Devices mentioned here are priced below Rs 10,000
1. Android one devices
Google spoke about their android one program recently in
India and launched three devices. Tie ups with local brands like Spice,
Micromax and Karbonn have led to 3 budget devices that have amazing quality for
their prices. Google’s Sundar Pichai mentioned that to make an android one
device, OEM’s have to follow guidelines set by Google. So the hardware on these
phones match guidelines of Google. The reason for doing this is to give users
the best experience of the android OS at a compelling price.
According to Sundar Pichai, these devices were launched with
only one objective, to connect everybody in the world to the internet and give
them a smartphone to access the information age that many don’t have access to.
Android one devices get upgrades directly from Google which means owners of
these devices will have access to the latest versions of android before others
like Nexus devices. For the price these devices are a great option for a first
smartphone. You could also buy this phone if your usage is casual. High end
gaming on budget devices cannot be expected. One con of this device is that it forces the user to install an external SD card. Some features like clicking photos don't work without external storage.
For now 3 android one devices sell in India via Flipkart,
Snapdeal and Amazon. It doesn’t matter which phone you buy because the specs
are similar on all three devices.
Specs:
Display size: 4.5 inches
Resolution: 480X854 pixels (218ppi)
Camera: 5MP, 2MP Secondary Camera
Flash: Yes
Processor: 1.3 GHz Mediatek chipset
RAM: 1GB
Ambient light sensor: Yes
Expandable storage: Upto 32 GB
For the price you cant expect great battery life but it will last an entire day. If you want a 720p screen then look at the next phone in this list.
2. Xiaomi Redmi 1s
Xiaomi has taken the world by storm launching devices at jaw
dropping prices. The Redmi 1S is an affordable flagships with specs that are on
par with devices that cost around Rs 10,000. This device deserves all the
attention it is getting because it is that good.
But there is one issue with this phone, availability. Since
Xiaomi sells these phones in flash sales that occur every Tuesday, not
everybody can get access to this phone. The price is just too good for a device
like this.
Service is the biggest issue with this device and also
trust. I have a problem trusting Xiaomi because it just isn’t as reputable as a
Samsung or HTC. You wont get any service from Xiaomi if anything goes wrong so
hope for a perfect device when you purchase it.
Specs:
Display size: 4.7 inches Not gorilla glass
Resolution: 1280X720 pixels (218ppi)
Camera: 8MP
Flash: Yes
Processor: 1.6 GHz MSM8228 Quad Core Processor
RAM: 1GB
Ambient light sensor: Yes
Expandable storage: Upto 64 GB
3. Nokia Lumia 630
I think one windows device is necessary to be included in
this list because it is a growing platform with a lot of potential. The lumia
630 is a device that has the perfect screen size for one handed use and
entertainment. It runs on windows 8.2 out of the box which brings a host of new
features over the previous version.
This phone is well built for its price. It comes with
gorilla glass 3 on the front and has a plastic shell that is removable on the
back. I personally loved the device but I couldn’t get the hang of windows
phone. I loved the OS at first but some restrictions forced me to leave the
device and switch to android. Apps like Feedly and Flipboard (Now available on
the windows phone store) weren’t present when I used this device so I ditched
the phone.
Gaming was ok on the device. Multitasking was a big issue
because of the 512MB RAM. Apps would reload every time I would switch and it
was time consuming. It’s a great phone for the average user but if you want a
gaming device look at the Redmi 1S or for that matter any other device on this
list.
Specs:
Display size: 4.5 inches
Resolution: 480X854 (218ppi)
Camera: 5MP
Flash: No
Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 400
RAM: 1GB
Ambient light sensor: No
Expandable storage: Upto 128GB
There are no headphones present in the box of the device.
4. Moto E
Moto E was the device that kick-started the budget market of
phones in India. Launched at just Rs 6,999 this phone had amazing specs and
performance. It was made by Motorola to cover all the segments of the market.
They had the Moto G for the mid range market at a competitive price and the
Moto X was for the high end market also priced competitively. But why am I
still mentioning this device even after competitors have compelling options?
The moto E has the perfect form factor for phones. Some might
call it small because android devices below 5 inches have been called small
always. The Moto E has a 4.3 inch display with 720p resolution and also
promised upgrades for android. This alone convinced me to buy the device. At
first glance I loved the phone and used it for about a month. After a month I
felt the need of a bigger screen which is why I moved on.
The Moto E is a very good phone for anybody.
this phone could be the perfect gift this Diwali.
Specs:
Display size: 4.3 inches
Resolution: 960X640 (256ppi)
Camera: 5MP
Flash: No
Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 200
RAM: 1GB
Ambient light sensor: Yes
Expandable storage: Upto 32GB
5. Moto G 1st Gen
Moto G was the first device from Motorola's new line up that has brought it out of losses and made it successful. The moto G 1st gen made this list because it has the same specs as the 2nd gen Moto G with just a tad smaller display. The newer device is also great but costs more. This device is currently available for Rs 9,999 which is an awesome deal.
The devices has snappy performance and a promised upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop. Moto G has solid build quality and its a steady device. I personally would recommend buying this phone over all the other devices on this list but price is an issue vs the other devices. Overall I like the design of the device.
Specs:
Display size: 4.5 inches Gorilla glass 3
Resolution: 1280X720 (329ppi)
Camera: 5MP
Flash: Yes
Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon 400
RAM: 1GB
Ambient light sensor: Yes
Expandable storage: No
Special mentions to The Moto G 2nd gen, Huawei Honor holly, Zenfone 4.
These devices are also compelling buys but don't come in my top 5.
