These days, most Indian buyers prefer premium smartphones over budget ones. While flagship phones offer top-of-the-line features, they also come with a hefty price tag. That’s where ‘flagship-killers’ or phones under ₹40,000 come in—they pack flagship-level specs at a much more affordable price, with just a few compromises here and there.
OnePlus used to totally own this space. But now, you’ve got Vivo, Xiaomi, and Motorola all over the place. You’re getting powerful processors, high-quality screens, and super-fast charging. And the cameras are pretty versatile too, even if they don’t fully hit that flagship level.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a premium mobile phone, here are some of the best options around ₹40,000.
Table of Contents
1. Vivo V50: Premium Smartphone With Zeiss Optics
Vivo’s V-series has always been known for its great cameras, borrowing Zeiss technology from the flagship ‘X’ series, and the new Vivo V50 fits that template perfectly.
Cameras are the star of the show here. You get a dual 50MP setup—a main lens with OIS and an ultra-wide sensor. There’s also a 50MP shooter on the front for selfies. The Aura Light on the back can adjust its color tone using AI, or you can tweak it manually for soft lighting in night photos.
If you’re into gaming, though, this might not be your best pick. The Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 powers the device—a chip typically found in phones almost half the price. That said, it still scores a respectable 0.8 million on AnTuTu and can handle most games at decent settings.
On the bright side, the 6.77-inch quad-curved AMOLED display is a treat. It gets bright enough at 1300 nits, supports a 120Hz refresh rate, and comes with HDR10+ support. Other highlights include a dual IP68 + IP69 rating, a massive 6000 mAh battery, and 90W fast charging. And yes, the charger is included in the box.
Pros:
- ✅ Excellent cameras with Zeiss optics
- ✅ Aura Light with AI control
- ✅ Premium quad-curved AMOLED display
- ✅ 6000mAh battery with 90W fast charging
- ✅ IP68 + IP69 durability
Cons:
- ❌ Not for gamers – Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 is underwhelming
- ❌ No telephoto lens
- ❌ No wireless charging
- ❌ FuntouchOS comes with several unnecessary apps
AnTuTu Score: 0.8 million
Software Updates: Android 15 | 3 OS updates (till Android 18, until 2028) | 4 years of security updates
Price: ₹34,999 for 8GB/128GB, ₹36,999 for 12GB/256GB, and ₹40,999 for 12GB/512GB.
2. iQOO 12: The Best Gaming Phone
The iQOO 12 launched as a flagship at ₹52,999, but you can now grab it for under ₹40,000 with bank offers. And before you dismiss it as an older device, check out these specs: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, and 256GB UFS 4.0 storage—all kept cool by a 6K Vapor Chamber Four-Zone Cooling System.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is just one generation behind the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite. Plus, the Supercomputing Chip Q1 boosts gaming with 144fps frame interpolation. Add in symmetrical dual speakers and 4D game vibration, and you’ve got an immersive gaming experience.
Backing up that performance is a 6.78-inch 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display with a 3000-nit peak brightness. All of this is powered by a 5000 mAh battery that charges fully in under 30 minutes with the included 120W fast charger.
It’s easily the best gaming phone in this price range. And don’t worry, the cameras aren’t an afterthought—you get a 50MP main sensor, 50MP ultra-wide, and a 64MP 3x periscope telephoto lens. While it may not match the Vivo V50 in overall image quality, it’s definitely the more versatile camera setup.
Pros:
- ✅ Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor
- ✅ Vapor chamber cooling and 144fps in certain games using frame interpolation
- ✅ Bright 144Hz LTPO AMOLED display
- ✅ Versatile 50MP + 50MP + 64MP periscope cameras
- ✅ 120W fast charging (can fully charge in under 30 min)
Cons:
- ❌ Can get noticeably warm under heavy load
- ❌ FuntouchOS comes is loaded with bloatware
- ❌ No wireless charging
- ❌ There’s no official IP rating here
AnTuTu Score: 2.1 million
Software Updates: Android 15 (upgraded from Android 14) | 4 OS updates (up to Android 18, until 2028) | 5 years of security updates
Price: ₹41,999 for 12/256GB
3. OnePlus 13R: Great Performance and Value
Last year’s OnePlus 12R was one of my go-to phones in the ₹40,000 bracket. The new OnePlus 13R might not feel as premium with its flat design and less curved display, but it still offers solid value for the price.
It comes with a flat side and front profile, an aluminum frame, and a glass back. The phone features a 6.78-inch 120Hz LTPO OLED display and stereo speakers. Under the hood, you’ll find a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage—enough to run games like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty with ease.
OnePlus has packed a huge 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery in there, which easily lasts over a day, and you can fast-charge it in about an hour with the 80W adapter. Software-wise, OxygenOS 15 delivers smooth animations and cool new AI features, although it could use a little more fine-tuning on the 13R.
The cameras aren’t the phone’s strong suit. You get a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP 2x telephoto lens, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. It’s the first time a OnePlus ‘R’ has featured a telephoto lens, and while the photos are pretty good in daylight, they might not wow you in every situation. Plus, you’ll enjoy Wi-Fi 7 and support for Jio 5.5G in India.
You can check out my detailed OnePlus 13R review here.
Pros:
- ✅ Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- ✅ Huge 6,000mAh battery that fast-charges in an hour
- ✅ OxygenOS 15 with cool new AI features
- ✅ Comes with Wi-Fi 7 and support for Jio 5.5G in India
Cons:
- ❌ Flat design may feel less premium compared to last year’s curved display
- ❌ No wireless charging
- ❌ The camera setup is versatile but not the best
AnTuTu Score: 2.1 million
Software Updates: Android 15 | 4 OS updates (up to Android 19, until 2029) | 6 years of security updates
Price: ₹42,999 for 12/256GB
4. Pixel 8a: Compact, Clean Android, Great Cameras
There you go: While Google is supposed to launch the Pixel 9a soon, the Pixel 8a is currently selling at a discounted price of ₹37,999 on Flipkart. Once the 9a arrives, it might even get cheaper. You’ll want to buy the phone for three main reasons: its compact size, great software support, and its cameras.
The Pixel 8a launched with Android 15 and will receive an impressive seven years of Android updates, meaning it will be updated until 2031—the highest in this price range. The Pixel UI, with its clean Android experience and satisfying haptics, is a pleasure to use. Plus, there’s no bloatware or pre-installed third-party apps.
The 8a also boasts a very promising rear camera setup. It features a 64MP main sensor and a 13MP ultra-wide lens on the back, along with a 13MP selfie camera. The camera shoots flagship-grade photos with natural colors, excellent skin tones, and outstanding dynamic range—easily the best in its class, thanks to Google’s image processing.
The phone is quite compact, but that also means it comes with a smaller 6.1-inch, 120Hz OLED display and a 4492 mAh battery (although it still lasts a day) with painfully slow 18W charging. The Tensor G3 processor doesn’t help either.
Overall, choose this phone if you need a clean software experience and a great main camera. If you want good cameras along with other features, the Vivo V50 still remains our pick.
Pros:
- ✅ Compact and pocket-friendly
- ✅ Clean Android experience with 7 years of updates
- ✅ Best-in-class image quality
- ✅ Qi Wireless Charging
- ✅ Eye-catchy design, IP64 rating
Cons:
- ❌ Smaller display is not everyone’s cup of tea
- ❌ Tensor G3 heats up and throttles very quickly
- ❌ Thick bezels around the screen
- ❌ Very slow charging speeds by today’s standards
- ❌ Limited ‘walk-in’ service centers in India
AnTuTu Score: 0.75 million
Software Updates: Android 15 | 7 OS Updates (up to Android 22, until 2031)
Price: ₹37,999 for 8/128GB
5. Xiaomi 14 Civi: Compact Phone with Leica Cameras
Xiaomi 14 Civi is a great smartphone, originally launched at ₹42,999 but now available for under ₹37,000 after recent price cuts. And mind you, it’s a compelling camera phone with Leica-powered cameras.
To start with, the Xiaomi 14 Civi is one of the lightest and slimmest phones on this list at 177 grams and 7.4mm thick. It comes in six unique color options, including dual-tone Panda Editions with black mirror glass on a vegan leather back. Add to that the sleek metal frame and quad-curved display, and the phone really turns heads.
The phone features a 1.5K, 6.55-inch quad-curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 3000 nits of peak brightness, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection. Watching Netflix is a pleasure here—the visuals are sharper, brighter, and rich in color. Plus, there’s a loud stereo speaker with Dolby Atmos.
Let’s talk about the cameras: it’s got a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.6 aperture, a 50MP 2x telephoto camera, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera—all powered by Leica. Daytime photos come out with plenty of detail, good dynamic range, and natural bokeh. Plus, the Leica filters really add life to the photos, making them look totally different from any other phone. If you’re a camera enthusiast rather than just a point-and-shoot type, you’ll love this device.
Even the front camera is interesting—there are two 32MP shooters, one primary and one ultra-wide, so you can capture wide selfies, or as they call them, “group-fies.” This is one of the most fun camera phones you can buy right now.
Despite spending a ton on the camera, Xiaomi hasn’t compromised on the processor. You get the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which actually performs on similar lines to the 8 Gen 2, paired with 8/12GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 256/512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.
However, here’s the con: battery life. To maintain the lightweight design, Xiaomi had to cut down on capacity with a 4700 mAh cell. It can be fast-charged in 45 minutes using the included 67W charger, but the phone tends to heat up and throttle heavily under stress. So even though the performance is good, you might not really enjoy it during long gaming sessions.
Pros:
- ✅ Attractive price after recent cuts
- ✅ Super lightweight and slim design
- ✅ Eye-catching color options, including dual-tone Panda Editions
- ✅ Fun, Leica-powered camera setup with standout filters
- ✅ Strong performance with Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, ample RAM, and UFS 4.0 storage
Cons:
- ❌ Average battery life
- ❌ Tends to heat up under heavy stress
- ❌ Not ideal for long gaming sessions due to performance throttling
- ❌ No wireless charging
AnTuTu Score: 1.5 million
Software Updates: Android 15 (launched with Android 14) | 3 Android upgrades (till Android 17) | 4 years of security updates (until 2028)
Price: ₹37,000 for 8/256GB, ₹42,999 for 12/512GB
6. Samsung Galaxy S24 FE: Best Phone for the Elderly
The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE has received its share of criticism for its high launch price, which is why we didn’t usually recommend it. However, with the recent price cuts, if you’re looking to get your parents or elders at home a new phone under 40K, this could be a solid option. Here’s why:
- Long-Term Software Support: With 7 years of updates, it’s perfect for long-term use.
- Durability: It boasts Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ on both the front and back, along with an IP68 rating.
- Convenience: It offers strong after-sales support even in tier two cities; and NFC for tap-to-pay support.
On the display front, it features a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED panel that hits a peak brightness of 1900 nits, ensuring clear visibility even under bright sunlight.
The phone is powered by the Exynos 2400e processor—a slightly underclocked version of the Exynos 2400 used in the Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus. It handles daily tasks well, though it does warm up during gaming, so it’s not really aimed at gamers.
It ships with Android 14-based One UI 6.1.1 and all Galaxy AI features, with an Android 15-based One UI 7 update coming soon. In fact, the phone is set to be updated almost all the way to Android 21—impressive software support overall.
The camera setup includes a 50MP main lens, an 8MP 3x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide. While it’s a versatile setup, neither the telephoto nor the ultrawide really stand out. Daylight photos come out well, but low-light performance and portraits are strictly average. The 10MP selfie shooter is a letdown, though.
The Galaxy S24 FE packs a modest 4,700 mAh battery with 25W fast charging, which is enough for a day’s use. On top of that, it supports 15W wireless charging for added convenience.
Pros:
- ✅ 7 years of updates for reliable, long-term use
- ✅ Good quality display
- ✅ Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ and an IP68 rating for added protection
- ✅ Solid software with AI features
- ✅ NFC support enables easy tap-to-pay via Samsung Wallet
- ✅ Wireless charging
Cons:
- ❌ Exynos 2400e can heat up when stressed
- ❌ Average low light camera performance
- ❌ Telephoto and ultrawide lenses are average, and the 10MP selfie camera is disappointing
AnTuTu Score: 1.6 million
Software Updates: Android 14-based One UI 6 | 7 years of updates (till almost Android 21)
Price: ₹42,371 for 8/128GB
