The Indian smartphone market is extremely competitive, especially the phones under Rs 15,000. There are so many new models that are being launched everyday and hence it can be a bit of a challenge to choose the smartphone depending upon your needs.
Let’s take a look at some of the best phones under Rs 15,000 in India.
Best phones under Rs 15,000
| Phones under Rs 15,000 | Launch Date | Price in India |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro | 29th August, 2019 | Rs 13,999 |
| Xiaomi Mi A3 | 21st August, 2019 | Rs 11,999 |
| Realme 5 Pro | 4th September, 2019 | Rs 12,999 |
| Samsung Galaxy M 30s | 18th September, 2019 | Rs 13,999 |
| Vivo U20 | 27th November, 2019 | Rs 10,990 |
| Oppo K1 | 6th February, 2019 | Rs 11,970 |
| Vivo Z1 Pro | 3rd July, 2019 | Rs 13,899 |
| Poco F1 | 29th August, 2019 | Rs 14,800 |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro | 13th March, 2019 | Rs 8,999 |
| Realme 6 | 5th March, 2020 | Rs 12,999 |
| Realme XT | 13th September, 2019 | Rs 14,959 |
| Redmi Note 9 Pro | 17th March, 2020 | Rs 12,999 |
| Honor 9X | 19th January, 2020 | Rs 12,999 |
| Motorola Moto G8 Plus | 29th October, 2019 | Rs 13,969 |
| Samsung Galaxy M 31 | 4th March, 2020 | Rs 14,999 |
| Realme 5s | 29th November, 2019 | Rs 11,799 |
| Redmi Note 7s | 23rd May, 2019 | Rs 10,999 |
| Realme 3 Pro | 29th April, 2019 | Rs 13,199 |
| Realmi 5i | 15th January, 2020 | Rs 10,999 |
| Infinix Hot S3 | 12th February, 2018 | Rs 9,999 |
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro (Rs 13,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
MediaTek Hello G90T |
Storage/Ram
64GB/6GB |
Camera
64 MP+8 MP+2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
4500 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Electric Blue, Gamma Green, Halo White, Pearl White, Shadow Black |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro features
- Great performance
- Versatile cameras
- HDR display
- Dedicated micro SD slot with dual-sim
* Bad features
- Gets warm under load
- Sub-par low-light video performance
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 8 Pro is a good option for those who are looking to buy a phone under Rs 15,000. The phone offers good performance without any lag and has decent battery life. The photos taken with this phone in the daylight comes sharp and has good details. A feature like the liquid cooling tech, 4,500mAh battery, 18W fast charging and 64MP quad cameras on the back seals the deal rather well.
Xiaomi offers three variants of the Redmi Note 8 Pro in India- 6GB+64 GB, (13,999) 6GB+128GB, (Rs 14,999) and 8GB+128GB (Rs 17,999).
2. Xiaomi Mi A3 (Rs 11,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 665 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+8 MP+2 MP |
Battery
4030mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
720×1560 pixels |
Color options
Black, Kind of Grey, More Than White, Not Just Blue |
Xiaomi Mi A3 features
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- 48MP camera with Sony IMX586 sensor
- Ample memory and storage
- Excellent battery life
* Bad features
- Low-resolution display
- Hybrid-dual-SIM slot
- The camera is slow to focus at times
- Aggressive HDR
Xiaomi Mi A3 is based on Google’s Android One platform and runs on stock Android. The phone offers good performance without any lag or stutters. The camera is also a strong point of this smartphone but lacks on the HDR front. Xiaomi Mi A3 comes with a premium design and offers good build quality. But the HD+ screen resolution is a weakness, although it is an AMOLED panel. The Mi A3 also offers a good battery life (4030 mAh) and can run for around 16 hours.
Xiaomi offers two variants of Mi A3- 4GB+64GB (Rs 11,999) and 6GB+128GB (Rs 13,999).
3. Realme 5 Pro (Rs 12,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 712 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/6GB |
Camera
48 MP +8 MP +2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
4035 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Crystal Green, Sparkling Blue |
Realme 5 Pro features
- Snapdragon 712 chipset
- 20W VOOC charging
- Easy to handle
- USB Type-C
- Quad-camera
Realme 5 Pro sports a premium design and feels good in the hand. The phone has a decent battery and lasts up to 12 hours and 41 minutes. Realme 5 Pro has a 48-megapixel primary camera that captures sharp photos with good color balance in daylight.
Realme sells 3 variants of the Realme 5 Pro in India- 4GB +64GB, (12,399) 6GB + 64GB, (Rs 12,999- Rs 13,870) and 8GB+ 128GB 9Rs 14,885)
4. Samsung Galaxy M30s (Rs 13,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Samsung Exynos 9611 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+5 MP+8 MP |
Battery
6000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Opal Black, Pearl White, Sapphire Blue |
Samsung Galaxy M30s features
- Great battery life
- 15W fast charging
- Super AMOLED display
- Triple camera setup
* Bad features
- The camera is slow to focus
- Spammy notifications
Samsung Galaxy M30s is the successor of the Galaxy M30 and comes with several upgrades over its predecessor. The camera of Samsung M30s captures decent shots with average detail but it drops when you switch to the wide-angle camera. One of the best features of this smartphone is the 6,000 mAh battery that easily lasts for two days of normal usage.
Samsung Galaxy M30s offers two variants- 4GB + 64GB (Rs 13,999) and 6GB + 128 GB (Rs 15,999).
5. Vivo U20 (Rs 10,990)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 675 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
16 MP+ 8 MP+2 MP |
Battery
5000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Blaze Blue, Racing Black |
* Good features
- Full HD+ display
- Good performance
- Decent battery life
* Bad features
- Micro-USB Port for charging
- Below-average camera performance
- Bloatware preinstalled
The Vivo U20 smartphone is one of the most affordable smartphones under Rs 15,000 and is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 chipset. It offers a 5000mAh battery, 18W fast charging, three rear cameras, and a 6.53-inch full HD+ display. Vivo’s FunTouch OS is customized heavily and is confusing for first-time users. The smartphone has a decent battery life but the cameras are very disappointing.
One can get this phone with 64GB of storage but can choose between 4GB (Rs 10,990) and 6GB of RAM (Rs 11,990).
6. Oppo K1 (Rs 11, 970)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 660 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
16 MP+2 MP |
Battery
3600 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Astral Blue, Piano Black |
* Good features
- Vivid AMOLED display
- Good battery life
- Smooth gaming performance
- In-display fingerprint sensor
* Bad features
- Average low-light camera performance
- Annoying spams from some apps
- No fast charging
Oppo K1 is the latest smartphone in India under Rs 15,000. The phone’s main camera can take good pictures in both close-up and landscape shots, however, its low-light performance is average. Features like in-display fingerprint sensors and smooth gaming performance seal the deal rather well. Oppo K1 has a decent battery life and can last for about 12 hours.
There is only one variant of Oppo K1 in India with a 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage (Rs 11,970- Rs 15,000)
7. Vivo Z1 Pro (Rs 13,899)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 712 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
16 MP+8 MP+2 MP |
Battery
5000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Mirror Black, Sonic Black, Sonic Blue |
* Good features
- Good overall performance
- Great battery life
- Decent camera
* Bad features
- Bulky and heavy
Vivo Z1 Pro is the company’s first online-only smartphone. The phone sports a glossy design with a gradient finish. It does not show any lag or slowdowns even when you play heavy games. Vivo Z1 Pro’s display is sharp and has great viewing angles. The phone’s triple camera setup captures photos in good detail. Low-light imaging performance is also good. It also has an excellent battery life and can last up to 18 hours.
Vivo sells three variants of Z1 Pro- 4GB+ 64GB, (Rs 13,899) 6GB+ 64GB, (Rs 13,999)and 6GB+ 128GB (Rs 18,999).
8. Poco F1 (Rs 14,800)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 845 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/6GB |
Camera
12 MP+5 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2246 pixels |
Color options
Black, Graphite Black, Rosso Red, Steel Blue |
* Good features
- Great performance
- Good battery life
- Dual hybrid SIM slot
* Bad features
- Plastic build
The Poco F1 is one of the affordable smartphones in India that is powered by Snapdragon 845 chipset. The phone has received several price cuts since its launch. However, the device features a plastic build but is not a big issue at its current price level. The phone packs a 4000mAh battery and comes with a dual-camera setup.
Poco sells two variants- 6GB +64GB (Rs 14,800) and 6GB+128GB (Rs 14,999).
9. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro (Rs 8,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 675 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+5 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2400 pixels |
Color options
Astro Moonlight White, Nebula Red, Neptune Blue, Red, Space Black |
*Good features
- Impressive front camera
- Smooth performance
- Good value for money
*Bad features
- Hybrid SIM card slot
- Advertisements in MIUI
Xiaomi has been dominating the Indian market for a long time now. The 48-megapixel main camera can capture beautiful shots in good detail. The 4,000mAh battery assures that this smartphone can easily last after a full day of usage, while the Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging technology helps to top up the battery quickly.
Redmi Note 7 Pro has one variant- 4GB + 64GB (Rs 8,999- Rs 10,899).
10. Realme 6 (Rs 12,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
MediaTek Helio G90T |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
64 MP+8 MP+2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
4300 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2400 pixels |
Color options
Comet White, Comet Blue |
* Good features
- Impressive performance
- Excellent battery life
- Clean UI
*Bad features
- Preinstalled bloatware
Powered by the MediaTek Helio G90T, Realme 6 is one of the best devices for gaming. It runs on Android 10 and is powered by 4300mAh non-removable battery. Features like 90Hz display, a 64MP quad-camera setup, and 30W fast charging seals the deal rather well. Barring the battery life and some spammy notifications, there is not much to complain about this smartphone.
This smartphone offers only one variant- 4GB + 64GB (Rs 12,999).
11. Realme XT (Rs 14,959)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 712 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
64 MP+8 MP+2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Pearl Blue, Pearl White |
* Good features
- Premium looks
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- A good set of cameras
- Good overall performance
- Good battery life and quick charging
*Bad features
- Camera app lacks some basic features
Realme XT is the first phone in India that comes with a 64-megapixel sensor. The phone comes with a premium look and the back does not attract many fingerprints. The camera can capture detailed landscapes and close-ups in most lighting conditions. Video recording is also good but the quality at 4k resolution in low light could have been better. The 4,000mAh battery ensures that the phone can last an entire day on one charge. It also has fast charging which can top up the battery quickly within an hour.
Realme XT offers two variants in the country- 4GB +64GB (Rs 14,959) and 8GB + 128GB (Rs 17,990)
12. Redmi Note 9 Pro(Rs 12,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 720G |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+8 MP+5 MP+2 MP |
Battery
5020 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2400 pixels |
Color options
Interstellar Black, Aurora Blue, Glacier White |
* Good features
- Excellent value for money
- Powerful processor
- Decent macro camera
- Good battery life
*Bad features
- Poor low-light photo quality
- Heavy and bulky
- Confusing product stratification
Redmi Note 9 Pro is one of the best budget phones under Rs 15,000 that is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 720 chipset. The phone has a good battery life (5,000mAh) and supports 18W fast charging. The display screen is large and crisp making games and movies look good. The 48-megapixel primary camera was a bit disappointing, particularly in low light.
Redmi offers two Note 9 Pro variants- 4GB + 64GB (Rs 12,999) and 6GB + 128GB (Rs 15,999).
13. Honor 9X (Rs 12,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
HiSilicon Kirin 710F |
Storage/Ram
128GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Midnight Black, Sapphire Blue |
* Good features
- Immersive full-screen display
- Reliable performance
- Good battery life
- Decent night mode
*Bad features
- Bulky and unwieldy
- EMUI is loaded with bloatware
The Honor 9X comes with a full-HD display with an impressive design. However, it is a bit bulky so handling it will be a bit awkward. This latest smartphone comes with a triple-camera setup at its rear with 48MP, 8MP, and 2MP sensors. Photos captured from this phone turns out just above average in terms of quality, except ones taken in low light. Honor 9X has a decent battery life (4,000mAh) and users can easily use it a whole day.
Honor 9X offers two variants under 15,000- 4GB + 128GB (Rs 12,999-Rs 14,999) and 6GB + 128GB (Rs 16,688- Rs 16,979).
14. Motorola Moto G8 Plus (Rs 13,969)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 665 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+16 MP+5 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Cosmic Blue, Crystal Pink |
* Good features
- Vivid display
- Good stereo speakers
- Decent battery life
- Useful software features
*Bad features
- The wide-angle camera only shoots video
- Poor low-light camera performance
- Not good for heavy gaming
Moto G8 Plus comes with a 48MP rear camera along with two other sensors at the rear. The camera is not that versatile as you cannot shoot wide-angle stills, and the performance of the camera in low-light is underwhelming. It runs on the Snapdragon 665 SoC which is not very powerful and hence cannot handle heavy gaming. Motorola claims that the Moto G8 Plus is water-resistant and will be able to withstand light splashes of water or light rain. The battery life is decent with support for 15W Turbocharging technology.
Moto G8 Plus has only one variant- 4GB of RAM + 64GB of storage (Rs 13,969).
15. Samsung Galaxy M31 (Rs 14,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Samsung Exynos 9611 Octa core |
Storage
64GB/6GB |
Camera
64 MP+8 MP+5 MP+5 MP |
Battery
6000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Blue, Black |
* Good features
- Crisp AMOLED display
- Great battery life
- Very good performance
*Bad features
- Disappointing low-light camera performance
- Spammy notifications
- Poor video stabilization
The Samsung Galaxy M series is quite popular due to its affordable prices and up-to-date hardware. It is powered by Exynos 961 SoC and the smartphone works quite well without any lag or stutter. The device is moderately quick to load up apps but big apps take a bit longer time. The battery life of Samsung Galaxy M31 is great and the phone can easily go on for two days without charging. The phone camera sports a quad-camera setup at the back and a single 32-megapixel selfie shooter. Photos captured in daylight turn out pretty well and have decent details. In low-light photography, this smartphone takes longer to lock focus and the photo quality is not that great. Video recording maxes out at 4k and is not that well stabilized.
Samsung Galaxy M31 has two variants- 6GB +64GB (Rs 14,999) and 6GB + 128GB (Rs 15,999-Rs 16,999).
16. Realme 5s (Rs 11,799)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 665 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
48 MP+8 MP+2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
5000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
720X1600 pixels |
Color options
Crystal Blue, Crystal Purple, Crystal Red |
* Good features
- Good build quality and striking looks
- Good battery life
- Dedicated microSD card slot
*Bad features
- No fast charging
- Camera struggle in low light
- Bulky
The Realme 5s comes with a 48-megapixel camera and sports a ‘Crystal Red’ color. The wide-angle camera can be used for shooting video, and the Nightscape mode also works with it. In daylight, the primary sensor captures beautiful shots in good detail. However, the performance of the camera in low-light is underwhelming. The Realme 5s has 5,000mAh battery capacity and the phone can run for around 27 hours. With normal use, you can easily go two full days without the need for charging. There is no fast charging support and the bundled charger is not very powerful.
There are two variants of Realme 5s- 4GB +64GB (Rs 11,799) and 4GB + 128GB (Rs 11,999- Rs 12,490)
17. Redmi Note 7S (Rs 10,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 660 |
Storage/Ram
32GB/3GB |
Camera
48 MP+5 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Astro Moonlight White, Onyx Black, Ruby Red, Sapphire Blue |
* Good features
- Premium design
- Decent battery life
- Good cameras
- Smooth performance
*Bad features
- MIUI has spammy ads
- Hybrid dual-SIM slot
- The fast charger isn’t bundled
Redmi Note 7s has a 6.3-inch full-HD display screen with good viewing angles. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 SoC and delivers a lag-free experience. The phone has a 48-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel selfie shooter that offers a good camera performance. Redmi Note 7s comes with a 4,000mAh battery that offers good battery life.
Redmi Note 7s offers two variants- 4GB + 64GB (Rs 10,999) and 3GB + 32GB (Rs 8,999- Rs 9,990).
18. Realme 3 Pro (Rs 13,199)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 710 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
25 MP+16 MP+5 MP |
Battery
4045 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
1080×2340 pixels |
Color options
Carbon Grey, Lightning Purple, Nitro Blue |
* Good features
- Powerful and efficient SoC
- Excellent battery life
- Cameras fare well under good light
- Bundled fast charger
*Bad features
- Average low-light camera
- No USB Type-C port
The 6.3-inch full-HD + IPS display of Realme 3 Pro produces vivid colors and is very clear under direct sunlight. It is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 SoC and is good for playing games. Realme 3 Pro comes with a very good battery backup (4045mAh) and the phone does not heat up during regular use. The main 16-megapixel sensor can capture detailed landscapes and macros under good light. Videos can be recorded up to 4K resolution but without stabilization.
The phone comes with two variants- 4GB + 64GB (Rs 13,199) and 6GB + 128GB (Rs 13, 904- Rs 13,990)
19. Realme 5i (Rs 10,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 665 |
Storage/Ram
64GB/4GB |
Camera
12 MP+8 MP+2 MP+2 MP |
Battery
5000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
720×1600 pixels |
Color options
Aqua Blue, Forest Green |
* Good features
- Decent build quality
- Very good battery life
- Good daylight camera
- Dedicated microSD slot
*Bad features
- No fast charging
- Below average low-light camera performance
Realme 5i is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 SoC and is good for playing games or multitasking. The display screen has good viewing angles and is bright under direct sunlight. The phone sports a quad-camera setup and comes with a 12-megapixel primary sensor that can capture photos in good detail. Low-light camera performance is average and the photos do not come out very sharp. Video shots during the day are well stabilized. The 5,000mAh battery also delivers a good battery life.
Realme 5i offers only one variant- 4GB + 64GB
20. Infinix Hot S3 (Rs 9,999)
Key Specs
| Performance
Snapdragon 430 |
Storage/Ram
32GB/3GB |
Camera
13 MP |
Battery
4000 mAh |
| Dual-SIM
Yes |
Operating System
Android |
Resolution
720×1440 Pixels |
Color options
Blush gold, Bordeaux red, Stone Black, Topaz Blue |
* Good features
- Vivid 18:9 display
- Good battery life
- Decent cameras
*Bad features
- Fully plastic body
Infinix Hot S3 comes with a 5.65-inch display screen with the 18:9 aspect ratio that makes the phone tall and narrow. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 430 SoC and the phone can multitask well without any lag or stutters. Playing games and watching videos on this phone is quite engaging. The phone has a 4000mAh non-removable battery and can run for around 13 hours. The 13-megapixel rear camera manages to capture photos in good detail. Photos taken in low light are also decent.
There are two variants of Infinix Hot S3 in India- 4GB +64GB (Rs 11,999) and 3GB + 32GB (Rs 9,999