Redmi Note 5 Pro, Redmi Y2, Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 among best camera phones under Rs 20,000

• 
  

• READ LATER

Cameras have become a pretty integral part of a smartphone today and they are probably one of the most important aspects for a consumer when looking for a good phone. It used to be that the really good camera phones would also be the ones that would cost a fortune. But we don't live that time anymore. In 2018, we see cameras getting better everyday, coming to smartphones that cost cheaper and cheaper.

Today, we're looking at the affordable mid-range segment, which is a very competitive market, especially in India. Phone under Rs 20,000 are expected to deliver on all fronts including design, performance and photography. We are also in a time when dual cameras are trickling down to the lower end of the market, making things even more interesting. When it comes to good camera phones, a few names do come to mind and here's what you need to know about them.

REDMI NOTE 5 PRO: RS 14,999

The Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with a dual camera setup that comprises of one 12-megapixel sensor with f/2.2 aperture and one 5-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture, both of which are RGB. The primary sensor has a 1.25-micron pixel to capture more light while the secondary camera helps in portrait shots. The rear cameras are backed by PDAF and dual-LED flash. Over on the front, you get a 20-megapixel camera with LED flash.

The cameras on the Redmi Note 5 Pro are exceptional and we feel that it edges out the Mi A1 as the best camera smartphone for its price right now. Photos captured have a good amount of detail and colour under ideal lighting. Unlike the Mi A1, low-light captures are good as well despite some noise. Meanwhile, selfies captured via the front camera are also quite detailed and colours are almost true to life. The only area where the Mi A1 has an edge is with portrait shots, although only marginally.

REDMI Y2: RS 9,999

After a pretty disappointing Redmi Y1 last year, Xiaomi found its footing once again with a more impressive Redmi Y2. While not as comparable as the Redmi Note 5 in this segment, the Redmi Y2 is a pretty solid camera phone. The much-touted selfie camera, in fact, is perhaps the best in its class which is why it's worth a look if you're looking for a good camera phone on a budget. Additionally, you also get a more premium-looking phone compared to its predecessor and an 18:9 display to top it up.

The Redmi sports a dual camera setup with a primary 12-megapixel camera with f/2.2 aperture and phase detection autofocus and a secondary 5-megapixel camera, for depth sensing. For its price, the Redmi Y2 captures some good-looking photos in decent light with a good amount of detail and colour reproduction. But the real star of the show is its 16-megapixel selfie camera, which is capable of taking crisp and detailed selfies in ideal lighting conditions. The front camera also supports face unlock and portrait mode via software. In conclusion, the Redmi Y2 is perhaps the best smartphone for selfies in the affordable segment.

ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO M1: RS 10,999

Asus has struck gold with the ZenFone Max Pro as it is one of the few phones that managed to impress us from pretty much all aspects. The phone not only brings a stock Android Oreo out-of-the-box but also impresses with its performance, 18:9 display and 5,000mAh battery. And yes, the phone also comes with some pretty good cameras.

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 comes with a dual camera system on the back which includes one 13-megapixel camera (f/2.2 aperture) and a secondary 5-megapixel camera for depth sensing. The cameras are assisted by PDAF and LED flash, and are capable of shooting 4K videos as well. On the front, you get an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash.

The cameras on the ZenFone Max Pro M1 are comparable to the Redmi Note 5 Pro, which is great for a phone that costs only Rs 10,999. Photos captured in good light look good with spot-on colours. Low-light photography, however, isn't a strong suit as photos look pretty noisy. In our review, we found the selfie was better than the Redmi Note 5, but doesn't come close to the Redmi Note 5 Pro.

MOTO Z2 PLAY: RS 17,999

The Moto Z2 Play is a 2017 smartphone and has already been succeeded by the Moto Z3 Play, which was launched a few weeks ago. But as the Z3 Play is yet to hit the Indian market, we continue to suggest the Moto Z2 Play as one of the best camera phones you can buy under Rs 20,000. Initially launched at Rs 27,999, the phone can now be found for as low as Rs 18,000.

The Moto Z2 Play comes with a 12-megapixel rear camera with dual-pixel autofocus, PDAF, dual-tone LED support and f/1.7 aperture. Photos captured in good lighting conditions look vibrant and one of the reasons colours pop on screen is because of the AMOLED display. The camera app also has a Pro mode to give you more control of what you're photographing.

The 5-megapixel front camera has nothing to write home about. You'll get some decent selfies from it in good light and there's also a beautification mode for that extra bit of help.

IPHONE SE: RS 18,999

The iPhone SE might be a couple of years old but it is an affordable iPhone that we cannot leave out of a sub-Rs 20,000 list, especially for the Apple fans out there. While the hardware of the iPhone SE may seem dated now, the same cannot be said for the cameras. The iPhone SE has some of the best cameras for its class even today.

The iPhone SE has a 12-megapixel sensor with 5-element lens and TrueTone flash. Reviews back in 2016 including our own hailed it as one of the best cameras in a smartphone. And while a lot has changed in the past two years, the cameras remain just as good today. It is super fast at focusing and takes true-to-life images, which are well balanced in terms of contrast and colours. However, the 1.2-megapixel front camera is quite poor and doesn't fit in a selfie-crazy world today. But if you're not into selfies too much and need an affordable iPhone with good rear camera then there's nothing better than the iPhone SE right now.

Read More