Our top picks for smartphones under Tk. 25,000/-

Mid-range phones make up the busiest smartphone segment in Bangladesh. They give you a mixture of performance, solid build quality and satisfactory camera output without breaking the bank. These days, you can even dip your toes into the world of 5G mobile network technology with a budget of Tk. 25,000.

This list contains the best phones you can buy to find the right balance between processing power, battery life, camera performance and of course, price. All of the phones in this list are available at Daraz and major shopping malls across the country.

Realme 8 5G

Price: Tk. 24,990/-

Display: 1080 x 2400 pixels IPS LCD, 90 Hz refresh rate

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G (7 nm)

RAM and ROM: 8/128 GB

OS: Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11

Battery: Lithium-polymer 5000 mAh

Realme 8 5G is one of the most affordable 5G phones in Bangladesh. Daily tasks are a breeze with the help of the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC. A 90 Hz refresh rate display adds to that a touch of fluidity that makes the whole experience worth maxing out the budget.

The main camera of the 48+2+2 MP setup is a good performer in daylight and dark settings. It produces subtly over-saturated photos but preserves enough light. Video recording is 1080p at 30 FPS max.

The 5000 mAh takes around two and a half hours to charge but lasts a day and a half on moderate use. Overall, a solid phone with a good camera and display.

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G

Price: Tk. 23,999/-

Display: 1080 x 2400 pixels IPS LCD, 90 Hz refresh rate

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 700 5G (7 nm)

RAM and ROM: 6/128 GB

OS: MIUI 12 built on Android 11

Battery: Lithium-polymer 5000 mAh

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G is another affordable 5G phone that comes in five 5G bands, which is plenty more than you need to stay future-proof. Day to day chores are handled effortlessly by Dimensity 700 but don't expect graphically heavy tasks to behave the same way. 

There have been incidents where some games and apps crashed and the phone rebooted on its own. All of these can be addressed by a software update. The feature-rich MIUI 12 runs smoothly, but MSA pushes ads through system apps which can be annoying. The main camera takes sharp pictures with consistent exposure and accurate colours. Video recording is limited to 1080p at 30 FPS.

Powering it is a 5000 mAh battery that takes around two hours to top up and can carry you through the day and have some juice left. If you need to have a phone for the upcoming 5G revolution, this is a decent choice.

Infinix Note 11 Pro

Price: Tk. 21,490/-

Display: 1080 x 2460 pixels IPS LCD, 120 Hz refresh rate

Processor: Mediatek Helio G96 (12 nm)

RAM and ROM: 8/128 GB

OS: Android 11, XOS 10

Battery: Lithium-polymer 5000 mAh

Back to the world of 4G, and we have a surprisingly appealing deal: the Infinix Note 11 Pro. It packs some premium features that are found only in flagship phones such as a 120 Hz refresh rate display, UFS 2.2 storage, a telephoto lens and 33W fast charging. Everyday tasks are a delight with this smooth display and the Helio G96 helps it run swiftly.

All popular games are playable in mid to high settings. The main camera performs well in dark settings but gets confused in well-lit and busy situations. The telephoto lens has 30x zooming capability but won't produce good photos at that point. However, it takes better portrait shots than the main lens. Video can be recorded at up to 1440p at 30 FPS with decent quality.

XOS 10 is somewhat heavy and bloated, but some of the included bloatware can be deleted. Otherwise, it is featureful and smooth. On the whole, it does well in many areas and that for a reasonable price.

Motorola Moto G40 Fusion

Price: Tk. 20,999/- (4/64 GB) and Tk. 25,999/- (6/128 GB)

Display: 1080 x 2460 pixels IPS LCD,HDR10, 120 Hz refresh rate

Processor: Snapdragon 732G (8 nm)

OS: Android 11

Battery: Lithium-polymer 6000 mAh

For Android purists on a budget, Motorola is a go-to choice. The G40 Fusion is no exception, with an almost stock Android user interface sprinkled with Moto goodies. The powerful 732G is capable of running most of the graphically intense games in high settings with good FPS.

The high refresh rate display ensures a satisfactory experience throughout the user interface. Daytime camera performance is adequately good while noise emerges as the sun goes down. 4k video recording is possible at 30 FPS.

You are not going to run out of juice soon either, with the bulky 6000 mAh battery pack. All things considered, it is an easily recommendable phone and definitely worth the extra money if you want the 6/128 GB variant.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro

Price: Tk. 25,999/- (6/64 GB 64MP version)

Display: 6.67 inches 1080 x 2400 pixels AMOLED, 120 Hz refresh rate

Processor: Snapdragon 732G (8 nm)

RAM and ROM: 6/64 GB

OS: Android 11, MIUI 12

Battery: Lithium-polymer 5020 mAh

The highlight of the 'one thousand more' smartphone here is its 120 Hz AMOLED display from Samsung coupled with stereo speakers. Needless to say, this is a sensational media consumption device. It comes with Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides and IP53 dust and splash protection.

The processor is also powerful enough to handle all popular games in high settings. The quad-camera setup consists of a 64 MP main lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, a 5 MP super tele-macro lens and a 2 MP depth sensor. The main camera and the ultra-wide camera produces colour accurate photos both day and night. 4k video recording at 30 FPS is available.

Battery backup is amazing with the 5020 mAh cell lasting a full day and then some. On the whole, you will not regret spending the extra thousand.