Updated: 2016-10-01
Hi there, I’m back with best android mobile phone section. In last 2 years there has been lot of new things happened in mobile world. Chinese companies like Xiaomi and OnePlus have proven their mettle and have forced traditional companies to rethink their strategy. It has become even more difficult to choose a perfect android.
But some of the things have still not changed. I still believe that if you have heart on some of particular mobile.. just go for it, no need to search and prove if it is right for you or not. More on this is mentioned here.
Please note that, I don’t compare mobiles on stupid specs. I compare mobile devices as overall package. If specs is something you looking for then there are plenty of other websites. Also, if you are looking for detailed review on particular mobile, GSMArena is good site.
Lets start with ranking:
1. HTC 10: Around Rs. 46k
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Keyword: Best android mobile phone in India irrespective of Price
Pros: Design, UI, Sound output, Camera, Display, Battery
Cons: Price
HTC 10, a device which aims to score perfect 10 in all the aspects. And it does! Look at beautiful rear design with clean industrial lines. HTC has always been at forefront when it comes to design. It’s design has been heavily copied by apples and Sammys of the world. When it comes to sound output, HTC has set new standard in acoustics. It has best sound output in market. No! not even iPhone comes close. Regarding Camera; with 10, HTC has also addressed the only gripe of low resolution rear camera. So, here you go, everything is covered.
Sometimes I feel bad for HTC. Here is the company which keeps on producing best mobile one after the other, but every single time something or other goes wrong. For most of the time in past, it was the awful marketing department which could not bank on the amazing htc devices. For HTC 10 also, it is same story. And to add to woe, there is healthy competition from likes of Samsung Galaxy S7 and also OnePlus 3.
Something interesting: Just to show how well-built the HTC phone is, have a look at this video of drop test: HTC 10 Drop Test
2. OnePlus 3: Around Rs. 27k
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Keyword: Best android mobile smart phone in India under 30 thousand (INR 30,000)
Pros: Price, Design, Display.
Cons: Audio output is good (not Flagship Killer!).
Never Settle!
When OnePlus launched their first mobile viz. OnePlus One, they had very clear aim. To make “one” heck of a mobile. This was very good strategy. But then, at the time of OnePlus 2, they came up with one more mobile; OnePlus X. This resulted in bifurcating the focus. And hence both OnePlus 2 and X were not that great mobile.
Now, they have understood (rightly so!) that, “one” mighty mobile at competitive price is what people want. Result is beautiful OnePlus 3. When you consider overall package OP3 is really a flagship at budget price. Pete Lau, CEO of OnePlus has clearly said that their target audience is not those who want cheap mobile but it’s those who buy iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S mobiles. I don’t doubt him at all. I would confidently put my hard-earned money on OP3.
3. Samsung Galaxy S7: Around Rs. 48k
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Pros: Design, Camera, Display, Battery.
Cons: Price
Had it not been the fire issue, Galaxy S7 got potential to share 1st rank with HTC 10. Only department where S7 scores below HTC 10 is sound output. It’s not that bad, but it’s just not as good as HTC 10.
Recent fiasco of multiple Galaxy S7 and S7 Note catching fire because of faulty component underlines the fact that it is very important not to compromise on quality of chips and electronics that goes into mobile. This is where no one can compete HTC’s flagship. Samsung has lost credibility in market and it will take some time to put faith in this Korean company. I would say, instead of making phone waterproof, they should make their phones fire-proof :p .
4. Xiaomi Mi5: Around Rs. 23k
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Pros: Form Factor, Weight, Screen, Sound, Camera
Cons: Fast Aging
I like Xiaomi. It is one company which puts quite a lot of effort in Research and Development. They implement their research to make top-notch products. Xiaomi Mi5 with very high charge density at very low weight is some achievement! Mi5 is a great device with excellent Screen, Sound output and 4 axis camera technology. The only thing bothers me is, Xiaomi devices tend to age faster. They tend to have more problems say about charging port, sluggishness, speaker problem etc. quite quickly. This, on plus side means that you must upgrade mobile in a year or two. (Yey! New mobile :p)
5. Moto G Plus (4th Gen): Around Rs. 13k
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Keyword: Best android mobile smart phone in India Under 15 thousand (INR 15,000)
Pros: Reliable, Display, Battery
Cons: Uninspiring design
Despite of changing several houses (Motorola to Google to Lenovo), Moto has stayed true to its DNA. Moto G Plus (4th Gen) like it’s ancestors is no-nonsense mobile for good price range. Specially for budget conscious people who want a mobile which will last long. G Plus has played out design, yet very good design. Sound output is decent so is the camera department. All in all, a safe bet!
6. LeEco Le 2: Around Rs. 10k
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Keyword: Best android mobile smart phone in India under 10 thousand (INR 10,000)
Pros: Decent All rounder for price point.
Cons: Questionable Business Model
If at all I am curious about any mobile company’s future, it has to be LeEco. I really want to see how many years this company will go with their business strategy. Unlike similar Chinese companies like OnePlus and Xiaomi which work on thin margins, LeEco incurs loss on each device they sell. Their idea is to make profit by entertainment services bundled with mobile. I believe this is totally flawed strategy, specially for Chinese and Indian markets which happens to be their biggest market. In India, we don’t have ubiquitous fast internet. Even if it was available we prefer to share music, movies in offline fashion. Shareit being in top 10 of Google Playstore and Apple AppStore is testimony of that.
All this doesn’t stop LeEco 2 from being an awesome mobile specially for the price point. If you don’t want to spend much but want a great android experience, Le 2 is the mobile you have been searching. Anything less, and you will get half-baked android experience.
There! We are done with best of androids available in market. I know, there are some of the heavy weights missing from the list, but those are not there for some reason.
Let’s talk about Sony and it’s amazing X series.
Sony has done with Z series and have come with X series. All of the X devices are superb. The only problem is they are horribly overpriced and there are many (all mentioned in ranking) mobiles which give a better experience for half the price.
Coming to LG.
For once, I was pleasantly surprised by the modular approach LG took with its G5. What let me down was there was nothing else they offered apart from modular approach. I do like G5’s friends. But if G5’s friend is not what you are looking for and are considering G5 as stand alone mobile it won’t be sensible choice. Agreed that, G5 (finally) has metal body and better camera. But cost doesn’t justify to upgrade from G3. Why should I spend extra if I can spend less : )
And Meizu M3.
A perfect iPhone copy with even better home key button. Meizu surprises us with its great photo quality and good sound output. It has near perfect take on home button with tap to back, press to home and gestures in-built to that tiny capacitive button. BUT, it is not an inspiring thing to copy iPhone and iOS so much as to lose its own identity.
That’s all folks!
technophilia 