With 5G expected in India by the end of 2022, smartphone manufacturers today are busy making the market – in the budget segment – more confusing for consumers by launching new models in both 4G and 5G options. This has made it difficult for customers to understand whether to choose a 5G phone today (future proof) or go for a 4G model (given 5G is several months away, if not more, for those not in the big cities. to be). This confusion comes with companies selectively offering features like multiple cameras and high refresh rate screens, even on the same phone.
To address all this and make things easier for you, Orbital host Akhil Arora speaks with in-house device experts Roydon Cerejo and Sheldon Pinto on this week’s episode of the Gadgets 360 podcast.
Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo, and Realme have 4G and 5G phones in their budget segment. However, a common practice has been noted: while 4G phones have better features, their 5G counterparts are marketed just for providing support for the next-generation mobile network yet to be rolled out in the country.
The Oppo F21 Pro series is a recent example of this disparity. The series has the Oppo F21 Pro 5G with a standard 60Hz display and a 16-megapixel selfie camera, while the vanilla (4G) Oppo F21 Pro offers a 90Hz display and a 32-megapixel selfie camera. In addition, the price of the 4G model is Rs. 4,000 lower at Rs. 22,999 than the 5G variant, which is priced at Rs. 26,999 – this price is for the identical 8GB RAM + 128GB storage configuration.
Oppo F21 Pro First impressions: a handsome smartphone
This gives you a reason to be cautious and skeptical when choosing a new budget phone. You have to decide whether you want 5G connectivity at the expense of other key features, which could be more useful than network support that hasn’t been rolled out yet.
We also talk about some options you can look for if you are on a tight budget or don’t want to spend more than Rs. 20,000. Some models, including the Moto G71 5G and Moto G51, offer a decent combination of hardware and software for their prices. You can also check out phones like the iQoo Z3 or the Redmi Note 11 series – if you’re okay with a custom skin on top of Android.
During the discussion, we’ll also offer to buy tips to keep in mind with budget phones, including why the base model isn’t the best option, even if it’s the most affordable.
Moto G71 5G Review: Nearly Perfect For Android Purists
You can listen to all this and more by hitting the Spotify player’s play button.
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