Icon
HT Shop Now Close Icon

Best gaming phones under ₹10,000 in India: Buying guide

Last Published on Jan 13, 2023 14:51 IST

Summary:

Most phones under 10,000 feature decent processors, 3 or 4 GB RAM, and decent cameras, making them suitable for entry-level gaming. They can be used as basic daily use phones as well.


With games such as Call of Duty Mobile, Free Fire, and Apex Legends Mobile available for smartphones, gamers are cautious about sacrificing their gaming experience. The best gaming phones allow you to practice exceptional gaming experiences without worrying about lag or glitches. However, with so many possibilities, it’s natural to be careful where you put your money, especially if you are on a budget. Therefore, when selecting the best gaming phone, you should look at a product that has long-lasting battery life, a quick processor, adequate RAM, and a high-quality display.

Most phones under Rs.10,000 come with decent enough specs and are suitable for entry-level gaming. Check out this list for incredibly affordable gaming phones.

Best Gaming Phones Under Rs. 10,000 in India

1.Redmi 9 Activ

It comes with 4GB/6 RAM and 64GB/128GB of storage based on your chosen model. This device is powered by Octa-core Helio G35, which offers a clock speed up to 2.3GHz. On the front, it has a 6.53 inches HD+ display. It has a 13 + 2 MP dual rear camera set up and a 5 MP front camera. It has a 5000mAh battery that supports up to 10W charging. This phone is available for Rs. 9,499.

Specifications

  • Processor: Helio G35
  • Ram: 4/6 GB RAM
  • Storage: 64/128 GB
  • Rear Camera: 13 + 2 MP
  • Front Camera: 4 MP
  • Display: 6.53 inches HD+
  • OS: Android v12
  • Battery: 5000mAh
ProsCons
Great performanceDesign could have been more inspiring
Excellent battery backupAverage camera performance
Great usability 
Decent display 

2. Tecno Spark 8 Pro

Tecno spark pro has a 1GHz Mali G52 GPU (Gaming Processor) and 7 GB RAM, ensuring gaming greatness. It also has a 120Hz touch sampling rate, perfect for fast-response games. Get up to 63 days long standby time after one charge that takes about an hour to charge full. Play like a pro with an extendable virtual 3GB RAM. The 1080P FHD+ display provides incredible clarity and natural colour fidelity, offering next-level gaming visuals.

Specifications

48MP High-Resolution AI camera

8MP Front Cam with Dual Front Flash

6.8"FHD+Dot-in display

33W Super-Fast Charger

5000mAh battery

Helio G85 Blazing Fast Gaming Processor |

RAM Expansion up to 7GB

ProsCons
High-quality camera Low brightness 
Rapid charging , Stereo sound effectCan’t use voice command to pick up calls
Robust gaming processor  

3. Nokia C21 Plus

The Nokia C21 Plus is a durable budget gaming phone with a sleek design. It has a 5050 mAh battery that goes on and on from just a single charge. The large and vivid 6.5” HD+ screen is big enough to see it all. The operating system for the Nokia C21 Plus is quite simple. This means fewer bloatware apps and more room for your personal storage material.

Specifications

13MP dual rear camera

5MP front camera

4GB RAM

64GB internal storage expandable up to 256GB

1.6Ghz Octa-Core SC9863A processor

5050 mAh battery

ProsCons
Good built qualityLower MP camera
Large capacity battery 

4. Vivo Y01

The phone has a 6.51-inch touchscreen display with a 60 Hz refresh rate and 720x1600 pixel (HD+) resolution. The brains of the Vivo Y01 are an octa-core MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) CPU. The Vivo Y01 has an Android 11 (Go edition) operating system that is easy to use. It also has a large capacity 5,000mAh battery. This phone has 32GB of storage space, which can be increased via microSD card (up to 1000GB) via a dedicated slot.

Specifications

8MP Rear Camera | 5MP Selfie Camera

16.53cm (6.51") HD+ Display

Funtouch OS

5000mAh battery

Helio P35 Processor

ProsCons
Fast processor Low speaker quality
Stylish design  

5. Samsung Galaxy M04

The Samsung Galaxy M04 is a great choice for a budget gaming phone. This super-fast phone comes with a MediaTek Helio P35 and expandable RAM of up to 8 GB, which keeps all games lag-free. In addition, the HD+ display makes sure you get to see all details. It also comes with 64GB memory storage that is expandable for up to 1TB, so there's always enough space for big games.

Specifications

13MP+2MP Dual camera setup

5MP (F2.2) front camera

16.55 centimetres (6.5-inch) LCD

5000mAH lithium-ion battery

ProsCons
Powerful processor Average camera quality
Large display  
2-day battery  

6. POCO C31

The POCO C31 is an entry-level smartphone with 5-star reliability. The highlights of this phone are its 4GB RAM and fast Helio G35 processor. Its triple camera takes great quality pictures and has a night mode. In addition, this phone is equipped with a fingerprint sensor, and AI face unlock for utmost security. The 5000 mAh battery also works for 2 days on a single charge.

Specifications

64 GB ROM expandable Up to 512 GB

16.59 cm (6.53 inch) HD+ Display

13MP + 2MP + 2MP

5MP Front Camera

5000 mAh Lithium-ion Polymer Battery

MediaTek Helio G35 Processor

ProsCons
Fast processor Pre-installed Bloatware
Surge protection  
Protected by P2i 
Long lifespan battery  

7. Poco C3

It has a 6.43-inch HD+ display. This MediaTek Helio G35-powered smartphone comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal storage.

It has 13 + 2 + 2 MP triple rear cameras and 5 MP front camera. The battery supports up to 10W charging and has a capacity of 5000mAh. It is available from Rs. 8,900.

Specifications

  • Processor: Mediatek Helio G35 Processor
  • Ram: 3 GB RAM
  • Storage: 32 GB
  • Rear Camera: 13MP+2MP+2MP
  • Front Camera: 5 MP
  • Display: 6.43 inches HD+
  • OS: Android v10
  • Battery: 5000mAh
ProsCons
Overall fast performanceAverage low light camera performance
Decent displayNo fingerprint sensor
Decent battery backupPre-installed bloatware
Expandable storage 

8. Redmi 9 Prime

It is equipped with a 6.53-inch FHD+ display. This Mediatek Helio G80 octa core-powered smartphone has 4 GB RAM and 64/128 GB storage. The phone has quad rear cameras of 13 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP and an 8 MP front camera. With a capacity of 5020mAh, the battery supports charging up to 18 watts. Redmi 9 Prime is priced at Rs. 11,890.

Specifications

  • Processor: Mediatek Helio G80 octa-core processor
  • Ram: 4 GB RAM
  • Storage: 64/128 GB
  • Rear Camera: 13 + 8 + 5 + 2 MP
  • Front Camera: 8 MP
  • Display: 6.53 inches Full HD+
  • OS: Android v10
  • Battery: 5020mAh
ProsCons
Full HD+ displayPre-installed bloatware
Gorilla glass protectionAverage camera performance
Decent performanceBit bulky
Great build 
Fast charging support 

9. Tecno Spark 7 Pro

This phone has a 6.6-inch HD+ display. With 6 GB RAM and 64 GB of storage, this smartphone is powered by Helio G80 Gaming Processor. Tecno Spark 7 Pro's price starts at Rs. 10,799 and has a 48 MP triple rear camera and an 8 MP front camera. You can charge its 5000mAh battery at 18W.

Specifications

  • Processor: Helio G80 Gaming Processor
  • Ram: 6 GB RAM
  • Storage: 64 GB
  • Rear Camera: 48 MP Triple Camera
  • Front Camera: 8 MP
  • Display: 6.6 inches HD+ Display
  • OS: Android v11
  • Battery: 5000mAh
ProsCons
6 GB RAMAverage chipset performance
Massive 6.6 Inch displayNo gorilla glass protection
90Hz refresh ratePre-installed bloatware
Huge 5000mAh battery 
Decent camera performance 

10. Redmi 9i

The phone has a 6.53-inch HD+ display, 4 GB RAM, and 64/128 GB storage. In addition, it is equipped with a MediaTek Helio G25 processor. The Redmi 9i has a 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera. It has a 5000mAh battery with up to 10W charging capability. The Redmi 9i starts at Rs. 9,650.

Specifications

  • Processor: MediaTek Helio G25 Processor
  • Ram: 4 GB RAM
  • Storage: 64/128 GB
  • Rear Camera: 13 MP
  • Front Camera: 5 MP
  • Display: 6.53 inches HD+
  • OS: Android v10
  • Battery: 5000 mAh
ProsCons
Decent performanceAverage camera performance
Massive 5000mAh batteryPre-installed bloatware
Huge 6.53-inch screenNo Fingerprint sensor
3.5 mm jack 

Price of the best gaming phones under 10,000 at a glance:

ProductPrice
Redmi 9 Activ 9,499
 Tecno Spark 8 ProRs. 8,799
 Nokia C21 PlusRs. 9,499
 Vivo Y01 Rs. 7,999
 Samsung Galaxy M04 Rs. 9,499
 POCO C31Rs. 7,999
Poco C3 8,900
Redmi 9 Prime 11,890
Tecno Spark 7 Pro 10,799
Redmi 9i 9,650

Three important features for consumers

A good processor

The performance of the smartphone is largely determined by its chipset. Therefore, choosing a smartphone with a decent chipset that can enhance your gaming experience is important.

Processors are responsible for everything you do on your phone, from opening apps to browsing the internet to playing movies and games. A faster processor provides a smoother and lag-free experience. Therefore, choose the mobile phone with the best chipset that can meet your needs and fit within your budget.

RAM and internal storage

If you play games, multitask, and keep several programs open at once, then you will need enough RAM. 3 or 4 GB of RAM is typically available in the entry-level segment. Under Rs. 10,000, most mobile phones come with 32 GB or 64 GB of storage. However, since all smartphones do not offer expandable storage, choose the one that meets your storage needs.

Display and battery

It is essential to have a screen that provides an enjoyable experience since the first thing people notice about their phone is its display. Some smartphones offer FHD+ displays under Rs. 10,000.

A decent quality large screen can enhance your experience when playing games or watching Netflix or other OTT content on your smartphone.

It is vital to have a large-capacity battery when you intend to play for an extended period: the larger the battery capacity, the better the battery backup.

Best value for money

Redmi 9 Activ is one of the best value-for-money smartphones under Rs.10,000. It has a decent 6.53-inch HD+ display. Furthermore, it comes with 64/128 GB storage and 4 GB RAM, depending on your chosen model.

At Rs.9,650, this MediaTek Helio G35 chipset-powered phone comes with 13 + 2 MP rear cameras and a 5 MP front camera.

Best overall

With its Mediatek Helio G80 octa-core chipset and 4 GB RAM, Redmi 9 Prime is among the best in the market. It also features 64 GB or 128 GB of storage, depending on the variant.

The phone features a 6.53-inch FHD+ display. It has a 13+8+5+2MP quad camera set up at the rear and an 8MP front camera. It has a 5020mAh battery that supports charging up to 18W. Redmi 9 Prime is available from Rs. 11,890, which makes it a bit above the 10k mark.

How to find the perfect gaming phone under Rs. 10,000?

Whether you're looking for a smartphone to handle gaming, photography, or simple day-to-day chores, finding the perfect model starts with prioritising the features that matter most to you.

Their chipset largely determines the gaming performance of our smartphones, so choosing the ideal one is crucial.

In general, smartphones under Rs. 10,000 come with 32 GB or 64 GB of internal storage and 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM. However, you will find that not all smartphones have expandable storage, so make sure you pick the suitable one.

Choosing the right device is crucial, as each has its pros and cons. For example, shortlisting a smartphone requires careful consideration of its processor, RAM, storage, display, and connectivity options.

FAQs

1. Is MediaTek Helio G80 good for gaming?
The MediaTek Helio G80 performs well for budget mobile gaming. It is equipped with two Cortex-A75 processors operating at up to 2GHz, and six Cortex-A55 processors in an octa-core cluster interconnected and sharing a large L3 cache to enhance performance.

2. Is 4GB RAM enough for a gaming phone?
RAM is one of the most important factors you should consider when purchasing a gaming phone.Depending on the games and their requirements, the smartphone with 4 GB of RAM can run most games at low or medium settings. A smartphone with more RAM will deliver better gameplay.

3. Does the Redmi 9 Prime have a quad camera?
In the rear, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime sports a 13-megapixel (f/2.2) primary camera, and 8 + 5 + 2 MP secondary cameras. For selfies, it has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It takes quality images with good colours and details in daylight.

4. What is bloatware?
A potentially unwanted program (PUP) is known more commonly as bloatware, and it is a needless application that may affect the performance of a device.

Budget phones tend to feature a lot of bloatware because pre-installed apps incentivize manufacturers to sell their phones at a lower price point, thereby attracting more customers.

5. What does a 90Hz refresh rate mean?
A refresh rate indicates how frequently an image is redrawn on the screen. Displays with 90Hz refresh rates render images 90 times per second, and displays with 120Hz refresh rates render images 120 times per second. A higher refresh rate results in less motion blur and enhanced image quality.

At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.

Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so ... we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. Read more

Get Latest Updates on Best Electronics Deals. Mobiles , Laptops , Tablets , Gadgets and Computer Accessories