Three smartphone picks under Rs 15,000

Chaitanya Gudipatymoneycontrol.comLenovo Zuk Z1 — A good performer at modest price

Specs Sheet: 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD (1080×1920 pixels; 401 ppi) display | Quad-core 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor | 3GB RAM | 64GB internal storage (not expandable) | 13MP rear camera + 8MP front camera | 4100 mAh battery | Cyanogen OS 12.1 | Price: Rs 13,499

Lenovo Zuk Z1 has a no-nonsense design with a curved back that gives a good grip and ensures that the massive 4100 mAh battery is well-hidden. It runs Cyanogen OS 12.1 (Android Lollipop 5.1.1) which allows users a good variety of customisation for cosmetic features such as themes and icon packs without drawing a lot of resources from the phone.

It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, a 3GB RAM and a 64GB internal memory — a combination that few phones offer at the price. Though the processor is an old one, it isn’t a drawback for everyday usage and it shouldn’t be considered a deal-breaker.  

Its full HD IPS display (LCD) is vibrant and bright. In fact, so bright that one can restrict its brightness to 50 percent throughout the day. It also offers the option to moderate video dot density, or dots per inch (DPI) in levels between 320 and 560.

The phone lasted about a day and a half on moderate usage, which included playing music, a 60-minute video, clicking a few pictures, browsing, using social media apps and a few calls. Games like Asphalt 8, Air Attack 2 don’t stretch the battery thin. However, after 25-30 minutes of continuous playing, the rear panel of the phone starts heating.

An exceptional fingerprint scanner is the perfect icing on the cake for Lenovo Zuk Z1. Users get about 10 chances to register a fingerprint. This makes the fingerprint sensor work like a charm. Lenovo could, however, have done away with pressing the ‘Home’  or ‘Wake-up’ buttons to activate the sensor. It saves a few seconds while waking up the phone.

Unlike many other smartphones, Lenovo Zuk Z1’s speaker is located on the bottom edge next to the type-C charging port. While this placement offers no barrier when listening to music with the phone resting on its back or belly, your palm may muffle the audio output while holding the phone in portrait mode. The pre-loaded AudioFX app allows for greater control on playback with presets like Rock, Jazz, Classical, Dance, Folk, among others.

The cameras — 13MP rear and 8MP front — take decent pictures and may leave the user asking for more. Images start becoming blurry when zoomed in. Having said that, the pictures are decent enough to share Facebook, Instagram and or similar apps. 

Why should you buy it?

Lenovo Zuk Z1 is power-packed performer at a modest price. A vibrant full HD display, coupled with 3GB RAM, massive 64GB storage. And a battery that lasts a day and a half should make it a worthy bet._PAGEBREAK_Moto G4 Plus — The ideal budget device

Specs Sheet: 5.5-inch full HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Snapdragon 617 1.5 GHz octa-core processor | 3GB RAM + 32GB (non-expandable) | 3,000 mAh | 16MP rear camera + 5MP front camera | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Price: Rs 14,999

The Moto G series has been an excellent alternative to those who can’t afford Nexus phones. Moto G4 Plus — the latest smartphone in the series — is no exception.  Sometimes, a phone’s specifications fail to match its performance and Moto G4 Plus remains true to its word.

The smartphone picks up from where Moto G3 left off — Motorala has ridden the device of a bulky frame; it is slimmer and handier now. It is also rich on specifications, and has an improved camera and fingerprint scanner.

The phone does what is expected of it — it has great call quality, excellent display with minimal heating issues, good camera and equally good audio-video output. Moderate usage comprising calls, browsing, multi-tasking and gaming lets the phone last just over a day. A couple of times the phone died within 24 hours of usage. But Motorola’s TurboPower feature makes up for the battery dissipation. Almost true to Motorola's claims, the feature gives about 6 hours of power on 15 minutes of charging assuming usage is moderate.

For a budget phone, Motorala G4 Plus delivers high on photographs. The rear camera scores on colour reproduction, depth and is capable of capturing good images, which can be shared on the Internet or even printed. The camera is almost free of any shutter-lag. The same can be said for the front snapper. The HDR feature delivers excellent results and there is a professional mode for those who want that extra bit of control on photos.

Colour reproduction on Moto G4 Plus’s full HD display is excellent. Images displayed are vivid and bright. However, it is a fingerprint magnet. The display is prone to fingerprint smudges and requires a bit of cleaning every now and then — something that can be solved with a high-quality screen guard.

The device runs Android Marshmallow and offers OS updates as and when they’re released. Many smartphones lag the Moto G series on this feature.

While setting up the fingerprint scanner you need to calibrate your fingers carefully. You get five turns to register a set of fingerprints. This marginally reduces the chances of phone unlocking itself at the first attempt. We’ve had a bit of trouble using this fingerprint unlock feature.

Why should you buy it?

If you are iffy about OS updates, the Moto G4 Plus is the phone for you. It offers great call quality, excellent display, very good camera performance and good audio-video output. Moto G4 Plus stays true to its specifications and performance._PAGEBREAK_

Asus Zenfone Max — Be carefree about battery

Specs sheet: 5.50-inch HD (1280 x 720)| Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 1.5 GHz, Octa-Core| 3GB + 32GB (expandable) | 13MP rear camera + 5 MP front camera |Android 6.0 Marshmallow | 5,000 mAh | Price: Rs 12,999

Asus Zenfone Max is a much-needed phone in the series. Essentially, it is an upgraded variant of the epoynmous phone. The phone looks the same as its predecessor — bulky candy-bar design, textured back panel. It is not an exceptionally good-looking device, unlike many of its peers in the price range. It isn’t an eyesore either.

The phone runs Android Marshmallow out of the box and has a few tricks up its sleeve like app permission, Google Now on Tap and battery optimisation feature.

Its display is good enough for watching videos and viewing pictures but it could have been a full HD display, given its price point. Camera performance is good but pictures need more detailing. It offers a decent colour reproduction but pictures taken in low-light are grainy. It captures subjects in dark light but one would see finer details missing. To sum it up, the camera is good and if you  don’t expect exceptional pictures from it, you won’t be disappointed.

A major upgrade with Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor takes care of seamless multi-tasking needs. It is ideal for those who rest assured expect their phone to last for a few days. This phone can take most of the apps you throw at it  — a couple of apps, browsing with multiple tabs and videos running simlutaneously don’t result in a phone freeze.

Asus Zenfone Max’s massive 5,000-mAh battery lasts about three days and at times stretches in to the fourth day. This is a life-saver and rules out carrying a charger or a battery pack. It can also be used as a power bank for your USB-powered devices. 

Why should you buy it?

Good display and excellent battery backup make Asus Zenfone Max an automatic choice for a smartphone purchase. If you use a phone for basic purposes like making calls and watching videos go for Asus Zenfone Max.