Best cheap phones 2019: our top budget mobiles in India
Good features are now within your budget
Let's begin▶
Redmi Note 7 Pro
Redmi Note 7 Pro
OS: Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10 | Processor: Snapdragon 675 octa-core SoC with 4GB/6GB RAM | Display: 6.3-inch FHD+ LTPS in-cell display with dot notch | Rear Camera: 48MP + 5MP | Front camera: 13MP | Battery: 4000mAh
➕ Revamped, larger display
➕ Has QuickCharge 4.0 support
➕ Powerful 48MP main camera
➖ Screen size may not work for everyone
➖ Colour reproduction tends towards the cooler side
The Note 7 Pro is one of Redmi's first two launches as Xiaomi's official sub-brand in India (the other being the Note 7). It brings the 48MP camera to the budget smartphone market, and while the design isn't new, it's certainly a revamp for the brand.
Under the hood is the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 octa-core chipset, and an Adreno 612 GPU. There are two storage variants- the 4GB/64GB variant is priced at Rs 13,999, while the 6GB/128GB version is priced at Rs 16,999. It will go on sale on March 13 at Mi Home stores, mi.com, Flipkart and Mi Partner stores.
The Redmi Note 7 is the younger fraternal twin of the Note 7 Pro, and it looks like it too. It boasts of the cheapest 48MP camera in the Indian market- it starts at Rs 9,999 for the base 3GB/32GB storage variant. Like its better-looking brother, it will go on sale on March 13 at Mi Home stores, mi.com, Flipkart and Mi Partner stores.
Samsung Galaxy M30
More M for your money
Processor: Exynos 7904 octa-core SoC | OS: Samsung Experience 9.5 UI based on Android 8.1.0 | Display: 6.4-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED (2280 x 1080 pixels) with U-notch | Aspect ratio: 19.5:9 | RAM: 4GB/6GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB | Rear camera: 13MP + 5MP + 5MP Ultra-wide | Front Camera: 16MP | Battery: 5000mAh
➕ Great display
➕ Massive battery
➕ Supports fast-charging
➖ Runs Android 8.1 Oreo
➖ Slightly wide chin
The Galaxy M30 follows the same design language as its younger siblings, the M20 and M10. It has a polycarbonate rear panel with a glossy finish and a triple rear camera setup on the top right corner- the M10 and M20 only have a dual rear camera. The Super AMOLED FHD+ display (2280x1080 pixels) is a definite upgrade on the other two as well.
Samsung Galaxy M30 is powered by Exynos 7904 chipset, the same one as the M20. You can get either 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage or 6GB RAM with 128GB storage. The phone starts at Rs 14,990 for the 4GB/64GB base variant
OS: Android 8.1 Oreo with Samsung Experience 9.5 UX | Display: 6.3-inch FHD+ (2340 x 1080p) PLS TFT | Processor: Exynos 7904 octa-core SoC, 3GB/4GB RAM | Rear camera: 13MP + 5MP | Front camera: 8MP | Storage: 32GB/64GB, expandable via microSD card up to 512 GB
➕Seamless UI/UX performance
➕Attractive display
➕Great battery life
➖Doesn't run on the latest version of Android
➖Average camera performance
➖No 5GHz Wi-Fi support
The newly-launched Samsung Galaxy M20 invokes a single watchword- 'balanced'. While it lacks the flair and performance specs of the pricier Samsung devices, it's a neat, attractive-looking piece in its own right. Priced at Rs 10,990 onwards, the Galaxy M20 brings an immersive display, impressive selfie camera, and smooth UI/UX performance to the budget smartphone sector.
The baby of the Galaxy M-series, the Samsung Galaxy M10 is a good option if you want to use your phone for movies and videos. The Infinity-V display is vibrant, and colours pop beautifully. The daylight camera is impressive as well, though wide-angle shots are significantly better than the regular. The selfie camera is pretty good too.
The low-light camera is a major let-down, and the phone runs Android Oreo out of the box, which is pretty sad, considering it launched in January this year. The battery life is good for a sub-10k phone, and easily lasts all day with moderate usage. The base 2GB/16GB variant retails for Rs 7990, while the 3GB/32GB variant costs Rs 8990.
Xiaomi has added the new Redmi 6 Pro smartphone to its sub 10K lineup this time. It's the first Pro smartphone in the segment, and it justifies the name with some promising specs on paper and reliable real-life performance. It gets the notch design, the first from the company to have the feature, a 4000mAh battery and last year's most reliable mid-range chipset Snapdragon 625 with 3GB/4GB of RAM and a full HD display. At Rs 8,999, it's a steal.
Realme 3
Display: 6.22-inch HD+ (1520 x 720 pixels) panel with waterdrop notch | Processor: MediaTek Helio P70 SoC | OS: Android 9 Pie with ColorOS 6.0 | RAM: 3GB/4GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Rear camera: 13MP + 2MP | Front camera: 13MP | Battery: 4230mAh
➕Good battery life
➕Good camera performance
➕Value for money
➖Bloatware
➖Disappointing display
➖ColorOS has niggles
The successor to the Oppo Realme 2, the Realme 3 is a good value-for-money proposition. It comes in two storage variants- 3GB/32GB, and 4GB/64GB- and in two colour options, Radiant Blue and Dynamic Black.
The price starts at Rs 8,999 for the base variant, and Rs 10,990 for the higher storage variant. The performance of the ColorOS 6.0 and the cameras could have been better- the OS especially has a few kinks in the performance that need to be ironed out. But for the asking price, it's a good option if you don't mind a few hits and misses.
Samsung Galaxy A30
The middle child
Display: 6.4-inch FHD+ Infinity-U AMOLED panel with teardrop notch | Processor: Exynos 7904 octa-core SoC | OS: Android 9 Pie with Samsung One UI | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Rear camera: 16MP + 5MP | Front camera: 16MP | Battery: 4000mAh
➕Vibrant AMOLED display
➕Smooth UI/UX performance
➕Great battery life
➖Low onboard storage
➖Dodgy camera effects
In the shadow of the Galaxy S10, Galaxy Fold, and the Galaxy Buds, Samsung also launched the Galaxy A30 phone. It's the middle child, but nevertheless, quite a good phone in its own right.
Performance is smooth- the A30 runs Android 9 Pie out of the box, with the Samsung One UI. The camera effects can be a bit unreliable, and you're clearly getting the camera that you paid for. The 4000mAh battery can easily last a day, and the phone supports 15W fast charging.
It comes with only 4GB/64GB of storage, but there is a microSD card slot if you want more. It retails for Rs 16,990 on Amazon.
Honor 10 Lite
Processor: Kirin 710 SoC with 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM | OS: Android 9 Pie + EMUI 9 | Display: 6.21-inch FHD+ LCD panel with waterdrop notch | Storage: 64GB | Rear camera: 13MP + 2MP | Front camera: 24MP | Battery: 3400mAh
➕Striking design, look and feel
➕Good, though stylised camera
➕Excellent display
➖Clunky EMUI
➖Single speaker
The Honor 10 Lite has an excellent display, and is a premium-looking smartphone in the budget category. The camera's also pretty decent, though some images might feel overly processed. The micro USB port also feels a bit dated. But it's a well-performing device, well worth the price.
The Redmi Note 6 Pro, another phone that's worth a gander, was released last year as a successor to the very popular Note 5 Pro. It has dual rear and front cameras, a rarity in the budget segment; both cameras produce detailed, above-average pictures. The 4000mAh battery easily lasts a day, and the phone also supports fast charging. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, but should soon get the Pie update.
0 Comments