Best of 2022: Smartphones under Rs 15,000 ruling this year – India Today

In 2022 we saw phone launches with the latest technologies in the Rs 30,000 range (or higher) and slow growth in the cheaper segments.

A look at sub-Rs 15,000 smartphones that ruled this year.

By Ankita Garg: 2022 is drawing to a close and it’s time to look back at some of the best devices to hit the market this year. Just like last year, 2022 saw tons of 5G phone launches in all price ranges, but those on a budget under Rs 15,000 didn’t have many options. The good thing is that we’ve made some progress compared to last year, as there was hardly a 5G phone in this range in 2022. Now that the latest network is also accessible in several parts of India, smartphone companies are expected to make 5G phones more affordable in 2023.

In 2022 we saw phone launches with the latest technologies in the Rs 30,000 range (or higher) and slow growth in the cheaper segments. There was a time when Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 was the hottest segment with most budget phones. The main focus for most brands has shifted to the Rs 30,000 segment as they aim to offer a reasonable package with a range of premium features that users want without paying a lot. We have some of the best smartphones under Rs 15,000 that reigned in 2022. Read on to find out more.

Best of 2022: Smartphones under Rs 15,000 ruling this year

iQOO Z6 Lite 5G

We think the iQOO Z6 Lite 5G is one of the best budget phones of 2022 simply because the brand has managed to offer a balanced set of features at an affordable price.

The iQOO Z6 Lite 5G uses a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 processor, which offered us lag-free performance on basic usage. The device has a 120Hz display, which you don’t typically get on most phones in this price range. The display is about 6.68 inches.

The company has equipped it with a sufficiently large 5,000 mAh battery with support for 18W fast charging. However, this one doesn’t come with an in-box charger, which many brands have been doing since Apple skipped bundling it with the iPhone 12. However, you will only see this trend in the higher price range and now that iQOO has brought it into the budget segment too, don’t be surprised if other smartphone companies follow suit in 2023. So this is likely to become a pain point for many budget-conscious customers in the near future.

The added bonus of this 5G phone is that the company offers long-term software support. It will deliver major Android updates for two years, as well as security patches for three years. The handset was launched with Android 12 as standard, so it is also suitable for Android 14 OS. As for photography, the device offers fairly saturated images in some scenarios, but people will get decent shots for their Instagram account.

Samsung Galaxy M13 4G

While Samsung has also released a 5G phone of the Galaxy M13, the 4G version offers better value for money. It costs Rs 10,749 and offers features like a 6,000mAh battery and a 6.6-inch Full HD+ display at a lower price. There are people who just want an affordable phone

With a massive battery and (good) LCD display. The 4G phone uses an Exynos 850 SoCchip, which isn’t the fastest in the segment but can offer smooth general performance. The company includes a 15W charger to charge the phone’s massive battery pack. It will take a little longer to top up the battery, but people will have to make compromises as the company has provided a massive battery to offer users longer battery life. The cameras can deliver sufficiently good photos for the price. It can produce sufficiently detailed photos with vivid colors in daylight, but don’t get your hopes up too high.

Moto G42

The Moto G42 is an all-round phone for users looking for decent performance with some added benefits. This is a 4G phone that uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 680 SoC, which has powered several budget phones in the lower price segment. What extra do you get with this handset? It comes with an IP52 splash-proof rating, which offers some peace of mind compared to those that don’t have that rating.

It even has a bloatware-free Android software experience, something you don’t get with many smartphones at this budget. Aside from a striking matte back, the Moto G42 also sports an AMOLED 90Hz display, which many phones don’t offer in the Rs 15,000 segment. It has a 5,000mAh battery under the hood, along with a pair of stereo speakers that sound loud.

Poco M4 5G

The Poco M4 5G smartphone is an all-rounder phone and even the cheapest 5G phone in the list. It has good enough specs and a unique design that makes it one of the best phones in 2022. The budget phone can easily handle basic tasks and you won’t experience any lags – thanks to the MediaTek Dimensity 700 SoC that powers it. Under the hood is a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W fast charging, something not every brand offers on the cheaper phones in this segment. It is currently priced at Rs 10,999 and the camera performance is pretty good compared to the competition. The 6.58 inch Full HD+ screen is vivid and one will enjoy consuming content on this budget phone.

Empire 9i 5G

The Realme 9i is a 5G phone, but it caught our attention for several reasons. It’s one of the rarest phones (in the Rs 15,000 segment) with support for 33W fast charging and smooth overall performance. The stereo speakers and battery life were pretty good for the price. While an ultra-wide-angle camera was left out in favor of poor macro and depth sensors, the 50-megapixel main camera offered a decent photo experience in daylight. The company is expected to do better in this department with 2023 phones. It has a typical 5,000mAh battery and a 6.6-inch 90Hz FHD+ LCD display.