Best Smartphones Under ₹7,000

The Redmi A3x is the latest entry-level phone from the brand, that comes with a 6.71-inch HD + (720 x 1,650) LCD display. It supports up to 90Hz refresh rate and 500 nits local peak brightness. The device is powered by the Unisoc T603 SoC coupled with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard storage which can be expanded up to 1TB via a microSD card. On the software front, the Redmi A3x runs on Android 14 OS.  ,For imaging, there is an 8MP dual AI rear camera setup and a 5MP selfie camera.  It also packs a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 10W fast charging. Other features include a 3.5mm audio jack, a USB Type-C port, and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Redmi A3x will cost 6,999 for the single 3GB RAM/64GB storage variant. Moreover, it is offered in Midnight Black, Ocean Green, Olive Green and Starry White colour options.

The Realme C61 is the latest entry-level phone from the brand, which has a 6.78-inch (1600 x 720 pixels) HD+ IPS LCD screen with 90Hz refresh rate and up to 560 nits peak brightness. It is powered by the UNISOC T612 Octa-Core processor paired with up to 6GB LPDDR4X RAM and up to 128GB onboard storage which can be expanded up to 2TB via a microSD slot. ,For imaging, there is a 32MP rear camera with night mode and a 5MP selfie camera. The  Realme C61 also packs a 5,000 mAh battery with 10W fast charging support. Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, a 3.5mm audio jack, and Android 14 OS. Moreover, the Realme C61 price in India starts at Rs 7,699.

The under-10K price segment is a highly competitive market for smartphones. With numerous options available, many brands are vying for a slice of the pie. Xiaomi, which once dominated the budget segment with its aggressive pricing and feature-rich devices, now faces tough competition from the likes of Realme, Tecno, Motorola, Samsung, and even its own subsidiary, Poco. In this review, we explore whether Xiaomi can reclaim its position as the budget king with its latest offering, the Redmi 12C.