15 Best Budget Smartphones below Rs. 15,000

Times have changed, literally, the trend of mid-end smartphones now gaining attraction and available in the budget of an average Indian consumer without making a hole in their pockets. A consumer these days can buy a fully loaded smartphone at one-fourth the cost of an iPhone, which wasn’t seen or heard before. Phones that are priced between Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 15,000 aren’t limited by the specifications or software – though you’ll still need to do your research to find a perfect smartphone that suits your requirements as well as your budget. We decided to feature 15 best smartphones below Rs. 15,000 available to buy in India right now.

Best Budget smartphones under 15000

 Lenovo Vibe S1

 

There are some people who are passionate about design and craftsmanship. They hardly go wrong with their choice of a smartphone that suits their personality. The Lenovo Vibe S1 launched in the late 2015 and it’s among the finest smartphones to buy for under Rs. 15,000. The Vibe S1 is a well designed and affordable smartphone that performs well in all areas. It’s a great choice if you want to have a stylish smartphone without spending many bucks. The glass and the metal frame adds a layer premiums. The 5.0-inch FHD (1080 X 1920) display is of a good quality with decent viewing angles. The Vibe S1 runs on MediaTek’s 64bit MT6752 octa-core processor with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of onboard storage, a microSD card slot for memory expansion, and runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. The 2,420mAH battery can last a whole day of moderate to heavy use. It supports LTE networks, as well as dual nano-SIM. The 13-megapixel rear camera delivers great shots, however,  the biggest highlight of the Vibe S1 is its two cameras at the front – a primary front camera that has 8-megapixels, while the secondary 2-megapixel front camera enhances the shot with additional image information, such as the subject’s depth of field, etc.

 

Asking price – Rs. 14,999

 

Budget smartphone -Honor 5X: 

 

The Honor 5X is the best value smartphone of this year. It’s premium looks, bold design, and powerful performance will convince you to opt for the Honor 5X. The device features a metal-clad body, so the premium feel is already there; but the specs sheet doesn’t disappoint either  It is powered by a 64-bit 1.5GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, coupled with an Adreno 405 graphics processing unit, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory, a microSD card slot, so users can expand storage up to 128GB.Furthermore, the Honor 5X has a 13-megapixel camera on the rear, which features autofocus, LED flash, and FHD video recording, but there’s also a secondary 5-megapixel camera in the front. Honor 5X comes with fingerprint scanner positioned below the rear-facing camera. Another major highlight of the Honor 5X is the large 5.5-inch display that supports the full HD (1080p) resolution.Last but not least, the phone is powered by a 3,000mAH, which should easily last a day or two, depending upon your usage.

 

Asking price – Rs. 12,999

Budget smartphone: Meizu M3 Note

Meizu is known for making affordable phones and the M3 Note is that just that. Well, this isn’t a high-end smartphone by any means as such but when you consider the value for money proposition going along with this handset you’ll begin to realise how it gives the best a run for their money. The M3 Note has a sharp 5.5-inch 1080p screen, a solid build quality, and a huge 4,100mAh battery. The Meizu M3 Note is offered with a great processor (Quad-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53, to be precise ), 32GB of internal memory, microSD support and 3GB RAM combination, making it a true multitasker. It also has a  modest 13-megapixel rear shooter, alongside 5-megapixel front camera. Perhaps, the biggest dilemma of the Meizu M3 Note is its Flyme OS, slapped on top of Google’s Android mobile operating system. Still. coupled with  powerful specs and being offered at an irresistible price, the M3 Note is a great device.

 

Asking price – Rs. 9,999

 

Budget smartphone : LeEco Le 1s

 

LeEco has impressed us with a flagship-like smartphone at an insanely low price. For under Rs. 15,000 you get a phone that epitomizes classic style like no other device its class. The Le 1s is a great phone – stylish, fast, reliable and with a pair of excellent cameras. The metal casing houses a 5.5-inch  Full HD screen and comes with a quirky fingerprint sensor on the rear for unlocking the device. There’s a powerful 64-bit 2.2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio X10 processor, coupled with a PowerVR G6200 graphics processing unit, 3GB of RAM, Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, and ships with 16GB of onboard storage which can be further expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card slot. The Le 1s also brings a 13-megapixel camera featuring ISOCELL sensor, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, and video recording, while on the front, there’s a secondary 5-megapixel camera for selfies and video recording. In addition, the smartphone also comes with a USB Type-C port, which makes it one of the few handsets to feature such new piece of technology. It is backed up by a high-capacity 3000mAh battery with quick charging technology.

 

Asking price – Rs. 10,999

 

Budget smartphone : Lenovo K4 Note

 

With the K4 Note, Lenovo is upping its game in a bid to compete with Huawei and LeEco, in the highly competitive mid-range smartphone market. Last year’s K3 Note was a top smartphone – and still is – but the K4 Note is a different beast entirely: a fabulous 5.5-inch Full HD ( 1080 X 1920) display, a 1.3GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6753 processor, coupled with 3GB RAM and 16GB of internal memory that can be expanded up to 128GB via microSD card slot. The handset offers 4G LTE connectivity and dual-SIM support, as well as a fingerprint scanner, and dual front-facing speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wolfson Pro Audio system. At the back, the K4 Note packs a 13-megapixel camera with dual-LED flash while in the front there’s a secondary 5-megapixel camera for selfies.Lenovo’s uber affordable smartphone is powered by a 3,400 mAh battery and ships with Android 5.1 Lollipop mobile OS with the company’s Vibe UI on top. What’s more, the K4 Note comes equipped with Theatre Max widescreen cinematic experience powered by the company’s VR technology. Interestingly, the VR goggles come bundled in the package along with the K4 Note. Users can opt for the VR glasses separately for Rs. 1,299.

 

Asking price – Rs. 11,999

 

Budget smartphone: ZTE Nubia Z9 Mini

 

Overall, the Nubia Z9 Mini is a decent mid-end smartphone. But, it’s also a great camera-centric smartphone. Yes, you heard it right. Many of you might have missed the Nubia Z9 Mini when it got launched last year due to its high price tag. But now the smartphone can be purchased for less than Rs. 12,000 and we think it’s a stellar deal. The Nubia Z9 Mini features a 16-megapixel shooter with autofocus, LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording, while in the front there’s a secondary, an impressive 8-megapixel camera for selfies. The Nubia’s 16MP camera has a 1/2.6-inch sensor, meaning you will get balanced and colorful images in any given condition. Users can also take advantage of manual settings (ISO, colour balance, exposure etc). Its 5-inch FHD screen is lovely and bright; a Snapdragon 615 processor, coupled with 2GB of RAM is fast and zippy, and 16GB of internal memory (expandable) should be enough for multitasking and the 2,900mAh battery is excellent for such a compact phone. Nubia UI isn’t our favorite Android skin but it’s perfectly usable and customizable as per you needs.

 

Asking price – Rs. 11,390

Xiaomi Redmi Note3

 

Xiaomi has another win here with the Redmi Note 3. For Rs. 9,999, you get a 5.5-inch display at 1280×720, a Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & Dual-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A72, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, expandable storage ( up to 32GB), Android 5.1 based on MIUI 7, hybrid SIM slot, and all in a very nice chassis that feels great in the hand.The Note Prime clearly has the solid spec sheet on device with a price like this, such as cameras ( a 16MP rear and 5MP front shooter), great battery life ( thanks, to a 4,000mAh battery), performance is good, and of course the price is low. The 4g LTE-enabled Note Prime is not the most powerful phone in the world, but it does have a fantastic asking price of Rs. 9,999. If you’re thinking of buying a budget smartphone, you might want to grab the Xiaomi Note 3.

 

Asking price – Rs. 9,999

 

Xiaomi Mi 4

 

While the whole world is waiting for Hugo Barra, VP, Xiaomi Global, to unveil the Mi5 in Barcelona; the original Mi 4 , which debuted in India last year, still seeing steady demand for the device. There is no doubt that the Mi 4 is a fantastic flagship smartphone from Xiaomi and an improvement on the Mi 3. We love the premium design of the Mi 4; it uses a sturdy stainless steel frame which has chamfered edges giving it an elegant look. The smartphone’s rear is entirely made out of plastic, though. The Mi 4 is a fantastic phone overall, with excellent cameras – a 13MP rear and a 5MP front shooter, a good turn of speed (Snapdragon 801 CPU, 3GB RAM and 16/64GB of onboard storage options), an excellent 5-inch FHD AMOLED screen and Xiaomi’s native MIUI 7 add up to The Mi4, though, is the only flagship that sacrifices 4G LTE support. It’s a shame it doesn’t come with a removable battery and microSD card support.

 

Asking price – Rs. 14,999

 

Moto G Turbo Edition

 

The Moto G Turbo Edition might not be Motorola’s best smartphone to date, but there’s a lot to love about the phone. It is essentially a reincarnated version of the Moto G ( 3rd generation), with the same set of features onboard. The specs aren’t that impressive, say, in comparison to the Honor 5X, or the LeEco 1s; but of course, you will get a raw Android experience with some great software enhancements. The Moto G Turbo Edition’s main attraction is its improved processor under the hood – a Snapdragon 615 CPU, paired with 2GB RAM and 16GB of onboard storage (expandable), and a quick charging support. By comparison, the Moto G 3rd Gen has a Snapdragon 410 processor, paired with either 1GB/2GB of RAM minus a “TurboPower” charger which is said to provide up to 6 hours of battery life in 15 minutes.The Moto G Turbo Edition has the same design, the same build, the same IP67 dust and water resistance rating, and the same 5-inch HD display;it even has the same cameras, a 13MP primary sensor with a f/2.0 lens and an LED flash, as well as a 5MP secondary sensor with a wide-angle f/2.2 lens on the front.

 

Asking price – Rs. 12,499

 

Budget smartphone : Micromax Canvas 5

 

Micromax has smartphones for every kind of people’s. The original Canvas 4 was a loud success in 2014; it actually helped the brand to look beyond the low-end market. The Canvas 5, which was unveiled back in November last year, comes with a huge upgrade over its predecessor in terms of design and hardware. No more the Canvas 5 resembles its predecessor. It feels solid enough, but it’s lacking the premium feel that many of the competing devices offer. It’s a mid-range handset, offering Micromax’s best efforts, but it isn’t the most powerful handset around. The 5.2-inch FHD smartphone packs in a 64-bit 1.5GHz MediaTek Octa-core processor, paired with 3GB RAM, 16GB of on-board memory, Android 5.1 Lollipop, 4G LTE, Dual SIM, microSD support, a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front shooter, and a 2900 mAh battery. The device is great, no doubt, but it lacks a fingerprint scanner and a metal build. Surprisingly, the performance of the handset is at par with some of the top smartphones.

 

Asking price – Rs. 11,471

 

Budget smartphone : Lenovo Vibe P1m

Out of its best smartphones, Lenovo brings in an up-to-date smartphone in the form of its Vibe P1m, but it really pushes the device’s battery life to an all new level. This is a handset packed a monster 4,000mAh battery – enough to offer up to 16 hours of talk time. In addition, Lenovo has integrated a quick charging support and a dedicated manual button for power saving activation. However, there are some points on the spec sheet that will see the Vibe P1m pale in comparison with it competing  smartphones. There’s a 5-inch display sitting at 1280 x 720 pixels, hardly the sharpest around. The Vibe P1m is powered by a MediaTek MT6735P quad-core processor, coupled with 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot. The cameras aren’t great either – an 8-megapixel shooter on the back and a 5-megapixel camera at the front. Lenovo’s Vibe UI layered on top of Android works well, but it still requires major improvements. It is, however, a great value for money at Rs. 7,999.

 

Asking price – Rs. 7,999

 

Budget smartphones: Samsung Galaxy On7

 

Samsung has a big name in the smartphones world. The Galaxy On7 is Samsung’s latest mid-end device, is a great alternative to the bigger names. It’s not quite as powerful as the Honor 5X on the inside, but it’s fast enough for most people.
The screen is a 5.5-inch 720p panel, which is bright and offers vivid colours. The 13-megapixel main camera and 5-megapixel front-facing shooter are designed to be good in all light conditions but are especially impactful in low light settings. Under the hood, the Galaxy On7 comes with a Snapdragon 410 processor, paired with 1.5GB of RAM, 8GB of on-board storage and a microSD card slot ( expandable up to 128GB). The dual-SIM 4G LTE  handset offers a bigger 3,000mAh battery, which can be replaced unlike other smartphones in its class. The latest version of TouchWiz is the best we’ve seen. Well, the Galaxy On7 is not a huge step but it does offer seamless performance that makes it stand out from the current crop of smartphones.

 

Asking price – Rs. 10,990

 

Budget smartphones: Microsoft Lumia 550

 

If you’re in the market for a new handset, but aren’t tempted by an iPhone or Android smartphone,  Windows 10 phone is the best bet for you. The Lumia 550 is the budget smartphone to beat. For just Rs. 9,990, the Microsoft Lumia 550 delivers what most of people need in a smartphone. The smartphone offers a 4.7-inch screen that’s bright and colorful, even if its 1280 x 720 pixels. The Lumia 550 is 4G LTE-enabled smartphone with 8GB of on-board storage (expandable), a quad-core Snapdragon 210 processor, alongside 1GB of RAM. The shiny, plastic build lines goes in sync with its Lumia heritage, though it does feel cheaper than its rivals. You’ll find the Lumia 550 running Microsoft Windows 10 as well as a 5-megapixel and 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Lumia 550 is not as powerful or as attractive as most mid range smartphones, but it’s an unbelievable smartphone.

 

Asking price – Rs. 9,999

 

Budget smartphones : Asus ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL)

 

Asus’ ZenFone 2 Laser continues the series’ tradition of offering solid mid-range specs and performance at an entry-level price. For Rs. 9,999, the ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) is equipped with  a 5.5-inch 720p screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC and 2GB RAM on-board. What’s intriguing about the ZenFone 2 Laser is the laser-autofocus for the primary camera. The 13-megapixel rear camera is adorned by a dual-tone flash and laser, and the shooter is itself decent in both low light and natural settings. A 5-megapixel front camera is also a great addition for the price. The rest of the specs are standard: 16GB of internal storage, microSD support, Dual-SIM, 4G LTE, Android 5.1 Lollipop, and a 3,000mAh battery. If you’re a fan of Asus, then the ZenFone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) is a good, wallet-friendly way to get your fix.

 

Asking price – Rs. 9,999