BEST MOBILE PHONES UNDER 15000 IN INDIA

The iQOO Z10x is a budget smartphone that uses a polycarbonate frame and rear panel but still manages to offer an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance. The phone offers a textured rear panel, which makes it appear attractive given its price tag.

Performance is not exactly a problem, given the capable processor. However, we did notice some stutters from time to time, which points to software optimisation issues. The phone is updated to the latest Android 15, but only supports 2 years of software updates.

Camera is not the iQOO Z10x’s biggest drawback. Daylight images are far from the best we have seen in this segment. Low light images are not usable. Video recording isn’t great either.

Despite packing a high capacity battery, charging speeds are pretty good. Standby time is also very good and the phone can easily last two days with light usage.

iQoo’s Z9x takes a practical approach to design by going with a plastic rear panel and frame. While it looks like a regular budget smartphone, it offers an IP64 rating which offers proper protection against dust but basic protection against water.

The phone offers good performance for a budget smartphone at this price point and is also good for some mid-level gaming as it can handle 3D games.

Camera performance is average for a smartphone at this price point but the iQoo Z9x has only one user-accessible rear-facing camera. Software performance is good but there’s plenty of spammy notifications and preinstalled third-party apps.

Battery life is very good. The phone easily lasts two days on a single charge with casual usage and more than a day with heavy usage as well. Charging speeds are impressive and the bundled charger quickly charges the large battery.

The Moto G64 5G is a minor update over last year's Moto G54 5G. It comes with a slightly faster MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC, which is paired with up to 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. The phone is fast enough for most tasks and you can also play most games on it without any heating issues or lag. However, you'll need to run high-end games on lower settings. You get a dual rear camera setup with a main 50-megapixel sensor with OIS, and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide sensor. Photo quality is good in daylight conditions, but lowlight performance isn't that good. The phone also packs a 6,000mAh battery that can easily last two days with normal usage. A 33W fast charger is available in the box. The Moto G64 5G, while it doesn't offer major upgrades over its predecessor, is still good value for money and easy to recommend.  

Samsung’s Galaxy M36 has a design with a buffed and slippery matte-finish back. This is coupled with a matte-finished frame with flat sides which gives it a fresh and modern appearance.

Part of this image is ruined by its display, which has a dated waterdrop notch. However, it's of the Super AMOLED variety and performs well in terms of colours and contrast.

Its processor is a bit dated as well and isn’t ideal when paired with its moderately sized battery, which results in below average battery standing power. Charging too is quite slow and Samsung does not offer a charger in the box.

Camera performance in daylight is decent, but poor in low light. The selfie camera  also performs well in daylight. Video performance is quite good, but this only applies to footage captured in daylight. 

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a midrange smartphone from the South Korean company with a MediaTek DImensity 6300 chipset and 8GB of RAM that offers decent performance for the price. It features a 6.5-inch Super AMOLED screen and users can choose between 60Hz and 90Hz refresh rate options. The smartphone runs on Android 14 and Samsung has promised six years of OS upgrades and security updates for the Galaxy A16 5G.

You get a triple rear camera setup on the Galaxy A16 5G, which is headlined by a 50-megapixel primary camera that works well during the day and in low light scenarios. There's also a 5-megapixel ultrawide and 2-megapixel macro camera, and it's best to use these cameras during the day. On the front, there's a 13-megapixel selfie camera.

The company has equipped the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G with a 5,000mAh battery, which can be charged at 25W. However, you'll need to use an existing charger or purchase a new one if this is your first Samsung smartphone. The Galay A16 5G is available in Blue Black, Gold, and Light Green colour options in India.

The Moto G45 5G is a budget smartphone from Motorola that is powered by a Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset. It features a large 6.5-inch IPS LCD screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, and the phone is powered by a 5,000mAh battery. 

The design includes a vegan leather finish on the rear panel and flat plastic edges. On the back, there's a raised camera module and the Motorola batwing logo. The Moto G45 5G is available in Brilliant Blue, Brilliant Green, and Viva Magenta colourways.

Running on Android 14 with My UX skin, the Moto G45 5G is a decent performer for daily tasks and light gaming. The 50-megapixel main camera is paired with an 8-megapixel macro camera, while a 16-megapixel camera on the front handles selfies and video calls.

The Infinix Note 40X is a feature-packed smartphone with a lot of memory and inbuilt storage, which is aimed at ensuring smooth performance and ample space for apps and files on the handset. It has a triple rear camera setup with a Quad LED flash. 

It has a large immersive display that has a hole-punch cutout along with dual speakers, which is designed to allow users to access content and enjoy it on a big screen.The Infinix Note 40X also has a 3.5mm headphone jack which means it will work with your wired headphones and earphones, as well as your wireless stereo earphones.

With XOS 14 that is based on Android 14, the Infinix Note 40X is designed to deliver efficient performance and smart features like AI Wallpaper Generator as well as AI features that are built into the camera. 

The Infinix Note 40X has a large battery and comes with a charger in the box, while a side-mounted fingerprint sensor keeps files and apps on the device safe from prying eyes, but you can also use the inbuilt face unlock option instead. 

The Moto G73 5G is a high-end budget smartphone from Motorola which addresses the lack of 5G with the previous model. Its body is made of acrylic glass and polycarbonate but does not feel cheap. It also features an IP52 rating.

The Moto G73 5G is also the first smartphone in India to feature the MediaTek Dimesnity 930 SoC. It offers good software and gaming performance. Camera quality is decent in daylight but underwhelming in low light. Video is strictly average overall.

The software experience is smooth but Motorola has started to add third-party and Moto-branded bloatware. However, Motorola’s My UX skin is highly customisable. The phone offers average battery life and should last for a day and a bit more. Charging is slow compared to the competition and this phone also heats up when charging.

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has always been an easy budget recommendation, but with the Redmi Note 12 5G, things are a bit different. The phone packs in 5G radios and has also seen a noticeable hike in pricing even when you keep in mind its higher base storage.

The phone’s design is made of polycarbonate and is a bit slippery because of its matte surfaces. There’s a high-refresh rate Super AMOLED display that works well under sunlight, but falls a bit short when viewing darker content.

Performance is not the best in class, but Xiaomi’s well-optimised software keeps the phone running smoothly. At the same time it is a bit surprising to see an Android-powered device being launched in 2023 with Android 12 inside.

Camera performance is by far the most disappointing bit about the Redmi Note 12 5G, with below average performance in daylight and low light. Battery life is reliable and the phone charges up quickly.