Best smartphones under Rs. 20,000 (August 2013)

The mid-range segment (between Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 20,000) is full of smartphones trying to offer the best of the budget and premium world to the consumers. That can only mean good things for those that are interested in picking up a smartphone priced under Rs. 20,000. Mid-range smartphones ideally should offer very good performance but inside a chassis that’s clearly better looking and well built than those offered by their budget compatriots.

If you have some extra cash to spend on your next smartphone, these are the five models we think you should consider picking up.

1. iberry Auxus Nuclea N1

Price: Rs. 15,990

This is one of the first smartphones launched that runs on the MediaTek MT6589T chipset, which is to say that it offers a better performance when compared to last year’s hotshot, the MediaTek MT6589. The smartphone has the standard run-of-the-mill looks but comes with a bunch of colourful rear panels so that you can customize the smartphone to match your attire. One of the great things about the device is that it showcases a 1080p display. The camera of the smartphone is good for well-lit conditions, but gets noisy when the lighting isn’t adequate. The battery life of the smartphone too is good as a 2800mAh battery powers it.

In terms of other specifications, the iberry Auxus Nuclea N1 has 4GB built-in storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card. The quad-core processor is clocked at 1.5GHz and the smartphone has 1GB of RAM. The rear camera is 13MP and the front has an 8MP shooter.

2. WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z

Price: Rs. 15,990

The WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z also houses the MediaTek MT6589T chipset clocked at 1.5GHz. The device has the ability to last through the day, thans to the 2500mAh battery that powers it. With the battery inserted, the device is very light and comfortable to hold. The smartphone shows off dual-SIM capabilities of which one SIM card slot can house a microSIM and the other, a regular sized SIM card. One look at the smartphone and you could be forgiven for thinking that it is a premium device.

The WickedLeak Wammy Passion Z has a 5-inch IPS display with Dragon Trail Glass with a 1920×1080 pixel resolution. It has 1GB RAM, 4GB built-in storage expandable up to 64GB via a microSD card. The rear has a 13MP camera and the front has a 2MP camera. A 2500mAh battery powers the smartphone.

3. Nokia Lumia 720

Price: Rs. 16,990

If Android isn’t your preferred weapon of choice or you are one who doesn’t mind giving a new OS an opportunity, then you may want to take a look at the Windows Phone 8-powered Nokia Lumia 720. The Nokia Lumia 720 could just be the perfect Windows Phone handset considering the features on offer and the price point. The smartphone is one of the best built in its price bracket and the interface is smooth as butter. Even though the specs aren’t the best on paper, it is enough to run the OS and apps and showcase a smooth functionality. Its polycarbonate unibody design also helps it stand head and shoulders above the milieu of phones defined by rote design.

The Nokia Lumia 720 has a 4.3-inch IPS display and a 6.7MP rear-facing camera, along with a 1.3MP front-facing camera. It is powered by a dual-core Qualcomm processor clocked at 1GHz and 512MB of RAM. The Lumia 720 runs on Windows Phone 8 OS and houses a 2000mAh battery.  

4. Spice Pinnacle FHD MI-525

Price: Rs. 16,990

One more smartphone boasting of the MT6589T processor is the Spice Pinnacle FHD MI-525. The 5-inch display of the smartphone has a 1920×1080 pixel resolution and boasts of some good viewing angles. Spice throws a slew of security apps with its smartphones and if you are one who likes to keep their data secure, this is the phone for you. The FHD has a candy bar form factor and is comfortable to hold.

The Spice Pinnacle FHD MI-525 boasts of dual-SIM capabilities and run on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has an 8MP rear shooter and the front has a 2MP video-calling camera. It has 1GB RAM, 8GB built-in storage expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card. A 2100mAh battery powers the entire package.

5. Sony Xperia L

Price: Rs. 17,199

Amidst the hoard of quad-processors and large-screen smartphones, there are smartphones that don’t boast of the best specs but are still really good value for money devices. One such smartphone is the Sony Xperia L. The specifications aren’t at par with the quad-core dominators of this list, but the Xperia L still deserves your attention. The Xperia L’s hardware is good enough to run the apps from the Play store and is a smooth multitasking device. The smartphone has the traditional Sony curved design and great looking interface. The phone is also solidly built and has curves that will definitely turn heads. If aesthetics and design are high on your priority list, the Xperia L is worth considering.

A dual-core 1GHz Qualcomm processor powers the Xperia L. it also houses the Adreno 305 GPU, 1GB of RAM and a modest 1700mAh battery. It sports a 4.3-inch display with a 480×854 pixels resolution. The rear of the smartphone has an 8MP camera and the front has a 0.3MP video-calling camera. It supports 8GB built-in storage expandable up to 32GB via a microSD card.

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Sameer Mitha

Sameer Mitha lives for gaming and technology is his muse. When he isn’t busy playing with gadgets or video games he delves into the world of fantasy novels. View Full Profile