Looking for a good phone but have a tight budget? You don't have to empty your wallet to get a phone that will serve you well anymore. Yes, some compromises will definitely exist - the camera of an entry level phone is almost always a weak point - and if taking photos is a priority, then you'll want to spend a little extra and get one of these phones instead. However, if you're getting your first smartphone, you may not want to spend Rs. 10,000 or more just yet - and there are some pretty good phones you can get for significantly less than that. We looked at phones that cost less than Rs. 8,000, and came up with four picks we really like.
These Are the Top Rated Phones Under Rs. 15,000
To make this list, we've stuck to the phones that Gadgets 360 has reviewed - that's so that we can ensure that each phone has been put through the same testing process, and can be fairly compared. We've also limited this list to phones that are less than a year old - tech moves fast, particularly in the entry level price brackets. While last year's flagship phone still performs just fine, the same can't be said for last year's entry-level phones. With all this in mind, we've put together a list of our four favourite phones under Rs. 8,000. Here are our picks.
| Phone | NDTV Rating |
|---|---|
| Infocus Vision 3 | 7 |
| Smartron t.phone P | 7 |
| Xiaomi Redmi 5A | 7 |
| 10.or D | 7 |
1. InFocus Vision 3
Coming in at just under Rs. 7,000, the InFocus Vision 3 (review) is a decent choice on a tight budget. It falls a bit short in terms of its camera and display when compared to phones that are about one or two thousand rupees more expensive, but makes up for it with long battery life, and it's also really well priced. That, along with the sturdy construction, make it an appealing pick at this price.
It has a biggish 5.7-inch display, running at 720x1440 pixels. There's a 1.3GHz quad core processor, and 16GB of storage. You also get 2GB of RAM, and an 8-megapixel front, with a 13-megapixel rear camera. It's paired with a large 4000mAh battery that keeps it goingrunning on and on.
2. Smartron t.phone P
At just under Rs. 8,000, the Smartron t.phone (review) is a solid pick as well. It does well in terms of its display and performance, and it's a nice looking phone to boot. The phone is a great value for money buy, but what really stands out is the enormous 5000mAh battery, which earned it the highest possible score on our battery tests.
Apart from that, it's fairly standard, with a 5.2-inch HD display, a 1.1GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage, and a 13-megapixel/ 5-megapixel rear and front camera combination.
3. Xiaomi Redmi 5A
The joint cheapest phone on this list, the Xiaomi Redmi 5A (review) is a strong budget contender, that does "okay" on so many fronts that its great battery performance - and its pricing - help it hold its own even against slightly more expensive handset. Xiaomi has better phones, but its most exciting options seem to be priced between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 these days. If you're looking for a phone that's generally good at rock-bottom prices, you can't go wrong with the Redmi 5A, which comes in at just under Rs. 5,000.
It's a pretty basic phone on paper today - it has a 5-inch HD display with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage, along with a 1.4GHz quad core processor, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera. Accomplishing that at under Rs. 5,000 is pretty cool though, and the 3000mAh battery keeps the phone ticking along for a long time too. Plus, the Xiaomi brand is well established in India, and it has a large service network in many cities, which could be an important factor for your decision. One downside is the limited online availability. The good news is the Xiaomi Redmi 5A is also available offline for a slight premium compared to its online price.
4. 10.or D
The final phone on this list, the 10.or D (review) shares it's pricing with the Xiaomi Redmi 5A, and a whole lot more besides. The phone has a fingerprint scanner at a reasonable price, and it delivers good battery life, but its camera is only so-so, and it feels plasticky. Despite that, it's also an incredible value-buy, with great battery life, which makes it worth considering.
On paper, it has a slight edge over the Xiaomi - though we prefer the Redmi 5A overall. The 10.or D has a 5.2-inch HD display, with a 1.4GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB storage. It also has a 13-megapixel rear, and 5-megapixel front camera, and it has a huge 3500mAh battery. It's a good option for people looking for a value-for-money buy, making it a good pick overall.
Although budget handsets like these still come with constraints, no one can deny that things are a lot better than they were just one year ago, and there are good picks to choose from in the under Rs. 8,000 segment. Which of these phones would you go for? Use the poll below to tell us - and if you picked 'Other', do tell us and the other readers which phone you'd go for via the comments.
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