Best Phones Under ₹20,000 in India (2025): Gaming, Camera & Software Champions

If you’re looking to buy the best phone under 20,000 rupees, this article will save you hours of research. Whether you’re interested in gaming, clean software, or camera performance, there are several great phones to consider. There are also a few solid options if you’re willing to slightly stretch your budget. But the best overall pick might just surprise you.

Starting with gaming and performance, this price range is more competitive than ever. Some phones come with the new Dimensity 7300 chip, while others feature the latest Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor. One recent launch, the PO X7, even comes with the Dimensity 7300 Ultra. But the phone that really stands out is the Poco X6 Pro, which comes equipped with the Dimensity 8300 Ultra. In benchmark tests, it performs almost twice as well as its rivals, whether you’re looking at AnTuTu scores or 3DMark. It handles performance well, though the temperatures do run a little high. In real-world gaming, the Poco X6 Pro continues to impress. In BGMI, even though the CMF Phone 2 Pro supports 120 FPS, it only averages 90 FPS, which is the same as the Poco. In Genshin Impact, the Poco maintains a stable 59 FPS, while the others fail to reach 50. In games like Wuthering Waves and Call of Duty Mobile, the Poco again delivers higher frame rates and is the only one that can handle 120 FPS in COD.

Despite its gaming power, the design of the Poco X6 Pro is more functional than flashy. It features a beautiful 1.5K AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 5 protection and Dolby Vision support. The camera setup is average, and the 5,000 mAh battery is decent, charged via a 67W fast charger included in the box. Since this is a model from last year, it has already received its first major software update, with two more to follow. If gaming is your priority, this phone is difficult to beat, though some may shy away from the Poco brand or MediaTek processors. For those people, a great alternative is the Realme P3, which uses the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 processor. Priced at 18,500 rupees, it also comes with 256 GB of storage, which adds to its value.

Now, for users who care more about a clean and smooth software experience, the CMF Phone 2 Pro delivers big. After evaluating the total number of preinstalled apps—both first- and third-party—the CMF came out with only six necessary apps and no third-party bloatware. There are also no ads, which is a huge plus. The software promises three years of timely OS updates and six years of security patches. The device design features a DIY-style back, which is now non-removable. The front panel is a Full HD+ AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, sharp and visible even outdoors. However, the multimedia experience isn’t perfect since it only has a mono speaker, which doesn’t sound very impressive. Day-to-day performance is smooth, and despite using UFS 2.2 storage, the phone never showed signs of slowing down during testing. The camera system is surprisingly good, with a 50MP main lens, a 50MP 2x telephoto, an 8MP ultra-wide, and a 16MP selfie shooter. The 5,000 mAh battery keeps things running, and a charger is included in the box. Overall, this phone is a great balance of features with minimal compromises and might even get cheaper during sales.

For those looking for the best camera phone under 20,000, there are only two contenders with real triple camera systems: the Moto H150 Neo and the CMF Phone 2 Pro. On paper, the Moto wins with optical image stabilization, a 3x telephoto lens, and higher megapixel counts on the ultra-wide and selfie cameras. In real-world tests, the Moto captured more natural colors with better HDR and more detail. Even in ultra-wide photos, the Moto performed better, delivering more realistic sky tones compared to the CMF, which often overexposed scenes. For telephoto shots, both phones performed well, but Moto allowed you to get closer to the subject. Portrait photos showed more natural skin tones on the Moto, while the CMF sometimes distorted them. In video, the CMF was more stable, despite lacking OIS, which is impressive. Both phones can record 4K at 30 FPS, but only the Moto can do so from its ultra-wide lens.

Beyond the camera, the Moto H150 Neo is packed with premium features like a 1.5K LTPO display, IP68 rating, military-grade certification, and wireless charging. It runs on the Dimensity 7300 chipset, which may not be the fastest but performs well in everyday use. The battery is a bit smaller, but still sufficient for moderate usage. It also runs Android 15 with four more OS updates promised. With a screen size of just 6.4 inches, it even qualifies as a compact phone.

For those trying to find the best all-rounder under 20,000, the Realme P3 and Oppo K13 are strong options. Both feature the same Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 chip and similar cameras and software experience. But when it comes to battery and charging, the Oppo K13 pulls ahead with a 7,000 mAh battery and 80W charging. It also uses faster UFS 3.1 storage. Still, the Realme P3 offers 256 GB storage at nearly the same price as Oppo’s 128 GB model, making it more value-for-money for those on a tighter budget. If you can spend a bit more, Oppo might be the better pick.

For those who can stretch their budget beyond 20,000, there are three excellent choices. The H60 Fusion launched this year and offers a well-rounded package with Dimensity 7400, a solid camera system, 256 GB base storage, microSD support, a beautiful curved 1.5K AMOLED panel, and a fluid camera app. It runs Hello UI based on Android 15 with many AI features to explore. Another great option is the Poco F6, which originally launched at 30,000 but is now available for just 21,000. It offers excellent performance with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chip, a bright 1.5K LTPS AMOLED screen, good cameras with 4K 60 FPS video support, and a 5,000 mAh battery that charges at 90W. It’s already received one major update, with two more expected. Between the X6 Pro and the F6, if budget isn’t an issue, the F6 is clearly the better deal.

Lastly, the Realme P3 Ultra is another top-tier option if you can extend your budget. It features the Dimensity 8350 Ultra, a massive 6,000 mAh battery with 80W charging, and a unique glow-in-the-dark design. It also boasts both IP68 and IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance, along with a 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass 7i. The cameras are good, and the main sensor supports 4K at 60 FPS video recording.

So, those are all the best phones you can buy under and slightly above 20,000 rupees. If you’re already using any of these devices, share your thoughts so others can learn from your experience. And if you found this guide helpful, be sure to let us know — every bit of support counts.