Budget smartphones account for at-least 2/3rd of smartphone sales in the world. This is primarily down to the reason that a large proportion of the world’s population face budget constraints but require smartphones to tackle their every day lives. Life without smartphones has become unimaginable nowadays as they provide us with unrivaled computing power.
While everyone aspires to own a flagship, it is a stark reality that everyone cannot afford one. Hence, budget smartphones is their horizon. Considering the economics of our country, one can safely assume that our common “junta” is more concerned with budget smartphones rather than beefy flagships.
A good news for them is that the last 5 years or so have seen the emergence of dozens of Chinese manufacturers that have done the impossible; They have successfully provided near flagship specifications in the cheapest of prices. This pinged us with an idea to compile some of the very best cheap or “budget” Android phones in Pakistan. Note that we consider the budget smartphone category to be under 20,000 PKR.
#10 Infinix Hot 3 Pro
Price: Rs. 14,599
Infinix, though not an old smartphone manufacturer, is cementing its case as a genuine contender when it comes to producing top quality smartphones. The Hot 3 Pro is one of its most shining examples that epitomize what the company is all about. The smartphone features a 5.5 inch TFT GFF capacitive touchscreen with a 267ppi pixel density that brings with it a 720p HD resolution.
It is powered by a 1.4 GHz Octa-Core processor with an additional 2GB of additive RAM that ensures streamlined operation for its built-in Android Lollipop. The cameras come in with a 13 megapixel sensor for the primary camera while the secondary camera features a 5 megapixel sensor. Infinix claims to be using a 5-element lens technology for its primary camera which ensures wider and glossy pictures/videos.
#9 Huawei Y6 Pro
Price: Rs. 16,249
We all know about Huawei’s excellent prowess to stuff sumptuous specifications within the most affordable of prices and the Y6 Pro is what symbolizes this quality. An excellent design complimented by some useful features is what defines the Y6 Pro. It features a 5.0 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 294ppi pixel density that is enough to guarantee a 720p resolution.
It is powered by a 1.3 GHz Quad-core Cortex processor with an additional 2GB of RAM which is good enough to run the built-in Android v5.1.1 Lollipop. It boasts two excellent cameras with the primary camera housing a 13 megapixel sensor while the secondary sensor features a 5 megapixel sensor.
#8 Infinix Note 2
Price: Rs. 15,999
Infinix is one of the latest Chinese smartphone manufacturers that have taken the world by storm. With some nifty releases like the Note 2, the company is slowly and steadily making its presence felt in the market. It features a gigantic 5.9 inch display with 294ppi pixel density which provides a 720p resolution.
Processing power is ample due to the presence of a 1.5 GHz Octa-Core Cortex processor with a supportive 2GB of RAM. In short, running the built-in Android Lollipop won’t be a problem. The primary camera is massive with a 13 megapixel sensor whereas the selfie camera features a 2 megapixel sensor. This is the only downside to this massive smartphone.
Price: Rs. 16,779
The Haier Esteem i70 Dual-SIM is another budget Android smartphone with excellent prospects. It boasts a 5.0 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen which offers 720p HD resolution. The smartphone is powered by a 1.4 GHz Octa-Core processor with an additional 1GB of RAM. While this amount of processing power seems a lot on paper, you’ll very occasionally face lag while operating this smartphone.
The cameras do not leave any room for complaints though as the primary camera features a 13 megapixel sensor while the secondary camera boasts a 5 megapixel sensor. Long gone are the days when the selfie camera used to be VGA!
#6 HTC Desire 728
Price: Rs. 19,999
HTC is one of the most reputable smartphone manufacturers in the world. The Desire 728 is one of its most prodigious budget smartphones as it encapsulates some hunky features within the lowest of prices. Its display is a mammoth 5.5 inches Super LCD2 capacitive touchscreen with a 267ppi pixel density. It offers one of the largest devices within this price bracket and the 720p resolution comes along as a plus.
It is powered by a 1.3 GHz Octa-Core Cortex A-53 processor supported by 2GB of RAM. This amount of RAM is always good news and will do well in running the built-in Android Lollipop. HTC’s cameras have always performed well and the Desire 728 keeps up this reputation with a 13 megapixel primary camera plus face detection and a 5 megapixel selfie camera.
#5 Huawei P9 Lite Dual-SIM
Price: PKR 19,149 PKR.
Huawei will make an entrance again and again into this list so ensure you’re good friends with it. The P9 Lite Dual-SIM is a smaller budget version of its larger counterpart and it has done well in making a name for itself. This is primarily because of its sleek design whose front houses a 5.0 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 294ppi pixel density plus a 5 megapixel selfie camera whereas its back provides a platform for its huge 13 megapixel sensor to sit on.
It is powered by a 1.2 Ghz Octa-Core Cortex A-53 processor with an additional 2GB of RAM which should prove enough to provide a smooth user experience but we’d advise you to stay on the lookout for little to no lag.
Check out our Huawei P9 Lite Review.
#4 Lenovo A7000 Plus
Price: Rs. 19,999
Another one of Lenovo’s most in-demand budget smartphones, the A7000 Plus is full of nifty features that are enough to give you a reliable helping hand in your everyday lives. The smartphone features a 5.5 inches capacitive touchscreen with 401ppi pixel density. This results in an immaculate 1080p HD resolution!
Lenovo has never been greedy with its processors and the A7000 Plus is powered by a Octa-Core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 processor with 2GB of RAM. Both of these combine to devastating effect which efficiently runs the built-in Android v5.0 Lollipop on it. To no surprise, the primary camera stands at 13 megapixels while the selfie camera features a 5 megapixel sensor.
#3 Microsoft Lumia 640 XL Dual-SIM
Price: Rs. 17,599
This is for all those Windows fans out there. The Lumia 640 XL Dual-SIM is Microsoft’s best budget release because of a number of reasons; It houses a large 5.7 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 259ppi pixel density which ensures 720p resolution.
The smartphone is powered by a Quad-Core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 processor which, though is old, is adequate to run the built-in Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1 OS with the help of 1GB of RAM. To be honest, 1GB RAM should no longer be present in smartphones nowadays but the Lumia 640 XL has received some positive feedback regarding its performance. The front and back camera sensors are home to 13 megapixels and 5 megapixels respectively. Apart from all these, there’s no denying that the Lumias are one of the most beautiful smartphones on this planet.
#2 Huawei Honor 4C Dual-SIM
Price: Rs. 15,499
Huawei Honor 4C is personally tried and tested by us. We were extremely pleased with the performance and crisp display of this smartphone. The cameras were outstanding and the Honor 4C ranks very high on our lists of recommendations because of a reason.
The smartphone is powered by a Octa-Core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 processor with an additional 2GB of RAM. The user experience was extremely smooth while we did face a little bit of occasional lag though. The smartphone has a crystal clear 5.0 inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 294ppi pixel density that leads to a 720p resolution. The cameras, as we have mentioned before, were excellent in every respect.
Statistically speaking, the primary camera features a 13 megapixel sensor while the front houses a 5 megapixel sensor. Both of these are adequately poised to produce excellent photos that fit perfectly onto the 5 inch display.
#1 Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
Price: Rs. 19, 500
Lenovo has recently intruded into the world of smartphone manufacturing and the Vibe K5 Plus is one of its best selling smartphones. The reason is clear; Awesome specifications in the most reasonable of prices. It boasts one of the best displays you can ever get your hands on in this price as it houses a 5.0 inch touchscreen with a 441ppi pixel density. Such amount of ppi is extremely hard to fathom within this price which also produces a gorgeous 1080p HD resolution!
Processing power is aplenty due to the presence of an Octa-Core Cortex processor with 2GB of RAM meaning less to no lag on the built-in Android Lollipop. The cameras have been well covered on both fronts as the primary camera features a 13 megapixel sensor whereas the secondary camera shelters a 5 megapixel sensor making for a plausible smartphone on all fronts.
With that we come to the end of our best cheap Android smartphones in Pakistan. There’s extremely little to choose between all of these smartphones with only minor details proving to be the difference between each of them. This shows how far technology has come in the last 10 years or so when the Nokia N95 used to be at the very top with processing speeds in megahertz and RAM in megabytes. Needless to mention that its primary camera used to be 5 megapixels (one of the best of its time).
Nowadays, such specifications are simply unacceptable and the emergence of many different Chinese manufacturers will ensure that the world sees much powerful smartphones within the most unbelievable of prices in the future. Suggestions, as always, are welcome.
Leave a Comment