In the realm of smartphones, we find ourselves paying exorbitant prices for features that often go unused. However, with careful consideration and research, you can discover budget-friendly phones that meet your specific needs.
Even if you have a budget of around Rs. 20,000, there are plenty of high-quality smartphones available, each offering distinct features. For instance, the once-exclusive in-display fingerprint sensor can now be found in many phones under Rs. 20,000, making it more accessible to users.
Let’s now take a look at the top 10 phones, commonly referred to as smartphones, that fall within the 20 thousand (20K) budget:
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G
The Redmi Note series has a reputation for providing excellent features and specifications under Rs. 20,000.The starting price of the new Redmi Note 11 Pro+ 5G is slightly higher than that.During offer periods, it can be purchased for 20000 Rs.
In Diwali sales, the smartphone’s price drops to nearly 19000 Rs. on both Flipkart and Amazon platforms.
Some of its key features include a 120Hz Super AMOLED panel, Snapdragon 695 SoC, 67W rapid charging, a 108-megapixel primary back camera, and 5G support.It comes in two colors: mirage blue and stealth black.
The stealth black variant has a straightforward style, while mirage blue features a rear pattern resembling waves of water.The display is vibrant and sharp, but it lacks HDR.Redmi phones operate on the MIUI operating system, offering various customizations.
For gamers, this device is considered one of the best power-packed options in the under 20000 Rs. segment.Photography performance is average, with good results in daylight but poor outcomes in low-light conditions.However, it does not support 4K video capture.
Motorola Moto G-72
Motorola’s latest smartphone, the Moto G72, has recently hit the Indian market, priced at approximately Rs. 20,000. However, it is worth noting that the device does not support India’s 5G networks.
The Moto G72 has garnered significant attention, especially for its striking aesthetic color and features. Despite the phone’s back and frame being made of polycarbonate, the Polar Blue color PMMA-acrylic coating lends it a premium appearance. It weighs around 166g and boasts a slim profile with a thickness of 7.9mm.
When it comes to performance, the Moto G72 handles casual gaming quite well and easily manages routine activities. Its 5000mAh battery, along with 33W rapid charging capabilities, makes it a powerhouse device. The primary back camera is a noteworthy 108 megapixels, while the front features a hole-punch section housing a 16MP camera. Operating on the Android 12-based MyUx skin, the phone is poised to receive the Android 13 update, backed by three years of security patch coverage.
The phone’s 6.6-inch P-OLED display is a standout feature, offering full-HD+ resolution and a refresh rate of 120Hz, making it more appealing in its segment. The display also boasts HDR10+ certification and supports 10-bit color. Powering this mid-range smartphone is the MediaTek Helio G99 SoC, which is also seen in devices like the Redmi 11 Prime 4G and the Redmi Pad. Flipkart offers the 6/128 GB variant for purchase, with a price tag of approximately 17k.
Motorola Moto G-71
The Moto G71 5G boasts a 6.4-inch hole-punched AMOLED display that is bright enough for outdoor use and offers excellent viewing angles.
Unlike most rivals, the Moto G71 5G features a back-mounted fingerprint scanner, in addition to the side-mounted ones.
Powering the Moto G71 5G is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Users can also allocate around 1.5GB of storage for use as RAM, resulting in smooth performance for both light and frequent users.
The phone’s 5,000mAh battery ensures it easily lasts for more than a day of use, delivering excellent battery performance.
While the camera specifications of this phone are decent, it excels in taking beautiful pictures during the daytime. However, at night, the clarity of the photos is slightly compromised.
The Moto G71 5G’s triple camera configuration consists of a 50-megapixel primary camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle, and a 5-megapixel macro camera.
Both the primary and ultra-wide-angle cameras produce quality images during the day, resulting in superb portraits, selfies, and close-ups.
However, the performance of the low-light camera is ordinary, especially when using the aggressive Night mode.
IQOO Z6 Lite 5G
IQOO recently entered the market as a new brand and quickly gained popularity. The IQOO Z6 Lite 5G, a budget phone, stands out as one of the top choices in the 20000 price range due to its excellent features. IQOO launched the Z6 Lite 5G in India as its most affordable 5G smartphone, aiming to provide reliable performance and 5G network support starting at Rs. 13,999.
The Z6 Lite 5G in Stellar Green has a premium appearance despite its affordable price. It boasts a plastic body, flat frame, and weighs 194g with a thickness of 8.3mm. The phone’s LCD supports an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, the highest in its price category.
The IQOO Z6 Lite 5G’s main selling points are its outstanding display and performance. Equipped with a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen processor, it ensures a smooth user experience. The phone also includes a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging capability, although the fast charger is not provided in the box and needs to be purchased separately.
For photography enthusiasts, the smartphone features a 50-megapixel primary camera, a 2-megapixel depth sensor, and an 8MP front camera for selfies. The IQOO Z6 Lite 5G comes with the Funtouch OS 12 skin based on Android 12, offering users a customized software experience. However, it comes with some pre-installed junk applications and annoying browser app alerts, which can be manually removed.
The actual price of the phone depends on the variant selected. The 4/64 GB variant is usually priced around 13999 Rs., while the 6/64 GB variant costs around 15999 Rs. The phone is available in two colors: magical night and stellar green.
Realme 9 5G
The Realme 9 5G features a 6.5-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and full-HD+ resolution.Its 16-megapixel selfie camera is located in a hole at the top-left corner of the device.
Powering the Realme 9 5G is the MediaTek 810 SoC processor, capable of handling light to medium usage without any issues.With a 5,000mAh battery, the Realme 9 5G can last for approximately a day and a half on a single charge.The phone supports 18W rapid charging and comes with a suitable charger.
It runs on Realme UI 2.0, which sits on top of Android 11, but it also comes with a fair amount of pre-installed bloatware.
The price of the Realme 9 5G varies depending on the variant you choose.If you opt for the 6/128 variant, it will cost around 14999 Rs.On the other hand, the 6/128 GB variant will cost around 15499 Rs.You can choose from two color options: supersonic black and pure white.
Realme 8 Pro
The Realme 8 Pro is a new addition to the Realme family, priced at Rs 17,999. It comes in three color options: Infinite Blue, Infinite Black, and Illuminating Yellow. With its appealing features and styles, it enhances your smartphone usage experience. The phone weighs about 176 gm and has dimensions of 160.6 x 73.9 x 8.1 mm (height, breadth, thickness), providing a slip-free grip.
Moving on to the camera, the Realme 8 Pro boasts a quad-camera setup on the back, enabling you to capture awesome photos and record high-definition videos. Its 108-megapixel camera ensures clear and beautiful daytime pictures. Additionally, you can shoot stable slow-motion videos using this smartphone.
Redmi Note 9 Pro-Max
The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, a well-known smartphone manufactured by Xiaomi, is acclaimed for its outstanding performance.This phone is available in various color variants, including Aurora Blue, Glacier White, Interstellar Black, and Champagne Gold.
Starting at Rs. 14,999, the price of the Redmi Note 9 Pro Max varies depending on the chosen color and memory variant.Packed with cutting-edge features and impressive specifications, it ensures a top-notch user experience.
With dimensions of 165.50 x 76.68 x 8.80 mm (height x width x thickness), the phone weighs around 209 grams.The Redmi Note 9 Pro Max boasts a quad-camera setup, allowing users to capture stunning photographs.
Its primary camera possesses an impressive 64-megapixel capability, delivering excellent image quality. On the front side, there is a 32-megapixel camera, ensuring exceptional low-light photography performance.
Vivo Y16
Vivo is a well-regarded brand in the electronics market. Its phones are popular for their excellent camera and sound performance.
One of the phones launched by Vivo under 20000 is the Vivo Y16. It is available in two variants, with 4/6 GB RAM and 64/128 GB ROM, allowing users to choose according to their needs and budget.
The Vivo Y16 smartphone features a 16.55cm (6.51″) HD+ display, providing a great viewing experience. It also comes with a 13MP+2MP back camera and a 5MP selfie camera, enabling users to capture memorable moments with ease.
Under the hood, the Vivo Y16 is powered by an MTK P35 processor, ensuring smooth performance for various tasks and applications.
Additionally, the smartphone supports 10W fast charging, which helps in quickly replenishing its 5000mAh (C-Type) battery.Depending on the chosen variant, the price of the Vivo Y16 ranges from 13k to 17k, making it an attractive option for those looking for a feature-rich phone within this price range.
Oppo K10
Oppo is a renowned brand in the mobile market, famous for its camera and looks.
The Oppo K10 shares many similarities with the recently released Oppo A96 in terms of style and specifications.However, the Oppo K10 stands out with its additional features, including dual speakers, macro camera, and IP54 rating.
The K10 impresses with its decent battery life, fast charging support, excellent display, and rapid performance.Unfortunately, the Oppo K10 lacks 5G support, but considering the competitive pricing, it still offers good value for money.
At a similar price point, there are alternatives like the Poco M4 Pro 5, which boasts 5G support and an IP53 rating.Another option is the slightly older but reliable Redmi Note 10S, which competes favorably with the K10.For those seeking a 5G experience, the Oppo K10 5G is available.
Lava Blaze 5G
Lava, one of the oldest brands in the mobile market, offers highly affordable phones with excellent features.
The latest addition to their lineup is the Lava Blaze 5G, which stands as India’s most budget-friendly 5G smartphone by Lava.Priced at approximately Rs. 10,999, the Lava Blaze 5G boasts a single 4GB + 128GB storage option.
This low-cost 5G smartphone in India supports eight different 5G bands, ensuring reliable connectivity.With a plastic frame and a sleek back design, the Lava Blaze 5G exudes a stylish lookIts 6.5-inch IPS LCD display offers HD+ quality with a resolution of 720×1600 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate.
Powering the phone is the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, a low-cost 5G CPU.The phone comes in two color options: dazzling black and pure go.Interested buyers can find their desired variant on Flipkart for under 20000.