Business
Top smartphones available under Rs 20,000: Check our list here
Most smartphone makers have shifted their focus from the sub-Rs 10,000 category to sub-Rs 20,000 price segment. There are multiple reasons behind this shift – global chip shortage, components getting costlier and also, the growing ambitions of smartphone users. November was another month that saw action in this category with both Xiaomi and Lava launching their new smartphones. In fact, Lava Agni 5G has become the first 5G smartphone from an Indian smartphone brand. It brings a really impressive set of features and can compete with most smartphones in this price range, at least on paper.
The Redmi Note 11T 5G, as the name suggests, is the latest addition to Redmi’s affordable Note series. The smartphone was introduced in China as the Redmi Note 11 but came to India with a ‘T’ moniker. It is powered by the same chipset as the Lava Agni 5G, brings a new 50-megapixel main camera and a 33W Pro fast charging which Xiaomi says is faster than its existing charging tech.
Then, you also have the slightly older options, like Redmi Note 10 Pro Max, Realme 8 Pro and iQOO Z3 which we believe are still among the best smartphones you can buy under Rs 20,000 in India in December 2021. Here are the top picks.
Redmi Note 11T 5G
The most recently launched and our latest recommendation for this month is the Redmi Note 11T 5G. The smartphone is priced at Rs 16,999 for the base 6GB RAM and 64GB storage variant. It sits right above the Redmi Note 10 Pro in the Indian market. The phone has similar features as the Redmi Note 10T 5G but, comes with a better Dimensity 810 SoC. The Redmi Note 11T 5G features a 6.6-inch Full-HD+ display with Gorilla Glass 3 protection and up to 240 Hz touch sampling rate. Redmi has also equipped it with up to 3GB of expandable RAM for better performance. There is a 50-megpaixel primary camera with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera. At the front, you get a 16-megapixel camera for selfie and video calling.
Our verdict – We are still testing the Redmi Note 11T 5G and you should stay tuned for India Today Tech’s full review. However, simply going by the on paper specs and pricing, the Note 11T 5G is ideally for those who prefer 5G over other specs.
Lava Agni 5G
Lava Agni 5G is the first 5G smartphone from an Indian brand and at least now we have something to recommend to those who specifically want to buy phones from Indian companies. As mentioned before, it has the same Dimensity 810 SoC as the Redmi Note 11T 5G. It has a 6.78-inch display with 90Hz refresh rate, a 5000mAh battery with 30W fast charging support, a 64-megapixel quad-camera system on the back, and Android 11 software. The phone still comes with a polycarbonate back and lacks a Widevine L1 certification for streaming. Lava has made a decent effort but faces a lot of competition from other brands which works against it.
Our verdict – Depending on what you will mostly do on your phone – watching movies mostly, checking emails and making calls, or just clicking photos – Lava Agni 5G can be a decent option. If cameras are not your priority, you can consider the Agni 5G. If binge-watching is what you will buy your next phone for, Lava Agni 5G is not for you.
Redmi Note 10 Pro Max
Redmi Note 10 Pro Max has been part of our buying guide for every single month since its launch. This speaks volumes for this phone, especially when you have 10 new ones launching every month. The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is a complete all-rounder with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, a 6.67-inch Full-HD+ Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and a 108-megapixel quad camera setup. It supports 33W fast charging and has a premium glass finish to complete a great package.
Our verdict: The Redmi Note 10 Pro Max is an excellent overall package at this price. It offers decent performance, display and battery prowess. So, if you’re looking for the perfect smartphone under Rs 20,000, then your search should end with the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.
iQOO Z3
A great option for those who seek performance at an aggressive price. It has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G processor, 55W Flash charge support, and a 64-megapixel primary rear camera. The handset also comes with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth animation. It features a 6.58-inch Full-HD+ display and packs a 4400mAh battery. iQOO Z3 is also one of those phones that has received multiple price cuts and is available at great discounts during sales.
Our verdict –The iQOO Z3 fared well in our tests, and we liked it for its attractive design. The handset offers optimum performance and excellent battery life. However, a few things don’t go in its favour, and those are average camera performance and a display that’s not among the best in the price segment. The UI is also filled with bloatware.
Realme 8 Pro
Our last pick on the list is the Realme 8 Pro. The smartphone was launched in March and there is hardly any device that has been able to better it in this segment. Realme 8 Pro’s closest competition after all this while remains to be the Redmi Note 10 Pro Max. The Realme phone features a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, is powered by the same Snapdragon 720G processor and packs a 4500mAh battery with 50W SuperDart charger support. Realme also equipped the device with a 108-megapixel main camera to compete with the Xiaomi phone.
Our verdict- The Realme 8 Pro is an excellent package only if you are considering it for the camera it offers. Otherwise, there are other phones that offer similar performance or even better. The biggest thing that goes in favour of the Realme 8 Pro is it comes at a lower starting price of Rs 17,999 when compared to the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro Max.
Business
Apple is giving a huge discount on its gadgets: Details inside
If you want to buy an iPhone and were waiting for a nice offer, then we have a piece of good news for you! Amazon Summer Sale May 2022 has begun and they are offering major discounts on various smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs, among others.
The sale is live now on the e-commerce platform with no-cost EMI options and exchange discounts on various products. In addition to this, Amazon has also partnered with several banks including ICICI, Kotak Bank, and RBL so that customers get instant discounts of up to 10% using their cards and EMI transactions.
Customers can easily enjoy this summer sale and get massive discounts on iPhones. They can also compare prices on Flipkart Big Saving Days Sale 2022 before making a purchase.
Amazon Summer Sale May 2022: Discount offer on iPhone 13
Apple’s coveted phone model iPhone 13 in the 128 GB storage model will be available during the Amazon Summer Sale May 2022 for Rs 64,900. The MRP of the phone is Rs 79,900. This means that the customers will be able to enjoy a discount of up to Rs 15,000 on the purchase of the iPhone 13.
If you have an old iPhone in working condition then you will also be eligible to receive another additional discount worth up to Rs 17,000 on the iPhone 13.
Buy at Rs. 64,900 (MRP – Rs. 79,900)
Features of Apple iPhone 13
The iPhone is powered by an A15 Bionic processor with 6 core CPU. Apart from this, it has 16 core neural engines. With the iPhone 13, up to 512 GB of storage will be available. The iPhone 13 has a 6.1-inch Retina XDR display with 1000 nits brightness.
The iPhone 13 has a 12-megapixel dual rear camera setup. This time a new wide-angle camera has been given, whose aperture is f/1.6. With this, there is support for sensor optical stabilisation. Night mode has been made better than before. The second lens is also 12 megapixels ultra-wide and has an aperture of f/2.4.