Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi snagged the title of one of the biggest smartphone manufacturer in India last year. With that being said, the Redmi Note 4 was also mentioned one of the best budget smartphones of 2017. According to the reports, their growth was more than Apple, Samsung and Huawei combined. In 2018, one of their most anticipated smartphones is the Redmi Note 5.
Earlier, according to the rumors, the device was expected to be released early in January. However, the company has something else in mind. Now, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is expected to be showcased ahead of the MWC 2018. Also, it is expected to come with 18:9 resolution full view display, dual cameras, and more. While the company continues its aggressive pricing scheme, making it buyer's worth. For the people who cannot wait any longer, can explore some other equally good options.
Except for Xiaomi, there are several other brands with similar strategies. The strategy where they offer high-value phones at low prices. Huawei own band Honor is one such example. Let's take a close look at the premium budget smartphones one can buy right now.
Honor 9 Lite
Honor 9 Lite is one of the worthy contenders. One of the reasons it can be your number one choice includes the variety of bundled features that come with the smartphone.
The smartphone comes in two different variants. A 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM variant and a 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM variant. The smartphone is available at Rs 10,999 for the smaller variant and Rs 14,999 for the bigger variant. The unique selling point of the smartphone is it comes with the quad-camera setup. It packs a 13MP+2MP sensors on both front and rear. The rear camera setup comes with PDAF and LED flash. The cameras are also equipped with AI-based features. These features will identify your subject automatically while shooting a photo in the viewfinder.
The Honor 9 Lite throws a premium look combined with an 18:9 aspect ratio display. The handset sports Huawei's proprietary HiSilicon Kirin 659 octa-core chipset. It is backed up by a 3,000mAh battery and Android Oreo-based EMUI 8.0.
Xiaomi Mi A1
If you are the kind of guy who loves stock Android experience, then Mi A1 is the one for you. The device is a part of Google's Android One program. At the price point of Rs 13,999, the Mi A1 if not the best, then the most premium smartphone money can buy.
Xiaomi Mi A1 runs the latest Android 8.0 Oreo. It sports a Snapdragon 625 chipset coupled with 4GB RAM. It has 64GB internal storage which is expandable via micro-sd card. The optics are really good on the phone. The rear optics include two 12-megapixel sensors and the front includes a 5-megapixel sensor.
Honor 7X
The Honor 7X makes a great value for money and has got a really attractive design. The smartphone offers a really good build quality and a number of features packed inside. It is worth noting that the Honor 7X really sets a tough competition at its price range. This was the verdict by our reviewer who reviewed the Honor 7X.
It is one of the most competitive smartphones on this list right now. The smartphone is priced at Rs 10,999. It features a 5.65-inch Full HD display along with dual 16MP+2MP rear camera setup and an 8MP front shooter.
Also Read: Honor 7X Review: Best smartphone under Rs. 15,000 with 18:9 display?
The Honor 7X is powered by Huawei's proprietary HiSilicon Kirin 659 chipset. It is the same in which is same as the Honor 9 Lite. It sports a 3GB/4GB RAM options for 32GB/64GB storage models. The handset packs a 3,340mAh battery.
Moto G5S Plus
Motorola hasn't yet realized their 2018 iteration of the smartphones. However, last years Moto G5S Plus is still a relevant choice. Priced at Rs 14,999 the smartphone packs a 5.5-inch Full HD display along with dual cameras. The optics include a dual 13MP sensors on the rear and an 8MP selfie snapper.
The handset is powered by a Snapdragon 625 chipset coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. However, the storage is expandable via micro-sd card. The phone sports a 3,000mAh battery under the hood.
