Best Mobile Phones Under Rs. 100,000 in Nepal

Finding the right smartphone can be an overwhelming task because there are not many good choices available. The 1 lakh price range should offer advanced features that balance affordability and performance, making it easier for you to choose a well-rounded device. Right now, we have five standout options, each offering unique features that cater to different needs. To help you decide, here is our list of the best phones under NPR 100,000 in Nepal.

How to find the Best Phones Under 1 Lakh Rupees in Nepal

Finding a balanced phone in the 1 lakh price range can be a challenge, but key features can help you make a well-informed decision. Look for a high refresh rate OLED display, which provides smoother navigation and vibrant visuals for media consumption and gaming.

A capable camera setup is essential, with optical image stabilization (OIS) for clearer shots and 4K recording for high-quality videos. A high official IP rating is more common in this segment, offering protection against dust and water. Finally, consider the phone’s performance, including a powerful chipset and ample storage for multitasking and future-proofing, making the device versatile for everyday use and beyond.

Best Phones Under 1 Lakh in Nepal:

5. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE: A Compelling Package

Starting off our list of best phones under 100000 in Nepal, we have Samsung Galaxy S23 FE. This device offers a premium experience featuring a 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ certification. Its design includes an aluminum frame, Gorilla Glass 5 front and back, and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

Exynos? Has it improved?

Under the hood, it’s powered by the Exynos 2200 chipset, delivering stable performance, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This chipset, previously criticized for performance throttling, overheating, and subpar gaming, has seen significant improvements thanks to Samsung’s optimizations.

After two software updates, the S23 FE now smoothly handles multitasking, gaming, and other tasks. In my testing, both PUBG and Genshin Impact ran smoothly at 60 fps, though prolonged gaming sessions generated some heat, but not significantly. Additionally, Samsung promises updates up to Android 17, ensuring a future-proof experience and extended optimization. The battery backup however could be stronger.

The S23 FE’s triple camera setup includes a 50MP primary lens with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, offering versatile photography options. However, its ultrawide lens needs better optimization, although its overall camera performance remains solid.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE Specifications

• Display: 6.4″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X Infinity-O, 120Hz refresh rate,  HDR10+, 1450 nits (peak)
• Chipset: Exynos 2200 5G (4nm) with Xclipse 920 GPU
• Memory: 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, 256GB internal storage
• Software & UI: One UI 6 on top of Android 14
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 8MP telephoto)
• Front Camera: 10MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Security: In-display fingerprint sensor (Optical), Samsung Knox
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, NFC, USB Type-C, OTG
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Ambient Light
• Battery: 4,500mAh with 25W fast charging, 15W wireless charging, reverse wireless charging
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 85,999 (8/256 GB)
• Watch our Samsung Galaxy S23 FE review here.

4. Nothing Phone (2): The Distinctive Semi-Flagship

Next up, the Nothing Phone 2 is one of the best phones under 10000 rupees in Nepal right now. It is an impressive, semi-flagship follow-up to its predecessor, boasting incremental but meaningful improvements. The phone’s design, with its boxy aluminum frame, remains true to its roots, now enhanced with IP54 protection. The 6.7-inch OLED display offers superior brightness, vivid colors, and dynamic refresh rates, but Netflix HDR is still unavailable.

The performance sees a significant boost with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, making multitasking a breeze, though gaming could improve. The dual cameras produce solid shots, albeit with some inconsistency. The 4700mAh battery lasts about 6-6.5 hours, but overnight drain is concerning. It is a balanced phone but lacks a telephoto camera and stronger ingress protection that would have made it more premium.

Glyph or Gimmick?

The Nothing Phone 2’s Glyph Interface has received a redesign, featuring 33 individually addressable LED lighting zones compared to 12 on its predecessor, allowing for finer control and customization. The layout includes a cutoff around the camera module and a “C” shaped pattern surrounding the charging coil.

These updates make the Glyph Interface more than just a gimmick. It can visualize timers, and volume levels, and act as a progress bar for some third-party apps like Uber and Zomato, similar to iPhone’s Live Activities but without a graphical interface.

A new feature called “Essential Notifications” lights up the top-right LED strip when you receive notifications from select apps, staying on until read or dismissed. However, this light turns off upon unlocking the phone, regardless of reading the notification, indicating a fix may be needed.

Nothing Phone (2) Specifications

• Display: 6.55″ FHD+ Flexible OLED LTPO panel, HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, 1600 nits peak brightness, Gorilla Glass
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 5G (4nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 8/12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 128/256GB UFS 3.1 storage (fixed)
• Software & UI: Android 13 with Nothing OS 2.0 on top
• Rear Camera: Dual (50MP main, 50MP ultrawide)
• Front Camera: 32MP Sony IMX615 sensor (punch-hole)
• Security: In-display fingerprint sensor (Optical)
• Connectivity: WiFi 6 a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, AGPS, Galileo, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS, NsvIC, SBAS, USB Type-C, NFC, 4G LTE (VoLTE), 5G
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro, Geomagnetic, Hall, Proximity, Ambient Light
• Battery: 4700mAh with 45W PPS 3.3 charging, 15W Qi Wireless charging, 5W reverse charging
• Price in Nepal:  Rs. 75,999 (12/256 GB)
• Read our review of Nothing Phone (2) here

3. iPhone 13: The Reliable Performer

The bronze medal on our list of best phones under NPR 100000 in Nepal goes to the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 is a balanced mix of performance, design, and functionality. Its sleek look is on par with newer iPhones, while the 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display delivers vibrant visuals, though limited to a 60Hz refresh rate.

The A15 Bionic chip ensures smooth multitasking and gaming, while the dual cameras capture sharp, punchy photos and stable 4K videos. The 3240mAh battery offers ok-ish endurance, and its lightweight aluminum frame and IP68 rating add to its durability and appeal.

Still a good choice in 2024?

Despite its drawbacks, the iPhone 13 remains a valuable choice in 2024, offering a no-frills experience that excels in design, display, cameras, performance, and software. While other phones like the Galaxy S23 FE or the OnePlus 11 may offer faster performance and larger, smoother displays, none can match the consistent reliability of the iPhone 13, particularly in terms of software and camera quality. That’s why it continues to be the top choice for many users.

iPhone 13 Specifications:

• Display: 6.1-inch (2532 × 1170 pixels) OLED, 460 PPI, Super Retina XDR, 60Hz
• Chipset: Six-core A15 Bionic 64-bit processor, 16-core Neural Engine
• Memory: 128/256/512GB
• Software and UI: iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 17.4
• Back Camera: Dual (12MP main, 12MP ultrawide)
• Front Camera: 12MP sensor
• Security: TrueDepth camera for FaceID facial recognition
• Connectivity: 5G (sub-6GHz and mmWave), Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO and LAA, 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6 with 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS with GLONASS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and Beidou
• Sensors: Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
• Battery: 3,240mAh, 20W fast charging, 7.5W Qi Wireless Charging, 15W MagSafe Wireless Charger (No adapter included in the box)
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 95,000 (128 GB)
• Read our review of iPhone 13 here.

2. OnePlus 12R: The Premium All-Rounder

Grabbing the silver is the OnePlus 12R. Design-wise, OnePlus offers a premium feel with a sleek glass front and back, complete with an aluminum frame. While it lacks some flagship features like top-tier haptics and IP64 dust and splash resistance, it still exudes that unmistakable OnePlus charm.

The display doesn’t disappoint either, delivering vibrant colors and sharp visuals thanks to its X1 OLED panel. Plus, the addition of “Aqua Touch” allows for interaction even with wet fingers, a handy feature for those on the go.

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

The OnePlus 12R boasts the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip with 8/16GB RAM and up to 256GB storage. It’s fast and reliable, handling tasks without hiccups. Gaming performance matches the OnePlus 12, with minor frame drops in high-demand games like PUBG Mobile. While the OnePlus 12 offers additional gaming features, they’re not deal-breakers. Overall, the 12R delivers impressive performance for everyday use and gaming.

The OnePlus 12R with its 6.78-inch ProXDR AMOLED display, 120Hz refresh rate, and LTPO 4.0 technology, ensures a smooth viewing experience. Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, it delivers stable performance, complemented by 8 or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Camera-wise, the OnePlus 12R impresses with its primary shooter, delivering detailed shots with natural colors. However, it falls short in low-light performance. Battery life is another highlight, with the 5500mAh battery providing impressive endurance, backed by blazing-fast 100W wired charging.

OnePlus 12R Review: Specifications

• Display: 6.78-inch ProXDR AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, LTPO 4.0 (1-120Hz), 450 PPI
• Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 5G (TSMC 4nm)
• Memory: 8/16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 128 / 256GB UFS 3.1 storage
• Software & UI: Android 14-based OxygenOS 14
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro
• Front Camera: 16MP, f/2.4 (punch-hole)
• Security: Fingerprint (under display, optical)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BDS
• Sensors: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, color spectrum
• Battery: 5500mAh with 100W SuperVOOC charging (wired)
• Price in Nepal: Rs. 90,999 (12/256GB)
• Watch our review of the OnePlus 12R review here.

1. Xiaomi 14: The Compact Powerhouse

Finally, in the first position of the best phones under 1 lakh in Nepal, we have the Xiaomi 14 offers an impressive balance between affordability and flagship-grade performance. Its 6.36-inch display offers vibrant colors and a fluid 120Hz refresh rate, making it excellent for multimedia consumption. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset ensures seamless performance, while the Ice Loop vapor chamber keeps it cool, even during gaming sessions or intensive tasks

The 4600mAh battery, coupled with 90W charging, ensures good endurance. The Xiaomi 14 combines design, performance, and value, making it a strong contender in its class.

The Leica Magic

The Xiaomi 14’s camera setup has been significantly upgraded, featuring a new 1/1.3″ 50MP Light Fusion 900 main sensor, capturing 180% more light than the Xiaomi 13’s IMX800 camera. This is complemented by two additional 50MP sensors for ultrawide and zoom shots, with the latter offering a 3.2x optical zoom and a minimum focus distance of just 10cm. Furthermore, Xiaomi has enhanced its lenses to Leica’s “Summilux” series, improving color accuracy, contrast, and light intake.

Portrait options include a Leica 75mm mode, which creates charming, classic-looking images with pleasing background bokeh. Selfies deliver vibrant colors and competitive detail, making them social media-ready.

Xiaomi 14 Specifications:

• Display: 6.36-inches LTPO OLED panel, 120Hz refresh rate, 3000nits peak brightness, HDR 10+, Dolby Vision, HLG, Gorilla Glass Victus
• Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm Mobile Platform)
• Memory: Up to 16GB RAM, 1TB UFS 4.0 storage
• Software & UI: Android 14 with HyperOS on top
• Rear Camera: Triple Leica cameras (50MP main, 50MP telephoto, 50MP ultrawide)
• Front Camera: 32MP sensor (punch-hole)
• Security: Fingerprint (under display, optical)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BDS, USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
• Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer, color spectrum
• Battery: 4600mAh with 90W wired charging, 50W wireless, 10W reverse wireless
• Price in Nepal:Rs 99,999 (12/512GB)
• Watch our review of Xiaomi 14 here.

Summary list of best mobile phones under NPR 100,00 in Nepal

Do you agree with our choice of the best smartphones under 100000 in Nepal, or do you want to add something to the list? Have your say in the comments section.