There are many new devices in India that cost Rs. 15,000 but buyers should beware as rising prices and ongoing component supply issues mean you may not be getting the value you could have a year or two ago. At the same time, don’t expect a huge leap in power, camera quality or build quality if you’re upgrading from a similarly priced phone that’s a few years old.
Having said that, you can expect large, high-quality screens, all-day battery life, fast charging, up-to-date software, and cameras good enough for everyday use. Other features you might find include 5G, stereo speakers, a higher display refresh rate or splash resistance.
So, here is a list of some of the best phones under Rs. 15,000 in India right now, in no particular order. It’s been reviewed and scored by Gadgets 360, and whether you prefer performance, battery life, camera quality or design, we’ll help you find the best one for your needs.
Best Phones Under 15,000
| Rs. 15,000 for internal phones | Gadgets 360 Rating (out of 10) | Price in India (Recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Moto G52 | 8 | Rs. 14,499 |
| Infinix Hot 11S | 8 | Rs. 10,999 |
| Redmi 10 Prime | 8 | Rs. 13,499 |
| Realme Narzo 30 5G | 8 | Rs. 14,999 |
| Redmi Note 10S | 8 | Rs. 13,999 |
| Samsung Galaxy F22 | 8 | Rs. 12,999 |
Moto G52
The Moto G52 ( review ) lacks 5G, and it’s a little worrying that 5G deployment seems so close. The G52 is only for those who have no plans to jump on the 5G bandwagon but are more interested in value. Keeping this in mind, the Motorola Moto G52 focuses on entertainment with a 90Hz refresh rate poOLED display and stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 SoC isn’t a beast, but it certainly gets the job done for day-to-day tasks (including some light gaming), and that’s partly thanks to Motorola’s near-stock Android software. The phone also packs a large 5000mAh battery and comes with a 33W charger in the box.
Infinix Hot 11S
The Infinix Hot 11S (Review) is a gaming-focused smartphone for those on a tight budget. It offers a high-refresh-rate display that gamers will appreciate, and a decent budget SoC that’s capable of some mid-level gaming. The plastic body has a glossy coating that feels cheap and is a smoke magnet. On the other hand the display is very good at resisting fingerprints. The large display makes this phone a bit unwieldy and impossible to use with one hand. The stereo speakers work well for gaming and are loud enough. Battery life is excellent, and charging is also fast. This smartphone can be a good choice for casual users and those looking for a good gaming experience on a budget.
Redmi 10 Prime
The Redmi 10 Prime (Review) has a 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 quad-camera system at the back.
The smartphone is powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, along with a 6,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. Daylight camera performance was average despite the 50-megapixel primary camera. Low-light image quality was poor, which was one of the main downsides of this phone. Although it doesn’t have the same impact as its predecessor, it offers better performance so if that’s important to you, the Redmi 10 Prime will meet your needs.
Realme Narzo 30 5G
Realme Narzo 30 5G (Review) is a slim 5G smartphone with a good 90Hz refresh rate display, good battery life and mid-level gaming performance. The cameras are a bit disappointing for both stills and video, and to make matters worse, there’s no ultra-wide camera. You get Realme UI and many preinstalled apps that can spam you with unwanted notifications. Charging is a bit slow. However, if you want 5G and are on a tight budget, the Narzo 30 5G is a phone worth considering.
Samsung Galaxy F22
Samsung’s Galaxy F22 (Review) is a basic budget smartphone that’s big on battery life. It has a vibrant 6.4-inch 90Hz HD+ Super AMOLED display, but undercuts everything else. The large battery easily lasts two days, but takes a long time to charge. Camera performance was pretty average for its segment, but daylight video quality was good despite being limited to 1080p. The Galaxy F22’s design can best be described as practical, with a display made of Gorilla Glass 5 and a plastic unibody. If a vivid display and strong battery life are priorities, the Galaxy F22 fits the bill.
Redmi Note 10S
The Redmi Note 10S (Review) is a slightly more powerful version of the Redmi Note 10 and both the devices look similar. It has a 6.43-inch AMOLED display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Redmi Note 10S features stereo speakers and an IR emitter, which are uncommon on budget smartphones. The Note 10S packs a MediaTek Helio G95 SoC with 6GB of RAM and you can choose between 64GB and 128GB of storage. It runs MIUI 12.5 on top of Android 11. It has a lot of preinstalled apps that occasionally push spammy notifications. The Note 10S has a 5,000mAh battery and a 33W charger in the box.
Xiaomi offers a quad-camera setup on the Redmi Note 10S with a 64-megapixel primary sensor. Overall, the Redmi Note 10 is worth buying over the Redmi Note 10S if you want better performance.
