If you are looking for the best phones under 10000 in India, it’s a good possibility that you’ve got a budget of around Rs.10,000. Picking a good phone out of many phones is a tough job to do. Since we did the best phones under 15000 in India, we received the right amount of requests to publish the best phones under 10000 in India. So here’s our list of the best phones under 10000 in India.
Before proceeding, keep the following things in mind — many budget phones lack power and a good display, so these two things should be your primary requirements. Most budget phones perform more or less the same when it comes to camera and battery, so these should be your secondary requirements. UI plays a key role, so avoid going for phones with crappy UI and junkware. Also, try to have a look at the brand’s history of updating its budget offerings. We have ranked the phones based on the criteria mentioned above, and rankings can be dynamic based on your needs and requirements.
Best Phones Under 10000 in India
1. Redmi 9 Power – Best Phone Under 10000 in India
Redmi 9 Prime was undoubtedly the best budget phone under 10000 last year. Continuing with the trend, the successor meets the consumer’s expectations to the fullest. With almost nothing to sacrifice, the Redmi 9 Power deserves to be on our list of best phones under 10000.
Unlike other companies who put an HD+ display on their budget phones, Redmi has instead given us an FHD+ display. It has a 6.53″ FHD+ IPS LCD Display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate and 400 nits of brightness (typical). Although the brightness levels are slightly low, the overall display is top-notch. It is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on front.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 performs adequately well but feels a bit underpowered for heavy tasks like gaming and editing. Casual users shouldn’t face any issues, but MediaTek Helio G85 on other phones is a better choice for those seeking more raw power. On the bright side, UFS 2.1 storage type on the 64GB variant and UFS 2.2 storage type on the 128GB variant aid in faster app opening and storage speeds.
The rear camera setup includes a 48MP primary shooter, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro sensor and another 2MP lens for depth sensing. In good outdoor lighting conditions, the camera performs above average, and the photos look social media-ready. In low light conditions, the camera struggles a bit, which is common in budget devices. The 8MP selfie camera performs decently in good lighting conditions. Dynamic range and exposure on the front camera need improvement. Ultra-wide shots come out to be on the softer side.
It packs a 6000mAh cell, which can easily last over a day and a half. The in-box 22.5W charger charges at 18W only and takes about 170 minutes to charge from nil. It launched with MIUI 12 based on Android 10, which needs some serious optimisations. The bugs in the software pull down the experience a bit, but you can’t complain much on a budget device.
These specifications are enough to convey that Redmi 9 Power is a great device. Because of its excellent battery life, above-average cameras, good display, sufficiently powerful processor and nifty features like stereo speakers, UFS storage type, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, it is #1 on our list of best phones under 10000.
| Display | 6.53″ FHD+ 60Hz IPS LCD 400 nits brightness (typical) Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 |
| OS and Speakers | MIUI 12 based on Android 10 Dual stereo speakers |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB (UFS 2.1) 128GB (UFS 2.2) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP (Wide) 8 MP (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP (Macro) 2 MP (Depth) |
| Front Camera(s) | 8 MP (Wide) |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 18W (22.5W adapter in-box) |
| Price | Starts at ₹10,999 |
2. Realme Narzo 20
Realme has a great lineup of budget offerings in the form of their C series and Narzo series. Well, their C series is a spaghetti of confusing phones; the Narzo series steals the show. Although the phone launched in September 2020, it still offers better value for money than their latest C series phones. Thus, we’ve included it on our list of best phones under 10000.
It has a 6.5″ HD+ 60Hz IPS LCD panel with over 550 nits of brightness in sunlight mode. Brightness levels are pretty good, so thumbs up in that regard, but 720p resolution might catch your attention if looked at precisely. It has the best processor on offer in this price range — the MediaTek Helio G85. No doubt, it performs like a charm for day to day tasks and casual gaming.
It comes with a 48MP+8MP+2MP triple camera setup on the rear and an 8MP selfie camera on the front. The rear camera performs well in good lighting conditions, with some noticeable issues in managing exposure and brightness. The selfie camera performs just like every other phone, decent in outdoor lighting conditions, average in low light and indoors. Overall, it offers a good camera setup, along with an ultra-wide camera as well.
The 6000mAh battery inside it can easily last two days of usage. It can even surpass the battery champ — Samsung Galaxy M12-because of a 60Hz panel instead of 90Hz. The in-box 18W fast charger is painfully slow, filling the battery in around 200 minutes. It launched with Realme UI based on Android 10 and has received Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11.
Only if Realme had included an FHD+ display instead of HD+, it could’ve been on top, but we have all we have. The overall experience of the UI, battery, performance and camera, is palpable, so it is #2 on our list of best phones under 10000.
| Display | 6.5″ HD+ 60Hz IPS LCD Unspecified peak brightness levels Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Rear fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| OS and Speakers | Realme UI based on Android 10 Updated to Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11 Single mono speakers |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB (emmc 5.1) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.3 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) |
| Front Camera(s) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 18W |
| Price | Starts at ₹10,499 |
3. Micromax In 1
Taking advantage of the Indo-China conflict, where consumers had started to neglect Chinese alternatives, Micromax laid out its collection of smartphones. The Micromax In 1 launched five months after the unveiling of In series by the company. The overall package of In 1 and the Stock Android experience enable it to be on our list of best phones under 10000.
Straightaway speaking, the Micromax In 1 has the best display amongst all smartphones on this list. It has a 6.67″ FHD+ 60Hz IPS LCD Display with 440 nits of peak brightness. The panel is brighter than the Redmi 9 Power, although the brightness levels might still feel slightly less under direct sunlight. It is powered by the MediaTek Helio G80 chipset, with up to 6GB of RAM. It performs equivalent to MediaTek Helio G85, which makes it a viable choice for performance enthusiasts.
It houses a 48MP+2MP+2MP triple camera setup along with an 8MP selfie camera. Just like Motorola or Nokia phones, it captures natural colours. Photos come out to be good, but nothing extraordinary. Redmi 9 Power or Poco M3 click better pictures, in my opinion, as their images come out to be eye-pleasing. The 8MP selfie camera performs average and messes up in low light situations.
It has a 5000mAh battery, which lasts significantly less than Redmi 9 power or Poco M3. However, it can surpass a full day of moderate usage effortlessly. The in-box 18W charger takes around 150 minutes to fill up the battery.
Talking about the software a bit, it needs polishing. Micromax being a new brand, hasn’t refined its software much. The UI feels smooth, but random bugs cripple the experience. It does not indicate a lack of power or heavy software but a lack of refinement and polishing. All it needs is a software update that should fix every issue. It launched with Stock Android 10, and we have no clue how Micromax will cater to its update situation. Safe to say, it is #3 on our list of best phones under 10000.
| Display | 6.67″ FHD+ 60Hz IPS LCD 440 nits brightness Rainbow glass protection (equivalent to Corning Gorilla Glass 3) Rear fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G80 |
| OS and Speakers | Stock Android 10 Single mono speakers |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB (emmc 5.1) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP, f/1.79 (Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Depth) |
| Front Camera(s) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Battery | 5,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 18W |
| Price | Starts at ₹9,999 |
4. Moto G30
Motorola’s G series were some of the best money could buy. After losing track of the market, the latest offerings from Motorola aren’t as inspiring as they were earlier. Motorola’s G10 is a pretty forgettable phone for the most part, as it has nothing special going for it. But, the Moto G30 is a good choice; hence, it is on our list of best phones under 10000.
It has a 6.5″ HD+ TFT LCD panel with a 90Hz fast refresh rate. The display is not a highlighting feature for sure, as the overall quality is just average. It could’ve been more lit and sharper, and IPS LCD along with FHD+ resolution would’ve changed things drastically. Going in the Snapdragon way, Motorola gave us the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662. It forms okayish for day-to-day tasks, but handling the 90Hz display and a few apps in the background can be tiresome.
The main highlight of this phone is its 64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP quad-camera setup. The camera will pleasantly surprise you. The details are exquisite, with a good dynamic range and a capable night mode. The colours might look a bit dull to your eyes, and that’s because Motorola doesn’t believe in artificial colour processing a lot. The 13MP selfie camera performs marginally better than the competition and captures some praiseworthy selfies. Just like any other budget phone, the selfie camera performs average in low light conditions.
The device has a 5000mAh battery that can easily last for a day and a half. It can easily surpass the Micromax In 1, but not the Redmi 9 Power or the Realme Narzo 20. The in-box 20W TurboPower adapter can fill it up in about 150-160 minutes. It comes with Stock Android 11 and some Moto exclusives like a double chop to turn on the flashlight, shake to open the camera, Moto Display, etc.
To sum it up, Moto G30 can be compelling to those who want a Stock Android experience, with a great camera setup and a good battery life. Some minor cool features include NFC support and IP52 splash resistance. Nonetheless, it deserves to be #4 on our list of best phones under 10000.
| Display | 6.5″ HD+ 90Hz TFT LCD Unspecified peak brightness levels Unspecified glass protection (equivalent to Corning Gorilla Glass 3) IP52 rated Rear fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 |
| OS and Speakers | Stock Android 11 Single mono speakers |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB (emmc 5.1) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 64 MP, f/1.7 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Depth) |
| Front Camera(s) | 13 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 20W TurboPower |
| Price | ₹10,999 |
5. Realme Narzo 30A
The Realme Narzo 30A is a cheaper alternative to its sibling — the Narzo 20. For those looking for a budget phone strictly under 9000, this should be the go-to choice. With excellent performance and long-lasting battery life, it had to be on our list of best phones under 10000.
Like every other Realme phone in this price range, it has the same 6.5″ HD+ 60Hz IPS LCD panel with 570 nits of peak brightness in sunlight mode. It offers the best display under 9000, no doubt with the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset inside it, this phone flies. It can be crowned as the best performer on this list, along with its sibling.
It has a 13MP+2MP dual camera setup with an 8MP selfie snapper. You obviously can’t expect it to perform extraordinarily, but it gets the job done. It is not better than other phones mentioned in this list, but we’ve to judge according to the price. The 8MP selfie camera receives the same comments as every other phone on this list. The camera is above average for the price and below-average when compared with other phones in this list.
It has a massive 6000mAh cell, which can easily last for two days. It performs exactly like the Narzo 20, including the slow 18W charger, which takes about 200 minutes to juice up the battery. It launched with Realme UI based on Android 10.
If performance and battery is your main priority, and of course the budget, then Narzo 30A is a compelling device for the price. Increasing your budget can fetch you better options, but one can consider it on a tight budget. Thus, #5 on our list of best phones under 10000.
| Display | 6.5″ HD+ 60Hz IPS LCD 570 nits peak brightness (Sunlight mode) Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Rear fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | MediaTek Helio G85 |
| OS and Speakers | Realme UI based on Android 10 Single mono speakers |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB (emmc 5.1) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 13 MP, f/2.2 (Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Portrait) |
| Front Camera(s) | 8 MP, f/2.0 |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 18W |
| Price | Starts at ₹8,999 |
6. Samsung Galaxy M12
Samsung has always been the go-to choice for elders and conscious buyers, mainly because of its reliability and brand value. Galaxy M12 is the company’s budget offering. Because of the brand value, battery life and reliable cameras, it is on our list of best phones under 10000.
The display is a 6.5″ HD+ TFT LCD panel with a 90Hz fast refresh rate. No doubt, 90Hz feels a lot smoother, but being a TFT panel instead of IPS, the viewing angles and brightness levels suffer. The display is not the best but gets the job done. It houses the Exynos 850 chipset based on an 8nm fabrication process, which is rare at this price range. It focuses on efficiency rather than performance, so don’t expect it to perform like a charm. It should serve its purpose for elders and light users.
The rear camera setup includes four sensors — 48MP+5MP+2MP+2MP along with an 8MP selfie camera. Like other Samsung devices, the photos come out to be punchy, with excellent dynamic range and sufficient details. The 5MP ultra-wide sensor captures soft images, but having an ultra-wide lens is a boon in itself. The selfie camera performs well, thanks to the image processing algorithm.
With an HD+ resolution, 8nm power-efficient processor and a massive 6000mAh battery, the battery can last two days of usage without fail. The giant battery takes almost 3 hours to fill up using the included 15W Adaptive fast charger, which is no less than a nightmare. It runs on OneUI core 3.1 based on Android 11, so it doesn’t have features like a secure folder, XNOX Security etc.
The Galaxy M12 is not for enthusiasts. It targets those looking for a reliable option from Samsung with good cameras, excellent battery life and enough power to run essential apps and light games. Older people won’t be disappointed with it, and thus, #6 on our list of best phones under 10000.
| Display | 6.5″ HD+ 90Hz TFT LCD Unspecified peak brightness levels Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
| Processor | Exynos 850 |
| OS and Speakers | OneUI Core 3.1 based on Android 11 Single mono speakers |
| RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB/128GB (emmc 5.1) |
| Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP, f/2.0 (Wide) 5 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Depth) |
| Front Camera(s) | 8 MP, f/2.2 |
| Battery | 6,000 mAh |
| Fast Charging | Yes, 15W Adaptive Fast Charging |
| Price | Starts at ₹10,999 |
Bonus Section
1. Poco M3
Well, are you wondering why we haven’t included this one in our list? In that case, that’s because it’s the same device as the Redmi 9 Power and the same price, with 6GB RAM and no ultra-wide camera. In our books, an ultra-wide camera is more practical than having 2GB of extra RAM. But we won’t be surprised if your opinions are different. There’s no sense in writing about the same device again, so we’ve kept it in the bonus section.
Suppose you like Poco M3’s design or are willing to trade the ultra-wide camera for 2GB of additional RAM; in that case, you may consider the Poco M3 over Redmi 9 Power.
2. Samsung Galaxy F12
Again, it is the same device as the Galaxy M12 mentioned above. Yes, there is absolutely no difference at all. So if you don’t like the plain design on the Galaxy M12, or maybe the colour choices, you can go with Galaxy F12. There is no specific reason why we’ve mentioned Galaxy F12 in the bonus section and not the Galaxy M12. We just had to choose one, so we decided on the Galaxy F12.
Concluding Words
As per our recommendations, you should go with the Redmi 9 Power/ Poco M3 and the Realme Narzo 20. They’re good value for money and pack a lot of features. Camera lovers should consider the Moto G30 or the Galaxy M12/F12. The Samsung Galaxy M12/F12 suits well for older adults. Since Micromax is a new brand, we can’t comment much about how frequently their smartphones will receive updates, so pin that in your mind while buying the Micromax In 1. The Realme Narzo 30A is well suited for budget-conscious buyers. Please don’t go for its top variant, as other phones in this list offer more for that price. It’s better to think before purchasing any smartphone.
We’ve skipped choices from Tecno and Infinix, and we have reasons for that. In our opinion, their UI’s need some redesigning, as you may not like them and might face lags and ads now and then. If you are comfortable with their UI, you can consider the Infinix Hot 10S and the Tecno Spark 7 Pro, which feature a comparable spec-sheet. We barely have any clue about them, as they focus more on offline audiences, so examine them appropriately before buying. They wouldn’t be our go-to choices, to be frank.
So the above phones are the best phones under 10000 in India. The smartphones mentioned above almost come with the exact specifications, so it’s troublesome to rank and decide. With every increase of 500 or 1000, you can find a better phone. Try not to spend any less than 10000, or 9000 in the worst case, as ideal smartphones start from that price range. Stretch your budget as much as possible, and then stick to it. We will keep updating this list in the coming months.
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