Top 5 Android smartphones under Rs 20,000

Balance is key and these devices offer it in terms of performance and features, while keeping it all within the price range.

While budget smartphones offer the bare minimum and high end devices cater to performance hunger, the sub Rs 20,000 devices form a mid range that is a perfect balance of both performance as well as features, but at the same time there is a lot of confusion as to what to buy and what not to buy as with a few thousand rupees more, users have access to the performance segment which certainly is better.

Yes, this is what a common buyer has in mind while buying a sub Rs 20,000 Android smartphone -- we too were quite confused. So to solve all the confusion and to help our readers we present here our top 5 sub Rs 20,000 Android smartphone list. The devices featured here come from various manufacturers and offer the best of features.

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo L (Rs 18,000)

Sony Ericsson Xperia Play was not immediately liked by many smartphone users because of its extensive gaming capabilities and controls, but more and more gamers gradually became interested in this smartphone.

Well, the price was to be honest slightly on the high side, so Sony has announced yet another Sony Playstation certified device, the Sony Xperia Neo L.

Xperia Neo L is another officially certified Playstation device but without PSP like controls.

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In terms of hardware the Xperia Neo L features Xperia Play-like specifications with a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a dedicated Adreno 205 graphics engine ensuring smoother and faster graphics performance.

In total, 512 MB of RAM has been added to this device to keep its performance zippy, which is essential for gaming. Plus there is a bundled 2 GB memory card for additional storage. The 4-inch capacitive touchscreen makes up with its 480 x 854 pixel resolution and colour reproduction while gaming, which is perfectly complemented with brilliant sound output.

Xperia Neo L runs on Google Android Ice Cream Sandwich that has hundreds of free and paid games to choose and play. If that is not enough then users can also make use of the Playstation Suite, a dedicated content store for Playstation certified devices.

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LG Optimus Black (Rs 16,000)

Optimus Black, although it sounds a bit dated, it is still one hell of a device to have and flaunt.

Firstly, its price has decreased a lot since it was launched, and secondly the LG Optimus Black has its own share of glory because of its Nova display which is touted as the world's brightest with 700 nits of brightness.

The device is good to hold and flaunt, while it has enough muscle to keep thing moving pretty smoothly as well. The Optimus Black with Android 2.2 and a 1 GHz single core processor works just well enough for anyone who needs a decent mid range Android device for the price.

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The Optimus Black features a 5 megapixel camera that is capable of recording 720p HD videos at 30 frames per second while it also gets a 2 megapixel front camera for some high quality video chats. Coming with lesser, 2 GB of onboard storage, it can take 32 GB of external storage capacity as well.

The device features a Nova display, which LG claims is the best for a mobile device with 700 nits of brightness, making it legible even in bright light conditions.

Also, LG Mobiles has now officially announced that the Optimus Black will get the Android ICS 4.0 upgrade, adding more value to the device.

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HTC One V (Rs 16,500)

HTC had introduced the One series line up of devices in the beginning of the year during the Mobile World Congress followed shortly with the Indian launch of the HTC One V smartphone. HTC One V still goes strong with a good reputation as a mid range performance phone.

On a 3.7-inch Super LCD touchscreen display, the One V supports 480 x 800 pixel resolution. HTC has used unibody aluminium to construct this handset, which is curved at the base to add style and functionality for clearer calls as well as an easy grip.

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Featuring a single core 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, this smartphone has 512 MB of RAM that ensures smoother system-wide performance. With the One Series, HTC has introduced HTC Sense 4.0 user interface, which is faster and slicker compared to the previous version.

HTC's Sense 4.0 UI is integrated on top of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich making the whole device look and perform very well.

At the back is a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash. The camera app has been improved significantly to click more snaps in less time. The back camera is capable of recording 720p HD videos. There is no front facing camera though.

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Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos S6802 (Rs 11,500)

The Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos S6802 is an upgraded version of the older Galaxy Ace Duos i589 which brings along dual GSM SIM slots for cellular connectivity as compared to the GSM+CDMA combination of the older Ace Duos i589.

Building on the success of the popular Galaxy Ace, the new Galaxy Ace Duos comes with a premium design, high-end features and a rich smart experience with dual SIM support, allowing users to manage their work and personal lives with one smartphone.

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People can also use the device to carry two SIM cards with different billing plans, switching when convenient or cost-appropriate.

The Ace Duos has an 832 MHz processor, and HSDPA 7.2 Mbps and WiFi b/g/n connectivity. Besides, it has a 5 megapixel autofocus camera, an 8.9 cm HVGA screen, Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system and 3 GB of internal memory.

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Motorola Defy Plus (Rs 13,500)

While making this list we were actually tied up between the Sony Xperia Go and Motorola Defy Plus as both offer rugged characteristics, but in the end Motorola won due to a slimmer price and almost equal set of features.

Motorola Defy Plus has a 3.7-inch touchscreen display with Gorilla Glass technology while its chassis is IP67 standard certified. This means the handset can survive if submerged in water, and the screen is sturdy enough to withstand minor scratches and accidental falls.

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The 3.7-inch touchscreen display of Defy Plus has 480 x 854 pixel resolution, a 1 GHz Texas Instruments OMAP 3620 processor with 512 MB RAM and 1 GB on-board memory, running Android 2.3 Gingerbread.

The Defy Plus has a 5 megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash.

Unfortunately, there is no secondary camera. The device, supporting up to 7.2 Mbps download speeds on 3G networks, also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

Apart from its waterproof and dust-resistant characteristics, this smartphone also promises good multimedia playback and 32 GB expandable memory.

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