Our pick: 5 quad-core smartphones under Rs 20,000

A quad-core processor and a large 5-inch display seem to be becoming standard features in most of the upcoming phones. This leaves us with a slew of options from budget to high-end phones that come equipped with a quad-core processor. But if you neither have the kind of money to buy a high-end device nor want to settle down for a cheaper one, then the mid-range phone section is where you should look. Here’s our pick of the five quad-core smartphones that are priced under Rs 20,000.

Panasonic P51 - Rs 19,499
For the price, the Panasonic P51 is a good pick for those looking for a mid-range quad-core smartphone. The interface is very smooth, owing to its 1GB of RAM and the speedy MediaTek MT6589 SoC. This chipset packs in four CPU cores running at 1.2GHz each. The smartphone comes with good IPS screen (294 PPI and scratch resistant) and battery. Some niggles would be its low onboard storage, awkwardly placed buttons and no place to keep the stylus. Read our review of the Panasonic P51.

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P51 sports an excellent display

Here’re the specs of the Panasonic P51 at a glance:

• 5-inch IPS HD display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels
• GSM Quad band (850/ 900/1800/1900 MHz), UMTS (900/2100 MHz)
• Dual-SIM, HSPA+, Wi-Fi802.11b/g/n
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0,
• 8MP camera (Auto Focus with Flash), 1.3MP 720p sub camera
• 4GB internal storage + memory expandable up to 32GB

Sony Xperia C – Rs 20,000
Those looking for mid-range quad-core smartphone from a known brand can pick the Sony Xperia C. This quad-core smartphone is powered by a 1.2GHz MTK6589 processor, with 1GB of RAM.  It is one of the latest mid-range quad-core smartphones to enter the Indian market. The Xperia C follows the “phablet” trend and sports a large 5-inch display. 

Latest mid-range smartphone from Sony…

Take a quick look at the specs of the Xperia C:

• 5-inch TFT capacitive qHD display
• 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 8 megapixel camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera
• 4GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card slot

Xolo Q700i – Rs 11,999
This successor to the Xolo Q700 makes a great option for those looking for a quad-core smartphone closer to the Rs 10,000 price tag. Recently listed online for a price of Rs 11,999, the Q700i is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core MTK 6589W-M Cortex A-7 processor coupled with 1GB RAM. Though we haven’t tested the phone yet, with its specs on paper, the smartphone comes across as a decent option for budget users.

Q700i is priced at Rs 11,999

Here’s a quick look at some of the key specifications of the Xolo Q700i:

• 4.5-inch IPS display with 540 x 960 pixels of resolution
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS
• Bluetooth v3.0
• 8 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front-facing camera
• 4GB on-board storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD card

Gionee Elife E3 – Rs 15,000
We just couldn’t leave the Elife E3 off the list. This dual-SIM handset is powered by a quad-core Cortex A7 processor clocked at 1.2GHz and 1GB of RAM. The graphics processor used here is the PowerVR SGX544. It is a good looking smartphone that could easily attract the teenage crowd. It has a slim profile and rugged shell, along with a vibrant display and fluid user interface. If you can overlook its slightly poor battery life, then the Elife E3 is worth buying. Read our complete review of the Gionee Elife E3. 

Dual SIM handset powered by a quad-core processor

Take a quick look at Elife E3’s specifications:

• 4.7-inch capacitive IPS screen with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels
• Dual-SIM (GSM + GSM), 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 8MP autofocus, BSI rear camera and 2MP front-facing camera
• 16GB internal memory, expandable by up to 32GB via microSD slot

Lenovo P780 – Rs 19,100
Though we haven’t tested the Lenovo P780, the smartphone comes with a decent set of features for Rs 19,100. Under the hood, the P780 is powered by a quad-core MTK 6589 Cortex A-7 clocked at 1.2GHz. It also equips a powerful 4000 mAh battery that offers a rated battery life of 43 hours on 2G and 25 hours on 3G. Overall, the device appears to be a good buy for those looking for a mid-range dual SIM quad-core smartphone.

Lenovo P780 is equipped with 4000 mAh battery and quad-core processor

Here’s a quick look at some of its specs:

• 5-inch IPS display with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution
• Dual SIM, 3G, Wi-Fi
• GPS with A-GPS
• Bluetooth v3.0
• 8 megapixel rear camera, 0.3 megapixel front-facing camera
• 4GB onboard storage, expandable up to 32GB

Which one of these quad-core smartphones would you pick? Let us know in the comments!