Flagships at a point of time were all priced over Rs. 40000. They still do, but not for all the brands. The recent Chinese companies that entered the Indian market, did so well with the aggression on pricing, that we see phones from below Rs. 20000, to be competing against the giants. In a category where you expect almost everything to be top notch, here are our picks.
Meanwhile, if you are looking at the best devices in the other price ranges, here are our picks for the best smartphones from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10000, and best smartphones from Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000.
OnePlus X
Sexy design, good cameras and a decent performance, OnePlus got this right as not a successor to OnePlus 2 but as a new series that does more with design than anything else. The dual side glass body isn’t new now, but from a design-conscious brand, it is a no-nonsense offering.
Lenovo Vibe P1
This phone had to be in our list for not just a single reason. 5000 mAh battery that lasts very long, a fingerprint scanner, and a very decent performer in the end. Lenovo did address one major need for smartphone buyers: battery life.
Lenovo Vibe S1
Another design-centric device in this price category, but this time it was from Lenovo, the brand that hasn’t offered great designs to complement the specs. The Vibe S1 is a great package, except for the average battery life. Similar to the OnePlus X, or to the Galaxy S6, there is a Dual-side glass body with a metal frame on the side.
Moto X Play
Motorola launched tow devices together in two price ranges. The Moto X Play though seemed to offer more value for money, and it did show a great performance, along with a superb battery life, thanks to the 3630 mAh battery. On the camera department, it isn’t the best even though there is a 21MP shooter included, but the captures aren’t something you would not appreciate at all.
Samsung Galaxy A5
Unlike the standard bar look with the plastic body, Samsung’s A series came in with a metal frame and a very good looking design. Of the three initial models, the Galaxy A5 would be an ideal choice, with a 5-inch screen, a chipset known to do well for regular usage, and a good camera combination.
Oppo R7 Lite
Another very interesting device in this price range is the Oppo R7 Lite, which is more about the super sleek design though there is nothing that doesn’t feel or look bad in the phone, and the inclusion in this list is majorly for its feel and build. Read our Oppo R7 Lite review to find more.
Worth a mention
The Gionee Marathon M5 with the highest battery capacity for smartphones in India, it isn’t just a record holder, but a phone recommended for users with a specific requirement. The other one that we were impressed with is the Asus ZenFone 2, which offers quite a lot for the price, including 4GB RAM for multitasking, and a 3000 mAh battery.
We aren’t including the OnePlus One or Xiaomi Mi4 in this category, because these aren’t released in 2015.
We have used each of the smartphone that is listed above, and only after a proper test, we have come to the conclusion about the best smartphones in this price range. Do you use any other smartphone that is in this price range?
Gizmo Times 2015 Ratings:
- Smartphones from Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10000
- Smartphones from Rs. 10000 to Rs. 15000
- Smartphones from Rs. 15000 to Rs. 20000
- Smartphones from Rs. 20000 to Rs. 30000
- Best flagship smartphones of 2015
