Hybrid dual SIM slots are a clever way for OEMs to drop the separate MicroSD card slot without facing consumer ire. With the advent of Reliance Jio, more and more people are bearing the inconvenience of choosing between the dual SIM and SD card privilege, especially on phones with 16GB and 32GB native storage. Luckily, there are still quite a few decent phones with dedicated microSD card slots around. Let’s take a look.
Xiaomi Redmi Y2
The Redmi Y2 is the second selfie-centric phone from Xiaomi. The USP of the device is its selfie camera, which boasts of an AI-backed 16MP sensor with soft LED flash. It is also one of the rare few Xiaomi devices that offers dedicated microSD card slot to augment 32GB/64GB internal storage up to 256GB.
Other specifications of the phone include Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor, up to 4GB of RAM, 5.99-inch (1440 × 720 pixels) HD+ display, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, 12MP+5MP rear cameras, and a 3000mAh battery.
- Xiaomi Redmi Y2 – Lowest price and full specifications
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
Asus, in partnership with Flipkart, has launched a new affordable low-cost handset, the Zenfone Max Pro M1 (Review). The handset includes an 18:9 Full HD+ display, has a massive 5000mAh battery, employs the powerful Snapdragon 636 chipset and is the first Asus phone that runs near stock Android 8.1 software.
The phone has a separate microSD card slot that can accept up to 256GB of secondary storage. The Zenfone Max pro is aggressively priced, starting at just 10,999. Asus will also launch a 6GB RAM variant of the same in India very soon.
- Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 – Lowest price and specifications
Vivo V9
Vivo V9 (Review), the latest iteration in Vivo’s V-series, comes with dedicated micro-SD card slot that can be used to add up to 256GB of secondary storage. Other than that, the V9 is Vivo’s new selfie-centric phone with a 24MP front camera, and the successor of its last year V7.
As for the specification, the Vivo V9 comes with 6.3-inch FHD+ display, Snapdragon 626SoC, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, 3260mAh battery, and dual 16MP+5MP rear camera sensor.
- Vivo V9- Lowest Price and Specification
Vivo V7 and V7+
Vivo’s both full vision display smartphones, V7 and V7+ is a dual-sim handset with a dedicated slot for microSD card to expand storage up to 256GB.
- Vivo V7 – Lowest Price and Specification
- Vivo V7+ – Lowest Price and Specification
Oppo F5 and Oppo F5 Youth
Oppo F5 and Oppo F5 Youth are trendy selfie experts with full-view screens and AI beauty technology.
The Oppo F5 is powered by 2.5GHz octa-core processor and includes features like 20MP front camera, 16MP rear camera, 4GB RAM and 64GB storage. The Oppo F5 Youth, on the other hand, is powered by 2.3GHz octa-core chipset and includes a 16MP front camera, 13MP rear camera, 3GB RAM and 32GB storage.
Both phones have 6-inch Full HD+ (18:9) Displays, Android Nougat based software, and 3200mAh battery.
- Oppo F5: Full specifications and lowest price
- Oppo F5 youth: Full specifications and lowest price
Lenovo K8 Note
Lenovo’s newest entrant, the K8 Note handset, is another of those handsets which feature a dedicated microSD slot which can be used to top up the storage further. The mid-range smartphone is also the first from the company to offer a near stock Android (Nougat 7.1.1, in this case) experience to its users.
- Lenovo K8 Note – Lowest Price and Full Specifications
LG Q6
The LG Q6 recently entered Indian smartphone market at Rs. 14,990. The dual Sim phone comes with dedicated MicroSD card slot which allows users to expand 32GB onboard storage up to 2TB via microSD card.
Apart from this, the real striking feature is its 18:9 full vision display. It is a 5.5 inch IPS LCD display with full HD+ resolution, 442ppi, and a 78% screen-to-body ratio. If you are someone who likes to consume media content on your mobile phone, the LG Q6 is worth considering under Rs. 20,000 budget.
Samsung Mid-range phones
Nearly all of the latest crop of Samsung upper mid-range phones come with dedicated MicroSD card slots. Here are the best Samsung phones with dedicated SD card slots that you can buy in India:
- Samsung Galaxy A6 – Lowest price and full specifications
- Samsung Galaxy A6+ – Lowest price; Review
- Samsung Galaxy A8+ (2018) – Full Specifications; Full Review
- Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) – Full Specifications; Full Review; Back Covers & Cases
- Samsung Galaxy A7(2017) – Full Specifications
- Samsung Galaxy A9 pro – Full Specifications
- Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro – Full Specifications; Detailed Review; FAQ
Moto G5 Plus and Moto G5
Motorola has sided with some really odd storage options for its fifth generation Moto G-series. The low-end G5 just has 16gigs of internal space and the top G5 Plus model still doesn’t have a 64GB storage option. But yes, the presence of MicroSD card slot on every fifth generation Moto G is bound to soften the blow.
Note: The more recent ‘s’ devices – Moto G5s Plus and Moto G5s – have hybrid SIM slots.
Also Read: Reasons To Buy And To Not Buy The Moto G5 Plus
- Moto G5 Plus – Lowest price and full specifications
- Moto G5 – Lowest Price and full specifications
Samsung J-series and On-series Phones
Most of the recent J-series and on-series phones have microSD card slot. The recently launched Galaxy On7 Prime that’s also the launch vehicle for Samsung Mall has a dedicated SD card slot too.
The Galaxy J7 Pro (review) and J7 Max (review) which were among the first affordable phones to include Samsung Pay (J7 Pro) and Samsung Pay Mini (J7 Max) app also include a separate SD card slot.
- Samsung Galaxy J6 – Lowest price; Reasons to buy
- Samsung Galaxy J8 – Lowest price and full specifications
- Samsung On7 Prime (2018) – Full Specifications; FAQ
- Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro – Lowest price and full specifications
- Samsung Galaxy J7 Max – Lowest price and full specifications
- Samsung Galaxy On 8 – Lowest price and full specifications
- Samsung Galaxy On Nxt – Lowest price and full specifications
- Samsung GalaxyJ7 Prime – Lowest price and full specifications
Redmi 5A
Xiaomi is now adding a dedicated card slot to all its new affordable phones. Apart from Redmi Y1, the recently launched Redmi 5A also includes a separate SD card slot.
The affordable “desh ka smartphone” is available in three colors, is powered by Snapdragon 425 quad-core chipset, and comes in two options – 3GB RAM, 32GB storage and 4GB RAM/64GB storage.
- Redmi 5A – Lowest price and full specifications
Infinix Hot S3
Infinix Hot S3 (Full Review) is an affordable and elegant 18:9 display option that brandishes a 20MP selfie camera, 13MP rear camera, 4000mAh battery, Android Oreo-based software. It’s powered by Snapdragon 430 octa-core chipset.
The 3GB RAM/32GB variants costs 8,999 INR and the 4GB RAM/64GB option costs Rs. 10,999.
- Infinix Hot S3 – Full specifications and lowest price
Top 10 Dedicated MicroSD card Slot Phones
Hybrid sim slot is certainly past its glory days. Today, many consumers do need at leat 2 SIM cards (thanks to Reliance Jio) and that renders hybrid slots meaningless. Make sure you make an informed choice. Above-mentioned smartphones are the best dual phones with dedicated memory card slot.
Best Phones With Both Dual Cameras And 18:9 Display To Buy In India
Just pick an abandoned place with quality functions. The pictures your fears make are hardly ever what evolved.
The Sony PSP has a wide screen which haas 4.5 inches width.
Often, yoou will discover them beng utilized
in exhibitions.
Sir pl suggest me 5 inch screen 128gb internal memory below 10000 cost, good speaker 2sim & SD card supporting
Srinivas 8985645765
I am looking for phone not bigger than 135-140 mm with dual sim + separated SDCard slot, 64GB Flash and with big battery more than 3000mAh. What is needed also is timer for power off and power on and call recordings with stock firmware. Is there any? Priority is a size.
I had All View P8 energy it was all having phone with 6000 battery, but it had to big screen, not good for pocket carying.
Hi Jan, check the Redmi series from Xiaomi out. I was using the 7, it’s with 158mm bigger as you like but with 4000mAh and 2+1 Cardslot one of my prefered phones ever. Maybe the 6 or the 6A ar small enough and fits better for you. Good luck
Which can be the best phone around 15k having 3 slots, and can be used atleast for 3 years.
Ps. : I use phone too much…
SM-A920F/DS verses ASUS ZENFONE MAX PRO M1 which is best?
Need 2 sims and separate dedicated sd card slot and large internal memory like 128gb possibly with S-pen.
Deepak, I have been looking at 2 sim with dedicated memory slot that is Airtel VoLte compatible and Qualcomm 625+ octacore processor as 400+ are going to be out of vogue and with C type usb port for fast charging.
I had narrowed down on Moto power one and moto G6 + only to be told that they are VoLte Jio compatible only. Asus meets most of my requirement but has 2.0 usb port.
could you help?
Hi Vijay, If you are looking for something around 15K, you can choose between Nokia 6.1 Plus, Redmi Note 5 Pro, Realme 2 Pro.
Redmi 5A, CORRECTION : two options – 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and 3GB RAM/32GB storage.
It seems that the case of Panasonic Eluga Ray Max has been forgotten which too has dual sim slots with dedicated SD card slot.
I need dual sim smartphone with 128GB internal storage with 6GB or 4GB RAM ……or 64GB dual sim smartphone with dedicated expansion slot.
My needs are just storage and RAM and dual sim. Camera quality doesnt matter much.
Budget around 20K.
can you please suggest good looking phone in that?
Well, looking at your requirements I would suggest you to opt for Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM. If you want can wait for 6GB variant than nothing like it as it just round the corner.
LG V20
are u sure deepak?
Can i use one time 2 sim active with using sd card in redmi Y1
yes. 4G VoLTE will work only on one SIM at a time. Also, if you have a Jio and Non-jio sim, and if you are using data from non-jio SIM, Jio won’t work. You will have to use data from Jio SIM.
Can i use one time 2 sim active with using sd card
None of the G5 models with dual sim have a standalone micro SD Card slot. All memory expansion in dual sim versions is hybrid.
Moto G5s Plus has a hybrid slot. Moto G5 Plus has dedicated card slot.
Deepak, shall i get cell phone with below specifications
Dual SIM with dedicated memory slot, water resistance IP6, 16 MP back and rear with flash, 6 inch screen,3000mAh + with fast recharge battery,min 1440 x 2560 px display, Gourilla glass, 6 GB RAM with 64 GB internal memory
What about Moto g5?
Its too bad, the mobiles which are having hybrid slots… It is better with dedicated slots. i.e separate sim and memory slots for dual sim models.
In the starting section of the article where it says that all C series phones support dual sim + SD card is not true.
The C7 Pro does not have the support for dual sim + SD card.
It has a hybrid slot.
Please correct it.
Thanks for pointing out. We stand corrected.
Is it true that reviews say that Moto G 5 plus is worst in battery heating and black lines while using camera. Manufacturing defect like not fixing the back cover well and some gaps are found in the mobile.
Not worst, but battery isn’t the best in this class. There is moderate heating. It gets hot while charging and playing games, which is acceptable as per today’s standards. We didn’t face any camera issue on our review unit. Build quality is decent, we have two phones and none of them has any ‘gaps’ that you just mentioned.