8 Best SmartPhones for Less Than kes 16500 in 2020
Smartphones are persistently or rather increasingly becoming a basic need and over time lucking a smartphone might compromise one’s ability to operate on a normal daily basis.
You don’t have to pay a lot these days to enjoy a mobile that’s sensible. And if you’re a penny-pinching budget contender, it might prove an enticing value.
Hence
Over time have been requested to compile a list on the under $150 or rather 15000 kshs. Priced phones.
At this price range there are a few compromises we going to make but generally I got something good for you.
Main features to consider in this category are
- The battery capacity – I strongly believe a good battery should do and this made a strong decision making point.
- Camera – at least not the very best but should be impressive
- Storage – this key and especially the expandable capacity of the phone I targeted a minimum of 32GB on storage
- RAM and Processor – we don’t expect the very best but at least 3Gigs should do
If you just getting started maybe you might check on key features to consider before buying a new smar-phone.
Minimum Requirements
- Size: 4 inches
- Resolution: 1280 x 720
- Camera: 8 MP
- RAM: 2 GB
- Storage: 16 GB
- Battery: 2000 mAH
Recommended Specs
- Size: 5 inches and above
- Resolution: 2560 x 1440
- Camera: 12 MP
- RAM: 4GB
- Storage: 64 GB – Expandable
- Battery: 4000 mAH
my choices aren’t in any order but will give the best 3 at the end.
So lets get to it …
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- Xiaomi Redmi note 7
- Xiaomi Redmi 9
- Huawei Y7 Prime
- TECNO Camon 12 Air
- Realme C3
- Huawei P40 LITE
- Motorola Moto G7 Power
- SAMSUNG GALAXY A10s
1. Redmi Note 7
| Body | 159.2 x 75.2 x 8.1 mm, 186 grams, Gorilla Glass 5 back, polycarbonate side frame. |
| Screen | 6.3″ IPS LCD, 1080 x 2340px resolution (19.59); ~409 ppi. |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 (14 nm) chipset octa-core CPU (4×2.2 GHz Kryo 260 & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 260); Adreno 512. |
| Memory | 4GB RAM, 64GB built-in storage, microSD slot support (takes the second SIM slot). |
| OS | Android 9.0 Pie; MIUI 10. |
| Rear camera | 48MP f/1.8, 1/2″, 0.8µm, PDAF support, 5MP depth sensor, LED flash; 1080p@30/60/120fps video recording, EIS. |
| Front camera | 13MP, 1080p@30fps video recording. |
| Battery | 4,000mAh, Quick Charge 4.0 support 18W (9V/2A). |
| Connectivity | Dual-SIM; LTE Cat.12 download/ Cat.13 upload, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band MIMO, 2×2 antennas, GPS; Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 2.0. |
| Misc | Rear-mounted fingerprint reader, FM radio support. |
Key Features
Main benefits
- Solid build quality with Gorilla Glass 5 on the front and back.
- Awesome battery life.
- Very good overall camera quality, especially in low light.
- Well geared in terms of connectivity – USB-C, 3.5mm jack, IR, microSD, FM radio, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac (but lacks NFC).
- Supports Quick Charge 4 (however the quick charger not included).
- Solid performance and great UI responsiveness.
Cons
- No 4K video recording even though the chipset supports it.
- The camera exposure metering and color accuracy in daylight leave more to be desired.
- No NFC
Conclusion
Not only does the Redmi Note 7 check all boxes for an outstanding mid-range unit, but it also redefines the budget sense. We will even plow ahead and say this is often one among the few times we’ve been so excited a few midranger since the first Moto G. And to be frank, it’s really hard to complain about small shortcomings at this price point.
Nonetheless, we do got to means some belongings you will need to consider before opening up your wallet. Firstly, the handset doesn’t accompany a quick charger within the box, there is no 4K video despite having a capable Snapdragon 660 chipset and therefore the camera still needs some fine tuning to realize better exposure and color accuracy in daylight photos. Hopefully, this one are often ironed out with a future software update.
Also, there’s no NFC so mobile payments in many countries are a no-go. And while the glass back are often considered as a plus over most competitors with plastic builds, it also can fall under the “cons” column. After all, glass is simpler to interrupt.
But as we already acknowledged, those are just small complaints that can’t overshadow the great aspects of the Redmi Note 7 like incredibly long battery life, powerful SoC for the selling price , great build quality, good camera experience and therefore the presence of an awesome array of connectivity options (USB-C, 3.5mm jack and it even has an IR blaster, a microSD slot, and FM radio).
Pricing click here
Competition
Everyone knows about the stiff competition within the mid-range segment and Xiaomi’s Redmi phones have reigned successfully in numerous markets across the world. We are happy to mention that the Redmi Note 7 makes no exception to the rule and it does so with none fancy over-the-top features. It’s a clean, simple, powerful, and affordable handset that focuses on what’s important. But there are a couple of alternatives that also got to be considered.
Sure, the Redmi Note 7 may be a great all-rounder, but we will not just lightly ignore the offerings from Huawei, Honor, Samsung and even Realme.
Keep in mind that the majority of the smartphones we chose for Redmi Note 7’s direct competitors are somewhat costlier but only by alittle , negligible, in most cases, margin.
Let’s start with Xiaomi’s big competitor in India – the Realme 2 Pro. Both phones sport similar hardware but the Redmi Note 7 takes the lead with more premium glass build, better battery life and more capable camera. Performance-wise, however, you will not find any significant difference so it depends on which skin overlay you favor – MIUI or ColorOS.
2. Huawei Y7 prime
Key Features
| Body | Dimensions 158.9 x 76.9 x 8.1 mm (6.26 x 3.03 x 0.32 in) Weight 168 g (5.93 oz) Build Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame SIM Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Screen | Type IPS LCD Size 6.26 inches, 97.8 cm2 (~80.0% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 450 |
| Memory | 3GB RAM32 GB internal |
| OS | Android 8.1, EMUI 8.2 |
| Rear camera | 13 MP, f/1.8, PDAF 2 MP, (depth) |
| Front camera | 16MP |
| Battery | Type Li-Ion 4000 mAh, non-removable Charging Charging 10W |
| Connectivity | Dual-SIM; LTE Cat.12 download/ Cat.13 upload, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band MIMO, 2×2 antennas, GPS; Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 2.0. |
| Misc |
Key benefits and advantages
- Runs on OS Android 8.1 (Oreo); EMUI 8.2, It presents Qualcomm SDM450 Snapdragon 450 (14 nm), It offers a quick CPU, It offers Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53, It comes with Adreno 506, it’s a high-end processor & graphics processor and it provides you with an outstanding performance with none lags.
- Huawei Y7 Prime (2019) features superb expandable memory via card slot, microSD, up to 512 GB (uses SIM 2 slot), outstanding internal memory of 32 GB, excellent 3 GB of RAM that is very useful in multitasking performance, offering a lot of RAM & oversized ram.
- Huawei Y7 Prime (2019) takes amazing photos with top quality , It offers a video of 1080p@30fps, it’s a selfie camera offers superb selfies and it’s an outstanding camera with many features.
- It has a loudspeaker, It presents 3.5mm jack, It gives you an outstanding active noise cancellation with dedicated mic, It contains Comms WLAN like Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, It presents Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE, It provides you with GPS, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, It offers a premium & impressive design.
- Has FM radio, It presents micro USB 2.0, It presents an upscale number of superb sensors like a fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass, it’s Charging 5V/2A 10W, It presents a non-removable Li-Ion 4000 mAh battery that lasts for an extended time.
- Comes with misc colors like Aurora Blue, Midnight Black, Coral Red, Its price is about 200 EUR, It presents full HD video , It can capture amazing images without losing any details, it offers a flash that permits you to require amazing photos in low light conditions, It offers nearly every connectivity like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB, 3G & 4G, it’s excellent & up-to-date software.
Disadvantages / cons
- Huawei Y7 Prime (2019) does not offer Corning Gorilla Glass,
- Comes with a non-removable battery,
- No NFC functionality,
- No Infrared,
- Doesn’t ii surport wireless charging,
- Does not have a water and dust resistance,
- Does not have a barometer or temperature sensor.
- And also Huawei no longer receive android updates as of 2020.
3. Samsung Galaxy A10s
Key Features
| Body | Dimensions 156.9 x 75.8 x 7.8 mm (6.18 x 2.98 x 0.31 in) Weight 168 g (5.93 oz) Build Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame SIM Single SIM (Nano-SIM) or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by |
| Screen | Type PLS TFT Size 6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~80.7% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) |
| Memory | Card slot microSDXC (dedicated slot) Internal 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GBRAM eMMC 5.1 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10, One UI 2.0 |
| Rear camera | 13 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), AF 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth) |
| Front camera | 8MP |
| Battery | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Connectivity | Dual-SIM; LTE Cat.12 download/ Cat.13 upload, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band MIMO, 2×2 antennas, GPS; Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 2.0. |
| Misc | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
Key Benefits
- The efficiency of the device relative to its value is sweet and appropriate for daily use.
- Without complications like the domain 3
- Big bezel-less panel with a little bit of a selfie camera looks like the Samsung A30.
- The images and output of the Samsung A10S rear cameras are pretty good, particularly in daylight, but the Xiaomi Note 7
- Additionally, the output of the selfie camera is decent and meets the objective in daylight, but the Meizu Note 6
- Giant high capacity battery that can survive work, surf online, make calls and play games for long hours.
- The Samsung Galaxy A10s is wonderfully sleek with modern dimensions and four color choices available.
- Fingerprint sensor to secure your handset like Nokia 2.2.
- Provide a dedicated SD card slot for the contact card
Disadvantages / Cons
- The resolution of the screen is not Full HD like Oppo A1 K
- The back of the handset is made of “glossy plastic” polycarbonate, which is easy to scrape and scratch.
- The mid-night camera is different from the Infinix Smart 3 Plus.
- Charging inlet technology is not a TYPE-C
- RAM capability 2 GB only a few major games require 3 GB
4. Tecno Camon 12 air
Key Features
| Body | Dimensions 164.2 x 76.1 x 8.2 mm (6.46 x 3.00 x 0.32 in) Weight 181 g (6.38 oz) Build Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame SIM Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Screen | Type IPS LCD Size 6.55 inches, 103.6 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) Resolution 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6761 Helio A22 (12 nm) Mediatek MT6762 Helio P22 (12 nm) |
| Memory | Card slot microSD Internal 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM eMMC 5.1 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), HIOS 5.5 |
| Rear camera | 16 MP, PDAF 5 MP 2 MP, (depth) |
| Front camera | 8MP |
| Battery | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Connectivity | Dual-SIM; LTE Cat.12 download/ Cat.13 upload, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Dual-band MIMO, 2×2 antennas, GPS; Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C 2.0. |
| Misc | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
Verdict
It’s an inexpensive device, but surely can surprise anyone. Four camera modules, one among which may be a front camera embedded within the display. Nimble work and a pleasant looking shell. High capacity battery and outstanding endurance. Good hardware and therefore the divided SIM tray. and every one of that for a smartphone worth but $150.
There are disadvantages also . the most important one is charging speed. Tecno Camon 12 Air is bad at gaming, and therefore the cameras quality (at night, in particular) leave much to be desired. Overall, Camon 12 Air may be a pretty workhorse. Just don’t forget to charge it in the dark .
5. Xiaomi Redmi 9
Key Features
| Body | 163.3 x 77 x 9.1 mm, 198g; Gorilla Glass 3 front, plastic back and frame. |
| Screen | 6.53″ IPS LCD, 1080 x 2340px resolution, 19.59 aspect ratio, 395ppi. |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm) Octa-core (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.8 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G52 MC2 GPU. |
| Memory | 3GB/4GB/6GB RAM, 32GB/64GB/128GB storage, dedicated microSD slot. |
| OS/Software | Android 10, MIUI 11 (MIUI 12 update coming soon) |
| Rear camera | Main size, 28mm equiv., PDAF. Ultrawide-angle 13MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1/3.1″ sensor, 1.12µm pixel 8MP, f/2.2, 1/4.0″ sensor, 1.12µm pixels, fixed focus; Macro 5MP, f/2.4, AF; 2MP depth sensor. |
| Front camera | 8MP, f/2.0, 1.12µm. Video recording Full HD 1080p@30fps. Front camera |
| Rear camera | Full HD 1080p@30fps. |
| Battery | 5,020 mAh, 18W fast charging (10W charger included) |
| Misc | NFC (market dependent); wireless FM radio, rear-mounted fingerprint reader, IR blaster; |
Advantages
- Beautiful and stunning silicone body
- Big, sharp high-contrast LCD panel, GG3
- Remarkable life of battery
- Strong standard of the picture and video for the category
- Latest Android version
- FM radio, NFC (global model), 3.5 mm jack, microSD, IR blaster
The Disadvantages
- Low brightness of the screen
- UI sometimes lags, poor gaming efficiency
- Slow charging
- Not even the simple safety of water
Conclusion and Alternatives
The Redmi 9 may be a budget offer that none can quite match at this point . If your budget is around €120 you almost certainly won’t find a far better phone. With a high-res screen, high-quality camera, and impressive battery life – the Redmi 9 exceeds the expectations.
The Redmi 9 isn’t that snappy, but it isn’t bad enough to be a deal-breaker. At this price levels, the performance is needless to say instead of disappointing. There are snappier options around, but you will have to sacrifice screen resolution and certain also battery life and camera quality.
Overall, the Redmi 9 is yet one more masterstroke by Xiaomi within the budget segment and if it matches what you would like to spend you will not regret getting it.
Finally, if you reside in India, your Redmi 9 Prime also will enjoy a water-repellent coating hence matching the Realme C3 competitors.
6. Realme C3
Key Features
| Body | Plastic back, plastic frame Gorilla Glass 3 front |
| Screen | 6.5-inch, HD+, IPS LCD |
| Rear Camera | Primary 12 MP, f/1.8 lens; Secondary 2 MP depth sensor; LED flash; 1080@30fps video recording |
| Front Camera | 5 MP, f/2.4; 1080p@30fps video recording |
| Chipset | MediaTek Helio G70, octa-core CPU (2×2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6×1.7 GHz Cortex-A55), Mali-G52 2EEMC2 |
| Memory | 3/32 GB or 4/64 GB, dedicated microSD slot |
| OS | Android 10; Realme UI 1.0, based on ColorOS 7 on top |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh, 10W charging |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, FM radio, microUSB 2.0 |
| Colors | Blazing Red, Frozen Blue |
| Misc | Face Unlock, Reverse Charging |
Pros
- Respectable performance and UX
- Battery mileage
- Good photos under favorable conditions
Cons
- Micro USB
- Speaker audio
- Camera fails under challenging light and long-range
Conclusion
When you buy a budget phone, you expect the basics. You’d like everything that matters, and zip that doesn’t matter. Hence, my analysis involved checking the results to see whether the general deal is value-packed or not?
Yes, that’s it! I’m pretty pleased with that
It’s as long as the top dollar thing offers you the top phone. But it’s impressive when the handset hits the spot without costing your arm or leg. So, being on a budget doesn’t mean you can’t have an honest mobile experience. The recently released Realme C3 is cheap and already seems to be ticking most of the boxes. It’s the main phone with the MediaTek G70 and hence the first phone to offer Android 10 out of the box under Rs . 10,000.
While Realme C3 is fair as chips starting at Rs. 6,999, I enjoy the very fact that it didn’t deter me from doing something I wanted to do.
7. Huawei P40 LITE
Key Specs
| Body | Front glass, plastic frame and back, 183g. |
| Display | 6.4″ LTPS IPS LCD, 1,080 x 2,310px, 199 aspect ratio, 398ppi. |
| Rear camera | Primary – 48MP, 26mm, f/1.8; PDAF; Ultrawide – 8MP, 13mm, fixed focus, f/2.4; Macro – 2MP, f/2.4, fixed focus; Depth sensor – 2MP. Video recording up to 1080p@30fps. |
| Front camera | 16MP, f/2.0; fixed focus lens. |
| OS/Software | Android 10, EMUI 10. No Google Services. Widevine CDM L3 support. |
| Chipset | Kirin 810 octa-core CPU (2×2.27 GHz Cortex-A76 & 6×1.88 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G52 MP6 GPU. |
| Memory | 6GB of RAM; 128GB storage; NV card slot (hybrid). |
| Battery | 4,200mAh, Huawei 40W SuperCharge. |
| Connectivity | Dual SIM; Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0; NFC; USB-C, 3.5mm jack. |
| Misc | Fingerprint reader (side-mounted |
Pros
Compact body, stunning colors
Large and punchy display
Top-notch battery life, blazing-fast charging
Class-leading performance
Latest Android 10 and EMUI 10
Great photography skills day and night
Cons
No splash resistance
Memory expansion only via NM cards
Has No Google Services though alternative app sources are available
Doesn’t surport 4K video , 1080p footage isn’t that good
There isn’t video stabilization
Conclusion
The Huawei P40 Lite may be a tangible upgrade over the P30 Lite – it’s better looking, with a bigger screen, offers far better performance, an additional camera (macro), and a beefier battery that’s charging tons faster at that. the sole thing P30 Lite has over the P40 Lite is Google Services.
Huawei P40 Lite review
The world doesn’t spin Google though albeit it looked that way until recently. Huawei is doing its best to survive without Google, and that we can see everything understanding eventually. additionally to all or any third-party stores and services, Huawei is building its ow,n and therefore the P40 Lite seems more of an entire package than, say, the respect 9X Pro. We found music and video services within Huawei’s proprietary multimedia apps, EMUI 10 has its own Digital Wellbeing alternative and Today page, also as Health app, it even somehow secured (Google’s) Widevine CDM support needed for Netflix and therefore the likes, and that we really hope Huawei’s TomTom-based mapping solution comes out soon.
App store and services aside, the Huawei P40 Lite is one among the simplest mid-range phones you’ll find thereupon powerful Kirin 810, incredible battery autonomy and versatile camera experience. And with such an inexpensive price at about €300, we will see many of us going for it. the sole blemish on this otherwise great product – finding your favorite apps – takes some more work than what you’re wont to , but it’s doable.
We enter greater detail what are the simplest ways to urge the foremost popular apps on this phone in another dedicated article, so you would possibly want to see it out.
8. Motorola Moto G7 Power
Key Features
| Body | Plastic back and frame; Splash resistant; Corning Gorilla Glass 3 front |
| Display | 6.2″ LTPS IPS LCD, HD+ 720x1570px resolution display (19.59 aspect ratio), 279 ppi. |
| Rear camera | 12MP, f/2.0 aperture, 1.25µm; phase detection autofocus, LED flash, Auto HDR. 4K/30fps video recording. |
| Front camera | 8MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1.12µm, fixed focus, 1080p/30fps video recording. |
| OS/Software | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 (14 nm) octa-core CPU (4×1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Gold & 4×1.8 GHz Kryo 250 Silver), Adreno 506 GPU. |
| Memory | 3/4GB of RAM, 32/64 GB storage; dedicated microSD slot for expansion. |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh Li-Po (sealed); 15W or 18W charging. |
| Connectivity | Single/dual SIM; LTE Cat. 7 (300Mbps download/50Mbps upload); Type-C USB2.0 port; Wi-Fi b/g/n; GPS, GLONASS; Bluetooth 4.2; FM radio. |
| Misc | Rear-mounted fingerprint reader; single speaker – the earpiece; 3.5mm jack. |
Pros
Large display (with a notch)
Splashy design with splash resistance
Massive battery and chart-topping battery life, and decently fast charging
Very good camera experience in dayling and 4K video capturing
Latest Android with a few nice Moto enhancements on top
Cons
The competition would offer better features at that price
Quite slippery, back is easy to scratch too
Conclusion
Obviously, the Moto G7 Power is not the most powerful smartphone in its bracket. Motorola is not any Xiaomi or Realme, so we never really expected Moto to match its budget offers. And yet, the facility comes very close, which is sort of a surprise.
The G7 Power features a large screen and a long-lasting battery, something that few makers are able to offer. you’ll even use it as an influence bank if you buy the acceptable cable.
The camera is sweet, yes, and therefore the chipset is dependable. But the opposite key strength lies within the vanilla Android Pie. The ninth major Android version remains a rare sight on budget phones and yet Moto has it on all of its devices.
So, as far as recommendations go – it’s quite simple. there’s nothing wrong with the Moto G7 Power and it’s worth your attention. it’s going to not have the flamboyant tricks of the competition but seems quite dependable in both hardware and software.
My favorite 3 from the list
- The Xiaomi Redmi 9 tops my list in this category with a moderately good processor enough battery irrespective of not having a fast charger.
- The Huawei p40 lite ranks 2nd in my list especially if you a lover of gaming and more power
- The Realme C3 comes close to being a major rival to Xiaomi especially providing splash-proof features
Wrap up conclusion
The under 150000 category offers pretty decent devices especially if you more interested in convenience and lesser into gaming and stuff of the sort.
What we all going to agree is a most phone with good battery sizes have or rather sucks in charging but if you aren’t crazy about first charging you can get a pretty decent phone here
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