Best Mobile Phones Under Rs. 20,000 in Nepal [Updated]

The lower mid-range segment of smartphones has got a lot of great contenders for the crown. Those cheeky smartphone pushers could very easily and wrongfully sway an average consumer. Therefore, it is necessary to know what you’re buying before going on to buy them. At the price of NPR 20000, you can get a lot of great phones. And here is our updated pick for the best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal.

Best mobile phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal: 

10. Samsung Galaxy A04s

Okay, Kicking off our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is the Samsung Galaxy A04s. This budget phone packs a pretty modest spec sheet and could be a decent starter smartphone for school-level students and such. Powering the Galaxy A04s is Samsung’s in-house Exynos 850 processor. Instead of sheer horsepower, this chip focuses on power efficiency instead.

Exynos 850 chip

It is manufactured under an 8nm process node and its octa-core CPU cluster consists of Cortex-A55 cores only. All clocked at 2.0 GHz. So the A04s should be good for casual usage including light multi-tasking and such but don’t expect anything more from this phone.

Software-wise, it came with One UI Core 4.1 based on Android 12 at launch but Samsung has already updated it to the latest One UI 6 (Android 4). All this is complemented by 4GB of RAM and either 64 or 128GB of internal storage. On the display front, the phone has a 6.5″ PLS LCD screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and an HD resolution. So nothing fancy there either. When it comes to cameras, you’ll find three of them at the back—housed without any camera island.

You’re getting a 50MP main shooter alongside a 2MP macro and a 2MP portrait camera here. The teardrop notch on the display houses a 5MP selfie camera. But the Galaxy A04s does deliver impressive battery life. Its 5000mAh battery, combined with a power-efficient processor and an HD display, will easily last you through a day and more. It supports 15W charging via the USB-C port and Samsung provides a charger inside the box itself.

Samsung Galaxy A04s Specifications:

• Display: 6.5-inches PLS LCD screen, HD+, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: Samsung Exynos 850 4G (8nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: One UI Core 4.1 on top of Android 12
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP primary, 2MP macro, 2MP portrait)
• Front Camera: 5MP sensor (teardrop notch)
• Security: Fingerprint scanner (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Galileo / Glonass / BeiDou / QZSS, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Virtual Light, Virtual Proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 15W charging (15W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 19,999 (4/128GB)
• Buy Samsung Galaxy A04s here

9. Benco S1 Pro

The Benco S1 Pro also finds a spot on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. And it’s also one of the few entries on our list with a whopping 8GB of RAM. Benco has been doing pretty well in Nepal’s budget smartphone space and the S1 Pro looks to be another solid addition. And the biggest talking point of this phone is definitely its design.

While practically every other budget phone in this range opts for a plastic build material, the Benco S1 Pro brings an anti-glare glass at the back for a more premium hands-on feel. And it has also been treated with an oleophobic coating to keep fingerprint smudges to a minimum. Besides this, the phone also has a modern-looking flat frame design and is available in a couple of neat color options.

(Near) stock Android experience

The performance side of things is also pretty solid here. It’s powered by a Unisoc T616 chip (which is quite similar to MediaTek’s Helio G88), along with 6/8GB RAM and 128/256GB storage. What’s more impressive though is that the Benco S1 Pro has a near stock Android experience, and it boots on Android 13.

In terms of display, you’re looking at a big 6.8-inch IPS panel with an FHD resolution and a regular 60Hz refresh rate. And for a budget phone, its bezels are pretty slim as well. Benco has gone with a triple camera setup at the back here, led by a 64MP main sensor. The S1 Pro is fueled by a big 5000mAh battery which supports 33W fast charging. And you won’t need to buy a charger separately either since it’s bundled inside the box itself.

Benco S1 Pro Specifications:

• Display: 6.8-inches IPS LCD screen, FHD+, 60Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: Unisoc T616 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 6/8GB RAM, 128/256GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Android 13
• Rear Camera: Triple (64MP primary, 2MP macro, AI lens)
• Front Camera: 16MP sensor (hole-punch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Light, Proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging (33W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 19,999 (8/256GB)
• Read our Benco S1 Pro review
• Buy Benco S1 Pro here

8. Realme C53

At number 8 spot on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is the Realme C53. This guy recently received a price drop as well, which makes things even more interesting. By the way, there are two variants of Realme C53. The global model has 50MP main camera and supports 33W fast charging, while the Indian variant — which is the one available in Nepal — carries a 108MP primary camera and a slower 18W charging.

108MP camera

That makes Realme C53 the only phone on our list with a 108MP camera. Of course, higher resolution isn’t everything and you shouldn’t expect outstanding photos and videos from this thing. But it’s still capable of capturing a great amount of details and also 3x in-sensor zoom. And this has been complemented with a useless depth camera.

As for the display, you are greeted by a U-shaped notch panel stretching diagonally at 6.74-inches. This IPS LCD panel boasts an FHD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate. In terms of performance, Realme C53 is powered by the Unisoc T612 4G, which is a pretty decent processor for a budget phone. Although we must say we’re not a huge fan of the “Realme UI T Edition” software that the C53 runs on.

Realme C53 Specifications:

• Display: 6.74-inches IPS LCD screen, HD+, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: Unisoc T612 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Realme UI T on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Dual (108MP primary, 0.3MP depth)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (teardrop notch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Acceleration, Gyro, Light, Magnetic induction, Proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W charging (18W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 16,499 (6/128GB)
• Buy Realme Narzo C53 here

7. Samsung Galaxy A05

The Galaxy A05 is a recent addition from Samsung in the budget midrange category in Nepal. It retains a similar design to last year’s Galaxy A04 with a U-shaped notch upfront and a protruding lens on the back. Its base variant starts with 4GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, while a 6/128GB trim is also available in Nepal.

Under the hood, Samsung has gone for the Mediatek Helio G85 SoC, fabbed on a 12nm process. It can handle your casual, day-to-day chores with ease. Especially since it boots on a lighter version of One UI, called One UI Core (based on Android 13). And the good news is that Samsung is also committing to 2 major OS upgrades and 4 years of security updates for the Galaxy A05.

Free 25W charger

Plus, although you don’t get a power brick inside the box of any Samsung phone these days, Samsung Nepal provides a genuine 25W charger with this guy anyway. To fill up its 5000mAh battery. In terms of optics, you get a dual camera setup here, including a 50MP primary sensor, and a 2MP depth sensing unit. Meanwhile, selfies and video calls are handled by an 8MP unit placed in the teardrop notch.

But if you can spare a couple of thousand rupees more, then Samsung’s Galaxy A05s is one of the best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. It’s a lot similar to the regular Galaxy A05, but brings a sharper, smoother display, a more power efficient Snapdragon 680 processor, a higher-res selfie camera, and also a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Samsung Galaxy A05 Specifications:

• Display: 6.7-inches PLS LCD screen, HD+, 60Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: One UI Core on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Dual (50MP primary, 2MP depth)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (teardrop notch)
• Security: No fingerprint sensor
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Light, Proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 25W charging (25W power adapter provided)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 14,999 (4/64GB) | NPR 18,999 (6/128GB)
• Buy Samsung Galaxy A05 here

6. Vivo Y17s

Next up on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is the Vivo Y17s.

And like practically every other budget phone from Vivo, the Y17s also tries to impress with its design more than anything else. It’s available in three color options in Nepal — Diamond Orange, Glitter Purple, and Forest Green — all of which look quite attractive. The camera module here is also rather elegant, while the phone’s flat edges also add to the bold finish that Vivo is going for. It even has IP54 dust/splash resistance!

Good design, decent cameras

Besides design, the Y17s has quite a competent set of cameras too. And you can expect decent photos from its 50MP primary and 8MP selfie shooter. Although let us once again remind you that the 2MP depth sensor on this thing (or any other phone for that matter) is practically pointless.

On the front, you are looking at a 6.56-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel with a standard 60Hz refresh rate here. Whereas it’s powered by Helio G85 chip, alongside up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The Y17s runs on FunTouch OS 13 on top of Android 13, while Vivo has managed to fit in a large 5000mAh battery here.

Vivo Y17s Specifications:

• Display: 6.56-inches IPS LCD screen, FHD+, 60Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4/6GB RAM, 128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: FunTouch OS 13 on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Dual (50MP primary, 2MP depth)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (teardrop notch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.0, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou / QZSS, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light, E-compass, Proximity, Virtual gyro
• Battery: 5000mAh with 15W charging (15W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 14,999 (4/128GB) | NPR 16,999 (6/128GB)
• Buy Vivo Y17s here

5. Realme C55

After the latest price drop, Realme C55 comfortable finds its way to our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal as well. It originally launched at NPR 21,999 in Nepal for the 6/64GB model, but you can get it for just NPR 15,499 these days. You can also find Realme Narzo N55 in Nepal — which is basically a rebranded Realme C55 — but this guy comes off as a much better value for money.

Available in either “Sunshower”, “Rainy Forest”, or “Rainy Night” color options, Realme has gone with a subtle dual-tone finish at the back, which looks quite nice. And despite featuring a big 5000mAh battery, it’s just 7.89mm thick. The right side of the phone also houses a fingerprint reader, while the Realme C55 adopts an iPhone-like flat-edge finish as well.

90Hz display

Design aside, its display is not too bad either. Realme Narzo N55 doesn’t have an AMOLED panel or anything, but its 90Hz IPS screen looks pretty good for the price. One interesting thing about this screen is that also has something called “Mini Capsule”, which uses the screen space around the front camera to display information like battery life, charge status, and more. Kinda like Apple’s “Dynamic Island” on the iPhone 15 series.

Powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 chip, Realme C55 can handle casual everyday tasks just fine. And in terms of cameras, its 64MP main sensor can take good photos in broad daylight conditions. This is followed by a pointless 2MP depth sensor, while the phone has an 8MP selfie camera up front, hidden inside the hole-punch cutout.

Realme C55 Specifications:

• Display: 6.72-inches IPS LCD screen, FHD+, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G88 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4/6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: Realme UI 4.0 on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Dual (64MP primary, 2MP depth)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (hole-punch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Magnetic induction, Light, Proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 33W charging (33W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 15,499 (6/64GB)
• Watch our Realme C55 review
• Buy Realme C55 here

4. Redmi 13C

At number 4 position on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is Xiaomi’s Redmi 13C. This is the refresh to last year’s Redmi 12C, and it brings a couple of upgrades here and there. You get the same Helio G85 processor here, while it boots on the same-old Android 13-based MIUI 14. Although the HyperOS update for this guy should be arriving in the coming weeks anyway.

90Hz display and Gorilla Glass

Anyway, despite being a budget phone, the Redmi 13C boasts a Gorilla Glass protection. On top of that, its 6.7-inches IPS display now boasts a 90Hz refresh rate versus the static 60Hz refresh rate on the Redmi 12C. And fueling it is a 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support. But the disappointing news is that Xiaomi only provides a 10W power brick inside the box.

As for the optics, Redmi 13C has a triple camera setup comprising a 50MP primary, a 2MP macro unit, and a 0.08MP AI lens. For selfies and video calls, there is an 8MP snapper upfront. Whereas Xiaomi has also moved to USB-C port with the Redmi 13C.

Redmi 13C Specifications:

• Display: 6.74-inches IPS LCD screen, HD+, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4/6/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB eMMC 5.1 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 14 on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP primary, 2MP macro, 0.08MP AI)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (teardrop notch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light, E-compass, Virtual proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W charging (10W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 15,999 (6/128GB) | NPR 18,999 (8/256GB)
• Buy Redmi 13C here

3. Tecno Spark 20

And the newly launched Tecno Spark 20 rightfully takes the bronze medal on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal. It goes big on design and memory, while the Spark 20 is quite competitively priced too. Matter of fact, this is the most affordable phone with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage you can find in Nepal right now.

In terms of design, the Tecno Spark 20 arrives in a bunch of different colorways, that either have glass or leather finish. Its flat sides and the iPhone-like camera island look pretty bold as well, whereas Tecno has even secured IP53 dust and splash resistance for this thing. Whereas the Spark 20 gets a 90Hz IPS display too, although we would’ve liked it more if it had a sharper FHD resolution instead.

High-res cameras

As aforementioned, the Tecno Spark 20 goes big on cameras. And discounting its useless auxillary lens, you get a 50MP primary and a 32MP selfie shooter here. Not just that but the Spark 20 has dual LED flash — both at the front and the back of the phone — for well-lit photos and videos even when it’s dark.

The rest of spec-sheet on this phone is quite standard stuff. It’s powered by MediaTek’s Helio G85 chip — with Tecno’s HiOS 13 on top of Android 13 — alongside a healthy amount of memory and storage. There’s a fingerprint reader on the side, while the Spark 20 also has a big 5000mAh battery that should last a couple of days in light to medium usage.

Tecno Spark 20 Specifications:

• Display: 6.56-inches IPS LCD screen, HD+, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G85 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 8GB RAM, 256GB storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: HiOS 13 on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Dual (50MP primary, Auxiliary lens)
• Front Camera: 32MP sensor (hole-punch cutout)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS / AGPS / Glonass, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Ambient light, E-compass, G-sensor, Proximity, Virtual gyro
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W charging (18W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 17,990 (8/256GB)
• Buy Tecno Spark 20 here

2. POCO M5

Now, the second spot on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal is the POCO M5. As with most POCO smartphones, this one is geared toward gaming too. Powered by the new Helio G99 processor, this is your best bet if you’re looking for a budget gaming phone. This 6nm chip has two Cortex-A76 cores as its prime cores and a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU to deliver a reliable gaming experience. Granted that you adjust the settings properly, of course.

Furthermore, its display has a 240Hz touch sampling rate which means it is faster and more responsive to your touch inputs. So whether you’re playing FPS or other kinds of games that require a quick response, the POCO M5 isn’t going to disappoint. It also has quite an interesting design, with a leather-like texture at the back. The phone is also available in a couple of fun color options like yellow, green, and black.

A 90Hz display

Up front, the POCO M5 features a 6.58″ FHD IPS display protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. It supports a 90Hz refresh rate which can switch between 30, 60, and 90Hz depending on the content on the screen. As far as cameras go, POCO has gone with a triple camera array at the back, which unfortunately doesn’t include an ultrawide shooter.

Anyway, POCO M5 is fueled by a large 5000mAh battery that should be good for a day even under relatively heavy usage. It supports 18W fast charging and the company ships a 22.5W power adapter inside the box. In terms of software, the phone runs on Android 12 with MIUI 13 for POCO on top, while Xiaomi has begun pushing HyperOS update for this phone already.

POCO M5 Specifications:

• Display: 6.58-inches IPS LCD screen, FHD+, 90Hz refresh rate, Gorilla Glass 3
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G99 4G (6nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4/6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 64/128GB UFS 2.2 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 13 for POCO on top of Android 12
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP primary, 2MP depth, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 5MP sensor (teardrop notch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Galileo / Beidou, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, Ambient light, E-compass, Proximity
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W charging (22.5W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 20,499* (4/64GB)
• Watch our POCO M5 review
• Buy POCO M5 here

1. Redmi 12

Finally, the gold medal on our list of best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal goes to the newly launched Redmi 12. And like the Tecno Spark 20, one of the biggest selling points of this budget phone is definitely its sheer value for money in terms of memory configurations.

While most other devices on our list have 4GB RAM and 64GB storage on their base variant, the Redmi 12’s starting configuration brings 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. Whereas even its 8/256GB variant is just NPR 1000 more than our budget of NPR 20000. With this, Xiaomi has tried to ensure smooth everyday usage on this smartphone, which is complemented by MediaTek’s Helio G88 chip.

Android 13

Xiaomi hasn’t detailed any update cycle for this guy but the Redmi 12 is getting the HyperOS pretty soon. Other than performance, it has a pretty sleek design with flat edges and a camera layout with protruding lenses. Alongside an IP53 dust and splash resistance, Xiaomi has also gone with a premium glass back design on this phone.

Up front, you get a big 6.79-inch FHD IPS display with a 90Hz refresh rate. To save battery, it can also switch between 36, 48, 60, and 90Hz depending on what you’re doing. As for the cameras, Redmi 12 has a 50MP primary, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro sensor. Making it the only phone on our list with an ultrawide camera. Other than this, the phone is fueled by a 5000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging.

Redmi 12 Specifications:

• Display: 6.79-inch IPS LCD screen, FHD+, 90Hz refresh rate
• Chipset: MediaTek Helio G88 4G (12nm mobile platform)
• Memory: 4/8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128/256GB eMMC 5.1 storage (expandable)
• Software & UI: MIUI 14 on top of Android 13
• Rear Camera: Triple (50MP primary, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro)
• Front Camera: 8MP sensor (hole-punch)
• Security: Fingerprint sensor (side-mounted)
• Connectivity: Dual-SIM (Nano), WiFi 5 (Dual-band), Bluetooth 5.3, GPS / AGPS / Glonass / Beidou, USB-C, 4G LTE
• Sensors: Accelerometer, E-compass
• Battery: 5000mAh with 18W charging (18W adapter inside the box)
• Price in Nepal: NPR 17,999 (6/128GB) | NPR 20,999* (8/256GB)
• Buy Redmi 12 here

Summary list of best mobile phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal

You might also like:

Do you agree with our choice of the best phones under NPR 20000 in Nepal, or do you want to add something to the list? Have your say in the comments section.