Breaking the bank for a smartphone doesn’t make sense when you need a daily driver for the most essential tasks. If your daily tasks include calling, texting, web browsing, media streaming, and taking the odd picture, you don’t need to spend more than Rs 20,000 on a device. You can also find some good gaming phones in this price bracket, but you will need to settle for limited camera performance. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the top 10 smartphones priced under Rs 20,000 in January 2026.
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In This Article
Samsung Galaxy A17
The Samsung Galaxy A17 has a vibrant 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It can reach 800 nits in High Brightness Mode. Powering this device is Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1330 chipset. Software duties are handled by the Android 15-based One UI 7. Samsung has promised 6 major OS upgrades for this phone, which is easily the best software support you can get in this price bracket. The camera array on the back panel of this device comprises a 50MP primary shooter, a 5MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The 5,000mAh battery pack supports 25W wired charging. Check out our Samsung Galaxy A17 review to learn more about the device.
Pros
- Smooth display
- 6 major OS upgrades
- Expandable storage
Cons
The waterdrop notch on the display is dated
Poco X7
Poco X7 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and runs the Android 14-based HyperOS out of the box. It flaunts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The giant camera island on the back panel houses a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. The 5,500mAh battery pack supports 45W wired charging. For a deeper analysis of the general performance, read our review of the Poco X7.
Pros
- Good processor
- Fast charging
- IP69 rated
Cons
- Runs Android 14
CMF Phone 2 Pro
Nothing’s subsidiary brand, CMF, has one of the best smartphones in the sub-Rs 20,000 price bracket. The CMF Phone 2 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset. It runs the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3 out of the box. Its 6.77-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The triple rear camera setup comprises a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. The 5,000mAh battery pack supports 33W charging. Read our CMF Phone 2 Pro review to learn more about the device.
Pros
- Attachable accessories
- Bright display
- Telephoto lens
Cons
- Does not have a secondary speaker
Moto G67 Power
Moto G67 Power rocks the Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset at its core. Its 6.7-inch IPS LCD panel has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 1,050 nits. OS duties are handled by stock Android 15 out of the box. The smartphone is compliant with MIL-STD-810H durability standards. The rear camera panel houses a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 7,000mAh Si/C battery pack supports 30W wired charging.
Pros
- Good processor
- Big battery
- Durable
Cons
- LCD panel instead of AMOLED
Nothing Phone (3a) Lite
Nothing’s newest offering in its (3a) series is its most affordable one yet. The Phone (3a) Lite acts as the entry-level smartphone in Nothing’s catalogue. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 Pro chipset and runs the Android 15-based Nothing OS 3 out of the box. Its 6.77-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The triple rear camera array comprises a 50MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro lens. The 5,000mAh battery pack supports 33W wired charging. Read our Nothing Phone (3a) Lite review to learn more about the device.
Pros
- Good processor
- Nice design
- Great haptic feedback
Cons
- Lacks a secondary speaker
Tecno Pova Slim
If you want to jump on the ‘thin phone’ bandwagon, but don’t want to pay flagship prices, the Tecno Pova Slim is for you. Powering this smartphone is the MediaTek Dimensity 6400 SoC. Software duties are handled by the Android 15-based HiOS 15 out of the box. The 6.78-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The rear camera panel houses a 50MP primary shooter and a 2MP auxiliary lens. The 5,160mAh battery pack supports 45W wired charging. Check out our Tecno Pova Slim review to learn more about the phone.
Pros
- Sleek form factor
- AI features
- Mood light
Cons
- Only available in a 128GB variant
Infinix GT 30
If you need a good gaming phone under Rs 20,000, look no further than the Infinix GT 30. This device is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 SoC. Like its Pro sibling, it has touch-sensitive shoulder triggers on the right edge of its frame. You can map game controls on these triggers for a true handheld experience. The 6.78-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. The camera island on the back panel houses a 64MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 5,500mAh battery pack supports 45W wired charging. Read our Infinix GT 30 review for a deeper analysis of its gaming performance.
Pros
- Bright display
- Good processor
- Shoulder triggers
Cons
- Could’ve had faster charging
Realme P4
The vanilla variant in the Realme P4 series is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 SoC. Software duties are handled by the Android 15-based Realme UI 6. The 6.77-inch AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. There’s IP66 protection on board. The rear camera island houses a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The massive 7,000mAh battery pack supports 80W wired charging. There’s support for 10W reverse wired charging.
Pros
- Fluid display
- Good processor
- Fast charging
Cons
- Ultrawide camera takes soft pictures
Redmi Note 15
The newly launched Redmi Note 15 is priced slightly above Rs 20,000, but it’s worth the premium. At the heart of this device lies the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 SoC. Software duties are handled by the Android 15-based HyperOS 2 out of the box. The 6.77-inch AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 3,200 nits. The smartphone is rated IP66 for protection against dust and water. It is compliant with MIL-STD-810H standards as well. Its rear camera array comprises a 108MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide lens. The 5,520mAh battery pack supports 45W wired charging.
Pros
- Bright display
- Durable
- Good cameras
Cons
- Does not run Android 16 out of the box
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Final Thoughts
These are the top 10 smartphones priced under Rs 20,000 in January 2026. If you can expand your budget, we also recommend checking out our list of the top 10 smartphones priced under Rs 30,000. If you have any questions, let us know in the comments!
