Best Mobile Phones Under Rs. 20,000 in Nepal [Updated]

 

The lower mid-range segment of smartphones has got a lot of great contenders for the crown. An average consumer could very easily and wrongfully be swayed by those cheeky smartphone pushers. Therefore, it is necessary to know what you’re buying before going on to buy them. At the price of NPR 20000, you can get a lot of great phones. Here is our updated pick for the best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal.

Best mobile phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal:

10. OPPO A15

First off, we have the OPPO A15. It is the successor to last year’s A12 but doesn’t bring much of an upgrade. The gem-cut finish of its predecessor has been substituted with something much sleeker this time around. It has a polycarbonate body and OPPO has gone with a squarish camera module. This houses the 13MP main sensor alongside a 2MP depth and a 2MP macro lens.

Like the OPPO A12, this one has a traditional fingerprint scanner as well. Coming to the display, you’re greeted with a 6.52-inches IPS LCD panel that gets an HD+ resolution. While the side bezels and the notch housing the 5MP selfie camera are pretty minimal, one can notice a rather big bottom bezel.

Powering the phone is MediaTek’s Helio P35 SoC. This is nowhere as near as competent with some other entries that rank higher in this list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. OPPO A15 comes in a single memory option of 3/32GB. The phone gets its fuel from a 4230mAh battery that supports 10W charging via a Micro USB port.

OPPO A15 Specifications:

• Display: 6.52-inches IPS LCD display, 269PPI, HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels)
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 3GB RAM, 32GB (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 10 with OPPO’s ColorOS 7.2
• Rear Camera: Triple (13MP primary, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 5MP sensor (notch)
• Fingerprint sensor: Physical (rear-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / BDS, Micro-USB
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity
• Battery: 4230mAh battery with 10W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 18,590 (3/32GB)

9. Vivo Y12s

Hogging the 9th spot in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal goes to the Vivo Y12s. Thanks to various hip marketing campaigns by the team at Vivo Nepal, the phone managed to be a hit. But make no mistake, it’s a mediocre phone at best with a surprisingly good set of cameras. Plus, it also has a pretty beautiful design. While it only has a dual-camera setup, the phone can take impressive photos.

More specifically, it has a 13MP primary lens and a 2MP depth sensor. Upfront, you get an 8MP selfie camera inside a traditional teardrop notch. Other than this, Vivo Y12s has a pretty decent battery as well. Its 5000mAh cell will easily last you throughout the day. However, it only supports a maximum of 10W of power—that too via a micro USB port.

Moving on, the phone has a 6.51-inches HD+ screen. As a result, the contents don’t look as sharp here. Performance-wise, it is powered by MediaTek’s Helio P35 SoC with either 3/4GB of RAM. The 32/128GB internal storage is expandable too. But right now, Vivo Nepal has only brought the lower-end 3/32GB variant here.

Vivo Y12s Specifications:

• Display: 6.51-inches IPS LCD display, 270PPI, HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels)
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/128GB (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 10 with Vivo’s FunTouch OS 11
• Rear Camera: Dual (13MP primary, 2MP depth)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (notch)
• Fingerprint sensor: Physical (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Galileo / BeiDou, Micro-USB
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Ambient Light, E-Compass, Gyro
• Battery: 5000mAh battery with 10W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 17,999 (3/32GB)

8. Samsung Galaxy A12

Taking the 8th position in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is the newly launched Samsung Galaxy A12. And you could probably already tell the phone’s quality by how far it ranks in our list. For a phone that costs around 20K, Samsung has failed to deliver a notable level of performance here. A12 is powered by a rather dated Helio P35 chipset which has been complemented by 4GB of RAM.

In terms of storage, you can go with either a 64 or 128GB variant. Among the few redeeming qualities of the phone is its quad-camera setup that consists of a 48MP primary, a 5MP ultra-wide, a 2MP depth, and a 2MP macro lens. Similarly, there’s an 8MP selfie shooter inside the “Infinity-V” notch. You’re also getting a big 5000mAh battery that should easily last you a day or two. Juicing it up will take a while with its 15W charging mechanism.

Besides this, the Galaxy A12 compromises on all other fronts. As I mentioned earlier, the Helio P35 shouldn’t exist in a phone at this price-point. While it will handle lightweight tasks just fine, we’ve come to expect a little more on phones under 20K. Its 6.5″ TFT LCD screen is equally underwhelming too. While the competition is offering an FHD screen, Samsung has stuck to an HD panel here.

Samsung Galaxy A12 Specifications:

• Display: 6.5-inches PLS TFT LCD display, 270PPI, HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels)
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio P35 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 3/4/6GB RAM, 32/64/128GB (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 10 with One UI on top
• Rear Camera: Quad (48MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (notch)
• Fingerprint sensor: Physical (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / Galileo, USB Type-C
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Virtual Proximity, Virtual Light Sensing
• Battery: 5000mAh battery with 15W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 18,999 (4/64GB) | Rs. 19,999 (4/128GB)

7. Realme C15 (Qualcomm Edition)

Now the 7th spot in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal goes to the new Relame C15 (Qualcomm Edition). As the name implies, it introduces a Snapdragon processor contrary to the standard Realme C15 featured MediaTek’s Helio G35 (12nm) CPU. As a result, you’re getting a better thermal efficiency on the Qualcomm Edition with its 11nm Snapdragon 460 chipset. This CPU has been coupled with 4GB of RAM with up to 128GB of internal storage.

Talking about performance, the phone runs on Realme UI 1.0 on top of Android 10. Now let’s get into the design of the Realme C15 which is one of the highlights of this phone. It has a subtle polycarbonate finish and the quad cameras have been arranged inside a squarish module. It also has a traditional fingerprint scanner at the back for security purposes. The phone has a big 6000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging. Unfortunately, it charges via the Micro USB connection.

On the display side of things, Realme C15 (Qualcomm) comes with a 6.5″ IPS LCD panel but with an inferior HD+ resolution like the ones above it. It has thin bezels all-around while the bottom bezel is rather noticeable. Additionally, you get an 8MP front-facing camera inside the traditional teardrop notch.

Realme C15 (Qualcomm Edition) Specifications:

• Display: 6.5-inches IPS LCD display, 270PPI, HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels)
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 (11nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 3/4GB RAM, 32/64GB (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 10 with Realme UI 1.0
• Rear Camera: Quad (13MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (notch)
• Fingerprint sensor: Physical (rear-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / Glonass / BDS, Micro-USB
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass
• Battery: 6000mAh battery with 18W Charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 19,990 (4/64GB)

6. Redmi 9 Prime (Redmi 9)

Moving on, the number 6 position in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal goes to the new Redmi 9 Prime from Xiaomi. Redmi 9 Prime is a rebrand of the regular Redmi 9 (which was already available in Nepal as well) for the Indian market. Anyway, it is the successor to last year’s Redmi 8. Xiaomi has dialed back the design by a bit.

Most noticeably, Redmi 9 has quad-cameras as opposed to dual rear cameras in Redmi 8. This vertical camera arrangement looks similar to that of POCO X2 or the Redmi K30 which is complemented with a distinct circular layout around it. Unfortunately, Xiaomi has downgraded the Gorilla Glass 5 protection on Redmi 8’s display to an older Gorilla Glass 3 on the Redmi 9.

Talking about the display, you get a bigger 6.53-inches FHD+ IPS LCD panel. Getting to the cameras, you get a 13MP main lens, an 8MP wide-angle lens, a 5MP macro, and finally a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is an 8MP lens inside the aforementioned notch. Performance-wise, it has the MediaTek Helio G80 SoC which is another gaming-focused silicon. That is complemented by either 3/4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. It has a huge 5020mAh battery with support for 18W charging although you’ll only get a 10W charger inside the box.

Redmi 9 Prime (Redmi 9) Specifications:

• Display: 6.53-inches IPS LCD panel, 394PPI, FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels)
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 11 on top of Android 10
• Rear Camera: Quad (13MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 5MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP lens (notch)
• Security: Physical fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Electronic Compass
• Battery: 5020mAh with 18W fast charging (only 10W charger inside the box)
• Price in Nepal:
  • Redmi 9: Rs. 16,999 (3/32GB) | Rs. 17,999 (4/64GB)
  • Redmi 9 Prime: Rs. 17,999 (4/64GB) | Rs. 18,999 (4/128GB)
    
• Read our review of Redmi 9.
• Watch our review of Redmi 9 (Prime).

5. Motorola Moto G9 Play

Now, the fifth spot in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal goes to the Moto G9 Play. Motorola’s re-entry into the domestic market was an interesting development (to say the least) and the company has managed to make strides with its couple of great budget phones. Here, Moto G9 Play gives a tough competition to offerings from Xiaomi and POCO but ultimately falls short in a few aspects.

Let’s first talk about the things to love on this phone. As with other Motorola phones, the G9 Play runs on near-stock Android 10 as well. So if you want a clean, ad-free Android experience, this is the one to get. Also, its cameras as quite good. You get a 48MP main sensor alongside two 2MP sensors for macro, portrait images. Upfront, the phone comes with an 8MP sensor inside the teardrop notch.

On the performance front, the Moto G9 Play is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 662 SoC. This has been paired with 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. Coming to the front, the phone has a 6.5-inch IPS HD+ display. Had the company gone with an FHD screen, this could’ve easily ranked ahead in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. G9 Play gets its juice from a big 5000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging.

Motorola Moto G9 Play Specifications:

• Display: 6.5-inches IPS LCD panel, 269PPI, HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels)
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 10
• Rear Camera: Triple (48MP main, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP lens (notch)
• Security: Physical fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted)
• Connectivity: Hybrid Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / LTEPP / SUPL, USB Type-C, NFC
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Ambient Light, Sar
• Battery: 5000mAh with 15W charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 19,990 (4/128GB)
• Read our review of Motorola Moto G9 Play.
• Watch our review of Motorola Moto G9 Play.

4. Micromax In Note 1

Back in the day (about 5-6 years ago), Indian smartphone makers including Micromax ruled the Nepalese smartphone market. But with grueling competition from Chinese vendors like Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo, etc., they faded away from existence. Recently, Micromax made a comeback in the Indian market by capitalizing on the growing anti-China sentiment in the country.

Consequently, the company is back in Nepal as well. As of now, only the In Note 1 is available in Nepal which has managed to take a spot in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. The phone packs in some serious firepower as well. It is powered by MediaTek’s Helio G85 SoC which is a slight upgrade over the G80, specifically in terms of GPU (+50MHz). Complementing the chipset is 4GB of RAM and either 64/128GB of internal storage.

Micromax In Note 1 also has a decent 6.67-inches FHD+ LCD display. In terms of cameras, you’re getting a quad-lens setup consisting of a 48MP primary, a 5MP wide-angle, a 2MP macro, and a 2MP depth sensor. One major talking point about it is also its stock Android OS. Plus, the company has also promised 2 years of OS and 3 years of security updates for the phone.

Micromax In Note 1 Specifications:

• Display: 6.67-inches IPS LCD panel, 395PPI, FHD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels)
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 10 (Android 11 update on April 2021)
• Rear Camera: Quad (48MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 16MP lens (punch-hole)
• Security: Physical fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / BDS, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Compass
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 19,990 (4/64GB) | Rs. 21,490 (4/128GB)

3. POCO M2

POCO’s entrance into the Nepalese market was a long time coming considering how beloved Xiaomi is in the country. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint either. The POCO M2 with its competitive pricing was a definite head-turner and therefore, is at the number 3 spot in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. Granted that it’s a rebrand of the Xiaomi Redmi 9/9 Prime above, the POCO M2 is undoubtedly one of the best bang for your buck at this price point. But we hear its stock is almost depleted by now so if you want to grab one, you’re gonna have to hurry up.

The major talking point of the phone is most definitely its 6GB of RAM—and you’re not gonna find any other phone that offers this much working space in this list. While its inspiration, the Redmi 9, is also offered with 6 gigs RAM in other markets, that variant isn’t available in Nepal, accentuating the appeal of POCO M2 even more. Besides this, the phone is powered by the same MediaTek Helio G80 SoC.

With this gaming-focused silicon, you can have a smooth PUBG Mobile gameplay under smooth graphics and ultra frame rates. In terms of storage, the phone is available in either 64 or 128GB configuration, both of which cost under 20K. Other highlights of POCO M2 include a 6.53-inches FHD+ display, 13MP quad-camera, a fingerprint sensor, a big 5000mAh battery, and 18W fast charging.

POCO M2 Specifications:

• Display: 6.53-inches IPS LCD panel, 394PPI, FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels)
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G80 (12nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 11 on top of Android 10
• Rear Camera: Quad (13MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 5MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP lens (notch)
• Security: Physical fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyro, Proximity, Electronic Compass
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W fast charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 18,999 (6/64GB) | Rs. 19,999 (6/128GB)

2. Redmi 9 Power

Likewise, the number two spot in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 goes to the new Redmi 9 Power. Before you go off about its shortcomings against the POCO M2 above, listen to this. Contrary to the M2’s 6GB of RAM, it only gets 4GB of memory, yes. Plus, the Snapdragon 662 is slightly inferior to the Helio G80 in terms of raw power. However, we believe it delivers a more balanced performance compared to the POCO M2—thereby making it a worthier investment. Let me explain.

First off is the performance itself. Here, the 11nm Snapdragon 662 is a lot more energy-efficient than the Helio G80. As a result, it will not heat up as much as the competition. And about that performance difference, it’s dismissably marginal—which is less than 10%. Additionally, the 4GB of onboard RAM is not the end of the world itself. It will handle your everyday usage including multitasking just fine.

Now let’s talk about the reasons to choose this over the POCO M2. Besides the balanced performance, you get an upgraded camera setup. Its 48MP camera produces comparatively better-looking images with great details. The wideangle, macro, and portrait images are a lot-lot better as well. Redmi has really worked on the color science side of things here. Also, it offers a better battery life thanks to the bigger 6000mAh cell that supports 18W fast charging.

Redmi 9 Power Specifications:

• Display: 6.53-inches IPS LCD panel, 394PPI, FHD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels)
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 64GB UFS 2.1 / 128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 12 on top of Android 10
• Rear Camera: Quad (48MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP lens (notch)
• Security: Physical fingerprint scanner (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient Light, Proximity, Vibration Motor, IR Blaster, Proximity
• Battery: 6000mAh with 18W charging (22.5W brick inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 17,999 (4/64GB) | Rs. 18,999 (4/128GB)
• Read our review of Redmi 9 Power.

1. Samsung Galaxy M12

Sitting atop our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is the new Samsung Galaxy M12. Now, you may already know that this is not the best device on this list in terms of sheer power. But, with its excellent battery life, superior cameras, smooth display, and better thermal performance, we believe that the Galaxy M12 delivers an even user experience in all regards.

Powering the phone is Samsung’s own Exynos 850 SoC. This chipset is built on a relatively energy-efficient 8nm process node. What this basically means is that it won’t heat up as fast or as bad as other 11/12nm silicon-powered smartphones in this list. Plus, you get excellent battery endurance too. But that doesn’t signify its performance level as this chip only houses Cortex-A55 efficiency cores all clocked at 2.0GHz. Al

This has been paired with either 4/6GB of RAM and up to 128GB of internal storage. Coming to the front, Galaxy M12 is also the only phone in our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal to have a 90Hz screen. So, from scrolling the web to browsing through the UI, everything feels buttery smooth. M12’s camera prowess is equally impressive as well. Its 48MP primary sensor-led camera setup gives out better images compared to Redmi 9 Power except for the wide-angle shots.

Samsung Galaxy M12 Specifications:

• Display: 6.5-inches PLS LCD panel, 394PPI, HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels), 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: Exynos 850 (8nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: One UI Core 3.1 on top of Android 11
• Rear Camera: Quad (48MP primary, 5MP ultrawide, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP lens (notch)
• Security: Physical fingerprint scanner (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass, USB Type-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Virtual Proximity, Grip, Virtual Light
• Battery: 6000mAh with 15W charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 18,499 (4/64GB) | Rs. 22,999 (6/128GB)
• Read our review of Samsung Galaxy M12.
• Watch our review of Samsung Galaxy M12.

Summary list of best mobile phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal

Rank	Best phones under 20000 in Nepal	Price
1	Samsung Galaxy M12 (4/64GB)	Rs. 18,499
2	Redmi 9 Power (4/128GB)	Rs. 18,999
3	POCO M2 (6/128GB)	Rs. 19,999
4	Micromax In Note 1 (4/64GB)	Rs. 19,990
5	Motorola Moto G9 Play (4/128GB)	Rs. 19,990
6	Redmi 9/Prime (4/128GB)	Rs. 18,999
7	Realme C15 (Qualcomm) (4/64GB)	Rs. 19,990
8	Samsung Galaxy A12 (4/128GB)	Rs. 19,999
9	Vivo Y12s (3/32GB)	Rs. 17,999
10	OPPO A15 (3/32GB)	Rs. 18,590