📱 Best Budget Smartphones for Photography (2025 Guide)
Photography has become one of the most essential smartphone features in 2025 — and the great news is, you don’t need to spend ₹50,000 or more to capture stunning photos. Several brands now offer affordable smartphones with amazing camera specs under ₹20,000 in India.
Whether you're into portraits, low-light photography, wide-angle shots, or simply want Instagram-ready images, this guide covers the best budget camera phones of 2025 that punch way above their price tag.
📸 What Makes a Good Budget Camera Phone?
- High Megapixel Primary Sensor: 50MP and above with AI enhancements.
- Ultra-wide/Macro Lens: For flexible shooting options.
- Night Mode: Dedicated low-light performance.
- OIS/EIS: To stabilize shaky hands and video.
- Software Tuning: Brand-level image processing makes a big difference.
📱 Top 5 Budget Smartphones for Photography in India (2025)
1. Redmi Note 13 5G
Price: ₹16,999 – ₹18,999
Rating: ⭐ 4.6/5
The Redmi Note 13 5G features a 50MP AI camera, MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ chip, and incredible daylight image processing. The front 16MP camera also does well with portraits and selfies, and it's powered by MIUI's new image engine.
2. iQOO Z9 5G
Price: ₹18,999 – ₹19,999
Rating: ⭐ 4.5/5
Famous for performance, the iQOO Z9 5G now boasts a powerful 50MP Sony IMX882 sensor with OIS — rare in this price range. It’s perfect for motion photography and delivers sharp, vibrant images in both daylight and artificial lighting.
3. Realme Narzo 70 5G
Price: ₹14,499 – ₹15,999
Rating: ⭐ 4.4/5
The Narzo 70 comes with a versatile 50MP AI camera setup and boasts decent ultra-wide lens performance. It supports real-time photo filters, an improved nightscape mode, and ultra-clear HDR shots. Ideal for travel and social content creators.
4. Motorola G73 5G
Price: ₹16,999 – ₹17,999
Rating: ⭐ 4.3/5
Known for clean Android and great hardware, the Motorola G73 features a 50MP Ultra Pixel camera with 2µm pixel size and quad-pixel technology. It excels in low light and motion shots and comes with a wide-angle + macro lens combo.
5. Samsung Galaxy M14 5G
Price: ₹12,499 – ₹14,999
Rating: ⭐ 4.4/5
If you prefer Samsung’s One UI and camera software, the Galaxy M14 delivers an impressive 50MP main shooter with good color reproduction and detail. Night mode is better than most competitors at this price, and battery life is massive at 6000mAh.
📷 Bonus Mentions
- Infinix Zero 5G 2023: 50MP cam + 120Hz screen under ₹13K
- Lava Blaze 5G: Made in India option with a 50MP cam under ₹11K
- POCO X5 5G: Excellent all-rounder with solid camera & AMOLED
🤳 Tips to Maximize Smartphone Photography
- Use the Pro/Manual mode for better control of light & focus.
- Clean your lens regularly for crystal-clear shots.
- Use external lighting or a ring light for better low-light photos.
- Install GCam (Google Camera mod) for improved HDR and Night Sight.
📌 Conclusion: Which Camera Phone is Right for You?
If you’re into content creation, iQOO Z9 or Redmi Note 13 is your best bet. For casual users who love landscapes, group shots, and social sharing, Realme Narzo 70 and Samsung Galaxy M14 offer great value.
With brands pushing camera boundaries even in budget phones, you don’t need a DSLR anymore to capture life’s beautiful moments. So, choose your photography buddy from this list, click away, and share your masterpiece online!