I think I’ve finally reached the point where I’m done buying budget/mid-range phones. 😅
I’m someone who really holds on to my phones for years. My previous phone was a Redmi Note 5 Pro, which I used for around 5 years. After that, I bought a Redmi 12 5G in 2023, and I’m still using it today.
But honestly, I’m now getting tired of the compromises that come with budget/mid-range phones — performance slowly starts feeling sluggish, the software experience isn't as smooth, and I constantly feel like I should have just bought a better phone in the first place.
So this time, I want to buy something genuinely good and use it for at least 5 years, rather than upgrading every 2–3 years.
I’m planning to wait for the Big Billion Days sale in October, and my maximum budget is around ₹50K.
What I’m looking for:
- Long-term reliability — 5+ years of usage is the goal
- Good performance with no noticeable lag over time
- Smooth and stable OS experience
- Good battery life
- A good processor that can handle the phone well even after several years
- Good camera performance
- Good storage
- Good after-sales/customer service
- Overall value for money
I’m not much of a gamer. I very rarely play BGMI — maybe 10–15 times a year at most. 😅
I also don’t record a lot of videos, so gaming and video recording aren't major priorities for me.
Phones I currently have in mind:
- OnePlus Nord 6 / OnePlus 15R — whichever ends up being cheaper during the sale. Preferably Nord 6
- Samsung Galaxy S24+
- Samsung Galaxy S25 FE
I’m not particularly keen on 8GB RAM because I’m buying this for the long term. However, if an 8GB phone can realistically remain smooth and handle my usage for 5+ years, I’m completely open to it.
I’m mainly considering Apple, Samsung, OnePlus and Google because these are the brands I trust. I’m open to other suggestions too if there’s something genuinely better for my requirements.
So, what would you buy if you were in my position?
Considering the ₹50K maximum budget + BBD pricing + 5-year usage, which phone would you recommend?
Also, if you currently own any of these phones and have been using them for 2–4+ years, I’d especially love to hear about your experience — battery degradation, performance, software smoothness, camera, service experience, etc.
I’m less interested in “this phone has the best benchmark score” and more interested in “I bought this phone years ago and it’s still working great today.”
Would love to hear your suggestions!