Best Budget Mobile Phone January 2023 – India

Mobile Phones are one of the most important parts of every human living in our age. It is as if we can’t spend a day without it. Every year hundreds of phones are released in our markets. So choosing your companion wisely might be a tedious and confusing task for most of us. If you are already tired of comparing the specs and prices of various mobile phones, don’t worry you are at the right place and we will help you to choose the best one for your need under your price range. If you are ready then let us dive in.

SmartPhone Buying guide

Before buying a smartphone there are many factors that one should go through like display, battery backup, processor, OS, and camera, let’s see what all makes a phone great, with a detailed explanation of each important factor that will help you choose your next phone.

Processor

The processor is one of the most important parts of a smartphone as it is the factor that decides the extent of heavy tasks your phone could do in a given time. The perks of having a powerful processor are the ease with which you could play heavy games, do multitask, and open powerful software. Thus good processor makes the phone faster, more powerful, and of course more efficient. If you want to know more about processors please check out Processor explained.

Display

This is an important specification that matters when you buy a mobile phone. The display is one of the vital parts of the phone which decides the look & feel and also decides the visual experience the user will get. Mainly the displays are of 2 types. LCD, and AMOLED. If you want to know more about displays please check out Displays Explained.

LCD

It is the oldest among the three and stands for Liquid Crystal Display. It is the most popular and is seen in most of the low-end budget phones and is most commonly used. It can be further divided into TFT LCD and IPS LCD.

AMOLED

As of now, it is the best display which is present in our industries. It stands for Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode. If simplified it is the combination of TFT with a capacitor. It is better than all of its predecessors and is used in high-end phones. By using an AMOLED display the user experience goes to the next level. It is costlier than PMOLED but is more power efficient and has no restriction in size.

Screen Size

It is the other factor that decides the user experience. It is the size of the display of our mobile phones. In the market various screen sizes are available we can choose according to our needs. some may like small phones, and like phones below 6 inches in size, while some may prefer large screens, which are suitable for gaming or binge-watching.

Camera

Nowadays camera is one of the most attractive features of a smartphone. While talking about the specification most of us will be thinking about the MegaPixels or MP of the camera. But it is not the only deciding factor in the quality of the camera. Sensor type, stabilization, Image Sensing Processor, Lens and lens quality, and even the processor of the mobile is a factors in a better photo.

Types of cameras

Main Sensor: The primary camera Sensor of the phone is what you will use the most, and therefore, it will be the best sensor in the phone. In almost all budget Laptops, every camera except the main camera will be a hot pile of Garbage.

Ultrawide Sensor: If you want a wider Shot than what your primary sensor can capture, the Ultawide camera provides a wider field of view.

Telephoto sensor: Zoom shots can be handy for many people, but the loss of clarity due to digital magnification is an issue. Telephoto lens provides a solution by providing fixed or variable optical zoom capability. Mostly seen in very high-end Smartphones.

Macro Sensor: If you want to take a photo of small and close objects like insects, Flowers, etc, a Macro camera can go as near as 2 c, providing a much better image quality. but the 2mp Macro Camera in budget phones is just to increase the number and is not usable at all.

Pixel Count

Even though more megapixels mean a better picture but more MP is not the only spec that you have to consider while choosing a Camera Phone. Let us take a 12MP camera. 1 Pixel is a small square area that combines and forms the picture you see. 12MP means 12 million pixels. A 12MP camera sensor produces 12 million pixels per inch. That means the higher the pixel count, the more minute details of the image are captured. It is vital if you are viewing a very enlarged view of the image. Else decent pixel count is enough for a good picture. The more the pixel count better the resolution.

Stabilization

If there is one thing that could take a camera to the next level, it will be OIS, short for optical image stabilization. It is a hardware function that shifts the camera to counteract the small vibrations and shaking of our hand, which could improve HDR, Night Time photos, Long exposure Shots, and Videos, by allowing the phone to open its shutter for more time, without blurring the image. If you are seriously into photography, you SHOULD go with a phone with OIS. Do note, every OIS is not the same.

Battery and charging type

It is another important factor of a mobile phone. The word “Mobile” means the ability to move. So the time you could move freely with your mobile phone is very important. The more the battery backup more you could use the mobile phone without breaking. Hence the battery capacity is important. It is better to choose a mobile phone with at least 4500mAh.

Charging speed is also an important factor. Nowadays even a basic mobile phone comes with 30W fast charging. (Except iPhones). So go for a device with fast charging than normal charging. As of now, there are fast-charging mobile phones that charge up to 160W.

Wireless charging is also seen around us where you can charge your mobile phone without the cable. But as of now, this is very slow.

RAM and Storage

RAM which stands for Random Access is a primary memory where data and code processors might need sooner stored. RAM is measured in units called GB (Giga Bytes). More the RAM, less the time is required by the processor to fetch the data, and thereby can complete the task faster. But the size of RAM can’t be increased as per need as it is costlier. Also, a normal user doesn’t need a huge amount of RAM. It is a widely spread misconception that the more RAM faster the device but actually you never use the extra RAM unless you are a heavy user. To know more about how much RAM you actually need click here.

On the other hand, the Storage can be chosen as per need. It is cheaper than RAM and hence is provided in bulk. We can choose 64GB or 128GB as per our needs.

Operating System (OS)

This is the face of your device. The smoothness and flow of our mobile phones depend upon the OS we have. It increases the look and feel of the device. Generally, OS is divided into 3 types Android, Stock Android, and iOS. What type of OS you use will affect how you interact with your phone in a fundamental way.

Android

It is the most popular Mobile Operating system and is seen in most phones. It is highly customizable, you can tweak the in and out of your android phone to suit your taste. It is Fast and powerful and provides an array of exclusive functionalities over the IOS. The downside of Android is that it is highly fragmented, and is available in a number of flavors from different OEMs, some of which may be good, while others are trash

iOS

IOS is a different approach to mobile phones, where the User is treated as a naive person, and therefore is provided with very few options and customization, and the OS is always as how Apple thinks the best version is. The advantages are a unified update cycle, long updates, and a good experience, regardless of which iPhone you get, where the phone you buy decides whether or not you like an android. Android VS IOS debates are Raging on for years, and there is much misinformation, some of which are checked in our series

Hope you got a good idea of the major specs of a mobile phone and hope you have figured out what specs you need. In case you need any assistance feel free to contact us through WhatsApp given under this post.

Under 10k

The subsets of good and worthy mobile phones under this range are pretty less but there are some good ones too if you are on a strict sub 10K budget. you won’t get any flashy performance or groundbreaking features. but if all you need is a good enough smartphone that can run WhatsApp and Facebook, and maybe even some youtube, then these will be our picks…

POCO C31

Specification

• 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM
• 6.5 inch HD + Display
• Helio G35
• 5000mAh Battery
• 13MP + 2MP + 2MP | 5MP Front Camera
• This is the cheapest one in this range. It has decent specs worth the price and has a massive 5000mAh battery. This mobile phone also has Finger Print sensor and AI face unlock. Usually, phones around this range will have a RAM size of 2 or 3 but the C31 comes with 4GB|64GB spec. So this is the best option if you don’t have any means to increase the budget by a couple of thousands more.

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Redmi 10

Specifications

• 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM
• 6.7-inch HD+ Display
•  Snapdragon 680
• 6000mAh Battery
• 50MP + 2MP | 5MP Front Camera
• 18W fast Charging
• This phone is worth the price, It comes with a decently powerful snapdragon 680 processor which is more than enough for smooth use. The other perk is the 18W fast charging which is rare under 10k. It also has a gigantic 6000mAh battery which is a huge attraction. The camera is good for this range but doesn’t expect a heavy image by seeing the “50MP” spec.

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MOTOROLA G32 

Specifications

• 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM
• 90 Hz 6.55-inch FHD+ Display
• Snapdragon 680
• 5000mAh Battery
• 50MP + 8MP + 2MP | 16MP Front Camera
• 33W Fast Charging
• This is the best package phone which has a 90Hz FHD+ display and 33W Fast Charging. The smoothness of the display is noticeable compared to other phones in this range. Also, 33W fast charging is Once in a blue moon in this range. The only con about this phone is its lack of proper updates. another perk is the near stock android, which contains minimal bloatware.

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Infinix Note 12 

Specifications

• 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM
• 60 Hz 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED Display
• MediaTek Helio G88
• 5000mAh Battery
• 50MP + 2MP Depth + AI Lens | 16MP Front Camera
• 33W Fast Charging
• This is the Jackpot package under this price range with an AMOLED display which guarantees the next level of visual experience. It also has a 1000nits peak brightness which lets you use your phone comfortably on a sunny day outside your home. It also offers a 33W Turbo fast charging which is scarce in this range. But as every coin has two sides the cons of this phone are the lack of proper updates and the not-so-good software.

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Under 20k

This is the most popular range in the Indian market. Nowadays even phones under 20k do a lot more than needed for normal users. this is also the budget we urge the under 10k users to go to. there is a massive difference between a 15k Poco x4 pro and a 10k Motorola… and Most phones come with a good package with a decent processor, a good display, and a huge battery. Let us check which are the best mobile phones in the range.

POCO X4 Pro 5G

Specifications

• 6GB ROM, 64ROM
• 6.67 inch 120Hz AMOLED Display
• Snapdragon 695 
• 5000mAh Battery
• 64MP, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, 16MP selfie camera
• 67W Fast charging
• This is the best phone under 20k with a powerful processor of this range and 67 W fast charging. Even though the Indian version comes with a 64MP camera the global version comes with a 108MP camera. It has a very good display with a peak brightness of 1200nits and 700nits of normal brightness. The phone comes with MIUI 13 software and has IP53 water resistance. This phone also has good sound quality with stereo speakers. Wholly this is the best phone for this price and under 20K.

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SAMSUNG Galaxy M33

Specifications

• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 16.76 inch120 Hz TFT LCD Display
• Exynos 1280
• 6000mAh Battery
• 50 MP, 5 MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro and 8MP selfie camera
• 25W Charging
• Samsung Galaxy M33 is a good package phone with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Internationally the phone comes with a 5000mAh battery but in India, it comes with a massive 6000mAh battery. It has 5G support. The major drawback of this phone is the lack of an AMOLED display and 33W fast charging. The pros of this phone are its software ie One UI which is very smooth to use and the availability of software updates for 4 years and security updates for 5 years. It is also an option for core Samsung lovers and for those who don’t want to buy Chinese phones.

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MOTOROLA g82 5G

Specifications

• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 16.76 inch120Hz pOLED Display
• Snapdragon 695
• 5000mAh Battery
• 50MP, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP camera and 16MP selfie camera
• 30W Fast Charging
• This phone from Motorola is also a worthy phone for this price. It comes with Snapdragon 695 processor which is the best in this range and with 30W fast charging. The most appealing feature is the OIS (Optical Image Stabilisation) present in this phone. the 10-bit P-OLED display will be a pleasure to watch movies and youtube on too. The main con of this phone is the lack of proper updates.

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Under 30K

Now let us move on to the best phones under 30k. For most of us spending a lot for the premium phone is not needed as phones around 30k will do most things premium phones do. we get powerful flagship-level processors, very good cameras, display, fast charging, premium finish, etc, that the phones themself are among the best value for money phones in the mobile phone world. so, this is the most exciting segment, which delivers 80% of the features and quality for the end user for less than half the price.

REDMI K50i 

Specifications

• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 6.6 inch 144Hz FFS LCD Display
• Dimensity 8100 
• 64MP, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro and 16MP selfie camera
• 5080mAh battery
• 67W fast charging
• This phone comes with a very powerful processor which is often seen in flagship phones, it is best recommended for gaming. The 144Hz display will provide exceptional smoothness for the LCD display. But the major drawback of the phone is the absence of an AMOLED display which is a ‘must’ feature in phones in this range. The phone comes with a typical brightness of 500 nits which is also less. The software is MIUI 13 and of course, it is a 5 G-supported phone. This is never recommended for users who need a phone for multimedia consumption, this is recommended for heavy users.

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POCO F4 

Specifications

• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 6.67 inch 120Hz AMOLED Display
• Snapdragon 870
• 64MP, 8MP ultrawide, and 20MP selfie camera
• 4500mAh battery
• 67W fast charging
• This is a budget-friendly phone which offers a whole package. Compared to the former phone it has a less powerful processor but the AMOLED display will compensate for it. The display comes with a peak brightness of 1300 nits and 900 nits HBM. The software is MIUI 13 and the phone has IP53 water resistance. The phone supports 5G. This is recommended for users who need a phone for multimedia consumption, and gaming. the only real downside for the phone under 26K is the MIUI software.

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Nothing Phone (1)

Specifications

• 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 6.55 inch 120Hz OLED Display
• Snapdragon 778G+
• 50MP, 50MP ultrawide, and 16MP selfie camera
• 4500mAh battery
• 33W fast charging
• Nothing Phone 1 is the first phone of the Nothing brand owned by former OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei. As the first phone, the Nothing phone 1 had a lot of bugs earlier but most of the major bugs are resolved later through updates. Even though the phone is a little bit costlier for the specs, the peculiarity of the new brand and new design is an attraction for the phone. the phone also sports clean and minimal software and an overall good combination of camera and software.

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Google Pixel 6a

Specifications

• 6GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 6.1 inch 60Hz AMOLED Display
• Google Tensor
• 12.2MP, 12MP ultrawide and 8MP selfie camera
• 4410 mAh battery
• 18W fast charging
• If you are a photographer on a budget, this is the phone that you should buy. the phone takes pictures way above its weight class, and in the recent online comparison by YouTuber Marques Brownlee, involving 16 phones, 4 scenarios, and over 16 million votes, it bagged the price, slightly outperforming the pixel 7 pros, and with a comfortable lead over s22 Ultra, and a large lead over iPhone 14 pro max. The display might be the main issue, being only 60hz.
• Do note, that doesn’t mean pixel 6A has a better camera than the s22 ultra or iPhone 14 pro max, as they have a more versatile camera, especially the s22Ultra with an extra 3,10x optical zoom lens and a much better front camera.

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iQOO 9 SE

Specifications

• 8GB RAM, 128GB ROM
• 6.62 inch 120Hz AMOLED Display
• Snapdragon 888
• 48MP, 13MP ultrawide, 2MP depth and 16MP selfie camera
• 4500mAh battery
• 66W fast charging
• This phone comes with one of the best processors at present ie Snapdragon 888. The phone has a peak brightness of 1200nits and has IP53 water resistance. The phone supports 5G. The camera has OIS and also takes very decent photos. The major drawback of the phone is its OS ie Funtouch 12. The phone comes with dual stereo speakers and has 4D game vibration. The phone is recommended for gamers.

Buy

Most budget and mid-range phones, especially Redmi and POCO have a lot of bloatware, and having a lot of bloatware might be an issue for most of us. But there is an easy way to remove all the bloatware, and use the excellent hardware. If you want to remove the bloatware in your phone we have already explained the detailed procedure, please check it out here.

Conclusion

These are the best phones in the respective segments… there may be other mobile phones that are worth buying, and as the prices vary great deals and sales, make sure that these are still the best mobile phones available. If you are not sure of that, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will suggest you the best mobile phone for your use and budget personally, taking into consideration all the deals and offers available at the time.