The mid-premium category has witnessed a lot of action in the last six weeks or so. The new entrants to this already exciting segment are the Realme GT Master Edition and Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G. Both the smartphones come with some impressive specifications for the price, which include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor and 64-megapixel main cameras. The Xiaomi smartphone is essentially an upgrade to the Mi 11 Lite which was launched with only 4G support earlier this year. It is also the slimmest and most lightweight smartphone of 2021.

Apart from these two devices, there are plenty of existing good options in the market as well. The Poco F3 GT was launched only a few months ago and is an excellent pick for those who want to game on a tight budget. The smartphone comes with plenty of gaming-specific features. Similarly, the OnePlus Nord 2 offers you a great software experience. So, in case you are in the market for a mid-premium phone, here are the top five smartphones you can buy under Rs 30,000 in India right now.

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G is the latest smartphone in the sub-Rs 30,000 price point. The new Xiaomi smartphone is priced at Rs 26,999 and focuses largely on the in-hand feel. It is positioned as a slim and lightweight device. The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G comes with a lot of mid-premium specs like a 64-megapixel main camera, Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC and 4250 mAh battery. However, the top reason to spend on this Xiaomi smartphone should be its high quality display. The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G comes with a 6.55-inch 10-bit AMOLED display with full HD+ resolution and an aspect ratio of 20:9. The panel supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz. Xiaomi has also added Dolby Vision support for Netflix. The display puts Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G way ahead of other smartphones in this price point.

Our verdict: The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G is not a clear winner in its price category. Just like Mi 11 Lite. You expect better thermals and battery life in this price category. Also, I am not a fan of this broad body. Yet, it has enough to get smartphone enthusiasts excited. The phone is pretty well priced at Rs 26,999, which puts it on par with the Realme GT Master Edition and iQOO Z5.

Realme GT Master Edition

The Realme GT Master Edition was launched at a starting price of Rs 26,999 but, was selling for less than Rs 20,000 during the festive season sale. That makes the Realme GT Master Edition an absolute steal. The smartphone directly competes with the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G. It has the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor which deivers a decent performance. The triple rear camera system on the Realme GT Master Edition includes a 64-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. The main camera clicks good images. However, the phone doesn’t support 4K video recording so you will be stuck with 1080p videos at 60 fps.

Our verdict: The processor is not as fast as what you get on the pricier GT, but still fast enough for most people. The display is bright and colourful enough to binge-watch the upcoming season of Lucifer, but again, HDR would have been better. I also like the cameras, even though the macro sensor falls short of claims. But, people who are investing the money should not settle for less. Gaming on the phone is also decent, but I would not recommend this phone to someone who specialises in mobile games.

OnePlus Nord 2

OnePlus was the first smartphone maker to add some life to the mid-premium category. The OnePlus Nord was an instant hit among smartphone buyers and since then the company has added two new devices to the line-up. OnePlus Nord 2 is the company’s latest Nord series smartphone and comes with 5G support. It has some impressive features to offer including a MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI chipset, a 90Hz AMOLED display and a 50-megapixel triple camera setup. Backing the device is a 4500mAh battery unit along with Warp Charge 65 support. The smartphone comes with an in-display fingerprint sensor as well.

Our verdict: We liked the OnePlus Nord 2 a lot. It has a solid on-paper spec and also delivers excellent performance. It starts at Rs 27,999 and is among a handful of devices in this price segment that will get regular software updates, and that’s one thing that goes in its favour.

Poco F3 GT

For those who are planning to buy a gaming smartphone in this category, the Poco F3 GT is a perfect choice. It is an ideal succesor to the Poco F1 and brings some really nice gaming centric features. It comes with a slipstream design with Maglev triggers that come in handy during gaming. It also features RGB Glow at the back around camera placement. The smartphone is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC, features a 64-megapixel primary camera, and packs a 5000mAh battery with 67W fast charging support.

Our verdict: The Poco F3 GT is an excellent package that also appeals to the gaming community. On paper, it has a solid spec sheet. We liked the slick design, hand feel, and battery life of the Poco F3 GT. It is a performance-driven smartphone but one that may appeal more to gaming enthusiasts than the regular buyer.

Mi 11 X

Xiaomi’s affordable flagship smartphone, Mi 11X was launched at Rs 29,999 for the base variant in April 2021. However, the smartphone was avaialble for as low as Rs 20,999 during the Amazon Great Indian Festival sale. It features a 120Hz AMOLED display and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor. There’s also Dolby Atmos dual speaker support. At just 7.8mm, the Mi 11X is sleek and weighs 196 grams. It packs a 4520mAh battery and comes with 33W fast charging support. In addition, the handset comes with a 48-megapixel primary camera and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

Our verdict: The Mi 11X offers a decent design and offers excellent overall performance. However, the cameras aren’t the biggest highlight of this smartphone. However, it packs an excellent display and provides a good battery life.