Previously, we compiled together a laptop buying guide series for the best laptops under the 50K, 100K, and 150K range. Today, we’ve put together a list of the best smartphones under the 10K range. This article marks the start of our smartphone buying guide series. Stay tuned for more articles in this series. You can check out latest mobile prices in Pakistan here.
Six years ago, owning a smartphone was a dream for most individuals. Today, the scenario is completely different. With the progress of the smartphones over the year, the technology has become widely accessible. Nowadays, smartphones are available within a mere budget of 10K – something that was probably beyond imagination a decade ago. In this edition of the best smartphone series, we have listed the top 5 entry level smartphones for anyone that wants to get the taste and feel of the technology.
1. Lenovo A2010:
Price: PKR 9800/-
Lenovo, the Chinese multinational, has made a name for itself in the last three years. Launching its first smartphone in 2011, the smartphone manufacturer has progressed to solidify its place in the budget – mid range arena. The Lenovo A2010 is proof for this – a 4.5 inch beast that can handle music playback, browsing, and texting simultaneously without dropping a frame. The MediaTek MT6735M can handle multitasking as easy as one two three. Not just this but the device also exhibits an attractive design that is just simply appealing to the eye.
Specifications:
- Display: Capacitive touchscreen – 16M colors
- Screen Size: 4.5 inches
- Dimensions: 131.5 x 66.5 x 9.9 mm
- Weight: 137 g
- Screen Resolution: 480 x 854 (218 pixels per inch)
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6735M
- CPU: Quad core 1.0 GHz Cortex – A53
- GPU: Mali T720MP2
- OS: Android Lollipop (v5.1)
- Internal Storage: 8 GB
- RAM: 1 GB
- Card slot: Yes – up to 32 GB
- Camera (Back): 5 MP – LED Flash
- Camera (Front): 2 MP
- Colors: Black, Pearl White
- Battery: 2000 mAh
Reasons to buy:
- Clear, vivid display that is soothing for the eyes.
- The CPU is very responsive and quick even under extreme load.
- Robust build quality that can handle rough and rigorous use.
2. Huawei Y5:
Price: PKR 9300/-
Huawei has been a masterclass for this budget range. It has been launching wonderful smartphones in this range ever since 2013. The Huawei Y560, the latest release by the Chinese company is no different. Packing a bright and clear 4.5” inch display and the Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210, the Huawei Y5 is one of the best smartphones around in this range. This colorful Huawei Y5 is the perfect smartphone for the ideal Android experience.
Specifications:
- Display: Capacitive touchscreen – 16M colors
- Screen Size: 4.5 inches
- Dimensions: 135.9 x 67.7 x 10 mm
- Weight: 141.5 g
- Screen Resolution: 480 x 854 (218 pixels per inch)
- Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8909 Snapdragon 210
- CPU: Quad core 1.1 GHz Cortex – A7
- GPU: Adreno 304
- OS: Android Lollipop (v5.1)
- User Interface: Emotion UI 3.1 Lite
- Internal Storage: 8 GB
- RAM: 1 GB
- Card slot: Yes – up to 32 GB
- Camera (Back): 5 MP – Autofocus and LED flash
- Camera (Front): 2 MP
- Colors: Black, Blue, Pink, White
- Battery: 2000 mAh
Reasons to buy:
- Powerful quad-core MSM8909 processor with the Adreno 304 GPU.
- Bright, vibrant 4.5” display – one of the best in this range.
- Android Lollipop out of the box.
- Dedicated microSD card slot with the 8 GB internal storage.
- Rigid build quality.
- Variety of colors available for the back cover.
3. QMobile Noir W80:
Price: PKR 9000/-
The 8th edition of the QMobile Noir W series is an entry level smartphone that offers power with elegance. The Noir W80 features a black matte body with a curved edge design. Despite the 5 inch display and the 2000 mAh battery, the phone is slim and sets well in the hands. It is also one of the few QMobile budget phones with the Android Lollipop flavor.
Specifications:
- Display: IPS LCD touchscreen – 16M colors
- Screen Size: 5.0 inches
- Dimensions: 144 x 73 x 9.5 mm
- Weight: 140 g
- Screen Resolution: 720 x 1280 (233 pixels per inch)
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6580
- CPU: Quad core 1.3 GHz
- GPU: Mali 400-MP2
- OS: Android Lollipop (v5.1)
- Internal Storage: 16 GB
- RAM: 1 GB
- Card slot: Yes – up to 64 GB
- Camera (Back): 5 MP – Autofocus and LED flash
- Camera (Front): 2 MP
- Colors: Black
- Battery: 2000 mAh
Reasons to buy:
- Large 5 inch IPS LCD display with a 233 ppi pixel density.
- The 16 GB internal storage is sufficient for photos, music, videos, and apps.
- The MediaTek MT6580 performs well under pressure.
- Android Lollipop comes preinstalled with the smartphone.
- Sleek beautiful design.
4. Lenovo A1000:
Price: PKR 8300/-
Another smartphone from the Lenovo A series. This is a trimmed down, cheaper version of the Lenovo A2010. Unlike the A2010, the Lenovo A1000 comes with a less powerful Spreadtrum SC7731. The rest of the specifications are similar to that of the A2010 other than the camera and the screen size. The A1000 has a brighter and sharper screen but with a shorter display size (4.0 inches). All in all, the Lenovo A1000 is an all-round performer that is more affordable and more compact than some of the other smartphones in this range.
Specifications:
- Display: TFT Capacitive touchscreen – 16M colors
- Screen Size: 4.0 inches
- Dimensions: 124.5 x 64 x 10.6 mm
- Weight: 132 g
- Screen Resolution: 480 x 800 (233 pixels per inch)
- Chipset: Spreadtrum SC7731g
- CPU: Quad core 1.3 GHz Cortex – A7
- GPU: Mali 400MP2
- OS: Android Lollipop (v5.0)
- Internal Storage: 8 GB
- RAM: 1 GB
- Card slot: Yes – up to 32 GB
- Camera (Back): 5 MP – LED Flash
- Camera (Front): VGA
- Colors: Onyx Black, Pearl White
- Battery: 2000 mAh
Reasons to buy:
- The Lenovo A1000 is the most affordable Android smartphone in this list. It comes at this price without compromising on processing power, memory configuration, or the Android Lollipop out of the box.
- Long battery life. This smartphone packs a 2000 mAh battery with a screen size of only 4.0 inches. This leads to one of the longest battery times that you will find in this range.
5. Microsoft Lumia 532:
Price: PKR 7200/-
Over the last two years, Microsoft has launched a range of the most successful entry level phones in the shape of the Lumia series. The Lumia 532 is the latest edition to the entry level smartphone arena by Microsoft. Sporting a Qualcomm MSM8212 Snapdragon 200 with an Adreno 302 and a 4.0 inch display, the Microsoft Lumia is one of the most potent smartphones around. If you’re looking for the ideal Windows Phone experience within a small budget, we recommend the Lumia 532 for you.
Specifications:
- Display: Capacitive touchscreen – 16M colors
- Screen Size: 4.0 inches
- Dimensions: 118.9 x 65.5 x 11.6 mm
- Weight: 136.3 g
- Screen Resolution: 480 x 800 (233 pixels per inch)
- Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8212 Snapdragon 200
- CPU: Quad core 1.2 GHz Cortex – A7
- GPU: Adreno 302
- OS: Microsoft Windows Phone 8.1
- Internal Storage: 8 GB
- RAM: 1 GB
- Card slot: Yes – up to 128 GB
- Camera (Back): 5 MP
- Camera (Front): VGA
- Colors: Black, Green, Orange, White
- Battery: 1560 mAh
Reasons to buy:
- Sturdy build quality – the body can take quite a few hits without showing signs of damage.
- The most powerful Windows phone available in this budget. Upgradable to Windows 10 as well.
- The 1 GB RAM performs quite well (especially with Window’s efficient memory management).
- The camera result is surprisingly very good for this budget – it lacks the LED flash though.
- The MSM8212 does a wonderful job at multitasking.
- Priced comparatively lower than most of its counterparts with similar specification.
Specification credits: gsmarena
Image Sources – lenovo, qmobile, huawei, microsoft
