Best smartphones in India under Rs. 20,000 (December 2018)

December 13, 2018

Best smartphones in India under Rs. 20,000 (December 2018)

While there used to be a very clear divide between mid-range smartphones and high-end flagships, the lines have increasingly blurred over the past few years. Nowadays, phones offer similar metal constructions, high-resolution displays, solid cameras, and as much RAM and built-in storage as their flagship counterparts, often at less than half the price.

These phones may not be as powerful and feature packed, but given the price point, they certainly don’t fail to impress. Here are some of the best smartphones available in India priced under 20,000 rupees (~$272)!

Editor’s note: This list includes phones that essentially fall in the price range between 10,000 and 20,000 rupees. There will be separate lists to showcase devices priced below 30,000 rupees and below 10,000 rupees as well.

Asus Zenfone Max Pro M2

Xiaomi may have set the trend, but companies like Realme, Asus, and others have made the affordable mid-range category an extremely competitive one in 2018. The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1, released in May, proved to be an excellent smartphone. Now Asus is hoping to further build on its success with the latest addition to the series — the Zenfone Max Pro M2.

Sticking with the latest trend, the Zenfone Max Pro M2 comes with a notched display. Compared to its predecessor, it has a faster processor, a higher (6GB) RAM variant, improved cameras, and an equally large 5,000mAh battery. This phone is also the first in the budget-friendly category to feature the latest Gorilla Glass 6 protection. Asus has also dropped its Zen UI in favor of stock Android, and the device will receive the official update to Android 9.0 Pie early in 2019.

What remains the same is Asus’ extremely aggressive pricing. The Zenfone Max Pro M2 starts at just 12,999 rupees (~$180) for the version with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage. The 4GB or 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage versions will set you back a still affordable 14,999 rupees (~$207) and 16,999 rupees (~$235) respectively.

Specs

6.26-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution.
2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor.
Adreno 512 GPU
3/4/6GB RAM.
32/64GB internal storage, expandable via microSD card up to 512GB.
12MP and 5MP rear cameras, 13MP front-facing camera.
dual SIM (dual standby).
5,000mAh battery.
Android 8.1 Oreo
157.9 x 75.5 x 8.5mm, 175grams.

Buy on Flipkart

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro

Redmi Note 6 Pro

Xiaomi released the latest addition to its most popular smartphone series in India in October this year – the Redmi Note 6 Pro. The Redmi Note 6 Pro retains a lot of what users loved about its predecessor, with a few noteworthy changes.

There’s now a notched screen up front, now in the standard 19:9 display aspect ratio. The Redmi Note 6 Pro also brings a dual camera setup to the front of the phone, capable of taking some great-looking selfies. You also get the latest version of MIUI with the Redmi Note 6 Pro. That’s all there is as far as the upgrades are concerned.

The Redmi Note 6 Pro keeps the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, even though a lot of the similarly-priced competition has moved to the Snapdragon 660. 4GB or 6GB of RAM iterations are available, and you also get the same 4,000mAh battery under the hood. Basically, if you already have the Redmi Note 5 Pro, getting the latest Redmi Note isn’t necessary.

However, for those in the market for a new phone, the Redmi Note 6 Pro is one of the best smartphones under 20,000 rupees you can buy, even if the competition in this price category is a lot more intense now. The 4GB of RAM version is priced at 13,999 rupees (~$194) while the 6GB of RAM iteration will set you back 15,999 rupees (~$221). Xiaomi continues to utilize its flash sale model and the phone goes on sale every Wednesday at 12PM.

Specs

6.26-inch IPS LCD display with 2,280 x 1,080 resolution
1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor
Adreno 509 GPU
4/6GB of RAM
64GB of built-in storage, further expandable via microSD up to 256GB (uses SIM 2 slot)
12 and 5MP rear cameras, 20MP and 2MP front-facing cameras
Dual SIM (dual standby)
4,000mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
157.9 x 76.4 x 8.3mm, 182grams

Buy on Flipkart

Honor 8X

Honor brings the bezel-less, notched design language of its more expensive flagships to the budget-friendly category with the Honor 8X. Its predecessors ruled the roost in the affordable range, but more intense competition in this space made Honor really push the envelope and offering something unique.

The Honor 8X is a super-sized phablet with a premium design that stands out. Despite its mid-range specifications, the Honor 8x includes support for the company’s new GPU Turbo technology. This feature should offer a better and smoother gaming experience by boosting the GPU and allowing for higher frame rates and reduced power consumption.

You also get a dual rear camera setup, with a 20MP primary sensor that a f/1.8 aperture and Phase Detection Auto Focus, and a 2MP secondary sensor for depth information. AI-based camera features are all the rage, and the 8X is no different. The front-facing selfie camera is no slouch either, with a 16MP sensor and a f/2.0 aperture.

There are three variants of the Honor 8X available in India. The 4GB or 6GB of RAM versions, both with 64GB of built-in storage, are priced at 14,999 rupees (~$207) and 16,999 rupees (~$235) respectively. The version with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at 18,999 rupees (~$263).

Specs

6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a 2,340 x 1,080 resolution
2.2GHz octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor
Mali-G51 MP4 GPU
4/6GB of RAM
64/128GB of storage, further expandable via microSD up to 400GB
20MP + 2MP dual rear cameras, 16MP front-facing camera
Dual SIM (dual standby)
3,750mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
160.4 x 76.6 x 7.8mm, 175grams

Honor 8X review

Buy on Amazon

Realme 2 Pro

Realme entered India with one of the best smartphones under 15,000 rupees (~$204), the Realme 1. Less than six months later, the company has released its successor, the RealMe 2 Pro, hoping to continue its impressive run in India’s competitive market.

The RealMe 2 Pro has key upgrades across the board. You get a large display with a barely noticeable waterdrop notch that looks great. The device is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, along with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of built-in storage. You get a dual rear camera setup and an upgraded front-facing shooter that are impressive, at least on paper. Keeping it all running is a 3,500mAh battery.

The Realme 2 Pro is available with three different configurations and four color options. However, only the version with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, priced at 13,990 rupees (~$190), comes under the specific under-15,000 rupees price segment. If you are willing to splurge a little more, you can bump the RAM up to 6GB for an additional 2,000 rupees. Finally, the high-end 8GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage version will set you back 17,990 (~$245) rupees.

All versions of the RealMe 2 Pro will be available on Flipkart from October 11.

Specs

6.3-inch IPS LCD display with Full HD+ resolution.
2.0 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor.
Adreno 512 GPU
4/6/8GB RAM.
64/128GB internal storage, expandable via microSD card up to 256GB.
16MP and 2MP rear cameras, 16MP front-facing camera.
dual SIM (dual standby).
3,500mAh battery.
Android 8.1 Oreo.
156.7 x 74 x 8.5mm, 174grams.

Buy on Flipkart

Motorola One Power

Joining companies like Xiaomi and Nokia in the Android One program, the Motorola One Power is the first smartphone in India from the company to run a stock version of Android 8.0 Oreo. Motorola has been a staple of the affordable mid-range category, so it’s no surprise this latest offering is one of the best smartphones under 20,000 rupees.

The specifications and features are standard for this price point. You get the Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, a dual rear camera setup, and a large 6.2-inch Full HD+ display. In fact, these specs are identical to quite a few other phones on this list.

What gives the Motorola One Power a leg up (and also its name) is the huge 5,000mAh battery powering the phone and ensuring excellent battery life. The phone also comes with turbocharging capabilities, which Motorola says will give you up to 6 hours of power after charging the phone for just 15 minutes.

The Motorola One Power costs 15,999 rupees (~$220). At this price point, you may find devices with more RAM, slightly faster processors, and better cameras. However, if battery life is an important factor, it doesn’t get much better than the Motorola One Power.

Specs

6.2-inch IPS LCD display with 2246 x 1080 resolution
1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor
Adreno 509 GPU
4GB of RAM
64GB of built-in storage, further expandable via microSD up to 256GB
16 and 5MP rear cameras, 12MP front-facing camera with LED flash
Dual SIM (dual standby)
5,000mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
156 x 76 x 8.4mm, 205grams

Buy on Flipkart

Xiaomi Mi A2

The Mi A1 was Xiaomi’s first smartphone in the Android One program. The device certainly took everyone by surprise, combining what many wanted: Xiaomi’s aggressive pricing and stock Android software. The Mi A1 was extremely popular and its successor, the Xiaomi Mi A2, was one of the most anticipated releases of 2018.

The Mi A2 comes with the Snapdragon 660 processor under the hood, which is fantastic at this price point given the closest competition with the same processing package is far more expensive. 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage round out the impressive hardware.

A highlight of the Xiaomi Mi A2 is its camera. The dual 20MP and 12MP rear camera setup takes some excellent photos, far beyond what you would expect from a smartphone in this price range. There is still some room for improvement, but overall, the Mi A2 camera is something most users will be happy with. The device also features an excellent 20MP front-facing shooter.

Of course, the biggest selling point of the Mi A2 for many will be its software package. Running a stock version of Android 8.1 Oreo, for now, the Mi A2 will also be one of the first smartphones to receive the official update to Android 9.0 Pie later this year. Keeping everything running is a 3,000mAh battery. The battery life is decent enough, but the good news is you can charge the device really quickly with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4.0.

Color options for the Xiaomi Mi A2 include black, blue, and gold, and the device is priced at just 16,999 rupees (~$231). If you are looking for stock Android on a budget, the Mi A2 is one of the best smartphones under 20,000 rupees for that.

Specs

5.99-inch IPS LCD display with 2160 x 1080 resolution
2.2GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor
Adreno 512 GPU
4GB of RAM
64GB of built-in storage, not expandable
20MP and 12MP dual rear cameras, 20MP front-facing camera
Dual SIM (dual standby)
3,000 mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm, 166grams

Buy on Amazon (Gold)

Buy on Amazon (Black)

Honor Play (4GB RAM)

Gaming phones are powerful smartphones built to offer optimal performance when playing high-end, graphics-intensive games. Futuristic designs and optimized performance features aside, the one thing these devices usually have in common is a high price. Honor is hoping to buck that trend with its first gaming smartphone, the Honor Play, which features flagship specs at a mid-range price.

The Honor Play comes with the Kirin 970 SoC, which also powers the far more expensive Huawei P20 Pro. The processor is made from the 10nm manufacturing process and comes with onboard NPU chip for AI functionality. You also get the company’s new GPU Turbo technology to increase processing efficiency and reduce power consumption when playing games.

If you’re looking for flagship power and a smartphone that can handle gaming easily on a budget, the Honor Play is one the best smartphones under 20,000 rupees you can buy. It’s not the easiest phone to get your hands, as Honor uses the dreaded flash sale model unfortunately quite common in the Indian market. The device goes on sale every Friday at 12 p.m. on Amazon.

The 19,999 rupees (~$271) price tag is for the version that comes with 4GB of RAM. There is also a 6GB RAM iteration that will set you back an additional 4,000 rupees. Both versions come with 64GB of built-in storage.

Specs

6.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2,340 x 1,080 resolution
2.4GHz octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 970 processor
Mali-G72 MP12 GPU
4GB of RAM
64GB of built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 256GB (uses SIM2 slot)
16MP and 2MP dual rear cameras, 16MP front-facing camera
Dual SIM (dual standby) hybrid slot
3,750 mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
157.9 x 74.3 x 7.5mm, 176grams

Buy on Amazon

Xiaomi POCO F1 (6GB RAM, 64GB storage)

Xiaomi Poco F1

Xiaomi introduced a new sub-brand called Poco in India, and its first device is the F1. The phone’s name promises speed, and Xiaomi certainly delivers in that department. The Poco F1 is the only smartphone in its price range with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. It’s crazy to think there are two phones — this and the Honor Play — on a list of smartphones under 20,000 rupees with flagship processing packages.

Backing the fast processor is 6GB or 8GB of RAM, with up to 256GB of built-in storage available. With specs like a far more expensive flagship, the POCO F1 starts at just 19,999 rupees (~$277).

Unfortunately, the phone’s underwhelming design betrays its flagship specs. The polycarbonate backing is simple, and the large notch and relatively thick bezels don’t look great. That’s nitpicking though. Aside from the design, the POCO F1 delivers in every other department.

The phone absolutely flies and the large battery ensures impressive battery life. If performance and battery life are important to you, the POCO F1 is one of the best in this price range. The cameras are good, though inconsistent. The software experience is great, with Xiaomi aiming for a more stock-like feel with the new Poco Launcher (based on MIUI 9.6 based on Android 8.1 Oreo).

As mentioned, the POCO F1 starts at just 19,999 rupees (~$276) for the 6GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage version.

Specs

6.18-inch IPS LCD display with 2,246 x 1,080 resolution
2.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
Adreno 630 GPU
6GB RAM
64GB of built-in storage, expandable via microSD up to 256GB (uses SIM 2 slot)
12MP and 5MP rear cameras, 20MP front-facing camera
dual-SIM (dual standby) – hybrid slot
4,000mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
155.5 x 75.3 x 8.8mm, 180grams

Get the Xiaomi POCO F1

Nokia 6.1 Plus

This year, Nokia released excellent smartphones like the Nokia 7 Plus and the Nokia 8 Sirocco. The company also decided all of its devices will join Google’s Android One initiative. Its latest premium mid-range offering is the new Nokia 6.1 Plus, which recently launched in India.

The Nokia 6.1 Plus is the third iteration in the series. The original Nokia 6 launched in 2017, followed by Nokia 6 (2018) — popularly dubbed the Nokia 6.1 early this year — with more incremental hardware updates. The Nokia 6.1 Plus comes with superior specifications, a new look, and Nokia’s first notch.

The Nokia 6.1 Plus features a beautiful design, with a metal and glass build nicer than you’d expect of this price range. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 636 processor, just like the Asus Zenfone Pro M1 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro.

The performance is as good as expected, helped along by the stock Android software experience — a highlight of this phone. Being a part of the Android One program means the 6.1 Plus will also be one of the first to receive the official update to Android 9.0 Pie.

Nokia also finally seems to have adjusted to the aggressive pricing strategy its competition relies on in the Indian market. Available in black, white, and blue, the Nokia 6.1 Plus is priced at just 15,999 rupees (~$218), putting it in the same price range and competing devices. Nokia is also using the flash sale method though, so this won’t be the easiest phone to get your hands on. The Nokia 6.1 Plus goes on sale every Thursday at 12 p.m.

Specs

5.99-inch IPS LCD display with 2160 x 1080 resolution
1.8GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor
Adreno 509 GPU
4GB of RAM
64GB of built-in storage, further expandable via microSD up to 256GB
12 and 5MP rear cameras, 20MP front-facing camera with LED flash
Dual SIM (dual standby)
3,060mAh battery
Android 8.1 Oreo
158.6 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm, 181 grams

Nokia 6.1 Plus review

Buy on Flipkart

Even more options!

We’re just scratching the surface! Whether you’re looking specifically for Indian phone brands, phones under 10,000 rupees, under 30,000 rupees, or anything in between, we have a guide for you.

from Android Authority https://ift.tt/2EcUKlW

Search This Blog

Mr Engineer 360