The Indian Smartphone Industry – 2016

India has become the second largest market for smartphones, beating USA. India has a large growing population, with increasing demand for smartphones. India has a huge potential for this industry, with the smartphone penetration still below 30%. Samsung was the largest vendor for smartphones in India. Micromax, Lenovo, Intex and Lava continue to be the other top vendors in the Indian smartphone market. Apple sales have also improved due to its recent price correction in the Indian market. Other Chinese companies like Xiaomi are also increasingly making a mark on the Indian landscape. More than 50% of the Indian smartphone market is comprised of the leading cities in India, like New Delhi and Mumbai. Tier 2 cities are also increasingly moving towards low end smartphones. These phones generally come with 1 year manufacturer warranty for device and 6 months manufacturer warranty for in-box accessories from the date of purchase.

Still looking for the best smartphones to buy in India. Here is the list of Best 8 Smartphones (above Rs. 20,000 in India) to buy in 2016:

1) iPhone 6S from Apple

iPhone 6S has the best camera features than all the leading smartphones in the Indian marketplace today. It comes with a 12 megapixel camera that is capable of capturing videos up to four times the quality of 1080p HD video. The phone also comes with a 3D touch technology that enables its users to perform things more quickly and efficiently. The graphics are excellent and the device also gives up to 70% faster CPU performance. The device measures 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in and 143 grams in weight. It comes with iOS 9 platform, upgradable to iOS 9.3. You can read more specifications here.

Buy on Amazon.

2) Samsung Galaxy Note 5

A dual SIM android, 32 GB super AMOLED display technology device, which comes along with an improved S pen giving you the feel of an actual pen. The Galaxy Note 5 is available in three color options and is very slim, with sleek metal and glass curves. The main display measures 14.39 cm and comes with a 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolution. You can read more specifications here.

You can also buy this product on Amazon.

3) Sony Xperia Z5

Sony Xperia Z5 is the best camera phone launched by Sony so far. The camera can zoom clearly upto five times and gives good results even in low light conditions. The phone looks very good with a metal frame and a frosted glass back. This phone is also designed to withstand water and dust. Xperia Z5 has an integrated fingerprint sensor, with an apt location for easy access.The battery is claimed to last for two days and weighs just 154 grams. The phone measures 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm with 5.2” FHD 1080p display. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, 64-bit Octa-core processor. You can read more specifications here.

You can also buy this on Amazon.

 4) Nexus 6P from Huawei

Another android (Android 6.0 Marshmallow) phone with 5.7’’ AMOLED display, fast octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 v2.1 processor and 12.3 MP camera. Its front-facing speaker offers clear sound effects. It comes with a fingerprint sensor that helps to keep the device fast and secure. One feature that I like is its reversible USB charger, which means you can insert the USB from both sides J You can read more specifications here.

You can also buy this smartphone on Amazon.

5) LG G4

A 32 GB android phone, weighing 155 gm. It comes with a 5.5”, 1440×2560 pixels touchscreen and 16 MP camera. It also has a micro SD card slot. The battery charging is also fast with 60% getting charged. It is an all leather smartphone. You can read more specifications here.

You can buy this product on Amazon at a discount.

6) Samsung Galaxy S6

Available in four color options, Galaxy S6 comes with 32 GB memory and 16MP resolution. It is a fast charging device and claims to upto 4 hours battery life with just 10 minutes of charging. The device comes with a super AMOLED display, 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolution and 64 bit octa core processor. Taking a picture has never been as easy; go straight into camera mode by pressing the home button twice. You can read more specifications here.

Available at a discount on Amazon.

7) LG Nexus 5X

Another android (Android 6.0 Marshmallow) phone with 5.2’’ AMOLED display, fast octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor and 12.3 MP camera. It also comes with reversible USB charger and fingerprint sensor. You can read more specifications here.

You can also buy this product at a discount on Amazon.

8) OnePlus 2

Launched last year, the phone could be claimed initially only through an invite system, till recently open sales have begun. The phone has 1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor and it comes with 4GB of RAM. It also comes with 64GB of internal storage and 13-megapixel camera. It measures 151.80 x 74.90 x 9.85 and weighs 175 gm.

 Available at a discount on Amazon.