Best phones under Rs 1,25,000 (June 2026): Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, Apple iPhone 17 Pro to Google Pixel 10 Pro XL

Staying in tune with the times and given the massive inflation in the memory and storage sector, we are introducing a new price band in our smartphone lists. If you are willing to splurge that kind of money, it is only fair to not settle for anything but the ultimate flagship phones in the country (not necessarily their top storage variants though). So let’s look at what you should be aiming for.

Best phones to buy under Rs 1,25,000 in India

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Let’s start with Samsung’s current flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, that is now available within this budget. From raw performance to a stacked photography department to the versatile S Pen, this premium device has got it all and some. It is powered by Qualcomm’s current flagship, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC and you can get its 12 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage variant comfortably in this budget. Be it day-to-day apps, gaming, photo editing or other productivity tasks, it handles everything with ease and with a dash of AI.

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The loaded photography department on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is helmed by a 200MP primary camera with multi-directional PDAF and OIS (optical image stabilisation). Giving it company is a 10MP telephoto camera with OIS for 3X optical zoom and a second 50MP periscope telephoto camera with OIS for 5X optical zoom. Lastly, you also get a 50MP ultra-wide camera with dual-pixel PDAF. The cameras do a stellar job across the board in photography and videography both and can record videos in up to 8K resolution.

The S26 Ultra has a sharp and vivid 6.9-inch QHD+ LTPO Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with HDR10+ compliance, 2600 nits peak brightness and 120 Hz refresh rate. The phone runs OneUI 8.5 based on Android 16, and Samsung has promised seven years of OS and security updates to keep this device secure and relevant for a long time. A 5000 mAh battery keeps it powered for over a day of moderate use and supports 60W wired and 25W wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra price in India: Rs 118,499 for 12 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

The Apple iPhone 17 Pro with 256 GB storage can also be purchased in this budget. It has a 6.3-inch LTPO Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2622 x 1206 pixels, 120 Hz refresh rate and 3000 nits peak brightness. The screen is protected by a layer of Ceramic Shield 2 glass. The phone has a much better hand feel as compared to the Pro Max. Battery capacity has now jumped closer to 4000 mAh providing the phone with a day of backup. It supports wireless charging in addition to the regular USB-C wired option.

The iPhone 17 Pro (Photo: Reuters)

The iPhone 17 Pro has IP68-rated ingress protection. It is powered by Apple’s A19 Pro chip and runs iOS 26 with more updates to follow over the years. The camera department consists of a trio of 48MP cameras, starting with the main one with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS. You also get an ultra-wide camera with auto-focus and a periscope telephoto unit with OIS that offers 4X optical zoom. There’s an 18MP front camera with PDAF for selfies and Facetime. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro does quite well in photography and videography both; no surprises there.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro price in India: Rs 122,900 for 256 GB storage

Google Pixel 10 Pro / 10 Pro XL

Why would Google let Samsung and Apple have all the fun? If you are looking for the purest version of Android and fastest software updates, you can choose between the Google Pixel 10 Pro or 10 Pro XL in this budget. The phones are packed with similar features and AI tricks that seem to get better with time. They are powered by Google’s current flagship Tensor G5 processor and you get 16 GB RAM and 256 GB internal storage to go with it.

The Pixel 10 Pro sports a sharp 6.3-inch LTPO OLED display with HDR10+ compliance, 2856 x 1280 pixels resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate and 3300 nits peak brightness. The XL gets a larger 6.8-inch display with a resolution of 2992 x 1344 pixels with other parameters remaining the same. The screen as well as the glass back are protected against scratches by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. These phones too sport an IP68 rating to keep them safe from dust and water ingression.

Another difference between the two phones is the battery capacity. While the Pixel 10 Pro has a 4870 mAh battery, the XL’s larger shell can accommodate higher 5200 mAh capacity. The Pixel 10 Pro XL also supports faster 45W wired and 25W wireless charging as opposed to 30W n 15W respectively for the Pro. It goes without saying that you get the purest version of Android 16 with the Material 3 Expressive design language, along with 7 years of OS and security updates.

Other than speedy OS updates, Pixel phones are known for their camera capabilities, and these phones are no different. Both phones have identical cameras, starting with a 50MP primary with dual-pixel PDAF and OIS, a 48MP ultra-wide with 123-degrees FOV and dual-pixel PDAF that lets you capture some excellent macro shots in addition to its primary functionality. And lastly, a 48MP periscope telephoto camera with OIS that provides 5X optical zoom. The cameras do a stellar job across different lightings and modes.

Google Pixel 10 Pro price in India: Rs 109,999 for 16 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

Google Pixel 10 Pro XL price in India: Rs 124,999 for 16 GB RAM/ 256 GB storage

Vivo X300 Pro

The Vivo X300 Pro can easily hang with the best and would be a great option to buy while it’s still available for close to a lakh Rupees. Arguably the best camera phone of 2025, the photography department here consists of a 50MP primary camera with a large 1/1.28” Sony LYT-828 sensor and OIS. In addition, you get a 200MP unit with a periscope telephoto lens capable of providing 3.5X optical zoom and a 50MP ultra-wide camera with auto-focus. The phone can record 4K videos at up to 120 FPS and even 8K videos at 30 FPS.

The Vivo X300 Pro is powered by a flagship Mediatek Dimensity 9500 chip with 16 GB RAM and 512 GB dual UFS 4.1 storage and also has one of the best displays around. Its 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision compliance, 4500 nits peak brightness and a resolution of 2800 x 1260 pixels is mighty impressive. The display is protected by a layer of Armor Glass.

A 6510 mAh battery provides ample battery backup and supports 90W fast wired charging and 40W wireless charging. The Vivo X300 Pro has an IP69 rating which lets you do a bit of underwater photography as well. It runs Android 16 with OriginOS 6 and Vivo has promised five major OS updates and seven years of security updates for this phone going ahead.

Vivo X300 Pro price in India: Rs 109,999 for 16 GB RAM/ 512 GB storage