Smartphones in the entry-level segment are still mainly about two things: big screens and long battery life. But in 2023, we’ve started to see manufacturers going further, with some even trying to incorporate 5G connectivity and high refresh rate displays. In fact, it’s not a rosy picture from start to finish, as most budget smartphones released in 2023 or earlier typically struggle to get the basics right. Camera quality isn’t the best even on the top-rated smartphones on our list, in fact even getting software that works smoothly is a rarity in this segment.
While most of us would rather spend a little more and get something out of our sub-R’s. 15,000, there are many users who are just transitioning to their first smartphone or even buying their first mobile phone. The Rs. The 10,000 segment is also for those who basically need a smartphone to make calls (audio/video) or just for basic messaging applications.
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 priced under Rs. 10,000 in India that are reviewed and rated by Gadgets 360, in no particular order.
| Telephones under Rs. 10,000 | Gadgets 360 Rating (out of 10) | Price in India (as recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| bit c51 | 7 | Rs. 6,999 |
| Realme Narzo N53 | 7 | Rs. 8,999 |
| Lava Yuva 2 Pro | 7 | Rs. 8,999 |
| Realm C55 | 7 | Rs. 10,999 |
| Motorbike E13 | 8 | Rs. 6,799 |
| 5G lava flare | 8 | Rs. 10,999 |
bit 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 has managed to pack 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. There’s a big 5000mAh battery and a MediaTek Helio G36 processor that’s powerful enough to run the underlying software.
While its price is about as low as it gets for the entry-level segment, you should keep in mind that the Poco C51 runs on Android 13 Go Edition. It might not be the smoothest software interface out there, but it has a small footprint that takes up less internal storage (compared to the standard Android 13 OS) and also has lighter apps that take up less space and are easier to run . This is clearly for those who want 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 occasional use.
Realme Narzo N53
The Realme Narzo N53 is an entry-level smartphone that packs a lot of style, but also manages to offer decent value because it comes with a 90Hz refresh rate display. The phone focuses primarily on style and design and is a breath of fresh air in a segment of smartphones that is mostly stuck on offering the basics.
While you won’t be messing around with that high refresh rate display, the phone’s Unisoc T612 SoC offers enough grunt to run basic apps and the software interface smoothly. This is mainly due to Realme’s use of its less resource-intensive Realme UI edition. Ironically, the company has also loaded this device to the brim with bloatware and third-party apps. Fortunately, you get decent camera performance and good battery life with its 5000mAh 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 rear camera module very similar to that of an iPhone. There’s also a glass rear panel, which is a rare find in this segment. However, it’s still a pretty big phone with a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD panel, so it might not suit small to medium-sized hands despite its slim profile.
At its core is a MediaTek Helio G37 SoC, which is good enough for basic and routine tasks, but is not recommended for gaming. The software isn’t its best step forward as it’s stuck on Android 12. While the software performance is passable, the phone offers a pretty stock Android interface, which is free of spam notifications, but does have a few 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 it should offer two days of battery life.
Realm C55
The Realme C55 tries to take things a notch higher than the Narzo N53 on this list, but doesn’t really quite succeed overall. While the phone will go down in history as the only Android smartphone to attempt to mimic the Dynamic Island feature of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, this attempt fell short of expectations as the built-in LED notification light turned out to be more useful. Nifty features aside, the phone packs a MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, which was surprisingly not powerful enough to keep its Android 13 software running smoothly.
Fortunately, its fast 90Hz refresh rate display, premium-looking design and good daylight images make up for its slightly higher Rs. 10,999 sale price.
Motorbike E13
The Moto E13 is another Android 13 Go Edition device that is the most affordable smartphone on our list because it costs Rs. The sticker price of 6,799 only gets you 2GB of RAM. The phone features an ergonomic design and also offers an IP52 rating for basic dust and water resistance.
The 4 GB RAM variant with the Unisoc T606 SoC offers decent software performance for daily tasks and even gets dual-band Wi-Fi. The phone offers a USB Type-C port and FM radio. As with all Motorola devices, software is its strong point despite packing a Go edition of Android 13. The company’s MyUX manages to include enough customization options and offers a bloatware-free software experience, barring a few Android apps. third-party pre-installed, which can also be uninstalled. The battery life, sadly, is only decent and will only last a day on a single charge.
5G lava flare
The Lava Blaze 5G is the only phone in this guide that scored well overall and this is mainly because its price is slightly higher at Rs. 10,999. The phone offers a good build quality with a rear panel made of glass. There’s also a handy USB Type-C port at the bottom. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC which also enables 5G connectivity. Its software is stuck at Android 12, but our experience with it was pretty good with no lag. The phone also offers a side-mounted fingerprint scanner that works as expected.
Camera performance with its 50-megapixel main camera does a good job in daylight, but it performs average in low-light conditions. Video quality is also quite good with the phone capable of capturing 2K images as well. Its 5000 mAh battery easily lasted more than a day on a single charge, but charging is quite slow with the included 12W charger.
