Gone are those days when you have to spend a premium just to get your hands on a 5G smartphone. Manufacturers have now started flooding the market with affordable smartphones that have 5G connectivity coupled with impressive feature sets. While 5G is yet to officially roll out in the country, you might want to purchase a 5G-enabled device to make sure your phone is future-proof and can utilise the fast Internet speeds right away when the network is made available. If you’re searching for the cheapest 5G phones to buy in 2022, we have got you covered. Here’s the list of affordable smartphones you can buy on Amazon India in 2022.
Things to Consider while buying smartphones
Apart from making sure the spec sheet mentions 5G support, you need to consider some other things before you decide to purchase your favourite smartphone.
Display: The display is one of the most important aspects of a smartphone. Most smartphones either use IPS (In-Plane Switching) or AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes) panels. In terms of picture quality, AMOLED panels provide the best picture quality, but they are a bit more expensive than IPS panels. IPS panels are not inherently bad, they are just not the best you can get on the market. If you decide to go with an IPS display phone, it’ll still provide good picture quality.
Battery life and fast charging: When purchasing a smartphone, make sure it can provide at least a day’s worth of battery backup. Another important factor to look for is the availability of fast charging. Fast charging will let you fill the battery juice faster so you don’t have to wait for hours near the charging point.
Processor and RAM: A faster processor will let you complete tasks faster, run heavy apps and games smoother, and make multitasking a breeze. And coupled with enough RAM (we recommend at least 8GB), you can be sure your smartphone will be a perfect entertainment and work companion. To give you an idea, most of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 600-series and Mediatek’s latest Dimensity chipsets provide enough horsepower for daily needs. We recommend you research before you make the purchase decision.
Cheapest 5G smartphones to buy on Amazon India in 2022
Realme 9 5G
Starting our list with an affordable yet powerful smartphone. Realme 9 5G packs a 6.5-inch Full HD+ (LCD) display with a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone is powered by the powerful Mediatek Dimensity 810 5G SoC, which can handle most games with ease at medium graphics settings. You also get a massive 5,000mAh battery that lasts through the day along with 18W fast charging support. There is a 48MP AI f/1.8 triple rear camera setup along with a B&W portrait camera and a 4cm macro lens for a perfect photography experience. Additionally, you also get a 16MP selfie camera. You get a range of photo modes that include Portrait mode, NightScape mode, time-lapse mode, and more, so you can capture that perfect shot you always dreamed about. This variant of the handset packs 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. In terms of connectivity, you get the usual Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, along with support for dual-mode 5G support. The phone supports a wide range of 5G bands so you can be sure the phone is future-proof. Realme has included a range of Bluetooth audio codecs as well for a seamless wireless music listening experience that includes SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, and LDAC. Overall, this is one of the most value-for-money 5G handsets you can buy.
Samsung Galaxy M33
Samsung Galaxy M33 packs an octa-core Exynos 1280 processor, clocked at 2.4GHz, with twelve bands of 5G support. You get a 6.6-inch LCD display with Full-HD+ (1,080x2,400) resolution. The front of the phone is protected by Gorilla Glass 5. The back of the smartphone houses a 50MP quad-camera setup that includes a 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide lens, a 2MP f/2.4 depth sensor, 2MP f/2.4 macro camera for high-resolution photos. You also get an 8MP f/1.8 front camera for clear selfies. There is a massive 6,000mAh battery to last the phone through the day. This variant of the phone packs 6GB of RAM for smooth multitasking, and 128GB of storage for apps and games that is further expandable via a microSD card up to 1TB. There is also dual-SIM functionality so you have the flexibility to keep your work and personal life separate with two SIM cards. Samsung Galaxy M33 runs on Android 12 with OneUI 4 custom skin on top. Overall, the device will provide you with a complete all-around experience at an affordable price point.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G
The recently launched OnePlus Nord CE 2 5G is a great choice when it comes to providing an all-around experience. You get a 6.43-inch FHD+ (90Hz) AMOLED display that produces popping colours and gorgeous visuals. The front of the device is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and has a punch-hole design that houses the 16MP selfie shooter. There's also a 64MP main sensor that is coupled with a 119-degree wide-angle camera for brighter and more colourful images. The Mediatek Dimensity 900 5G SoC is powering the device which enough horsepower to handle most high-end games with ease, albeit at lower frame rates compared to flagship processors. The phone retains the beloved headphone jack and boasts TÜV Rheinland certification as well. OnePlus Nord CE 2 is one of the compact phones OnePlus phones measuring 7.8mm in thickness and weighing 173 grams. It runs on OxygenOS 11 based on Android 11 and should get two major Android upgrades and three years of security patches for peace of mind. Overall, Nord CE 2 is one of the best mid-range smartphones out there.
iQOO Z6 5G
iQOO Z6 5G is yet another powerful and affordable device on this list. You get the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G processor at the core that offers 15 percent more CPU and 30 percent more GPU performance than
its predecessors. You get a 120Hz 6.5-inch IPS FHD+ display, which ensures smooth scrolling in apps as well across the system. It gets a 50MP Eye AF rear camera for focused and high-resolution images. There is a massive 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support so you can fill the battery juice in a jiffy. iQOO has included an improved 5-layered liquid cooling system that reduces the phone's temperature by ten degrees while playing graphics-intensive games to give you higher frame rates. Add to that, It also included a gaming mode and 240Hz touch sampling rate for responsive gaming. You also get the Extended RAM feature which lets you add more virtual RAM. This is on top of the 4GB built-in physical RAM. You also get 128GB of storage for your favourite apps and games. Overall, if you want a gaming-oriented phone at affordable pricing that also includes extensive 5G support, this should be on your watchlist.
Redmi Note 11 Pro+
Redmi Note 11 Pro+ comes with a 6.67-inch Full HD+ (120Hz) AMOLED display with 360Hz touch sampling for smooth scrolling in apps and fluid and responsive motion in games. You also get 1200nits peak brightness for extended sunlight legibility. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G SoC for smooth performance in heavy apps. You also get up to 7 bands of 5G support, a big 5,000mAh battery with 67W fast charging that charges get the battery from 0 to 50 percent in just 15-minutes, and a Z-axis vibration motor for impressive haptic feedback, IP53 certification, and more. The phone's rear features a triple camera setup with a 108MP HM2 sensor, 8MP ultra-wide lens, and 2MP macro shooter for high-resolution detailed shots. Redmi has included a Liquidcool technology that ensures there is less thermal throttling while gaming giving increased frame rates in real-time multiplayer games. Redmi has also included built-in Alexa support for hands-free voice commands. The dual stereo speakers give a cinematic sound immersion while watching movies. Redmi Note 11 Pro+ runs on MIUI 13 out of the box. If you want a feature-packed phone that doesn't skimp on all the essential features, this should on your watchlist.
iQOO Z6 Lite 5G
iQOO is known for introducing some of the best value-for-money smartphones in the market – packed with features and powerful hardware. At the center of the iQOO Z6 Lite 5G is the latest entry-level chipset from Qualcomm – the Snapdragon Gen 1 – to provide the user with smooth day-to-day performance. In addition, the smartphone packs a 4-component cooling system for excellent budget gaming performance. At the front, it sports a 6.58-inch large FHD+ display which refreshes at a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth response across the OS. Further, the smartphone also gets a 240Hz touch sampling rate for instant response times to touches which is what pro gamers need for a smooth gameplay experience. iQOO Z6 Lite 5G also gets extensive 5G support. And the handset also packs a massive 5,000mAh battery along with 18W fast charging capability for fast juice-up times. It also gets an SD card expansion slot which you can use to expand the storage by up to 1TB. There is also the Extended RAM 3.0 feature to increase the virtual RAM for better gaming and app launch performance. Finally, the iQOO Z6 Lite 5G also gets 50MP Eye Autofocus primary camera for a stunning photography experience.
Infinix HOT 20 5G
Infinix HOT 20 5G is one of those devices that provide value for every penny you pay. And that's what makes the HOT 20 5G one of the best 5G smartphones in the budget segment. The phone comes with the powerful Meditek Dimdenstiy 810 5G processor that provides both power and battery life when needed with its efficient 6nm architecture. And it sports compatibility with a total of 12 5G bands for seamless access to the next-generation 5G network. Further, the handset packs a massive 5,000mAh battery for longer backup times and when you run out of battery juice, you can quickly get it fully charged with the in-box 18W Type-C fast charger. In terms of optics, you get a 50MP dual rear camera and an 8MP selfie camera. The phone also has a fingerprint sensor to quickly authenticate things and it also gets the face-unlock facility as well for added convenience. Finally, Infinix HOT 20 5G sports an expansive 6.6-inch Drop-notch display with an FHD+ resolution for an immersive viewing experience.
Samsung Galaxy M13 5G
The Samsung Galaxy M13 5G is also one of the popular 5G devices in the budget segment. And if you want a reliable handset for daily use, you should definitely take a look at this excellently well-rounded 5G device. The Samsung Galaxy M13 5G comes with a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display with 269 PPI resolution for crisp text rendering. The handset sips juice from the big 5,000mAh battery for long backup times. Powering the Galaxy M13 5G is the efficient Mediatek Dimensity 700 octa-core processor for fast performance. The handset runs on top of the One UI Core for added smoothness while navigating the software interface. Further, the phone gets support for 11 5G bands for seamless connectivity. The phone also gets an Auto Data Switching feature to ensure all-time connectivity. There is also Knox Security support on the Galaxy M13 5G for privacy and protection against external attacks. Optics-wise, the phone features a 50MP dual camera for versatile photography.
Lava Blaze 5G
Lava Blaze 5G is yet another 5G-enabled device that sports a premium glass design for stunning looks. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor and packs 4GB RAM for smooth multitasking performance. Further, the device uses UFS 2.2 storage for quick app launches. It gets a 5,000mAh battery for day-long runtimes on a single full charge. The optics on this handset are powered by the 50MP AI Tripple camera along with an 8MP selfie shooter. The phone also gets 2K EIS video recording as well so you can shoot stable, high-resolution videos. There is a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS display at the front, which also gets Widevine L1 support to let you stream HD videos on a wide range of OTT platforms. Software-wise, the Lava Blaze 5G runs a clean Android OS, which also gets an anonymous call-recording feature. There is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner along with face unlock capability. Finally, the company says, the Blaze 5G also has YouTube background streaming functionality for a convenient YouTube streaming experience.
OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G
The recently launched OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite 5G is one of the well-rounded 5G smartphones on the market currently. It runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset for smooth day-to-day performance. The 6.59-inch display supports a 120Hz high refresh rate and is capable of displaying P3 wide colours. At the back, there is a 64MP high-resolution triple camera setup for photography. The camera comes with a range of filters – AI scene enhancement, Dual-View Video, Night Portrait, Retouch Filters, 720p video at 120fps slow-motion capture, Timelapse, and many other useful modes. The front 16MP Sony IMX471 camera supports face unlock and clicks beautiful selfies.
There is a 5,000mAh battery with 33W SuperVOOC fast charge support. Add to that, the smartphone also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and microSD slot, which many OEMs exclude these days. You also get built-in Amazon Alexa support. The smartphone runs on OxygenOS 12.1 out of the box and the OnePlus is also promising 2 major Android upgrades and 3 years of security patches. And yes, you get extensive 5G support as well.
Redmi Note 12 5G
The Redmi Note 12 5G is yet another feature-packed device on the market that packs everything you could ask for in the budget segment. The device sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz display for smooth visuals and excellent response times. The AMOLED display makes it an excellent choice for watching movies or binging your favourite shows. What's more, the display has a 1,200 nits peak brightness, 100 percent DCI-P3 colour coverage, and a Blue Light filter for an excellent viewing experience. This one also gets the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC at the heart for smooth performance. There is a 48MP AI Tripple camera at the back and a 13MP selfie shooter at the front. It has a 5,000mAh battery with 33W Fast Charging tech. The smartphone gets compatible with 7 5G bands. This variant of the Redmi Note 12 5G packs 128GB storage and 4GB RAM.
