The tech world has been hearing of the 5G network for a while now. Many smartphone brands had started launching smartphones with 5G support even before the network had made its official debut in tech society. 5G is now very much present in the country, and an increasing number (read ‘most’) of smartphones come with support for it. Until recently, smartphones with 5G support tended to come with relatively high price tags, as access to the network has not been truly democratised yet. Fortunately, like other premium features in the past that made their way into the budget segment, 5G is on the same path. Brands are increasingly offering smartphones with 5G support that will not leave you with a hole in your pocket.
So, if you wish to get on the 5G bandwagon without busting the bank, here are six smartphones that can get you on the 5G super speed highway for under Rs 15,000:
Redmi 12 5G: The 5G Top Dog?
Price: Rs 11,999 onwards
Budget-segment smartphones are often tagged with compromises. Rare is the case when a budget device seems like a complete package. The Redmi 12 5G is one such phone. After a long time, Xiaomi launched a smartphone which is basically a Redmi phone in the truest sense. The Redmi 12 5G is a phone with no major compromises and still a very affordable price tag.
Apart from support for 5G, the Redmi 12 5G brings a lot to the table. It is the first phone in the country to come with Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset which can handle your day-to-day tasks with ease and can give you a decent taste of gaming.
This new processor is paired with 4GB/ 6GB/ 8GB RAM options with 128 B and 256GB storage variants that can be expanded up to 1TB using a hybrid SIM card slot. There is a tall 6.79-inch full-HD+ display on board with a decent 90Hz refresh rate, a 50-megapixel main sensor on the back paired with a 2-megapixel depth camera, while an 8-megapixel sensor sits on the front for selfies and video calls.
A 5,000mAh battery powers the smartphone which comes with 18W charging support, and a 22.5W adapter in the box as well. The phone runs on Android 13 topped with MIUI 14. It even comes with an elegant design, often the first thing compromised in budget segment smartphones.
Poco M6 Pro 5G: The Redmi 12 5G Clone
Price: Rs 10,999 onwards
If your budget is really strained but you still want Redmi 12 5G-like specs, you have the option to go for its cousin, the Poco M6 Pro, which has the same family tree but a different brand parent. The phone is basically a Redmi 12 5G clone in terms of specs with the same processor — the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, and the same display specifications — 6.79-inch full-HD+ with 90 HZ refresh rate.
It also has the same 5000 mAh with 18 W charging support and 22.5W adapter in the box, and even the megapixels on the camera sensors are the same at 50 and 2 megapixels on the back and an 8-megapixel sensor on the front. And of course, it has 5G support.
The only difference is that the Poco M6 Pro comes with 4GB+64GB and 6GB+128GB RAM and storage options, although one can expand the storage by using a microSD card on the phone. The phone also runs on Android 13 but comes with MIUI 14 for Poco which is slightly different from the MIUI for other Xiaomi phones. A striking difference between the two phones is their design.
The Poco M6 Pro comes with a very different design as compared to the Redmi 12 5G, helping it stand out of its shadow.
Samsung Galaxy M14 5G: Monster 5G, Samsung Way
Price: Rs 14,990 onwards
Samsung has been upping its budget segment game for a while, so it is hardly surprising that the brand has a smartphone with 5G support under Rs. 15,000. Launched earlier this year, the Galaxy M14 is a smartphone for those who seek the Samsung stamp even when on a tight budget. The phone brings some solid specs to the table – a 6.6-inch full-HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate, and this being a Samsung display, it is very vibrant. It is powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 1330 processor and has 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB RAM and storage options, with the storage being expandable up to 1TB using a microSD card. The processor might not be as powerful as the one on the Redmi 12 5G and the Poco M6 Pro but it can still go through everyday tasks and casual games without too much strain.
The phone has a triple camera set up on the back with a 50-megapixel main sensor and two 2-megapixel sensors. For selfies, the Galaxy M14 comes with a 13-megapixel sensor on the front, which comes housed in a water drop notch design that might seem a bit dated to many folks. The device runs on Android 13 topped with Samsung’s OneUI. The phone comes with a big 6,000mAh battery with 25W charging support but you will not find a charging brick in the box, which means some extra expenditure.
Samsung Galaxy F14 5G: Something Similar, Yet Slightly Different
Price: Rs 13,990 onwards
The Galaxy F14 5G is even more affordable than the Galaxy M14 5G above. Much like the Poco M6 Pro and the Redmi 12 5G that basically share the same specs, the M14 and the F14 are quite similar too. The Galaxy F14 also comes with a 6.6-inch full-HD+ display with 90Hz refresh rate and a drop notch on the top with a 13-megapixel selfie camera. It also runs on the Exynos 1330 processor and has 4GB/6GB RAM and 128GB storage options, and the storage here too can be expanded by using a microSD card. Also on board is a 6,000 mAh battery with 25 W charging support and you will not find an adapter in the Galaxy F14’s box either.
It too runs on Android 13 with OneUI on top. The only difference is that the Galaxy F14 comes with one less camera on the back and has a dual camera unit comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 2-megapixel macro sensor. Apart from this one difference, the two phones actually have the same spec sheet, and as the extra 2-megapixel sensor on the Galaxy M14 is not that great anyway, you can save some bucks and get the Galaxy F14 instead.
Infinix Note 30 5G: For Spec Chasers
Price: Rs 14,999 onwards
Seldom do we see a budget smartphone with specs so competitive that it looks out of place. The Infinix Note 30 is that exact rare phenomenon. The phone is made for spec chasers on a budget. It comes with a 12.78-inch full-HD+ display with a massive 120Hz refresh rate and runs on the MediaTek Dimensity 6080 chipset, which is paired with 4GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB RAM and storage options and even comes with up to a massive 2TB expandable storage. Another highlight of the phone is a 108-megapixel main sensor in the triple camera set up on the back. While the 2-megapixel camera and the AI camera are not useful as such, the 108-megapixel sensor can handle your photography needs with ease.
The front also has a 16-megapixel sensor which is a big number in this segment. The phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery with support for fast 45W charging and there is even a 45W charging brick in the box. This is rounded off with the presence of stereo speakers, a rarity in this segment.
The phone runs on Android 13 which comes with Infinix’s XOS on top. Some might find it too cluttered but that is a small price to pay for a phone with such specs. It even has a very distinct design and different colour options.
Poco X5: 5G With AMOLED, Now More Affordable
Price: Rs 14,999
The Poco X5 is another beast in the budget segment with specs that seem to come from a higher level. This is because the phone was actually launched at a higher price, and has seen a price cut since. One of the biggest USPs of the Poco X5, is its AMOLED display, which is very rare to see in this segment. The phone comes with a 6.67-inch full-HD+ super AMOLED display with a high 120Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 chipset combined with 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB RAM and storage variants, with an option to expand storage.
While not as power-packed as the new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processor on the Redmi 12 5G and the Poco M16 Pro, the Snapdragon 695 is an absolute smooth sailer when it comes to everyday smartphone chores. The phone also has a triple camera arrangement on the back, comprising a 48-megapixel sensor and two 2-megapixel ones, while there is a 13-megapixel sensor on the front for selfies and video calls. It comes with a 5,000mAh battery with support for 33W charging, and a charger in the box. The Poco X5 even has an IP53 rating, which makes it dust and splash-resistant.
The only negative here is the Android 12 that the phone comes with out of the box, although you can update it to Android 13.