Best Phones Under Rs. 15,000 to buy in India
The sub-Rs. The 15,000 smartphone segment is about fixing a few things. Most smartphones can get decent image quality from their cameras, battery life is usually pretty good, and performance is good enough for normal gaming. The main difference here compared to entry-level smartphones (sub-Rs. 10,000), is the design. It’s easy to find a smartphone that looks good or at least has a refreshing design, compared to the basic look of entry-level smartphones.
Another added feature that hasn’t completely taken over this segment is 5G connectivity. But since 5G is already available with some operators in India, you can choose from a few 5G-enabled smartphones if future-proofing or fast connectivity is a priority. Other useful features one may find in this segment include stereo speakers, splash resistance and high refresh rate displays.
So, here is a list of the best phones you can buy under Rs. 15,000 in India right now, except for a specific order.
| Phones under Rs. 15,000 | 360 Gadgets Ratings (out of 10) | Price in India (as recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Qoo Z6 Lite 5G | 8 | Rs. 13,999 |
| The Moto G52 | 8 | Rs. 12,999 |
| redmi 10 prime | 8 | Rs. 12,999 |
| Realme Narzo 30 5G | 8 | Rs. 14,999 |
| Samsung Galaxy F22 | 8 | Rs. 11,499 |
| Redmi Note 10S | 8 | Rs. 14,999 |
Qoo Z6 Lite 5G
The iQoo Z6 Lite 5G gets you reliable camera performance and a sleek design at an attractive price. As its name implies, there are also 5G radios, although only two 5G bands. iQoo has decided to go with a 120Hz refresh rate LCD display that makes this smartphone great for gaming. The combination of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC and a large 5,000mAh battery also makes it good for entertainment as the heated speaker in our test turned out to be quite loud. Although this phone seems to check all the right boxes, you need to remember that it does not include a charger in the box. Also, its software experience is not the best in class.
The Moto G52
The Moto G52 does not have 5G radios. This could be a problem for those looking forward to making the transition to 5G networks. The G52 is for those who have no plans to jump on the 5G bandwagon right away but are very interested in the price. With that in mind, the Motorola Moto G52 focuses on entertainment with a 90Hz refresh rate POLED display, and stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 SoC isn’t a beast, but it definitely does for everyday tasks (and light gaming) and this is partly due to Motorola’s near-stock Android software. The phone also packs a large 5,000mAh battery and comes with a 33W charger in the box. While the phone looks attractive, it also packs an IP52 rating for minimal dust and water resistance.
redmi 10 prime
The Redmi 10 Prime carries the family look and sports a large 6.5-inch full HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, a plastic frame, and a four-camera system on the back. This smartphone is powered by MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, and a large 6,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Daylight camera performance is average, despite having a 50-megapixel primary camera. Low-light image quality is also poor, which is one of the biggest downsides of this phone. Although it doesn’t have the same impact as its predecessor, it delivers better performance so if that’s important to you, the Redmi 10 Prime will suit your needs.
We also reviewed the Redmi 11 Prime 5G as the name suggests, it adds 5G to the mix, but you should only go for this one if 5G connectivity is high on your priority list.
Realme Narzo 30 5G
The Realme Narzo 30 5G is a slim and stylish 5G smartphone with a 90Hz refresh rate display, good battery life, and mid-range gaming performance. The cameras are disappointing for both stills and video and to make matters worse, there is no ultra-wide camera. You get the Realme UI and several pre-installed apps that can spam you with unwanted notifications. This surprisingly small design packs a 5,000mAh battery but charging is a little on the slow side. However, if you want 5G and have a tight budget, the Narzo 30 5G is a good phone to consider.
Samsung Galaxy F22
Samsung’s Galaxy F22 is a budget entry-level that works great on battery life. It has a 6.4-inch 90Hz HD+ Super AMOLED display, but it dwarfs everything else. The large 6,000mAh battery easily lasts for two days, but it takes longer to charge. Camera performance is average in its segment, but daytime video quality is good, despite being limited to 1080p. The design of the Galaxy F22 can best be described as functional, with a display that uses Gorilla Glass 5 for protection and a plastic unibody. The phone lacks the 5G radios found on the new Galaxy F23 5G, but if a clear display and strong battery life come first, the Galaxy F22 fits the bill.
Redmi Note 10S
The Redmi Note 10S, despite being quite old, is still a strong offering in this segment. It has been replaced by the higher-priced Redmi Note 11S (which adds 5G radios and a 108-megapixel primary camera). For an older device, it still packs a punch in terms of specifications and has an IP53 rating for dust and water resistance. There is a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It has stereo speakers and an IR emitter, both rare for budget smartphones. The Note 10S packs a MediaTek Helio G95 SoC and 6GB of RAM, and you can choose between 64GB and 128GB of storage. The phone has many pre-installed apps that push spam notifications from time to time. Xiaomi offers a quad camera setup on the Redmi Note 10S with a 64-megapixel main sensor.
