Best Phones Under Rs 50,000: Sensible Choices for Premium Seekers

In just two decades, the smartphone market in India has grown exponentially, resulting in various smartphones available at different price points. One of the greatest advantages for Indians is that they can enjoy phones comparable to their expensive counterparts by paying only half the latter’s price. Whether it is a dependable camera, long battery life, or blazing fast performance, you name it, these phones have it all. Considering all these points, the sub-Rs 50,000 segment emerges as a sweet spot for those seeking such smartphones because it comprises multiple options that perfectly fit this notion. 

If you are one of these folks, you have come to the right place. We have curated a list of three smartphones under Rs 50,000 that meet our parameters. Let’s check them out!

OnePlus 13R

The OnePlus 13R is a top contender if you long for an unibody metallic phone that looks stellar. It is currently one of the rarest phones available, flaunting an unibody structure. Besides its captivating armour, it features the previous generation flagship processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Whether you play a graphic-intensive game like Genshin Impact or edit an image on the fly, it ensures your tasks swiftly come to fruition without any struggle. The phone’s massive 6,000mAh battery is built to last for days even on moderate to heavy usage. The rear camera module makes the OnePlus 13R a versatile snapper, consisting of a primary, an ultra-wide, and a telephoto. Not just in numbers, these cameras also excel at taking eye-pleasing photographs. 

• Display:  6.77-inch ProXDR display, 2780*1264 pixels, 120Hz refresh rate, 4500 nits peak brightness, and 450ppi
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
• RAM and Storage: 12GB of RAM + 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM + 512GB of storage
• Software: Oxygen OS 15 based on Android 15.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel Sony LYT-700, OIS with an f/1.8 aperture.
• Secondary Camera: 50-megapixel telephoto, S5KJN5, 2x optical zoom with an  f/2.0 aperture
• Tertiary Camera: 8-megapixel ultra-wide, 112-degree Field of View with an f/2.2 aperture
• Selfie Camera: 16MP.
• Battery and Charging: 6,000mAh battery, 80W wired.
• Other Features: IP65, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 161.7mm x 75.8mm x 80mm, 206 grams.

iQOO 12

The iQOO 12 suits people craving ultimate performance and gaming without stopping a beat. It is powered by the same chipset as the OnePlus 13R. But it comprises a 6,000 mm² vapour chamber that keeps the temperature down while minimising any chance of a throttling issue. With iQOO’s exceptional software optimisation backing it up, gaming or any heavy-intensive workload happens smoothly without any noticeable drop in performance. Its additional Q1 chipset also lets you enjoy gaming at 144fps. Like the former entrant, the iQOO 12 has a metal frame, but sandwiched between a glass front and back. Besides, it looks pristine in its minimalist design. The rear camera setup is built from a 50MP primary, a 50MP ultra-wide, and a 64MP 3x periscope. So you can take beautiful photos of everything from expansive landscapes to detailed close-ups. 

• Display:  6.78-inch AMOLED, 1.5K resolution, 2800×1260 pixels, 144Hz refresh rate, and 3000 nits peak brightness.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
• RAM and Storage: 12GB of RAM + 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM + 512GB of storage
• Software: FunTouch OS 14 based on Android 14.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel, OIS with an f/1.68 aperture. 
• Secondary Camera: 64-megapixel telephoto, 3x periscope zoom with an  f/2.57 aperture
• Tertiary Camera: 50-megapixel ultra-wide with an f/2.0 aperture
• Selfie Camera: 16MP.
• Battery and Charging: 5,000mAh battery, 120W wired.
• Other Features: IP64, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight: 75.88mm x 163.22mm x 8.10mm, 203.7 grams.

OnePlus 12

The OnePlus 12 is an oddball out of all phones, as its actual price is slightly above Rs 50,000. However, retailers like Amazon now offer tempting bank discounts up to Rs 6,000 on select credit cards. You can experience one of the best flagship phones launched last year at its discounted price without forking out extra money. It combines the best of both worlds: flagship-grade performance with the twist of Oxygen OS. As mentioned, the phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC with a 9,140 mm² vapour chamber that can serve you with a bombastic performance. If you want to capture distant objects like a rare bird or a mountain peak, its 64MP periscope camera will be handy. The OnePlus 12’s other two cameras let you capture spectacular photos without much effort. Overall this phone has an eye-catching aesthetic. 

• Display:  6.82-inch ProXDR, QHD+ resolution, 3168*1440 pixels, 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, 4500 nits peak brightness, and 510ppi.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
• RAM and Storage: 12GB of RAM + 256GB of storage and 16GB of RAM + 512GB of storage
• Software: Oxygen OS 14 based on Android 14.
• Primary Camera: 50-megapixel Sony’s LYT-808, OIS with an f/1.68 aperture. 
• Secondary Camera: 64-megapixel OmniVision OV64B telephoto, 3x periscope zoom with an  f/2.6 aperture
• Tertiary Camera: 50-megapixel Sony IMX581 ultra-wide with an f/2.2 aperture
• Selfie Camera: 32MP Sony IMX615 with an f/2.2 aperture.
• Battery and Charging: 5,400mAh battery, 100W wired, 50W wireless.
• Other Features: IP67, an in-display fingerprint scanner, and stereo speakers.
• Dimensions and weight:  164.3mm x 75.8mm x 92mm, 220 grams.