If you’re in the market for a new smartphone but would prefer not to spend a lot of money on the very latest releases, you should take a look at the plethora of inexpensive flagships from the past. There is always a case to be made for buying a new device because technology advances quickly, but many flagship phones from a year or two ago are still excellent options that will satisfy the needs of the majority of users, and you can frequently find them at steep discounts.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7
The Samsung Galaxy S7, which debuted in India back in March of last year, is one of the most affordable flagship smartphones available right now. It is now being sold on the majority of major ecommerce websites for about Rs 43,400, down from its initial launch price of Rs 48,900. The phone has a sharp Super AMOLED screen, a strong processor, and a decent camera.
2. Moto Z
The Google Pixel XL and Motorola’s flagship Moto Z were both released in the same month by Lenovo-owned Motorola. The powerful smartphone is thin and modular, and it is compatible with add-on Moto Mods that give it additional functionality. At Rs 39,999, the Moto Z is very reasonably priced and falls into the value category. It debuted simultaneously with the Moto Z Play.
3. LG G5
In June of last year, LG released the G5, its modular flagship phone. Friends are modular accessories that come with the handset and can be used to give it more functionality. The LG G5, which was originally priced at Rs 52,990, is now available for as little as Rs 33,983, making it an excellent value. The general specifications and user experiences are also quite good.
4. HTC 10
In May of last year, HTC unveiled its top-tier smartphone, the HTC 10. The metal-unibody phone was initially introduced for Rs 52,990, but online retailers are now offering it for as little as Rs 37,900. It has a clear display, a decent camera, and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset.
5. Nokia 3310
The Nokia 3310 is well-known. For the majority of us, it was our first mobile phone. The 3310 is one of the most adored mobile phones ever created thanks to its unbreakable body and extraordinarily long battery life.
6. iPhone 12
Consider an older model iPhone if you prefer Apple to Android but don’t want to spend a lot of money on a new phone. Despite not having the most recent A15 processor or the longer battery life of the iPhone 13, Apple still sells the iPhone 12, which is a great deal for the money. The 6.1-inch screen on the iPhone 12 has the same 2532 x 1170 resolution as the iPhone 13 and is powered by an A14 chip.
7. Google Pixel 5
The older Google Pixel 5 has still got plenty of life left in it. Even though it has a smaller screen and less processing power than the Pixel 6 series, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chip provides more than enough power, and the 6-inch OLED 90Hz screen makes everything look fantastic.
8. OnePlus 8 Pro
Excellent performance, a sizable 4,510mAh battery with lightning-fast charging, a gorgeous 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate (and 240Hz touch sampling rate for gaming), and excellent camera performance are all features of the OnePlus 8 Pro.
9. Nokia 8.3
The Nokia 8.3 5G is still a good buy thanks to its sizable, attractive screen, long battery life, excellent main and ultra-wide cameras, as well as 5G. However, Nokia may not immediately come to mind when selecting an older flagship phone. The impressive cameras are labelled PureView, and HMD Global’s collaboration with Zeiss undoubtedly helps explain the high level of performance on offer.
10. Samsung S21
Forget the S22 line of phones; Samsung’s S21 line still offers robust processing, gorgeous displays, and long-lasting batteries. If you want to buy an older Samsung flagship on a tight budget, we’d suggest the S21 Plus. With its 6.7-inch 120Hz screen, up to 256GB of storage, 4,800mAh battery, and Snapdragon 888 processor, this device finds a nice middle ground in the series.
