Over the last few years, the sub-INR 15,000 price-segment has become really exciting for the smartphones and it is filled with some amazing value of money devices. In this buying guide, I will offer a list of the best Android smartphones that provide amazing user experience without breaking the bank.
Best phones under 15,000
Motorola G54
Motorola G54 is your best bet if you want a smartphone under Rs. 15,000. It has a solid feature set, which includes a 120Hz full-HD+ display, 8GB of RAM (12GB if you can shell out Rs. 2K more), and a massive 6,000mAh battery. The phone is also relatively powerful thanks to an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor. It’s not a flagship-grade chip, but it still delivers reasonable performance. The only time you will notice sluggishness is while dealing with graphic-intensive games.
Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm audio jack, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.3, and 5G connectivity. Plus, the 50MP primary shooter on the back takes good shots in decent lighting and has optical image stabilization. The 16MP selfie camera is also usable.
Android 13 handles the software duties, and as you can expect, the interface is pretty much stock.
- Buy the Motorola G54 from Flipkart
Realme Narzo 60X
Realme has several solid budget phones in its portfolio. But it’s the Narzo 60X that makes the most sense for sub-15,000 buyers. It’s an excellent mid-range phone with features like a 120Hz full-HD+ screen, MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, and a 5,000mAh battery. You will also be happy to know that it supports 33W SuperVOOC fast charging and is shipped with a compatible charger in the box.
In other features, the Narzo 60X runs on the Android 13 operating system with the company’s own interface on top. You can get it in two versions, but I would recommend going with the 6GB RAM variant to ensure your phone remains snappy for at least a few years.
The phone also supports 5G and has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, like the Motorola G54.
You can also consider the Realme 11X, which is pretty much the same phone as Narzo 60X, except for a different primary shooter. Instead of a 50MP wide-angle main camera on the phone, the 11X comes with a 64MP wide-angle primary camera.
- Buy the Realme Narzo 60X from Amazon India or Flipkart
- Buy the Realme 11X from Flipkart
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G
Samsung’s M-series has been very successful, and for good reason. It includes several value-for-money smartphones, and the M14 is no different. It’s a good phone I have used and even gifted my sister. It was a bit bulky for my taste, but I know many people prefer big screens. So you get a 6.6-inch full-HD+ 90Hz display.
In other highlights, the phone packs Samsung’s Exynos 1330 processor, a massive 6,000mAh battery, and Android 13 with One UI 5.0.
While only the 4GB version of the phone comes under 15,000, I suggest waiting for a sale to grab the 6GB RAM variant if you plan to keep the phone for a few years. Otherwise, the 4GB variant will also be suitable.
In terms of cameras, there is a 50MP main shooter on the phone and a 13MP selfie shooter on the front. Other cameras are pretty much useless, as in my other recommendations. The phone also supports 25W fast charging. But you will need a compatible charger, which unfortunately isn’t supplied. You can pick any one of the chargers that I have recommended for Samsung Galaxy A15 and A25, as both phones, like the M14, also support 25W fast charging.
- Buy the Samsung Galaxy M14 from Amazon India or Flipkart
Xiaomi Redmi 13C 5G/ Poco M6 5G
It’s hard to curate a best-budget phones list without mentioning Xiaomi, as it has a pretty good selection. So, I recommend considering the Redmi 13C 5G or Poco M6 5G. Both are exactly the same phones with different brandings. The Redmi 13c packs a 90Hz 720p screen, a MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ processor, and a 5,000mAh battery. While the presence of a 720p HD screen isn’t ideal, the phone is comparably cheaper than my other recommendations. In fact, you can even grab the 8GB RAM variant of the phone under Rs. 15,000.
It also uses a 50MP primary shooter and has a 5MP selfie camera, side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 18W fast charging support, and Android 13 with MIUI 14.
- Buy the Redmi 13C 5G from Amazon India or Flipkart
- Buy the Poco M6 5G from Flipkart
