Finding the very best smartphone in the current crowded market is difficult at best. While the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S8, iPhone 7, LG G6 and HTC U11 steal show around the world, there's a lot of intriguing options available on in the world of budget phones.
Sadly smartphone innovation isn't cheap and most of it is reserved for high-end contract handsets. Still the technology that was once impossible to imagine on budget phones is now available at cheapest possible prices. Thanks to the competitive market, who have changed the fate of affordable smartphones in India.
Here's a selection of our favourite cheap phones that cost under Rs 15,000.
Coolpad Cool Play 6
The Cool Play 6 comes with a premium metal design, the latest version of Android, a dual camera setup at the rear and fairly powerful hardware for the price
Weight: 175g | OS: Android 7.1.1 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 MSM8976 Pro, Cortex A53 Processor | RAM: 6GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 4,060mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 13MP
Coolpad Cool Play 6
The new Coolpad smartphone has a 5.5-inch full-HD (1080x1920 pixels) display and runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat-based custom Journey UI. The phone will get Android 8.0 update by December 2017, the company says. Under the hood is the 1.4GHz octa-core Snapdragon 653 processor (four 1.95GHz cores + four 1.44GHz cores), backed by 6GB of RAM. Coolpad Cool Play 6 has 64GB inbuilt storage, with provision for storage expansion via microSD cards; the dual-SIM (Nano+Nano) phone features hybrid setup.
The Coolpad Cool Play 6's camera features two 13-megapixel sensors on the back, with f/2.0 aperture, dual-tone, dual-LED flash and support for HDR and 4K videos. The front camera has an 8-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture. Connectivity features of the Coolplay 6 include 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and USB Type-C. The phone has a 4000mAh battery, and Coolpad claims it has through software optimisations ensured the device delivers performance of a 4500mah battery.
Lenovo K8 Note
The things that really make the K8 Note stand out are its display, stock Android, superb performance, a dual-camera setup.
Weight: 180g | Dimensions: 75.9 x 154.5 x 8.5 mm | OS: Android 7.1.1 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: MediaTek Helio X23 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 4000mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 5MP
Lenovo K8 Note
Lenovo K8 Note smartphone was launched in August 2017. The phone comes with a 5.50-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 1920 pixels at a PPI of 441 pixels per inch.
The Lenovo K8 Note is powered by 1.4GHz MediaTek Helio X23 processor and it comes with 3GB of RAM. The phone packs 32GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Lenovo K8 Note packs a 13-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Lenovo K8 Note runs Android 7.1.1 and is powered by a 4000mAh non removable battery. It measures 154.50 x 75.90 x 8.50 (height x width x thickness) and weigh 180.00 grams.
The Lenovo K8 Note is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts Nano-SIM and Nano-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Compass Magnetometer, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor and Gyroscope.
Moto G5 Plus
Refreshed from top to bottom, the Moto G5 Plus has redefined itself and it didn't even have to. The premium build, competent specs and low price will suit deal-seekers and phone enthusiasts alike.
Weight: 155g | Dimensions: 150.2 x 74 x 7.7mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 625 | RAM: 3/4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 5MP
Moto G5 Plus
The Moto G-series has finally made a comeback and the G5 Plus is now one of the best budget smartphones available today. The performance might not be the best, but it definitely is the best camera phone in a budget. The phone has an improved design than last year and in our testing we found the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 quite dependable. You also get Android Nougat 7.0 out of the box and we can expect it to get the next Android update as well. The battery life is also quite good, but its USP is still its camera. Specs: Display: 5.2-inch, 1080p SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 RAM: 3/4GB Storage: 16/32GB Camera: 12MP, 5MP Battery: 3000mAh.
If you’re not willing to take a chance on an unfamiliar brand, then the Moto G line remains the best value Android smartphone in town.
Who's this for?
Anyone on a budget who still wants a decent level of performance and a handset that they won’t be embarrassed to pull out of their pocket.
The latest version of Android, along with a solid build, camera and fingerprint sensor make this great value for your £170 (around $200, AU$275), though we think it’s worth stretching to £180 (roughly $220, AU$290) for the extra 1GB of RAM.
Should you buy it?
There isn’t a better Android smartphone in the sub-£200 price range, so if that’s your budget, then yes, you should buy the Moto G5.
If you want to play demanding games, or you’d like NFC for mobile payments, then you’re likely going to have to spend a fair bit more.
Lenovo Z2 Plus
A great buy for those who want oodles of power in a small and compact chassis. The camera is rather disappointing though and the design is a bit uninspired.
Weight: 149g | Dimensions: 141.7 x 68.9 x 8.5mm | OS: Android 6 | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 1080x1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 820 | RAM: 3/4GB | Storage: 32GB/64GB | Battery: 3500mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 8MP
Lenovo Z2 Plus
The Z2 Plus has spent enough time in the market and till now there is no major issue found with the smartphone. It is the most affordable flagship and comes with the Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 CPU, 4GB/3GB of RAM. It comes packed in an all-glass body that looks good but is obviously a fingerprint magnet too. Despite of the handy form factor, the smartphone looks slightly thick which is not an issue with me personally.
It comes with 24/7 activity tracking via dedicated sensor processing unit and a body. A great buy for those who want oodles of power in a small and compact chassis. Though, the camera is not one of the finest but battery life is impressive.
Overall, Lenovo has surprised me with the Z2 Plus, especially with its focus on one-handed use in a day and age where companies are moving more and more towards phablets.
Honor 6X
Honor has cemented itself as one of the world's best budget phone makers with the Honor 6X, but a few little problems still hold it back from the perfect five-star review.
Weight: 162g | Dimensions: 150.9 x 76.2 x 8.2 mm | OS: Android 6 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Kirin 655 | RAM: 3/4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 3340mAh | Rear camera: 12+2MP | Front camera: 8MP
Honor 6X
Honor’s latest smartphone feels and looks like any other budget smartphone, but unlike many smartphones out there, it features a new SoC, developed by Huawei itself. It also has 3GB of RAM, along with 32GB of storage. While it does not have the best in class performance, it does have one of the best cameras we have seen on a budget smartphone in recent times. The 12MP + 2MP dual camera setup takes good images in general and can also take nice ‘Bokeh’ images. Specs: Display: 5.5-inch, 1080p SoC: HiSilicon Kirin 655 RAM: 3GB Storage: 32GB Battery: 3340mAh OS: Android 6.0
Why should I buy the Honor 6X?
If you’re after a phone but don’t have enough money to pick up a flagship, this is a great alternative. In a budget market flooded with options, the Honor 6X sticks its head above the water with a premium look and good spec in almost every area.
The chipset will be able to run most of your favorite games and the battery life is solid enough to get you through a hectic day.
With a good camera on both the rear and front, it’s hard to go wrong with the Honor 6X.
Why shouldn’t I buy the Honor 6X?
This isn’t for everyone – especially if you’re looking for a flagship-feeling phone. If you’re used to a high-end design and the best spec out there you will inevitably be disappointed if you buy the Honor 6X.
The Honor 6X is also a touch more expensive than a lot of other phones packing a similar spec, so be sure to see what else is out there and make sure you want to spend that extra $60 or £50 on the Honor 6X before you buy one.
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