Diwali Gifting Guide 2024: Best smartphones to gift this season across all price segments

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It is that time of the year when you pick up the broom and get to deep clean the house for the upcoming Diwali celebrations. Apart from putting up the fancy lights and stocking up the fireworks, you also need to take care of gifts in advance. If you’re thinking of buying a smartphone for your loved ones, your search for your Diwali gifting options has landed you on the right page. Here are the top 10 smartphones across all price categories that will make the best Diwali gifts.

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Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Price: Rs 1,21,999 on Samsung.com

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Key Specs

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The Ultra variant in Samsung’s Galaxy S Series is unanimously considered to be the best smartphone that Android has to offer. This year, the specced-out Galaxy S24 Ultra flaunts a 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. This display has an anti-reflective coating which bumps up its legibility. It can hit a peak brightness of 2,600 nits so using it under direct sunlight is never an issue.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powering the smartphone is Qualcomm’s flagship mobile processor for 2024. It puts up incredible benchmark numbers and delivers a consistent performance across the board. For a more detailed analysis, check our review of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. Samsung’s no-holds-barred approach pays off massively in the camera department as well. The S24 Ultra’s rear camera system comprises a 200MP primary shooter, a 10MP telephoto lens, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide sensor.

Why we like it

• Unique design and form factor
• Powerful performance
• Comes with an S-Pen

iPhone 16 Pro

Price: Rs 1,19,900 on Apple.com

Key Specs

iPhones always make the best Diwali gifts and rightfully so. The Pro model in the newest iPhone 16 Series sports a 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 2,000 nits of peak brightness. While it retains the essential design elements from its predecessor, the iPhone 16 Pro features a new touch-sensitive camera control bar on the right edge of the frame. The camera control acts as a shutter button while also letting the user control functions like exposure, depth, zoom, and more.

Under the hood, the iPhone 16 Pro packs the new Apple A18 Pro chipset. This processor is capable of running the Apple Intelligence features on this device. Apple’s suite of AI features touches upon a range of functions. You can create Genmojis, summarise texts, create images with Image Wand, and do a whole lot more on the new iPhone. In the camera department, the iPhone 16 Pro has two 48MP sensors for the primary and ultrawide shooters and a 12MP periscope telephoto lens.

Why we like it

• Amazing camera performance
• Apple Intelligence
• New camera button

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

Price: Rs 1,24,999 on Flipkart

Key Specs

Google’s Pixel 9 Series is a big step up from its predecessor in terms of hardware and design. The glossy metal rails offer a nice textural contrast to the matte glass back panel. Google’s decision to trim the camera visor into a pill-shaped cutout has paid off as the new design looks much better. The smartphone still oozes a lot of personality and unmistakably looks like a Pixel. Another key hardware upgrade on this smartphone is its 6.8-inch LTPO OLED display. This panel can hit a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, making it one of the brightest displays around.

Google’s decision to stick with its in-house Tensor G4 processor is still a controversial one. We reviewed the Pixel 9 Pro XL soon after it was launched and were happy with its everyday performance. However, its gaming performance left a little more to be desired. The Pixel’s camera system, on the other hand, still towers over its peers. The Pixel 9 Pro XL uses a 50MP sensor as its primary shooter while also rocking a 48MP periscope telephoto lens and another 48MP sensor for the ultrawide camera.

Why we like it

• Great hardware
• Amazing camera system
• AI features

iQOO 12

Price: Rs 49,999 on iQOO.com

Key Specs

At a time when premium offerings from Samsung, Apple, and Google carry a six-digit price tag, gifting a smartphone to your loved ones on Diwali can be quite challenging. But this doesn’t always have to be the case. iQOO’s flagship smartphone is priced moderately and does not skimp out on any of the essential specs. We reviewed the iQOO 12 when it was launched and had an amazing time with it.

The smartphone rocks a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with an astonishing 144Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. It is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor under the hood. The 6K Vapour Chamber inside this smartphone keeps the internal temperature in check during high-intensity gaming sessions. The rear camera panel of the smartphone comprises a 50MP primary shooter, a 64MP periscope lens, and a 50MP ultrawide camera.

Why we like it

• Advanced cooling system
• Flagship processor
• Clean design

OnePlus 12R

Price: Rs 35,999 on OnePlus.in

Key Specs

OnePlus has a tradition of launching a value-for-money powerhouse alongside its flagship smartphone. This year’s OnePlus 12R closes the gap between the midrange and flagship categories with impressive specs. The smartphone is powered by last year’s flagship processor – Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. On top of that, it gets a 6.78-inch LTPO4 AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 4,500 nits of peak brightness.

The smartphone’s design is identical to its flagship sibling. The circular camera cutout on the back panel packs a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. While the lack of a telephoto lens may be a letdown, the OnePlus 12R’s battery performance is anything but. The smartphone has a 5,500mAh battery pack and supports 100W wired charging. Read our review of the OnePlus 12R to know more about the device.

Why we like it

• Performance matches up to flagship smartphones
• Same design as the OnePlus 12
• Affordable

Vivo V40 Pro

Price: Rs 49,999 on Vivo.com

Key Specs

Vivo’s upper-midrange camera specialist is one of the best smartphones of 2024. What we like about Vivo’s V Series is that it keeps things fresh in terms of design. If you take a look at the V Series smartphones from the last couple of years, you will not find any stagnation in the design philosophy. The Vivo V40 Pro has a cylindrical camera cutout on the glass back panel. This camera system boasts a triple 50MP sensor setup for the primary shooter, ultrawide lens, and telephoto lens. To top it off, the V40 Pro’s cameras are tuned by Zeiss.

Camera performance aside, the V40 Pro is an incredible smartphone for everyday use. It draws power from the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ SoC under its hood. The 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits under direct sunlight. This display is ideal binge binge-watching movies and TV shows. The 5,500mAh battery pack on this smartphone easily lasts a day and supports 80W charging. For more details, read our review of the Vivo V40 Pro.

Why we like it

• Exquisite camera performance
• Sleek form factor
• Fast charging

Poco F6

Price: Rs 22,999 on Flipkart

Key Specs

If we’re talking about mid-range smartphones that don’t cost a pretty penny, the Poco F6 5G stands out amongst its peers. Given its incredible specs, the Rs 22,999 price tag is very economical. If you’re thinking of gifting this smartphone to a young relative this Diwali, you may want to consider taking a look at its Deadpool Edition.

The Poco F6 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset, which is an excellent gaming processor for this price range. Gaming enthusiasts will also enjoy the 120Hz refresh rate offered by its 6.67-inch AMOLED display. The rear camera panel on this smartphone houses a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. Read our Poco F6 review to know more about the smartphone.

Why we like it

• Great display
• Strong audio output
• Good performance

Redmi Note 13 Pro

Price: Rs 22,999 on Mi.com

Key Specs

Xiaomi’s subsidiary brand Redmi has a good range of affordable smartphones in its catalogue. The Redmi Note 13 Pro is one of the best value-for-money smartphones in the market right now. It features a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,800 nits of peak brightness. It is one of the few smartphones to have a glass back panel in this price bracket. However, the IP54 rating for dust and water resistance leaves more to be desired.

The Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset powers the Redmi Note 13 Pro. Its camera system features a super impressive 200MP sensor for the primary shooter. Also onboard is an 8MP ultrawide lens along with a 2MP macro sensor. Up front, a 16MP selfie camera is housed in a punch-hole cutout on the display. The 5,100mAh battery pack supports 67W wired charging and can be fully replenished in 44 minutes. Read our review of the Redmi Note 13 Pro before making the purchase.

Why we like it

• Brilliant display
• Comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack
• Fast charging

Nothing Phone (2a)

Price: Rs 21,999 on Flipkart

Key Specs

Nothing did not launch a flagship killer this year but its midrange Phone (2a) was an exciting release. The segmented Glyph lighting around the camera panel lend the smartphone a unique look that immediately distinguishes it as a Nothing device. The see-through design philosophy is ever-present on the Phone (2a) as you can see the NFC coil around the camera cutout. The bottom segment of the back panel showcases a maze-like pattern inspired by Massimo Vignelli’s New York subway map.

We reviewed the Nothing Phone (2a) back in April to see if its performance matches up to its aesthetics. The MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro put up an amazing, lag-free performance. The 6.7-inch AMOLED display was super receptive and very vibrant. The dual camera setup comprising two 50MP sensors for the primary and ultrawide lenses put in a decent shift as well. If you’re looking for a cost-effective gift option for Diwali, this is your guy.

Why we like it

• Unique see-through design
• Glyph lighting
• Good processor

Oppo K12x

Price: Rs 12,999 on Oppo.com

Key Specs

If you’re looking for affordable smartphone gifting options this Diwali, the Oppo K12x would be our easiest recommendation. For a smartphone priced at Rs 12,999, the K12x offers incredible value. For starters, it is compliant with MIL-STD-810H durability standards. You don’t need to worry about slapping a case on the back panel. The camera layout and back panel design of the smartphone remind us of the Nord CE4 Lite, which is priced slightly higher than the K12x.

Talking about the internals, the Oppo K12x is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, which is a respectable processor for this price segment. The 6.67-inch IPS LCD panel has a 120Hz refresh rate and can hit 1,000 nits in High Brightness Mode. The 32MP primary shooter is supported by a 2MP depth sensor in the rear camera array. Check out our review of the Oppo K12x to know more about the smartphone.

Why we like it

• Strong build quality
• Clean design
• Fast charging
• Affordable

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Conclusion

These are the top 10 smartphones that would make excellent gifting options for Diwali 2024. These smartphones cover most of the price categories. If you want more recommendations, let us know your budget and desired specs in the comments and we’ll reply with a smartphone that fits the bill!

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