Top News

India’s smartphone market has over 600 million users, but specs alone don’t ensure safety or trust. Before buying, verify certification, data storage, and software updates. Check service centre access, pre-installed apps, legal history against reviewers, ‘Made in India’ claims, and independent reviews. Following these steps protects you from illegal, insecure, or misleading devices.

India is the second-largest smartphone market in the world, with over 600 million active users and demand growing across every price segment. There are so many smartphone OEMs fighting for a slight share in market, that you are spoilt for choices. It is becoming increasingly difficult to understand which brand to trust, and which to avoid, and what to prioritize, and what to not.

While the specifications sheet is a good place to start, there are several other parameters to consider before buying a smartphone. This checklist will not help you pick between cameras or processors. It will help you ask the questions that spec sheets never answer.

1. Does it have a valid BIS certification, and can you verify it?

No smartphone can legally be sold in India without registration under the Bureau of Indian Standards' Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS), which certifies that a device meets Indian safety standards under IS 13252 for electrical safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and radiation levels. Every certified device carries a BIS registration number. Check it on the official BIS portal at bis.gov.in before you buy. A phone without a verifiable BIS number is not just a consumer risk, it is an illegal product.