Performance and Processor
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G flaunts the Snapdragon 782G processor, ensuring smooth multitasking and handling games and demanding applications with ease. The octa-core configuration includes:
A 2.91 GHz single-core
A 2.49 GHz tri-core
A 1.8 GHz quad-core setup
This makes the Nord 3 run efficiently. Coupled with up to 12GB of RAM, this processor ensures your phone keeps pace, whether you're switching between apps or running heavy-duty games.
The MediaTek Dimensity 9000 in the OnePlus Nord 3 5G is a powerful chip built on a 4nm process, promising efficiency and top-tier performance. Games, multitasking, and graphic-intensive tasks are handled seamlessly. This processor is paired with the Mali-G710 MC10 GPU, making it a capable device for gaming and media consumption. The Nord 3 5G provides a fluid experience with 8GB to 16GB RAM options, ensuring minimal lagging.
The Realme 12 Pro+ packs the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2, designed for efficiency and performance, handling day-to-day tasks effortlessly while optimizing power consumption. The 8GB to 12GB RAM support ensures smooth and responsive interactions.
Across these models, the octa-core setup aims to balance performance and efficiency. The cores work in harmony to handle tasks seamlessly, offering faster load times, smoother transitions, and an enhanced user experience.
For gamers, the POCO F6 with its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor is well-suited, with its 3 GHz single-core and 12GB RAM, ensuring smooth performance even in resource-intensive games. The Samsung Galaxy A35, with its 2.4 GHz quad-core and 2 GHz quad-core structure, serves multitasking needs well, allowing for seamless app-switching and running multiple applications simultaneously.
These choices ensure users don't have to compromise on performance, whether you're a gamer, a multitasker, or seeking a reliable everyday phone.
Display Quality
One of the notable features across these models is the widespread adoption of AMOLED and Super AMOLED panels, offering exceptional color accuracy, contrast ratios, and wider viewing angles. The POCO F6 is equipped with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1.5K, offering sharp visuals. Its 120Hz refresh rate ensures fluidity in motion—ideal for gamers and content streamers alike. It also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision®, significantly improving color depth and brightness.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels. Its 120Hz refresh rate supports smooth scrolling and transitions, making daily interactions seamless. It also brings durability with its Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G features a 6.74-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution, offering dynamic and smooth visuals. This Fluid AMOLED display helps reduce blue light emissions and extends comfortable viewing times.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ comes with a 6.67-inch curved AMOLED display, pushing a 1.5K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring an immersive viewing experience thanks to the curved edges. It supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision®, showcasing content in the best possible light.
The Realme 12 Pro+ stands out with its 6.7-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2412 x 1080 pixels, offering a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate, enhancing gaming and navigation responsiveness.
The Vivo V30e embraces a 6.7-inch Full HD AMOLED display with a refined color reproduction and 120Hz refresh rate, making interactions crisp and engaging.
Brightness levels are consistent, generally peaking between 800 to 1300 nits, ensuring good visibility even under direct sunlight. Higher resolutions paired with HDR10+ support and elevated brightness levels enhance the viewing experience for gamers, movie buffs, and routine usage involving reading and web browsing.
By understanding these values, users can opt for a phone that aligns best with their everyday usage, ensuring a pleasing balance of vivid display quality and spatial ergonomics.
Camera Capabilities
The POCO F6 utilizes a 50MP Sony sensor as its primary camera, characterized by an f/1.59 aperture, ensuring vivid and detailed photos. It incorporates optical image stabilization (OIS) to reduce blur in photos and videos, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens for capturing expansive scenes. The 20MP front camera delivers excellent selfies, enhanced by AI-driven features like AI motion tracking and AI-enhanced HDR.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 boasts a 50MP primary sensor with impressive daylight performance, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 5MP depth sensor, offering various shooting options. OIS ensures stable shots, while the AI Scene Optimizer automatically adjusts the camera settings to match the subject.
The Realme 12 Pro+ stands out with its innovative 50MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide, and 64MP periscope telephoto lens, providing diverse photographic capabilities. It offers ultra-resolutions and up to 10x hybrid zoom for capturing minute details from afar, along with AI Image Enhancement and Nightscape modes for low-light scenarios.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ features a 200MP primary sensor that captures high-resolution images with intricate details, complemented by OIS for stabilization. It includes an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro lens, along with AI capabilities like scene recognition and portrait enhancements.
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G houses a 50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with excellent low-light performance and OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. AI features optimize scenes and offer professional-level portrait modes. Its 16MP front camera is designed for crisp and well-lit selfies, enhanced by AI beautification settings.
The iQOO Neo7 Pro packs a 50MP main camera supported by an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP depth sensor. AI advancements like AI Night Mode and AI Bokeh Flare enhance photo quality significantly. Its 16MP front camera ensures noteworthy selfies, with intelligent algorithms adjusting exposure and color tone.
The Vivo V30e features a 50MP dual primary camera setup, consisting of a 50MP main sensor and an 8MP ultra-wide, supported by AI Super Night Mode for low-light environments. Its 50MP front camera ensures crisp and clear selfies.
OIS and electronic image stabilization (EIS) play pivotal roles in determining the quality of videos and photos, particularly in low light. Many models integrate AI enhancements to further refine image outcomes.
Whether your priority is stunning night shots, high-resolution primary images, or balanced selfies, these models offer a harmonious blend of hardware and AI-driven features tailored to those needs.
Battery Life and Charging
When choosing a smartphone, battery life and charging capabilities are vital aspects that significantly impact your overall experience. Below, we provide a detailed breakdown of what the top contenders in the sub-30,000 price range offer regarding battery performance and fast charging.
The POCO F6 comes equipped with a 5,000mAh battery that ensures all-day usage without needing frequent charges. It supports 67W fast charging, powering up the battery from 0 to 100% in under an hour, making it a reliable choice for users on the move.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 features a 5,000mAh battery as well, supporting 25W fast charging. While not the fastest, the 25W charger offers a robust experience, ensuring a significant power boost with a brief 30-minute charge. The phone's excellent power management and optimization contribute to extended battery life.
For those seeking both performance and battery life, the Realme 12 Pro+ delivers with a 4,800mAh battery and 65W SuperVOOC charging. Its advanced battery management system ensures longevity and optimal performance, learning your usage patterns and adjusting accordingly.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boasts a 5,160mAh battery coupled with 67W fast charging. Its ultra-battery saver mode extends battery life by limiting background activities and reducing power usage for non-essential applications, making it a practical choice when you need to prolong battery life.
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G offers a sizeable 5,000mAh battery and 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging, one of the quickest options in this segment. It can reach 60% charge in just 15 minutes, ideal for heavy users who can't wait for their phone to charge fully. Smart power management features optimize performance without draining the battery unnecessarily.
The iQOO Neo7 Pro comes with a 4,500mAh battery and an impressive 120W FlashCharge capability, allowing it to charge from 0 to 100% in around 20 minutes. The device also includes a battery health management system that monitors charging cycles and adjusts to prolong battery longevity.
The Vivo V30e features a 4,500mAh battery capacity with a 44W FlashCharge. While not the fastest, it offers a good balance between performance and durability, with smart charging algorithms that help maintain battery health over extended periods.
Build Quality and Design
When evaluating smartphones under Rs. 30,000, it's crucial to focus on the materials and craftsmanship that contribute to durability and ergonomic comfort, along with the overall design aesthetics.
The POCO F6 exhibits a sleek and modern design with a high-quality polycarbonate body that offers a lightweight yet sturdy build. Its subtle curves and slim profile enhance grip and comfort during extended use.p
The Samsung Galaxy A35 elevates the game with its robust Corning Gorilla Glass 5 front and a premium plastic rear panel that mimics glass. It also features an IP67 rating for protection against dust and water immersion.
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G combines Gorilla Glass 5 on both the front and back with an aluminum frame, offering a luxurious feel and robust protection against drops. Its minimalist design with smooth, rounded edges contributes to ergonomic handling.
For the Realme 12 Pro+, a combination of glass and metal creates an eye-catching look and feel, while ergonomic contouring ensures a comfortable grip. Corning Gorilla Glass protection on the front enhances resistance to scratches and impacts.p
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ boasts Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on the front for superior scratch resistance and a polished glass rear exuding elegance. Its IP53 rating adds dust and splash resistance, making it a durable choice.
The iQOO Neo7 Pro captures attention with its robust yet stylish glass front, plastic back, and durable metal frame, balancing aesthetics with resilience.
The Vivo V30e features a svelte and lightweight design with a polished plastic back mimicking glass and a Gorilla Glass front, prioritizing both appearance and durability
Software and User Experience
The software and user experience (UX) of these smartphones play a pivotal role in enhancing usability and enjoyment. Each manufacturer offers a unique blend of operating systems (OS), user interfaces (UI), and software features.
The POCO F6 runs on MIUI, based on Android 14, providing a high degree of customization and regular updates with security patches and feature enhancements for a stable and secure experience.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 adopts One UI 5.1, Samsung's user-friendly skin over Android 14, designed with intuitive navigation and a minimalist design. Samsung has committed to offering 4 years of Android OS updates and 5 years of security updates, ensuring longevity.
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G features OxygenOS 13.1, based on Android 13, bringing a near-stock Android experience with a streamlined performance and minimalistic aesthetics. OnePlus emphasizes customization and prompt software updates.o
Realme's 12 Pro+ operates on Realme UI 4.0, built on Android 14, known for its vibrant design and rich customization options. Realme's commitment to AI integration enhances features like battery optimization and camera functionalities.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ runs on MIUI 14 on Android 14, offering flexibility and extensive customization options, along with efficient resource management and frequent updates for security.
The iQOO Neo7 Pro features Funtouch OS 13, Vivo's take on Android 13, with highly customizable and vibrant themes. The Multi-Turbo mode optimizes performance, while the Ultra Game Mode provides tools for an uninterrupted gaming session.
The Vivo V30e also runs on Funtouch OS, emphasizing ease of use with a customizable interface and features like the Jovi Home AI assistant to streamline daily tasks.
Value for Money
When it comes to smartphones under Rs. 30,000, it's essential to weigh aspects like performance, camera quality, battery life, build quality, and software experience to determine value for money. Let's examine how these models measure up against each other.
The POCO F6 at Rs. 29,999 stands out with its Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 processor, 50MP Sony sensor camera, and a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The impressive processing power, 12GB RAM option, and 67W fast charging make it a formidable choice for gamers and heavy users, offering exceptional value for those seeking top-tier performance and gaming capabilities.
The Samsung Galaxy A35 at Rs. 26,990 comes with a vivid Super AMOLED display, a versatile triple camera setup, and a 4-year Android OS update policy. The IP67 rating adds durability, making it suitable for users who need a robust and long-lasting device. While it lacks the highest charging speeds at 25W, its emphasis on software longevity and overall user experience make it a solid choice for balanced performance and long-term usability.
Realme 12 Pro+, priced at Rs. 26,499, offers an innovative camera setup, vibrant screen, and solid battery life. Its Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 processor ensures efficient day-to-day tasks and moderate gaming. Though it might lag behind the POCO F6 and OnePlus Nord 3 5G in gaming, the Realme 12 Pro+ compensates by offering a well-rounded experience with minimal bloatware and refined software, making it a great value proposition for users seeking a balanced mid-range smartphone.
The Redmi Note 13 Pro+ at Rs. 28,799 brings flagship-grade features like a 200MP camera, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection, and commendable battery life paired with 67W fast charging. The 200MP camera sets it apart in this price bracket, making it an excellent choice for photography enthusiasts who don't want to sacrifice other crucial aspects like performance and build quality.
The OnePlus Nord 3 5G, priced at Rs. 28,999, is another standout, with its robust MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor, stellar camera setup, and 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging. Known for its smooth OxygenOS user interface, this device offers an almost flagship-like experience at a mid-range price. Its conservative design may not impress everyone, but the overall user experience, longevity, and performance make it worth every penny.
iQOO Neo7 Pro, at Rs. 29,999, boasts an impressive Snapdragon 8s Gen 1 processor, a solid primary camera, and supercharged 120W fast charging. While its design may be unremarkable, its focus on raw performance and superior charging speeds make it ideal for tech enthusiasts and gamers, ensuring minimal time spent plugged in.
Lastly, the Vivo V30e, priced at Rs. 27,999, features an elegant design, vibrant display, and decent camera performance with its 50MP main sensor. While it might lack some horsepower compared to the POCO F6 or OnePlus Nord 3, its focus on user-friendly software and overall sleek experience make it an attractive option for everyday users who appreciate a balanced device.
Ultimately, finding the right smartphone in this price range depends on your priorities—be it high-end performance, camera quality, or long-term software support. Each model offers a compelling mix of features and value, ensuring you can find a device that fits your specific requirements.