Let’s begin by clearing the issue of flagship phones first. Under this budget, don’t expect a waterproof, killer camera phone that does it all and will also be easy on your pocket. Luckily, smartphones have gotten pretty advanced in these recent years. You can easily find a decent phone that serves your needs at this price point. So, let’s begin by addressing the most expensive phones in this list. Here’s the list of best phones under Rs. 50,000 in Nepal.

Best Phones Under Rs. 50,000

Mi 5S (NRs.48,000)

Mi 5s is nothing like its predecessor Mi 5. The next-gen device from Xiaomi comes with an aluminum unibody that upgrades from the more fragile Mi 5 body. Following the overhaul, Mi 5s also comes with an updated 12MP IMX 378 camera sensor, same as that of the excellent Pixel smartphone. The new sensor offers better low light performance and better picture quality. Although, we must point out that the camera didn’t impress us in our hands-on with the device. The photos come out washed out and under-saturated.

Users can fix this problem by using a different camera software instead of the default one. The front-facing 4MP shooter in Mi5s is the same as on the Mi 5, and it’s the best selfie shooter in my experience. The front camera competes with other selfie shooters from major flagships like Samsung and iPhone. It is disappointing that Xiaomi has removed this sensor from its other phones.

A Snapdragon 821 processor powers Mi 5S along with a 3GB RAM. The 5.15 inch FULL HD display is almost an industry standard these days and is ideal for regular use. The phone houses a fingerprint scanner at the home button and also uses a USB-C connector to charge. For those who care, this phone also supports Quick Charge 3.0 by Qualcomm, so it charges very quick if not quicker than a certain brand’s dash charge.

One Plus 3/3T (NRs.35,000/ NRs.49,000)

One Plus has been a favorite for ages now. The phone company makes beautiful stock phones worthy of all the love it gets from its users. Even though the new OnePlus 5 stole the spotlight from OnePlus 3, it is one of the best phones in the market. The phone costs almost half the price of OnePlus 5 and comes with almost contending features. The phone boasts a Snapdragon 820 processor with a gargantuan 6GB of RAM, along with a 64 GB storage.

OnePlus’ camera has the same main camera as the Mi 5 from Xiaomi. It’s a 16 MP IMX 298 sensor from Sony, that captures detailed photos with balanced colors and saturation. This camera does suffer in low-light and night scenarios, and MI 5s is supposed to perform slightly better due to it’s updated cameras. At the front, it has an 8MP camera that does what it’s supposed to do: take detailed selfies. The phone can also be updated up to the latest Android Nougat 7.1 software with timely updates.

A big and vibrant 5.5 inch 1080p Full HD AMOLED display is also the best feature of OnePlus 3. And this display can last a while as well, owing to it’s 3000mAh battery. OnePlus has also put the Dash Charge feature, that charges phone up to 63% under half an hour.

Note: Those who have set their eyes on OnePlus 3T can opt out for OnePlus 3 since the 16MP front camera upgrade and the larger battery doesn’t really justify the more expensive 3T. Plus, the price of OnePlus 3 is discounted now, so you can get a superior phone for a good price. But, if you do want that extra in OnePlus 3T, then go for it, it is still a good buy compared to other phones, and it also has Snapdragon 821, which is like 15 percent faster than 820 SoC from Snapdragon.

Samsung A7 2017 (NRs.42,000)

The mid-ranger from Samsung sits at third on our list because of the value it provides at the price. There’s no doubt that the phone boasts a series of premium perks like the IP68 water resistance. Before this phone, the water-resistant feature was reserved for only the higher end phones like S7 and S8. Samsung A7 packs a brilliant set of features that can be easily overlooked by most users. The Gorilla Glass 4 on Samsung A7 2017 protects a big and vibrant 5.7-inch FullHD Super AMOLED display, one of the best in the market right now. The big display also drains the battery faster in this phone. Fortunately, Samsung has put a 3,600 mAh battery on this phone, so it should last a full day.

It has an Exynos 7880 Octa-core processor paired with a standard 3GB RAM. One of the perks of buying Samsung A7 2017 is its expandable 64GB storage. Unlike Mi5s and OnePlus 3, the A7 2017 can use a micro SD card to increase the device storage.

A7 2017 also houses two 16MP  front and back cameras with f/1.9 aperture. Obviously, the rear camera shoots better due to it’s larger sensor. But, a high res selfie camera does wonders to show the detail in single and group selfies.

Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra (NRs.40,500)

The Sony Xperia XA1 with an ‘Ultra’ moniker comes with a huge 6-inch Full-HD display. Powering the phone is MediaTek’s Helio P-20 chipset, while the RAM is 4GB and the storage is 64GB. Aside from those specs, the Xperia XA1 Ultra shines mostly in optics department. The phone comes with an impressive 23MP camera at the rear with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash, whilst selfies are taken care by the 16MP camera at the front with f/2.0 aperture rate and an LED flash too.

Amid the fact that Sony’s design language in recent year has been nothing short of boring, the combination of decent hardware and an impressive camera makes the Xperia XA1 Ultra a contender in our list. Definitely, a great device if you are looking for an all-around performance.

Samsung J7 Pro (NRs.32,900)

Samsung J7 Pro has similar specs to the A7 2017, and this phone is a cheaper alternative to the A7. It has an Exynos 7870 Octa-core processor with a similar 3GB RAM and comes with an expandable storage. The build of Samsung phones is similar, with slight adjustments to design. J7 Pro also boasts a 5.5-inch FullHD Super AMOLED display like A7. But, it doesn’t come with Gorilla Glass protection or the water resistant feature. So, there’s always that gnawing fear of dropping your phone into a hard cemented floor, or into a pool of water. So, J7 Pro definitely isn’t as safe to us as the A7 2017.

On the camera side, we have a 13MP f/1.7  main camera and a 13MP f/1.9 front selfie snapper. Both are capable of taking respectable images, but both suffer from a lack of detail. Both the phones have fingerprint scanner mounted on the home button and come with a large 3600 mAh battery. J7 Pro is the cheapest one in the list but fulfills most requirements of a good smartphone.

So, these are the best phones you can buy under Rs. 50,000 in Nepal, and not regret buying them afterward. These can last you a year or two without being totally obsolete. We are interested in your opinion as well.

Let us know in the comments your favorite brand and phone in this price.