While the smartphone world can be a very competitive space in general, it is the mid-segment that gets to witness the most fierce battles. This is because of a very simple reason – while in the budget segment, a limited price (you cannot go beyond a point) and features both create a level playing field, in the premium zone, the lack of limits (pretty much everything above a point) acts as the great leveller.
This is usually not the case in the mid-segment, which has no real leveller (the price floats between the low and the high, and features are a blend of the basic and premium), and gets fiercely competitive. The pressure to deliver more at lower prices is very real and hence this is one zone that sees some power-packed smartphones with some really aggressive pricing.
This is also why selecting a smartphone for under Rs 25,000 can be a very difficult task. If you have a budget of Rs.25,000 and are finding this selection process to be an absolute uphill battle, we have narrowed it down to the best five phones in the price zone:
OnePlus Nord CE 3: The Never Settler In The Zone
Price: Rs 24,999 onwards
After slaying flagships for the longest time and then getting into the premium flagship zone itself, OnePlus has had quite a journey. After dominating these two spaces, OnePlus has successfully become a boss in the mid-segment with its Nord series. If you are looking for a smartphone under Rs. 25,000, the OnePlus Nord CE 3 is one of the easy picks. The phone comes with the classic OnePlus philosophy of bringing high-end specs at a competitive price tag.
The phone comes with a 6.7-inch Fluid AMOLED FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chip paired with stereo speakers, making it not only a decent enough device for some gaming but also an overall multimedia master.
The triple camera setup is spearheaded by a good 50-megapixel sensor with OIS, and a 16-megapixel sensor is present on the phone for selfies. The 5,000mAh battery with 80W fast charging support is another USP of the smartphone while OxygenOS with Android 13 makes for a clean, uncluttered UI on the device.
iQoo Z7 Pro: A Mid-Segment Master 
Price: Rs 23,999 onwards
Another prominent player in the mid-segment in recent years is Vivo’s sub-brand,iQoo. The brand has been launching phones with really competitive features and price tags. One of those happens to fall under the Rs. 25,000 umbrella — the iQoo Z7 Pro.
The 6.78-inch AMOLED FHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate is an absolute content commando, delivering punchy colours and a smooth viewing experience. This is paired with the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset which is great for multitasking and even some high-end gaming (but with tweaked settings). The phone has a dual camera setup but is more or less a one-camera show — the 64-megapixel main camera show. There is a 16-megapixel selfie sensor on the front, and a 4,600mAh battery might not be the largest in this list, but can see you through a day of heavy usage.
If you find yourself out of charge, the 66W fast charge support will get you going again in no time. The iQoo Z7 Pro comes with glass on both front and back, giving it a premium feel and while it has a slightly cluttered Android skin on top of Android 13 — FunTouchOS 13, the phone would be perfect for those who like a mix of style and substance with some added UI features.
Motorola Edge 40 Neo: Hello Again, Mid-Segment Moto
Price: Rs 22,999 onwards
After having almost dropped out of the spotlight, Motorola seems to be getting its grip back on the Indian smartphone market, by launching some really competitively priced smartphones. The Moto Edge 40 Neo is a phone under Rs 25,000 that comes with some really impressive specs and is the only device in the list that runs on stock Android.
The Edge 40 Neo comes with a 6.55-inch pOLED FHD+ display with a massive 144Hz refresh rate paired with some next-to-non-existent bezels (including the chin).
The phone brings IP68 rating dust and water resistance which is quite rare in this price band. Some might get disappointed with the MediaTek Dimensity 7030 chip but the processor can multitask well and can handle some casual level gaming easily.
The camera setup on the device has a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS and a 13-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a good 32-megapixel selfie camera.
The Edge 40 Neo also comes with a good 5,000mAh battery which can last you all day paired with 68W fast charging support which can get the phone charged up to 50 per cent in 15-20 minutes.
The fact that it runs on stock Android 13, makes it a favourite amongst the purists.
Redmi Note 12 Pro: The Pro Note
Price: Rs 22,999 onwards
For the longest time, the name Redmi Note was associated with only budget segment smartphones. That has changed of late with the Note series swiftly climbing up the price ladder. This is why there is a Redmi Note in this list– the Redmi Note 12 Pro. And in the best Note tradition, the device is packed with features.
It has a 6.67-inch OLED FHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate with Dolby Vision support. There is IP53 splash and dust resistance on board along with stereo speakers.
The phone is powered by MediaTek 1080 processor which can handle your everyday chores and multitasking gigs with ease. The triple camera set up on the phone is led by a 50-megapixel main sensor with OIS while a 16-megapixel sensor holds the fort on the front. Some might get disappointed by the presence of Android 12 on the phone but this has since been updated to Android 13, and MIUI 13 is definitely one of the good Android Skins out there with many handy features.
The phone also has a 5,000mAh battery which can easily see you through a day of usage and this is backed by 67W fast charging support. All of this makes the Redmi Note 12 Pro a great overall package with well-rounded specs and a good performance, in the best Redmi Note tradition.
Samsung Galaxy A23: The Solid Mid-Segment Galaxy
Price: Rs 21,999 onwards
Brands have come and gone over the years, but Samsung has been a long-standing name in the smartphone business. It is also one of the few brands to have very good devices at just about every price point.
And in the sub-Rs 25,000 zone, the Samsung Galaxy A23 carries the Samsung flag. It comes with a 6.6-inch IPS FHD+ LCD display, with a 90 Hz refresh rate which is quite modest in comparison to others, but this being a Samsung, still delivers some really vibrant colours. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor which may be slightly on the older side but will get you through your everyday tasks with ease.
It runs on Android 12 out of the box but can be upgraded to Android 13 right away, thanks to Samsung’s update record. There is a quad camera setup on the back of the phone but the heavy lifting is done by the 50-megapixel main sensor which comes with OIS.
The Galaxy A23 also comes with a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging support. The specs of the phone may seem a bit underwhelming to some, but for many the reassurance the Samsung name brings would more than compensate.