Best Android smartphones in India (April 2019)

If you’re in the market for the best smartphone in India and not going the iPhone way (pretty much why you’re here), there are tons of great Android options. All these devices are powerhouses brimming with features, with a few marquee elements to make them stand out.

Also read: The best deals and lowest prices for the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus in India

However, form and function are subjective, and often the specifications sheet or the marketing pitch doesn’t tell you the complete picture. In this roundup, we’re looking at the absolute best Android phones in India right now

Editor’s note: We will update this list regularly as new Android phones in India launch.

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Huawei P30 Pro

Huawei continues to excel in the flagship smartphone department and has yet another winner on its hands with the Huawei P30 Pro. It’ll come as no surprise to anybody that the P30 Pro is an absolute powerhouse of a smartphone with an incredible camera setup, given the trend set by the Mate 20 Pro and the P20 Pro before it.

Huawei’s smartphone photography prowess shines through once again with the P30 Pro. The first in the quad camera setup is the 40MP main sensor. This supports the new SuperSpectrum RYB (Red-Yellow-Blue) filter, allowing for better detail in images, especially in low light conditions.

There’s also a 20MP shooter with an ultra-wide angle lens and a third 8MP periscope lens that supports 5x optical zoom. Joining the three main cameras is a fourth Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor for gathering depth information. Up front a is a 32MP camera that is housed in the waterdrop notch. Unsurprisingly, we found the Huawei P30 camera to be in a class of its own in our camera review.

Of course, it’s not just about the camera either, even if that’s more than enough reason to buy this phone. The P30 Pro earns its flagship cred with specs that include a 6.47-inch dual-curved OLED screen, the in-house Kirin 980 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage (128GB and 512GB storage models are available in certain markets outside India as well). Keeping everything running is a 4,200mAh battery.

All that power and impressive photography capabilities aren’t cheap though. Available in a couple of beautiful gradient color schemes – called Aurora and Breathing Crystal – the Huawei P30 Pro will set you back 71,990 rupees (~$1040). It’s not the most expensive Android flagship in the country, but it certainly comes close.

Specs

Read more

• Huawei P30 Pro review: A phone with superpowers
• Huawei P30 Pro camera review
• Huawei P30 Pro vs Google Pixel 3 XL
• Huawei P30 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
• Huawei P30 Pro launched in India – everything you need to know

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Samsung Galaxy S10 family

Samsung upped its flagship game in 2019 with the introduction of three new devices that make up its Galaxy S10 lineup – the Samsung Galaxy S10e, the Galaxy S10, and the Galaxy S10 Plus. They are by far the best Samsung phones you can buy at the moment. Despite some key differences between the two, all three variants are worth considering for your next smartphone purchase.

First, let’s take a look at what these three versions have in common. All three are powered by the Samsung Exynos 9820 processor, come with Android 9 Pie on-board with Samsung’s new One UI skin, and feature an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The increasingly rare 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD expansion are available. You also get Super AMOLED displays with all, albeit with different sizes and resolutions. They support punch-hole front-facing cameras, allowing for high screen-to-body ratios and beautiful design.

The differences begin with the screen. The Galaxy S10e has a 5.8-inch screen with a Full HD+ resolution and a capacitive fingerprint sensor on the side of the phone. The Galaxy S10 and the Galaxy S10 Plus come with 6.1-inch and 6.4-inch displays respectively, both with Quad HD+ resolutions. The latter two also have an in-screen ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.

All three phones have one dual-pixel 10MP front camera, while the Galaxy S10 Plus expands the punch hole by including a second front-facing 8MP depth sensor. The Galaxy S10e has two rear cameras – an ultra-wide 16MP sensor and a wide-angle 12MP camera. Both the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus have those, as well as a third telephoto 12MP camera. Finally, the battery sizes range from 3,100mAh for the Galaxy S10e to 3,400mAh for the Galaxy S10 and 4,100mAh for the Galaxy S10 Plus.

The Samsung Galaxy S10e is a fantastic option for those who are looking for all the power that Samsung has to offer at a comparatively cheaper price point. Coming with 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, the Galaxy S10e will set you back 55,900 rupees (~$810).

A better camera setup, more RAM, a larger display, and bigger battery are what you get with the Galaxy S10, which starts at 66,900 rupees (~$965) for 128GB of storage, and goes up to 84,900 rupees (~$1225) for 512GB of space. Both versions come with 8GB of RAM. Similar configurations (128GB or 512GB of storage and 8GB Of RAM) for the Galaxy S10 Plus are priced at 73,900 rupees (~$1065) and 91,900 rupees (~$1325).

However, if you’re looking to plant your flag at the absolute top of the Samsung Galaxy S mountain, 117,900 rupees (~$1700) is what it’ll take to get the Galaxy S10 Plus with a whopping 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

Specs

	Samsung Galaxy S10e	Samsung Galaxy S10	Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus
Display	5.8-inch AMOLED panel 2,280 x 1,080 resolution	6.1-inch AMOLED panel 3,040 x 1,440 resolution	6.4-inch AMOLED panel 3,040 x 1,440 resolution
Processor	2.73Ghz octa-core Exynos 9820 processor Mali-G76 MP12 GPU	2.73Ghz octa-core Exynos 9820 processor Mali-G76 MP12 GPU	2.73Ghz octa-core Exynos 9820 processor Mali-G76 MP12 GPU
RAM	6GB	8GB	8/12GB
Storage	128GB further expandable via microSD	128/512GB further expandable via microSD	128/512GB/1TB further expandable via microSD
Cameras	Rear: 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide + 12MP f/1.5 and f/2.4 dual pixel with OIS Front: 10MP f/1.9 dual pixel	Rear: 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide + 12MP f/1.5 and f/2.4 dual pixel with OIS + 12MP OIS telephoto f/2.4 Front: 10MP f/1.9 dual pixel	Rear: 16MP f/2.2 ultrawide + 12MP f/1.5 and f/2.4 dual pixel with OIS + 12MP OIS telephoto f/2.4 Front: 10MP f/1.9 dual pixel + 8MP depth sensor f/2.2
Battery	3,100mAh	3,400mAh	4,100mAh
Software	Android 9 Pie	Android 9 Pie	Android 9 Pie
Dimensions	142.2 x 69.9 x 7.9mm 150grams	149.9 x 70.4 x 7.8mm 157grams	157.6 x 74.1 x 7.8mm 175grams

Read more

• Samsung Galaxy S10e review – the best Galaxy S10 for most people
• Samsung Galaxy S10 review – finding the middle ground is hard
• Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus review – almost apex
• Samsung Galaxy S10 vs OnePlus 6T
• Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup launched in India – everything you need to know

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Huawei Mate 20 Pro

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro was one of the most anticipated phones of 2018, and for good reason. The Mate 20 Pro features an all-glass design and comes with Huawei’s popular gradient color scheme with five color options to choose from. The device comes with the Kirin 980 SoC, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and the somewhat odd Nano-Memory slot for expandable storage.

However, the reason for it making a lot of best lists is its excellent camera setup. Similar to the P20 Pro, the Mate 20 Pro features three cameras on the back – a primary 40MP one with an f/1.8 aperture; a telephoto 8MP with an f/2.4 aperture and OIS, and a 20MP ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture. On the front, there’s a single 24MP camera. It’s a highly versatile camera system that lets you shoot everything from macro details to long-distance, zoomed-in scenery.

It’s blazing fast, has great battery life, and some of the best cameras you can get on any smartphone. There’s no doubt that the Huawei Mate 20 Pro remains one of the best Android smartphones in India right now, despite the availability of the Huawei P30 Pro. The Mate 20 Pro is also the slightly cheaper option, priced at 64,990 rupees (~$940).

Specs

Read more

• Huawei Mate 20 Pro review: The phone for power users
• Huawei Mate 20 and Mate 20 Pro specs: There’s a clear winner
• Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Galaxy Note 9, Pixel 3 XL, LG V40
• Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs Mate 10 Pro specs comparison
• Top 5 Huawei Mate 20 Pro features

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OnePlus 6T

The OnePlus 6 was a great handset, but in late 2018 OnePlus updated its formula a little to bring us its latest flagship – the OnePlus 6T. The “T” line usually represents an incremental upgrade to the previous model in that it only offers a handful of new specs and features. That does hold true in some ways, at least as far as the specs concerned. However, the OnePlus 6T also packs a ton of new features, design changes, and upgrades.

There are a few changes on the design front. The 6T is slightly thicker and with more of a curve. Apart from the feel, this change also allowed OnePlus to pack a larger battery into the phone. The rear fingerprint sensor is now gone. Instead, you get an in-display scanner that works pretty well.

The new teardrop notch looks great and still houses the same front-facing camera as the OnePlus 6. Another key change that has been quite controversial is the removal of the headphone jack. Finally, while the rear camera setup is the same, a slew of software features significantly enhance the camera experience.

The OnePlus 6T may not be worth the upgrade if you already have a OnePlus 6. However, from an older generation smartphone, the OnePlus 6T is certainly a great option. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles as some of the other phones on this list, but where the OnePlus 6T remains unbeaten is in the pricing department.

The 6GB version of the OnePlus 6T is priced at 37,999 rupees (~$521), while the 8GB iteration will set you back just 41,999 rupees (~$576). Both versions come with 128GB of built-in storage. The OnePlus 6T is the most expensive OnePlus flagship yet, but remains one of the cheapest high-end smartphones you can get your hands on.

Specs

Read more

• OnePlus 6T review
• The best OnePlus 6T features
• OnePlus 6T vs OnePlus 6
• The best OnePlus 6T cases
• OnePlus 6T launched in India – everything you need to know

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Oppo R17 Pro

The Oppo R17 Pro is the latest high-end offering from the company that comes with a slew of exciting features that make it worth its price tag. It also helps that the R17 Pro is a beautiful smartphone, with the most eye-catching part about the R17 Pro’s design being its new fog gradient color.

One of the most exciting features of the R17 Pro is its battery setup. The R17 Pro has two 1,850mAh batteries to provide for faster charging than if the device only had one battery. The phone charges via SuperVOOC Flash Charge using the provided charger and we found Oppo’s claims of providing 40 percent battery in 10 minutes to hold true.

Triple cameras on smartphones are starting to crop up more and more and the Oppo R17 Pro also joins this group. The primary camera is a 12MP sensor with OIS and a variable aperture of f/1.5 and f/2.4. The third camera is probably the most unique of the bunch. It’s a TOF (Time of Flight) 3D stereo camera that allows you to capture 3D images in seconds by circling the camera around an object or person. Up front is an equally impressive 25MP shooter.

The one aspect that makes the Oppo R17 Pro seem out of place on this list is the fact that the device is powered by the mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 processor, found in devices that are almost half the price of the R17 Pro. Flagship specs like 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage certainly help though.

The Oppo R17 Pro is priced at 39,990 rupees (~$575), which seems expensive for a phone with its processing package. However, making it worth the price are exciting features like the in-display fingerprint scanner, the incredible fast charging capability, and impressive camera setup.

Specs

Read more

• Oppo R17 Pro review

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Honor View 20

Ever since the race towards a truly bezel-less smartphone has kicked off, OEMs have struggled to find the best way to accommodate features like the front-facing camera. We’ve seen notches of various shapes and sizes, and automatic or manual sliding mechanisms. However, 2019 is shaping up to be the year of the “punch hole” camera, starting with the Honor View 20.

The Honor View 20 is the company’s first device with a FullView display and places the 25MP front-facing camera in a 4.5mm cutout in the top left corner of the screen. This screen has eighteen layers, and drills just two of the bottom layers to make room for the camera. This helps uphold the structural integrity of the glass while maintaining a number of transparent layers to protect the sensor.

The new take on the notch is grabbing all the headlines and almost distracts from the fact that the Honor View 20 is an incredibly powerful smartphone. It sports Huawei’s best and brightest Kirin 980 chipset, that also powers the Huawei Mate 20 Pro. The Honor View 20 packs 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of internal storage, making it a head-to-head competitor with flagships from most other companies.

The Honor View 20 is also one of the first devices to use Sony’s new IMX 586 sensor, enabling the 48MP camera Honor has stuffed into this thing. There is also a 3D camera seated next to the 48MP sensor for depth detection and for creating virtual versions of objects.

The Honor View 20 is available in a couple of variants. The version with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at 37,999 rupees (~$550), while the 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage variant will set you back 45,999 rupees (~$665). 

Specs

Read more

• Hands-on with the Honor View 20

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Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL aren’t off to the best start, with a slew of random bugs and issues surrounding their launch. Not helping is the comically huge notch on the larger flagship and the fact that they don’t feature as much RAM as every other high-end smartphone currently available.

However, there is one department where the latest Google flagships shine — the camera. They still sport the same single rear cameras as the Pixel 2, but there are a ton of camera software improvements here. Top Shot mode will take multiple pictures of your subject and recommend the best one.

Night Sight is also supposed to bring next-level low-light photography thanks to computational photography. Finally, there’s a mode called Motion Auto Focus that lets the Pixel 3 focus on a subject in a video, no matter how much they move around.

If you aren’t a fan of the notch or are looking for a less expensive option, the smaller Pixel 3 is the way to go. The only differences between the two are that the Pixel 3 has a 5.5-inch Full HD+ screen and comes with a slightly smaller battery. You get all the same specs and features with both, including wireless charging, dust and water resistance, dual front-facing cameras, and excellent software experience.

The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL were some of the most expensive flagships around when the device launched, but the prices are a touch more affordable now. For the 64GB and 128GB versions, the Pixel 3 is priced at 56,999 rupees (~$820) and 65,999 rupees (~$850), while the Pixel 3 XL costs 61,999 rupees (~$895) and 73,999 rupees (~$1065).

Specs

Read more

• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL review
• Google Pixel 3 camera shootout
• Best Pixel 3 cases
• Best Pixel 3 XL cases

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Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was one of the most anticipated releases of 2018 and it delivered. The latest Galaxy Note is the epitome of powerhouse. It shares much of its predecessor’s design language, with flatter sides and refinements like better fingerprint scanner placement and a smaller camera visor. The Galaxy Note 9 is the latest example showing Samsung knows how to make a premium smartphone.

The phone doesn’t compromise on its hardware at any point. You get the Snapdragon 845 processor onboard, with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, up to 512GB of built-in storage, and a 4,000mAh battery. It’s a power user’s dream.

The Galaxy Note 9 features the best smartphone display around, with numbers to prove it. It’s got the exact same setup as the Galaxy S9 Plus, with a few new software tricks to further enhance an already excellent experience.

Some may consider the Galaxy Note 9 a slightly bigger Galaxy S9 Plus. That’s not far off, but it ignores the Note 9’s defining feature — the S-Pen. Samsung has brought more value and convenience with the stylus every year, and the Galaxy Note 9’s S-Pen comes with a lot of new features and capabilities.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is as premium as it gets, so it’s no surprise this is reflected in its price tag. The 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage version is priced at 67,900 rupees (~$934), while the 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage iteration will set you back 77,900 rupees(~$1,125).

Specs

Read more

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review – in praise of incrementalism
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 camera review
• Top 5 features that make the Galaxy Note 9 great
• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs the competition
• Galaxy Note 9 vs Galaxy S9 Plus
• Galaxy Note 9 vs Galaxy Note 8 – worth the upgrade?

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LG G7 Plus ThinQ

It certainly took a while to get here, but LG has finally launched its 2018 flagship in India.

The LG G7 Plus ThinQ is almost identical to the G7 ThinQ, but comes with 6GB of RAM and 128 of built-in storage. Everything else remains the same, from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and big 6.1-inch LCD display, to the concealable notch.

The phone only has one speaker, but its Boombox feature turns the inner space of the phone into an acoustic chamber, making the native audio sound very loud.

It also has two noise-canceling microphones and a technology called “Voice Resilient Voice Recognition,” which allows the phone to pick up voice commands in noisier environments from up to 16 feet away. That’s helpful if you want to use the Google Assistant digital helper, though it also has its own dedicated hardware button on the side.

The phone includes two rear 16MP cameras, one standard and one wide angle, and one 8MP front camera. Both front and rear cameras support portrait mode.

As with LG’s previous flagships, the LG G7 Plus ThinQ deserves a lot more recognition than it gets. LG also priced the device quite aggressively in India, at just 40,000 rupees (~$550). It’s not the most affordable flagship on this list, but it certainly has a huge leg up over the latest and greatest from Samsung, Huawei, and Google.

Specs

Read more

• LG G7 ThinQ review
• LG G7 ThinQ vs LG G6 – worth the upgrade?
• LG launches the G7 Plus ThinQ in India

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Xiaomi Poco F1

Xiaomi introduced a new sub-brand called POCO in India, with its first device being the F1. The phone’s name promises speed, and Xiaomi certainly delivers in that department. The POCO F1 is the only smartphone in its price range with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor.

Backing the fast processor is 6GB or 8GB of RAM, with up to 256GB of built-in storage available. With specs like a far more expensive flagship, the POCO F1 starts at just 20,999 rupees (~$289).

Unfortunately, the phone’s underwhelming design betrays its flagship specs. The polycarbonate backing is simple, and the large notch and relatively thick bezels don’t look great. For those wanting a more premium look, the highest-end variant’s kevlar back looks and feels much better.

Aside from the design, the POCO F1 delivers in other departments. The phone absolutely flies and the large battery ensures impressive battery life. If performance and battery life are important to you, the POCO F1 is one of the best in this price range. The cameras are good, though inconsistent. The software experience is great, with Xiaomi aiming for a more stock-like feel with the new Poco Launcher (based on MIUI 9.6 based on Android 8.1 Oreo).

As mentioned, the POCO F1 starts at just 20,999 rupees for the 6GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage version and doubling the storage will set you back an additional 3,000 rupees. It’s truly impressive that the iteration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage — flagship specs by any standard — is also just 28,999 rupees (~$399). The kevlar edition of the device is the most expensive of the lot, with a price point of 29,999 rupees (~$412).

Specs

Read more

• Xiaomi Pocophone F1 review
• POCO F1 launched in India – to be Flipkart exclusive
• The Pocophone F1 has power – but is that it?

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Asus Zenfone 5Z

OnePlus may have started the trend of the affordable flagship, but now many competitors are looking to make their own mark in this segment – this includes Asus with its ZenFone devices. One undercuts Xiaomi in the mid-range market, and the other —the Zenfone 5Z — takes on the OnePlus 6 and other high-end phones in the flagship arena.

The specs sheet of the Zenfone 5Z looks very similar to that of the OnePlus 6. You get the Snapdragon 845, 6 or 8GB of RAM, up to 256GB of built-in storage, and a 3,300mAh battery. The OnePlus 6 has a leg up, at least on paper, in the camera department, with the Zenfone 5Z coming with a 12MP and 8MP dual rear camera setup and an 8MP front-facing shooter.

Asus has liberally tacked the term “AI” on to various features of the phone, which oversells the actual capabilities of the device. However some features are impressive. AI Charging stops the phone from charging to 100 percent overnight. That doesn’t mean you won’t get a fully charged phone, it just means the phone will charge to 100 percent right before you wake up, once it gets to know your sleeping habits.

The ZenFone 5Z also comes with two five-magnet stereo speakers driven by dual amplifiers to ensure maximum volume. It also supports Hi-Res Audio files encoded at up to 24-bit/192KHz sample rates and supports DTS Headphone:X for 7.2-channel virtual surround-sound when using headphones.

The Zenfone 5Z is slightly more affordable than the OnePlus 6, which makes it a more enticing option for some. The 6GB RAM and 64GB storage version is priced at just 29,999 rupees (~$410). The 8GB RAM iterations with 128GB and 256GB of storage are priced at 32,999 rupees (~450) and 36,999 rupees (~$505) respectively.

Specs

Read more

• Hands-on with the Asus Zenfone 5Z
• Asus Zenfone 5Z launched in India – price, features, and availability

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Related

• Best Android phones in India under 30,000 rupees
• Best smartphones under 20,000 rupees
• Best Android smartphones under 10,000 rupees

Source of the article – Android Authority