Pranav Hegde
While premium category phones like the iPhone Xs and Samsung Galaxy Note 9 crossed the Rs 1-lakh price point, companies like Oneplus and Nokia provided similar specifications for about half the price. But the real game changers were Chinese manufacturers who brought premium specifications in the budget segment. In 2019, the trend is likely to continue – and you will be spoiled for choice for power-packed phones under Rs 10,000. We take a look at 5 great budget buys for 2019 that will give you greater bang for your buck.
1. Redmi 7 and 7A
Xiaomi is already gearing up for the launch of the next instalment of its popular budget phone series — Redmi 7 and the 7A — in January 2019. In India, the Redmi 6A is one of the most popular smartphones — now available at a permanent discounted price for Rs 5,999 while the Redmi 6 is priced at Rs 7,499. Not much is available on the specifications of the Redmi 7 and 7A. Chinese regulator TENAA has only posted that the next generation phones will feature a 10W charger and will be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 or 636. Considering how good the specifications on the current generation Redmi 6 and 6A are, the 7A will be an upgraded version with better display, camera and battery.
2. RealMe A1
RealMe, an offshoot of the Chinese manufacturer Oppo, has been launching smartphones in the budget categories since its entry into the Indian market. The company recently launched the Realme 2 Pro and RealMe C1 for Rs. 13,990 and Rs. 7,499 respectively. Now, there is talk that the company may launch an entry-level option priced at around Rs 6,000. According to DroidShout, a site that tracks Android phones, not much is known about the phone, but it may get a MediaTek P60 or a Snapdragon 600 series chipset. The phone might have a dual camera setup at the rear and an AI-powered front shooter. The new entry-level phone will run on an Android 8.1 Oreo based ColorOS 5.2. The company already offers a budget phone Realme C1 priced at Rs 7,499.
3. Samsung ‘M’ Series
Several reports on the internet have hinted about Samsung's new series of budget smartphones — M10, M20 and M30 — which are expected to replace the Galaxy J and Galaxy A series. According to reports, the M30 and M20 could feature an Exynos 7885 whereas the M10 may be powered by the Exynos 7870 chipset. Leaks also showed that the M30 will have 4GB RAM and up to 128GB storage, a 5,000 mAh battery and Infinity U display. Looking at the rumoured specs, the M10 will be the cheapest option starting at Rs 10,000.
4. Vivo Y73
An unannounced phone was spotted on Vivo’s China website called the Vivo Y73. According to the website, it will be a budget phone priced at RMB 899 (roughly Rs 9,500). The Vivo Y73 will be a successor of the Y71 which was launched earlier this year. It will be a 5.99-inch HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio. The phone will be powered by an Octa core 1.4GHz Snapdragon 465 chipset. The handset maker is expected to ship the device with three RAM and storage configurations: 3GB + 32GB, 3GB + 64GB storage and 4GB + 64GB, which are expandable up to 256GB with a dedicated slot to add a microSD card.
The phone will sport a rear camera with a 13-megapixel sensor with LED flash and 5-megapixel selfie camera. The phone’s Face unlock and fingerprint sensor, available on the front and back respectively, provides an additional layer of security. The phone is expected to come in three shades -- Matte Black, Champagne Gold and Red.
5.Nokia 4
Nokia, since its comeback into the Indian market, has released many phones in different budget categories. The next rumoured launch for the brand will be called Nokia 4. According to reports, Nokia 4 will have a 5.7-inch IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1440p. The smartphone will be powered by a Quad Core 1.4 GHz Snapdragon 425 chipset. It will house 3GB RAM and have storage starting from 32GB which can be expanded to 128GB using microSD.
Which phone are you waiting for in 2019?
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