The sub-Rs 10,000 smartphone segment has traditionally been a battleground for basic functionality and affordability. However, the 5G revolution is slowly trickling down, offering consumers a glimpse of future-ready technology at budget prices. While options are still relatively limited compared to higher price brackets, the landscape is evolving rapidly. Brands are recognizing the demand for accessible 5G and are introducing models that strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and connectivity. While performance and features might not match flagship devices, these budget-friendly 5G smartphones represent a promising step towards inclusive technology. It's essential to manage expectations as you explore this segment. Prioritize core functionalities like reliable calling, decent battery life, and a satisfactory camera experience. Remember, the 5G capability is an added bonus at this price point, rather than the primary focus. These are the best 5G phones under Rs 10,000 in India.
- 1.
- Well-designed phone with a glass back, Impressive battery life, Cheapest 5G phone yet
- Camera’s dynamic range could be better, Only 18 W charging, Tons of bloatware
The POCO M6 Pro 5G is an affordable 5G smartphone priced extremely competitively, featuring a Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC, 6.79-inch Full HD+ display with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and a 5,000 mAh battery. It includes a 50 MP primary camera, 8 MP selfie camera, and runs on Android 13 with MIUI 14. The phone is ideal for budget-conscious users seeking reliable performance, solid battery life, and a sleek design. However, it may not satisfy heavy gamers or those desiring high-end camera performance. Overall, it offers excellent value for everyday tasks and media consumption.
- 2.
The itel P55 is a budget-friendly 5G smartphone. It features a MediaTek Dimensity 6080 SoC, a 90Hz refresh rate display, a 5,000mAh battery, and a 50MP primary camera. This handset offers reliable performance for everyday tasks, long battery life, and a decent viewing experience, although it may struggle in direct sunlight. While the cameras are not its strongest suit, they perform adequately in daylight. The itel P55 is ideal for budget-conscious consumers seeking an affordable 5G smartphone with good design, display, battery life, and overall performance.
- 3.
- Attractive Design
- Good Battery
- Responsive Display
- Bad low-light camera
- Buggy OS
- Display lacks sharpness
The Lava Blaze 2 5G is a budget-friendly 5G smartphone featuring a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 50MP primary camera, and an 8MP front camera. Powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6020 chipset with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, it offers smooth performance for everyday tasks and casual gaming. The 5,000mAh battery ensures long-lasting usage. Ideal for entry-level users, it provides a clean Android 13 experience, reliable performance, and a unique ‘Ring Light’ feature for notifications.
- 4.
The POCO M6 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone featuring a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6100+ SoC, supported by up to 8GB RAM and 256GB expandable storage. The device includes a 50MP AI primary camera, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 5MP selfie camera. With a 5,000mAh battery and 18W fast charging support, it is ideal for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The POCO M6 5G is perfect for budget-conscious users seeking decent performance, a dual-tone design, and reliable battery life.
- 5.
The Itel ColorPro 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone priced under ₹10,000, featuring a unique colour-changing back panel available in Lavender Fantasy and River Blue. It boasts a 6.6-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, powered by a Mediatek Dimensity 6080 octa-core processor, 6GB RAM, and 128GB internal storage. The phone runs on ItelOS 13.0 based on Android 13 and includes a 50MP dual AI rear camera and an 8MP front camera. With a 5000mAh battery and 18W fast charging, it suits cost-conscious consumers seeking an affordable 5G device with stylish design and decent performance for daily tasks.
- 6.
The Lava Yuva 5G is a budget-friendly smartphone launched in India, featuring a 6.52-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, powered by the Unisoc T750 chipset. It offers 4GB RAM and storage options of 64GB or 128GB, expandable via microSD. The phone boasts a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP selfie camera, and a 5000mAh battery with 18W fast charging. Running on Android 13, it promises an upgrade to Android 14. Ideal for budget-conscious consumers seeking 5G connectivity, decent performance, and reliable camera features, it also includes a convenient ‘Free Service at Home’ facility.
- 7.
The Infinix Note 20i is the only smartphone in our sub-Rs 10,000 list that comes with an AMOLED display. It sports a 6.7-inches AMOLED display, but compromises on the responsiveness with just 60Hz refresh rate. This means that the Infinix Hot 20 Play is a good smartphone for entertainment purposes like watching movies and TV shows. The smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which is a performance-centric budget chipset. We also get 6GB of RAM, which makes the Infinix Note 12i a good smartphone for gaming, if you don’t mind slightly lower frame rate. The Infinix Note 12i also has one of the fastest charging in this list with a 33W speed, which charges the 5,000mAh battery in about one and a half hour.
- 8.
- Attractive design, Good camera performance, Sufficiently powerful
- Display feels underwhelming, Bunch of bloatware apps, No type-C charging
The Redmi 12C is one of the latest sub-Rs 10,000 smartphone from Xiaomi. The Redmi 12C comes with an attractive design, a good camera, and offers a proper Android experience. In our review, we have found the design to be super attractive, and the 50MP dual rear camera does a good job in taking pictures. Further, the MediaTek Helio G85 SoC with up to 6GB RAM is good for an AnTuTu score of 235,049. In GPU-based tests also, the Redmi 12C gave decent numbers, which means the smartphone is also good for gaming, and it runs high power games like Call of Duty: Mobile very smoothly. While everything is good, the IPS LCD display feels a bit dull, mainly due to the low brightness and the rather lower HD+ resolution.
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Dhriti Datta
Perpetually sporting a death stare, this one can be seen tinkering around with her smartphone which she holds more dear than life itself and stuffing her face with copious amounts of bacon. View Full Profile
