With apps, games, photos, and videos occupying more space than ever, you might often find yourself running out of storage on your smartphone. And with most Android manufacturers now removing the SD card slot for reasons unknown, it can be hard to find a phone with decent specs. If you are looking for a budget phone with expandable storage, here are some of the best phones under Rs 20,000 with microSD card support.
Launched earlier this year, the Motorola G34 is a budget phone powered by the Snapdragon 695 chipset, a well-balanced CPU known for offering a decent balance between performance and power.
It has a 6.5-inch 120Hz LCD screen and runs on MyUX based on Android 14, which offers a similar experience to stock Android. The back of the phone houses a 50MP primary camera alongside a 2MP macro shooter and packs a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging support. While the phone does not stand out in any area, if you are looking for a budget phone with a microSD card slot, this is one of the best phones for the asking price. The 8GB RAM and 128GB storage variant can be purchased from Flipkart for Rs 11,999.
iQOO Z9X
If you are looking for a phone with a capable chipset and a big battery under Rs 15,000, the iQOO Z9X is one of the best phones in the price bracket.
Powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, the device runs on FuntouchOS based on Android 14. The back of the phone has a 50MP primary shooter alongside a 2MP depth sensor. It has a 6.72-inch 120Hz LCD screen that can go up to 1,000 nits, which is bright enough to see under direct sunlight.
The budget phone packs a 6,000mAh battery with 44W fast charging support, meaning it can easily last a day even if you are a heavy user. The only gripe is that the screen is LCD, but if you can live with that, the iQOO Z9X is a good choice. The 4GB RAM variant can be purchased for Rs 12,999 on Amazon, but we recommend spending a bit more and going with the 8GB version, which is priced at Rs 15,999.
Samsung Galaxy F15
Looking for a Samsung phone under Rs 20,000 with expandable storage space? Check out the Galaxy F15, a mid-range phone powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chipset.
Sporting a 6.6-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen, the Galaxy F15 runs on OneUI 6 based on Android 14. It has a triple camera setup that consists of a 50MP primary camera, a 5MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. The base variant comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage and is priced at Rs 12,999, but if you want to use the phone for a couple of years, we recommend spending a bit more and going with the 8GB RAM version that costs Rs 15,999.
Realme P1
Featuring the Dimensity 7050 chipset, which is basically a rebranded version of the tried and tested Dimensity 1080, the Realme P1 sports a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
The device runs on Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14 out of the box and comes with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, which can be further expanded using the hybrid microSD card slot. On the back, you get a decent 50MP primary camera that can take good photos in broad daylight but struggles a bit in low light.
The Realme P1 also happens to be one of the few phones launched in 2024 to have a 3.5mm audio jack. Similar to other phones in the price bracket, it has a 5,000mAh battery that supports 45W fast charging. The base variant with 128GB storage and 6GB RAM is currently available on Amazon for Rs 16,960, but if you can spend a bit more, we recommend purchasing the 8GB RAM and 256GB variant for Rs 18,789.
Honor X9B
The Honor X9B (review) is a mid-range device that offers great value for money. Featuring the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, which also powers the iQOO Z9X, the Honor X9B has a 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits.
You also get a decent triple camera setup with a 108MP primary sensor, a 5MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro camera. The front of the phone houses a 16MP selfie shooter. The Honor X9B comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage and packs a 5,800mAh battery that charges at 35W. However, the phone does not ship with a charger in the box. It is currently selling on Amazon for Rs 22,999, but if you can wait for a while, the price often dips below Rs 20,000 during sale.
