Paisa wasool Performance on a strict budget

While Samsung and Apple fight for supremacy in the top-end smartphone market, the budget handset space is mostly flooded by the Chinese brands. Indian companies such as Micromax and Karbonn, who once spearheaded the affordable segment, are losing ground to manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Le Eco, and OnePlus as more people are going online to purchase a phone. So if you are looking for handsets that offer great value, with a good blend of features and performance, here are our top picks:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Xiaomi has always been generous when it comes to features and specs. The Note 3 is no exception. It features a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS screen, which is excellent for video consumption. The handset is powered by Qualcomm's tried-and-tested Snapdragon 650 chipset. It comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. The hybrid slot either lets you add a secondary SIM or a microSD card. To please the shutterbugs, the phone comes with a 16-megapixel camera with dual-tone LED flash. It can record crisp Full HD 1080p videos at 30fps. For narcissist kids, the Redmi Note 3 comes with a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The phone features a fingerprint sensor that works well. It also packs in an infrared sensor, which can be used to control your TV, AC, and music system. The Redmi Note 3 supports 4G LTE and dual-band Wi-Fi. Moreover, the metal construction adds a premium touch to the handset. Price: Rs 12,000.

Lenovo ZuK Z1 Despite being a year old phone, the Zuk Z1 is one of the best handsets you can buy under Rs 15,000. Lenovo's budget phone offers a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS display. It is backed by the powerful Snapdragon 801 chipset generally found in high-end devices. No prize for guessing that the phone is ideal for gaming. The ZuK Z1 comes with 3GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The 13-megapixel camera uses Sony's IMX214 Exmor RS sensor. What's more, it features Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) to enhance low-light shots. Lenovo has been generous enough to throw in an 8-megapixel front-facing snapper. Other features include a fingerprint sensor and USB 3.0 Type-C port. In terms of software, the Lenovo ZuK Z1 runs Cyanogen OS 12.1, which is based on based on Android 5.1 (Lollipop). The phone has a simple design with emphasis on attention to detail. With a metal frame and quality plastic construction, the ZuK Z1 has a sturdy feel to it. Price: Rs 13,500.

Motorola Moto G4 Plus Here comes the second entry from Lenovo in the list. To save you from a Google search: Lenovo has bought Motorola's phone business. The Moto G4 Plus sports a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS (In Pane Switching) screen. For scratch-resistance, the phone comes with Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Although not as powerful as the other two handsets in this list, the Moto G4's Snapdragon 617 is more than enough to deliver pleasant user experience. The handset packs in a 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. You can expand it further by a 128GB via a microSD card. The 16-megapixel camera features laser auto-focus technology.