Best Smartphones under Rs. 20,000 in Nepal [Updated]

The increasing demand for smartphones in Nepal has led to fierce competition in the market. Different brands are coming up with various features and pricing strategies that cater to the needs of the users’ demands. Moreover, the smartphone market is divided into different segments based on their price and performance. This article lists the best mobile phones under NPR 20,000 available in the Nepali market.

Smartphones that have a price under NPR 20,000 fall under the lower mid-range category. If your budget does not stretch much, but you still want a smartphone with good features, then the lower mid-range phones might be your pick. However, the market is flooded by the devices under this category, with several brands competing in this segment. 

With many devices offering unique features, consumers can be in a dilemma in choosing the best phone for them. So, if you are looking to buy a smartphone under NPR 20,000, then this article is for you. Here is our list of the best mobile phones under NPR 20,000 in Nepal.

List of best mobile phones under Rs. 20,000 in Nepal

1. Samsung Galaxy M12

Samsung Galaxy M12 surprised everyone with its specifications despite being a budget phone. It is able to secure the top position on our list of best smartphones under 20000 in Nepal. The smartphone breaks the trend of budget phones with boring features. A unique design and battery like other expensive Samsung Galaxy phones have drawn the attention of everyone.

The smartphone has a 6.5-inches PLS IPS screen with a refresh rate of 90 Hz. It has a plastic frame, glass front, and plastic back. Furthermore, the smartphone packs Exynos 850 processor, built on an 8 nm fabrication process. It is an octa-core processor with a clocking speed of 2.0 GHz. Similarly, the smartphone employs Mali-G52 for graphical handling. 

Samsung Galaxy M12 has storage options of 4/64 GB and 6/128 GB. It has a quad-camera, where the main camera is a 48 MP sensor with an f/2.0 lens. Likewise, the ultra-wide camera is a 5 MP with an aperture of f/2.2. And the remaining two cameras are macro and depth cameras with 2 MP sensors and a lens of f/2.4. Samsung Galaxy M12 sports an 8 MP Selfie camera for taking selfies and video calling. Both front and rear cameras can record the footage in 1080p at 30 frames per second.

For biometrics, it has a side-mounted fingerprint reader. A massive battery of 6,000 mAh fuels the smartphone. It supports 15W fast charging. Samsung Galaxy M12 is available in three different color options: Attractive Black, Elegant blue, and Trendy Emerald Green. It weighs 221 grams.

Samsung Galaxy M12 Specifications

Samsung Galaxy M12’s official price in Nepal is NPR 18,499 for the base variant of 4/64 GB. The smartphone is the best among other phones under the same price range due to its decent camera, which captures the picture with enough details, massive battery, clean software, and appealing design.

2. Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power is the latest addition to the Redmi 9-series of smartphones. Unlike other lower mid-range phones, Redmi 9 Power has attempted to deliver balanced specifications at a reasonable price. The phone has a plastic built body and features a new Aura Design with anti-fingerprint texture and curved unibody back that gives it a stylish look and, at the same time, feels comfortable to hold.

The device equips a 6.53-inch Full HD+ IPS display with a wider 19:5:9 aspect ratio, a standard 60Hz refresh rate, 400 nits Brightness, and a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The front display has a waterdrop-style notch that houses an 8MP AI selfie camera. The main highlight is its 48MP Quad Camera Array comprising a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and another 2MP macro sensor.

Powering the phone is the Qualcomm® SM6115 Snapdragon™ 662 – an 11 nm-based octa-core CPU backed with Adreno 610 GPU. The power-packed performance is complemented with 4GB LPDDR4X RAM and the latest technology 64GB UFS 2.1 and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage.

Redmi 9 Power runs on Android 10 based MIUI 12 out of the box. For power, the device packs a massive 6000 mAh battery with 18W Fast Charging and 2.5W Reverse Charging technology. Xiaomi ships a 22.5W Fast Charger inside the box.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power Specifications

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Power’s official price in Nepal is NPR 18,999 for the 4/64GB variant and NPR 20,999 for the 4/128GB variant. As opposed to POCO M2’s 6GB RAM, Redmi 9 Power only integrates a 4GB RAM. In terms of performance and GPU unit, the Helio G80 is slightly better than Snapdragon 662 used in this device. However, on the bright side, the performance is well balanced, and you get an upgraded camera setup and a larger battery cell.

3. POCO M2

POCO M2 is at the third spot in our list of best smartphones under Rs. 20,000 with its competitive pricing and good value for money deal. POCO re-entered the Nepali market with two budget devices – POCO M2 and POCO C3. POCO M2 is the rebranded version of Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime but comes with an additional 2GB of RAM – the only phone with 6GB RAM at this price range.

The body and frame are plastic built with a dual-textured finish that does not attract fingerprint marks. POCO M2 features a 6.53-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen with 1080 x 2340 pixels resolution and 394 PPI density. POCO has adopted P2i’s water-repellent design and a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on the screen for protection.

Also Read: Best Smartphones Under Rs. 30000 in Nepal

POCO M2 integrates MediaTek’s gaming-focused Helio G80 SoC – an octa-core CPU with Mali G52 MC2 GPU and 6 GB RAM for smooth and seamless app switching. The device runs on Android 10 based MIUI 11 and comes in either 64GB or 128GB internal storage options.

Its quad-camera array comprises a 13MP primary sensor accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide sensor, a 5MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. Upfront, it confines an 8MP AI Selfie camera inside the waterdrop notch. A 5000 mAh built-in battery fuels the POCO M2 with an 18W fast charging via a USB Type-C port.

POCO M2 Specifications

POCO M2 price in Nepal is NPR 18,999 for the 6/64GB variant and NPR 19,999 for the 6/128GB variant. The major selling factor of this phone is its 6GB RAM and enhanced camera setup. Offering great features at an affordable price tag, the POCO M2 definitely deserves its spot in our list of best smartphones under 20K.

4. Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime

The next device on our list is Xiaomi budget-friendly Redmi 9 Prime, which is a rebrand of Redmi 9. The device has a plastic body with a fingerprint-like texture in the back and a matte finish at the side. It also features P2i splash-proof design.

On the front, it equips a 6.53-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD screen with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and a 60 Hz refresh rate. The waterdrop notch on the top houses a selfie camera, and the display has Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

Redmi 9 Prime is powered by a 2.0 GHz MediaTek Helio G80 octa-core processor, GPU is ARM G52 ticking at 1000MHz; also the HyperEngine Game technology has improved the gaming experience. As for the memory configuration, you get 4GB LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB/128GB internal storage. The phone operates on Android 10 with MIUI 12.

The AI Quad Camera setup packs a 13MP primary sensor, an 8MP wide-angle lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth camera. The selfie shooter is 8MP with an f/2.0 aperture. A 5020mAh battery keeps the device running with 18W USB Type-C fast charging on top. Though only a 10W charger ships inside the box.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime Specifications

Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime price in Nepal is NPR 17,999 for the 4/64GB variant and NPR 18,999 for the 4/128GB variant. Offering a high-resolution screen, a good quality camera, a decent gaming experience on budget, and impressive battery life, the Redmi 9 Prime is a value for money deal under Rs. 20,000.

5. Motorola Moto G9 Play

Moto G9 Play is a budget offering from the brand that gives a tough competition to offerings from Xiaomi, POCO, Realme, etc. It has a plastic body with a water repellent coating. The glass front has a waterdrop-style notch confining a selfie camera.

Moto G9 Play features a 6.5-inch IPS TFT LCD ultrawide screen with an HD+ resolution of 1600 x 720pixels and a 20:9 aspect ratio. A triple camera system in the back comprises a 48MP primary sensor, a 2MP depth field sensor, and a 2MP macro sensor. An 8MP f/2.2 sensor resides inside the waterdrop notch for selfies.

An 11 nm process-based octa-core Qualcomm SM6115 Snapdragon 662 CPU powers the device with Adreno 610 GPU clocked at 950 MHz. Adding to the super-responsive AI performance is 4GB RAM and 64GB/128GB of built-in internal storage. Motorola Moto G9 Play runs on near-stock Android 10 OS out of the box, giving you a clean, ad-free Android experience.

An integrated 5000 mAh battery fuels the device with 15W fast charging via a USB Type-C port. The device ships with a 20W TurboPower Charging adapter inside the box. Moreover, Motorola has included a fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock for security.

Motorola Moto G9 Play Specifications

Motorola Moto G9 Play price in Nepal is NPR 19,990 for the 4/128GB variant. Priced under NPR 20,000, Motorola G-series’ Moto G9 Play packs a Snapdragon 662 processor, a 48MP triple camera system, and a 5000 mAh battery with a 2-day standby.

6. Micromax In Note 1

Micromax made its comeback in the year 2020, and the latest offering from the brand is Micromax In Note 1. The smartphone is able to secure a good position in our list of best smartphones under 20000 in Nepal, giving tough competition to the brands like Oppo, Xiaomi, etc.

Micromax In Note 1 sports a 6.67-inches IPS LCD screen and has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. The oleophobic coating protects the screen of the smartphone. The unlocking options for the phone are drawing the pattern, using a fingerprint reader, or using face recognition.

On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android 10. The processing power of the Micromax In Note 1 comes from the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset. It has a 12 nm fabrication process. Similarly, the octa-core processor has a clocking speed of up to 2.0 GHz. In addition, the smartphone features Mali-G52 MC2 to look after the graphics.

The storage options for the smartphone are 4 GB RAM with 64 GB storage or 128 GB storage. It also has an option for a dedicated microSDXC card to expand the memory. Micromax In Note 1 packs a quad-camera on the rear panel with a 48 MP main sensor. The other cameras are a 5MP ultrawide camera, 2 MP macro camera, and 2 MP depth camera. For video calls and taking selfies, it has a 16 MP front camera. Both the cameras can capture the video in 1080p at 30 frames per second.

A large battery of Li-Po 5000 mAh fuels the phone. It supports 18W fast charging and reverses charging as well. Micromax In Note 1 has two colors: Green and White. It weighs 196 grams.

Micromax In Note 1 Specifications

The price of Micromax In 1 Note 1 in Nepal is NPR 17,990 for the 4/64 GB model and NPR 19,990 for the 4/128 GB model. You get a good performance, clean software experience, and social media-ready pictures from the camera for a decent price. Hence, the smartphone sits in the middle of the list of best smartphones under 20000 in Nepal.

6. Samsung Galaxy M11

Samsung Galaxy M11 is the third M-series device of 2020 and the cheapest alternative to Galaxy M31 and Galaxy M21. It has a polycarbonate body with a triple camera setup and a fingerprint sensor in the back. At the same time, the glass front features a 6.4-inch PLS IPS LCD panel with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1560 pixels. The display has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a punch hole housing a selfie camera.

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 450 chipset powers up the Galaxy M11, an Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 processor coupled with Adreno 506 GPU to deliver performance. There are two variants memory-wise – one with 3/32 GB and another with a 4/64GB storage option. The phone ships with Samsung’s One UI 2.0 based on Android 10 OS.

It comes with a triple camera system at the back featuring a 13MP primary lens, a 5 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. There is an 8MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture for selfie snapper upfront. Besides, a massive 5000 mAh battery with the support of 15W Fast Charging technology using the USB Type-C port fuels the device.

Samsung Galaxy M11 Specifications

Samsung Galaxy M11 price in Nepal is NPR 17,899 for the 3/32GB variant. Galaxy M11 is a budget segment phone with decent built quality and a punch hole in-display selfie. However, it uses an HD+ LCD screen instead of an AMOLED display. The camera performance is average, and it incorporates an outdated CPU.

7. Realme C15

Realme C15 brings a slight upgrade over the Realme C12 in camera and charging technology. Besides this, the device offers similar specs to that of the Realme C12. It also features the Geometric Gradient design and attaches the same 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel with a waterdrop style min-drop notch. The display features are the same as the ones you get in the Realme C12.

For processing power, Realme integrates an octa-core MediaTek Helio G35 SoC for CPU and PowerVR GE8320 GPU. To enhance the performance, Realme C15 comes in either 3GB or 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 32GB/64GB of expandable internal storage. On the software side, the device operates on Realme UI 1.0 with Android 10 OS.

Unlike Realme C12, the Realme C15 features an AI Quad Camera setup with the same 13MP primary sensor, but the Realme C15 does not have a macro sensor. Instead, it has an additional 8MP ultrawide angle lens, a 2MP retro lens, and the same 2MP Black & White portrait lens. Upfront, an 8MP selfie shooter sits inside the mini-drop notch.

The main highlighting feature is its massive 6000 mAh high-capacity battery that supports 18W Fast Charge via a micro USB connection. It also has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Realme C15 Specifications

Realme C15 price in Nepal is NPR 18,590 for the 4/64GB variant. The device is a decent choice in the budget segment, offering a stylish design, a massive 6000 mAh battery, and an average overall performance.

8. OPPO A15

OPPO A15 is the successor to the Oppo A12 and comes with a sleek and stylish design. The body is plastic built, and the glass front equips a 6.52 inch IPS LCD panel with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels in a 20:9 aspect ratio. The phone has a waterdrop notch to house the single 5MP f/2.4 aperture front-facing camera.

It features a rear triple camera setup, consisting of a 13MP primary sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor, along with the LED flash arranged inside the square camera module in a symmetrical order. It integrates a 4230 mAh battery with 10W charging via a micro USB port.

The MediaTek Helio P35 SoC powers the Oppo A15. It is a 12nm chipset with an octa-core CPU and PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The phone gets a single memory configuration of 3 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage and runs on ColorOS 7.2 based on Android 10 out of the box.

OPPO A15 Specifications

OPPO A15 price in Nepal is NPR 18,590 for the 3/32GB variant. The phone is a bit overpriced when compared to the features it offers. Also, considering that other brands offer superior features and specifications at a more-or-less same price range, OPPO A15 is not competent enough to rank higher in our list of best smartphones under NPR 20,000.

9. Vivo Y12s

Vivo Y12s is a budget-oriented smartphone from the company, which comes as an update to the Vivo Y12 with an updated processor, larger screen, and reverse charging feature. Vivo Y12s has a polycarbonate body with a gradient color design and a glossy finish on the back. The phone features a dew-drop notch and a side fingerprint sensor.

The device offers a 6.51-inch Halo FullView LCD panel with an HD+ resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels in a 20:9 aspect ratio. The waterdrop notch houses a single 8 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture as a front-facing camera. The rear dual-camera setup comprises a 13 MP primary sensor and a 2 MP depth sensor, along with the LED flash arranged vertically inside the camera module.

Powering the Y12s is an octa-core MediaTek Helio P35 processor with PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The P35 is an old processor and underperforming even for phones at this price range. The device is available in the single memory configuration of 3GB RAM coupled with 32 GB of internal storage. Besides, the phone runs on FuntouchOS 11 based on Android 10 out of the box.

The Y12s integrates a massive 5000 mAh battery to fuel the device. The phone still uses a micro USB 2.0 port for charging with no support for fast charging.

Vivo Y12s Specifications

Vivo Y12s price in Nepal is NPR 16,999 for the 3/32GB variant. The overall specifications and features you are getting at this price are not that great. Also, there are several other smartphone devices available in the market that offer comparatively superior specifications at the same price range.

Features you should consider before buying mobile phones under Rs. 20,000

The devices falling under 20,000 are a lower mid-range phone and should offer a decent set of features at a reasonable price. It is essential to choose the device that best feeds your need as many phones in this segment focus on one or two features, and you might have to compromise some other features. However, some devices provide good value for money. 

For someone looking at phones at this price-segment should consider the following features.

Display

You should consider the type and resolution of the display. In this price segment, most devices offer an HD+ or Full HD+ LCD panel. A phone with an FHD+ screen would be an ideal option.

Processor and OS

A simple thumb rule is to look for a processor with a higher number of cores and higher clock speed if you are a heavy user. Choose devices with OS based on the latest Android version and with less bloatware. It is advisable to select phones that receive security updates regularly in the future.

Camera

There is a lot of hype for cameras, with many brands trying to outdo each other by throwing many cameras and more megapixels in a device. However, all these are tricks to lure customers. Also, more megapixel cameras do not mean better images. Consider factors like autofocus, image processing, aperture, ISO levels, and better optimization.

Memory

The RAM configuration on the device also affects the performance of the device. The phones with higher RAM and better optimization will be faster, and with more increased ROM will have more storage. If you are a multi-tasker, go for a higher RAM option. At this price segment, most devices offer 4GB of RAM and expandable storage.

Battery

Most devices offer more than 4000 mAh battery capacity in this segment. However, it is advisable to look for phones with better battery optimization and higher battery life, as higher mAh does not always mean higher battery life.

Security

Most devices in this price segment provide a physical fingerprint sensor, which is either rear-mounted or side-mounted. Face Unlock is also a standard security option.

If your budget stretches a bit more and you want a good mid-range phone, you can check our list of best smartphones under Rs.25000, Rs 30000, Rs.40,000 and Rs. 50,000 In Nepal.