Top 5 smartphones to buy under 15k

Smartphones have come such a long way since its inception to being considered a necessity for the amenities that it provides. Smartphones are one of the most essential items in today’s digital world resulting in an incredibly competitive global market. The technological advancements made in this field have been constant and so are the updated product releases. Although smartphones come in all shapes and prices, it is not required to burn a hole in your pocket to own a decent and smooth operating one. Below is a list of the top 5 smartphones one can purchase within 15k.

Redmi Note 8 Pro

This range of smartphone starts from 15k and the price differs depending on the variant (6GB RAM+ 64 GB or 6GB RAM +128 GB). Redmi Note 8 Pro includes a lot of incredible features and provides its users with smooth operation. The key aspects of the Redmi Note 8 Pro include the following

• 6.53inch display (1080*2340 with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection)
• MediaTek Helio 690T processor
• Quad rear cameras (64MP+8MP+2MP+2MP) (includes 4K video recording and slo-mo video recording)
• 20 MP front camera
• 6 GB RAM and (68/128GB) storage (expandable up to 256 GB)
• 4500 mAh battery with 18W fast charging support
• Android 9 Pie with MIUI 10
• Liquid Cooling support for mobile gaming
• Available in 5 colours (Electric blue, Gamma Green, Halo White, Pearl White and Shadow Black)

These are the key features of Redmi Note 8 Pro and they outweigh the flaws like average video quality and occasional heating issues under heavy load. More over this is the first high-profile device with the Helio G90T, which is MediaTek’s gaming-focused chipset featuring an octa-core CPU design and a cut-down version of the Mali G76 chipset. Overall at 15k, it is undeniably a steal deal.

Motorola One Macro

Motorola has been an old and well-known player in the smartphone market. They have mostly catered to the mid-range level of smartphones but have also indulged in a few expensive models as well. Their 2019 launch Motorola One Macro is their latest edition to mid-range budget smartphones. Its cost comes down to around 10k. The key aspects of this phone include -

• 6.2 inch display (720*1520)
• MediaTek Helio P70 processor (2 GHz octa-core)
• 13MP+2MP+2MP+ rear camera
• 8 MP front camera
• 4GB RAM and 64 GB Storage
• 4000 mAh battery (supports proprietary first charging)
• Android 9 Pie OS
• Available in space blue and ultraviolet colours

Motorola uses MediaTek Helio P70 processor and it maintains the smooth functioning of the phone consistently. The 2MP Macro camera on the phone which allows the users to take pictures of things from just 2cms away is the idea behind its name — Motorola One Macro. It is a good choice for anyone looking to purchase a budget phone without missing out on any of the features associated with a smartphone.

LG W30

LG has been struggling to maintain its growth in the smartphone market since the sudden rise of Oppo, Xiaomi, Huawei .etc. Their G-series and V-series were successful launches but because of the price factor were unable to maintain their consumer mass. LG then launched the W series in India as a range of budget centric smartphones which promises to deliver good features enhanced phones at a mid-level range. The LG W30 is the latest edition in this series and it retails for around 10k. It includes the following features -

• 6.26-inch display
• MediaTek Helio P22 Processor
• 13 MP+ 12MP+ 2MP rear camera
• 16 MP front camera
• 3 GB RAM + 32 GB storage (expandable via micro SD card)
• 4000 mAh battery
• Android 9 Pie OS (stock Android experience)
• Chrome-plated sides and a brushed pattern finish at the back

LG has also included a few of its own unique features in this phone mainly the ‘panic’ button which will be activated to call an emergency number if the power button is pressed three times in succession. Scrolling screenshots can be taken and a bunch of shortcuts and gestures can be activated in the Settings app. The design of this phone is a huge plus as it gives a premium and luxury finish to a budget phone. Another plus is the MediaTek Helio P22 Processor in a mid-range budget phone. However it does not support heavy mobile gaming which can be a drawback for the mobile game enthusiast.If you want a budget smartphone with a luxury look, good battery life and decent camera then the LG W30 is a good deal for you.

Samsung Galaxy M30

Samsung has been a long-running player in the Indian smartphone market and has garnered immense success with its Galaxy series. The Galaxy M series was decidedly marketed to the young Millenials by Samsung and thus has a relatively lower retail price than the other Samsung products. The M30 has three variants — 3GB (10k), 4GB (12.5k) and 6GB (17k). It includes the following features -

• 6.40 inch display (1080*2340)
• Samsung Exynos 7904 processor
• 13MP+5MP+5MP rear camera
• 16MP front camera
• 3/4/6GB RAM and 32/64/128 GB storage (expandable up to 512 GB through microSD card slot)
• 5000 mAh battery
• Android 8.1 Oreo OS
• Available in Gradation Black and Gradation Blue

The full HD+ panel is crisp (AMOLED display) and the Exynos processor offers decent performance. It, however, tends to heat up occasionally under heavy load. The camera performs well in daylight but at low-light, its performance is very average. The strong battery quality is a huge plus especially in regard to the original target audience of the phone. Overall the Samsung M30 makes for a good purchase with its features under the 15k mark.

Realme 5 Pro

Realme is a considerably new player in the Indian Smartphone scenario but in the short time it has been able to generate a considerable consumer mass for itself. Realme is known for their budget smartphones that they are able to release frequently with updated features. The Realme 5 Pro comes in 3 variants — 4GB (14k), 6GB(15k) and 8GB(17k). It includes the following features -

• 6.30 inch display (1080*2340)
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 712 processor
• Quad rear camera (48 MP+8MP+2MP+2MP)
• 16 MP front camera
• 4/6/8 GB RAM and 64/64/128 GB Storage (expandable through microSD card slot)
• 4035 mAh battery
• Android 9 Pie
• Available in Crystal Green and Sparkling Blue
• Supports fingerprint sensor and face unlock feature

Realme 5 Pro shows stable and strong overall performance and has impressive daylight photo quality. It is very easy to handle and supports fast charging as well. The only real flaw that one can find with the 5 Pro is its Camera User interface and average battery life. Features wise Realme 5 Pro is a decent smartphone and will be a good purchase without burning a hole in your pocket.