Poco X3, Realme X7 to Samsung Galaxy F41: Best phones under Rs 20,000 (Feb 2021)

Time to up the budget to Rs 20,000 and look at the best options available in the Rs 15,000- Rs 20,000 range. One expects a good amount of processing power, 64 MP cameras, AMOLED displays, high refresh rate screens, super-fast charging etc. in this budget. But for the first time, we also have a 5G-compliant phone in this price bracket. Without wasting any more time, let us check out our top 5 smartphone picks this month under Rs 20,000.

Best phones to buy under Rs 20,000 in India

Poco X3

[caption id=“attachment_8896101” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Poco X3. Image: Sheldon Pinto[/caption] The Poco X3 (Review) remains one of the best all-round phones in this budget in terms of features and performance. It has a 6.67-inch Full HD+ display with a 120 Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and flicker-free experience in compatible apps. This is the only phone with a high refresh rate screen in this list. The screen is protected against scratches by a layer of Gorilla Glass 5. The small, centrally-positioned punch-hole at the top hosts a 20MP camera for selfies and video calls. The phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G chip that is quite powerful for day-to-day tasks, and more than handy for gaming, too. You get 6 GB RAM with 128 GB of internal storage, and you can also get an 8 GB RAM variant for Rs 2,000 more, but we prefer the former. The Poco X3 has quad cameras at the back with a combination of 64 MP primary camera, 13 MP ultra-wide camera, 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor. The image quality is quite impressive for the segment. Battery capacity is a whopping 6,000 mAh that can comfortably last two days of moderate use. The company also bundles a 33 W fast charger to juice it up quickly. The phone runs Android 10 with MIUI 12 on top. Poco X3 price in India: Rs 17,999 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage; Rs 19,999 for 8 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Realme 7 Pro

[caption id=“attachment_8814041” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Realme 7 Pro. Image: Tech2/ Sheldon Pinto[/caption] Realme 7 Pro (Review) is another impressive phone in this segment. It looks stylish with a two-tone back and a rectangular 2 x 3 camera array. It has a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display that’s bright and vibrant and features a punch-hole for the front camera. It has a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3+ for protection against scratches, but the 90 Hz refresh rate feature has been given a skip. One major attraction here is the bundled 65W SuperDart charger that can take its 4,500 mAh battery from 0 to 100 percent in close to 35 minutes, making it one of the fastest around. The Realme 7 Pro is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 720G SoC, which is a good choice in this segment. You get 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal memory that can be expanded further using a MicroSD card. This phone, too, has four cameras at the back, starting with a 64 MP primary camera with the new Sony IMX682 sensor that does a good job in various lighting conditions, and has some interesting low light filters, too. You also get an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, a 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor. The 32 MP front camera does a good job with selfies and video calls. The phone runs Android 10 with Realme UI on top. Realme 7 Pro price in India: Rs 19,999 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Realme X7

[caption id=“attachment_9240701” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Realme X7[/caption] The just released Realme X7 is currently the most affordable 5G phone in India. It is powered by Mediatek’s new Dimensity 800U SoC. You get the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage variant in this budget. The design is as attractive as the 7 Pro’s, but with one improvement. This phone is just 8.1 mm thin; a happy trend reversal from the ever-bulkier handsets we get these days. Despite a slim profile, the X7 does not skimp on battery capacity. You get a respectable 4,310 mAh battery capable of 50 W fast charging. The company bundles a 65 W SuperDart charger with this phone too, and it claims to charge 50 percent of the battery in just 18 minutes and all of it in a little over 45 minutes. You get a triple camera setup at the back that consists of a 64 MP primary camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide snapper and a 2 MP macro camera. You also get a 16 MP selfie camera located in a tiny punch-hole on the screen. Speaking of which, the Realme X7, too, has a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Super AMOLED display that claims to get as high as 600 nits bright. You also get an in-display fingerprint scanner. A couple of things missing on the Realme X7 are expandable storage and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The phone runs Android 10 with Realme UI on top. It will go on the first sale on Flipkart tomorrow (12 February). Realme X7 price in India: Rs 19,999 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Motorola One Fusion+

The Motorola One Fusion+ is another solid option in this budget. This one, too, has a great feature set for this segment and equally good performance to boot. This phone is powered by a Snapdragon 730G chip and is accompanied by 6 GB RAM and 128 GB internal storage. It has a 6.5-inch Full HD+ all-screen display with HDR10 compliance. There is no notch or cut-out on the screen, and the 20MP front camera is hosted on a motorised pop-up mechanism. That certainly adds a premium feel to the phone, along with a cool quotient. [caption id=“attachment_8487771” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Motorola One Fusion+[/caption] Here, too, the rear camera department is helmed by a 64 MP primary camera, along with an 8 MP ultrawide shooter, 5 MP macro camera and 2 MP depth sensor. Battery backup is also robust with a 5,000 mAh battery keeping the phone powered comfortably for over a day and a half of moderate use. You also get an 18 W turbo charger in the bundle to charge it quickly. It runs Android 10, and like with most Motorola phones, you get a near-stock Android UI. Motorola One Fusion+ price in India: Rs 17,499 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage

Samsung Galaxy F41

The fairly new Samsung Galaxy F41 may not be as powerful as some of the phones listed above, but offers a good bunch of features, in addition to the brand value. The prominent features of this handset are its sharp 6.4-inch sAMOLED Full HD+ display with a drop notch and a mammoth 6,000 mAh battery that can last two full days of moderate use. It offers three cameras at the back with a 64 MP primary shooter, 8 MP ultrawide camera and a 5 MP depth sensor; not to forget the 32 MP front camera that will have selfie enthusiasts interested. [caption id=“attachment_8895761” align=“alignnone” width=“1280”] Samsung Galaxy F41[/caption] The Samsung Galaxy F41 is powered by an Exynos 9611 SoC, and you can purchase its 6 GB RAM and 128 GB (expandable) storage variant comfortably in this budget. The phone runs Android 10 with Samsung’s One UI on top. The F41 is a good option in this budget for brand-conscious buyers, and especially for those who prefer phones from non-Chinese brands. Samsung Galaxy F41 price in India: Rs 16,499 for 6 GB RAM/128 GB storage