Phones priced below Rs 40,000 in India used to be the place where camera hardware took a back seat to performance. Firstpost's recent roundup argues that the trade-off has softened substantially, with several mid-range devices now shipping sensor and processing combinations that would have been flagship territory a generation ago. The takeaway: if you are shopping at this budget, the camera is finally a primary decision factor rather than a constraint.
Quick take
- Vivo V23 Pro 5G offers a 50 MP autofocus selfie camera with a color-changing back.
- OnePlus Nord 2 x PAC-Man Edition matches the performance with a themed shell.
- Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G keeps the price at the cost of slower storage.
- All three are powered by MediaTek Dimensity 1200.
- 4K video on the selfie camera is now realistic in this segment.
How the new mid-range compares
The Vivo V23 Pro 5G is the standout for selfies. A 50 MP front camera with eye autofocus, paired with a secondary ultra-wide lens for group shots, makes the front camera genuinely competitive with rear cameras in this price range. The 108 MP main rear camera and 8 MP ultra-wide round out a useful kit. The phone runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 platform and comes with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, or 12 GB and 256 GB at the higher tier. The color-changing back, which reacts to UV light, is more fun than functional, but it is genuinely novel.
The OnePlus Nord 2 x PAC-Man Edition is the alternative for buyers who care more about memory and charging than selfie sharpness. Same Dimensity 1200 chip, 65 W charging support, 4,500 mAh battery, and a 50 MP main camera plus 32 MP front camera. The PAC-Man theming is the talking point.
The Oppo Reno 6 Pro 5G is the conservative choice. A 6.55-inch 90 Hz AMOLED panel, 12 GB of RAM, 256 GB of storage, and a 64 MP main camera. It is also the lightest of the three at 177 grams. The catch is the storage tier, which uses UFS 2.1 rather than UFS 3.1, making app loading slightly slower than the competition.
Our analysis
The interesting pivot across this segment is that selfie cameras have moved to the front of the spec sheet. That reflects two years of pandemic-driven video calling, plus TikTok and Reels creators driving consumer demand for high-quality front-facing video. The V23 Pro is the clearest acknowledgment of that priority.
The Qualcomm-versus-MediaTek debate is also largely settled in this price range. Dimensity 1200 is the chipset of choice for the segment, built on a 6 nm process. Phones launched at this tier in the coming months may ship newer generations, which will reset the comparison.
The real tradeoff at this price remains software experience rather than camera. Vivo's Funtouch, OnePlus's OxygenOS/ColorOS blend, and Oppo's ColorOS are all distinct skins that you should look at in a store before buying. Hardware parity does not erase that difference.
What it means for you
Say you shoot more video than photos, and most of it is on the front camera. The V23 Pro is the right pick. Say you prioritize fast charging and slightly more RAM for the same money. The Nord 2 PAC-Man Edition is the right pick. Say you want the lightest phone with the cleanest spec sheet and do not care about the speed of internal storage. The Reno 6 Pro is the right pick.
For any of the three, spend 10 minutes in a store handling the software and the weight. The hardware is good enough at this tier that the choice is mostly about how the phone feels in your hand and how the OS behaves day to day.
What to watch next
Watch for the next generation of MediaTek chips to land in this segment, which should meaningfully close the gap to flagship performance. Watch for the next iPhone SE, which remains the biggest threat in the sub-Rs 40,000 segment for users committed to iOS.
Bottom line
Mid-range Android phones in India are no longer about compromise on camera hardware. The right pick at this budget is the one whose software you like best.
Key takeaways
- Vivo V23 Pro leads on selfie camera hardware.
- OnePlus Nord 2 PAC-Man leads on charging speed.
- Oppo Reno 6 Pro is the lightest of the three.
- MediaTek Dimensity 1200 is the common platform.
- Try the software in store before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Which sub-Rs 40,000 phone has the best camera?
The Vivo V23 Pro 5G has the strongest front camera kit, with a 50 MP sensor and autofocus.
Do all three phones use the same processor?
Yes. All three run on the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 platform.
Which has the fastest charging?
The OnePlus Nord 2 PAC-Man Edition supports 65 W wired charging.
Is there a tradeoff at this price tier?
Storage tier on the Reno 6 Pro is slower than competitors, and software experience varies by brand.