7 value for money smartphones with cameras that won’t let you down
The smart shooters


You no longer need to break the bank for a solid smartphone with cameras that come with a whole bag of tricks. We round up some compelling options that don’t skimp on style or their feature set. Take your pick…
A 12MP + 5MP rear camera and a terrific 20MP selfie camera have made this one of the fastest selling devices in the sub Rs 20,000 segment. It’s power packed too – propelled by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor that teams up with 4GB of RAM. The long-lasting 4000 my battery makes it the perfect travel accessory whether you put your camera on overdrive or watch videos on the go. Buy: Rs 16,500 One of the best looking devices in the sub Rs 20,000 price band with a svelte all-glass form factor. It’s also one of the select devices on the Android One platform (that ensures you get the latest Android updates first). The 6.1 Plus includes a dual rear cam and a 16MP selfie cam. Aside from a pure-play Android experience and a svelte form factor, the 6.1 Plus boasts of a solid spec sheet (Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor with 4GB of RAM). Buy: Rs 22,999 It all began with the iPhone X — the Notch is fast becoming a ‘go to’ design feature. Honor’s 9N becomes one of the first budget smartphones that features a notch. There’s a dual rear cam (13MP + 2MP) plus a sharp 16MP selfie cam. The 9N is not short on style; first it’s the glass back and then two truly distinctive shades — Robin egg blue (aka Tiffany blue) and a chic lilac purple. Buy: Rs 17,999 This is the first device from OPPO’s all-new ‘online only’ brand RealMe. Design is the RealMe 1’s calling card with a unique ‘Art of Light’ form that creates the same effect as three-dimensional gemstones in its signature colour — diamond black. Other key features include face unlock, a large 6-inch FHD+ screen with an impressive 85% screen: body ratio and an AI-engineered 8MP front cam. Buy: Rs 13,999 OPPO has always put the front cam first, even before selfies officially became a thing. The F7 became the first smartphone to sport a 25MP front shooter — this one gets a leg up with a Sony 576 HDR sensor and an AI engine. The camera can scan 296 facial recognition points to ensure your selfies are ultra-sharp. Whether you want to slim your face or fool around with AR stickers, the F7’s ready to roll. Buy: Rs 21,990 onwards Motorola’s all-new device brings some verve to the budget segment with its reflective wave pattern. This pattern plays out particularly well in its ‘fine gold’ colour option. The device packs two capable cameras — a 12MP primary cam and a 5MP front camera. You won’t need to reach out for that power bank frequently even if you’re snapping images non-stop; a 5000 mAh battery is one of the device’s highlights. Buy: Rs 11,999 Huawei loves blue — the Nova 3i’s psychedelic Iris purple swings from purple to blue with a gorgeous form factor. That’s not the only talking point of this device that is replete with a quad camera set up. The rear cam blends a 16MP and 2MP lens but it’s the selfie cam with a 24MP + 2MP lens and a host of AI engineered scenes that is the true star. Buy: Rs 20,990