No matter how many premium smartphones launch with bleeding-edge technology every year in India, in the end, it is still a budget centric market. Smartphones under Rs 10,000 continued to evolve in 2021. And with most schools and colleges taking the online route, the segment played a crucial role as well. Apart from the usual Qualcomm and MediaTek SoCs, this year, companies also launched phones powered by Unisoc chipsets.
Big batteries are one of the most common features of this year’s budget phones, but fast charging and Type-C port also made it to the list on a few devices. In 2021, we also had a few with 90Hz refresh rates and Full HD+ resolution 一 which are new to the segment. The camera department is still the weakest link, but there are noticeable improvements this time around. Let’s take a look at the Indian Gadget Awards winners for the best phones of 2021 priced under Rs 10,000.
The Infinix Hot 11 and Realme Narzo 30A were selected as joint winners for the Best Phone of 2021 Under Rs 10,000 award.
Best Phone of 2021 Under Rs 10,000 – Indian Gadget Awards 2021 Nominees
Moto E40
The Moto E40 is the only phone in this list to feature a 90Hz refresh rate display. It has a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD screen. The phone is powered by a Unisoc T700 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage. In terms of cameras, the Moto E40 sports a 48MP main camera, a 2MP macro and a 2MP depth sensor. It sports an 8MP shooter on the front for selfies and video calls. The phone is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging. Other key features include an IP52 rating, rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, Google assistant key, and near-stock Android 11 OS experience.
Samsung Galaxy M02
Samsung’s Galaxy M02 is powered by a MediaTek MT6739W processor, and it comes with up to 3GB of RAM and 32GB internal storage. It draws power from a 5,000mAh battery, but there is no support for fast charging. It has a standard 60Hz 6.5-inch HD+ display. There is a 13MP main camera and a 2MP secondary camera on the back along with a 5MP selfie snapper. The Galaxy M02 misses out on features like a fingerprint scanner and USB Type-C port.
Realme C25
The Realme C25 was launched earlier this year with a 60Hz 6.5-inch display with HD+ resolution. The device also comes with TÜV Rheinland reliability certification. The star of the show here is the massive 6,000mAh battery which comes with 18W fast charging and a Type-C port. The device is powered by a MediaTek Helio G70 gaming-centric budget chipset with 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB storage. There is a 13MP primary camera with an f/2.2 aperture, a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP black and white lens. Selfies are handled by an 8MP snapper. It runs Android 11 out of the box and comes with a fingerprint scanner as well.
Infinix Hot 11
Infinix has come a long way in 2021. The Infinix Hot 11 was the budget phone from the brand with some impressive specs. The device is the only one in this list to offer Full HD+ resolution and it also comes with a dual speaker setup. It has a 6.6-inch LCD screen and a wave flow pattern design on the back. The phone is powered by a Helio G70 SoC. There is a 5,200mAh battery along with 10W fast charging and Type-C port. It is packed with a 13MP primary camera sensor and an AI lens along with an 8MP selfie camera.
Redmi 9 Activ
One of the more recent launches from Xiaomi, the Redmi 9 Activ sports a 6.53-inch HD+ screen and is powered by MediaTek Helio G35 SoC. It packs in a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging. It features a 13MP main camera and a 2MP secondary camera. The phone comes with a P2i rating for water resistance as well as TUV Rheinland certification. It runs Android 11 based on MIUI 12.
Realme Narzo 30A
Realme’s Narzo series is quite a popular budget phone. The Narzo 30A is the best phone from Realme for under Rs 10,000. The Narzo 30A is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC and paired with up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. The Narzo 30A packs in a 6,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support via a Type-C port. It comes in a Diamond strike design. In terms of the camera, the Narzo 30A sports a 13MP main camera on the rear backed up by a secondary depth sensor. In the front, you get an 8MP selfie camera. The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear.
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