The new Nepali Year 2081 has started in full swing. With the start of the new year, we can expect new smartphones in all price ranges including budget, mid-range and premium smartphones. While categorising these options, there are sub-categories within the premium budget and mid-range options.
While mid-range options have been popular in recent years, the number of options has also increased. The premium mid-range options are mostly under the Rs 1 lakh price bracket. There are options in the last couple of months that have been added to the Nepali market.
Here we have an updated list of the new smartphones under Rs 100,000 in Nepal as of April 2024.
List of smartphones under Rs 100,000 in Nepal
| S.N | Models | Price |
| 1. | Nothing Phone 2 | Rs 75,699 (12/256GB) Rs 83,299 (12/512GB) |
| 2. | Samsung Galaxy S23 FE | Rs 85,999 (8/256GB) |
| 3. | OnePlus 12R | Rs 90,999 (16/256GB) |
| 4. | Apple iPhone 13 | Rs 95,000 (128GB) |
| 5. | Xiaomi 14 | Rs 99,999 (12/512GB) |
1. Nothing Phone 2
Nothing is officially available in Nepal. The successor to the Nothing Phone 1, the Nothing Phone 2 has gone official along with the sub-brand CMF in collaboration with CG Digital. With the Phone 2 launched, we can also expect the Nothing Phone 2a to arrive soon in the Nepali market.
| Dimensions | Height: 162.1 mm Width: 76.4 mm Depth: 8.6 mm Weight: 201.2 g |
| Display size | 6.7-inch |
| Display type | Flexible OLED display with LTPO |
| IP rating | IP54 – splash, water and dust resistant |
| Resolution | 2412 x 1080 pixel resolution at 394 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz |
| Chipset | Qualcomm® Snapdragon®™ 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) |
| CPU | 1x X2 Prime3.0GHz 3xA710 2.5GHz 4xA510 1.8GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Nothing OS 2, Android 13 |
| RAM | 8GB | 12GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB |
| Rear camera | Main: 50 MP Sony IMX890 sensor Ultra-wide: 50MP |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP Sony IMX615 sensor |
| Ports | USB-C |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v5.3 |
| SIM | Dual SIM |
| Audio | 3 high definition mics Dual stereo speakers |
| Battery | Li-Ion 4700 mAh, non-removable |
| Charging | 45W wired, PD3.0, PPS, QC4, 100% in 55 min (advertised) 15W wireless, 100% in 130 min (advertised) 5W reverse wireless |
| Sensors | In-display Fingerprint Sensor Front and Rear Ambient Light Sensor Accelerometer Electronic Compass Gyroscope Proximity Sensor Sensor Core |
| Colours | White | Dark Gray |
| Price | Rs 75,699 (12/256GB) Rs 83,299 (12/512GB) |
The Nothing Phone 2 continues the brand’s distinctive design language with a transparent back with LED glyphs along with curved edges for better ergonomics. Its 6.7″ flexible OLED display uses LTPO technology, HDR10+ certification, and a 10-bit colour depth, offering vibrant visuals with reduced blue light emissions. The innovative Glyph Interface makes the smartphone interaction unique, allowing personalized light and sound sequences for notifications.
The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset built on a 4nm processor coupled with an Adreno 730 GPU. The smartphone runs on Nothing OS 2.0 based on Android 13. It boasts a dual-camera setup with a 50 MP Sony IMX890 main sensor and a 50 MP Samsung JN1 ultra-wide sensor. The front camera features a 32 MP Sony IMX615 sensor. It has a non-removable Li-Ion 4700 mAh battery with 45W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, and 5W reverse wireless charging capabilities.
The smartphone supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth v5.3, and dual SIM functionality. It includes an in-display fingerprint sensor, three high-definition microphones and dual stereo speakers for further support. The Nothing Phone 2 is available in two colour options; White and Dark Grey. The Nothing Phone 2 costs Rs 75,699 for the 12/256GB option and 83,299 for the 12/512GB option.
2. Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE has already got a lot of love in the Nepali market. Standing at the bottom of the S23 series, the S23 FE also the Fan Edition is quite popular in India and Nepal. The S22 Fan Edition was skipped and was quite a disappointment for many. The S23 FE has caught up to it with the features and specs in the price range.
| Dimensions | 158.0mm x 76.5mm x 8.2mm |
| Weight | 209 grams |
| Display size | 6.4-inch |
| Display size | Dynamic AMOLED 2X |
| Resolution | 1,080 x 2,340 (FHD+) |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| IP rating | IP68 dust/water resistant |
| Glass protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Chipset | Exynos 2200 (4 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×2.8 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3×2.50 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4×1.8 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Xclipse 920 |
| OS | Android 13 One UI 5.1 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB | 256GB |
| Rear camera | Main camera: 50MP Ultra-wide angle camera: 12MP Telephoto camera: 8MP |
| Selfie camera | 10MP |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Audio | Stereo speakers |
| SIM | Dual Nano-SIM |
| Sensors | Accelerometer | Barometer | Fingerprint sensor | Gyro sensor | Geomagnetic sensor | Hall sensor | Light sensor | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery | 4,500 mAh |
| Charging | 25W wired charging |
| Colours | Mint | Graphite |
| Price (expected) | Rs 85,999 (8/256GB) |
The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE features a glass back made of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and an aluminium frame, aligning with Samsung’s universal design language. Its triple camera setup on the back mimics the base models of the flagship S23 series, while the front has a flat display with a centred hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera. The 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display offers a resolution of 1,080 x 2,340 (FHD+), supports a 120 Hz refresh rate, and also boasts IP68 dust and water resistance.
Under the hood, the smartphone has Exynos 2,200 chipset featuring an octa-core CPU configuration and Xclipse 920 GPU, running on Android 13 with One UI 5.1. It offers 8 GB of RAM paired with a storage option of 256 GB. The rear camera setup includes a 50.0 MP main sensor, a 12.0 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and an 8.0 MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The 10.0 MP front camera supports 4k video recording and various features like pro mode and HDR.
The smartphone has a 4,500 mAh battery, 25W wired charging and connectivity options like Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e and Bluetooth 5.3. The Samsung Galaxy S23 FE is available in two colour options; Mint and Graphite and costs Rs 85,999 for the available 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
3. OnePlus 12R
The flagship OnePlus number series has always won the hearts of Nepali people. The OnePlus 12 series has also recently been available in Nepal. The OnePlus 12 has been getting nice reviews with the flagship specs and features. However, the OnePlus 12 being a flagship is off the budget for the best smartphones under Rs 1 lakh. The one to look out for is the OnePlus 12R. The 12R even though has mixed reviews in terms of pricing, it makes up for a great smartphone in the price category.
| Dimensions | Height: 163.3 mm Width: 75.3 mm Thickness: 8.8mm |
| Weight | 207 grams |
| Display type | 6.78-inch |
| Display size | LTPO AMOLED |
| Resolution | 2,780 x 1,264 |
| Refresh rate | 1-120 Hz dynamic |
| IP rating | IP65 dust and waterproof |
| Glass protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2×2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3×2.0 GHz Cortex-A510) |
| GPU | Adreno 740 |
| OS | Android 14, OxygenOS 14 |
| RAM | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Rear camera | 50MP Sony IMX890 main camera 8MP Ultra-wide camera 2MP macro camera |
| Selfie camera | 16MP |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7 |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Network | LTE | 5G |
| SIM | Dual Nano SIM |
| Audio | Dual Stereo Speakers Noise cancellation support Dolby Atmos |
| Sensors | In-display Fingerprint Sensor Accelerometer Electronic compass Gyroscope Ambient light sensor Proximity sensor Sensor core Rear color temperature sensor Infrared blaster |
| Battery | 5,500 mAh |
| Charging | 100W SUPERVOOC wired fast charging |
| Colours | Cool Blue | Iron Gray |
| Price | Rs 90,999 (16/256GB) |
The OnePlus 12R has a sleek design language similar to its flagship counterpart, the OnePlus 12 with distinct features. Its glass back comes in Cool Blue with a glossy matte finish or Iron Gray with a dark matte finish complemented by an aluminium frame with a shiny finish. The 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display has a resolution of 2780 x 1264 pixels and a pixel density of 450 ppi, supporting a dynamic refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz and a wide range of colour spaces, including HDR10+. It has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection along with IP65 waterproof and dustproof protection.
The smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset paired with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The triple camera setup includes a 50 MP main sensor, an 8 MP ultra-wide camera and a 2 MP macro lens, while the 16 MP front camera captures sharp selfies and supports various modes. The smartphone has a massive 5500 mAh battery and 100W SUPERVOOC wired fast charging. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, Bluetooth 5.3, LTE, and 5G network compatibility, along with dual nano SIM slots.
Audio features of the smartphone include dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. It is available in Iron Gray and Cool Blue colour options. The smartphone costs Rs 90,999 for the 16GB and 256GB.
4. Apple iPhone 13
Apple has also made its way into the list with the Apple iPhone 13. The smartphone is the base model of the iPhone 13 series which also includes the Apple iPhone 13 Mini, Apple iPhone 13 Pro and Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Apple iPhone 13 Mini shares the same specs with a difference in the dimensions, display and battery. The Apple iPhone 13 got a sweet price cut making it able to be in the list of best smartphones under Rs 1 Lakh.
| Dimensions | Width: 71.5 mm Height: 146.7 mm Depth: 7.65 mm |
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Resolution | 2532 x 1170 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz |
| Chipset | A15 Bionic |
| CPU | 6‑core CPU with 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores |
| GPU | 4-core |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Rear camera | Dual-camera system: 12MP Wide, 12MP Ultra Wide |
| Selfie camera | 12MP TrueDepth |
| Battery | 3240 mAh |
| Operating system | iOS 15 |
| Colours | Blue | Midnight | Pink | Starlight | Red | White |
| Price | Rs 90,500 (128GB) |
The Apple iPhone 13 boasts a vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels. It features a refresh rate of 60Hz which is quite on the lower side as the Pros gets a better one. It is powered by the A15 Bionic chipset with a 6-core CPU comprising 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores, along with a 4-core GPU.
The smartphone features a dual-camera system with 12MP Wide and 12MP ultra-wide lenses, capturing detailed and immersive photos and videos. The 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera enables stunning self-portraits and Face ID authentication. It is available in a range of colours including Blue, Midnight, Pink, Starlight, Red, and White. The iPhone 13 is available in Nepal for Rs 90,500 for the 128GB variant.
5. Xiaomi 14
The Xiaomi 14 is last on the list of the best smartphones which is also the most expensive. The Xiaomi 14 is part of the Xiaomi 14 series which also includes the Xiaomi 14 Pro and the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The Xiaomi 14 delivers great specs and features in the price range.
| Dimensions | Height: 152.8mm Width: 71.5mm Thickness: 8.20mm |
| Weight | 193 grams |
| Display type | LTPO OLED |
| Display size | 6.36-inch |
| Resolution | 2670 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | Dynamic 1-120Hz |
| IP rating | IP68 dust and water resistance |
| Glass protection | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.3 GHz Cortex-X4 & 3×3.2 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×3.0 GHz Cortex-A720 & 2×2.3 GHz Cortex-A520) |
| GPU | Adreno 750 |
| OS | Xiaomi HyperOS, Android 14 |
| RAM | 12GB |
| Storage | 512GB |
| Rear camera | 50MP main camera 50MP ultra-wide camera 50MP telephoto camera |
| Selfie camera | 32MP |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 |
| Network | LTE | 5G |
| SIM | Dual SIM (nano SIM + nano SIM or nano SIM + eSIM) |
| Audio | Stereo speakers 4-MIC Array Dolby Atmos® Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification |
| Sensors | In-screen fingerprint sensor | Proximity sensor | Ambient light sensor | Accelerometer | Gyroscope | Electronic compass | IR blaster | Barometer | Flicker sensor | X-axis linear vibration motor |
| Battery | 4610mAh |
| Charging | 90W wired charging 50W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging |
| Colours | White | Black | Jade Green |
| Price | Rs 99,999 (12/512GB) |
The Xiaomi 14 has a refined design, with a square-shaped camera module of its predecessor, the Xiaomi 13, with a larger size and a repositioned round flash. On the front, it has a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 2670 x 1200 pixels and a pixel density of 460 ppi. It has a peak brightness of 3000 nits. It is powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset and 12GB of RAM, it delivers smooth performance and multitasking capabilities.
The smartphone packs a 4610mAh battery with support for fast 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging. It is equipped with advanced connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7 and Bluetooth 5.4. It has stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos support, and a range of sensors. It is available in Black, White, and Green colour options and it is priced at Rs 99,999 for the 12GB RAM and 512GB storage variant.
