Best Mobile Phones Under ₹20,000 in India (July 2023)

By Dhriti Datta | Updated on 08-May-2023
Best Mobile Phones Under ₹20,000 in India There used to be a time when power users needed to extend their budgets up to the ₹35,000-₹50,000 price point to buy a smartphone that could handle all their demanding needs. Be it gaming, 4K video shooting, multitasking, and more, reliable phones would cost a pretty penny. However, in 2023, this is no longer the case. Power users needn’t shelve out the big bucks to get a device that can handle all their needs while also providing good build quality, cameras, and battery life. The smartphone market is currently brimming with powerful devices, all under a budget. For as low as ₹20,000, you can find a capable smartphone that would meet up to the expectations of power users, and we’ve listed out some of the best for you. Some options we can suggest right off the bat include the iQOO Z7 5G for pure power and the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G for a more well-rounded experience.
What phone is the best overall under ₹20,000?

When it comes to raw performance dominance, none come close to the iQOO Z7 5G. Packing the MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC, the iQOO Z7 beats most of its competitors in the combined CPU and GPU benchmark scores. Other options that offer excellent performance at under ₹20K include the Samsung Galaxy M14, Realme 9 5G Speed Edition, Motorola Moto G73, and Vivo T2 5G.

Are smartphones under ₹20,000 good for daily use?

For ₹20,000, you can get some power-packed phones sporting 5-6 nm processors, a good 6-8 GB RAM, impressive cameras, and large-capacity batteries – all of which make these devices value-for-money daily drivers. Furthermore, manufacturers are also constantly striving to bring more premium designs to the masses – so curved displays, matte-finish rear panels, punch-hole displays, and in-display fingerprint sensors are all up for grabs under ₹20K.

Which phone under ₹20,000 has the best camera quality?

If you’re looking for a phone under ₹20K with good camera quality as well, you can consider the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G. You get really nice and detailed shots in daylight, with good HDR processing and dynamic range. Other options with good cameras include the Moto G73 and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G.

  • Screen Size
    6.38" (FHD) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    64 +2MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 8GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    4500 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other iQOO Mobile Phones
iQOO phones are all about keeping performance first, and the iQOO Z7 5G doesn’t deter from this course. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC, the iQOO Z7 offers better performance than most of its similarly-priced competitors in CPU and GPU benchmarks. The phone scored 479779 in AnTuTu, which is impressive at this price. This translates to smooth gameplay with no frame drops or stutters. We got a Gamebench score of 40 fps at 100 per cent stability when playing Call of Duty: Mobile. The battery life of the phone is also good and we were able to achieve around 5 hours of on-screen time on this device with heavy usage. The cameras are decent in daylight, but the quality takes a hit in low light. The selfie camera, on the other hand, is one of the best at this price. Overall, the phone is very easy to recommend under ₹20,000 and hence bags the top spot on this list.
pros Pros
  • Slim and light form factor
  • Nice crisp AMOLED display
  • Good selfie camera
  • Good performance and battery backup
cons Cons
  • FunTouch OS is confusing for new users
  • Bloatware
  • Design is basic
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Mediatek Dimensity 920 Octa core
Memory : 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.38″ (FHD) screen inches, 413 PPI, 90Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 64 MP Triple Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 4500 mAh battery and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 18,999
2.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G price in India
  • Screen Size
    6.6" (FHD) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    50 +2 + 2MP | 13 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 4GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    6000 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other Samsung Mobile Phones
The Samsung Galaxy M14 5G is one of the few phones under ₹20K to sport a 5 nm processor. Equipped with the Exynos 1330 SoC, the phone bagged the top scores in CPU benchmarks such as GeekBench 6 and PCMark Work. It scored 962 in the Single Core GeekBench test and 2112 in the Multi-Core test – some of the highest GeekBench scores we’ve recorded at this price point. This shows that the phone is adept at handling CPU-intensive tasks – which is pretty much every little thing you do – from clicking photos, to watching videos, to making calls. The GPU scores of the Galaxy M14 were impressive but it lagged behind the likes of the iQOO Z7 5G. Performance aside, the Samsung Galaxy M14 has impressive camera performance in most scenarios including low-light conditions. The selfie camera is also surprisingly good at clicking normal and portrait shots. The battery life is fantastic and runs for 2 days with ease without having to charge up, if you’re a light to medium user. Lastly, the display is one of the brightest in this segment – we recorded 945 nits of peak brightness using Auto Brightness mode.
pros Pros
  • 5 nm processor
  • Massive 6,000 mAh battery
  • 90 Hz display
cons Cons
  • Heavy at 200+ grams
  • Only 1080p at 30 fps recording
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Exynos 1330 Octa core
Memory : 4GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.6″ (FHD) screen inches, 400 PPI, 90Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 50 MP Triple Rear camera, 13 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 6000 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 14,490
3.

Realme 9 SE 5G

Realme 9 SE 5G price in India
  • Screen Size
    6.6" (QHD) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    48MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 6GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5000 mAh Battery
Full specs Other Realme Mobile Phones
  • User Ratings 5/5

    Based on 4 Reviews

The Realme 9 5G SE is equipped with the ultra-powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor. While we haven’t tested the performance of this device, we know that this processor is capable of an AnTuTu score of over 5,00,000. It also has a large 6.6-inch with a whopping 144 Hz refresh rate. This means scrolling between screens or in apps will be super smooth. The phone also supports Adaptive refresh rate which can help conserve battery life. This is a good touch since 144 Hz refresh rate at all times can really take a toll on overall battery life. We didn’t get to test the performance of this device, but we did test the battery life and in that department, the Realme 9 SE really shines. We recorded 14+ hours of on-screen time in our 4K video loop test. The phone also charges from 0-100 percent in merely 1 hour and 2 minutes.
pros Pros
  • Powerful SoC
  • 144 Hz refresh rate support
  • Good battery life
cons Cons
  • Bloatware
  • No ultrawide shooter
  • No stereo speakers
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Octa core (4x2.4, 4x1.8)
Memory : 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.6″ (QHD) screen inches, 401 PPI, 144Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 48 MP Triple Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5000 mAh battery and USB Type-C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 21,999
4.

Moto G73 5G

Moto G73 5G price in India
  • Screen Size
    6.5" (QHD) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    50 +8MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 8GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5000 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other Moto Mobile Phones
The Motorola Moto G73 is a solid successor to the Moto G62. It houses the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 930 SoC that beat the competition convincingly in many benchmarks at the time of testing. In AnTuTu, we got a solid score of 418512, where the Moto G73 beat out two of its biggest competitors – the Realme 10 Pro and Redmi Note 12 with ease. The CPU also barely throttles and maintains consistent performance. In the CPU Throttling Test, the phone throttled merely 8 per cent, which is fantastic – so heating and lag issues will be minimal. Add to this a lightweight build, stylish yet classy design, close-to-stock Android UI, and great camera performance, and you’ve got yourself an all-rounder. Almost… The Motorola G73 disappoints when it comes to the display since it is only an IPS LCD panel with pretty low brightness. We recorded a peak brightness of only 203 nits, which means screen legibility in harsh sunlight will not be great.
pros Pros
  • Impressive performance
  • Great battery life Decent shots from main lens in well-lit conditions
  • Premium design
  • Low bloatware
cons Cons
  • Mediocre low light photography
  • Rear panel attracts fingerprints and smudges
  • Underwhelming display brightness
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Mediatek Dimensity 930 Octa core
Memory : 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.5″ (QHD) screen inches, 405 PPI, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 50 MP Dual Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5000 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type-C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 18,999
  • Screen Size
    6.62" (FHD) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    64 +8 + 2MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 6GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    4700 mAh Battery
Full specs Other Vivo Mobile Phones
The Vivo T2 is a 5G-enabled smartphone that is powered by the reliable Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC. This is a very popular processor at this price which runs smoothly and generally doesn’t heat up too much. You can easily perform all day-to-day tasks on this processor while also indulging in some gaming. The SoC generally gets a good AnTuTu score of around 4,00,000, so performance will not be an issue here. The T2 also adds a 64 MP primary lens with OIS support. Optical Image Stabilisation is a great feature to have at this price since it eliminates shake in photos and provides clearer pictures. You’ve also got an AMOLED display on this phone – again this is not so common at this price point.
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G Octa core
Memory : 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.62″ (FHD) screen inches, 398 PPI, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 64 MP Triple Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 4700 mAh battery and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 18,999
  • Screen Size
    6.72" (FHD+) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    108 +2 + 2MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 8GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5000 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other OnePlus Mobile Phones
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is a great all-rounder under 20K, but the areas it shines are cameras and battery life. The phone houses a massive 5,000 mAh battery which clocked an impressive 11 hours and 10 minutes of screen-on time in our 4K video loop battery test. So, the device will easily power through a day’s worth of usage with some battery still left to spare at the end of the day. The camera setup is also fantastic – the phone clicks detailed shots with good colour accuracy and dynamic range. Low-light results are also exemplary with good detail and little to no noise. Again, you’ve got the tried-and-tested Snapdragon 695 SoC that clocked in at almost 4,00,000 in AnTuTu and ran games such as Asphalt 9 and COD: Mobile smoothly.
pros Pros
  • Good display
  • Big battery
  • Above par cameras
cons Cons
  • No ultrawide lens
  • Basic design
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 Octa core
Memory : 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.72″ (FHD+) screen inches, 393 PPI, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 108 MP Triple Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5000 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 19,999
7.

Moto G82 5G

Moto G82 5G price in India
  • Screen Size
    6.6" (QHD) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    50MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 6GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5000 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other Moto Mobile Phones
The Motorola Moto G82 is a solid budget phone that has a beautiful display and a dependable 5G processor. The 6.6-inch AMOLED display has an average delta E of 2.5 with 97.7 per cent colour gamut coverage in the sRGB colour space, which is fantastic. You also get up to 645 nits of peak brightness – plenty bright at this price. As for performance, the Snapdragon 695 SoC doesn’t disappoint, with a score of 399818 in AnTuTu and 671 in GeekBench Single Core, and 1943 in Multi Core. This means your phone can do pretty much any basic task you throw at it without breaking into a sweat. The gaming capabilities are also pretty good – in GameBench, COD: Mobile ran at 60 fps at 100 per cent stability and Asphalt 9 ran at 30 fps at 97 per cent stability.
pros Pros
  • Well-built and durable for daily use
  • Stock Android 12 works smoothly with My UX customisations
  • Balanced performance you can depend on
  • Cameras at par with the competition
cons Cons
  • No HDR support on YouTube
  • Netflix. Slow charging speeds over the competition
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Octa core (2x2.2, 6x1.7)
Memory : 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.6″ (QHD) screen inches, 402 PPI, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 50 MP Triple Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5000 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type-C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 20,390
  • Screen Size
    6.72" (1080 x 2400) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    108 +2MP | 16 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 6GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5000 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other Realme Mobile Phones
The Realme 10 Pro’s primary selling point is its premium design – the bezels (except the chin) are negligible in size and the flat-edged design makes the device look more expensive than it is. The phone is also extremely lightweight and the back panel will certainly catch eyeballs. The display is decent with smooth 120 Hz refresh rate, however, this is only an LCD panel, which is disappointing. The display is plenty bright though – we recorded around 660 nits of peak brightness on this panel. The phone is powered by the reliable Snapdragon 695 SoC that performs well in most benchmarks. The UI, however, is filled with bloatware, so take note of that if it bothers you.
pros Pros
  • Good design with bezel-less look
  • Great performer
  • Fast charging
  • Responsive display
cons Cons
  • Plenty of bloatware
  • Sub-par build quality
  • Battery backup is disappointing
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Octa core
Memory : 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.72″ (1080 x 2400) screen inches, 392 PPI, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 108 MP Dual Rear camera, 16 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5000 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 19,350
  • Screen Size
    6.67" (FHD+) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    48 +8 + 2MP | 13 MP
  • Storage
    256GB / 8GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5000 mAh Battery
Full specs Other Poco Mobile Phones
The POCO X5 is another 5G smartphone that is equipped with the Snapdragon 695 processor. As we’ve seen with other Snapdragon 695 phones on this list, you can expect commendable performance that can breeze through basic tasks and handle gaming decently well. You also get an AMOLED panel with 120 Hz refresh rate, so scrolling will feel jitter-free, making the device feel more snappy overall. The phone’s display also boasts a 4,500,000:1 contrast ratio and 1200 nits of peak-rated brightness, so content should look vibrant on this screen. The design is quite understated yet classy and the phone is quite lightweight at only 188 g. Overall, a solid budget device which is quite an all-rounder, on paper, at least.
pros Pros
  • Bright AMOLED display
  • Large 5,000 mAh battery
  • IP53 rated
  • Reliable mid-range SoC
cons Cons
  • Doesn’t come with Android 13
  • Bloatware
  • Only 1080p at 30 fps video
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Octa core
Memory : 8GB RAM, 256GB Storage
Display : 6.67″ (FHD+) screen inches, 395 PPI, 120Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 48 MP Triple Rear camera, 13 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5000 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM with 5G support
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 17,999
  • Screen Size
    6.67" (1080 x 2400) Screen Size
  • Rear camera mega pixel
    50 +8 + 2MP | 32 MP
  • Storage
    128GB / 6GB
  • Battery capacity (mAh)
    5100 mAh Battery
Read Review Full specs Other Xiaomi Mobile Phones
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 5G is a value-for-money device that employs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC. The phone comes equipped with a solid AMOLED display that is colour accurate and has great legibility in sunlight. We recorded a peak brightness of 816 nits – which is one of the best at this price point. The phone’s performance is pretty decent but it doesn’t match up to some competitors on this list – so keep in mind that it is definitely not the fastest phone out there in this price range. We got a score of 363836 in AnTuTu and 10169 in PCMark Work – respectable scores, but they lag behind the likes of the Samsung Galaxy M14 and iQOO Z7. Its battery life and camera, again, are decent but lag behind the competition.
pros Pros
  • Long lasting battery
  • Super fast charging
  • Bright and vibrant display
cons Cons
  • Hybrid memory card slot
  • Can’t record videos at 60FPS
  • camera is average
MORE SPECIFICATIONS
Processor : MediaTek Dimensity 820 Oct core
Memory : 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage
Display : 6.67″ (1080 x 2400) screen inches, 405 PPI, 90Hz Refresh Rate
Camera : 50 MP Triple Rear camera, 32 MP Front Camera with Video recording
Battery : 5100 mAh battery with fast Charging and USB Type C port
SIM : Dual SIM
Features : LED Flash
Price : ₹ 17,980

Disclaimer: Digit, like all other media houses, gives you links to online stores which contain embedded affiliate information, which allows us to get a tiny percentage of your purchase back from the online store. We urge all our readers to use our Buy button links to make their purchases as a way of supporting our work. If you are a user who already does this, thank you for supporting and keeping unbiased technology journalism alive in India.

Dhriti Datta
Dhriti Datta

Email Email Dhriti Datta

Follow Us Facebook Logo Facebook Logo Facebook Logo

About Me: Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. Read More about Dhriti Datta

Explore More

List Of Best Mobile Phones Under ₹20,000 In India

Best Mobile Phones Under 20000 Seller Price
iQOO Z7 5G Amazon ₹ 18,999
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G Amazon ₹ 14,490
Realme 9 SE 5G Amazon ₹ 21,999
Moto G73 5G Flipkart ₹ 18,999
Vivo T2 5G Flipkart ₹ 18,999
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G Amazon ₹ 19,999
Moto G82 5G Amazon ₹ 20,390
Realme 10 Pro 5G Amazon ₹ 19,350
POCO X5 5G Flipkart ₹ 17,999
Redmi Note 12 5G Flipkart ₹ 17,980