20 March,2022 07:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Jaison Lewis
Representation pic
If you are looking for a great meld of software and hardware then OnePlus is the device you are looking for. While it doesn't hit all the right specs as the other phones on this list, Oxygen OS and a solid build make this a contender. That said, the specs are not all that bad. You get a 6.55-inch 120Hz display with Gorilla Glass protection. The processor is a Snapdragon 870, It isn't as adept as the 888 but it is still a solid performer. The quad-camera setup features a 48MP main shooter combined with a 16MP wide-angle, a 5MP Macro and a 2MP Monochrome. The phone has a 4,500 mAh battery that can offer all-day power, you can also quick charge the phone with the included 65W warp charger. Oxygen OS is still a practical user interface and one that I like a lot. The look of the phone is also one of the simpler designs on this list. I think it looks very elegant.
Xiaomi, has over the years, built a reputation in India for providing cost-effective phones. The 11T Pro 5G has a surprising number of flagship features without being the actual flagship. The phone features a huge 6.67-inch 10-bit AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 480Hz. This translates into better response times while gaming. The 11T Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 chipset. The main camera on the phone is a massive 108MP supported by an 8MP ultra-wide and a 5MP Telephoto. The battery is a massive 5000mAh that can be fully charged with a 120W charger in just 17 minutes. The 120W charger is included in the box at no extra charge. While this phone has all the right specs, I am not a big fan of MIUI and the 108MP on the phone isn't excellent just because it packs more megapixels. I find the photos are inferior to most other phones on this list. However, if you are looking for a phone that has all the best specs, the Xiaomi 11T Pro 5G is it.
The GT 5G is by far Realme's most expensive phone and they have managed to jam-pack it with lots of premium tech. It has a large 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 360Hz, which is great for gaming. The processor is the Snapdragon 888 which is a performance powerhouse. To keep it cool the phone has a vapour cooling chamber that can reduce the overall temperature by 15-degrees. The triple camera setup features a 64MP main camera along with an 8MP ultra-wide and a Macro camera. The 4500mAh battery is more than capable of lasting an entire day, however, the phone also comes bundled with a 65W fast charger that can charge your phone in 35 minutes. The phone also looks very premium, featuring a 3D glass body while keeping the weight under 200g. Realme has managed to fit in Dolby Atmos-certified stereo speakers so you can be assured of a good sound experience as well.
iQOO produces wonderful phones and the 7 Legend is a cut above the rest. The phone, like most of the devices, runs the Snapdragon 888. It comes fitted with a large vapour chamber liquid cooling system. It has a 6.62-inch AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and 300Hz touch sampling rate. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. This phone features 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage at this price, while it is overkill, it is nice to get something extra. The battery is 4400mAh, good enough for all-day performance. The device comes with a 66W fast charger which claims to get you running in 22 minutes, however, it is more like 30-35 minutes for a complete charge. It has dual stereo speakers for great sound. The triple camera setup is also pretty decent with a 48MP main camera with optical image stabilization, a 13MP super-wide-angle/ Marco lens and a 13MP 50mm Portrait camera with 2x optical zoom. I am not a big fan of the BMW track design at the back, I think they have better options for the non-legendary phones. However, iQOO has a decent OS, the gaming and camera performance are top-notch.
Trust iQOO to launch a super-cheap phone with a Snapdragon 888 processor. The iQOO 9 SE is pretty much a flagship it has similar specs to the iQOO 7 Legend. Unlike the Legend this comes with a lower RAM and storage option that reduces the price significantly. If you go for the same storage option as the 7 Legend then you are paying approximately Rs 2,000 less. The Legend only has a better camera setup, so for people who love their camera paying extra will make sense. The phone features a 48MP main camera, paired with a 13MP wide-angle and a 2MP Monochrome. The front camera is 16 Megapixels. Similar to the Legend this phone has a vapour cooling chamber and features the same 6.62-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen. It also features the same dual stereo speaker setup. The 4500 mAh battery is paired with a 66W FlashCharger that can give you a 100 per cent charge in minutes. Between the Legend and the 9 SE, I would choose the Legend, however, if I was trying to get the best deal I would probably buy the 9 SE. I feel the 12GB of RAM in the Legend is overkill.
If you are looking for a more established brand then the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G is the right mid-range phone for you. The phone features a Snapdragon 865 Octa-core processor, which is lower than what OnePlus uses but is still capable in day-to-day operations. The phone has a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate. The S20 FE is powered by a 4500 mAh battery that can last the entire day. The camera setup on this phone is very interesting it features two 12MP cameras one with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and the other with a Wide-Angle Lens, the 8MP has OIS with telephoto capabilities. IT also has a massive 32 Megapixel front-facing camera. The phone has a waterproof rating of IP68 which means it can survive an accidental dunk or two. The Samsung is a great phone if you don't want to mess with little known brands. The S20 FE is for anyone who doesn't want to take a risk with a Chinese brand. I don't like the Samsung version of Android too much as I feel like it is a little bulky.
