India currently has the second highest smartphone ownership in the world after China. While the number of feature phone users have been taken over by smartphone users, the features that once were restricted to high-end phones are now finding a place in cheaper phones as well.
A good camera is a highly prefered feature on any smartphone. Not just the rear camera, but users also look for a convincing front camera as well. No wonder OEMs are well aware of this fact, so they refrain from making any compromise in the camera department these days.
There are some brands that are marketing their devices as camera phones to target a specific segment of customers. We would advise you to not fall for such marketing tricks and read as many reviews as possible before you choose your smartphone.
It is quite easy to pick a good smartphone when you have enough money to spend, but getting a good camera under a budget is a task. To make it a little easier for you, here is a list of smartphones with impressive cameras under Rs 20,000.
- If you are looking for a phone under 25K that has a balanced set of features, we've got you covered. Check our list of best phones under 25K.
1. Redmi Note 5 Pro
The phone that has everything you need
OS: Android 7.1.2 | Screen size: 5.99-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2160p | CPU: Snapdragon 636 | RAM: 4/6GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 4,000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP + 5MP | Front camera: 20MP
Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro is a major improvement in terms of camera from its predecessor. It beats the Mi A1's camera in many scenarios, which means the phone is currently a good choice for smartphone photography aficionados.
The Redmi Note 5 Pro produces warm, punchy colours with reasonable image detail. It can do reasonably well in low-light situations, though it's not close to what flagships from Samsung, Google and Apple do.
Also, the phone is a good buy at Rs 13,999/16,999. The 20MP front camera compliments the rear camera equally well. We also compared the camera with the OnePlus 5T, and the results were impressive.
Read the full review here: Redmi Note 5 Pro
2. Xiaomi Mi A1
The most sensible smartphone from Xiaomi in 2017
Weight: 165g | Dimensions: 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3mm | OS: Android 7.1.2 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 625 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB | Battery: 3080mAh | Rear camera: 12MP + 12MP | Front camera: 5MP
The Mi A1 is Xiaomi's first stock Android phone, which is well received by not just Xiaomi loyalists but also those who always wanted to see a Xiaomi phone devoid of MIUI.
Moreover, it was the first Xiaomi phone to feature a dual camera setup in the Indian market. But unlike rest of its competitors, the secondary camera on Mi A1 has a telephoto lens similar to the OnePlus 5 or iPhone 7 Plus. That said, it does a 2X optical zoom using the secondary lens. The main wide angle camera is also great and when used in tandem there’s a creamy and effective portrait mode which is very impressive.
It is the cheapest phone to come with such dual camera setup, making it the best dual camera phone under Rs 15,000 price range.
Read: Xiaomi Mi A1 review
3. Moto G5 Plus
It can do wonders with just one camera
Weight: 155g | Dimensions: 150.2 x 74 x 7.7 mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.2-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 1920 | CPU: Snapdragon 625 | RAM: 3/4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 5MP
It was the first mid-range smartphone in 2017 from Moto that created ripples in the smartphone market soon after its roll out at MWC 2017. Moto G5 Plus comes with impressive cameras on both the sides, making it a complete package for camera lovers looking for a phone under 15k.
Motorola later launched Moto G5s and G5s Plus with better cameras on paper but we found the Moto G5 Plus being the best in the line-up during our usage.
The Moto G5 Plus features a 12MP primary camera with autofocus, dual LED flash and f/1.7 aperture. The camera comes with features such as geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama and auto-HDR.
On the front, the device sports a 5 MP secondary camera with f/2.2 aperture.
Read: Moto G5 Plus review
4. Honor 7X
One fine looking mid-range phone with impressive camera
Weight: 165g | Dimensions: 156.5 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm | OS: Android 7 | Screen size: 5.93-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2160 | CPU: Kirin 659 | RAM: 3/4GB | Storage: 32/64GB | Battery: 3340mAh | Rear camera: 16 + 2MP | Front camera: 8MP
Honor 7X features a dual-camera setup on the back. It has a 16-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth-sensing camera on the back.
The 2-megapixel lens on board the Honor 7X works in the Portrait mode to achieve bokeh-like images. It essentially identifies the edges of the subject in focus and blurs out everything else.
The front camera is an 8MP shooter that also boasts of a Portrait mode feature, which we found worked, but not as well as on the rear camera. The selfie shooter will take decent snaps for social media and the like, but it’s nothing out of the ordinary.
Read: Honor 7X review
5. Honor 9 Lite
A quad camera setup under a budget
Weight: 149g | Dimensions: 151 x 71.9 x 7.6mm | OS: Android 8 Oreo | Screen size: 5.6-inch | Resolution: 2160 x 1080 | CPU: Kirin 659 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 3000mAh | Rear camera: 13MP + 2MP | Front camera: 13MP + 2MP
The new budget smartphone from Honor has managed to make a mark in a segment that's usually dominated by Xiaomi. The phone is not just good-looking but it also packs impressive optical abilities for its price.
The phone features a dual camera setup on both front and back, which is something unique about this. The rear camera manages to capture some really good looking shots in day-light, and so does the front camera. But it struggles in low-light like most of its counterparts.
Read: Honor 9 Lite review
6. Apple iPhone SE
Compact, relatively affordable and very powerful
Weight: 113g | Dimensions: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm | OS: iOS 11 | Screen size: 4.0-inch | Resolution: 1136 x 640 pixels | CPU: Apple A9 | RAM: 2GB | Storage: 16/64GB | Battery: 1624mAh | Rear camera: 12MP | Front camera: 1.2MP
The iPhone SE has the same iPhone 5S like boxy, yet premium design as the metal-clad iPhone 5S and the same powerful Apple A9 processor and rear camera of the iPhone 6S.
Apple iPhone SE is now available at Rs 18,999, which brings it to the best camera phones category under 20k, but only if you can do away with the tiny display and the boxy design.
Read: iPhone SE review
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
The biggest battery
Weight: 180g | Dimensions: 159.0 x 76.0 x 8.46mm | OS: Android 8.0 Oreo | Screen size: 5.99-inch | Resolution: 1080 x 2160 | CPU: Snapdragon 636 | RAM: 3GB | Storage: 32GB | Battery: 5000mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 8MP
The Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 is one of the most value-for-money offerings in the market right now. It's main selling point may be the 5000mAh battery that lasts a little more than 48hours, but the fact that it runs on a pure version of Android adds to its allure.
The camera is disappointing, but the phone's superior functionality more than makes up for it. The phone doesn't lag in the audio department either being louder than most its counterparts and with better sound quality.
Read the full review: Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1