Top 8 mobile phones under ₹7,000: Buyer’s guide

Have you ever been in a situation where you want to buy a new budget smartphone but are not sure which one is the best or which one suits your needs amongst the plethora of options. It is often said that the simple decisions are the hardest ones to take.

This article would make your life easy, as we have come up with a list of the top 10 mobile phones under Rs. 7,000 that would keep you connected to the digital world without costing an arm and a leg.

Product list

1. Nokia C12 Android 12 – Go Edition Smartphone

Nokia has been a synonym for quality phones since mobile phones were introduced in the country. They have come up with their C12 series which work on Android operating systems and is compatible with 2G, 3G, 4G cellular services. The phone dimensions are - 160.6 x 74.3 x 8.8 mm (6.32 x 2.93 x 0.35 in) and weighs 177gm. The phone consists of a glass body in the front and plastic body in the back. Like a lot of other Nokia products this budget phone comes with a dual sim.

The model comes with 4GB of RAM with an option to expand memory and a fast-performing octa-core processor, along with a 6.3” HD screen and a 82% screen to body ratio. The phone is currently available in 3 colours – Charcoal, Dark Cyan, Light Mint.

Nokia is confident in their product, and the customers and critics have faith in what the company is promising to deliver. One of the prime features is an all-day long battery, and the reports have been positive on the same. The company has included good cameras, which gives the product an extra point as compared to its competitors. The rear camera is 8 MP, and the selfie camera is 5 MP. The Made in India phone comes with night and portrait mode for both front and rear camera.

In addition to the discount, the company is also offering a 1 year replacement guarantee. The box would come with a handset, charger, cable, user guide.

Specifications:

• Display: 6.3-inch HD screen
• Processor: octa-core CPU
• RAM: 4GB
• Operating System: Android
• 1 year warranty

2. Redmi A1

Redmi phones have a loyal fanbase in India and within just few years of inception the phone company has made its place in the market. They have recently come up with their A1 series which due to its price and features have made it to our list of best phones under ₹7K.

The Android based phone works perfectly well on 4G cellular technology. The phone dimensions are - 164.9 x 76.8 x 9.1 mm (6.49 x 3.02 x 0.36 in) and weights 192 gm. The phone features dual sim and would require dual sims in both slots. The company is using their state of art technology in power efficient processors Helio A22 which improves multi-tasking and power efficiency and has been setting new standards in the industry. The smart mobile phone has a massive battery backup, the 5000 mAh comes with a backup enough to cover 30 days stand by or 171 hours music playback time.

The phone comes with a dual camera which allows HD pictures and videos. The rear cam comes with an 8 MP clarity whereas the front selfie camera comes with 5 MP clarity. The made in India phone comes with the following in the box - ‎Phone, Power adapter, USB cable, SIM eject tool, Warranty card, User guide.

Specifications:

• Display: 5.5 inches touchscreen with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, Octa-core 2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU
• GPU: Adreno 506
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB (expandable via microSD card up to 128GB)
• Operating System: Android 7.1.2

3. Itel P40

The straight out of the bag phone was just launched in March 2023 and with its positive reviews across the market, the phone in no time has created a buzz for itself.

The android-based phone works well with the 4G cellular technology. The phone dimensions are 158.3 x 78.5 x 8.6 mm and comes with a 6.6 inch HD screen with is almost 90% screen to body ratio. The Made in India phone is water resistant which is a bargain if we compare the prices.

One of the key selling features of this phone as compared to others in the top 10 phones under ₹7,000 is the battery back, the phones come with a 6000 mAh mega battery which has a standby time of 56 days, 31 hours of calling time and almost 203 hours of music playback time. Some other salient features are 2 GB RAM and 64 GB ROM, the phone also comes with an option of expandable memory of up to 128 GB with SC Card. Just like most of its other competitors this phone also comes with dual nano sim options. The phone also supports a 13 MP main camera and a 5 MP selfie cam.

Specifications:

• Display: 6.52 inches
• Processor: Unisoc SC9863A octa-core CPU
• GPU: IMG8322
• RAM: 2GB/3GB
• Storage: 32GB/64GB (expandable via microSD card up to 128GB)
• Operating System: Android 10

4. IKALL Z14

IKALL might not be a big name in the Indian market but with the products they are coming up with its only a matter of time before people start to recognise them. Their latest offering is the Z14 series.

The Android based phone has a dimension of 153 x 75.3 x 7.6 mm (6.02 x 2.96 x 0.30 in) and weighs 170 gm and has a 6.82-inch display which is almost 72.8% screen to body ratio and supports fingers unlock scanner and face unlock scanner.

The phone has an option to expand memory up to 128 GB and comes with a default 4 GB RAM and 64 GB inbuild storage. The phone supports dual sim and goes well with nano/ micro sim. One of the unique features is the phone supports Type C fast charging which is still not being offered by all companies. The phone has an inbuild 13 MP main camera and 5 MP rear camera.

The seller is giving a 1 year manufacturing warranty for the mobile and a 6 month warrant for accessories. The phone comes with ‎mobile phone, User Manual, Type C Cable, and Adapter.

Specifications:

• Display: 6.26 inches
• Processor: Unisoc SC9832E quad-core CPU
• GPU: Mali-T820 MP1
• RAM: 2GB
• Storage: 16GB (expandable via microSD card up to 64GB)
• Operating System: Android 10

5. Samsung Galaxy A03 Core

Samsung Galaxy needs no introduction; the company is offering products to cater to the demands of the high-class section, which needs the best features in their hands, and dominate the budget phone market.

Samsung Galaxy A03 Core comes with Android 12.0 based processing system. The phone comes with a 2 GB RAM and 32 GB ROM and an option to expand the memory up to 1TB. The phone dimensions are 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 mm (6.46 x 2.99 x 0.36 in) and weighs 211 gm. The plastic body budget phone supports dual sim and is compatible with Nano sim.

This latest phone comes with 6.5 inch screen which makes screen to body ratio around 81.8%. The company has added 5000 mAh Li-ion battery in the phone which is an encouraging feature as compared to other phone in the list of top phones under ₹7,000. The camera is quite basic and other phone brand support better features, the main camera is 8 MP and rear selfie cam comes with 5 MP.

The box would come with ‎mobile handset, Adapter, USB Cable, Important Info Booklet with Warranty Card, Quick Guide, Sim Card Tool

Specifications:

• Display: 6.5 inches
• Processor: MediaTek MT6739W quad-core CPU
• GPU: PowerVR GE8100
• RAM: 1GB/2GB
• Storage: 16GB/32GB (expandable via microSD card up to 1TB)
• Operating System: Android 11 (Go Edition)
• Battery: Non-removable Li-Po

6. Nokia 2660 Flip

Going back to the old school mobiles, Nokia still comes up with the traditional keypad phone and they are still affordable and is a good option for someone who is not tech savvy and does not need those fancy apps or still needs phone for basic calling.

Nokia 2660 Flip phones comes with wide keypad dials and loudspeakers. The current teen generation would never understand the concept of keypad phones and how in order to get one alphabet, one had to press the number keys multiple times. The phone comes with a flip functionality to answer and disconnect calls and has a battery life which would last you for days. The screen size is 2.8 inches and comes with an option of single sim or dual sim, the preferred sim size is nano sim for both slots.

The phones come with a basic camera of 0.3MP and as suggested before this is fit for those who only want to keep a phone for calling purposes only. The phone is available in black, blue and red colour and consists of a built in radio FM and MP3 player.

Specifications:

• Display: 1.8 inches TFT, 65K colors with a resolution of 128 x 160 pixels
• Storage: 4MB (non-expandable)
• Operating System: Nokia OS
• Battery: Removable Li-Ion 700 mAh battery (BL-4B)
• Standby time: Up to 300 hours
• Talk time: Up to 6 hours

7. IKALL Z18

IKALL is slowly becoming the most sought-afterbudget phone brand. Anothercheap phone under ₹7,000on the list is IKALL Z18. The android 10.0 based phone comes in sky blue and green variant and works well on 4G cellular technology.

The phone comes with 6.82 inch HD display and includes finger print unlock and face unlock features. The made in India phone has an in build 64 GB storage along with 4 GB RAM. The phone also allows 128 GB expandable memory.

Another feature which is surely a hit amongst the users is the type C fast charging. Many costly phones still haven’t offered this to its users which IKALL is giving in theircheap budget phones.

In addition to the above, the phone comes with 13 MP main camera and 8MP front selfie camera and supports dual nano sim.

The box would consist of User Manual, Type C Cable, Adapter, Mobile

Specifications:

• Display: 6.26 inches
• Processor: Unisoc SC9832E quad-core CPU
• GPU: Mali-T820 MP1
• RAM: 2GB
• Storage: 16GB (expandable via microSD card up to 64GB)
• Operating System: Android 10

8. Techno Pop 7 Pro

Another new brand slowly making its way in the market is Techno, their recently launched 7 Pro is receiving positive reviews from the consumers. The plastic body and glass front phones come in 163.9 x 75.5 x 8.9 mm (6.45 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) dimensions. The phone comes with a 6.59 inch screen which is almost 83.5% screen to body ratio.

The battery size is 5000 mAh battery and comes with a type C charging, the battery backup is also quite good as compared to other phones in same range. The battery would last for 29 days if left on standby or 26 hour calling and 156 hours music time. The company has installed AI battery which would enable safe charging. The budget phone consists of 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage which can be expanded if required. Just like its competitors the company has given the model 12 MP dual rear camera which would enable the users shoot and save HD videos and photos.

The packing box comes with ‎Smartphone,10W Power Adaptor, Type-C Cable,TPU Cover, SIM Ejector Tool.

Specifications:

• Brand: Tecno
• Model Name: POP 7 Pro
• Network Service Provider: Unlocked
• OS: Android 12.0
• Cellular Technology: 4G

Three best feature for consumers:

Best value for money

The Redmi A1 (Black, 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage) may be the best buy. Though it has less RAM and storage than other phones, it is still adequate for most basic tasks and daily use. The Redmi A1 is known for providing high-quality phones at low prices.

Best overall

The Nokia C12 Android 12 may be the best option among the phones offered. It features greater RAM and storage than most other phones, with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It also includes an octa-core processor, implying that it should perform well in gaming. It also includes expandable RAM of 2 GB, which is a useful feature.

How to find the perfect mobile phone under Rs. 7000?

Finding the perfect new phone around Rs. 7,000 might be a difficult process. However, with some basic tips and guidance, you can easily find the perfect phone for you within your price range.

Determine your use first. Ask yourself, "How frequently do I use my phone?" How much data do I require? Do I require more battery life or more storage? Knowing your needs can help you swiftly narrow down your options.

Next, look at user reviews to see what kind of experiences people are having with phones in your price range, and compile a list of phones that meet your criteria and have positive online user reviews.

Third, visit tech websites to receive professional advice on which phones perform better than others in terms of performance, hardware, and so on, and compare costs between different sites selling them to find the best value for money option within your budget.

Finally, when making a purchase, consider official warranty options; this assures that any unforeseen flaws during usage may be rectified without additional expenses later on if necessary.