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Buying Guide Smartphones

Smartphones buying guide (2026): what to check before you buy

Quick answer

Updates: choose a phone with at least 3 to 4 years of Android updates for security and resale value. Battery: 5,000 mAh or more gets most people through a full day of heavy use.

By Buyrskip Editorial Team Updated 1 min read

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The checklist

  • Updates: choose a phone with at least 3 to 4 years of Android updates for security and resale value.
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh or more gets most people through a full day of heavy use.
  • 5G: check support for the bands used by Jio and Airtel (n78 and n28 at minimum).

Set your budget

The smartphones we researched sell for ₹9,500 to ₹1,45,000. Decide how you will use it first; the priciest model is often a skip for everyday needs.

India-specific tip

Look for bank offers and exchange bonuses during sales, and buy from the brand store or Amazon itself to avoid grey-market phones with no India warranty.

Ready to buy?

Jump to our buy-or-skip list of smartphones.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check before buying a smartphone?

Updates: choose a phone with at least 3 to 4 years of Android updates for security and resale value. Battery: 5,000 mAh or more gets most people through a full day of heavy use.

How much should I spend on a phone?

For most people, ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 buys a phone that lasts 3 to 4 years. Flagships add better cameras and longer updates.

Is a 5G phone necessary?

Most new phones are 5G anyway; make sure yours supports the bands your operator uses.

Buyrskip Editorial Team

Part of the Buyrskip research team. We compare specifications, documentation and real-world trade-offs so you can decide faster.

How we research products Editorial policy

Before you buy a smartphone: the essentials

Buying a smartphone is easier once you know which three or four specs actually change your experience and which are just marketing. This guide covers exactly that for smartphones sold in India, plus the budget to plan for, the local quirks to watch and the models we would buy today.

The checklist

Updates: choose a phone with at least 3 to 4 years of Android updates for security and resale value. Battery: 5,000 mAh or more gets most people through a full day of heavy use. 5G: check support for the bands used by Jio and Airtel (n78 and n28 at minimum).

What to spend

The smartphones we checked sell for ₹9,500 to ₹1,45,000. Below that range you usually lose durability or a key feature; above it, make sure you will really use the extras. Today the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is the safest buy, and the Redmi 14C 5G is the cheapest one we would still recommend.

India-specific tip

Look for bank offers and exchange bonuses during sales, and buy from the brand store or Amazon itself to avoid grey-market phones with no India warranty.

Quick answers

How much should I spend on a phone? For most people, ₹15,000 to ₹30,000 buys a phone that lasts 3 to 4 years. Flagships add better cameras and longer updates. Is a 5G phone necessary? Most new phones are 5G anyway; make sure yours supports the bands your operator uses.

Our calls at a glance

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (₹1,05,000–₹1,30,000): buy, power users and photography.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro (₹1,25,000–₹1,45,000): buy, iPhone users who want the best.

OnePlus 13 (₹60,000–₹72,000): buy, flagship power for less.

Apple iPhone 16 (₹62,000–₹80,000): buy, most iPhone buyers.

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (₹44,999–₹52,999): buy, long updates.

Google Pixel 9a (₹44,000–₹50,000): buy, point-and-shoot photography.

OnePlus Nord 4 (₹27,999–₹31,999): buy, all-rounder.

Nothing Phone (₹24,000–₹28,000): buy, style and clean software.

POCO X7 Pro (₹23,000–₹28,000): buy, mobile gaming on a budget.

Redmi Note 14 5G (₹16,000–₹19,000): buy, budget buyers wanting a good screen.

Samsung Galaxy A56 5G (₹38,000–₹44,000): consider, long software support in the mid-range.

Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G (₹27,000–₹33,000): consider, all-rounders who want fast charging.

Motorola Edge 60 Fusion (₹21,000–₹25,000): consider, clean software and a curved screen.

Samsung Galaxy M35 5G (₹14,000–₹18,000): consider, long battery life.

POCO M7 Pro 5G (₹13,000–₹16,000): consider, video watching on a budget.

Motorola Moto G45 5G (₹10,000–₹13,000): consider, clean Android on a budget.

Redmi 14C 5G (₹9,500–₹12,000): consider, first smartphones and backup phones.

Prices on Amazon.in move in a pattern. The deepest cuts land in the Great Indian Festival (around Navratri and Diwali), Prime Day in July and the Republic Day sale in January, usually with extra bank-card discounts and no-cost EMI. Judge a deal against the usual price we show, never against the MRP.