Best Mobile Phones Under ₹15,000 in India (December 2024)

Ever wondered why you have so many permutations and combinations of similarly-specced budget smartphones? It’s because inexpensive smartphones, especially smartphones under ₹15,000, are extremely popular in a price-conscious market like India. And, manufacturers are tirelessly working towards providing multiple options for every budget and preference. This price segment is the fastest moving in the Indian smartphone industry. While compromises are definitely made in some aspects, mobile manufacturers ensure that new budget smartphones shine in one predetermined area – be it battery life, processing power, user interface, camera technology, or others. There are a few options emerging in the budget market that could even be considered all-rounders, making them solid bang for your buck. At Digit, we test numerous smartphones every single year and the budget smartphone category has improved tremendously. While you still have a fail or two every now and then, what we usually see in the landscape of budget smartphones are options that cater specifically to a section of the audience while attempting to meet expectations in other areas as well. The large players in the Indian budget smartphone market include companies such as Xiaomi, Realme, Samsung, Vivo, Motorola, and many more. Word of advice: when buying a budget smartphone, ensure you do so from a trusted brand with a good history of after-sales service and general mobile durability. That being said, here are some of the best smartphones under ₹15,000 that you can consider. Here, you can find capable smartphones for almost every use case.

• 1.

Xiaomi’s Redmi 12 5G marks a significant return to its roots, presenting one of the most affordable 5G smartphones on the market. Embracing a premium aesthetic with its glass back and IP53 rating, this device caters to budget-conscious consumers seeking both style and durability. Powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, coupled with up to 8GB of RAM, it excels in multitasking and demanding tasks such as gaming. With an impressive AnTuTu score of 452,431, the Redmi 12 5G stands out as one of the top performers in the sub-Rs 12,000 price segment, offering a compelling blend of affordability and performance.

• 2.

The iQOO Z6 Lite 5G was the first smartphone in India to come with Qualcomm’s last-gen entry-level chipset, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1. The iQOO Z6 Lite 5G also has a 120Hz refresh rate display, which is a feature all mobile gamers will appreciate since it enables gaming on a high frame rate. The new Qualcomm chip with a highly responsive display makes the iQOO Z6 Lite 5G a brilliant value for money option in this list. We also get a pretty decent set of cameras with the 50MP primary and 2MP macro dual rear camera setup. Furthermore, with 5,000mAh battery we get about a day and a half’s backup, but the 18W charging isn’t the fastest we have seen in this range. The iQOO Z6 Lite 5G is a great smartphone for those looking for something powerful yet efficient in the sub-₹ 15,000 segment.

• 3.

One of the most recent budget smartphones in this list, the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G impressed us with the performance numbers the device is able to achieve, thanks to the 5nm Exynos 1330 chipset. Paired with 6GB of RAM, the Exynos 1330 SoC helps the Galaxy M14 5G achieve an AnTuTu score of 411,340. While on paper, the performance of the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G looks very good, in real life the situation is far from it. The smartphone feels slow and takes a while to run demanding apps or games as compared to some other competing devices. The display on the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G is also a PLS LCD display with 90Hz refresh rate. Despite an average performance, what makes the Samsung Galaxy M14 5G one of the top devices in our list of the best smartphones under ₹15,000, is the smartphone’s brilliant battery backup with the 6,000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. For our power user friends, this massive 6,000mAh battery will make a huge difference in terms of the overall package.

• 4.

Another recently-launched smartphone, the Poco X5 5G is powered by the tried and tested Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, which has kind of become the go-to choice for OEMs in the budget 5G segment. The Snapdragon 695 chip allows the Poco X5 to achieve an AnTuTu score of over 400,000, which is great for a sub-₹15,000 smartphone. Apart from the performance figures, we also get a stunning and responsive super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate! Apart from this, the Poco X5 also has a standard 5,000mAh battery which supports 33W fast charging, which takes about an hour to charge the smartphone to full. In terms of optics, we get a triple rear camera with a 48-megapixel primary shooter, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens, and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. With a good mix of performance and premium features, the Poco X5 makes for a great choice for those who want a balanced experience out of their smartphone.

• 5.

Moto G62 5G makes it to another top 10 list on Digit.in! The younger brother of our Zero1 winner for the budget smartphone category, the Moto G62’s performance figures, paired with a vibrant display and a super clean Android experience makes the Moto G62 5G hard to ignore in any top 10 list that talks about sub-₹15,000 smartphones. The device comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC paired with up to 8GB of RAM. We also get a 120Hz IPS LCD display, which has a nice and vibrant colour tone, along with a responsive refresh rate. Apart from this, we also get a 50MP triple rear camera setup, which we found to be rather mediocre in our review. The battery life, however, is very good with the 5,000mAh unit, but the charging is quite slow. With a fairly powerful processor and a super clean software, the Moto G62 5G is a good bet for those looking for a safe option under ₹15,000.

• 6.

The Lava Storm 5G is one of the latest budget phones that comes with an impressive design, a fast 120 Hz display, and good battery life. The camera capabilities are not the best in the segment, but if you are looking for a reliable 5G option on a budget, this can be a good choice. The Dimensity 6000 series chipset is decent enough for everyday operation and the massive 5,000 mAh battery lasts for a day with ease.

• 7.

The Moto G34 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive features for its price point. It boasts a large 6.5-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate, providing smooth scrolling. Despite its affordable price, it doesn’t compromise on performance and offers 5G connectivity. It comes with 128GB of storage as standard, which can be further expanded via microSD. However, the cameras are average and it has slow charging. The display resolution is also relatively low at 720p. Nevertheless, the Moto G34 5G is considered a great value, especially for those looking for a budget phone with modern connectivity options. It’s an excellent choice for anyone buying for a relative or child, or as an additional work phone.

• 8.

The Vivo T2x 5G is Vivo’s recently-launched sub-₹15,000 5G offering. It makes its way in our top 10 list of smartphones under ₹15,000 given that this too, offers a complete Android experience to its users. We get a nice MediaTek Dimensity 6020 SoC, which is also present on the Realme Nazro 60 5G, along with 8GB of RAM. The Vivo T2x 5G also has a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. For our power user friends, we get a good chipset and battery combination. However, the Vivo T2x 5G doesn’t make for the best complete package, since the display specs are underwhelming. We get a 6.58-inch IPS LCD display with 60Hz refresh rate. Now, this may not be as responsive as competition, but the 60Hz refresh rate will save battery on this smartphone.

• 9.

The Realme C65 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers excellent value for money, priced at just ₹10,499. It boasts smooth performance, long-lasting battery life, and good daylight photography, addressing the key aspects most users look for in a phone. Despite its competitive edge, the Realme C65 has some drawbacks, such as excessive bloatware and a base variant with only 64 GB of storage, which is considered insufficient by 2024 standards. Notable features include a MediaTek Dimensity 6030 processor, up to 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, and a 120 Hz refresh rate display. However, the display resolution is lower than its predecessor’s. The device also offers IP54 protection and a fast side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Overall, the Realme C65 is a commendable option in the affordable 5G segment, making minimal compromises to deliver 5G connectivity at a low price point.

• 10.

The POCO M6 Pro is an affordable 5G device that offers reliable performance and exceptionally good battery life. It democratises 5G for the masses while also not compromising on the overall quality of the phone. There are a few misses in the camera department, but those are nitpicks for what is an extremely capable budget 5G phone. The Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset provides a smooth experience for the price and you can do low graphics gaming on this phone with relative ease. Overall, a solid option for anyone considering a 5G phone on a budget.