Every year, the budget segment receives the most releases, and 2022 was no exception. Listing down just a handful of sets in this segment is quite difficult as there are plenty of good models available from a variety of brands. The demand for budget smartphones is always high as they cater to people from different segments and sectors of society. In this article, we have tried to cover some of the best smartphones in descending order from a price point of view that you can look into this holiday season.
Redmi K50i
After a gap of three years, Xiaomi launched another handset in the K series, which is overall a performance-centric smartphone. The Redmi K50i is equipped with the powerful MediaTek Dimensity 8100, which is a performance beast and also has vapor-cooling chambers for the thermals. The device has a smooth interface and runs on Android 12 (MIUI 13), but the presence of bloatware is irksome. It comes with a 6.6-inch FFS LCD display and not an AMOLED, which is a bit shocking at this price. Though the 144 Hz refresh rate, 650 nits of brightness, and Dolby Vision support are laudable, the ultrawide, macro and selfie cameras fail to impress, but the 64 MP primary camera takes decent snaps in well-lit conditions. The 5080 mAh battery performs excellently, and the 67 W charger can juice the device up to 100% within 50 minutes. If you are looking for a performance-centric phone, then at ₹23,999, the Redmi K50i must be your first choice.
Motorola Moto Edge 30
With a weight of 155 g, it is probably one of the lightest 5G smartphones on the market. The premium design and in-hand feel of the Motorola Moto Edge 30 are exquisite, and it comes with a 6.5-inch AMOLED display, which is gorgeous and supports HDR10+ and a 144 Hz refresh rate. Equipped with Android 12 (upgradable to Android 13) and the Snapdragon 778G+, the software experience is clean as there is no bloatware, but there is an issue with performance throttling. The triple-camera setup consists of 50 MP (wide), 50 MP (ultrawide), and 2 MP (depth) and helps in taking decent snaps. The 4020 mAh provides average performance, as does the 33 W wired charger. If you prefer a lightweight smartphone with a clean software experience, the Motorola Moto Edge 30 priced at ₹22,999 is an excellent choice.
Samsung Galaxy M53
Keeping in mind that customers do not have to break the bank for standard features, the M series was launched by Samsung in 2019. In 2022, the Samsung Galaxy M53 was launched in the mid-range segment, but the price has dropped to ₹21,999, which is a great opportunity for people who are looking to buy a high-end budget phone. Weighing only 176 g, the device comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED Plus display with a 120 Hz refresh rate. The 5000 mAh battery provides great performance, but the 25 W wired charger feels really slow and is also not shipped with the device. The quad camera setup of 108 MP (wide), 8 MP (ultrawide), 2 MP (depth), and 2 MP (macro) is decent, while the 32 MP selfie camera is surprisingly good. The availability of a card slot is something rare these days at this price point, which the Samsung Galaxy M53 provides, but the absence of stereo speakers and the presence of bloatware feels a bit irritating.
Oppo F21 Pro
In the sea of mundane design in the budget segment, the Oppo F21 Pro brings a luxurious and expensive-looking device with a faux leather back. The in-hand feel is extremely good, and the device comes with a vibrant 6.43-inch AMOLED display. The 60 Hz refresh rate and the Snapdragon 695 chipset seem a bit backward when considering the price. The Oppo F21 Pro runs on Android 12 (ColorOS 12.1), and the option for microSDXC is also available. In daylight conditions, the 64 MP main camera takes good snaps but is not able to do the same at night. The 4500 mAh battery provides decent performance, and the device is also equipped with a 3.5 mm audio jack. With a price tag of ₹20,999, the Oppo F21 Pro can easily serve your daily needs, but heavy gaming or multitasking is out of the question.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite
It is understandable why OnePlus, the creator of affordable flagships, is trying to enter the budget segment. They want to reach more audiences, and the proof is the OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite. The device comes with a clean UI and runs on Android 12 (upgradable to Android 13) with a patch of OxygenOS 13. For the average daily user, the Snapdragon 695 5G provides ample juice, but one should avoid gaming with this device. The OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite does not offer AMOLED, which is a bit of a drawback, but its 6.59-inch IPS LCD does support 600 nits of brightness and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The 5000 mAh battery will serve you satisfactorily and also comes with a 33 W wired charger. Though equipped with a 64-MP primary camera, the performance is not impressive. If you want a premium OnePlus experience at a budget price, then the ₹18,999 tag is justifiable.
Redmi Note 11 Pro
The features that Xiaomi is providing at ₹17,999 for the Redmi Note 11 Pro are just insane. The device comes with a plastic frame but has a glass back and weighs 202 g. With an IP53 rating, the Redmi Note 11 Pro has a 6.67 in Super AMOLED display that supports a whopping 1200 nits of brightness and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Equipped with Android 11 (MIUI 13) and the Mediatek Helio G96, it lags a bit in the performance section. The presence of bugs and bloatware, and only 2 years of software updates, is also something to worry about. The presence of a 3.55 audio jack, stereo speakers, and card slot really comes in handy when consuming content. The 108 MP primary camera provides decent snaps, but the 5000 mAh battery with a 67 W charger is a real winner. If content consumption along with daily usage is your criteria, this can be a great option.
Vivo T1 44W
Providing a 6.44 in AMOLED display at ₹14,499 is something truly amazing for enjoying the content. The Vivo T1 44W is further backed by a 5000 mAh battery and a 44 W fast charger, so it does not disrupt your daily life. The Snapdragon 680 performs decently when handling everyday tasks, and the device runs on Android 12 (FuntouchOS 12). The 50 MP rear camera and the 16 MP selfie camera are good enough considering the price. The lack of stereo speakers, 5G support, and a 60 Hz refresh rate are the flaws in the Vivo T1 44W. Available in colors like Midnight Galaxy, Ice Dawn, and Starry Sky, this device is a great choice in the budget segment for everyday usage.
iQOO Z6 Lite
The overall build quality and the design look extremely premium for the iQOO Z6 Lite. The device boasts a 6.59 in LCD display and offers a 120 Hz refresh rate at this price. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor is able to handle everyday tasks without much of a problem, and it runs on Android 12 (Funtouch 12). The UI is a bit buggy, which mars the software experience sometimes, while it supports only two 5G bands. The 5000 mAh battery can give excellent performance all- day, but the omission of the charger in the box of contents is really a bad move. The 8 MP selfie camera is below average, but the 50 MP primary camera is definitely worth mentioning. At ₹13,999, the iQOO Z6 Lite promises a swanky design, a good battery, and decent performance, which makes it a value-for-money budget phone.
Realme C35
With colors like Glowing Green and Glowing Black, Realme’s new C-series phone, the Realme C35, comes with a refreshing design. The device has a 6.6 in IPS LCD display that supports a whopping 600 nits of brightness. Running on Android 11 (Realme UI 2.0) and a Unisoc Tiger T616 processor, the performance is average and could get some improvement. The 50 MP camera performs as it should in this price range, and the device is also equipped with a 3.5 mm audio jack, and memory card slot. The 5000 mAh battery is decent, and the ₹11,999 price for the Realme C35 is spot on.
Redmi 10
Priced at ₹9,999, this is probably a monster of a budget phone from Xiaomi for the Indian market. The Redmi 10 has a glossy finish and comes with a 6.7 in IPS LCD display capable of a 90 Hz refresh rate with adaptive synchronization. Though a bit bulky with a weight of 203 g and coming with Android 11 (MIUI 13) and the Snapdragon 680 4G, the performance is not bad considering the price. The Redmi 10 comes with a massive 6000 mAh battery, which is superb for a budget segment device. The absence of 5G is a bit of a bummer for the Redmi 10, but at this price, it is understandable.
Conclusion
There were several other phones in the budget category, but those that are mentioned in this list have received a fair amount of positive reviews from customers. It is truly understandable that a user has to sacrifice a plethora of features in the budget category, but from the performance and price point of view, this segment is always competitive. Follow the official websites of the devices along with online marketplaces like Amazon, Flipkart, and Chroma to get great discounts on the festival of Holi.
See more: Best Flagship Smartphones That You Can Buy On Holi 2023
