We’ve made a list of the best phones under Rs 12,000 for this month in India. Most of them should be able to run without any issues, however, given the processors in this range, phones with full HD display can put a strain on them (except for the ones having Snapdragon 625 and above). Just to clarify, phones with hybrid SIM slot allow you to either place a second SIM or a microSD card, but not both at the same time, so it’s a disadvantage.
Also, check the best smartphones under Rs 10,000 and the top 10 smartphones under Rs 13,000.
You can also read about the camera terminologies we’ve used at the end of the post. Lastly, we’ve highlighted our top 3 picks in this budget at the beginning. You can jump to the summary right away if you don’t want to go through a myriad of specs.
These are the 10 best phones under Rs 12,000 in India (2018):
- Oppo RealMe 1: 6 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13MP
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: 6 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.0, 12MP
- Moto G5s Plus: 5.5 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13+13MP
- Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1: 6 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.1, 12MP+5MP
- Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro: 5.85 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.1, 12MP+5MP
- Honor 7X: 5.9 inch, 4GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.0, 16MP+2MP
- Honor 9 Lite: 5.65 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.0, 13MP+2MP
- Oppo RealMe 2: 6.2 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13MP+2MP
- Nokia 5.1 Plus: 5.86 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13MP+5MP
- Redmi Y2: 6 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.0, 12MP+5MP
*Top 3 picks around Rs 12,000*
1. Oppo RealMe 1
Buy from AmazonWhat’s good:
Oppo phones are usually underpowered and overpriced. Not this sub-brand though. The RealMe 1 is a winner under 15k that comes with a processor that beats the Snapdragon 636, class-leading RAM and internal memory, and Android 8.1 out of the box. This phone ticks all the checkboxes.
Oppo phones are usually underpowered and overpriced. Not this sub-brand though. The RealMe 1 is a winner under 15k that comes with a processor that beats the Snapdragon 636, class-leading RAM and internal memory, and Android 8.1 out of the box. This phone ticks all the checkboxes.
What could have been better:
We have yet to find one.
We have yet to find one.
- OS
Android 8.1 Oreo - Weight
155g - Display
6 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
MediaTek 6771 octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) - GPU
Mali-G72 MP3 - RAM
4GB - Camera
13MP, f/2.2 - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Video
1080p@30fps rear
1080p@30fps front - Battery
3,410mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
May, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Storage
- RAM
- Processor
2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
3GB RAM/ 32GB storage
Buy on Flipkart @ Rs 9,9904GB RAM/ 64GB storage
What’s good:
Despite similar specs to the Redmi Note 4, the Note 5 is a solid offering with that new 18:9 display. 64GB of internal memory, 4GB RAM, and a big battery make it one of the better phones in this budget.
Despite similar specs to the Redmi Note 4, the Note 5 is a solid offering with that new 18:9 display. 64GB of internal memory, 4GB RAM, and a big battery make it one of the better phones in this budget.
What could have been better:
The hybrid slot if that bothers you.
The hybrid slot if that bothers you.
- OS
Android 8.0 - Weight
180g - Display
5.99 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
32GB/64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Snapdragon 625 octa-core 2GHz (A53) - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
3GB/4GB - Camera
12MP, f/2.2 - Secondary camera
5MP, f/2.0 - Video
2160p@30fps rear
1080p@30fps front - Battery
4,000mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Feb, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
- Storage
- RAM
- Hybrid SIM slot (SIM2 or microSD)
3. Moto G5s Plus
What’s good:
Moto G5s Plus is Moto G5 Plus on steroids. We like the fact that it comes with Android 8.1e. The dual camera setup promises some great photography. 64 gigs of internal memory means you won’t be needing that microSD card anytime soon.
Moto G5s Plus is Moto G5 Plus on steroids. We like the fact that it comes with Android 8.1e. The dual camera setup promises some great photography. 64 gigs of internal memory means you won’t be needing that microSD card anytime soon.
What could have been better:
Nothing except the hybrid SIM slot, which you might not need considering that it comes with 64 gigs of internal memory.
Nothing except the hybrid SIM slot, which you might not need considering that it comes with 64 gigs of internal memory.
- OS
Android 8.1 - Weight
168g - Display
5.5 inch, IPS
1920 x 1080 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Snapdragon 625 Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
4GB - Camera
13MP+13MP, f/2.0 - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.0 - Video
1080p@30fps rear and front - Battery
3,000mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Aug, 2017
Pros and Cons
- Storage
- RAM
- Hybrid slot (either SIM2 or microSD)
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
3GB RAM/ 32GB storage
What’s good:
Here is a competitor to the Note 5 Pro which beats it in most of the departments. Besides the great processor, RAM, and internal storage that it shares with the Note 5 Pro, the Max Pro beats the Note 5 on things like a bigger battery, dedicated microSD slot, and Android 8.1 out of the box with the same weight and dimensions. Isn’t that great?
Here is a competitor to the Note 5 Pro which beats it in most of the departments. Besides the great processor, RAM, and internal storage that it shares with the Note 5 Pro, the Max Pro beats the Note 5 on things like a bigger battery, dedicated microSD slot, and Android 8.1 out of the box with the same weight and dimensions. Isn’t that great?
What could have been better:
Nothing at all. Seems like a great phone spec-wise.
Nothing at all. Seems like a great phone spec-wise.
- OS
Android 8.1 Oreo - Weight
180g - Display
5.99 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
32GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 636 octa-core 1.8GHz (Kyro 260) - GPU
Adreno 509 - RAM
3GB - Camera
13MP, f/2.2 + 5MP - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Video
2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps rear
1080p front - Battery
5,000mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Apr, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
- Processor
Huawei Honor 7X
32GB memory
64GB memory
What’s good:
The Honor 7X is a cheaper version of the Honor 9i and keeps most of the bells and whistles while reducing the price. Nonetheless, it comes with 4GB RAM, edge-to-edge display, a decent processor and dual rear cameras..
The Honor 7X is a cheaper version of the Honor 9i and keeps most of the bells and whistles while reducing the price. Nonetheless, it comes with 4GB RAM, edge-to-edge display, a decent processor and dual rear cameras..
What could have been better:
Nothing specifically.
Nothing specifically.
- OS
Android 8.0 - Weight
165g - Display
5.93 inch, IPS
2160 x 1080 pixels - Storage space
32/64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Kirin 659 Cortex-A53 Octa Core 2.4GHz - GPU
Mali T830MP2 - RAM
4GB - Camera
16 MP (1/2.9″) + 2 MP - Secondary camera
8MP - Video
1080p@30fps rear and front - Battery
3,340mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Dec, 2017
Pros and Cons
Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro
What’s good:
Uh, the battery.
Uh, the battery.
What could have been better:
We’re not sure why this phone exists. Maybe to please Amazon since the Redmi Note 5 is available with Flipkart. It’s not a bad phone, just that it doesn’t sit anywhere in the lineup. Consider this a very minor update to the Note 5 (dual camera primarily) and that’s pretty much it.
We’re not sure why this phone exists. Maybe to please Amazon since the Redmi Note 5 is available with Flipkart. It’s not a bad phone, just that it doesn’t sit anywhere in the lineup. Consider this a very minor update to the Note 5 (dual camera primarily) and that’s pretty much it.
- OS
Android 8.1 - Weight
178 - Display
5.84 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
32/64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 625 octa-core 2.0GHz - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
3/4GB - Camera
12 MP + 5MP - Secondary camera
5 MP - Video
1080p@30fps rear and front - Battery
4,000mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Jul, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
Huawei Honor 9 Lite
What’s good:
Honor has a gazillion identical phones in this budget but at different price points. It’s not a bad phone, but there’s nothing extraordinary here either. We put this instead of the Honor 9N because it offers almost the same specs but is 1k cheaper. Only consider the 9N if you can’t live without the notch.
Honor has a gazillion identical phones in this budget but at different price points. It’s not a bad phone, but there’s nothing extraordinary here either. We put this instead of the Honor 9N because it offers almost the same specs but is 1k cheaper. Only consider the 9N if you can’t live without the notch.
What could have been better:
The Honor 7X would still make more sense if you ask us.
The Honor 7X would still make more sense if you ask us.
- OS
Android 8.0 Oreo - Weight
149g - Display
5.65 inch, IPS
2160 x 1080 pixels - Storage space
32GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Kirin 659 Octa core (4×2.36GHz A53 + 4×1.7GHz A53) - GPU
Mali T830MP2 - RAM
3GB - Camera
13MP + 2MP - Secondary camera
13MP + 2MP - Video
1080p@30fps rear, 1080p front - Battery
3,000mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Dec, 2017
Pros and Cons
- Hybrid slot (SIM2 or microSD card)
Oppo RealMe 2
3GB RAM/ 32GB storage
4GB RAM/ 64GB storage
What’s good:
Here’s what’s improved in RealMe 2 over its predecessor: it comes with dual cameras and a bigger battery. We always liked the RAM and storage options for the budget.
Here’s what’s improved in RealMe 2 over its predecessor: it comes with dual cameras and a bigger battery. We always liked the RAM and storage options for the budget.
What could have been better:
When you reduce the resolution of the display or replace the processor with a slower one, RealMe 2 can’t really be called an upgrade over the RealMe 1. Don’t believe us? Check these benchmarking results. No wonder there’s no 6GB RAM variant.
When you reduce the resolution of the display or replace the processor with a slower one, RealMe 2 can’t really be called an upgrade over the RealMe 1. Don’t believe us? Check these benchmarking results. No wonder there’s no 6GB RAM variant.
- OS
Android 8.1 Oreo - Weight
168g - Display
6.2 inch, IPS
720 x 1520 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 450 Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
6GB - Camera
13MP, f/2.2 + 2 MP, f/2.4 - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Battery
4,230mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Aug, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
- RAM
- Storage
- Display
Nokia 5.1 Plus
What’s good:
The Nokia 5.1 Plus is among the more affordable Nokia phones with a notch. We like the fact that it comes equipped with a fairly powerful processor and has decent overall specs for the asking price even if they are not the leading ones in this budget.
The Nokia 5.1 Plus is among the more affordable Nokia phones with a notch. We like the fact that it comes equipped with a fairly powerful processor and has decent overall specs for the asking price even if they are not the leading ones in this budget.
What could have been better:
We’d have preferred a full HD display for the asking price and a dedicated memory card slot.
We’d have preferred a full HD display for the asking price and a dedicated memory card slot.
- OS
Android 8.1 - Weight
160g - Display
5.8 inches, IPS
720 x 1520 pixels - Storage space
32GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
MediaTek P60 Octa-core (4×2.0GHz A73 & 4×2.0GHz A53) - GPU
Mali-G72 MP3 - RAM
3GB - Camera
13 MP, f/2.0 + 5MP - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Video
1080p 30FPS rear and front - Battery
3,060 mAh - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Jul, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Processor
- Display
- Hybrid slot (SIM2 or microSD card)
Redmi Y2
What’s good:
Redmi Y2 comes with a decent processor along with Android 8.0 and dual cameras. Oh, the main selling point for the phone is its front camera though.
Redmi Y2 comes with a decent processor along with Android 8.0 and dual cameras. Oh, the main selling point for the phone is its front camera though.
What could have been better:
Eh, the display.
Eh, the display.
- OS
Android 8.0 - Weight
170g - Display
6 inches
720 x 1440 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 625 Octa core (2GHz Cortex A53) - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
4GB - Camera
12MP + 5MP, f/2.2, EIS - Secondary camera
16MP - Video
1080p 30FPS rear - Battery
3,080 mAh - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G LTE - First announced
May, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Front camera
- Display resolution
Not to confuse you with the camera specs listed above, we’ve listed the specs as (megapixels), and (aperture), Generally speaking, bigger the aperture, better is the camera. Which means smaller number in the denominator, the bigger the aperture is. For example, f/1.9 is a bigger aperture and than f/2.0. A bigger aperture camera performs much better in low light situations and produces sharper images. It also produces a better brokeh.
Standout features in the top smartphones under Rs 12,000:
The best phones under Rs 12,000 come with features like dual camera, Android 8.0, 64 gigs of internal memory and 4GB RAM. On the other hand 3,000mAh+ battery, full HD display and Android 8.0 have become the norm rather than the exception. For the processor, the Snapdragon 63x seems like the most obvious choice. We don’t recommend 16GB storage or 2GB RAM in this budget.
- Best battery • Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (5,000mAh)
• Realme 2(4,230mAh) - Best value for money • RealMe 1
Also read:
Which are the best phones under Rs 15,000?
Which are the best phones under Rs 10,000?We’ve made a list of the best phones under Rs 12,000 for this month in India. Most of them should be able to run without any issues, however, given the processors in this range, phones with full HD display can put a strain on them (except for the ones having Snapdragon 625 and above). Just to clarify, phones with hybrid SIM slot allow you to either place a second SIM or a microSD card, but not both at the same time, so it’s a disadvantage.
Also, check the best smartphones under Rs 10,000 and the top 10 smartphones under Rs 13,000.
You can also read about the camera terminologies we’ve used at the end of the post. Lastly, we’ve highlighted our top 3 picks in this budget at the beginning. You can jump to the summary right away if you don’t want to go through a myriad of specs.
These are the 10 best phones under Rs 12,000 in India (2018):
- Oppo RealMe 1: 6 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13MP
- Xiaomi Redmi Note 5: 6 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.0, 12MP
- Moto G5s Plus: 5.5 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13+13MP
- Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1: 6 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.1, 12MP+5MP
- Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro: 5.85 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.1, 12MP+5MP
- Honor 7X: 5.9 inch, 4GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.0, 16MP+2MP
- Honor 9 Lite: 5.65 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.0, 13MP+2MP
- Oppo RealMe 2: 6.2 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13MP+2MP
- Nokia 5.1 Plus: 5.86 inch, 3GB RAM, 32GB ROM, Android 8.1, 13MP+5MP
- Redmi Y2: 6 inch, 4GB RAM, 64GB ROM, Android 8.0, 12MP+5MP
*Top 3 picks around Rs 12,000*
1. Oppo RealMe 1
What’s good:
Oppo phones are usually underpowered and overpriced. Not this sub-brand though. The RealMe 1 is a winner under 15k that comes with a processor that beats the Snapdragon 636, class-leading RAM and internal memory, and Android 8.1 out of the box. This phone ticks all the checkboxes.
Oppo phones are usually underpowered and overpriced. Not this sub-brand though. The RealMe 1 is a winner under 15k that comes with a processor that beats the Snapdragon 636, class-leading RAM and internal memory, and Android 8.1 out of the box. This phone ticks all the checkboxes.
What could have been better:
We have yet to find one.
We have yet to find one.
- OS
Android 8.1 Oreo - Weight
155g - Display
6 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
MediaTek 6771 octa-core (4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4×2.0 GHz Cortex-A53) - GPU
Mali-G72 MP3 - RAM
4GB - Camera
13MP, f/2.2 - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Video
1080p@30fps rear
1080p@30fps front - Battery
3,410mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
May, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Storage
- RAM
- Processor
2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5
3GB RAM/ 32GB storage
4GB RAM/ 64GB storage
What’s good:
Despite similar specs to the Redmi Note 4, the Note 5 is a solid offering with that new 18:9 display. 64GB of internal memory, 4GB RAM, and a big battery make it one of the better phones in this budget.
Despite similar specs to the Redmi Note 4, the Note 5 is a solid offering with that new 18:9 display. 64GB of internal memory, 4GB RAM, and a big battery make it one of the better phones in this budget.
What could have been better:
The hybrid slot if that bothers you.
The hybrid slot if that bothers you.
- OS
Android 8.0 - Weight
180g - Display
5.99 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
32GB/64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Snapdragon 625 octa-core 2GHz (A53) - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
3GB/4GB - Camera
12MP, f/2.2 - Secondary camera
5MP, f/2.0 - Video
2160p@30fps rear
1080p@30fps front - Battery
4,000mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Feb, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
- Storage
- RAM
- Hybrid SIM slot (SIM2 or microSD)
3. Moto G5s Plus
What’s good:
Moto G5s Plus is Moto G5 Plus on steroids. We like the fact that it comes with Android 8.1e. The dual camera setup promises some great photography. 64 gigs of internal memory means you won’t be needing that microSD card anytime soon.
Moto G5s Plus is Moto G5 Plus on steroids. We like the fact that it comes with Android 8.1e. The dual camera setup promises some great photography. 64 gigs of internal memory means you won’t be needing that microSD card anytime soon.
What could have been better:
Nothing except the hybrid SIM slot, which you might not need considering that it comes with 64 gigs of internal memory.
Nothing except the hybrid SIM slot, which you might not need considering that it comes with 64 gigs of internal memory.
- OS
Android 8.1 - Weight
168g - Display
5.5 inch, IPS
1920 x 1080 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Snapdragon 625 Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
4GB - Camera
13MP+13MP, f/2.0 - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.0 - Video
1080p@30fps rear and front - Battery
3,000mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Aug, 2017
Pros and Cons
- Storage
- RAM
- Hybrid slot (either SIM2 or microSD)
Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1
3GB RAM/ 32GB storage
What’s good:
Here is a competitor to the Note 5 Pro which beats it in most of the departments. Besides the great processor, RAM, and internal storage that it shares with the Note 5 Pro, the Max Pro beats the Note 5 on things like a bigger battery, dedicated microSD slot, and Android 8.1 out of the box with the same weight and dimensions. Isn’t that great?
Here is a competitor to the Note 5 Pro which beats it in most of the departments. Besides the great processor, RAM, and internal storage that it shares with the Note 5 Pro, the Max Pro beats the Note 5 on things like a bigger battery, dedicated microSD slot, and Android 8.1 out of the box with the same weight and dimensions. Isn’t that great?
What could have been better:
Nothing at all. Seems like a great phone spec-wise.
Nothing at all. Seems like a great phone spec-wise.
- OS
Android 8.1 Oreo - Weight
180g - Display
5.99 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
32GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 636 octa-core 1.8GHz (Kyro 260) - GPU
Adreno 509 - RAM
3GB - Camera
13MP, f/2.2 + 5MP - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Video
2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps rear
1080p front - Battery
5,000mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Apr, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
- Processor
Huawei Honor 7X
32GB memory
64GB memory
What’s good:
The Honor 7X is a cheaper version of the Honor 9i and keeps most of the bells and whistles while reducing the price. Nonetheless, it comes with 4GB RAM, edge-to-edge display, a decent processor and dual rear cameras..
The Honor 7X is a cheaper version of the Honor 9i and keeps most of the bells and whistles while reducing the price. Nonetheless, it comes with 4GB RAM, edge-to-edge display, a decent processor and dual rear cameras..
What could have been better:
Nothing specifically.
Nothing specifically.
- OS
Android 8.0 - Weight
165g - Display
5.93 inch, IPS
2160 x 1080 pixels - Storage space
32/64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Kirin 659 Cortex-A53 Octa Core 2.4GHz - GPU
Mali T830MP2 - RAM
4GB - Camera
16 MP (1/2.9″) + 2 MP - Secondary camera
8MP - Video
1080p@30fps rear and front - Battery
3,340mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Dec, 2017
Pros and Cons
Xiaomi Redmi 6 Pro
What’s good:
Uh, the battery.
Uh, the battery.
What could have been better:
We’re not sure why this phone exists. Maybe to please Amazon since the Redmi Note 5 is available with Flipkart. It’s not a bad phone, just that it doesn’t sit anywhere in the lineup. Consider this a very minor update to the Note 5 (dual camera primarily) and that’s pretty much it.
We’re not sure why this phone exists. Maybe to please Amazon since the Redmi Note 5 is available with Flipkart. It’s not a bad phone, just that it doesn’t sit anywhere in the lineup. Consider this a very minor update to the Note 5 (dual camera primarily) and that’s pretty much it.
- OS
Android 8.1 - Weight
178 - Display
5.84 inch, IPS
1080 x 2160 pixels - Storage space
32/64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 625 octa-core 2.0GHz - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
3/4GB - Camera
12 MP + 5MP - Secondary camera
5 MP - Video
1080p@30fps rear and front - Battery
4,000mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Jul, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
Huawei Honor 9 Lite
What’s good:
Honor has a gazillion identical phones in this budget but at different price points. It’s not a bad phone, but there’s nothing extraordinary here either. We put this instead of the Honor 9N because it offers almost the same specs but is 1k cheaper. Only consider the 9N if you can’t live without the notch.
Honor has a gazillion identical phones in this budget but at different price points. It’s not a bad phone, but there’s nothing extraordinary here either. We put this instead of the Honor 9N because it offers almost the same specs but is 1k cheaper. Only consider the 9N if you can’t live without the notch.
What could have been better:
The Honor 7X would still make more sense if you ask us.
The Honor 7X would still make more sense if you ask us.
- OS
Android 8.0 Oreo - Weight
149g - Display
5.65 inch, IPS
2160 x 1080 pixels - Storage space
32GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
Kirin 659 Octa core (4×2.36GHz A53 + 4×1.7GHz A53) - GPU
Mali T830MP2 - RAM
3GB - Camera
13MP + 2MP - Secondary camera
13MP + 2MP - Video
1080p@30fps rear, 1080p front - Battery
3,000mAh, non-removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Dec, 2017
Pros and Cons
- Hybrid slot (SIM2 or microSD card)
Oppo RealMe 2
3GB RAM/ 32GB storage
4GB RAM/ 64GB storage
What’s good:
Here’s what’s improved in RealMe 2 over its predecessor: it comes with dual cameras and a bigger battery. We always liked the RAM and storage options for the budget.
Here’s what’s improved in RealMe 2 over its predecessor: it comes with dual cameras and a bigger battery. We always liked the RAM and storage options for the budget.
What could have been better:
When you reduce the resolution of the display or replace the processor with a slower one, RealMe 2 can’t really be called an upgrade over the RealMe 1. Don’t believe us? Check these benchmarking results. No wonder there’s no 6GB RAM variant.
When you reduce the resolution of the display or replace the processor with a slower one, RealMe 2 can’t really be called an upgrade over the RealMe 1. Don’t believe us? Check these benchmarking results. No wonder there’s no 6GB RAM variant.
- OS
Android 8.1 Oreo - Weight
168g - Display
6.2 inch, IPS
720 x 1520 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 450 Octa-core 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
6GB - Camera
13MP, f/2.2 + 2 MP, f/2.4 - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Battery
4,230mAh, non removable - Connectivity
Dual SIM, (4G) - First announced
Aug, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Battery
- RAM
- Storage
- Display
Nokia 5.1 Plus
What’s good:
The Nokia 5.1 Plus is among the more affordable Nokia phones with a notch. We like the fact that it comes equipped with a fairly powerful processor and has decent overall specs for the asking price even if they are not the leading ones in this budget.
The Nokia 5.1 Plus is among the more affordable Nokia phones with a notch. We like the fact that it comes equipped with a fairly powerful processor and has decent overall specs for the asking price even if they are not the leading ones in this budget.
What could have been better:
We’d have preferred a full HD display for the asking price and a dedicated memory card slot.
We’d have preferred a full HD display for the asking price and a dedicated memory card slot.
- OS
Android 8.1 - Weight
160g - Display
5.8 inches, IPS
720 x 1520 pixels - Storage space
32GB - Expansion slot
Yes, hybrid - Processor
MediaTek P60 Octa-core (4×2.0GHz A73 & 4×2.0GHz A53) - GPU
Mali-G72 MP3 - RAM
3GB - Camera
13 MP, f/2.0 + 5MP - Secondary camera
8MP, f/2.2 - Video
1080p 30FPS rear and front - Battery
3,060 mAh - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G - First announced
Jul, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Processor
- Display
- Hybrid slot (SIM2 or microSD card)
Redmi Y2
What’s good:
Redmi Y2 comes with a decent processor along with Android 8.0 and dual cameras. Oh, the main selling point for the phone is its front camera though.
Redmi Y2 comes with a decent processor along with Android 8.0 and dual cameras. Oh, the main selling point for the phone is its front camera though.
What could have been better:
Eh, the display.
Eh, the display.
- OS
Android 8.0 - Weight
170g - Display
6 inches
720 x 1440 pixels - Storage space
64GB - Expansion slot
Yes, dedicated - Processor
Snapdragon 625 Octa core (2GHz Cortex A53) - GPU
Adreno 506 - RAM
4GB - Camera
12MP + 5MP, f/2.2, EIS - Secondary camera
16MP - Video
1080p 30FPS rear - Battery
3,080 mAh - Connectivity
Dual SIM, 4G LTE - First announced
May, 2018
Pros and Cons
- Front camera
- Display resolution
Not to confuse you with the camera specs listed above, we’ve listed the specs as (megapixels), and (aperture), Generally speaking, bigger the aperture, better is the camera. Which means smaller number in the denominator, the bigger the aperture is. For example, f/1.9 is a bigger aperture and than f/2.0. A bigger aperture camera performs much better in low light situations and produces sharper images. It also produces a better brokeh.
Standout features in the top smartphones under Rs 12,000:
The best phones under Rs 12,000 come with features like dual camera, Android 8.0, 64 gigs of internal memory and 4GB RAM. On the other hand 3,000mAh+ battery, full HD display and Android 8.0 have become the norm rather than the exception. For the processor, the Snapdragon 63x seems like the most obvious choice. We don’t recommend 16GB storage or 2GB RAM in this budget.
- Best battery • Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 (5,000mAh)
• Realme 2(4,230mAh) - Best value for money • RealMe 1
Also read:
Which are the best phones under Rs 15,000?
