E-Paper
Realme mobile phones under ₹30,000: Our top picks
This article takes a close look at all of the smartphones Realme has to offer in less than ₹30,000 category.
According to the most recent numbers from Counterpoint Research's Market Monitor service, Realme grew its global 5G smartphone shipments by 165% in the quarter ending December 2021, making it the fastest-growing major 5G brand worldwide. It is almost like the law of large numbers doesn’t apply to Realme, given their mammoth scale. Realme produces fantastic smartphones for each market segment, and if you’re looking to buy a Realme phone, you’ll need to look no further than this article.
1. Realme X2 Pro
On paper, the Realme X2 Pro promises to be a behemoth. The Realme X2 Pro, at a starting price of Rs. 29,990, delivers many of the features available in more expensive mid-range flagships, automatically increasing its value proposition.
Specifications:
Display: 6.5-inch Super AMOLED panel with 90hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1000 nits peak brightness.
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC
RAM: 6GB/8GB/12GB
ROM: 64GB/128GB/256GB
Battery: 4000 mAh
Rear Camera: 64 MP(f/1.8) wide angle lens, 8 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide sensor, 13 MP (f/2.5) telephoto lens, 2 MP(f/2.4) macro lens
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.0)
Fast Charging: Yes, SuperVOOC 50W (100% charging in 35 minutes)
| Pros | Cons |
| Great performance | Mediocre night-time photography results |
| Snappy fingerprint reader | Ultrawide and telephoto sensors do not support 4K video recording |
| 50W SuperVOOC fast charging | Average battery life |
2. Realme 9 Pro+ 5G
The Realme 9 Pro+ is an excellent Android device that, despite a wide range of capabilities, won't blow a hole in your pocket. Despite having a camera that isn't always reliable and gives only average performance, this device has excellent battery life, software that's easy to use, and a sleek design. It is a great phone if you are looking for a reliable device that gets the basics right.
Specifications:
Display: 6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel with 90hz refresh rate, and 600 nits peak brightness.
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 920
RAM: 6GB/8GB
ROM: 128GB/256GB
Battery: 4500 mAh
Rear Camera: 50 MP(f/1.8) wide angle lens, 8 MP f/2.2 ultrawide lens, 2 MP (f/2.4) macro lens
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.4)
Fast Charging: Yes, 60W (100% charge in 44 minutes)
| Pros | Cons |
| Great camera performance | The front camera lacks 4K video recording capability |
| Excellent battery life | Relatively mediocre design |
| 66W fast charging | Bloatware |
3. Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G
The Realme Narzo 50 Pro is an excellent smartphone in many respects, including build quality, performance, battery life, and photography. Only minor flaws include bloatware, which slows down performance, as well as the lack of a microSD card port.
Specifications:
Display: 6.4 inches Super AMOLED panel with 90hz refresh rate
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 920
RAM: 6GB/8GB
ROM: 128GB
Battery: 5000 mAh
Rear Camera: 48 MP(f/1.8) wide angle lens, 8 MP (f/2.2) ultrawide lens, 2 MP(f/2.4) macro lens
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.4)
Fast Charging: Yes, 33W (50% charging in 31 minutes)
| Pros | Cons |
| Elegant design | Bloatware impacts the UX significantly |
| Great battery life | The macro camera lens is gimmicky |
| 33W fast charging | Poor low-light photography results |
4. Realme 9 5G
The Realme 9 5G's design is unremarkable. Despite having solid hardware, it appears to have fewer features than its predecessor, with which it shares a lot of hardware, to achieve a lower price point. Packing a Dimensity 810 SoC, it also has a massive 5000 mAh battery.
Specifications:
Display: 6.5-inch IPS LCD panel with 90hz refresh rate and 600 nits peak brightness
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 810
RAM: 4GB/6GB
ROM: 64GB/128GB
Battery: 5000 mAh
Rear Camera: 48 MP(f/1.8) wide angle lens, 2 MP( f/2.4) macro lens, 2 MP(f/2.4) depth sensor
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.1)
Fast Charging: Yes, 18W
| Pros | Cons |
| Great price-to-performance ratio | Bloatware renders the UX unusable at times |
| Fantastic battery life | Unimpressive low light photography |
| Amazing camera performance | No support for VOOC or SuperVOOC fast charging |
5. Realme 8s 5G
As far as low-priced smartphones are concerned, the Realme 8s 5G is one of the few phones that delivers precisely what it promises. Simply said, it's a more attractive, somewhat more powerful, and efficiently designed Realme 8 5G with a better rear camera (64MP + 2MP + 2MP) than the one it replaces.
Specifications:
Display: 6.5 inches IPS LCD panel with 90hz refresh rate, and 600 nits peak brightness
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 810
RAM: 6GB/8GB
ROM: 128GB
Battery: 5000 mAh
Rear Camera: 64 MP(f/1.8) wide angle lens, 2 MP(f/2.4) macro lens, and 2 MP (f/2.4) depth sensor
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.1)
Fast Charging: Yes, 33W
| Pros | Cons |
| Solid performance | Bloatware renders the UX unusable at times |
| A great rear camera and improved image stabilisation | Lacks 4K video recording capabilities |
| Great battery life | Lacks a stereo speakers setup |
6. Realme Narzo 30 5G
Specifications:
Display: 6.5 inches IPS LCD panel with 90hz refresh rate, and 600 nits peak brightness
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 700
RAM: 6GB/8GB
ROM: 128GB
Battery: 5000 mAh
Rear Camera: 48MP + 2MP + 2MP
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.1)
Fast Charging: Yes, 33W
| Pros | Cons |
| Solid performance | Bloatware renders the UX unusable at times |
| A great rear camera and improved image stabilisation | Lacks 4K video recording capabilities |
| Great battery life | Lacks a stereo speakers setup |
7. Realme Narzo 50 5G
Specifications:
Display: 6.6 inches FHD+ display
Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 8105G
RAM: 6GB/8GB
ROM: 64GB/128GB
Battery: 5000 mAh
Rear Camera: 48MP + 2MP
Front Camera: 8 MP (f/2.1)
Fast Charging: Yes, 33W
| Pros | Cons |
| Solid performance | Bloatware renders the UX unusable at times |
| Good rear camera | Lacks 4K video recording capabilities |
| Great battery life | Lacks a stereo speakers setup |
8. Realme 9i
Specifications:
Display: 6.6 inches AMOLED panel with 90hz refresh rate
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G
RAM: 4GB/6GB/8GB
ROM: 128GB
Battery: 5000 mAh
Rear Camera: 50 MP(f/1.8) wide angle lens, 2 MP (f/2.4) macro sensor, and 2 MP(f/2.4) macro sensor
Front Camera: 16 MP (f/2.0)
Fast Charging: Yes, 44W (1-50% charging in 27 minutes)
| Pros | Cons |
| Support for 44W fast charging | Lacks 5G support |
| Great battery life | Lacks support for 4G recording |
| Gyro-EIS support for the rear camera | Mediocre processor |
Price of Realme mobile phones at a glance:
| Product | Price |
| Realme X2 Pro | ₹29,990 |
| Realme 9 Pro+ 5G | ₹28,999 |
| Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G | ₹21,999 |
| Realme 9 5G | ₹16,310 |
| Realme 8s 5G | ₹18,849 |
| Realme narzo 50 5G | ₹16,999 |
| Realme narzo 30 | ₹16,999 |
| Realme 9i | ₹15,645 |
Best three features for you
| Product | Feature 1 | Feature 2 | Feature 3 |
| Realme X2 Pro | Qualcomm Snapdragon 855+ SoC | 64 MP rear camera | SuperVOOC 50W fast charging |
| Realme 9 Pro+ 5G | MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor | 50 MP rear camera | 60W fast charging |
| Realme Narzo 50 Pro 5G | MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor | 48 MP rear camera | 33W fast charging |
| Realme 9 5G | MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor | 48 MP rear camera | 5000 mAh battery |
| Realme 8s 5G | MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor | 64 MP rear camera | 33W fast charging |
| Realme narzo 50 5G | MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor | 64 MP rear camera | 33W fast charging |
| Realme narzo 30 | MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor | 64 MP rear camera | 33W fast charging |
| Realme 9i | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G processor | 50 MP rear camera | 44W fast charging |
Best value for money
In our list, the phone that offers the best value for money is the Realme Narzo 50 5G. It has features such as a Mediatek Dimensity 810 5G powerful gaming processor, a 48MP + 2MP rear camera, a 8MP front camera, and a 5000 mAh battery.
Best overall - Realme X2 Pro
The best overall phone in our list is the Realme X2 Pro. Its features include a 6.5-inch screen, a 4000 mAh battery, an AMOLED screen, and 4G connectivity.
How to find the perfect Realme mobile phone under ₹30,000
Your requirements: The primary factor to consider must be your requirements. It is important to decide what sets of features you would like to prioritise while buying a new phone.
Your usage patterns: You understand your previous usage patterns best, and it is natural to decide what you want to change with your smartphone going forward.
Familiar ecosystems: You must not discount familiarity with specific ecosystems. In the digital age, we build our entire life around a particular piece of technology, and when even one of the pieces of the puzzle goes missing, a lot of things can go wrong.
Best Realme mobile phones under <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>30,000: Our top picks
At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase.
