The best camera phone under 40000 in India right now is the Motorola Edge 70 Pro: a large 50MP Sony LYTIA 710 main camera with OIS, a 50MP ultrawide and 4K 60fps video from both the rear and front cameras. If you want real optical zoom for portraits, the Oppo Reno 14 (3.5x periscope) and Tecno Camon 50 Ultra (3x telephoto) are the picks, while the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro gets you a periscope lens for under ₹30,000.
Why this list changed in November 2026
Mid-range phone prices rose sharply through 2026. Beebom, citing brands, puts it down to higher memory and chipset costs. Several phones that used to be called the best camera phone under 40000 now cost more:
- Vivo V70 FE: now ₹44,999 and up, after a price increase reported by TheTechOutlook.
- Nothing Phone (4a): ₹42,999 and up since August [CHECK].
- Vivo T5 Pro: ₹41,999 and up after a hike of up to ₹7,000 in August (Beebom).
- Oppo Reno 15c and Realme 16 Pro: both ₹40,999 and up [CHECK].
So every phone below has at least one variant selling at or under ₹40,000 as of 3 November 2026. Two of them are 2025 models that are still on sale and still better at photos than most 2026 launches at this price.
Best camera phones under 40000: quick comparison
| Phone (variant) | Price as of 3 Nov 2026 [CHECK] | Main camera | Ultrawide | Telephoto | Selfie | Video (max) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorola Edge 70 Pro (8/256) | ₹39,999 | 50MP LYTIA 710, 1/1.56", OIS | 50MP | None | 50MP | 4K60 rear and front | Overall, low light |
| Oppo Reno 14 (8/256) | about ₹39,999 | 50MP IMX882, OIS | 8MP | 50MP 3.5x periscope, OIS | 50MP AF | 4K60 rear and front | Portraits and zoom |
| Tecno Camon 50 Ultra (8/256) | ₹39,999 (Amazon.in) | 50MP LYT-700C, 1/1.56", OIS | 8MP | 50MP 3x | 50MP AF [CHECK] | 4K30 | Newest telephoto phone |
| Nothing Phone (3a) Pro (8/128) | about ₹27,999-29,999 | 50MP, 1/1.56", OIS | 8MP | 50MP 3x periscope, OIS | 50MP | 4K30 [CHECK] | Value zoom |
| Samsung Galaxy A27 (6/128) | about ₹31,999 | 50MP, OIS | 5MP | None | 12MP | 4K30 | Natural colours, long updates |
Prices have moved every few weeks this year, so check the live price before you buy any best camera phone under 40000 on this list.
1. Motorola Edge 70 Pro: best camera phone under 40000 overall
Price as of 3 Nov 2026: ₹39,999 for 8GB/256GB after a ₹1,000 increase in June; Amazon.in has listed it slightly lower, and bank offers take up to ₹2,000 off [CHECK].
The Edge 70 Pro is the most consistent all-round camera in this budget. Its 50MP Sony LYTIA 710 main sensor is 1/1.56-inch, among the largest here, and has OIS. A second 50MP sensor handles ultrawide and macro shots, so wide photos hold up better than on phones with 8MP ultrawides. Both the rear and the 50MP front camera record 4K at 60fps, which matters if you shoot video for Instagram or YouTube.
91mobiles named it the best camera phone under ₹40,000 for its good daylight and low-light results, and in its full review praised the "capable low light photography". The rest of the phone is strong too: a MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Extreme chip, a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED, a 6,500mAh battery with 90W charging, and IP68/IP69 plus MIL-STD-810H ratings. That also makes it the best camera and performance phone under 40000 on this list.
Watch out for: the Indian model has no telephoto lens. The global version's 3.5x periscope is reserved for the Edge 70 Pro+ in India, which costs ₹47,999. 91mobiles also found skin tones less accurate and noted the phone gets warm under load. Update promises are reported differently (3 OS upgrades plus 5 years of security patches per MySmartPrice; ETV Bharat says 3 years) [CHECK].
[EDITOR: hands-on note on low-light samples and skin tones]
2. Oppo Reno 14: best camera phone under 40000 for portraits and zoom
Price as of 3 Nov 2026: about ₹39,999 for 8GB/256GB (91mobiles price page); it has sold for less on Flipkart during sales [CHECK].
The Reno 14 launched in July 2025 at ₹37,999 and is still one of the best-equipped camera phones under 40000. Its 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto has its own OIS, which makes it the best phone here for portraits, food shots and stage or concert zoom. The main camera is a 50MP Sony IMX882 with OIS, and the 50MP front camera has autofocus and records 4K60, so it is also the best selfie and vlogging pick. FoneArena's review praised its "strong daylight camera results and very good selfies".
Other specs: Dimensity 8350, a compact 6.59-inch 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED, a 6,000mAh battery with 80W charging and IP66/IP68/IP69 ratings [CHECK].
Watch out for: the 8MP ultrawide is weak next to the Motorola's 50MP one. FoneArena also flagged preinstalled bloatware and no NFC on the Indian unit. As a 2025 model it may sell out, so check stock.
[EDITOR: hands-on note on 3.5x portrait samples]
3. Tecno Camon 50 Ultra: newest phone with a telephoto lens
Price as of 3 Nov 2026: ₹39,999 for 8GB/256GB on Amazon.in, its only store. The ₹36,999 figure seen at launch was a two-day coupon [CHECK].
Launched in July 2026, the Camon 50 Ultra is the newest phone with a dedicated telephoto camera under ₹40,000. It pairs a 50MP Sony LYT-700C main camera (1/1.56-inch, OIS) with a 50MP 3x telephoto and an 8MP ultrawide. 91mobiles scored it 8.2/10 and liked the telephoto camera system, especially for portraits and skin tones.
You also get a 6.78-inch curved 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED, a 6,500mAh battery with 45W charging and IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings.
Watch out for: 91mobiles found night shots softer and less consistent than the Motorola's, and said performance from the Dimensity 7400 Ultimate could be better. The selfie camera is listed as 50MP by GSMArena and 91mobiles but 13MP by Beebom [CHECK]. Software support is 3 OS upgrades; the security patch period is less clear [CHECK].
[EDITOR: hands-on note on 3x zoom at night]
4. Nothing Phone (3a) Pro: best value camera phone under 40000
Price as of 3 Nov 2026: about ₹27,999-29,999 for 8GB/128GB on Flipkart [CHECK stock].
You do not need to spend ₹40,000 to get a periscope camera. The Phone (3a) Pro has a 50MP 3x periscope telephoto with OIS (a Sony LYT-600 sensor), a 50MP main camera with OIS and an 8MP ultrawide. FoneArena called the cameras good and singled out the display. Nothing promises 3 OS upgrades and 6 years of security patches.
It runs a Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 with a 6.77-inch 120Hz AMOLED and a 5,000mAh battery with 50W charging. If ₹28,000 is closer to your budget, see our best phones under 30000 list.
Watch out for: it is the oldest and slowest phone here, has only an IP64 rating and ships without a charger. It may sell out as the 4a series takes over.
[EDITOR: hands-on note]
5. Samsung Galaxy A27: best for natural colours and long updates
Price as of 3 Nov 2026: about ₹31,999 for 6GB/128GB (91mobiles); Samsung has raised A27 prices more than once this year [CHECK].
The Galaxy A27 is not the most advanced camera here, but it is the one to buy if you keep phones for five years or more. Samsung promises 6 Android upgrades and 6 years of security updates. Its 50MP main camera with OIS produces natural, accurate colours, and Digit's review praised its daylight colours, reliable portrait edge detection and "surprisingly decent" low-light shots.
It uses a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, a 6.7-inch 120Hz Super AMOLED and a 5,000mAh battery.
Watch out for: the 5MP ultrawide is soft, there is no telephoto, the 12MP selfie camera is basic and charging tops out at 25W.
[EDITOR: hands-on note]
Phones under 40000 that just missed the list
- Realme 16 (₹35,999): the 50MP selfie camera is good, but there is no OIS or ultrawide and video stops at 1080p (MySmartPrice).
- Google Pixel 10a: a strong camera, but it launched at ₹49,999 and is out of this budget.
- Motorola Edge 70 Pro+ (₹47,999): the Indian Motorola with the periscope telephoto, if you can stretch.
How to choose the best camera phone under 40000
- Decide whether you need zoom. Only three phones here have a telephoto lens: Oppo Reno 14, Tecno Camon 50 Ultra and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. A telephoto gives flattering portraits and usable 3x shots; digital zoom on a main camera does not.
- Look at sensor size, not megapixels. A 1/1.56-inch sensor (Motorola, Tecno, Nothing) gathers more light than a smaller one. That shows up most at night.
- Insist on OIS. Every phone here has optical image stabilisation on the main camera. It allows slower, sharper night shots and steadier video.
- Check the video modes. If you film yourself, the Motorola and Oppo record 4K60 from the front camera.
- Factor in updates. Samsung's 6-year promise is the longest. Most rivals offer 3 OS upgrades.
All five use AMOLED screens, which show photos with deeper blacks; see our AMOLED vs LCD explainer. For more picks across budgets, browse our mobiles buying guides or the best phones under 25000.
FAQs
Which is the best camera phone under 40000 in India? The Motorola Edge 70 Pro, for its large OIS main camera, 50MP ultrawide and 4K60 video on both cameras. If you shoot a lot of portraits, the Oppo Reno 14 with its 3.5x periscope is the better choice.
Which phone has a telephoto lens under 40000? The Oppo Reno 14 (3.5x periscope), Tecno Camon 50 Ultra (3x) and Nothing Phone (3a) Pro (3x periscope). The Indian Motorola Edge 70 Pro does not have one.
Does OIS matter in a camera phone? Yes. Optical image stabilisation physically steadies the lens, which reduces blur in low light and smooths handheld video. Avoid camera-focused phones without it at this price.
Which phone under 40000 has the longest software updates? The Samsung Galaxy A27, with 6 Android upgrades and 6 years of security updates. The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro follows with 6 years of security patches.