value as the OnePlus 7T. What I'm saying is that the OnePlus 7T is still a fantastic phone in 2020.
Pros:
- Standout value
- Vibrant 90Hz AMOLED panel
- Robust internal hardware
- Clean software
- Decent cameras
Cons:
- No wireless charging
- No 3.5mm headphone jack
Best Value
OnePlus 7T
Still a fantastic phone
The OnePlus 7T is still a great option in 2020, and you're getting incredible value when you consider the hardware on offer.
Best Budget Phone: POCO X2
POCO Followed up the groundbreaking F1 with the X2, a more subdued effort that's focused on the budget segment. Yes, the phone is a rebranded variant of the Redmi K30. No, that doesn't make it any less great. In fact, the POCO X2 is the best budget phone you can buy right now in India.
The standout feature on the POCO X2 is the 6.67-inch 120Hz LCD screen — it makes everyday interactions much more fluid. While it isn't quite the same as a 120Hz AMOLED panel, you'll still see a noticeable difference when switching from a regular 60Hz screen. The specs are also great when you consider how much it costs: there's a Snapdragon 730G chipset, and the base model has 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
The 4,500mAh battery easily delivers up to two days of use between charger, and you get a 27W fast charger in the box. The 64MP camera takes decent photos in its own right, but the resultant photos are missing that final bit of polish. You get the POCO launcher out of the box, and the biggest difference between the POCO X2 and budget Redmi phones is that there are no ads in MIUI.
Pros:
- 120Hz display
- Outstanding battery life
- Lag-free performance
- 3.5mm jack
- Stellar value
Cons:
- Cameras are strictly average
- MIUI issues
Best Budget Phone
POCO X2
Hitting all the right notes
The POCO X2 has all the features you care about, and the 120Hz screen makes the phone that much more interesting to use.
Best of Samsung: Samsung Galaxy S20
If you're using an older Galaxy S or Note phone and want to upgrade, the Galaxy S20 is the obvious choice. Note that Samsung sells the Exynos version of the Galaxy S20 in India, and that particular option isn't quite as good as the Snapdragon 865 model that's sold in the U.S. The Exynos 990 has issues with overheating, and the battery life isn't on par with the Snapdragon version.
Samsung is selling the 4G-only version of the Galaxy S20 in India, and as a result it starts off at ₹70,499 ($925). The phone has the best AMOLED display you'll find today, and the 120Hz refresh rate is a welcome change that makes interactions that much more smooth. You get all the extras here: IP68 dust and water resistance, 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity with Bluetooth 5.1.
The Galaxy S20 also has great cameras, with the primary 12MP lens taking decent photos in just about any lighting condition. While the phone doesn't deliver as much value as the rest of the picks on the list, it is a great option if you're used to Samsung phones and want to upgrade to the latest and greatest in 2020.
Pros:
- Fantastic 120Hz AMOLED display
- IP68 dust and water resistance
- 25W wired/15W wireless charging
- Great cameras
Cons:
- Exynos 990 isn't as powerful as SD865
- Overheating issues
- Battery life is strictly average
Best of Samsung
Samsung Galaxy S20
A great choice for Samsung fans
If you're upgrading from an older Samsung phone and need the best that the brand has to offer, look no further than the Galaxy S20.
Best Under ₹30,000: Realme X2 Pro
When I reviewed the Realme X2 Pro last year, I said it was the benchmark for value flagships. That statement holds up in 2020, with the phone still the one to beat for under ₹30,000 ($395). As a refresher, the Realme X2 Pro features a 90Hz AMOLED screen, 64MP camera with 20x hybrid zoom, and a 4,000mAh battery with 50W fast charging.
Powering all of this is the Snapdragon 855+ chipset, with the base model coming with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The 64MP camera takes great photos, and you get the versatility of a zoom lens that goes up to 20x via hybrid zoom. The combination of Snapdragon 855+ and a 90Hz AMOLED display means you won't see any lag in day-to-day use, and when it comes to the basics, you're not missing out on anything.
Thanks to the 40,00mAh battery, you get over a day's worth of use from a full charge. And when you do need to charge, there's 50W wired charging. Realme has switched the phone over to its own Realme UI, with the interface akin to vanilla Android. There's no overt customization here, and that is an added bonus with the X2 Pro. Overall, if you're in the market for a value flagship for under ₹30,000, the Realme X2 Pro should be at the top of your list.
Pros:
- Smooth 90Hz AMOLED screen
- Snapdragon 855+ chipset
- Outstanding battery life with 50W fast charging
- 64MP camera with 20x hybrid zoom
- Incredible value
Cons:
- Realme UI is lacking polish
Best Under ₹30,000
Realme X2 Pro
A truly standout phone
With outstanding hardware backed by a sublime 90Hz display and a clean software, the Realme X2 Pro offers incredible value.
Best Under ₹15,000: Redmi Note 9 Pro
Xiaomi built its entire brand around value, and that hasn't changed with the Redmi Note 9 Pro. The phone delivers lag-free performance in a modern chassis with outstanding battery life. The 6.67-inch screen combined with the massive 5020mAh battery make the Redmi Note 9 Pro one of the largest phones in the market — and one of the heaviest.
That said, you get two-day battery life consistently from the phone, and the internal hardware is no slouch either. The Snapdragon 720G has plenty of power to offer, and in day-to-day use it is very reliable. You also get a great camera at the back in the form of a 48MP module, and you can shoot video from the 5MP macro lens. Oh, and Xiaomi bundles an 18W charger in the box.
The main downside with the Redmi Note 9 Pro is that MIUI has ads. That's one reason how Xiaomi is able to sell the device for so low, and if you're okay with that trade-off, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is the go-to choice for under ₹15,000 ($195).
Pros:
- Reliable hardware
- Excellent battery life
- Decent cameras
- Stellar value
- 18W fast charger in the box
Cons:
- MIUI has ads
- Unwieldy
Best Under ₹15,000
Redmi Note 9 Pro
The budget battery monster
With a massive 5020mAh battery with 18W fast charging, the Redmi Note 9 Pro is the ideal choice if you're in the market for a budget phone.
Best Under ₹10,000: Realme Narzo 10A
The Realme Narzo 10A is an external battery with a screen attached to it. Packing a massive 5,000mAh battery, you'll get well over two days' worth of use from a full charge. The phone has a decent 6.5-inch 720p screen, and it is powered by a MediaTek Helio G70 chipset.
There's 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and a microSD card slot to extend the internal storage. The 12MP camera is decent all things considered, and for what you're paying you do get a lot of features. There's a rear fingerprint sensor, the 3.5mm jack is intact, and you get FM radio along with Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi ac connectivity.
The design is quite striking thanks to the massive Realme logo at the back, but you can always get a case to cover it up. Overall, the Narzo 10A has a lot to offer for not a whole lot of money.
Pros:
- Decent performance from Helio G70
- Incredible battery life
- Modern design
- Large 6.5-inch screen
- Android 10 out of the box
Cons:
- No fast charging
Best Under ₹10,000
Realme Narzo 10A
Entry-level goodness
With decent specs and a modern design, the Realme Narzo 10A gets the basics right. If you're on a limited budget, this is the phone to get.
Lots of great options at all price points
There are plenty of great phones across all price points in India, including some not readily available in other parts of the world. The sheer breath of options available make India one of the best countries to buy a phone.
However, dominating the list is the OnePlus 8 Pro. The phone just has a lot going for it: the 120Hz AMOLED display is stunning, the Snapdragon 865 will be going strong for several years, the cameras are much better, you get clean software with regular updates, and 30W wired and wireless charging along with IP68 dust and water resistance.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Harish Jonnalagadda is the Asia Editor at Android Central. A reformed hardware modder, he now spends his time writing about India's burgeoning phone market. Previously, he used to ponder the meaning of life at IBM. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.
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