We’re back with the 2021 edition of the largest tech awards in the country, the Indian Gadget Awards. This time, we have nearly 40 experts from the Indian tech media community coming together for the Indian Gadget Awards and choosing the best consumer electronics launched in 2021. 30 award categories with almost 200 nominees have made it to this event.
It’s time to announce the best phone of 2021 that fell under the Rs 10,000 threshold. The category might not have seen a lot of action this year, but it is extremely important since it marks the entry point for users migrating from features phones to smartphones. Here is the Best Phone of 2021 (under 10k).
Winner: Realme Narzo 30A and Infinix Hot 11 (Joint winners)Check out the full list of nominees for Best Phone of 2021 Under Rs 10,000 award:
Moto E40
Aimed squarely at casual users looking for a neat budget option, the Moto E40 is a pretty decent offering. Its feature set is headlined by a 48MP triple camera setup and a 5,000mAh battery. It does have only an HD+ resolution display but its 90Hz refresh rate gives it a superior appeal. The Moto E40 is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core Unisoc T700 processor, which is good at offering smooth everyday performance. And it helps that there’s 4GB of RAM to aid the phone’s multi-tasking. The Moto E40 should also please stock Android enthusiasts with its barebones software.
Samsung Galaxy M02
Big battery life has been a common factor for all affordable phones in 2021 and the same goes for the Samsung Galaxy M02. It’s got a 5,000mAh battery inside it, making it a great phone for watching movies and TV shows. This experience is aided by the presence of a 6.5-inch HD+ Infinity-V display. Available in stylish colours, the Samsung Galaxy M02 comes with a dual-camera setup consisting of a 13MP main camera and a 2MP macro shooter. You also get a 5MP front camera for selfies and video calling. At its price, this phone indeed offers a really nice set of features.
Realme C25
We’ve got two Realme phones as nominees for the Best Phone of 2021 (under 10k) category. The first one among them, the Realme C25 is positioned as an affordable gaming phone. It comes equipped with the MediaTek Helio G70 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of storage. Another aspect of the Realme C25 that works in its favour is the 6,000mAh battery that comes with 18W fast charging support. On top of this, the phone even ships with a 13MP + 2MP + 2MP triple camera setup. Its display is a 6.5-inch HD+ panel that offers a decent visual experience.
Infinix Hot 11
Infinix released some really impressive phones in 2021 and one among them is the Infinix Hot 11, which offers tremendous value for money to buyers. It’s among the few phones in the sub-Rs 10,000 price bracket that offers an FHD+ panel. It also delivers DTS audio through its dual speaker system and offers scope for gaming thanks to its adoption of the MediaTek Helio G70 processor. The Infinix Hot 11 sports a 5,200mAh battery, a 13MP dual-camera setup, and an 8MP front camera.Redmi 9 Activ
The Redmi 9 Activ is many things and a good looking phone is definitely one of them. It sports a textured rear surface that not only enhances its visual appeal but also makes sure it doesn’t easily slip out of your hand. That being said, it’s a device aimed at offering flexible multi-tasking and comes with 6GB of RAM. The MediaTek Helio G35 chip, with its 2.3GHz octa-core processor powers this handset’s operations, while a 5,000mAh battery provides it with the necessary fuel. The Redmi 9 Activ even offers a 13MP dual camera setup and a 6.53-inch HD+ display.
Realme Narzo 30A
Here’s the second Realme phone to enter the nominee list. The Narzo 30a fares beautifully with all users thanks to its strong set of features. Its adoption of the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset is one of its strong points as it offers advanced performance that works for casual gaming. A 6.5-inch HD+ display sits on its front, while a 13MP + 2MP dual-camera setup can be found on its back. As for the battery, it’s a whopping 6,000mAh unit that’s supported by 18W fast charging.