u/Intelligent_Flan1831

Hey everyone,

I’m a 22‑year‑old student from India and I’m stuck choosing my next phone in the ₹25,000–₹40,000 budget range. I could really use some real‑world opinions instead of just YouTube/marketing stuff.

My usage / priorities:

• I want to start a small edits/Instagram page, so:
  • Need a very good camera (photos + reels/shorts, good dynamic range and low light).
  • Decent video stabilisation and reliable autofocus.
• I do some gaming (BGMI, CODM, maybe Genshin later), so I want smooth performance and good thermals.
• Battery life is important – at least one full busy day with camera + social + some gaming.
• Prefer a smooth UI and decent update support (doesn’t have to be stock Android, but I don’t want laggy bloatware after a year).
• 5G, good display (AMOLED/120 Hz), and at least 8 GB RAM.

Rough budget:

• Minimum: around ₹25k
• Maximum: around ₹35k (can stretch slightly if it’s really worth it)

Phones I’m currently considering:

• iQOO Neo 10 (performance + battery)
• Nothing Phone (4a) Pro (camera + clean OS)
• Poco X8 Pro / X8 Pro Max (battery + gaming)
• OnePlus Nord 6 / Nord 5 (balanced, good UI)
• Samsung Galaxy A‑series around this price (A36/A37/A55 type, for software support)

Open to other suggestions in the 25k–40k range too (Pixel 9a, Redmi/realme, Vivo, etc.) if they make more sense.

What I want to know from you:

• Which phone would you pick today in this budget for:
  • Best overall camera (photos + video)?
  • Best mix of gaming + camera + battery?
• Any phones I should avoid because of bad software, throttling, ads, or poor cameras?
• If you own any of these, how’s your battery backup, heating, and camera in real life?