A budget phone, for a lot people, means a phone under Rs 20,000. There are many options in the market and while that means you have plenty to choose from, it is very hard to make an informed decision.
Between all leading brands battling it out in the Indian smartphone segment trying to win over the mid-range consumer, there’s never a shortage of features in these phones.
Though this dynamic leaves a lot of options at the consumers’ disposal, it can be confusing to determine what the real world applications are between the differences in phones. The disparity can exist in anything from battery sizes to chipsets and from cameras to operating systems.
Selecting a phone can still be a challenging task despite the numerous options. While some companies may have the best specs on paper in a given price range, the lack of software optimisation can make those phones a poor option when compared to others.
Lets look at some of the best value for money options under Rs 20,000.
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro
- Weight: 181g
- Dimensions: 158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1mm
- OS: Android 7.0
- Screen size: 5.99-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
- CPU: Snapdragon 636
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Battery: 4000mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP + 5MP
- Front camera: 20MP
Review: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is an impressive smartphone that would have been better with Android Oreo out of the box. It’s a big misstep for what is without a doubt the top budget performer right now.
2. Xiaomi Mi A1
- Weight: 165g
- Dimensions: 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm
- OS: Android 7.1.2
- Screen size: 5.5-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920
- CPU: Snapdragon 625
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Battery: 3080mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP
- Front camera: 5MP
Review: The Mi A1’s clutter free Android One certified experience along with tried and tested hardware, and dual camera capability gives you the premium feel under a budget. Xiaomi ticks all the right boxes.
3. Nokia 6 (2018)
- Weight: 172g
- Dimensions: 148.8 x 75.8 x 8.2mm
- OS: Android Oreo
- Screen size: 5.5-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920
- CPU: Snapdragon 630
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Battery: 3000mAh
- Rear camera: 16MP
- Front camera: 8MP
Review: The Nokia 6 (2018) has improved processing prowess, fast charging support, and a slightly better design than its predecessor. It costs a tad more but it feels like a solid budget competitor at first look.
4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 (3GB RAM)
- Weight: 180g
- Dimensions: 158.5 x 75.5 x 8.1 mm
- OS: Android 7
- Screen size: 5.99-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
- CPU: Snapdragon 625
- RAM: 3/4GB
- Storage: 32/64GB
- Battery: 4000mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP
- Front camera: 5MP
Review: There’s nothing wrong with the Note 5 except for the fact that it doesn’t look like an upgrade. It’s more like a tweaked version of the smartphone that made waves last year.
5. LG Q6+
- Weight: 149g
- Dimensions: 142.5 x 69.3 x 8.1mm
- OS: Android 7.1.1 Nougat
- Screen size: 5.5-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2160
- CPU: Snapdragon 435
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Battery: 3000mAh
- Rear camera: 13MP
- Front camera: 5MP
Review: Well built, and feel quite sturdy in hand. Beautiful design – arguably the best looking device in the sub Rs 20k price category – in fact looks like a miniaturised version of LG’s premium flagship G6 – the metal side rails, along with the glossy plastic back give the phone an upmarket look.
The edges are metallic and rounded, which makes the phone easier to grip – it is also well weighted and very ergonomic for the screen size it offers.
6. Honor 7X
- Weight: 162g
- Dimensions: 150.9 x 76.2 x 8.2 mm
- OS: Android 6
- Screen size: 5.5-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920
- CPU: Kirin 655
- RAM: 3/4GB
- Storage: 32/64GB
- Battery: 3340mAh
- Rear camera: 12+2MP
- Front camera: 8MP
Review: Honor has cemented itself as one of the world’s best budget phone makers with the Honor 6X, but a few little problems still hold it back from the perfect five-star review.
7. Xiaomi Mi Max 2
- Weight: 211g
- Dimensions: 174.1 x 88.7 x 7.6 mm
- OS: Android 7.1.1
- Screen size: 6.44-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920
- CPU: Snapdragon 625
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 32/64/128GB |
- Battery: 5300mAh
- Rear camera: 12MP
- Front camera: 5MP
Review: The Mi Max 2 builds upon the success of its predecessor and represents the best of Xiaomi.
8. Moto G5S Plus
- Weight: 168g
- Dimensions: 153.5 x 76.2 x 8mm
- OS: Android 7
- Screen size: 5.5-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 1920
- CPU: Snapdragon 625
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64GB
- Battery: 3000mAh
- Rear camera: Dual 13MP
- Front camera: 8MP
Review: More metal, more screen, good battery life and a still-great price make the Moto G5S Plus one of the best affordable Androids around.
9. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
- Weight: 180g
- Dimensions: 159.0 x 76.0 x 8.46mm
- OS: Android 8.0 Oreo
- Screen size: 5.99-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2160
- CPU: Snapdragon 636
- RAM: 3GB
- Storage: 32GB
- Battery: 5000mAh
- Rear camera: 13MP
- Front camera: 8MP
Review: If a smartphone’s battery is your top priority, then you’re going to be hard pressed to find a cheaper phone with better battery life. The Zenfone Max Pro M1 may not be perfect, but it’s certainly a budget offering that can put its money where its mouth is.
10. Oppo F7
- Weight: 158g
- Dimensions: 156.0 x 75.3 x 7.8mm
- OS: ColorOS 5.0 based on Android 8.1
- Screen size: 6.23-inch
- Resolution: 1080 x 2280
- CPU: MediaTek Helio P60
- RAM: 4/6GB
- Storage: 64/128GB
- Battery: 3400mAh
- Rear camera: 16MP
- Front camera: 25MP
Review: The Oppo F7 isn’t a bad phone but it doesn’t justify its price. The only reason to pick it up off the shelves is for a better camera experience than other phones in the mid-range segment.
