7 Best Mid-Range Gaming Smartphones to Buy Under Rs 30,000 in 2023

Gaming smartphones are designed to provide an immersive and high-performance mobile gaming experience. They typically have powerful processors, such as Qualcomm's Snapdragon or MediaTek's Helio series, that can handle the demands of modern mobile games. These processors are coupled with high-end graphics processors, such as the Adreno or Mali series, which can handle the rendering of detailed and realistic game graphics.

Another important feature of gaming smartphones is their high refresh rate displays, typically ranging from 90Hz to 144Hz. These displays can refresh the image on the screen at a faster rate than standard displays, which results in smoother and more responsive gameplay. Additionally, many gaming smartphones have low input lag, which is the delay between the user input and the response on the screen, ensuring that the user input is registered quickly and accurately.

To keep the phone cool during prolonged gaming sessions, gaming smartphones often come equipped with specialized cooling systems, such as vapor chamber cooling or graphite cooling pads. These cooling systems help to dissipate heat generated by the phone during heavy use, which can prevent thermal throttling and ensure stable performance.

Additionally, gaming smartphones come with a host of gaming-centric software features. These features include dedicated gaming modes that optimize the phone's performance and settings for gaming, as well as touch controls optimized for gaming. Some gaming smartphones also have a built-in trigger buttons or haptic feedback for a more immersive gaming experience.

Overall, gaming smartphones are designed to provide a high-performance, immersive, and responsive mobile gaming experience, with a combination of hardware and software features that are optimized for gaming.

1. iQOO 9 SE

Price 25,990/-

The iQOO 9 SE is a gaming smartphone made by iQOO, a sub-brand of Chinese smartphone manufacturer Vivo.

One of the key features of the iQOO 9 SE is its powerful hardware. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1100 5G processor, paired with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The phone also comes with a high-performance liquid cooling system that helps to dissipate heat generated during gaming sessions.

The iQOO 9 SE also has a high-refresh rate display, with a 6.62-inch AMOLED screen that supports a refresh rate of 120Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, providing smooth and responsive gameplay. The display also supports HDR10+ and has a peak brightness of up to 800 nits.

In terms of camera, the iQOO 9 SE has a triple camera setup on the back, which includes a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The front-facing camera is 16-megapixel.

The phone also has a 4,400mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about 45 minutes.

Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, support for 5G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on iQOO UI 2.0, based on Android 11.

Overall, the iQOO 9 SE is a high-performance gaming smartphone with a powerful processor, high-refresh rate display, and liquid cooling system, along with a good camera setup, fast charging and a clean software experience.

2. Redmi K50i

Price 20,999/-

The Redmi K50i is a budget smartphone made by Redmi, a sub-brand of Xiaomi.

The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor and comes with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The phone also has a 6.67-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate.

In terms of camera, the Redmi K50i has a triple rear camera setup, which includes a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The front-facing camera is 8-megapixel.

The phone is equipped with a 4,820mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about an hour.

Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, support for 4G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on MIUI 12, based on Android 11.

Overall, the Redmi K50i is a budget smartphone that offers solid specs, high refresh rate display, good camera performance and fast charging capabilities at an affordable price point.

3. Poco F4 5G

Price 25,999/-

The POCO F4 5G is a budget smartphone made by POCO, a sub-brand of Xiaomi.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 720 5G processor and comes with 6GB or 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The phone also has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a high refresh rate of 120Hz.

In terms of camera, the POCO F4 5G has a triple rear camera setup, which includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The front-facing camera is 20-megapixel.

The phone is equipped with a 4,520mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about an hour.

Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, support for 5G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on MIUI 12, based on Android 11.

Overall, the POCO F4 5G is a budget smartphone that offers solid specs, high refresh rate display, good camera performance and fast charging capabilities at an affordable price point. It also supports 5G network, which is a great feature for budget smartphones.

4. Realme X7 Pro

Price 27,750/-

The Realme X7 Pro is a mid-range smartphone made by Realme, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1000+ processor and comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The phone also has a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a high refresh rate of 120Hz.

In terms of camera, the Realme X7 Pro has a quad rear camera setup, which includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The front-facing camera is 32-megapixel.

The phone is equipped with a 4500mAh battery with support for 65W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about 35 minutes.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, support for 5G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on Realme UI, based on Android 11.

Overall, the Realme X7 Pro is a mid-range smartphone that offers powerful specs, high refresh rate display, good camera performance and fast charging capabilities at a relatively affordable price point. It also supports 5G network, which is a great feature for a mid-range smartphone.

5. Xiaomi Mi 11X

Price 29,999/-

The Xiaomi Mi 11X is a mid-range smartphone made by Xiaomi, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor and comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and up to 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage. The phone also has a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a high refresh rate of 120Hz.

In terms of camera, the Xiaomi Mi 11X has a triple rear camera setup, which includes a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 5-megapixel macro lens. The front-facing camera is 20-megapixel.

The phone is equipped with a 4,520mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about an hour.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, support for 5G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on MIUI 12, based on Android 11.

Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 11X is a mid-range smartphone that offers solid specs, high refresh rate display, good camera performance and fast charging capabilities at a relatively affordable price point. It also supports 5G network, which is a great feature for a mid-range smartphone.

6. Vivo V21 5G

Price 29,999/-

The Vivo V21 5G is a mid-range smartphone made by Vivo, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G processor and comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage. The phone also has a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a high refresh rate of 90Hz.

In terms of camera, the Vivo V21 5G has a triple rear camera setup, which includes a 64-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The front-facing camera is 44-megapixel, which is the most highlighted feature of the phone.

The phone is equipped with a 4,000mAh battery with support for 33W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in about an hour.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, support for 5G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on Funtouch OS 11.1, based on Android 11.

Overall, the Vivo V21 5G is a mid-range smartphone that offers solid specs, high refresh rate display, good camera performance and fast charging capabilities at a relatively affordable price point. It also has a high resolution front-facing camera. Additionally, it supports 5G network, which is a great feature for a mid-range smartphone.

7. OnePlus Nord

Price 29,999/-

The OnePlus Nord is a mid-range smartphone made by OnePlus, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer.

The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor and comes with up to 12GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.0 storage. The phone also has a 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels and a high refresh rate of 90Hz.

In terms of camera, the OnePlus Nord has a quad rear camera setup, which includes a 48-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, a 2-megapixel macro lens, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The front-facing camera is a dual-camera setup which includes a 32-megapixel primary camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens.

The phone is equipped with a 4,115mAh battery with support for 30W fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 70% in 30 minutes.

Other features include an in-display fingerprint sensor, support for 5G networks, and a stereo speaker setup. The phone runs on OxygenOS 11, based on Android 11.

Overall, the OnePlus Nord is a mid-range smartphone that offers solid specs, high refresh rate display, good camera performance and fast charging capabilities. It also supports 5G network, which is a great feature for a mid-range smartphone. Additionally, it has a dual front camera setup, which is a great feature for selfie enthusiasts.

Most Important Things to Buy Gaming Smartphones

When looking for a gaming smartphone, there are a few key things to consider:

1. Performance: Look for a phone with a powerful processor and high-end graphics processor. This will ensure that the phone can handle the demands of modern mobile games.

2. Display: Look for a phone with a high refresh rate display, typically 90Hz or higher. This will provide a smooth and responsive gaming experience.

3. Cooling: Look for a phone with specialized cooling systems, such as vapor chamber cooling or graphite cooling pads. This will help to prevent overheating during prolonged gaming sessions.

4. Software: Look for a phone with gaming-centric software features such as dedicated gaming modes and touch controls optimized for gaming.

5. Battery: Look for a phone with a large battery capacity and fast charging capabilities. Gaming can be demanding on the battery, so you'll want a phone that can last through long gaming sessions.

6. Price: Consider the price of the phone, as gaming smartphones can be quite expensive. Look for a phone that offers the best balance of performance and value.

7. Storage: If you're planning on downloading a lot of games, you'll want to make sure the phone has enough storage. Look for a phone with at least 128GB of storage.

8. Brand reputation: Look for a phone from a reputable brand that has a good track record of producing high-quality gaming smartphones.

Ultimately, the best gaming smartphone for you will depend on your specific needs and budget, but by considering these factors, you'll be able to find a phone that will provide a great gaming experience.