It’s a tough job looking for the best phones under 15000 in India. Comparing a lot of phones and deciding the perfect one for you is tiresome work. The companies are just launching a lot of phones over time. It just creates more confusion from the customer’s perspective.
Smartphones will keep on emerging out of nowhere, and you might confuse them as well. You need not worry; we’ll clear all the dilemmas regarding the best phones under 15000 in India. We’ll also keep this post up to date so you can always get updates regarding the best phones under 15000 in India.
Best Phones Under 15000 in India (2021)
1. Realme 8
The Realme 8 Pro wasn’t well-received overall, but the vanilla Realme 8 deserves appreciation. It is a true successor to the Realme 7 and the best phone under 15000 so far. It offers almost everything — AMOLED Display, 64MP quad-cameras, 5000mAh battery, 30W charging, and much more. Thus, it is on our list of best phones under 15000.
Upgrading from the Realme 7, the company decided to give us an AMOLED display for the first time in their non-pro number series. It is an excellent 6.4″ FHD+ 60Hz Super AMOLED Display with 1000nits of peak brightness, a 180Hz touch sampling rate, and Dragontrail glass for protecting the front display. With a comfortable size and a body that is just 7.99mm thick and weighs just 177g, it is one of the better phones to hold. The overall display, form-factor and build quality are undoubtedly the best.
It houses the MediaTek Helio G95 chipset, which is the best 4G processor in this price range. Everyday tasks like scrolling, watching videos, using social media, are handled like a breeze. Casual gaming for 1-2 hours can be done effortlessly, with a mild rise in temperature. Overall, performance is not something to criticize. The phone runs on the Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11, which is very polished. It packs a 5000mAh cell, and with a power-efficient AMOLED Display, it can easily last for a day and a half of ordinary usage. The in-box 30W Dart charger fills it up in about 60-65 minutes, which is super convenient.
The 64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP quad-camera isn’t shabby either. It takes photos in a typical Realme algorithm — excellent dynamic range, poppy colors and good details. The 16MP Sony IMX471 selfie camera is perfect for the price. It excels in everything except for selfie camera video recording, which lacks dynamic range. It comes with various camera modes like tilt-shift photography, starry mode, etc. which are more than a gimmick.
With a segment-first—in-display fingerprint scanner, funky design, fantastic form factor, AMOLED display, excellent camera and battery life, this phone is undoubtedly #1 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.4″ FHD+ 60Hz Super AMOLED 1000 nits Peak Brightness Dragontrail Glass In-display fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G95 |
OS and Speakers | Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) Single mono speakers |
RAM | 4GB/6GB/8GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 128GB (UFS 2.1) |
Rear Camera(s) | 64 MP, f/1.79 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.25 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (B&W Portrait) |
Front Camera(s) | 16 MP Sony IMX471, f/2.45 |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 30W Dart Charge |
Price | It starts at ₹14,999 |
2. Redmi Note 10S
Redmi, continuing with its tradition of copying best-sellers, decided to introduce Redmi Note 10S out of nowhere. And it comes to no one’s surprise that it is Realme 8 with a different parent and design. Of course, we had to include it on our list of best phones under 15000, as it still offers an excellent value for money propagation.
The device offers a near-identical 6.43″ FHD+ 60Hz Super AMOLED Display with 1100nits of peak brightness and Gorilla Glass 3 for protecting the front display. It is slightly thicker than the Realme 8 at 8.29mm and weighs a few grams more. Overall, it’s a tie between Redmi Note 10S and Realme 8 regarding display and form factor. However, I would give a slight edge to Realme because of its in-display fingerprint scanner. Both of them have the MediaTek Helio G95 under their hoods.
Both are equally powerful, but Realme 8 feels a tad bit smoother because of Realme UI 2.0, which is more refined than MIUI 12.5 on the Redmi Note 10S. The much anticipated MIUI 12.5 based on Android 11 on the Redmi Note 10S turned out to be a knock-off version of the actual MIUI 12.5. The signature ability of MIUI 12.5 to uninstall system apps is still missing. MIUI 12.5 includes visual changes like redesigned volume panel and a few changes in the notification panel. In my frank opinion, Realme UI 2.0 is still better than MIUI 12.5.
Continuing with the similarities, you are getting the same 64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP quad camera setup. The camera output is great, but Realme 8 is better overall. The colors come a bit off, along with a warm tone on top. Neither of them captures natural colors, but photos from the Realme 8 look a bit more eye-pleasing. It houses an average 13MP selfie camera, which can never surpass Realme 8’s 16MP Sony IMX471 selfie camera. Surprisingly, even with the same 5000mAh battery, Realme 8 lasts almost an hour longer than Redmi Note 10S when it comes to the continuous screen on time. The in-box 33W charger takes about 85 minutes to fill up the battery.
It features a dual-stereo speaker setup, which is a helpful addition. In our opinion, Realme 8 is better because of its camera, UI, charging speeds, and it comes with 128GB of storage on the base variant. In no way, Redmi Note 10S is a bad phone; it comes a close second. So #2 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.43″ FHD+ 60Hz Super AMOLED 1100 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 3 IP53 Rated Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G95 |
OS and Speakers | MIUI 12.5 (Android 11) Dual stereo speakers |
RAM | 6GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.2) |
Rear Camera(s) | 64 MP, f/1.79 (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/2.45 |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 33W |
Price | Starts at ₹14,999 |
3. Moto G40 Fusion
Moto G40 Fusion should bother you if you like bulky phones and prefer stock android over any other UI. In addition, it has a 120Hz display and a massive 6000mAh battery, which should answer why we’ve kept it on our list of best phones under 15000.
Going in a different direction, Motorola decided to give us a giant 6.8″ FHD+ 120Hz IPS LCD Display instead of AMOLED. The display is good for the price, but AMOLED is better than the traditional LCD in brightness, viewing angles, and color reproduction. Overall, an above-average display. It has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G inside it, which offers impressive performance whilst being battery efficient. Because of Stock Android 11, the UI feels very smooth with polished animations and next to no bloatware.
Coming to the cameras, it houses a 64MP+8MP+2MP triple camera setup. The 8MP ultra-wide sensor doubles up as a macro sensor, and there’s a 16MP selfie camera in the front. The photos will appeal to those who like natural color tones. They might not look eye-catching, which explains why it doesn’t capture “social-media ready” pictures. It struggles slightly in indoor lighting conditions. Just like the rear camera, selfies come out to be natural as well. With no artificial skin beautification and enough details, the front camera is a good one. At last, it comes down to whether or not you prefer natural colors over software processed colors.
It has a massive 6000mAh cell, which eventually makes the phone feel like a mammoth. The battery life shouldn’t disappoint you, but the point to note is that both Realme 8 and Redmi Note 10S last longer. And the so-called 20W TurboPower charger charges like a snail, filing up the battery in 2.5 hours. The phone will indeed feel uncomfortable at first, but most people will adjust to it.
To sum it up, it appeals to those who specifically want stock android, natural-looking photos, and a 120Hz fast refresh rate. In other areas, the competition offers better specifications. The ranking could differ based on your preferences or requirements. Still, in our opinion, it is #3 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.8″ FHD+ 120Hz IPS LCD 450 nits Peak Brightness Unspecified glass protection; equivalent to Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Rear fingerprint scanner |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G |
OS and Speakers | Stock Android 11 Single mono speakers |
RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.1) |
Rear Camera(s) | 64 MP, f/1.7 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide+Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Depth) |
Front Camera(s) | 16 MP, f/2.2 |
Battery | 6,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 20W TurboPower |
Price | Starts at ₹14,499 |
4. Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G
The Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G is a very underrated device. Safe to say, the Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G is the best 5G phone in this price range. Even if it costs 16000, we had to include it in our list of best phones under 15000. *5G phones come with a whole lot of compromises, as 5G modems are expensive. So, we will be judging 5G phones based on how much the brand has cut down to get 5G on board.
Interestingly, it has a better display than the Moto G40 fusion. It includes a 6.5″ FHD+ 120Hz IPS LCD Display with 600nits of peak brightness and a 180Hz touch sampling rate. Considering it is a 5G phone, Realme has not cut down in the display department. Talking about the processor — the mighty MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G; it performs like a beast. No doubt, it is the best processor in this price range. Realme didn’t cut down on 5G bands, unlike OnePlus, which gives just two 5G bands on a 50k phone. So far, you aren’t trading off much for 5G.
Coming to the 48MP+8MP+2MP triple camera setup, it performs adequately well. No, it is not better than any of the phones mentioned above, but considering it is a 5G phone, it performs well for the price. The photos come out to be slightly natural than other Realme phones. There is a minimal color shift between photos taken from the primary and ultra-wide sensors. Night mode needs improvement, and macro shots are just bad. The 16MP selfie camera performs decent, but the dynamic range needs slight improvement.
It has a 5000mAh battery and support for 30W Dart charging. Since it has an LCD panel and a 120Hz fast refresh rate, you can’t expect it to be a 2-day phone. However, it can last a full day of usage, and the in-box 30W Dart charger can fill it up in 60-65 minutes.
The cons include a single mono speaker, a hybrid sim slot, and most importantly, it came with Realme UI based on Android 10. According to Realme UI 2.0’s roadmap, it should receive the Android 11 update very soon. With no significant compromises made just for the sake of having 5G, this phone is #4 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.5″ FHD+ 120Hz IPS LCD 600 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G (Five 5G bands supported) |
OS and Speakers | Realme UI (Android 10) Single mono speakers |
RAM | 6GB/8GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.1) |
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) | 16 MP, f/2.1 |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 30W |
Price | Starts at ₹15,999 |
5. Samsung Galaxy M32
For the Samsung fans out there, here is it — the Galaxy M32. No doubt, Samsung’s OneUI is the best; along with that, a 90Hz Super AMOLED Display, 6000mAh battery and a 64MP quad-camera setup, it had to be on our list of best phones under 15000. However, there’s an elephant in this room as well, which we’ll discuss ahead.
It has a 6.4″ FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED Display with 800nits of peak brightness, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The display is good, no doubt, but it has flickering issues. Constant flickering could be harmful to your eyes. This issue is prominent at peak and lowest brightness levels — a minor issue but not something to ignore. Overall, an A-grade panel. With a 6000mAh battery, the battery refuses to die and can last for two days easily. The in-box 15W charger is too slow, but thankfully it supports Samsung’s 25W adaptive fast charging. The 15W charger takes about 2.5 hours to charge up the battery.
Talking about the elephant in the room — the MediaTek Helio G80. It is seriously underpowered. If you keep a few applications running in the background, the feeling of using a 90Hz display starts to fade away. With emmc 5.1 storage, the apps load slowly, including the system apps. Such things are not praise-worthy from a 15000 phone. Overall, below-average performance.
The cameras are pleasing, thanks to Samsung’s processing. It has a 64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP quad-camera setup, along with a 20MP selfie camera. The photos in outdoor condition are quite eye-pleasing, with excellent dynamic range and good enough details. Ultra-wide shots lack details and dynamic range, which is all we can expect from an 8MP sensor. Night mode needs improvement, and macro shots are useless. Selfies come out to be great, with good details and skin tones. It is a capable camera setup for the most part.
Suppose Samsung had given a better processor like Snapdragon 720G or MediaTek Helio G95; in that case, it could’ve been on top-three in this list. Performance is the only thing that pulls it down. The form factor is a bit on the uncomfortable side, which is a tiny little con. Still, it is an excellent device for elders who don’t want their phones to perform like a champ. Thus, it is #5 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.4″ FHD+ 90Hz Super AMOLED 800 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 5 Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G80 |
OS and Speakers | OneUI 3 (Android 11) Single mono speakers |
RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (emmc 5.1) |
Rear Camera(s) | 64 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) 8 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Depth) |
Front Camera(s) | 20 MP, f/2.2 |
Battery | 6,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 25W Adaptive Fast Charging (Supported) |
Price | Starts at ₹14,999 |
6. Redmi Note 10
The Redmi Note 10 is a complete all-rounder. For just 13000, it tries to give almost un-imaginable features like an AMOLED Display, stereo speakers, 33W fast charging, beautiful form factor, and whatnot. So, we’ve included it on our list of best phones under 15000.
It has the same display as the Redmi Note 10S, i.e. a 6.4″ FHD+ 60Hz Super AMOLED Display with 1100nits of peak brightness and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protecting the front display. No doubt, it offers the best display under 13000. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 inside it performs above average. You can get phones with much better processors like the Realme Narzo 30 with MediaTek Helio G95. However, the overall package is still in favor of Redmi. Apart from random MIUI bugs and stutters, this phone is ideally suited for day-to-day tasks.
The rear has a 48MP+8MP+2MP+2MP quad-camera setup. For the price of just 13000, the camera output is perfect. It struggles a bit in indoor lighting conditions, but outdoor shots come out to be fantastic. It shoots impressive videos, both on the front and rear. The 13MP selfie camera performs well but struggles a little in indoor lighting conditions, which is evident from such a cheap phone. The 5000mAh battery can last a day and a half, which is admirable. The in-box 33W fast charger can fill it up in 100 minutes, which for a budget phone is quite good.
This phone deserves applause with features like dual-stereo speakers, beautiful form factors, and a great design. We can excuse the MIUI bugs for the price, but the overall experience of using the phone will be top-notch for sure. It is undoubtedly the best phone under 13000 and #6 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.43″ FHD+ 60Hz Super AMOLED 1100 nits Peak Brightness Corning Gorilla Glass 3 IP53 Rated Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 |
OS and Speakers | MIUI 12 (Android 11) Dual stereo speakers |
RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.2) |
Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP Sony IMX582, f/1.79 (Wide) 8 MP (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP (Macro) 2 MP (Depth) |
Front Camera(s) | 13 MP |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 33W |
Price | Starts at ₹12,999 |
7. Realme 8 5G
Realme 8 5G is specifically for those who want a budget 5G phone, strictly under 14000. It is one of the better 5G phones available out there for that price, and thus makes its way on our list of best phones under 15000.
It offers a 6.5″ FHD+ 90Hz IPS LCD Display with 600nits of peak brightness. It is a good panel overall, with no complaints in particular. No doubt, 4G phones offer better displays, but it wouldn’t have been feasible for a brand to give the best on a 5G phone. Probably the only reason you should buy this phone is its performance and, of course, 5G. Safe to say, it offers the best performance under 14000 as of now, thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 700U 5G processor. Performance is top-notch, no doubt in that. Day-to-day tasks can be done effortlessly, with some amount of gaming as well.
The cameras on this phone are not a strong point, but they should get the job done. Photos come with boosted colors, which makes them eye-catching for sure. The 48MP+2MP+2MP triple camera setup lacks an ultra-wide lens, which is a bummer. The 16MP selfie camera clicks decent selfies. Night mode performance on both sides needs improvement. Video recordings are just passable.
The 5000mAh battery performs considerably better than the Narzo 30 Pro 5G, with enough capacity to last over a day of usage easily. The in-box 18W charger is painfully slow and takes 2.5 hours to fill up the battery from scratch. It runs on Realme UI 2.0 based on Android 11.
Another point of confusion arises when we look at the newly launched Realme Narzo 30 5G. With bang on identical specs, the only difference comes when you look at the variants. Realme 8 5G comes in three variants — 4GB+64GB, 4GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB, whereas Realme Narzo 30 5G comes in a single variant of 6GB+128GB. Our recommendation would be to go with Realme 8 5G’s base variant only and skip the other variants and the Narzo 30 5G. Going for other variants doesn’t make sense as the Realme Narzo 30 Pro for a similar price offers miles better specifications.
Overall, Realme 8 5G is a good phone only if you consider its base variant. Going for the Realme Narzo 30 Pro 5G makes more sense, but this phone is not a wrong choice if you have budget constraints. Hence, #7 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.5″ FHD+ 90Hz IPS LCD 600 nits Peak Brightness Unspecified glass protection Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 700U 5G (Four 5G bands supported) |
OS and Speakers | Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) Single mono speakers |
RAM | 4GB/8GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.1) |
Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) 2 MP, f/2.4 (B&W Portrait) |
Front Camera(s) | 16 MP, f/2.1 |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 18W |
Price | Starts at ₹13,999 |
8. Poco M3 Pro 5G
With enough rebranding of Redmi phones, Poco decided to copy its competitor this time. Copying is not always a bad thing, and the overall phone is not a bad one. So we have included it on our list of best phones under 15000.
The display on this phone is a 6.5″ FHD+ 90Hz IPS LCD Display with 500nits of peak brightness. Realme 8 5G offers a brighter panel and is a better display in total. Just like the other contestant, it gets powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 700U 5G processor. Both phones are equally powerful and are the best, under 14000 as of now. It runs on MIUI 12 based on Android 11. The bugs in MIUI 12 might be irritating, and thus Realme UI 2.0 is better, in our opinion.
Mimicking the camera setup, it also has a 48MP+2MP+2MP triple camera setup on the back. The photos come out a bit muted compared to the Realme 8 5G, which captures slightly boosted colors. Dynamic range is somewhat similar on both, with a comparable amount of details. Both of them lack an ultra-wide lens. On the front, it has an 8MP selfie camera. The Selfies come out to be soft with fewer details and are just awful. Realme 8 5G does a much better job on the front.
Battery capacity is the same at 5000mAh, and both Realme 8 5G and Poco M3 Pro 5G perform identically. The in-box 22.5W charger charges at 18W only and is painfully slow. It takes 2.5 hours to charge up the battery from nil.
Summing it up, the Realme 8 5G has a brighter display, has a much better selfie camera, mildly better rear cameras, and a much better UI. However, the striking design on the Poco M3 Pro 5G might appeal to many people, and overall, it is a good 5G offering. Therefore, #8 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.5″ FHD+ 90Hz IPS LCD 500 nits Peak Brightness Unspecified glass protection Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 700U 5G (Five 5G bands supported) |
OS and Speakers | MIUI 12 (Android 11) Single mono speakers |
RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.2) |
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 ₹13,999 |
9. Realme Narzo 30
The company’s latest offering — the Realme Narzo 30, is an excellent device for the price. It appeals to enthusiasts looking for a budget device with superb performance, funky design, and fast charging. Thus, we’ve included it on our list of best phones under 15000.
It has a 6.5″ FHD+ 90Hz IPS LCD Display with up to 580nits of peak brightness. The display on offer is a plus point of the device. AMOLED could’ve been better, but at this price, you can’t complain much. The best part about this phone is its processor, i.e. the MediaTek Helio G95. The performance is unmatched for the price, and it can handle heavy tasks without exhausting. People looking for a budget gaming phone should keep it up at the top of their lists.
The 48MP+2MP+2MP triple camera setup performs just like its siblings — the Realme 8 5G and the Realme Narzo 30 5G. Photos come out to be eye-catching with a good dynamic range and poppy colors. The 16MP selfie camera is outstanding for the price. Overall, the camera setup is satisfactory for the price. The 5000mAh battery can easily last a day of usage, and the in-box 30W Dart charger can fill it up in 65-70 minutes flat.
For a price of just 12499, it is one of the better phones to buy. Redmi Note 10 offers a better overall package. Still, if performance is your sole priority, then the Realme Narzo 30 makes more sense. Hence, it is #9 on our list of best phones under 15000.
Display | 6.5″ FHD+ 90Hz IPS LCD 580 nits Peak Brightness Unspecified glass protection Side-mounted fingerprint scanner |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G95 |
OS and Speakers | Realme UI 2.0 (Android 11) Single mono speakers |
RAM | 4GB/6GB LPDDR4X |
Storage | 64GB/128GB (UFS 2.1) |
Rear Camera(s) | 48 MP, f/1.8 (Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Ultra-Wide) 2 MP, f/2.4 (Macro) |
Front Camera(s) | 16 MP Sony IMX471, f/2.1 |
Battery | 5,000 mAh |
Fast Charging | Yes, 30W Dart Charge |
Price | Starts at ₹12,499 |
Bonus Section
Redmi Note 10T 5G
The Redmi Note 10T 5G is the same device as the Poco M3 Pro 5G mentioned above. Yes, there is absolutely no difference at all, including the price. So, if you don’t like the Poco M3 Pro 5G’s design, or maybe the color choices, you can go with the Redmi Note 10T 5G. There is no specific reason why we’ve mentioned the Redmi Note 10T 5G in the bonus section and not the Poco M3 Pro 5G. The Redmi Note 10T 5G launched a month after the Poco M3 Pro 5G, so instead of ranking two identical phones individually, we decided to edit our article and include it in the bonus section.
Conclusion
The phones mentioned in the list are curate over extensive research. This list will be updated whenever it needs a change. If you are looking for a perfect smartphone, it might not be available according to your needs. So you need to choose your preferred attributes over a single feature.
Before buying any phone, make sure that you do a little research before you buy any smartphone. And also it is always recommended to prefer the latest phones over the old ones. There are several factors to consider purchasing a phone. That includes display, processor, OS, cameras, and battery.
These days phones are launching like hell. So make sure to look out for the factors mentioned. If you have a good sense of the above factors, you’ll know the ideal phone for your needs. Thus, make sure that you check every available option before buying any smartphone.
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