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5 best smartphones to buy under Rs 40,000 right now

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DailyBiteNov 20, 2017 | 15:21

5 best smartphones to buy under Rs 40,000 right now

2017 has been an interesting year for smartphone buyers. From budget to truly high-end premium flagship phones, we've seen a number of really great devices being launched by smartphone makers across multiple segments of the market. But if there is one segment that truly encapsulates this trend, it is the sub-Rs 40,000 mid-range flagship category.

Devices in this price bracket now come with internals and design that at times even rival the most premium high-end phones available in the market. With competition soaring, we take a look at the top five phones you can get your hands on for under Rs 40,000. 

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OnePlus 5T

To start things off is the latest contender for mid-range flagship crown, the OnePlus 5T. The phone comes packing Qualcomm’s top-of-the-line 64-bit Octa-core Snapdragon 835 SoC which helps it stand in league with premium flagships such as the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the HTC U11. Depending on the variant, the phone's SoC is paired with 6GB/8GB of RAM and 64GB/128 of storage memory. It also has a 3300mAh battery under the hood with Dash Charging capabilities. 

However, the standout feature of the phone is it's beautiful edge-to-edge 18:9 FHD+ AMOLED panel, which is also bigger in size at six-inches and gives the device a more futuristic look. In terms of optics, the OnePlus 5T sports a tweaked 16+20 Megapixel dual camera module.

The company has added a larger f/1.7 aperture on the second lens to improve low light photography, but it has done so at the expense of the telephoto lens. Apart from this, OnePlus claims to have improved "portrait" shots on the phone through software enhancements. 

Starting at Rs 32,999 and going up to 37,999 for the 8GB/128Gb storage variant, the OnePlus 5T is also extremely attractive when it comes to the price. 

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Mi Mix 2

The successor to the original bezel-less king – the Mi Mix – this new device builds on the successes of its predecessor, which was very well received by critics and fans alike. The Mi Mix 2 uses premium materials such as ceramic and a display that occupies almost the whole of the phone’s front. The device comes sporting a 5.99-inch Full HD+ with an 18:9 aspect ratio. 

The phone comes with top-of-the-line hardware and boasts of Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 835 processor and Adreno 540 GPU coupled with 6GB of RAM and built-in 128 storage. The device is powered by a hefty 3400mAh battery pack which should get you through the day on normal usage. The phone also supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 technology and ships with a certified fast charger in the box.

However, it disappoints when it comes to the phone's picture-taking prowess. There is a single camera at the back with a 12-Megapixel lens with f/2.0 aperture and 4-axis optical image stabilisation (OIS). This is the same IMX 386 image sensor that the Mi 6 packs.

Low-light photos captured with the camera come out looking blurred and even pictures clicked under adequate light fail to impress. The problems continue to the front camera of the phone, which is oddly placed at the right-hand bottom corner of the device to maintain the Mi Mix 2's edge-to-edge feel.

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Though Xiaomi has thrown in a gold-plated camera rim to make this phone look like a truly premium device, one that justifies — at least in terms of looks — the Rs 35,999 price tag of the Mi Mix 2.

However, such attempts bear no fruit, as, overall, the device ends up feeling like an incomplete package — one that cannot be deemed worthy of the high price tag.

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Nokia 8

The Nokia 8 is the first truly high-end smartphone by HMD Global's reboot of Nokia. The device is nothing like the flagships that have donned the Nokia logo before: for starters, it's an Android phone, running a close to stock Android skin with no bloatware.

The phone also comes with top-of-the-line, flagship-worthy display and specs. There is a 5.3-inch Glance Screen Quad HD display with an impressive pixel density of 544ppi. The display, Nokia claims, is one of the brightest in the market and is capable of producing maximum brightness of 700 Nits. The 2.5D display is covered with a sheet of Gorilla Glass 5 to guard against scratches and minor falls.

However, Nokia does not stop there. The smartphone maker has included high-end tech under the hood. The phone comes packing Qualcomm's top-of-the-line 835 SoC paired with 4GB RAM and an impressive 3,090mAh battery with QuickCharge 3.0 support that it claims can fully charge the phone in just 30 minutes. It also brings with it 64GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 256GB. There is also a fingerprint sensor embedded into the home button up front.

The device comes with a dual camera setup at the rear with ZEISS optics - a 13MP primary RGB (colour) sensor paired with a 13MP monochrome (black and white) sensor that allows for capturing depth and aids low-light photography. At the front, there's another 13MP RGB shooter – the same as the one at the back. All of this priced at Rs 36,999 makes for one of the most complete packages available in the sub Rs 40k price bracket right now. 

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LG G6

Available for as low as Rs 32,990, this 5.7 inch Quad HD phone is an option that represents great value for money. The phone comes running Android v7.0 Nougat operating system with 2.35GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad core processor paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal memory that is expandable up to 2TB.

The phone also comes with the promise of above-average battery life as it comes with a 3300mAH lithium-ion battery and is also water-and-dust resistant with an IP68 rating. In terms of cameras, the phone has been equipped with a 13-Megapixel primary shooter and 5-Megapixel front-facing lens.

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iPhone 6s

Last, but not the least, is the iPhone 6s which is currently available at Rs 36,999 for the 32GB variant of the phone on Amazon. At this price, iPhone 6s offers a great opportunity for consumers looking to buy a nice iPhone at a price that does not burn a giant hole in the pocket. The phone comes equipped with a 4.7 display, 2GB RAM and an A9 Dual-core 184 Ghz processor to run the show. One the camera front, there is a 12MP snapper to click beautiful pictures.

By no stretch of the imagination, is the iPhone 6s a heavyweight when it comes to specs, but paired with the highly optimised iOS, the phone works like a dream.

Last updated: November 20, 2017 | 15:23
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