In today's fast-paced digital age, smartphones have become an essential part of our daily lives, serving as our primary means of communication, entertainment, and productivity.
With the rapid advancement of technology, the market is flooded with a plethora of options, making it challenging to choose the perfect smartphone that balances performance, features, and affordability.
For those looking to get the best value without breaking the bank, the sub-20K category offers some of the most compelling devices.
In this article, we will explore the best smartphones under 20,000 INR, highlighting their key specifications, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Price in India: INR 18,999
Brand: Xiaomi
Launch Date: 11th Jan 2024
Operating System: Android v13
Key Specifications: Storage 256 GB, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, Gorilla Glass, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Good performance, Improved Display, Fast charging support
Cons: Average camera, Protruding camera sensors
Description: The POCO X6 5G is a mid-range smartphone that offers impressive specifications for its price. It has a 6.67-inch display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz, is powered by the Snapdragon 695 5G, up to 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
On the phone, there is a quad-camera with a 64 MP main camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide and a 2 MP macro lens. A 5,100mAh cell fuels the device with 67W fast charging.
Price in India: INR 19,999
Brand: Realme
Launch Date: 19th Mar 2024
Operating System: Android v14
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Good performance, Improved battery life, Vibrant display, Better camera Setup
Cons: Slippery design, Average air gesture
Description: Realme Narzo 70 aPro is a mid-range handset with FHD+ display. It come with 6.67-inch screen and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. It has Dimensity 7050 from MediaTek, followed by an X8 LTE modem working side-by-side with as many as two SIM-cards on boards.
There is a 50MP main camera, an ultrawide and a macro lens on the back of this phone. The phone is equipped with a 5,000mAh battery and has support for 67W fast charging.
Price in India: INR 19,485
Brand: Realme
Launch Date: 6th Mar 2024
Operating System: Android v14
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB + 2 TB Expandable, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Good design, Enhanced display, Smooth performance, Long-lasting battery
Cons: Average cameras, Pre-installed apps
Description: The realme 12 Plus comes with a 6.72-inch (1080 x 2412 pixels) Full HD+ LCD screen, Dimensity 7050 processor with support for Dual VoNR and allows up to two SIMs.
The cameras are represented by a 50MP main sensor, alongside an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2 MP macro lens. The device runs on a 5000mAh battery with support for 67W fast charging.
Price in India: INR 15,480
Brand: Motorola
Launch Date: 13th Sept 2023
Operating System: Android v13
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB + 1 TB Expandable, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, 5G Support, Dual VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, IP52
Pros: Fine performance, Stereo speakers, Improved battery life, Good cameras
Cons: Average charging capacity, No major software updates
Description: OnePlus Nord 3 5G comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 processor, a refresh rate of the screen size and Asahi DragonTrail glass protection. The camera system is constitued of triple-camera with a 50MP primary sensor, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide and finally the usual macro lens (2 megapixels).
Powering it all is a 5,000mAh battery with support for OPPO's own 80W SuperVOOC fast-charging.
Price in India: INR 19,998
Brand: iQOO
Launch Date: 13th Mar 2024
Operating System: Android v14
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB + 1 TB Expandable, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, Dual VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Good performance, Attractive display, Good battery life, Fast charging
Cons: No major android updates, Lacks ultra-wide camera, Lots of pre-installed apps
Description: The iQOO Z9 is a mid-range device with a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, up to 8 GB RAM and defaulted storage of just under half the capacity at the claimed price point.
The device has a double camera with the main sensor of 50MP and in conjunction with it, there is also slit-mode equipped bokeh lens of 2 MP. The device is fuelled up by a 5,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging functionality.
Price in India: INR 16,999
Brand: Xiaomi
Launch Date: 10th Jan 2024
Operating System: Android v13
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB + 1 TB Expandable, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Support, VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, Gorilla Glass 5, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Crisp display, Reliable performance, Good design, Solid battery
Cons: Average photography and No stereo speakers
Description: The Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 comes with a 6.67-inch AMOLED display which offers a full-HD+ resolution and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5 while featuring content at up to 120 Hz refresh rate alongside 1000 nits of brightness.
The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 processor coupled with up to 12 GB of RAM and has internal storage of up to 128 GB. It has a 108MP main camera, an 8PM ultra-wide lens, and a low-res 2MP macro.
It comes with a massive 5,000mAh battery, which supports up to 33W fast charging.
Price in India: INR 19,282
Brand: Realme
Launch Date: 22nd Apr 2024
Operating System: Android v14
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP65
Pros: Good screen, Stereo speakers, Good performance, Decent battery life
Cons: Average Photography
Description: The Realme P1 Pro 5G boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of FHD+, and it refreshes at up to a rate of 120 Hz while also supporting adaptive refresh rate, has Snapdragon Gen 1, 8GB RAM/128GB storage.
It consist of dual-camera system with 50MP main sensor, and the second one is a 2-megapixels camera. For endurance, the phone has a 5,000mAh battery and it supports 45W SuperVOOC flash charging.
Price in India: INR 15,990
Brand: Realme
Launch Date: 15th Apr 2024
Operating System: Android v14
Key Specifications: Storage 128 GB + 1 TB Expandable, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, Dual VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Excellent performance, Good cameras, Vibrat display, Stereo speakers, Respectable battery life
Cons: Average photography, Ads and pre-loaded apps
Description: The Realme P1 packs a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display and a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 with up to 8GB and up to 128GB internal storage on board. The device comes with a camera on the rear side that features dual-camera system with a 50 MP main lens and 2 MP secondary camera.
The battery of the phone is 5000mAh with fast charging support of 45W SuperVOOC.
Price in India: INR 18,998
Brand: OnePlus
Launch Date: 4th Aug 2023
Operating System: Android v13
Key Specifications: Wi-Fi Calling, Storage 128 GB + 1 TB Expandable, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Supported, VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support
Pros: Good screen, Acceptable performance, Day-long battery life, Decent cameras
Cons: Average photography, Plastic build, No alert slider
Description: The OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G is one of the best smartphones under 20K. Its a mid-range handset that features a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 782G chipset, up to 12GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
It has a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro lens. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging support.
Price in India: INR 19,998
Brand: OnePlus
Launch Date: 15th Jul 2023
Operating System: Android v13
Key Specifications: Wi-Fi Calling, Storage 128 GB, Dual SIM: Nano + Nano, 5G Support, VoLTE, Fingerprint sensor, USB OTG Support, Splashproof, IP54
Pros: Stellar display, Good cameras, Smooth performance, Good battery life, Improved Charging speed
Cons: No microSD card slot, Conservative design
Description: The OnePlus Nord 3 5G is also considered one of the best smartphones under 20K. It features a 6.74-inch 120Hz Fluid AMOLED display with Asahi DragonTrail glass protection, a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chipset, up to 16GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage.
It has a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide, and 2MP macro lens. The phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC fast charging support.
Choosing among the best smartphones under 20K can be a daunting task given the numerous excellent options available. Whether you prioritize a stellar display, robust performance, long battery life, or advanced camera capabilities, there is a device in this price range that will meet your needs.
From Xiaomi’s feature-packed POCO X6 5G to the stylish and powerful OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G, each of these smartphones offers a unique set of strengths tailored to different user preferences.
By considering the detailed comparisons and insights provided, you can confidently select among the best smartphones under 20K that deliver the best blend of functionality and value, ensuring you get the most out of your investment.