When it comes to smartphones, a poor display can spoil the party like nothing else. Hence, apart from a battery technology, Display is the next frontier where most brands are innovating. From trying out phones with new form factors including foldable to additional displays, the overall display tech has improved leaps and bounds in the last year or so.
One of the key parameters that help you improve the overall user experience is the presence of a higher refresh rate. For years, we’ve had smartphones with displays maxed at a 60Hz refresh rate, but with the innovation at the graphics and gaming end, we need displays that can offer a fluid gaming experience.
1. Realme 7 series
2. Redmi Note 10 Series
3. Realme Narzo 30 Pro
4. Poco X3
5. Mi 10i
And as it happens, when there is an ample amount of innovation, the technology gets affordable, resulting in it getting democratized. Similarly displays with higher refresh rates were once a feature that could only be found in flagship phones, are now powering phones in affordable price segments too.
Hence today, let us probably list out a few affordable phones (under Rs. 25,000) with higher refresh rates:
- What is Refresh Rate? How does it impact your smartphone experience?
- Best gaming phones in India
- The best phones in India for 2021
Realme 7 series
Realme is the only company that has brought phones with displays boasting a refresh rate of 90Hz to an extremely affordable price bracket. The Realme 7 series starts at Rs. 11,999 with the Realme 7i and goes all the way up to Rs. 21,000 with the Realme 7 Pro. Though these phones come with different hardware specifications, a 90Hz display is a common factor in this series.
These Realme 7 series phones can be bought from Flipkart and come in a variety of combinations based on processor, memory, storage and camera configuration.
Check out the Realme 7 Review
Redmi Note 10 Series
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series offers incredible value for money to the customers, hence there is no doubt that it is one of the most sold series from the company. The highlight of this year’s Redmi Note 10 Pro and Note 10 Pro Max is that these phones bring a high refresh rate to the affordable price points.
Both the Note 10 Pro and Note 10 Pro Max come with Super AMOLED display coupled with a 120 Hz refresh rate and are available in various memory and storage combinations, however, the company has only offered limited variants for the initial sale.
Both the Note 10 Pro and Note 10 Pro max have identical specifications apart from the fact that the Note 10 Pro Max comes with a 108mp camera sensor while the Note 10 Pro houses a 64mp shooter.
The starting price of the Redmi Note 10 Pro is Rs, 15,999 and the Note 10 Pro Max is available to purchase starting at Rs. 18,999.
Realme Narzo 30 Pro
The Narzo 30 Pro is an upgrade to the Narzo 20 Pro and comes with features that are important for any smartphone that is focused on gaming. It is currently the cheapest 5G phone available in the country though you can only test this connectivity once 5G is rolled out in the country. Regardless, the phone is powered by a Dimensity 800U chipset and comes with a 6.5-inch Full HD+ LCD panel with a 90.5% screen to body ratio.
You also get a 120Hz refresh rate along with a 180Hz sampling rate. The phone is launched in two configurations: 6+64GB and 8+128GB with the base variant priced at Rs. 16,999 and the top variant priced at Rs. 19,999.
In terms of optics, you get a triple rear camera setup with a 48-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera and a macro lens. There is a 16-megapixel camera placed in the punch-hole cut-out to take care of selfies. It draws power from a 5000 mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. Realme Narzo 20 Pro on the other hand supported 65W fast charging.
Poco X3
If you’re looking for a complete package of a phone that includes – a more than decent camera performance, a capable camera setup, a massive battery pack, a powerful enough processor to run most games effortlessly, has a display with high refresh rate and is still under a budget.
Unlike the Realme devices, the Poco X3 comes with a 120Hz refresh rate and is an ideal device for gaming, if you can discount the bulk thanks to the massive 6000 mAh battery pack.
That said, the Poco X3 is available for Rs. 16,999 for the 6GB/64GB variant and goes all the way up to Rs. 19,999 for the 8GB/128GB variant. It is rumoured that the amped-up variant of Poco X3, the Poco X3 Pro is slated to launch in India soon, however, it is expected to be priced way more than the vanilla variant.
Check the Poco X3 Review
Xiaomi Mi 10i
For the sheer value for your money that the Mi 10i offers, it can virtually stage a protest to be added to any damn smartphone list. Jokes apart, the Mi 10i has checked in almost all boxes when it comes to an affordable flagship phone. Like the Poco X3, the M10i also comes with a 120Hz AdaptiveSync refresh rate. Coupled with Octa-core Snapdragon 750G, the Mi 10i is the cheapest 5G phone in the country to have a display refresh rate higher than 60Hz.
Apart from an attractive design, it also comes with a quad-camera setup with the primary 108-mp sensor, another first in this price range.
Unlike all other devices mentioned in the list, the Mi 10i retails online on Amazon and the pricing starts at Rs. 21,999. We won't even consider the 64GB variant since it has been over a month since the phone was introduced in India, but the company has chosen to remain silent on its availability.
Check out the Mi 10i review
Summing it up
While a display with a higher refresh rate offers better graphics and gaming experience, the biggest con associated with such displays is battery drain. Hence, when choosing a phone with a refresh rate higher than 60, always prefer the ones that come with a variable refresh rate where the processor controls the refresh rate required based on the content being consumed.
- Chinese apps lose ground even as phone makers become dominant in India
- Did Xiaomi’s GM call phones with 108MP cameras a gimmick?
- Upcoming smartphone launches in India for March 2021: Specs, launch date, price
Get up close with consumer tech news that you can use, latest reviews and buying guides. Follow TechRadar India on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!
