iPhone 17 Air Hits India But Android Flagships Offer Strong Competition

 

Apple’s recently unveiled iPhone 17 Air has officially launched in India, starting at ₹1,19,900 for the 256GB model and going up to ₹1,59,900 for the 1TB variant. The device introduces a slimmer design and benefits from the Apple ecosystem, but it comes with a single 48MP rear camera. This limitation has surprised some buyers who expected more versatile camera features in a premium phone at this price point.

 

On the other hand, several Android flagships are emerging as strong alternatives, offering superior camera setups, faster charging, and larger batteries at comparable or lower prices. Here are five notable Android options to consider instead of the iPhone 17 Air:

 

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra stands out as a direct competitor to the iPhone 17 Air. The 256GB variant is priced at around ₹80,499 and features a 200MP main camera with telephoto, ultrawide, and periscope lenses, providing a highly versatile quad-camera system. The phone also includes the S-Pen, a larger battery, and the latest Snapdragon Elite chipset.

 

OnePlus 13

OnePlus offers its OnePlus 13 in this price segment at approximately ₹76,999 for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage model. It comes with a triple 50MP Hasselblad-tuned camera setup, a massive 6000mAh battery, and 100W fast charging, making it a value-focused alternative to the iPhone 17 Air, which emphasizes slim design over additional features.

 

Google Pixel 10 Pro

The Google Pixel 10 Pro, priced just above ₹1,02,990, targets photography enthusiasts with its triple-lens camera system powered by Google’s AI-driven computational photography. The device also promises long-term software support with seven years of updates, ensuring a reliable experience for users.

 

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, priced at ₹1,04,999 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage version, is another strong rival to the iPhone 17 Air. It runs Android 15 and is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with a 4.47GHz clock speed. The phone has a slim 5.8mm titanium frame with Gorilla Glass Ceramic 2 for durability. Its camera system features a 200MP AI-powered main sensor, and it includes Samsung Knox security, Samsung Wallet, Galaxy AI, and an all-day battery to support multitasking on One UI.

 

Vivo X200 Pro 5G

The Vivo X200 Pro 5G operates on Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15 and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 processor with 16GB RAM and 512GB internal storage. Its 6.78-inch AMOLED Armour Glass display offers a resolution of 452 PPI, 2160Hz PWM dimming, and a refresh rate from 0.1Hz to 120Hz with peak brightness of 4500 nits. The rear camera includes a 50MP Sony main sensor, a 200MP telephoto sensor with 3.7× optical and 100× digital zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide sensor supported by the V3+ imaging chip. The phone is equipped with a 6000mAh semi-solid state battery with 90W fast charging and costs ₹94,999 for the 16GB RAM and 512GB storage model.