The smartphone market has changed considerably over the last year or two especially in India. Up until a couple of years ago, one needed to spend at least Rs 30,000 to get a decent smartphone. Now though, budget smartphones launched in India can easily offer more than a decent experience for a majority of smartphone users out there.
Not only do budget smartphones offer great performance, they also offer premium build quality and great displays. If you are in the market for your first smartphone or just want a smartphone for basic use, check out some of these great budget smartphone recommendations below.
Best Smartphones Under Rs 10,000
Redmi Note 3 (2GB RAM)
Xiaomi sells a watered down version of its excellent Redmi Note with 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage for Rs 9,999. The limited amount of RAM and storage space are definitely going to limit the number of apps you can simultaneously run on the phone, but if you want a powerhouse of a phone to fulfill your gaming needs, you cannot go wrong with the Redmi Note 3. The phone comes with an excellent 5.5-inch Full HD display, a gigantic 4100mAh battery, and a powerful hexa-core Snapdragon 650 chipset clocked at 1.8GHz that can easily rival the likes of other Snapdragon 820 powered devices in the market.
Until and unless you are a heavy multitasker or are looking for a smartphone with a smaller screen, the Redmi Note 3 should be your first choice when it comes to buying a smartphone within Rs 10,000.
➤ Buy from Amazon – Redmi Note 3
Redmi 3S Prime
If you don’t want a phone with a 5.5-inch screen and are looking for something more compact, the Redmi 3S Prime from Xiaomi should tick all the boxes for you. The handset is essentially a smaller variant of the Redmi Note 3. This means that you are still getting an aluminum body, a fingerprint scanner (Prime only), excellent performance, and the highly-customizable MIUI 8. To go along with a smaller and lower resolution 5-inch 720p display, the Redmi 3S features a Snapdragon 430 chipset. While not as powerful as the Snapdragon 650 chipset found inside the Redmi Note 3, the Redmi 3S is still more than capable enough to run all the heavy games and applications you throw at it without any hiccups.
Read: Redmi 3S Prime Review
The Prime variant of the phone come with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, while the cheaper non-Prime variant features 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Due to its high demand, the Redmi 3S is particularly tough to buy since it usually sells out within a few seconds of going on sale.
➤ Buy from Flipkart – Redmi 3S/Prime
Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus
Since the Redmi Note 3 and Redmi 3S Prime are so popular, Xiaomi is unable to keep up with its demand even a few months after their launch. The handsets go on sale once a week and sell out within a few seconds. But what if you need a phone immediately and cannot wait for the Redmi 3S or Note 3 to go on sale? Have a look at Lenovo Vibe K5 then. While not as good as the Redmi 3S, the Vibe K5 is still a decent handset by all means. It comes with a 5-inch 720p display, an octa-core Snapdragon 616 chipset, 16GB storage, 3GB RAM, and 13/5MP cameras. The phone lacks a fingerprint scanner and does not feel as premium as the Redmi 3S. It also comes with a small 2750mAH battery which is good enough to provide one-day worth of battery life.
The Vibe K5 Plus is quite a bit of a downgrade from the Redmi 3S and Redmi Note 3, but at least you can buy the handset right away from Flipkart without having to participate in a flash sale.
➤ Buy from Flipkart – Rs 8,499
Yu Yureka Plus
If you are really strapped for cash and are looking for something at an even lower price point, consider the Yu Yureka Plus. The handset misses out on a lot of features that the Redmi 3S or the Vibe K5 Plus packs, but it is a fair bit cheaper than them at Rs 6499. In terms of specifications, the Yu Yureka Plus is powered by a Snapdragon 615 octa-core chip, 2GB RAM, and 16GB storage. It also sports a 5.5-inch Full HD display and a 2500mAh battery. The phone also features dual-SIM connectivity with VoLTE support so you can use your Reliance Jio SIM card without any issues.
➤ Buy from Flipkart – Rs 6,499
Moto E3 Power
If your only priority is a phone that offers excellent battery life and is easily available, consider the Moto E3 Power. The phone cannot compete with the likes of the Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus and Redmi 3S with its lowly octa-core MediaTek chipset running at 1GHz. However, thanks to its 3500mAh removable battery, be rest assured that the E3 Power — true to its name — packs a punch in the battery life department. Buy the Moto E3 Power only and only if you want a phone with great battery life and don’t care about any other aspect of the phone. The phone is not going to get updated to Nougat, packs mediocre camera, and will start struggling if you push it by playing heavy games or apps.
➤ Buy from Flipkart – Rs 7,999
Which budget smartphone do you plan on buying? Drop a comment and let us know!
