A handful of flagship smartphones that have historically stayed above the Rs 60,000 mark in India are now available below that ceiling, according to firstpost.com. The shift puts devices like the Apple iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, OnePlus 9 Pro, Vivo X70 Pro, and Asus ROG Phone 5 within reach of a much wider group of buyers. These are not ageing budget models being cleared out; they are recent flagships with current-generation processors, modern camera systems, and active software support.
Quick take:
- Apple iPhone 12 (64 GB) listed at Rs 59,999 on Flipkart.
- Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (8 GB / 128 GB) listed at Rs 54,490.
- OnePlus 9 Pro (8 GB / 128 GB) listed at Rs 59,999 on Amazon India, with an additional Rs 5,000 discount on select credit cards.
- Vivo X70 Pro (8 GB / 256 GB) at Rs 49,990 and (12 GB / 256 GB) at Rs 52,990.
- Asus ROG Phone 5's 12 GB / 256 GB top variant remains scarce; the 8 GB / 128 GB model is easier to find.
How we got here
The premium segment in India follows a familiar rhythm: launch high, hold the price, then drop in clear steps. What is unusual about this cycle is the depth of the cuts and how early they have arrived. Newer flagships from Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus launch every 12 months, forcing retailers to clear the previous generation. Component costs fall as production scales, and competition from Chinese brands has compressed margins across the segment. None of this is new on its own, but the cumulative effect is that phones once firmly in the premium tier now sit in the sub-Rs 60,000 bracket.
What changed now
According to firstpost.com, the iPhone 12 (64 GB) is at Rs 59,999 on Flipkart, the Galaxy S21 5G (8 GB / 128 GB) is at Rs 54,490, and the OnePlus 9 Pro (8 GB / 128 GB) is at Rs 59,999 on Amazon India with a further Rs 5,000 off on certain bank cards. The Vivo X70 Pro is Rs 49,990 for 8 GB / 256 GB and Rs 52,990 for 12 GB / 256 GB. The Asus ROG Phone 5's top variant remains hard to source.
Specs are still flagship-class. The iPhone 12 uses Apple's A14 Bionic with a 6.1-inch OLED display. The Galaxy S21 5G runs on Samsung's Exynos 2100 with a 120 Hz AMOLED panel and three rear cameras including a 64 MP telephoto with OIS. The OnePlus 9 Pro pairs the Snapdragon 888 with a 120 Hz LTPO display and Hasselblad-tuned imaging. The Vivo X70 Pro uses a MediaTek Dimensity 1200 with Zeiss optics and gimbal stabilisation. The ROG Phone 5 is built around the Snapdragon 888 and tuned for sustained gaming loads.
| Phone | Price (Rs) | Chip | Display | Camera highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 (64 GB) | 59,999 | A14 Bionic | 6.1" OLED | Dual 12 MP, Dolby Vision video |
| Galaxy S21 5G | 54,490 | Exynos 2100 | 6.2" 120 Hz AMOLED | 64 MP 3x hybrid zoom, 8K video |
| OnePlus 9 Pro | 59,999 | Snapdragon 888 | 6.7" 120 Hz LTPO | Hasselblad colour, 8 MP 3.3x tele |
| Vivo X70 Pro | 49,990 / 52,990 | Dimensity 1200 | 6.56" 120 Hz AMOLED | Zeiss optics, gimbal stabilisation |
| Asus ROG Phone 5 | scarce / lower for 8 GB | Snapdragon 888 | 6.78" 144 Hz AMOLED | Gaming-oriented cooling |
Who is affected
The biggest winners are buyers who waited. Until recently, the same devices were out of reach under Rs 60,000; today they headline the bracket. Early adopters who paid full price at launch absorb the standard depreciation. Retailers feel thinner margins, which is why the deepest cuts appear as platform or bank-card exclusives rather than across all channels.
For shoppers, the practical question is whether to spend in the high-Rs 40,000s to high-Rs 50,000s on a slightly older flagship, or stretch toward newer mid-range devices that now borrow heavily from flagship silicon. Older flagships win on build, camera tuning, and update windows. Newer mid-rangers win on fresher internals and battery life.
Our analysis
This is a buyer's market in a narrow band. The premium phones under 60000 segment has more credible options than it has had in years, and the quality gap between this bracket and the higher premium tier is smaller than the price gap suggests.
A few trade-offs. Apple's iOS support window is the longest of the group; Samsung has also extended its commitment. OnePlus and Vivo sit in the middle. If you already use a Mac, an Apple Watch, or AirPods, the iPhone 12 still integrates more cleanly than the alternatives. On resale value, Apple and Samsung hold their prices better than the rest, which matters if you upgrade every two to three years.
The headline trade-off is simple: last year's flagship at this year's mid-range price. The hardware is proven, the software will be supported for years, and the risk is low.
What to watch next
Expect one more round of cuts once the successors arrive in India. When the new generation lands, the current crop will drop further, and the under-Rs 60,000 bracket will get even more crowded.
What it means for you
Say your ceiling is just under Rs 60,000. A short while ago, that bought a solid upper mid-ranger. Today, it buys a Galaxy S21 5G with a flagship chip, a 120 Hz AMOLED display, and an IP68 rating. If your ceiling is closer to Rs 60,000, the iPhone 12 and OnePlus 9 Pro become realistic, and the choice reduces to ecosystem and camera preference rather than price. The practical move: check bank offers before checkout, because the extra Rs 5,000 off the OnePlus 9 Pro is meaningful, and similar card offers rotate on Flipkart and Amazon every few weeks.
Key takeaways
- Flagships like the iPhone 12, Galaxy S21 5G, and OnePlus 9 Pro are now under Rs 60,000 in India, per firstpost.com.
- The cuts reflect the standard launch cycle, falling component costs, and competitive pressure in the premium segment.
- Buyers gain current-generation processors, strong cameras, and active software support at lower prices.
- Older flagships generally hold value better and receive more updates than similarly priced newer mid-rangers.
- Watch for further price drops once the next generation of flagships launches in India.
Frequently asked questions
Which premium phones are now available under Rs 60,000 in India?
According to firstpost.com, the Apple iPhone 12 (64 GB) at Rs 59,999, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (8 GB / 128 GB) at Rs 54,490, OnePlus 9 Pro (8 GB / 128 GB) at Rs 59,999, and Vivo X70 Pro (8 GB / 256 GB) at Rs 49,990 are among the flagship options now in this bracket.
Is the iPhone 12 still worth buying now?
The iPhone 12 uses Apple's A14 Bionic and supports current iOS versions, so it still has years of updates ahead. For buyers in the Apple ecosystem, it remains a strong option at the new lower price.
How does the OnePlus 9 Pro compare with the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G at this price?
The OnePlus 9 Pro offers a higher-resolution LTPO display, the Snapdragon 888, and Hasselblad camera tuning. The Galaxy S21 5G uses the Exynos 2100 with a Full HD+ AMOLED panel and a versatile triple camera system. Both are IP68 rated; the choice largely comes down to software preference.
Why are these flagship prices dropping now?
The drop reflects the standard smartphone cycle: new launches force retailers to clear prior inventory, component costs fall over time, and competition from Chinese brands has compressed premium-tier margins.
Should I buy an older flagship or a newer mid-range phone at this budget?
An older flagship generally offers better build, more refined cameras, and longer software support. A newer mid-ranger offers fresher internals and often better battery life. For most buyers keeping a phone for two to three years, the older flagship is the stronger pick.