Motorola

The budget smartphone segment is an interesting one, because there aren't just entry-level smartphone buyers fishing for something better with a slightly bigger budget. You also have first-time smartphone buyers looking to get better value for their money, aiming to get the best features possible on a tight budget. With that said, it is equally challenging for manufacturers to come up with something new, given these tight spending budgets. Year after year, they somehow manage to squeeze in a new feature by cutting a few corners.

Of late, we have been flooded with choices in the mid-range. Manufacturers have taken things up a notch this year by releasing mid-range smartphones that pack premium features like quad-curved displays, IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance, and massive batteries with wireless charging capabilities. Indeed, manufacturers aren't holding back, and this often translates to excellent value, coaxing a buyer who would normally shell out Rs. 25,000 to spend a bit more and purchase a device that's priced around Rs. 30,000.

Motorola's Razr 50 Ultra peaked in terms of design and functionality in my review last year. It fixed a lot of issues which plagued Razr phones for the past few years. However, there were a few areas that needed some attention. This included the heating issue when using the video recording feature, a processor which wasn't exactly flagship grade (given its ‘Ultra' branding) and a battery, which only lasted a day of use.