Best Mobile phones under 20,000.
1.REDMI NOTE 11 PRO PLUS 5G
Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G
Yes, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G is worth buying, but it's
a bit pricey; the phone should have been launched at 19k, and Redmi needs to
improve the cameras to justify the 21k price tag; otherwise, it's a good
smartphone for casual users.
The phone has almost everything you'll need in daily life,
and the cameras are also good. However, I believe Redmi should work on the
camera; one or two OTA updates could improve the cameras.
If you want a 120Hz AMOLED display, 67W fast charging
support, and decent performance, you can pay Rs 20,000 for the Redmi Note 11
Pro Plus 5G, but if you want great cameras, you should pass on this device.
You may recall that I recently reviewed the Redmi Note 11 Pro,
and as I previously stated, Redmi has only changed the processor on the Redmi
Note 11 Pro Plus, with the rest remaining the same as the Redmi Note 11 Pro.
Display Quality
The Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G has a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with 1200 nits of brightness and a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels.
The front is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the back by glass, and the frame is made of plastic.
As of now, we have two phones under Rs 20,000 that have a 120Hz AMOLED display, both from Xiaomi, and neither has 5G support.
So, there is no need to be concerned about the display; Redmi has used the best display available.There will be no issues while playing games or watching movies. It also supports Widevine L1, so you will be able to watch FHD+ content on OTT apps.
Overall, the display is the same as the Redmi Note 10 Pro, so there isn't much to complain about.
Cameras
Let me tell you something: just because a phone has a larger sensor, such as 64MP or even 108MP, does not mean it will produce the best images.
Companies such as Xiaomi and RealMe add larger sensors in order to market the smartphone, and that's all there is to it.
So be cautious when you see larger sensors on low-cost smartphones.
Now, let's talk about the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G...
It has a 108MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor, as well as a 16MP selfie camera on the front.
Both the front and rear cameras are capable of recording videos at 1080p@30fps.
Performance
We've recently seen Snapdragon 695 processors on the RealMe 9 Pro and Motorola G71 5G, both of which cost around $18,000 USD.
The Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G is also equipped with a Snapdragon 695 SoC and runs MIUI 13, which is based on Android 12. Now, Android 12 was released months ago, so why did Redmi not release this phone with Android 12?
But why is this so?
Redmi has promised two years of OS updates, so this phone will not need to be updated to Android 14. So, yes, the Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G will receive Android 12 and 13 updates, but no Android 14.
By the way, the Snapdragon 695 SoC is a powerful processor that will not cause any issues while playing games or in everyday life.
It also has 5G support, whereas Redmi has added 7 5G bands.
Overall, the Snapdragon 695 SoC
isn't worth the 21k price tag because the same SoC is available for 18k, but
Redmi has added a 120Hz AMOLED display, so they're charging a little bit more.
Audio Quality
The Redmi Note 11 Pro Plus 5G includes a stereo speaker, and the dual speakers are of high quality. Redmi has also included a secondary noise-cancelling microphone, which will be very useful when calling.
It also has a 3.5mm audio jack, allowing you to use both wired and Bluetooth earphones.
Overall, there will be no problems with calling or audio; Redmi has
done an excellent job this time.
Battery Life
It has a 5,000 mAh battery with 67W fast charging support; charging
from 0% to 51% takes only 15 minutes.
Keep in mind that using 67W will help a lot; otherwise, you
won't get that super-fast charging speed.
Overall, the battery will last a day because the Snapdragon
695 SoC is a power efficient SoC that provides better battery life.
Mi 11 Lite 5G
SHOP NOW: Mi 11 Lite (Jazz Blue, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage) (vlebazaar.in)
Introduction
The Mi 11 Lite 5G has already earned our recommendation, and we are hopeful that its less expensive counterpart will be just as good. The lightweight Mi 11 Lite, like the Mi 11 Lite 5G, is modelled after the Mi 11 flagship and emphasises similar features, such as an HRR OLED screen, enjoyable camera quality, long battery life, fast charging, and an overall smooth UI experience.
Xiaomi has carefully selected the most important features. The 6.55-inch OLED display is of high quality, with 10-bit colour support, HDR10 certification, and a refresh rate of 90Hz. There is also 240Hz touch sampling, which is necessary for a smooth experience.
The triple camera on the back is also similar to the Mi 11
and the Mi 11 Lite 5G, with a high-resolution 64MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide
snapper, and a 5MP telemacro lens. Night Mode, Long Exposure, Pro mode for all
cameras, and Mi 11 series exclusive video modes such as Parallel World, Time
Freeze, Night Mode Timelapse, and others are all supported.
Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite specs at a
glance:
Ø Body: 160.5x75.7x6.8mm,
157g; Gorilla Glass 5 front, glass back, plastic frame.
Ø Display: 6.55" AMOLED,
1B colors, HDR10, 90Hz, 240Hz touch sampling, 500 nits (typ), 800 nits,
1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 402ppi.
Ø Chipset: Qualcomm SM7150
Snapdragon 732G (8 nm): Octa-core (2x2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo
470 Silver); Adreno 618.
Ø Memory: 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB
6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM; UFS 2.2; microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot).
Ø OS/Software: Android 11, MIUI 12.
Ø Rear camera: Wide (main):
64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8
MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 1/4.0", 1.12µm; Macro: 5 MP, f/2.4, AF.
Ø Front camera: 16
MP, f/2.5, 25mm (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm.
Ø Video capture: Rear
camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps; gyro-EIS; Front camera:
1080p@30fps, 720p@120fps.
Ø Battery: 4250mAh; Fast
charging 33W.
Ø Misc: Fingerprint reader
(side-mounted); Infrared port.
Design, build, handling
The Mi 11 Lite models are without a doubt some of the sleekest and lightest phones we've handled in a long time. It was love at first sight, or first touch in this case - we liked both Lites as soon as we took them out of their retail boxes.
Each of these Lite models is 6.8mm thin
and weighs approximately 157 grammes. This is in stark contrast to the majority
of modern mid-range offerings. Despite the slimmer profile and lighter weight,
both devices appear to have plenty of power under the hood.
The only difference between the two Lite models is the finish on the back glass, which is frosted on the 5G and glossy on the 4G.
However, the Boba Black model we have for review is the only one in the Mi Lite 11 series with a glossy back.
All other colours, including Bubblegum Blue and Peach Pink on the Mi 11 Lite 4G, have a smudge-resistant frosted finish.
A 6.55-inch 90Hz OLED screen
 |
Battery
life
For such a small and light phone, the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite has a relatively large 4,250mAh battery. This model does not support 5G and instead employs Qualcomm's more popular X15 LTE modem. So we don't know what to expect, but we have yet to be disappointed by a Xiaomi mid-range device.
We are pleased to provide you with some excellent battery ratings. The 4G model can last for more than 11 hours when browsing at 90Hz, or more than 14 hours when watching videos. Video playback is always at 60Hz.
The Mi 11 Lite scored an excellent final endurance rating of 100 hours when combined with the 24 hours of 3G talk time and the low standby consumption.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite, like the Mi 11 Lite 5G, supports 33W fast charging and has the same rechargeable 4,250mAh battery.
The phone comes with the aforementioned power adapter and cable.
The included charger recharges 58% of the Mi 11 Lite's dead battery in 30 minutes, which seems adequate and matches what we saw with the model's 5G variant.
Performance
The Snapdragon 732G chip, found in the Redmi Note 10 Pro and the Poco X3 NFC, powers the Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
The Snapdragon 732G is a minor upgrade over the S730 and S730G models. The octa-core processor has two 2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Gold (Cortex-A76) cores and six 1.8 GHz Kryo 470 Silver (Cortex-A55) cores. All of them are based on an 8nm LPP node.
The Adreno 618 GPU is shared by all S73x chips. The one on the 730G is 75 MHz faster than the one on the S730 and runs at 575 MHz. And the one in the Mi 11 Lite 4G can reach 800MHz.
Finally, the Mi 11 Lite is available with 64GB and 128GB UFS2.2 storage. You get 6GB LPDDR4X RAM for both storage options, but you can also get an 8GB RAM + 128GB storage mode like our review unit here.
SHOP NOW: OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G (Black Dusk, 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage) (Seal Pack) (vlebazaar.in)
Introduction
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G was released in May and features a
6.59-inch FullHD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate. This is the most
noticeable difference when you first pick up the device. It will not support
HDR content. So, if you consume a lot of content, this isn't the device for
you.
The 5,000 mAh battery pack is excellent and can be quickly recharged
using the 33W SuperVOOC charger, which thankfully comes with the device.
The phone is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset, which
has a maximum clock speed of 2.2GHz. It also includes the Adreno 619 GPU. The
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite is a solid budget performer, and the chipset delivers on
its promises of energy efficiency. There is a noticeable difference, especially
when pushed to an extreme use case scenario.
The smartphone will feel comfortable. OnePlus took
inspiration from Oppo's K10 and tweaked the glossy camera island. Except for
the OnePlus logo on the back, there are no brandings. As a result, you get a
clean and minimal appearance. However, we would have preferred if the company
had brought something new to the table. The device's front is similar to any
other Android smartphone on the market, while the back features a triple-camera
setup with a slightly raised camera island. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite has a
sturdy plastic body with a brushed metal texture for a premium appearance. The
top of the device houses a secondary noise cancellation microphone, while the
bottom houses the 3.5mm headphone jack, Type-C port, and speakers.
The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G features a 6.59-inch Full HD+
LCD display. The colour profile is set to Vivid by default, and I saw no reason
to change it. In addition, the display has a high refresh rate of 120Hz.
In addition, the display has a high refresh rate of 120Hz.
You can also save battery life by lowering the refresh rate to the standard
60Hz. Even in direct sunlight, the display's brightness is adequate. However,
watching video content for extended periods of time outside is not recommended.
Furthermore, it will have an impact on battery performance. The touch response
is quick, and I had no issues. Even when playing games like BGMI and Apex
Legends Mobile, this is clear.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G
chipset is at the heart of the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G, along with 8GB RAM
and 128GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. The phone performs well even under heavy
loads, and we only noticed minor lags when pushing the device to its limits.
Because of the large RAM, you can confidently leave apps open in the
background. You can also virtually increase the RAM by up to 5GB. When I first
got my hands on the device, Oxygen OS felt a little buggy when playing games.
The Game Mode UI kept appearing every 2-4 seconds while gaming, which was
annoying.
The benefit of being a part of
the OnePlus ecosystem, however, is that feedback from a large number of users
is taken into account. The bug was fixed after the device received two updates
in a row.
Regardless of how smooth the
experience is, the device's initial setup will greet you with a few bloatware
apps. The number of apps was lower when compared to other competing devices.
However, it still feels far from the legacy Oxygen OS that we all came to love.
The camera performance was
typical of a low-cost device. And it is the main reason you will not purchase
the device. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G performs admirably as a
point-and-shoot camera in bright sunlight. However, if you zoom in, you will
notice that the images lack detail. Although the device includes a 64MP camera
mode, the results are only marginally more detailed than the standard picture
mode. The colour reproduction in the outdoor shot in the sample images is
vibrant.
While out for dinner with friends
at a well-lit local restaurant, the camera maintains good colour accuracy.
However, it continues to struggle to provide details.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
SHOP NOW: OnePlus Nord CE 5G (Charcoal Ink, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage) (vlebazaar.in)
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G has almost
everything you'd want in a mid-range device: smooth performance, a great
display, long battery life, and decent cameras. I've had the device for about
ten days and think it compares favourably to similarly priced phones from
Samsung and Xiaomi. While it does not provide anything exceptional, I am
confident you will not be disappointed if you purchase one today. If you're
still not convinced, keep reading to find out more about my experience with the
OnePlus Nord CE 5G.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G resembles
the original Nord. It has a similar vertical camera island, a hole punch cutout
for the selfie camera on the left, and minimal bezels. Furthermore, the Blue
Void variant I received has a fingerprint-resistant matte finish on the back
that does a good job of keeping the device free of fingerprints and smudges. It
also gives the phone a premium feel in the hand, which is enhanced by the
phone's slim 7.9mm chassis.
The OnePlus Nord CE
5G's button and port placement is also very similar to the first Nord phone.
The Nord CE 5G is equipped with a power button on the right edge, volume
controls and a dual nano-SIM card tray on the left, and a USB 2.0 Type-C port
at the bottom flanked by a 3.5mm headphone jack and a speaker grille. The Nord
CE 5G also has two microphones, one on the bottom and one on top.
Unfortunately, unlike the original Nord.
The OnePlus Nord CE 5G ships with
OxygenOS 11, which is based on Android 11. The software, like that of other
OnePlus phones, is buttery smooth and free of bloatware (unlike many other
phones in this price range). Interestingly, it doesn't have any of the
pre-installed Facebook bloatware that we found on the original Nord. If you've
ever used a OnePlus phone, you'll feel right at home with the OnePlus Nord CE
5G. The OxygenOS 11 experience on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is nearly identical to
that of a OnePlus 9 series phone. It has a simple user interface and a slew of
extra features. Despite the phone's lower-end chip, the software runs smoothly,
with no stuttering or lag.
Camera
The camera hardware on the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is on par
with, if not better than, other phones in this price range. It has a 64MP
primary camera with EIS, an 8MP ultra-wide camera, and a 2MP monochrome camera
for portraits. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation in my
country, I was unable to go out and collect a large number of samples with the
phone. I did, however, manage to take a few photos around my apartment complex.
The camera performance of the OnePlus Nord CE 5G is adequate
for social media use, as evidenced by the images attached below. In bright
light, the phone's main sensor captures vibrant images with a good dynamic
range, but it struggles in low light. However, the wide-angle camera isn't all
that great. Wide-angle camera images have a slightly different colour profile,
a lower dynamic range, and aren't as sharp.
Oppo A9 2020
Introduction
The Oppo A9 2020 is a low-cost
phone with a plethora of features. It has a large screen, a larger battery,
four rear cameras, a large amount of storage, and one of the better budget
chipsets. On paper, the Oppo A9 2020 appears almost unbelievable, but there are
three obvious flaws. Its screen is not as advanced as the Moto G series', and
the outer shell is made of plastic. The only metal is around the camera housing
and the only glass is on the screen and cameras. This is one of the best budget
phones for commuters who like to use their phone for video streaming and
gaming. It has the screen size and battery life to compete with the most of
jobs.
From a distance, the Oppo A9 could pass for a more expensive
phone. Its back resembles curved glass and has a light-responsive finish. Like
some older Moto G phones, a color-shifting 'S' snakes across the light's path.
It's also quite large, with a thin screen notch. People
would probably believe you if you told them you paid twice the price for the
phone.
When you pick up the Oppo A9 2020, that illusion begins to
crumble. The sides and back are made of plastic. Just by looking, you can tell
the back isn't made of glass. As the pressure flexes the rear just slightly,
the plastic distorts reflections around areas like the fingerprint scanner and
camera housing. Glass does not bend as easily as other materials.
The Oppo A9 2020 features a
6.5-inch screen. This is even larger than the 6.3-inch screen on the Moto G8
Plus.
Those on the lookout for flaws
will notice that this is not a Full HD screen. It has a resolution of 720 x
1600 pixels. But the first limitation we noticed was something else.
The colour temperature of the
Oppo A9 2020 is quite cold right out of the box, which makes the just-okay
colour saturation look worse. One of the first things we did was go to the
Display section of the Settings menu and change the temperature to 'warmer'.
The Oppo A9 2020 has a 6.5-inch display. This is larger than
the Moto G8 Plus's 6.3-inch screen.
Those looking for flaws will notice that the screen is not
Full HD. It has a 720 x 1600 pixel resolution. However, the first limitation we
discovered was something else.
The Oppo A9 2020's colour temperature is quite cold right
out of the box, making the just-okay colour saturation look even worse. One of
the first things we did was change the temperature to 'warmer' in the Display
section of the Settings menu.
Despite Oppo's heavily customised Android skin, performance
was very quick, and even the animations didn't slow us down. We had no trouble
using this phone for all of our normal day-to-day tasks. Apps launched quickly,
and multitasking was also simple. Unless you use gestures, the bottom
navigation buttons remain visible in their own bar while apps are running.
There are two different gesture schemes available, but we wouldn't recommend
using either because this was the only time we noticed the A9 2020 lagging. The
low-resolution screen is a letdown, and the extra-tall aspect ratio may take
some getting used to.
