Best Midrange Smartphones To Buy in Nepal [Updated]

Flagships and flagship killers are great since they offer tons of amazing features. But the reality is, that not everyone can afford such high-end devices. So, we are often obliged to get a midrange smartphone for ourselves. While many of us may share a similar feeling, here, I will be trying to make your choice a little easier by compiling all of the best midrange smartphones in Nepal.

All the entries in this list have been compared based on their performance, design, camera, durability, software support, battery endurance, and price. And just to be clear, by midrange phones we mean those smartphones that cost under Rs. 45,000 in Nepal. So buckle up, and let’s dive into our list of the best midrange smartphones currently available in Nepal.

8. OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G

Kicking off our list of best mid-range smartphones in Nepal is the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G. While all of the phones in this review have AMOLED screens, OnePlus has opted for a 120Hz IPS LCD display.

The 6nm Snapdragon 695 processor provides satisfactory performance though. This particular chipset has made rounds on phones like the Realme 9 Pro and the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G.

On the back of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is a triple camera island. The primary camera has a 64MP sensor but no optical image stabilization. It is accompanied by two 2MP cameras for macro and portrait shots. Unfortunately, it does not have an ultrawide sensor.

OnePlus Nepal provides one-year breakage insurance on the Nord CE 2 Lite, despite the fact that it costs more than other phones with comparable specs.

OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G Specifications:

• Display: 6.59-inch FHD+ LCD panel, 120Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 (6nm)
• Memory: 6/8GBGB RAM, 128GB storage (Expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 12 with OxygenOS 12.1 on top
• Rear Camera:Triple (64MP primary + 2MP macro + 2MP depth)
• Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.2, A-GPS / Glonass / Galileo / BDS / QZSS, USB Type-C, 5G
• Battery: 5000mAh with 33W SuperVOOC charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 39,999 (8/128GB)

7. Samsung Galaxy M33 5G

Moving on, we have the Samsung Galaxy M33 5G that’s sitting in the 7th spot in our list of best midrange smartphones in Nepal. The Galaxy M33’s Exynos 1280 processor is up to the task of handling everyday tasks. It comes with a choice of 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Because of the large 6,000mAh battery, the phone is 9.4mm thick and weighs 215 grams. Unfortunately, Samsung does not include a charger in the box.

However, for a Samsung smartphone, it falls in the display department. Up front is a 6.6-inch TFT screen. The 120Hz refresh rate, on the other hand, makes UI navigation feel smooth.

The M33’s cameras are quite capable. A 50MP sensor is used for the primary camera. A 5MP ultrawide sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro shooter have also been included by Samsung. For selfies and video calls, there is an 8MP camera nestled in an infinity-V notch.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G Specifications:

• Display: 6.6-inch TFT LCD, 120Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 5
• Chipset: Exynos 1280 (5nm)
• Memory: 6/8GBGB RAM, 128GB storage (Expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 12 based OneUI 4.1
• Rear Camera: Quad (50MP primary + 5MP ultrawide + 2MP depth + 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP f/2.2 (Infinity-V notch)
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), Bluetooth 5.1, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
• Battery: 6000mAh, 25W Fast Charging (No charger in Box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 33,999 (6/128GB) | 35,999 (8/128GB)

6. Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S

Likewise, the next entry in our list of best midrange smartphones in Nepal goes to the Redmi Note 11S. This phone’s main selling point is its 108MP primary camera, which no other brand offers in the NPR 30k price range right now. In addition to the 108MP sensor, there are 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth cameras.

The display is a 6.43-inch AMOLED panel with a refresh rate of 90Hz and a touch sampling rate of 120Hz. Furthermore, the screen has a peak brightness of 1000 nits. Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protects the screen’s front, and it also has IP53 dust and water resistance.

It is powered by the Helio G96 chipset, which is paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging. Xiaomi includes a charger in the box as well.

Redmi Note 11S Specifications:

• Display: 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel, 1000 nits (peak), 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G96 (12nm)
• Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 13 on top of Android 11
• Rear Camera: Quad (108MP Samsung HM2 primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
• Security: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
• Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging (33W charger inside the box)
• Price in Nepal:Rs. 29,999 (6/128GB)

5. Samsung Galaxy A52

For the fifth spot on our list, we have the Samsung Galaxy A52. It was the first place holder the previous year. Here, while the Snapdragon 720G is more than fine for general everyday usage and Samsung’s OneUI is quite optimized, the phone falls behind in terms of heavy gaming.

So, this is definitely not a good option for power users including gamers. However, Galaxy A52 delivers on the aforementioned aspects with flying colors. It has an ergonomic build quality and the pastel color options look soothing to the eye. More importantly, it is also IP67 dust/water-resistant, so you need not worry about getting it wet either. Additionally, the 6.5″ 90Hz Super AMOLED screen is punchy and bright, and also comes with SGS Eye Comfort Shield technology.

Excellent cameras

Moving on, its quad-camera setup including a 64MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro, and a 5MP depth sensor output great photos as well. Compared to the Redmi Note 10 Pro above, it wins out in every single aspect besides low-light photography. Moreover, Galaxy A52 is also the only phone on this list to feature Optical Image Stabilization (OIS). Battery endurance from its 4500mAh cell is enough to last you through your day as well. And it’s also important to point out that Samsung will also provide 3 years of OS and 4 years of security updates on this phone.

Samsung Galaxy A52 Specifications:

• Display: 6.5-inches 90Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED, 393 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (8nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4/6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 11 with One UI 3.1
• Rear Camera: Quad (64MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP depth, 5MP macro)
• Front Camera: 32MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Fingerprint sensor: In-display (optical)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / A-GPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB-C
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Gyro, Hall, Light, Geomagnetic
• Battery: 4500mAh battery with 25W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 41,999 (8/128GB)
• Read our review of Samsung Galaxy A52
• Watch our review of Samsung Galaxy A52

4. Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G

Taking 4th place in our list of best midrange smartphones goes to the Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G. Before confusion ensues, allow me to clear things up. Xiaomi Nepal has brought the global variant of the Redmi Note 11 Pro which is known as the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G to the Indian market.

The phone features a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display that delivers one of the best display experiences. The 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch sampling are welcome features as well. It can get bright enough for comfortable outdoor usage though. The phone’s stereo speakers output decent sound quality, making Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G a great device for content consumption.

With Snapdragon 695 inside, it doesn’t disappoint in the performance side of things either.  And despite featuring a headlining 108MP camera, Redmi Note 11 Pro’s photo/video quality pales in comparison to phones like the Samsung Galaxy M33 in most cases. On the other hand, thanks to a big 5000mAh battery, the phone can provide 6 to 8 hours of screen-on time on a heavy usage pattern.

Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G Specifications:

• Display: 6.67” FHD+ AMOLED DotDisplay, 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate
• Chipset: Snapdragon 695 5G (6nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 6/8GB RAM, 64/128GB (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 11 with MIUI 13
• Rear Camera: Triple (108MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 16MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Fingerprint sensor: Physical (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS / A-GPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB-C
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Gyro, Compass, Ambient Light
• Battery: 5,000mAh battery with 33W Charging
• Price in Nepal: NPR 36,999 (6/128GB) | 39,999 (8/128GB)
• Read our review of Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G
• Watch our review of Redmi Note 11 Pro 5G (Nepali)

3. Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G

Moving on, winning the bronze medal in our list of best midrange smartphones in Nepal is the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G. It is a slight upgrade over the Xiaomi 11 Lite 4G. The most crucial of them have to be the Snapdragon 778G 5G processor and the larger 20MP selfie camera on the 5G variant.

This is the perfect phone for you if you despise bulky phones. The 11 Lite NE 5G is ultrathin at 6.81mm and weighs only 158 grams. Don’t be fooled by its thin and light design because the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G brings plenty of performance too.

Decent cameras

Midrange Xiaomi phones are known for their mediocre camera performance but this one is different. The 64MP triple camera setup performs comparably to the Galaxy M52 in terms of photography.

The 6.55-inch display is an awe to look at with punchy color reproduction with excellent contrast. It supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision HDR. The only bummer is the 90Hz refresh rate as most phones in this price range come with a 120Hz screen.

To maintain the thinness of the device, Xiaomi has packed a smaller 4250mAh battery which offers around 5 to 6 hours of screen-on-time. The phone ships with a 33W charger that charges up the phone in slightly over an hour.

Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G Specifications:

• Display: 6.55-inches 90Hz FHD+ AMOLED, 402 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 11 with Xiaomi’s MIUI 12.5 on top
• Rear Camera: Triple (64MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 5MP tele-macro)
• Front Camera: 20MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Fingerprint sensor: Side-mounted
• Connectivity: Hybrid Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.1, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou / NavIC, NFC, USB-C, 5G
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Gyroscope, Proximity, Electronic Compass, Linear Motor, IR Blaster
• Battery: 4250mAh battery with 33W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 45,999 (8/128GB) | Rs. 48,999 (8/256GB)
• Read our review of Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G
• Watch our review of Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G

2. Galaxy M52 5G

Next up, we have the Samsung Galaxy M52 5G. It is one of the lightest Samsung phones on the market due to its 5,000mAh battery. And let’s not ignore its 7.4mm thickness. Although the phone is pretty big, it does not feel bulky in hand.

No Exynos chipset

Samsung has gone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778 5G chipset for the Galaxy M52 5G. Paired with 6/8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the phone is capable of handling almost everything that you throw at it. Not only performance, but the camera setup is also decent.

The photography performance is rather impressive but the phone lacks OIS. Due to this, the videos come off quite shaky. Samsung has fitted the Galaxy M52 5G with a brilliant 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that refreshes at 120Hz.

Samsung Galaxy M52 5G Specifications:

• Display: 6.7-inches 120Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED Plus, 393 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.1 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 11 with One UI 3.1
• Rear Camera: Triple (64MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro)
• Front Camera: 32MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Fingerprint sensor: Side-mounted
• Connectivity: Hybrid Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou / QZSS, NFC, USB-C, 5G
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Gyro, Compass
• Battery: 5000mAh battery with 25W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 42,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 46,999 (8/128GB)
• Read our review of Galaxy M52 5G
• Watch our long-term review of Galaxy M52 5G

1. Realme 9 Pro+

Finally, taking the gold medal in our list of best mid-range smartphones in Nepal is the Realme 9 Pro+. From design, display, camera, and battery, to almost every aspect, this phone performs excellently. The main highlight of the phone is its camera though.

Realme has included a triple rear camera setup with a flagship-level 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor with OIS. Supporting it are an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP macro lens. The phone took great photos during the day as well as at night in our camera test. Realme has disabled OIS on 4K resolution but 1080p videos at either 30 or 60 fps come out pretty stable from the phone.

Likewise, the design of the Realme 9 Pro+ is pretty solid too—all thanks to the glass sandwich design. Also, the shimmery back is a treat for people who prefer flashy designs.

No 120Hz display

The Realme 9 Pro+ comes with a  6.4-inch Super AMOLED panel. While the touch sampling rate can go up to 360Hz, the refresh rate caps at 90Hz. It produces excellent colors and contrast, and it’s Widevine L1 certified to stream contents at FHD resolution too. Moreover, the 9 Pro+ easily has the best-in-class haptics.

When it comes to performance, the phone is driven by a capable Dimensity 920 chipset. However, the phone gets quite hot while heavy gaming due to its thin and light design. The 4500mAh battery is capable of delivering a day of screen-on time.

Realme 9 Pro+ Specifications:

• Display: 6.4-inches 90Hz FHD+ Super AMOLED, 409 PPI, Gorilla Glass 5
• Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G (6nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB UFS 2.2 storage (fixed)
• Software & UI: Android 12 with Realme UI 3.0 on top
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 16MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Fingerprint sensor: In-display (optical)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 5G
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Light, Proximity, Gyro, Magnetic induction
• Battery: 4500mAh battery with 60W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 41,999 (6/128GB) | Rs. 45,499 (8/128GB)
• Read our review of Realme 9 Pro+
• Watch our review of Realme 9 Pro+

Honorable Mention:

Realme 9 4G

We also have an honorable mention in this list which is the Realme 9 4G. The phone is slated to release in Nepal soon for under NPR 30,000. The Realme 8’s successor features a similarly sized Super AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 360Hz touch-sampling rate. The Realme 9 4G, unlike other phones in its price range, has an in-display optical fingerprint scanner.

For the primary camera, Realme has used Samsung’s 108MP HM6 sensor. It also has a 2MP macro sensor and an 8MP ultrawide sensor. The 5,000mAh battery is capable of 33W fast charging. Powering the phone is a Snapdragon 680 chipset which gives reliable day-to-day performance but struggles with heavy workloads such as gaming.

Realme 9 Specifications:

• Display: 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED, 90Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, 1000 nits peak brightness
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G (6nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM
• Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2 storage
• Software & UI: Realme UI 2.0 on top of Android 11
• Rear Camera: Triple (108MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 16MP (punch-hole)
• Audio: Dual speaker 3.5mm headphone jack
• Security: In-display fingerprint sensor
• Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging
• Price in Nepal: Coming Soon

Summary list of best midrange smartphones in Nepal

What do you think of our list for the best midrange smartphones in Nepal, or do you want to add something to the list? Have your say in the comments section.