Best Smartphones to gift this Diwali – from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 50,000

smartphone

Diwali season is just around the corner and it’s the best time to show your affection towards your loved ones by gifting them some goodies. With smartphones evolving as an everyday essential in our lives, it’s no brainer that they are one of the best things you can give as a present to your closed ones. As an icing on the cake, we also have a couple of ongoing festive season sales, meaning more discounts and amazing offers. With that being said, here we are with our list of the best smartphones you can gift this Diwali season, under different price brackets.

Smartphones to gift under Rs. 6000 this Diwali

You don’t necessarily need a huge budget for buying a smartphone to gift, thanks to the technology getting more affordable day by day. You can get a decent phone for a mere Rs. 6000 which should work fine especially when buying for elders and grandparents.

1. Infinix Smart 2

With a 5.45″ HD+ display in a modern 18:9 aspect ratio for a price of Rs. 4,999, the Infinix Smart 2 turns out to be one of the best smartphones to gift under its price bracket. It comes with the new MTK6739 SoC along with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Further, it gets a 13MP Rear camera and an 8MP front camera with face unlock and 3050mAh battery.

Moreover, it has true dual 4G VoLTE and comes in exciting Red, Blue, Gold & Black colour options. For more RAM and ROM, you can buy the 3/32GB version which costs Rs. 5,999.

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2. Asus Zenfone Lite L1

The Zenfone Lite L1 is the latest entrant in the entry-level budget category. It packs in a 5.45″ HD+ Display and sports 13MP rear and 5MP front cameras. With Snapdragon 430 SoC clubbed with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, it is one of the best performing smartphones for the price of Rs. 5,999. Do note that it lacks a fingerprint scanner! Check out Zenfone Lite L1 impressions here.

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3. Xiaomi Redmi 6A

Well, we can’t forget Xiaomi when it comes to budget smartphones. The new Redmi 6A comes with MediaTek Helio A22 SoC, 2GB RAM, and 16GB Storage. Just like the Infinix Smart 2, this handset too bears a 5.45″ HD+ display and supports Dual 4G VoLTE. Lastly, you get a 13MP Rear and 5 MP front camera followed by a 3,000mAh battery.

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Smartphones to gift under Rs. 10,000 this Diwali

This price bracket is very crowded and filled with the most bang for buck smartphones and hence it is really difficult to choose from. Anyways, you can pick the right one depending on how much cash you can shell out.

1. Honor 9N

With a discount of Rs. 1000 on the 3/32GB version of the Honor 9N, you can get it for just Rs.9999. It may not offer the best price to performance ratio but definitely is one of the sexiest phones out there with a 5.8″ Full-HD+ Notched display at the front and glossy glass back. The back also houses dual 13+2MP cameras followed by the 16MP front camera incorporated in the Notch. The device is powered by Kirin 659 SoC, backed by a 3000mAh battery.

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2. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (3GB)

Need a phone for a friend or colleague who loves playing PUBG all the time? The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 with Snapdragon 636 SoC and a whopping 5000mAh battery is the best smartphone to game on for hours that you can in this segment. It comes with a unibody metal design, 6″ Full-HD+ Display, Dual 13+5MP rear camera and 8MP front camera. Not to forget, it also gets the perks of Stock Android Oreo and will be getting Pie soon. The 6GB version costs Rs. 14,999 and offers slightly better cameras so you can go with the most feasible option. Check our detailed review here!

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3. Realme 2

Well, a phone intended for gifting should look good as well. The Realme 2 comes with a diamond cut glass back in Blue, Black and Red colour options along with a notched display which makes it stand out from the competition. As for the specs, it has a 6.2″ HD+ display, Snapdragon 450 SoC, a large 4230mAh battery, 13+2MP Dual Rear and an 8MP Front camera. The 3/32GB variant costs Rs. 8,990 while the 4/64GB one is being sold for Rs. 10,990.

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4. Realme C1

The Realme C1 is a toned-down version of the Realme 2. It comes for Rs. 6,999, at around 2K lesser than the latter one. It bears a similar design, same 6.2″ HD+ display, Snapdragon 450 processor, large 4230mAh battery but lacks a fingerprint scanner (makes use of Face Unlock instead). For photography, the phone has a 13+2MP dual rear camera combo, while bearing a 5MP selfie shooter at the front. Overall, it’s a great option if you’re tight on budget.

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Smartphones to gift under Rs. 15,000 this Diwali

The sub-15K segment is full of all-rounders, these smartphones will give you an overall package as far as performance, cameras and battery life are concerned. Below are some right choices to go for.

1. Honor 8X

The Honor 8X is literally the best-looking smartphone you can get for Rs. 15,000, thanks to its dual-tone glass metal back and notched display which acts as a head turner. Powered by Kirin 710 SoC and 4/64GB configuration, you can play any game you want, that too will last long due to sufficiently large 3,750mAh battery. As of cameras, we have a 20+2MP Rear and 16MP front camera combination, again one of the best under this price bracket. Also, worth mentioning, it has an impressive 6.5″ display with Full-HD+ resolution.

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2. Xiaomi Mi A2

The Xiaomi Mi A2 has been a controversial phone since its launch due to the absence of SD card slot and headphone jack, however, the price cut brings it down to Rs. 14,999 making it the best camera phone for that price. The Snapdragon 660 SoC ensures tough gaming performance. Going by the specs, it has a 5.99″ Full-HD+ display, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3010mAh battery and 12+20MP Dual Rear Camera followed by a 20MP Selfie shooter. It’s the perfect smartphone for gifting someone who loves to click pictures but ain’t a fan of a headphone jack.

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3. Realme 2 Pro

Honor 8X is the nearest competitor of the Realme 2 Pro as both the phones tend to be the best-looking smartphones in the sub-15K price bracket. That being said, it also comes with a glossy back and a much more modern water-drop notch. It is powered by Snapdragon 660 clubbed with 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM. Cameras include a 16MP + 2MP Rear combination and a 16MP Front shooter, a tad better in real life than the one on 8X. The display is a 6.3-inch Full-HD+ panel, backed by a 3500mAh battery unit.

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4. Nokia 6.1 Plus

Well, the Nokia 6.1 Plus might not be the best performing or the best camera phone but is definitely good to go present for elders who are still nostalgic about the Nokia brand name, a trust factor in itself. Not be too underwhelmed, it looks really modern with that 5.8″ Full-HD+ Notched display and glass back. Further, it packs in Snapdragon 636, 4/64GB RAM & ROM, 16MP + 5MP Rear and 16MP Front Cameras, and is backed by a 3060mAh battery. You can further check our detailed review for the same here!

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Smartphones to gift under Rs. 30,000 this Diwali

There are a lot of smartphones around this price bracket but do note that some of which tend to offer the perks of being a semi-flagship phone at such a competitive price. Let’s check them out.

1. Poco F1

Launched by Xiaomi’s sub-brand Pocophone, the Poco F1 is an amazing bang for buck smartphone that you can grab right now for Rs. 20,999 (even lesser with specific card discounts). It comes with 6.18-inch Full-HD+ display and the flagship-grade Snapdragon 845 coupled with 6GB RAM & 64GB storage for the base variant. This is the best option for 20K to settle with beefy performance, promising cameras and a long-lasting 4000mAh battery. Nonetheless, it does compromise on build quality/looks and is not for someone who is conscious about the brand.

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2. Honor Play

Honor Play is the second best choice under 20K, in fact, its available for just Rs. 17,999 making it a performance beast for that price. It uses the same Kirin 970 SoC with GPU Turbo present on the Huawei P20 Pro while the large 3750mAh battery ensures long gaming sessions. It comes with a good-looking 6.3-inch Full-HD+ Notched display and unibody metal design, but unfortunately, falls short against the competition in terms of cameras. This could be the best option to gift someone who tends to play a lot of heavy games and also need s a good build quality at the same time, barring Poco F1. Also, read Honor Play detailed review.

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3. Vivo V11 & V11 Pro

Frankly speaking, the Vivo V11 is the best Selfie shooter that you can grab up on sale for Rs. 20,990, and is definitely a good choice, especially for ladies. As for the specs, it bears MediaTek Helio P60 SoC along with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, a 3315mAh battery, a 6.3″ Full-HD+ display, 16+5MP Rear and a 25MP AI Selfie shooter combination. You can also have a look at the Pro version i.e. the V11 Pro which costs a tad higher but packs in SD660 and an In-display fingerprint scanner.

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4. Oppo F9 and F9 Pro

Looking for a stunning design? Oppo got you covered with the F9 and F9 Pro. Both the phones come with water-drop notch and a gradient glass back, while the F9 Pro specifically has a fishy pattern to the back which gives it a unique look. As for the specs, both sport a 6.3″ Full-HD+ display, MediaTek Helio P60, 16 MP + 2 MP dual rear cameras and a 3500mAh battery. The F9 Pro however, packs in a 25MP Front Camera and 6GB of RAM compared to the 16MP shooter and 4GB RAM on the aforementioned.

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Smartphones under Rs. 50,000

Moving on, the range of Rs. 30,000-40,000 mostly consists of flagships and mid-range flagships which tend to offer flagship feel, premiums, and some sort of mainstream features. There are not many options available but barring that, here are some worthy contenders.

1. LG G7 ThinQ+

The LG G7 ThinQ+ is the most complete flagship phone that you can get in this price bracket. It sports an impressive 6.1″ Quad-HD+ display with Notch, Snapdragon 845, IP68 Water & Dust resistance, Wireless charging, 16MP Primary + 16MP Wide angle rear cameras and an 8MP Front Camera. The only compromise with this device is its small 3,000mAh battery.

The 4/64GB model of the LG G7 ThinQ retails usually for a price of Rs. 33,000 but is available at the moment for Rs. 29,999, while the G7 ThinQ+ i.e. the 6/128GB variant can be bought for Rs. 40,000 excluding card discounts.

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2. Google Pixel 2 XL

Thanks to the arrival of the new Pixel 3, the prices of Pixel 2 XL have been slashed by a huge margin. With a discount of whopping Rs. 7000/-, the handset is now available in Paytm’s Maha Cashback sale for mere Rs. 35,000.

Given the fact that its last year’s flagship, it still offers a Quad-HD+ display, Snapdragon 835, a sufficiently large 3500mAh battery and additional perks like IP67 water & dust resistance and stereo speakers. Also, Google has promised regular Android updates till 2020, ensuring that it lives pretty long. Not to mention, it offers the best cameras you can get on any phone even under 50K. So if you’re planning to gift someone who is crazy about capturing pictures, then you can’t go wrong with this beast.

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3. OnePlus 6T

OnePlus’s new flagship has recently entered the market with a lot of buzz and hype going around. The OnePlus 6T offers flagship grade hardware, counting in the Snapdragon 845 SoC. Although it packs the same cameras as OnePlus 6, it brings in an In-display fingerprint scanner, dew-drop display and a larger 3,700mAh battery with dash charging. It starts at Rs. 37,999 for the base 6/128GB variant and a perfect choice for people who prefer to have speed over everything else.

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4. Asus Zenfone 5Z

The Zenfone 5Z is a very good-looking flagship phone, launched recently by Asus. It offers specs similar to the OnePlus 6, including Snapdragon 845, a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Display, Dual rear cameras with wide angle lens, a 3,300mAh battery and more. The phone sits right back after the Poco F1 in terms of price to performance ratio and for the current sale price of Rs. 24,999 and extra card discounts, it’s a steal. Moreover, you can also read our full review of the Zenfone 5Z.

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5. Vivo NEX

Vivo NEX- you might have already heard of this all-screen beauty. Basically, it comes with an edge to edge 6.5″ AMOLED display at the front, thanks to the motorized front camera on top frame which slides up whenever required, aiding for a 91%+ screen-to-body ratio.

It looks really beautiful and stands out amongst all other flagships out there. Moreover, it bears Snapdragon 845 SoC, an In-display fingerprint scanner, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, dual rear cameras, 4000mAh battery and more, making it one of the best looking as well as best performing smartphones. It is currently available for Rs. 44,990 and interestingly, you can avail an additional 5% discount on HDFC Credit Cards & EMI on Vivo E-store.

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Smartphones to gift above Rs. 50,000 this Diwali

The segment above 50K is adorned by the true flagships which excel especially in build quality and cameras, making them a perfect Diwali gift for the extreme close ones. Let’s have a look.

1. Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Starting at a price of Rs. 67,900, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 offers an unrivalled 6.4-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity display along with Exynos 9810 chipset and 6GB of RAM. Moreover, it brings in dual rear cameras with variable aperture, IP68 water and dust resistance, and that amazing S-Pen with Bluetooth support. A great overall package for the people comfortable with the large form factor.

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2. Google Pixel 3

Google recently unveiled its Pixel 3 and the Pixel 3XL, and you’d guess, Pixel 3 is the right way to go! It incorporates the new Snapdragon 845, stock Android 9.0 Pie, 5.5-inch Full- HD+ OLED display with HDR support, Active Edge, IP68 Water and dust resistance, Stereo Speakers, Dual Selfie cameras and more.

Though expensive for an Rs. 71,000 tag, it is one of the most compact flagships with unmatched camera performance that you can get as of now! Do note that it can see even in dark, thanks to the Nightsight feature, so choose wisely. You can further opt for the XL model if can cope with the large notch.

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3. Apple iPhone XS/ XS Max/ XR

No brainer, the 2018 iPhones are one of the most premium gifts one can give this Diwali to their loved ones. The new iPhone XS brings in a beautiful 5.8″ display with a notch, that too in a really compact design followed by the A12 Bionic 7nm chip, dual 12-megapixel cameras (wide-angle (f/1.8) lens + telephoto (f/2.4) lens), IP68 rating, an extra e-Sim and more. For a larger 6.5″ screen, you can go with the XS Max which shares in most of the things from its sibling. Even the iPhone XR too is a great option to go if in case you’re tight on budget, the areas where it cuts its costs include an inferior display, battery and the single rear camera.

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We would love to add Huawei Mate 20 Pro in our list as well but it is not yet officially available in India. If you can wait for a while to buy a new flagship, it’ll be worth!

So these are hand-picked suggestions if you are looking to buy or gift a new smartphone this festival season. Let us know about your favourite ones in the comments down below.

About the author

Ritik Singh

An avid media student who is highly passionate about technology since childhood. He has good experience in video production, gadget reviews and is ardent about writing on tech.