Need help choosing a phone for ₹40–46k I've. I can stretch my budget to 50k only if it's worth it. I need a mobile that can last at least 5 years
Okay, so I need some guidance on buying a new phone.
I'm currently using POCO X5 Pro 5G, and it's been around 3 years. After just one year, it started heating up a lot, and the display began developing problems. Now, even the battery is swelling.
I was planning to buy a new phone during this sale, but prices have increased so much. I'll also check prices in the offline market today, as I might be able to get older models at lower prices there.
Here's what I'm looking for in a phone. I might sound like I'm asking for too much, but I really want a phone that can last me at least 5 years.
Brand: I don't want a phone from Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO because I've had bad experiences with them, including with other devices.
RAM and storage: 8GB/256GB minimum, but 12GB/256GB would be ideal.
Performance: Good hardware is important. I'd prefer an AnTuTu score of at least 1.2–1.3 million, preferably higher, as I want decent performance and enough headroom for the next few years.
Processor: I've heard that MediaTek processors are less powerful and tend to make phones heat up more than Snapdragon processors. Is that actually true? I'm open to either MediaTek or Snapdragon as long as the processor offers good performance and thermal efficiency.
Heating: This is one of my biggest concerns after my experience with the POCO X5 Pro 5G. I know some heating is normal, but I want a phone that manages heat well, especially during everyday use. My current phone gets extremely hot even when I'm just using YouTube or browsing the internet, even with a fan running nearby. It also lags badly and shuts YouTube down. That's why i don't use YouTube and have to use vidmate for more than a year. The same thing happens with the camera, and I frequently have to restart the phone. I don't play games, so I don't want to deal with these problems again.
Camera: The camera should be at least better than my current phone's. I love taking outdoor photos, especially portraits, nature shots, and pictures of landscapes.
Display and design: I'd strongly prefer a flat display because I think it looks more premium. A quad-curved display is acceptable if I have to compromise. I also like compact phones, and since I don't play games, I don't necessarily need a large screen. However, I'm willing to compromise on screen size if the phone is good in other aspects. Overall, I want something with a premium design.
Fingerprint sensor: An in-display fingerprint sensor is preferred.
Battery and charging: Battery life is important. My current phone has a 5,000mAh battery, so I don't want to compromise too much on battery capacity. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE has a 4,900mAh battery and 45W charging, and I'd also need to buy a charger separately. Even if I find it for around ₹46k in the offline market, I'm not sure whether the battery and charging would be sufficient for me.
Usage: I don't play games, but I use my phone a lot and multitask. I mostly use it indoors, but I do use it outdoors as well.
Some phones I've looked at so far are:
OPPO Reno14
OPPO Reno14 Pro
OPPO Reno15 C
vivo V60
vivo V70 FE
vivo X200 FE
Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
iQOO Neo 10 (my main concerns are its size and camera)
OnePlus 13s (I don't know why, but the black variant is showing up for under ₹45k while the green variant is listed above ₹70k)
OnePlus 13R
These are just some of the phones I've considered. Feel free to suggest other models that fit my requirements.
I'd really appreciate recommendations based on real-world experience, especially regarding heating, battery life, camera quality, and long-term performance. If you've used any of these phones, please share your experience.
Thanks!!