Exhibit your interest in a “flagship” or “high-end” Android smartphone and there is a fair chance that your friends will assume you for a person with a big bank balance. The reason for this deduction: Most flagship smartphones (the ones the brands showcase as their best) come with a steep price tag. These phones are always the most expensive device in each company’s portfolio, and are supposed to offer the best user experience.
Be it Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5, the Sony Xperia Z5, the LG G4 or even the Nexus 6P, you will find yourself often having to invest anything upwards of Rs.35,000. But things have improved considerably for the more affordable Android phones, and the recent ones pack in powerful specifications, smoothly run almost all apps and the user experience is much closer to the actual flagship phones, than it has ever been in the history of smartphones. If you don’t have a big budget, here are some capable phones below the Rs.30,000 price point.
Asus ZenFone 2
Rs.20,499
This will match up to most expensive Android phones, because the 4 GB RAM allows for smooth multitasking
This was the first ever smartphone to pack in 4 GB RAM, and remains a good option, thanks to its combination of hardware and software. It comes with a 5.5-inch Full HD display, 32 GB storage (64 GB and 128 GB variants are also available) and a 13-megapixel camera that is better than rivals in low light. It runs Intel’s Atom Z3580 processor.
Some might find its design a bit on the plain and predictable side, but in terms of performance, the device goes head to head with phones that cost twice as much.
Xiaomi Mi 4
Rs.14,999
A compact alternative to any flagship from 2014 (Nexus 6, Sony Xperia Z3, Samsung Galaxy S5)
There were some who thought the Mi 4 was a tad overpriced at Rs.19,999 when it was launched in the country in January, given the absence of 4G network capability and expandable memory option. But a significant price cut has made it perhaps one of the most viable propositions for anyone wanting a high-specced device under Rs.15,000. It has a compact 5-inch display, packs a Full HD display, runs Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with 3 GB RAM and has a good 13-megapixel camera. Running on top of Android is MIUI 7, Xiaomi’s custom interface.
Google Nexus 5X
Rs.25,999
A good alternative to the HTC One E9+
Made by LG, this is the logical successor to the Nexus 5. It offers good value for money, serving up a 5.2-inch Full HD display, with a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage, a fingerprint scanner and a 12.3-megapixel camera similar to the one on the more expensive Nexus 6P. Being a Nexus, you will be assured of quick Android updates—the phone runs Android Marshmallow out of the box. The design is a bit underwhelming, but could be a good option for someone who doesn’t want a massive 5.5-inch phone.
Huawei Honor 7
Rs.22,999
Consider this as an alternative to the likes of the HTC One ME
The Honor 7 delivers a lot in terms of both hardware and design. It has a full metal body, a 5.2-inch Full HD display, is powered by a HiSilicon Kirin processor with 3 GB RAM and 16 GB storage (expandable through microSD card), and comes with a competent 20-megapixel camera. There is also a fingerprint scanner, an additional security feature. It runs Huawei’s EMUI interface (you can call out to the phone and it will answer you) and its sleek metallic looks could put many a pricey flagship to shame.
Moto X Style
Rs.29,999
Consider this if you are looking to buy a big-screen phone, such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 5If you thought that quad HD (2,560x1,440) displays and 21-megapixel cameras were the exclusive preserve of super-expensive devices, think again. The 5.7-inch screen has good colour accuracy and there is no yellow tinge when the brightness is turned down. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with 3 GB RAM and a big 3,000 mAh battery. This is one of the few phones currently running the latest Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) OS.
OnePlus 2
Rs.24,999
Consider this if you are looking to buy the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Sony Xperia Z5 or the LG G4The OnePlus 2 has a 5.5-inch Full HD display, runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor with 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage and a 13-megapixel camera. The software is OnePlus’ Oxygen operating system (OS), based on Android 5.1 (Lollipop). The handsome sandstone finish ticks off the good looks box. Apart from slight heating when gaming, performance is smooth.
Micromax Canvas 5
Rs.11,999
A high-end performance on a budget and a good alternative to the Moto X
The latest Micromax flagship is the surprise element in the pack. And it is also the most affordable by some distance. It has a 5.2-inch Full HD display with an octa-core MediaTek 6753 processor, 3 GB RAM and a 13-megapixel camera, with Android 5.1, all packed into a sleek metal frame. The Canvas 5 seems an excellent starting point for anyone looking for good performance and features, but on a tight budget.
COMING SOON
These smartphones that will be launched before the end of the year could prove to be competent alternatives to the more expensive Android phones
YU Yutopia
Micromax’s sister brand YU will soon launch the Yutopia smartphone. It is expected to have a quad HD display, a 21-megapixel camera, 4 GB RAM and could be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor.
Qiku Q Terra
The first device from Qiku in India, the Q Terra will come with a 6-inch Full HD display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor, 3 GB RAM and dual 13-megapixel cameras.
Obi Worldphone SF1
The Obi SF1 comes with a stand-out design—its Full HD display sits slightly higher than the rest of the body. The SF1 is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, paired with 3 GB RAM and has a good 13-megapixel camera. This looker should be no slouch in terms of performance.
