Budget smartphone releases increased in 2024, strengthening market competitiveness and accelerating the 5G revolution. Several phones priced below Rs 20,000 provided exceptional value, with five standing out for their amazing features and performance.
CMF Phone 1
Nothing announced its first low-cost phone, the CMF Phone 1, under the CMF sub-brand, to target to users with more constrained budgets. The CMF Phone 1, like the Nothing Phones, featured a unique design that distinguished it from the competition. The CMF Phone 1 features a huge circular dial with screws on the back. You may replace the back panel with a variety of panels using a specialised screwdriver.
As a result, the CMF Phone 1 featured a very modular but industrial look. In addition to its design, the phone boasted some very astounding specs.
The 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz displayed punchy, bright colours. Its 50-megapixel main camera, which generated spectacular details, acceptable but somewhat saturated colours, and steady films, was another highlight.
The phone’s 5,000 mAh battery can easily last you a day of heavy usage, even if it doesn’t come with a charger or support for exceptionally fast charging (it charges at a somewhat sluggish 33W). Finally, the CMF Phone 1 runs a basic and clean version of NothingOS on top of Android 14, which is absolutely lacking in the low-cost market.
Samsung Galaxy M35
The Samsung Galaxy M35 followed in the footsteps of the Galaxy M series, which was a serial number generator for Samsung in the low-cost market. The Galaxy M35 is a genuine budget boss since Samsung integrated the M series’ typical features, such as a huge battery, a stunning tall display, and guaranteed Android updates.
It, like other Samsung smartphones, sported a magnificent 6.6-inch Super AMOLED full HD+ display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz that caught bright colours and deep blacks. It also includes Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection, which is unusual for this market.
Its enormous 6,000 mAh battery could last us nearly two days every day, however the box did not contain a charger or particularly fast charging (maximum 25W). With OIS, the phone’s primary 50-megapixel camera performed admirably, offering rich colours and details in enough illumination while excelling in low light thanks to Samsung’s Nightography feature.
Redmi A4 5G
This is the most reasonably priced smartphone on this list, so if you want to stay within your budget while without losing performance, this is the one to consider. With a large 6.88-inch LCD HD+ display and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, it’s a fantastic smartphone for fast scrolling through material. It features glass on the front and back, and it is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4s Gen 2 CPU, which is quite powerful for its price.
iQOO Z9x
The iQOO Z9x is another phone that has had a huge influence on the 2024 cheap market. The phone’s flat back, flat display, and flat corners gave it an incredibly high-end appearance and feel for its pricing point. With an IP64 rating, it was rather strong, with a plastic frame and back, but it did not seem cheap. Even when squeezed, the 6,000 mAh battery can easily last a day and a half on a single charge, and the 50-megapixel main camera takes great shots in good sunlight.
OnePlus Nord CE4 Lite 5G
The phone had a stunning 6.67-inch full HD+ AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Beautiful daylight photographs with loads of detail were produced by its 50-megapixel Sony LYT-600 sensor with OIS, which also works well in low light. Its enormous 5,500 mAh battery and remarkable 80W rapid charging capability—the fastest on the list—allow it to not only endure a full day of heavy use but also recharge swiftly.
