Looking for a powerful and affordable smartphone without breaking the bank? This month is a great time to snag a new phone, and there are some fantastic options available in India for under Rs 15,000. Whether you’re a social media buff, a casual gamer, or someone who values a long-lasting battery, this list has something for you. Here are the best phones you can buy in India this December for under Rs 15,000. The list includes CMF Phone 1 and three other devices.
CMF Phone 1
We kick off the list with the CMF Phone 1, a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a unique blend of style and performance. This phone also marks Nothing’s first foray into making budget smartphones, apart from its main line of smartphones, including the Phone 2, Phone 2a, and Phone 2a Plus. The main highlight of the CMF Phone 1 is that you can have interchangeable back covers, allowing you to customise the phone’s look. Additionally, the 6.67-inch Super AMOLED display delivers vibrant colours and sharp details, while the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor ensures smooth multitasking and gaming. The 50MP main camera captures decent photos and videos for a phone at this price, and the 5,000mAh battery provides good battery life. With Nothing OS 2.6 based on Android 14, the CMF Phone 1 offers a clean and intuitive user experience.
Redmi 13 5G
Successor to the Redmi 12 5G, which was last year’s bestseller in the budget category, the Redmi 13 5G retains the core fundamentals of its predecessor, all while improving in some key areas. Starting with the display, which is still an LCD, now comes with a 120Hz refresh rate for a smoother user experience. The camera system has also been bumped, with the primary sensor now being a 108MP snapper. In good light, the Redmi 13 5G can capture decent-looking results. The battery capacity is still the same, but the charging speed and the in-box charger are now 33W. Plus, the Redmi 13 5G comes with HyperOS software atop Android 14 out-of-the-box. Of course, people familiar with MIUI will feel right at home, but HyperOS does bring a lot of noticeable improvements, both in terms of speed and user experience. Overall, at a budget of under Rs 15,000, the Redmi 13 5G lives up to the name of its predecessor and is one of the best phones you can buy in this price segment.
Motorola G64 5G
The Motorola G64 5G is another feature-rich device that stands out in the sub-Rs 15,000 price range. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 SoC, making it suitable for everyday use and light gaming. You can choose between two storage RAM and storage options — 8GB RAM plus 128GB or a higher-end option with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage. Of course, if you need extra space for apps and media, the higher variant is worth considering, though it slightly exceeds Rs 15,000. Otherwise, the Motorola G64 5G features a 50MP primary rear camera with OIS, delivering impressive photo quality for a phone in its price range. It runs on clean Android 14, ensuring a bloatware-free experience. The Moto G64 5G also features a big 6,000mAh battery, delivering excellent battery life. While its design closely resembles its predecessor, it offers a variety of new colour options to choose from.
Infinix Hot 50 5G
Finally, there’s the Infinix Hot 50, a budget-friendly smartphone that offers impressive features for its price. It comes with a large 6.7-inch HD+ display, which would’ve been better, had it been a full-HD panel. But, considering the phone’s price, the display is reasonably good for watching videos and playing casual games. Powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, the Hot 50 largely delivers lag-free performance and offers over a day’s worth of endurance courtesy of the 5000mAh battery under the hood. The 48MP main camera captures decent photos and videos. Running on Android 14 with XOS 14.5, the Infinix Hot 50 offers a user-friendly interface along with a host of customisation options.
