
We’ve already covered the top gaming phones under Rs. 25,000. Now, if your budget stretches to Rs. 31,000–Rs. 50,000, you enter a segment packed with flagship-class chipsets, high-refresh displays, advanced cooling solutions, and larger batteries—all crucial for marathon gaming sessions. However, not every spec sheet translates into reliable real-world performance under sustained load.
In this ultimate guide, you’ll find:
- Phones to skip (they underdeliver when gaming heats up)
- Top contenders under Rs. 35,000 for smooth 90fps and entry-level 120fps gameplay
- The sweet spot between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 40,000, where 120fps rigs and extra cooling become accessible
- The true heavyweights from Rs. 41,000 to Rs. 50,000 that sustain flagship-level 120fps
By the end, you’ll know exactly which phone fits your gaming style—be it BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, Genshin Impact, or any fast-paced shooter.
Phones You Should Skip
Even some “flagships” in this bracket stumble badly under extended gaming sessions. Avoid these models if you want stable high-frame-rate performance:
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Despite a 120Hz AMOLED, it caps most titles at 90fps. When you force 120Hz, frame rates nosedive to 60–70 fps under heavy effects, and the Exynos SoC heats up quickly with only a thin vapor chamber for cooling. - Vivo V60
Locked at a mere 60fps for games, it can’t keep pace with competitors offering 90fps or 120fps gameplay. Its camera and design are great, but gaming performance falls short. - Oppo Reno 14 & Reno 14 Pro
Both models can unlock 90fps in some titles, but real-world tests show wild fluctuations—especially during team fights in COD Mobile. Their mid-tier cooling struggles to maintain consistency. - Realme 15 Pro
Promises sub-Rs. 35K flagship gaming but throttles within 15–20 minutes of heavy play. Genshin Impact starts strong at 60fps but drops into the 50s, making it overpriced for gamers. - Realme GT 7
On paper, the unlocked 120fps mode and Dimensity 9400+ chipset look stellar. In practice, it spikes to 106 °C under load and falls to 60–70fps in demanding scenes. - OnePlus 13R
The Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 can technically hit 120fps, but games top out at 90fps in practice. At Rs. 43K, there are better 90fps-focused devices available. - Vivo X200 FE
Stylish and compact but unlocks only 90fps. Even then, frame rates dip to 60–70fps during heavy battles, and its 4,500 mAh battery drains faster at 90fps. - iPhone 16e
Locked at 60fps, no 120Hz display, and uses an older body design. Unless you snag it below Rs. 30K in a clearance, avoid it for competitive gaming.
Top Gaming Phones Under Rs. 35,000
If your ceiling is Rs. 35K, these three models deliver the best value for money, balancing frame rates, thermals, battery life, and daily usability.
- OnePlus Nord CE5 – Solid 90fps All-Rounder
- Price: ~Rs. 32,000 (often on sale near Rs. 30–31K)
- Display: 6.7″ 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED
- Chipset: Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Apex
- Memory: up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM & 256GB UFS 3.1 Storage
- Software: Android 15, ColorOS 15
- Performance: Stable 90fps in PUBG Mobile, COD Mobile, and Asphalt 9
- Cooling: Stainless steel vapor chamber with graphite layers
- Battery & Charging: 5000 mAh, 80W fast charging (0–100% in 29 min)
- Why Choose: OxygenOS offers smooth UI animations, regular updates, reliable stereo speakers, and minimal throttling under load.
- iQOO Neo 10 – Best Sub-Rs. 35K 120fps Champion
- Price: Rs. 32,000
- Display: 6.78″ 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Memory: up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM & 512GB UFS 4.1 Storage
- Software: Android 15, Funtouch OS 15
- Performance: Averages 105–110fps in Genshin Impact, peaks near 120fps in lighter titles
- Cooling: Multi-layer graphite, VC liquid cooling covering 4,600 mm²
- Battery & Charging: 5,000 mAh, 120W Super Flash Charge (0–100% in 18 min)
- Why It Wins: The only sub-Rs. 35K phone that sustains near-flagship 120fps, with under-10% throttling even after 60 min of play.
- Realme GT 7T – Flash Sale Steal (90fps)
- Price: Rs. 32,000–Rs. 36,000; often dips below Rs. 30K during sales
- Display: 6.78″ 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED
- Chipset: Dimensity 8400 Max
- Memory: up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM & 512GB UFS 4.0 Storage
- Software: Android 15, Realme UI 6.0
- Performance: Locked at smooth 90fps; throttles slightly after half an hour of PUBG
- Battery & Charging: 5,300 mAh, 100W SuperVOOC charging (0–100% in 25 min)
- Why Consider: Below Rs. 30K during flash sales, it becomes a compelling casual gamer’s pick. At full price above Rs. 33K, stick with the Nord CE5 or Neo 10.
The Sweet Spot: Rs. 35,000–Rs. 40,000
In this bracket, you’ll find dependable 90fps all-rounders or specialized gaming rigs that unlock 120fps and even include a cooling fan for marathon sessions.
- Vivo T4 Ultra – All-rounder (90fps)
- Price: Under Rs. 37,000
- Display: 6.78″ 120Hz 1.5K AMOLED
- Chipset: Ultra Dimensity 9300 Plus
- Memory: up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM & 512GB UFS 3.1 Storage
- Software: Android 15, Funtouch OS 15
- Performance: Rock-solid 90fps with sub-5% frame dips after 90 min
- Cooling: VC cooling system
- Battery & Charging: 5,000 mAh, 80W charging
- Why Pick: Balances gaming performance with flagship camera quality, stereo speakers, and dependable battery life—ideal if you don’t need 120fps.
- Oppo K13 Turbo Pro (120fps + Fan)
- Price: ~Rs. 38,000 (pre-discount)
- Display: 6.74″ 144Hz 1.5K AMOLED
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8s Gen 4
- Memory: up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM & 512GB UFS 4.0 Storage
- Software: Android 15, ColorOS 15
- Performance: Averages 100–110fps in Genshin Impact, peaks at 120fps in COD Mobile
- Cooling: Bundled RGB gaming cooler fan lowers surface temps by up to 12 °C
- Battery & Charging: 4,800 mAh, 80W SuperVOOC charging
- Why It Shines: One of only two sub-Rs. 40K phones pushing past 90fps. Perfect for competitive gamers craving extra thermals.
- Apple iPhone 15 (60fps – Sale Pick Only)
- Price: ~Rs. 45,000–Rs. 55,000 during major sales
- Display: 6.1″ FHD+ 60Hz OLED
- Chipset: Apple A16 Bionic
- Memory: up to 6GB LPDDR5 RAM & 512GB NVMe Storage
- Software: iOS 17 (upgradable to iOS26)
- Performance: Stable 60fps in iOS shooters; no 120Hz mode
- Battery & Charging: 3,902 mAh, 20W wired, 15W MagSafe
- Why Avoid for Gaming: Locked at 60fps, inferior refresh rate for fast-paced titles, and outdated chassis design. Only choose if you’re already invested in Apple’s ecosystem.
Ultimate Heavyweights: Rs. 41,000–Rs. 50,000
When your budget hits Rs. 50K, these flagships deliver sustained 120fps performance, top-tier thermals, and marathon-friendly batteries:
- Realme GT 7 Pro – Best Under Rs. 50K (120fps)
- Price: Rs. 45,000–Rs. 49,000 (dips to Rs. 45K during flash sales)
- Display: 6.7″ 120Hz 1.5K LTPO AMOLED
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Memory: up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM & 1TB UFS 4.0 Storage
- Software: Android 15, Realme UI 6.0
- Performance: Averages 110–115fps in Genshin Impact and PUBG Mobile, never dips below 90fps
- Cooling: Full-size vapor chamber + graphene layer
- Battery & Charging: 5,000 mAh, 100W SuperVOOC charging (0–100% in 24 min)
- Why It Rules: The most reliable 120fps gaming rig under Rs. 50K, with flagship thermals and near-zero frame drops.
- iQOO 12 – Only If You Find It ≤Rs. 43K
- Price: ~Rs. 50,000; strong deal at Rs. 42–43K
- Display: 6.78” 144Hz 1.5K LTPO AMOLED
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
- Memory: up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM & 1TB UFS 4.0 Storage
- Software: Android 15, Funtouch OS 15
- Performance: Solid 120fps in lighter titles; smooth 90fps in graphically heavy games
- Cooling: VC cooling system
- Battery & Charging: 5000 mAh, 120W wired
- Why Consider: Matches the GT 7 Pro’s performance for less—ideal if you beat the Rs. 43K threshold during sales.
- OnePlus 13s – Compact 120fps Contender
- Price: ~Rs. 55,000 (sales can push it to Rs. 50–51K)
- Display: 6.36″ 120Hz 1.5K LTPO AMOLED
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Memory: up to 12GB LPDDR5X RAM & 512GB UFS 4.0 Storage
- Software: Android 15, OxygenOS 15
- Performance: Smooth 120fps in shooters
- Cooling: vapor chamber + graphene cooling
- Battery & Charging: 5850 mAh, 80W wired (50% in 20 min)
- Why It Stands Out: Delivers flagship gaming in a compact form factor—perfect if you prefer smaller devices.
- iQOO 13 – Best Overall (120fps)
- Price: ~Rs. 55,000 (can dip to Rs. 50–51K during flash sales)
- Display: 6.78″ 144Hz QHD+ LTPO AMOLED
- Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Memory: up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM & 1TB UFS 4.0 Storage
- Software: Android 15, Funtouch OS 15
- Performance: Averages 110–115fps 95% of the time, even when screen recording
- Cooling: Dual vapor chambers + graphite sheets
- Battery & Charging: 5,000 mAh, 120W Super Flash Charge (0–100% in 17 min)
- Why It’s Supreme: Unmatched stability and thermal control. If you can stretch beyond Rs. 50K, this is the undisputed gaming champion.
Wrap-Up & Next Steps
Gaming at 90fps or 120fps demands more than top-end specs—it requires optimized software, robust cooling, and reliable batteries. In the Rs. 31,000–Rs. 50,000 bracket, we’ve:
- Eliminated underperformers that throttle or cap fps
- Highlighted the best 90fps all-rounders under Rs. 35K
- Revealed niche 120fps rigs in the Rs. 35K–Rs. 40K sweet spot
- Unveiled the ultimate 120fps heavyweights for Rs. 41K–Rs. 50K
Which phone matches your gaming priorities? Share your pick in the comments below.