Smartphones in the entry-level segment are still basically about two things – big screens and long battery life. But in 2023, we start to see manufacturers going further, with some even trying to include 5G connectivity and high refresh rate displays. In fact, it’s not a rosy picture at all, as most budget smartphones released in 2023 or earlier often 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 runs smoothly is a rarity in this industry.
Though most of us would rather spend a little more and get something out of our sub-Rs. 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 sleek 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 ranked by Gadgets 360, in no particular order.
| Phones under Rs. 10,000 | Gadgets 360 rating (out of 10) | Price in India (as recommended) |
|---|---|---|
| Small C51 | 7 | LOL. 6,999 |
| Realme Narzo N53 | 7 | LOL. 8,999 |
| Lava Yuva 2 Pro | 7 | LOL. 8,999 |
| Realme C55 | 7 | LOL. 10,999 |
| Moto E13 | 8 | LOL. 6,799 |
| Lava Blaze 5G | 8 | LOL. 10,999 |
Small C51
The Poco C51 is the most affordable device on our list, with prices starting at just Rs. 6,999. Even at that price, the Poco has managed to pack in 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. There’s a big 5,000mAh battery and a MediaTek Helio G36 processor that has enough power to run the underlying software.
Although its price is as low as possible for the entry-level segment, you should keep in mind that the Poco C51 is powered by Android 13 Go Edition. It may not be the smoothest software interface on the market, but it takes up little space and takes up less internal space (compared to the stock Android 13 OS), and it also has lighter applications, which take up less space and are easier to run. This one is clearly for anyone who wants a “smartphone” with good battery life for making calls and running basic apps, as it can easily last for two days on a single charge with casual use.
Realme Narzo N53
The Realme Narzo N53 is an entry-level smartphone with a lot of style, but it also manages to offer decent value because it comes with a 90Hz refresh rate display. The phone mainly focuses on style and design and is a breath of fresh air in a smartphone segment that is mostly focused on providing the basics.
While you won’t be gaming with that high refresh rate display, the phone’s Unisoc T612 SoC delivers enough noise to run basic apps and the software interface smoothly. This is mainly due to Realme’s use of the Realme UI T-edition, which is less resource-heavy. Ironically, the company also loaded this device to the brim with bloatware and third-party apps. Thankfully, you get decent camera performance and good battery life from its 5,000mAh 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 very iPhone-like rear camera module. There is also a glass back panel, which is a rare find in this segment. However, this is still quite a large phone with a 6.5-inch HD+IPS LCD panel, so it might not fit small or medium hands despite its thin profile.
At its core is a MediaTek Helio G37 SoC, which is good enough for basic routine tasks, but not recommended for gaming. The software isn’t its best advancement, as it’s stuck on Android 12. While the software’s performance is palatable, the phone offers a pretty standard Android interface that’s free of spam notifications, but you do get 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 provide two days of battery life.
Realme C55
The Realme C55 tries to take things a little higher than the Narzo N53 on this list, but fails to do so overall. While the phone will go down in history as the only Android smartphone that tried to emulate the Dynamic Island feature of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro, this attempt fell woefully short of expectations as the built-in LED notification light turned out to be more useful. Gimmicky features aside, the phone comes with a MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, which surprisingly wasn’t powerful enough to keep its Android 13 software running smoothly.
Thankfully, its fast 90Hz refresh rate screen, premium looking design, and good daylight imaging make up for its slightly higher Rs. 10,999 asking price.
Moto E13
Moto E13 is another Android 13 Go Edition device that is the most affordable smartphone on our list because it costs Rs. The tag price of 6,799 only gets you 2GB of RAM. The phone has an ergonomic design and also offers an IP52 rating for basic dust and water resistance.
The 4GB RAM variant with the Unisoc T606 SoC offers decent software performance for everyday tasks and you even get 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 including a Go Edition of Android 13. The company’s MyUX manages to include enough customization options and offers a bloatware-free software experience, save for some pre-installed third-party apps, which can also be uninstalled. Battery life, unfortunately, is only decent and only lasts for a day on a single charge.
Lava Blaze 5G
The Lava Blaze 5G is the only phone in this guide that managed to get a good overall rating and that’s mainly because its price is slightly higher at Rs. 10,999. The phone offers good build quality with a back panel made of glass. There’s also a convenient USB Type-C port on the bottom. It is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC, which also enables 5G connectivity. Its software is stuck on Android 12, but our experience with it was very good and lag-free. The phone also offers a side-mounted fingerprint reader which works as expected.
Camera performance with its 50-megapixel main camera does a good job in daylight, but it’s mostly average performance in low light. Video quality is also very good with the phone capable of capturing 2K footage as well. Its 5,000mAh battery easily lasted more than a day on a single charge, but charging is quite slow with the included 12W charger.