It’s bizarre when you think that flagship smartphone makers like Samsung and LG have been forced to switch focus towards the budget segment of the Indian market because even they sensed that the real action is there.
Finding it difficult to find its feet in the Indian smartphone market, LG too has launched a series of budget phones — particularly the LG W30 — which takes on the likes of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 and the Realme 3.
Though LG might be playing the price game right, does it also ace the spec game? And is it worth spending Rs 9,999 on an LG phone or should you take the conventional path of buying a Chinese phone?
Design & Display
As the latest entrant in the trio, the LG W30 brings home a refreshing plastic & glass unibody design which complements the aesthetics. It’s big yet compact enough for single hand use.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 uses Gorilla Glass 5 on the back and front, which not only bolsters the whole structure but gives it a more premium look. Despite sporting plastic on the sides it still manages to feel like a phone above Rs 10,000.
The Realme 3 isn’t dissimilar to its competitors in terms of looks, but the added plastic at the back robs the phone of some looks.
All three phones come with 6-inch displays. However, the Redmi Note 7 takes the cake thanks to an FHD+ display with better resolution.
Hardware & Storage
Of the three, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is the only one to run a Snapdragon processor. Both the Realme 3 and the LG W30 offers a MediaTek chipset and that is something that could be a deal breaker for many.
In terms of performance it’s rare that you’ll find that big of a difference between the three but considering that LG is offering stock Android experience give it an upper hand.
All three offer expandable storage up to 256GB via a microSD card and support dual SIM. The Realme 3 comes with a dedicated memory card slot while the other two offer hybrid SIM slots.
People looking for a fluid and clean Android experience should definitely go for the LG W30. The Redmi Note 7 does offer a lot more specs wise, but you should only go for it if you’re a fan of MIUI (Xiaomi's user interface).
Camera & Battery
If you are looking for a good camera phone in this segment, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Despite the fact that all three phones in this shootout come with multiple lens camera at the back, the image quality from all is average.
What sets the LG W30 apart here is that triple camera lens setup at the back with a wide-angle lens that the other two do not offer. As for the quality of the camera, we’ll reserve that verdict for a review of the phone.
In terms of battery juice, both the LG W30 and the Redmi Note 7 come with a 4,000mAh battery while the Realme 3 offers a little extra backup.
Though the three are expected to offer similar standby time, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is bound to charge faster thanks to the 18W fast-charging technology bundled with the phone. This is a feature that the other two are missing.
Which One to Go For?
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 has set a high benchmark for its competitors in this segment and it will be hard for the like of Realme 3 and the LG W30 to tout the prowess of a Xiaomi.
Yes, the LG W30 does offer a good design and stock Android with a promise of regular updates but that’s about it! There is nothing stellar or out-of-the-box that LG is offering with this phone and that can make a few potential buyers take a step back.
Realme 3 makes for a compelling bargain but loses out on the design aspect in this price segment. If you’re okay with that, the Oppo-owned Realme phone is something you can consider.
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