Smartphones in the entry-level segment are still mainly about two things – large displays and long battery life. But in 2023, we started to see manufacturers doing their best, some even trying to squeeze in 5G connectivity and high refresh rate displays. Indeed, it is not a very rosy picture, as most budget smartphones released in 2023 or earlier usually have problems with basic functions. Camera quality isn’t the best even on the highest-rated smartphones on our list, in fact, even smooth software is a rarity in this segment.
While most of us would rather spend a little more and get something out of our sub-R. 15,000 manuals, there are many users who are just switching to their first smartphone or even buying their first mobile phone. The Rs 10,000 segment is also for those who need a smartphone for making calls (audio/video) or for basic messaging.
Our latest additions to this guide include the Poco C51, the stylish Realme Narzo N53, and even the Lava Blaze 5G. Here are the best smartphones under Rs. 10,000 in India as tested and rated by Gadgets 360 in no particular order.
Phones under Rs 10,000 | Rating of gadgets 360 (out of 10) | Price in India (as recommended) |
---|---|---|
Small C51 | 7 | Rs 6,999 |
Realme Narzo N53 | 7 | Rs 8,999 |
Lava Yuva 2 Pro | 7 | Rs 8,999 |
Realme C55 | 7 | Rs 10,999 |
Moto E13 | 8 | Rs 6,799 |
Lava Blaze 5G | 8 | Rs 10,999 |
Small C51
The Poco C51 is the most affordable device on our list, with prices starting at just Rs. 6,999. Even at this price, Poco managed to squeeze in a healthy 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. There is a capacious battery with a capacity of 5000 mAh and a MediaTek Helio G36 processor, which is enough to run basic software.
Although its price is as low as it gets for the entry-level segment, you have to keep in mind that the Poco C51 runs Android 13 Go Edition. It may not be the most user-friendly software interface, but it takes up less internal storage (compared to the stock Android 13 OS), but has lighter apps that take up less space and are easier to run. It’s definitely for those who need a ‘smartphone’ with good battery life for making calls and running basic apps, as it can easily last two days on a single charge with normal use.
Realme Narzo N53
The Realme Narzo N53 is an entry-level smartphone that packs a punch in style, but also manages to offer decent value as it features a 90Hz display. The phone focuses primarily on style and design and is a breath of fresh air in a smartphone segment that is mostly focused on providing the basics.
While you won’t be gaming with such a high-refresh-rate display, the phone’s Unisoc T612 SoC offers enough power to run basic apps and the software interface smoothly. This is mainly due to Realme’s use of its T-edition Realme UI, which requires less resources. Ironically, the company has also loaded this device to the brim with software and third-party apps. Fortunately, you get decent camera performance and long battery life with the 5,000mAh battery. Charging is also quite fast thanks to the included 33W charger.
Lava Yuva 2 Pro
The Lava Yuva 2 Pro, like the Realme Narzo N53, is all about looks. It has a slim profile with a very iPhone-like rear camera module. There is also a glass back, which is rare in this segment. However, it’s still quite a large phone with a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel, so it might not fit in a small or medium-sized hand despite its thin profile.
Underpinning it is the MediaTek Helio G37 SoC, which is good enough for basic routine tasks, but not recommended for gaming. The software isn’t the best step forward as it’s stuck on Android 12. While the software performance is nice, the phone offers a fairly stock Android interface with no spam notifications, but you do get some third-party apps pre-installed. There’s also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner if you’re looking for one. Camera performance is average for this segment, but should provide two days of battery life.
Realme C55
The Realme C55 tries to take things a notch higher than the Narzo N53 on this list, but it falls short overall. While the phone will go down in history as the only Android smartphone to attempt to emulate Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island feature, the attempt fell short as the built-in LED notification light proved to be more useful. Despite the fancy features, the phone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G88 processor, which surprisingly wasn’t powerful enough to run the Android 13 software smoothly.
Fortunately, its snappy 90Hz display, premium design and good daylight imaging make up for its slightly higher Rs. 10,999 is the asking price.
Moto E13
The Moto E13 is another Android 13 Go Edition device that is the most affordable smartphone on our list as it costs Rs. The sticker price of 6799 only gets you 2GB of RAM. The phone has an ergonomic design and is IP52 dust and water resistant.
The 4GB RAM variant with the Unisoc T606 SoC delivers decent software performance for daily tasks, and you even get dual-band Wi-Fi. The phone has a USB Type-C port and FM radio. As with all Motorola devices, the software is its strong point, despite the presence of the Go Edition of Android 13. The company’s MyUX manages to pack enough customization options and offers virus-free software, except for a few pre-installed third-party apps that can also be uninstalled. Battery life, unfortunately, is pretty decent and only lasts a day on a single charge.
Lava Blaze 5G
The Lava Blaze 5G is the only phone in this guide that gets a good overall score, mainly because it comes with a slightly higher price tag of Rs. 10,999. The phone has a good build quality thanks to the glass back. There’s also a handy USB Type-C port on the bottom. It is powered by MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC which also supports 5G connectivity. Its software is stuck on Android 12, but our experience with it was pretty good with no lag. The phone also offers a side-mounted fingerprint scanner which works properly.
The 50-megapixel primary camera does a good job in daylight, but is mostly average in low light. The video quality is also quite good as the phone is also capable of shooting 2K. Its 5,000mAh battery easily lasted more than a day on a single charge, but charging is quite slow with the included 12W charger.