Best 10 smartphones under 10k

Indian smartphone market has witnessed some real action in last some months and the focus has been shifted from feature phones to budget smartphones. Smartphone manufacturers have started developing handsets which despite being affordable don’t compromise on performance.

Having said that, we tell you what you can expect from a smartphone under 10,000.

1) HD display: In the age of touch screen devices, the first and foremost aspect to consider before buying a smartphone is the display. There are various smartphone under 10,000, which features an HD screen but a thing to note is that the pixel per inch, which actually translates into the crispness of the content differs according to their size.

2)   2 GB RAM: We would not have thought of a smartphone with 2 GB RAM in this budget a year back, however the competition has now made it possible. So if you are a power user, you can opt for a smartphone with 2 GB Ram.

3)  Quad-core processors and GPU units for gaming: Gone are the days when budget smartphones were backed by low end first generation dual-core CPUs. Smartphones these days are equipped with Quad-core processors that can execute number of tasks without slowing down and moreover they have poerwful GPU units to deliver decent gaming experience

4)  3G and 4G connectivity: The chipsets empowering the smartphones these days are equipped with 3G and 4G antennas, which lets you consume internet at faster speeds.

5)  Decent cameras: Smartphones in budget category also don’t compromise on camera technology. Manufacturers integrate their products with sensors that can take some really good shots and can even shoot in HD quality. You can easily get a smartphone with 8 to 13 MP rear and 2 to 5 MP front camera sensors under 10k.

6) Large Battery units: Besides all these smartphones these days have large battery units that can last a day or long even with heavy usage. You can expect a battery unit of 2500 to 3000 mAh in smartphones under 10k.

Here is the list of ten best smartphones under Rs. 10,000

1) Micromax Yureka  (Price: Rs. 8,999)

Yureka is one of the best smartphones that we have tested in sub 10K category. This is the first device with Cyanogen OS, which makes it perfect for those who like to experience the full power of Android OS. Moreover, it also gives a tough competition in terms of performance to all other contenders in its price bracket and even some best mid range smartphones.

Key Specs
• 5.5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (267ppi)
• 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset, 2 GB RAM
• 13 MP rear with LED Flash & 5 MP front camera
• Android 4.4.4 Kitkat OS, Cyanogen OS 12
• 16GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 32 GB
• 2500mAh

Pros: The best value for money smartphone, nice design, 4G enabled, Cyanogen OS with its customization abilities, loud and
clear output speakers, snappy performance

Cons: Display has a bluish tone and pixel count is not the best (267ppi), available online only

2) Redmi 2   (Price: Rs. 6,999)

Xiaomi has the credit to change the budget smartphone landscape and its latest device Redmi 2 is one solid contender. The smartphone has an amazing camera, decent screen and delivers good multitasking experience. Moreover, it offers 4G
connectivity on both the SIM cards.

Key Specs:
• 4.7 “ IPS LCD capacitive HD display (312 ppi)
• 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 CPU, 1 GB RAM
• 8 MP rear with LED flash & 2MP front camera
• Android 4.4 with MIUI 6
• 8GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 32GB
• 2200 mAh battery

Pros: One of the best camera at this price, sleek design, good battery back-up, smooth computing performance, 4G enabled

Cons: MIUI 6 lags occasionally, plastic built

3) Moto E 3G and 4G  (Price: Rs. 6,999 and Rs. 7,999 respectively)

One of the best selling budget smartphones from the house of Motorola gets noticeable updates such as 3G and 4G connectivity, front camera and expandable memory. Though it’s not the best in terms of performance in this price bracket, but it surely has a trusted brand name, which works quite a lot in a market like India.

Key Specs:
• 4.5” IPS LCD capacitive display 540x960 pixels (245 ppi)
• 1.2 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 CPU, 1 GB RAM (Qualcomm Snapdragon
410 CPU in 4G model)
• 5 MP autofocus rear & VGA front camera
• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 8GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 32GB
• 2380 mAh battery unit

Pros: Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, sturdy design, Motorola branding

Cons: Poor camera performance, no flash, computing performance not as good as
Redmi 2 or Lenovo A7000

4) Lenovo A6000 Plus  (Price: Rs. 7,499)

Lenovo A6000 marked the impressive entry of Lenovo in budget smartphone category. The smartphone is quite capable to deliver a smooth multitasking experience without compromising on performance. And you also get 4G connectivity which makes it one of the few budget smartphones in this price bracket.

Key Specs:
• 5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (294 ppi)
• 1.2 GHz Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 CPU, 2 GB RAM
• 16 MP rear with LED flash & 2 MP front camera
• Android 4.4.4 Kitkat OS
• 8GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 32GB
• 2300 mAh battery unit

Pros: Good battery back-up, 64-bit processor offers good performance, 4G enabled
Cons: Average camera performance, no screen protection

5) Lenovo A7000   (Price: Rs. 8,999)

Lenovo A7000 is surely an upgraded version of the A6000. The smartphone has a large 5.5 inch sharp HD display, a snappier Octa-core processor coupled with a decent GPU and is also the first smartphone to pack Dolby Atmos surround sound at this price point.

Key Specs:
• 5.5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (~267ppi)
• 1.5 GHZ Octa-core MediaTek CPU, 2 GB RAM
• 8MP rear with LED flash & 5 MP front camera with wide angle lens
• Android 5.0 Lollipop
• 8 GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 128 GB
• 2900 mAh battery

Pros: Good design, lag free multitasking, decent screen, good audio performance,
4G enabled
Cons: Tough to use with one hand

6) Lumia 535   (Price: Rs. 7,695)

The budget attempt from Microsoft offers a good overall performance. Its large screen works well for consumption of multimedia content, the rear and front cameras are capable of taking good shots and it also delivers a good level of multitasking. Moreover, it comes with various additions from Windows OS that increases day to day smartphone experience.

Key Specs:
• 5” IPS LCD capacitive display 540x960 pixels (~220 ppi pixel density)
• 1.2 GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 CPU, 1 GB RAM
• 5 MP rear with LED flash & 5 MP front camera with wide angle lens
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 OS
• 8 GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 128 GB
• 1905 mAh battery

Pros: Good camera performance, good battery back-up, support for up-to 128 GB via microSD card

Cons: Plastic built, not so sharp display

7) Lumia 640 (Price: Rs. 9,999)

The smartphone is launched recently and offers a solid design, decent display and will also receive an update to Windows 10. It is integrated with Lumia camera which is the best camera UI we have tested.

Key Specs:
• 5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (294ppi)
• 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU, 1 GB RAM
• 8 MP rear with LED flash & 1 MP front camera
• 8 GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 128 GB
• Microsoft Windows 8.1 with Lumia Denim
• 2500 mAh battery

Pros: Amazing camera performance, good battery back-up, vibrant display

Cons: Plastic construction makes it slippery and does not offer a premium feel

8) Asus Zenfone 5 - A501CG  (Price: Rs. 8,499)

Asus entered Indian market with the Zenfone 5 and since then the smartphone is doing quite well in the budget category. The smartphone has got a price cut recently, which makes it a good value for money product.

Key Specs:
• 5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (294ppi)
• 1.2GHz dual-core Intel Atom CPU, 2 GB RAM
• 8 MP rear with LED flash & 2 MP front camera
• 8 GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 64 GB
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS
• 2110 mAh battery

Pros: Feature-rich camera, refreshing UI, smooth multitasking performance

Cons: Signs of heat when used aggressively, average battery back-up

9) Redmi Note 4G   (Price: Rs. 9,999)

The Chinese smartphone maker has produced the best phablet in the sub 10K range. Redmi Note 4G comes with a sharp and mammoth 5.5” HD display, snappy processor, good camera hardware and 4G connectivity. It is perfect for those who wish to do everything without spending a fortune.

Key Specs:
• 5.5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (267ppi)
• 1.6 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU, 2GB RAM
• 8 GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 64GB
• 13 MP rear with LED flash & 5 MP front camera
• Android 4.4.2 with MIUI 5.0
• 3100 mAh battery

Pros: Smooth performance, good rear and front cameras, good battery back-up, expandability up-to 64GB, 4G enabled, large screen works well for watching videos

Cons: Bulky design and plastic construction, MIUI crashes occasionally, only 4.98 GB available out of 8 GB storage

10) Huawei Honor Holly   (Price: Rs. 6,999)

The budget smartphone from Huawei packed a lot of punch when it was launched and it still has the potential to meet up the demands of smartphone experience at an affordable price.

Key Specs:
• 5” IPS LCD capacitive HD display (294ppi)
• 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek CPU, 1 GB RAM
• 8 MP rear with LED flash & 2 MP front camera
• 16 GB in-built storage, expandable up-to 32 GB
• Android 4.4.2 Kitkat OS
• 2000 mAh battery money

Pros: Good display, smooth performance, good battery back up
Cons: Plastic built, average camera performance

Best 10 smartphones in 10k