Top 5 Smartphones Under Rs. 10,000 You Can Buy in 2021

An enviable camera, long battery life and good performance are the holy grail of a good smartphone in 2021. While it may not be possible to achieve all three when it comes to purchasing a budget smartphone, one can get close enough.

2020 was a year which saw a sharp increase in mobile data consumption what with everyone confined to their homes and spending long hours on their electronic devices. With the release of each new smartphone every year, the features of budget smartphones are more fine-tuned and almost up-to par with the more expensive models. Here, I recap some of the best affordable smartphones that were released last year and are still going strong in 2021.

Basic criteria for judging:

• It must have a good battery of at least 5000 mAh
• The display must be more than 6.3” HD+
• At least 3GB RAM with a minimum of 32GB storage
• Dual camera or more
• High performance

5. Vivo U10

Just like all its recent releases, Vivo maintains a classic look with a flat back and rounded edges with the Vivo U10. Though the display is slightly smaller (6.3”), it has a decidedly bulky feel to it, mainly because of its 6000 mAh battery. It features the recently launched Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset which is also used in a few smartphones in the Rs. 15,000 bracket. The phone gives you fast charging and 3 rear cameras of average quality. One fact to note is that the device runs on the new Funtouch OS 9.1 which may feel different to existing Android users in terms of UI and user experience.

4. Realme C15 and C12

The Realme C15 is quite similar to its C12 variant but with a few key differences. While the C12 comes with only 3GB RAM and 32 GB storage, the C15 also has 4GB RAM and 64GB variants, with a price difference of Rs. 1,000. Taking speed into consideration, the C15 has better performance due to its Mediatek Helio G35 processor. However, where the smartphones shine is in possessing a deliciously long battery life due to a whopping 6000 mAh powered battery. Also, the C15 supports fast charging. If you’re on a fixed budget and really want a phone with a long battery life and decent performance, go right ahead and purchase this device.

3. Realme Narzo 10A

This model is basically an updated version of the RealMe C3 which also launched earlier this year. The two smartphones share a lot in common but one key difference is the Mediatek Helio G70 chipset which is a game-changer for phones in this bracket. Unlike its C3 counterpart, the Narzo 10A has a fingerprint sensor on the back and a third camera at the rear of the phone, although the camera is average with no low-light support. The phone supports a good gaming experience for the price, with minimum stutter. The UI offers a good deal of customization options and is smooth sailing. What seals the deal is the battery life which is a good 5000 mAh, although fast charging isn’t supported.

2. Motorola Moto E7 Plus

At first glance, what helps the Moto E7 Plus stand out from the other smartphones of similar budget is its sleek and gradient finish, a far cry from the solid colours that are generally reserved for budget smartphones. The phone has a dual-camera setup which gives sharp images during daytime. What’s interesting is that Moto Actions allows you to do tasks using gestures, such as taking a screenshot or turning on the flashlight. This phone uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 SoC which makes multitasking a breeze because of its 4GB RAM. The downside is a lack of USB Type-C port and fast charging as the 10W charger provided with the device is a bit slow. If you want a good smartphone with a clean interface, this phone is for you.

1 . Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime

For the kind of price you get for this smartphone, your number one choice should definitely be the Redmi 9 Prime, simply because of what a delight it is to use. It offers a full-HD+ display which is unheard of at this price point. With a good battery of 5020 mAh, the phone is a little heavy but let that not deter you from enjoying its high-speed performance and quick loading due to its MediaTek Helio G80 processor, the highest on this list. It has a quad camera with its primary camera being 13MP and a 2MP depth sensor which is quite decent. The best part is that the phone supports fast charging at 18W which is a godsend and definitely gives it an edge over the other smartphones on this list.