Best Smartphones Under Rs.8,000 (December 2021)

Are you looking for the best smartphone under Rs.8,000 and confused about which one to buy?

There are plenty of smartphones in this price range in the market and picking the best phone out of it is challenging.

Well, we have made the job easy for you! We have extensively analyzed all the gadgets available in the market, gone through numerous reviews from both gadget gurus and actual users and compiled a list of the eleven best smartphones priced under Rs.8.000 in India.

Read on to find the in-depth review and best picks in different categories in this price bracket.

Best Smartphone Under Rs.8,000

1. POCO C31Overall Best Pick
2. Micromax IN 2BRunner-up Pick
3. Realme C21Best Smartphone for Regular Use
4. Redmi 9iValue for Money Smartphone
5. Lava Z2Made in India Smartphone
6. Infinix Hot 10 PlayFeature-rich Smartphone
7. Tecno Spark 8Affordable Smartphone
8. Realme Narzo 50iEntry-level Smartphone
9. Samsung Galaxy M02Best Non-chinese Smartphone
10. Infinix Smart 5Best Budget Smartphone
11.Tecno Spark Go 2021Honourable Mention

Note: The price shown are the once when we reviewed the products. However, as the promotional offers changes on the given E-commerce sites, the price may vary. Bettershark is supported by it’s readers and when you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

1. POCO C31

POCO C31

Overall Best Pick

  • MediaTek Helio G35 processor
  • Decent HD+ display
  • Ergonomic design
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Pros

Fingerprint scanner

Noise cancellation mic support

Good battery life

Cons

No USB-C port

Poco, as you all might know, is a Xiaomi subsidiary dealing with affordable smartphones running MIUI skin alongside their Redmi series.

The Poco C31 is an affordable, entry-level smartphone that was launched recently in the Indian market highlighting the budget gaming prowess for a budget under Rs.8,000.

Design and Build Quality

The Poco C31 has a polycarbonate back with a plastic frame in the middle and glass at the front. 

This device feels comfortable to hold in your hands as it weighs just 194 grams. The textured finish at the back makes sure that the smartphone won’t get fingerprint marks easily.

There is an audio jack and noise-cancelling mic at the top section and the bottom frame houses a micro USB port, a single speaker and a primary microphone.

The fingerprint sensor is at the backside of the smartphone which works like a champ and you can also set up face recognition for quick unlock.

Display

The Poco C31 sports a 6.53-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. 

This panel is bright enough to be able to use the smartphone conveniently indoors as well as outdoors.

Thanks to the IPS technology, the side viewing angles are good and colour reproduction is also vivid compared to TN panels.

This narrow bezel wide viewing panel is ideal for content viewing.

Processor and Performance

The Poco C31 is powered by an entry-level gaming-oriented MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor.

This smartphone has 3GB RAM on board and it is sufficient for running casual applications such as web browsers and social media applications.

On the storage front, you will get 32GB of internal storage and if you wish to expand then use the external SD card to increase the storing capacity.

Poco C31 comes loaded with the MIUI 12 based on Android 10. Poco promises a future upgrade for this smartphone to Android 11.

Camera

The Poco C31 houses a triple camera setup at the back consisting of a 13MP main lens, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor.

The results from the primary lens look decent – the colour reproduction is on point and details are sufficient. 

The low-lit shots are not that impressive though, which is expected at this price point. The macro sensor works but the quality is average to be the best. 

The 5MP selfie camera clicks okayish selfies but the images look a bit soft.

Battery Life

What powers the Poco C31 is a large 5000mAh Li-Po non-removable battery. This battery will last for about a day of moderate to heavy usage. 

Poco has bundled a 10W charger in the box with an outdated micro USB connector that will take around 2.30-3 hours to completely charge the battery from zero to full. 

Verdict

The Poco C31 is the latest Android smartphone from Xiaomi priced at Rs.7,999 with decent hardware specifications and everyday performance.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10
ROM32 GB
RAM3 GB
ProcessorMediatek Helio G35
Camera13MP + 2MP + 2MP rear | 5MP front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.53-inch HD+ IPS display

2. Micromax IN 2B

Micromax IN 2B

Runner-up Pick

  • Good everyday performance
  • Good battery life
  • Ergonomic design
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Pros

Fingerprint scanner and face recognition

Decent build quality

Latest Android 11 OS

Cons

Average selfie camera

This entry-level smartphone from Micromax aims to compete with entry-level Xiaomi and Realme smartphones available in the market as of now. 

The Micromax IN 2B is priced at Rs.8,499 and it offers a good performance for the price.

Design and Build Quality

The Micromax IN 2B has no big change in terms of design compared to its predecessors and the body is made out of the same material as well which is polycarbonate.

The device weighs 190 grams and doesn’t feel heavy in the hands.

This smartphone has a USB-C port at the bottom, volume adjustment and power button are positioned on the right frame and the top frame is completely flat.

The physical fingerprint sensor in the rear works fast and there is also an option to set up face recognition.

The one thing we don’t like about this smartphone is that the speaker is at the back and sound output is nothing out of the ordinary, so we recommend using earphones for the best surround sound experience.

Display

The Micromax IN 2B sports a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels.

With a peak brightness of 400 nits, you will be able to use this smartphone comfortably indoors and outdoors.

The colour reproduction is decent for the price and the visuals look sharp without noticeable pixelation.

The thin bezels around the display make it ideal for media consumption. 

Processor and Performance

The Micromax IN 2B is powered by a Unisoc T610 octa-core processor. You may have never heard of this processor but as far as the performance is concerned, it is smooth.

This budget Android smartphone from Micromax comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage capacity.

Out of the box, the device is running Android 11 OS and it’s a complete stock Android so you will find no ads or bloatwares.

Camera

The Micromax IN 2B features a 13MP main sensor and a 2MP depth sensor at the back.

The main camera captures good quality images but the only issue is that clicked images have shadow effects on corners but we guess it will be fixed with future software updates.

Also, lighting conditions play a crucial role while taking pictures and low lit photos aren’t too impressive.

The 2MP depth sensor helps taking beautiful bokeh photos and edge detection is decent.

The 5MP selfie camera takes decent selfies photos, however a bit more colour saturation and improvement in skin tone colours should have made them better.

Battery Life

The Micromax IN 2B is powered by a 5000mAh lithium battery that will last for a day worth of heavy use.

The bundled 10W charger will juice up the battery from 0 – 100% in 2:30 hours.

Verdict

Priced under Rs.8,000, the Micromax IN 2B offers a clean stock Android OS experience combined with decent everyday performance and camera quality.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
ROM64 GB
RAM4 GB
ProcessorUnisoc T610
Camera13MP+2MP rear | 5MP front camera
Battery5000mAh
Display6.52-inch HD+ IPS display

3. Realme C21

Realme C21

Best Smartphone for Regular Use

  • Powerful MediaTek Helio G35
  • Decent display
  • Reverse charging feature
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Pros

Responsive fingerprint scanner

Realme UI based on Android 10 OS

Good battery backup

Cons

Outdated Micro USB port

Realme is a sub-brand of Oppo that was launched a couple of years ago to counter Xiaomi’s growing influence in the budget smartphone market in the Asian continent. 

The Realme C21 is the entry-level smartphone from the recently launched C series lineup targeting budget-conscious consumers looking to purchase their first smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The Realme C21 has a geometric art design on the back – it is the same design concept used in previous C15 and C12, but with little tweaks.

The polycarbonate back of this phone has a textured finish and rounded sides offer good grip to the hands.

Weighing at 190g and with 8.9mm thickness, this smartphone is comfortable for single-hand usage.

The rear panel has a box-shaped camera design that houses three lenses and an LED flashlight. Also, there is a fingerprint sensor for quick and secure screen unlock.

This is a dual SIM device with a dedicated SD card slot. It is quite unfortunate that this smartphone ships with an outdated micro USB port instead of a modern USB Type-C port.

Display

The Realme C21 sports a 6.5-inch HD+ LCD multi-touch waterdrop notch display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels.

This touch responsive panel has a maximum brightness level of 400 nits which is adequate for indoor use.

This panel is TÜV Rheinland certified for being safe enough for your eyes with prolonged continuous usage. 

The colours come out bright and vivid and the dynamic range of this display seems impressive as well. Bezels on the sides are slim which helps in providing an immersive media consumption experience.

Processor and Performance

The Realme C21 comes equipped with the powerful MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor designed on 12-nanometer architecture.

The 3GB RAM onboard will give you a snappy performance on daily usage and multitasking.

The PowerVR GE8320 GPU inside handles graphic processing quite well and you can run games like COD Mobile at playable frames with low graphics settings on this smartphone.

In terms of storage, the Realme C21 comes with 32GB of built-in storage which gives plenty of space to store photos, videos, and music. Furthermore, you can increase the storage capacity with an SD card. 

The Realme UI developed on top of Android 10 OS is what you get to experience on Realme C21. The user interface is quite clean with minimal bloatware. Realme is consistent with the security updates and is expected to seed the latest Android 11 update for this device soon. 

Camera

The Realme C21 houses a triple camera system in the rear and a single camera upfront. 

The 13MP main camera in the rear has an aperture size of f/2.2 clicks good quality images with a decent amount of details but it feels oversaturated at times. 

The low light performance leaves a lot of room for improvement. The 2MP B/W lens clicks images with a good amount of details. The 2MP macro lens captures detailed closed range shots but lacks finer details. 

The 5MP selfies camera shoots decent images under good lighting conditions. It maintains the natural skin tone well and covers a much wider frame.

When it comes to videos, both the rear and front cameras can record FHD videos at 30fps. 

Battery Life

The Realme C21 is powered by a massive 5000mAh battery that is rated to last up to 8-10 hours on continuous use. With moderate to heavy usage, this smartphone will last you easily over a day. 

The 10W charger given inside the box takes almost 3 hours to juice up the battery levels from 0-100 per cent.

You also get the option to charge other devices with this battery inside with the reverse charging feature on this device. 

Verdict

The Realme C21 is the latest addition to Realme’s budget centric C-series and with the plethora of good features that it ships with, this smartphone is worth checking out.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10
RAM3 GB
ROM32GB
ProcessorMediatek Helio G35
Camera13MP + 2MP + 2MP rear | 5MP front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.5-inch HD+ LCD

4. Redmi 9i

Redmi 9i

Value for Money Smartphone

  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Satisfactory everyday performance
  • Decent dot notch HD+ display
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Pros

Panda glass scratch protection

Aesthetically pleasing minimal design

Splash-proof p2i coating

Cons

Outdated micro USB port

The Redmi 9i is one of the entry-level 9 series smartphones from Redmi that was launched this year.

Priced just around Rs.8,000, this is one of the most anticipated smartphone releases in this quarter in India.

Design and Build Quality

The all-new Redmi 9i comes with a refreshed design that will appeal to the youth, thanks to the ergonomic rounded edges and attractively textured backplate.

This device has a plastic unibody construction and has a stylized design with an attractive Redmi branded strip that looks very premium.

The speaker on this device is located at the bottom side along with the micro USB 2.0 charging and data transfer port.

The front glass is protected by a layer of Panda scratch-resistant coating. The whole smartphone features a p2i water splash resistant coating and the ports themselves has rubber seals around to prevent water ingression.

To adapt to Indian conditions, the Redmi 9i features surge protection circuitry to keep the internals safe while charging the device from the AC outlet.

Overall, this smartphone has retained a decent build quality with a few cosmetic changes that now make it look more stylish than the previous iterations.

Display

The display on this device is a 6.53-inch IPS LCD panel with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels. 

The pixel density of this screen is approximately around 270ppi, which although is a low number, looks sharp and clean with the fancy user interface.

The display is adequately bright and the viewing angles are excellent without any colour washout.

This 20:9 aspect ratio display with minimal bezels around is apt for media consumption such as watching YouTube and other online streaming services such as NetFlix and Amazon Prime Video.

Processor and Performance

The Redmi 9i is powered by the Helio G25 entry-level gaming-oriented processor from MediaTek.

This octa-core chipset clocked at 2GHz coupled with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, the performance is smooth and lag-free with most of the causal apps apart from heavy games.

You can play games at lower graphics settings but we won’t recommend this smartphone if you’re a hardcore mobile gaming enthusiast.

The Android 10 OS with MIUI 12 on top is pretty much optimized for smooth performance on lower-end hardware, resulting in satisfactory entry-level smartphone usage.

Camera

The Redmi 9i has a single 13MP rear camera setup and a 5MP front camera with AI features baked into the camera interface.

The company claims that AI will improve the clarity of photos and remove aberrations from the same.

The photos and videos from these cameras are of decent quality for the price and suits well for social media uploads.

The rear camera is assisted with an LED flash for low light photography. This smartphone supports video recording at a maximum of 1080p at 30fps.

Battery Life

The Redmi 9i comes with a massive 5000mAh Li-ion battery inside which will last for at least two days in moderate to heavy usage scenarios.

The idle battery drain is very minimal with the latest MIUI 12 version which further reduces the overall power consumption and enhances the screen on time.

Verdict

If you love the MIUI skin and are interested in a no-frills device that gets frequent updates adding features on top, the Redmi 9i is worth checking out.

For an ordinary user, the Redmi 9i offers a budget alternative to the higher end Xiaomi phones while experiencing almost the same UI and feature set.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10.0 Q
ROM64GB
RAM4 GB
ProcessorMediaTek Helio G25
Camera13MP Rear Camera | 5MP Front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.53-inch HD+

5. Lava Z2

Lava Z2

Made in India Smartphone

  • Efficient G-series MediaTek processor
  • Colourful HD+ display
  • Bundled protective back cover
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Pros

Good battery backup

Android 10 Go Edition

USB-C port

Cons

No fingerprint reader

Lava is an Indian consumer electronics company popular for its budget smartphones and related accessories.

Lava Z2 is a made in India smartphone offering decent everyday performance for an asking price of Rs.7,399.

Design and Build Quality

The Lava Z2 smartphone features a polycarbonate back with a textured matte finish providing a nice grip to the hands and feels comfortable in the hands.

This device is 9mm thick and weighs 190 grams. The Lava Z2 can be used with a single hand and does not feel heavy in pockets.

Speaking of its physical overview, this smartphone has a USB-C charging port and an audio jack at the bottom. The volume and power buttons are provided on the right and are easily accessible.

This is a dual SIM device with a dedicated SD card slot for memory expansion. 

Display

The Lava Z2 sports a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS waterdrop notch display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels.

Thanks to the IPS technology, the colour reproduction is good and there is no colour shifting in the visuals when viewed from the sides. 

Bezels on the sides of this display are thin and the display has a tall aspect ratio of 20:9, making it ideal for social media usage. 

Lava has provided Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection to the display to prevent accidental scratches. 

Processor and Performance

The showrunner of the Lava Z2 is the MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core processor with a clock speed of 2.3GHz.

The 2GB RAM provides smooth performance on day to day tasks and you can also do casual multitasking.

With the onboard 32GB storage, you can store your photos and videos offline, and if the necessity for more space arises you can insert an SD card.

The device comes pre-installed with the Android 10 Go Edition which is a slim version of the original Android 10. This lightweight OS runs smoothly and since it’s stock android the experience will be delightful without ads and bloatwares.

Camera

The Lava Z2 features a dual-camera at the back consisting of a 13MP main lens followed by the 2MP AF lens.

Photos from the main camera look okay and at times the colours appear a bit oversaturated.

There is no electronic image stabilization feature on this phone so if you are recording a video make sure to hold the phone tight.

The portrait shots come out decent and the most annoying thing about the entire camera software is that shutter sound, it itches in the ears.

Speaking of the front camera, the device has an 8MP sensor that takes decent selfies under good lighting conditions. 

Battery Life

The Lava Z2 is powered by a 5000mAh lithium-polymer battery that is rated to last up to an entire day with moderate to heavy use.

The bundled 10W power adapter juices up the smartphone battery from 0 – 100 in 3 hours 15 minutes.

Verdict

The Lava Z2 is an excellent device for regular users who like to consume media and need a smartphone for routine activities like calls, messaging, and social media.

Lava also gives a 1-year free screen replacement which most companies don’t provide.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10 Go Edition
ROM32GB
RAM2 GB
ProcessorMediatek Helio G35
Camera13MP + 2MP rear | 8MP front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.5-inch HD+ IPS

6. Infinix Hot 10 Play

Infinix Hot 10 Play

Feature-rich Smartphone

  • G-series MediaTek processor
  • Shiny design
  • Narrow bezel full view display
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Pros

Fingerprint scanner

Exceptional battery life

Android 10 out of the box

Cons

Heavy

MicroUSB port for charging

Infinix has its fair share of success in the Indian market competing against the likes of Xiaomi, Micromax, Realme and Samsung.

The Infinix Hot 10 Play is a budget smartphone priced under Rs.8,000 packed with features to the brim. 

Design and Build Quality

The Infinix Hot 10 Play has a glossy finish polycarbonate back and it has an aesthetically pleasing design pattern on it which is visible in broad daylight as you move the smartphone around.

The design is flashy and the device weighs considerably at 207 grams.

It’s a big smartphone so holding it in hand for the first time might feel uncomfortable but you will get used to it within a week.

The fingerprint scanner is located at the rear side which is easily accessible.

This device sports dual SIM card slots with 4G connectivity and a dedicated SD card slot for memory expansion. 

Display

The Infinix Hot 10 Play sports a 6.82-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1640 pixels.

The thin bezels help provide a massive screen to body ratio of 90.66%.

The display is touch responsive and sufficiently bright enough for effortless use. Thanks to the IPS technology, the colour reproduction is better and the viewing angles are also good.

Processor and Performance

The Infinix Hot 10 Play comes equipped with the MediaTek Helio G25 octa-core SoC designed on 12-nm architecture.

The 3GB of RAM on board delivers a smooth everyday performance. Games can be played but high-end games like COD: Mobile and BGMI will lag for sure.

The device has 32GB of storage built-in and you can further expand the storage capacity using the dedicated microSD card slot.

The Infinix Hot 10 Play comes pre-installed with the XOS 7 based on Android 10 OS. It takes a couple of hours to get used to the UI, and the customized OS does have some unnecessary applications which you can remove manually.

Camera

The Infinix Hot 10 Play has a dual-camera setup consisting of a 13MP primary lens and an assisting AI lens.

The main camera captures decent photos – the colours and details are good enough but sharpness is not as expected.

The secondary AI lens helps beautify the image and click good quality portrait photos.

The 8MP selfie camera is just okay – in broad daylight, you will get clear images but it boosts the whites a lot. 

Battery Life

The mammoth 6000mAh battery inside powers the Infinix Hot 10 Play for an entire day and a half with normal to heavy use.

The bundled 10W charger juices up the laptop battery from zero to full in 3 hours.

Verdict

The Infinix Hot 10 Play is a good budget smartphone for media enthusiasts and regular users.

Under the price of Rs.8,000, what you get is a feature-rich smartphone that provides a satisfactory performance and user experience.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10
ROM32GB
RAM3 GB
ProcessorMediatek Helio G35
Camera13MP + Depth sensor | 8MP front
Battery6000mAh
Display6.82-inch HD+ IPS

7. Tecno Spark 8

Tecno Spark 8

Affordable Smartphone

  • MediaTek Helio processor
  • HD+ IPS display
  • Android 11 Go Edition
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Pros

Rear fingerprint scanner

Excellent battery life

Modern design

Cons

Outdated micro USB port

Tecno mobile is a subsidiary of Transsion holdings, a consumer electronics company based in Shenzhen, China.

The Spark 8 from Tecno is a feature-rich smartphone priced under Rs.8,000, which we think is the ideal choice for those who are looking for an entry-level smartphone.

Design and Build Quality

The backside and frames of the Tecno Spark 8 are made out of good quality polycarbonate material.

However, the back attracts a lot of fingerprint marks and smudges in daily use. Fret not, Tecno has provided a transparent case that will solve the problem in an instant.

The design of this smartphone resembles that of the Realme Narzo 50A, – the camera module is stretched to include the fingerprint sensor.

This budget Android smartphone weighs 200 grams but it does not feel that bulky while carrying in the pocket.

Unfortunately, Tecno Spark 8 comes with the outdated micro USB port instead of the modern Type-C port.

Display

The Tecno Spark 8 features a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels.

The bezels from the sides and top are minimal. This wide viewing display is excellent for consuming media content.

This IPS panel produces good colours and you can even view the details without any colour shift at odd angles. 

This display comes with a peak brightness of 480 nits, and it is adequate for trouble-free indoor as well as outdoor use. 

Processor and Performance

The Tecno Spark 8 is powered by the MediaTek Helio P22 octa-core processor that is paired with the 2GB RAM.

You will get decent performance on everyday use but with multitasking, you might face some hiccups. 

In terms of gaming performance, light casual games can be played but with intense games such as BGMI and COD, don’t expect this entry-level smartphone to perform any better. 

The device comes with 64GB storage where you can store all multimedia files and documents. You can also use a dedicated external SD card slot to increase the storage capacity.

This device comes pre-installed with the HIOS 7.6 designed on top of Android 11 Go Edition.

Camera

The Tecno Spark 8 features a dual camera setup at the back which includes a 16MP primary lens and AI sensor.

The main rear camera takes good photos, image detailing is great and photos look vivid.

The AI sensor helps take bokeh photos and you will be amazed by the final results.

You can record videos in 480p, 720p and 1080p at 30 fps. However, there is no option for stabilization so use a tripod or gimbal if you are recording videos.

The 8MP front-facing camera captures quality selfie pictures that have good detailing and natural skin tones.

Battery Life

The Tecno Spark 8 is powered by a 5000mAh lithium battery and is rated to last up to an entire day with a full charge.

The 10W charger takes almost 3 hours to fully recharge the battery.

Verdict

The Tecno Spark 8 is a good quality smartphone for everyday use and is priced under just Rs.8,000.

If you are looking for a smartphone with the latest software and good performance, then this is it.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11 Go Edition
ROM64 GB
RAM2 GB
ProcessorMediaTek Helio P22
Camera16MP + AI lens rear | 8MP front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.52-inch HD+ IPS

8. Realme Narzo 50i

realme Narzo 50i

Entry-level Smartphone

  • Decent everyday performance
  • Bright HD+ display
  • Intuitive UI
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Pros

Good battery life

Impressive design

Dual SIM + dedicated microSD card slot

Cons

No fingerprint scanner

Till now we only saw C-series smartphones in the budget range but now Realme has recently rolled out its Narzo series entry-level smartphone in the Indian market.

The Realme Narzo 50i packs entry-level hardware and offers decent performance for the asking price of Rs.7,499.

Design and Build Quality

The back panel and frame of the Realme Narzo 50i are made out of polycarbonate material.

We like the design though – it has a premium-looking camera module, and below that there is a diagonal stripe design.

This smartphone weighs around 196 grams and yes, it does feel a bit heavy in the hands.

While designing this smartphone realme sure has cut down some features to make this smartphone more affordable. The major compromised feature we found is the lack of a fingerprint sensor and modern USB-C port.

You get dual SIM support along with a dedicated SD card slot for storage expansion with this smartphone. 

Display

The Realme Narzo 50i sports a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels.

The display is a crucial part of the smartphone because it’s the most used hardware and Realme has not compromised in this regard.

This panel is bright and thanks to the IPS technology, the visuals look vivid and there is no issue with the viewing angles.

Except for the bottom chin, the bezels on the other three sides are minimal which provides a large screen area to use.

Processor and Performance

The Realme Narzo 50i is powered by the Unisoc 9863A octa-core processor.

This processor paired with the 2GB of RAM offers decent everyday performance. In terms of gaming, we like to say that don’t run heavy games on this device otherwise it will lag for sure.

About the storage, this device comes with 32GB internal storage, and with the help of an SD card you can extend the storage capacity.

The Naro 50i comes pre-installed with the Realme UI Go Edition based on Android 11 OS.

Camera

At the rear, the Realme Narzo 50i houses a single 8MP primary camera followed by an LED flashlight.

The primary camera isn’t anything mind-blowing. The pictures taken have decent colour reproduction but the image lacks sharpness.

The camera mode has very limited options, thankfully, you get a portrait mode so you can click bokeh photos in good lighting conditions.

The 5MP selfie camera can be turned okay as best and captures decent selfies in broad daylight.

Battery Life

The Realme Narzo 50i has a 5000mAh lithium battery inside that will last for an entire day’s heavy usage.

The bundled 10W charger will recharge the battery from zero to full in 2:30 hours.

Verdict

The Realme Narzo 50i is an entry-level smartphone for people who need to do just basic tasks like browsing social media, voice calling, and media consumption.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 11
ROM32 GB
RAM2 GB
ProcessorUnisoc SC9863A
Camera9MP rear | 5MP front camera
Battery5000mAh
Display6.5-inch HD+ IPS display

9. Samsung Galaxy M02

Samsung Galaxy M02

Best Non-chinese Smartphone

  • One UI 2.0 based on Android 10
  • Excellent battery life
  • Intuitive One UI
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Pros

Dedicated SD card slot

Touch responsive display

Robust build quality

Cons

Heavy

It’s quite rare to see a Samsung smartphone under the price range of Rs.8,000.

Samsung Galaxy M02 is a basic smartphone with 4G connectivity priced at Rs.7,499. 

Design and Build Quality

This Samsung device has a polycarbonate back with a textured finish. Previous M-series phones from Samsung features glossy back and attracts fingerprint smudges so quickly.

However, the M02 has a textured back finish that isn’t susceptible to fingerprint smudges, whatsoever. 

This smartphone feels quite heavy in hand, primarily because of the large-capacity battery inside.

The volume buttons and the power button are placed on the right side of the frame. 

Speaking for the external ports, this smartphone has the standard 3.5mm audio jack and an old-school micro USB port for charging and data transfer.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy M02 features a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels.

Even though it is not a super AMOLED panel, the colour reproduction is still good.

Consuming media content on this slim bezel panel is surely a delightful experience. Also, the brightness levels are decent enough for the price and there’s no issue with the indoor usability.

Processor and Performance

A Mediatek MT6739W quad-core processor powers the Samsung Galaxy M02 and this is where Samsung did some of the cost-cutting.

The 3GB RAM inside is sufficient enough for everyday tasks such as web browsing and media consumption. 

Don’t expect this smartphone to be capable of gaming with titles such as PUBG Mobile and CS: GO mobile. 

The Samsung Galaxy M02 has 32GB internal storage with the provision of memory expansion via a dedicated SD card slot.

Samsung Galaxy M02 comes pre-installed with the Android 10 OS with One UI 2.0 skin on top.

Camera

In the rear, the Samsung Galaxy M02 has a 13MP main camera and a 2MP macro lens.

Photos taken from the primary camera have good details and colour reproduction, provided they are shot under good daylight conditions. The macro shooter allows you to capture objects very close to the lens.

The 5MP selfie lens lacks colour correction and images look softer but It can be fixed with OS updates.

There is no stabilization of any sort in this smartphone resulting in the videos shot with this phone turns out to be shaky and jittery.

Battery Life

Battery capacity is a USP of M-series smartphones and this one is no different either.

The Samsung Galaxy M02 is powered by a 5000mAh battery that lasts for up to two days of moderate usage.

The bundled charger takes around three hours to completely juice up this mammoth battery. 

Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy M02 is a feature-rich budget Android smartphone ideal for elder citizens who want to familiarize themselves with the smartphone world.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10.0 Q
ROM32 GB
RAM3 GB
ProcessorMediatek MT6739W
Camera13MP + 2MP Rear, 5MP selfie
Battery5000mAh
Display6.5-inch HD+

10. Infinix Smart 5

Best Budget Smartphone

  • Solid build quality
  • Long-lasting battery life
  • Good HD+ display
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Pros

Android 10 Go edition OS

Flashy design

Decent quality camera

Cons

Hefty

Infinix is a HongKong based smartphone manufacturer known for its value for money, affordable entry-level smartphones in the Asian subcontinent. 

The Smart 5 from Infinix is their latest offering in the affordable Smart series lineup costing just Rs.7,199 in the Indian market. 

Design and Build Quality

The Infinix Smart 5 has a full-body plastic construction which doesn’t feel cheap at all. The gradient finish paint job in the rear makes this device look a lot similar to some of the newer Motorola devices.

The large rectangular camera bump in the rear houses the dual rear cameras along with a four LED flash. 

At the first glance, you may get easily fooled as the bump imitates having triple cameras on board. 

Besides the camera bump, there is a physical fingerprint scanner that works pretty fast and accurate. 

The overall fit and finish of the Smart 5 from Infinix is very much acceptable for its asking price. 

All the buttons including the volume rockers and the power button are placed on the right side of the frame whereas the micro USB port and the 3.5mm audio jack are in the bottom section. 

This budget Android smartphone is 8.9mm thick and weighs substantially around 207g which is slightly more than some of its competitors.

Display

The Infinix Smart 5 features a 6.82-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1640 pixels.

Since this is a larger display, the pixel density is slightly lower but that doesn’t count as a deal-breaker. 

If you are into watching movies and media content a lot from smartphones, you will find this display useful.

This panel has an impressive peak brightness of 440nits, which is more than enough to deliver pleasant indoor as well as outdoor usage. 

Processor and Performance

The processor inside the Infinix Smart 5 is the MediaTek Helio G25. It is an octa-core CPU with equal importance for performance and power efficiency. 

We are not a huge fan of the limited 2GB RAM but if you stick with just casual usage including media consumption and web browsing, it should suffice. 

The 32GB internal storage is standard as expected and you have the provision to expand the storage capacity via a dedicated SD card slot. 

This device runs on Android 10 Go edition OS with XOS 7 UI on top. The Go edition version of Android is optimized for smooth performance on lower-powered handsets. 

Camera

The Infinix Smart 5 has a 13MP main camera with a low light sensor on the rear.

The images taken from this smartphone turns out to be quite decent when shot in daylight. The dynamic range is impressive and colours come out good as well.  

There is the option for taking portrait mode photos with a decent bokeh effect. The 8MP selfie camera delivers good results when shot in good lighting conditions. 

Battery Life

The Infinix Smart 5 is the second smartphone after Tecno with a giant 6000mAh battery inside. You can expect this smartphone to last up to two days with moderate to heavy usage. 

The bundled 10W charger juices up the battery from 0-100% slowly, taking somewhere between 3-4 hours. 

Verdict

Infinix Smart 5 is a decent everyday smartphone with decent performance and exceptional battery life. 

If you are not into gaming, this smartphone will satisfy your needs under a strict budget of just Rs.7,199.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10 Go Edition
ROM32 GB
RAM2 GB
ProcessorMediaTek Helio G25
Camera13MP + Low light sensor, 8MP Front
Battery6000mAh
Display6.82-inch HD+ IPS

11. Tecno Spark Go 2021

Tecno Spark Go 2021

Honourable Mention

  • Entry-level quad-core processor
  • Decent HD+ IPS display
  • 12-months warranty
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Pros

Rear fingerprint scanner

Unique design

Dedicated memory card slot

Cons

Average outdoor legibility

Tecno is adding more smartphones to its product portfolio to keep up with the competition from Redmi, Realme and Samsung.

As the name suggests, the device is released in 2021 and is available for purchase for a budget under Rs.8,000.

Design and Build Quality

The Tecno Spark Go 2021 has a unique curved lining design that looks good.

Thanks to this textured design, it provides a better grip in the hand and prevents fingerprint marks.

This smartphone weighs only 193 grams even though it’s bulky with a large capacity battery inside.

You can easily carry it in a pant pocket and speaking of usability, the device is convenient for one-hand usage.

It’s 2021, yet the device is still manufactured with the micro USB port and not the USB-C port.

The fingerprint sensor is located at the backside of the smartphone and is easily accessible.

For the best audio experience, we recommend using a pair of good earphones instead of using smartphone speakers.

Display

The Tecno Spark Go 2021 features a 6.52-inch HD+ IPS display with a resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels.

This IPS panel provides good colours and viewing angles. The display is touch responsive, however, the app opening and closing will be a bit slower compared to mid-range smartphones.

With a maximum brightness of 480 nits, you can use this smartphone conveniently indoors.It’s an only HD display, yet still, you can play FHD content without any jitters in visuals.

Processor and Performance

The Tecno Spark Go 2021 comes equipped with a quad-core processor that is clocked at 1.8GHz.

The processor brand is not disclosed by the brand but from our research, we find that in day to day use or while doing normal multitasking, there is no noticeable lag or stutter.

The variant we listed here is the one with 2GB RAM and 32GB internal storage.

If you find storage is not sufficient, then you can increase the storage capacity using a memory card as the device features a dedicated memory card slot.

The device comes pre-installed with the HIOS 6.2 based on the Android 10 Go Edition.

Camera

The Tecno Spark Go 2021 houses dual camera setup that includes a 13MP primary sensor and an AI sensor.

The primary camera of this smartphone clicks good quality images. At this price, you can’t get any better than this, the detail in the image is decent and colour reproduction is also good.

You will also get 4x zoom but we recommend not using it as pictures do not look pleasant.

The AI sensor is provided so users can take nice portrait pictures and it also has a dedicated AI CAM option that takes good photos.

The 8MP selfie camera captures decent selfies photos.

Battery Life

The Tecno Spark Go 2021 is powered by a 5000mAh lithium battery and is rated to provide up to 14 hours of backup on a single charge.

The bundled 10W charger takes nearly 3 hours to fully charge the battery levels.

Verdict

The Tecno Spark Go is an ideal entry-level smartphone for students and first-time smartphone users.

Specifications

Operating SystemAndroid 10 Go Edition
ROM32 GB
RAM2 GB
ProcessorQuad-core processor
Camera13MP + AI lens rear | 8MP front
Battery5000mAh
Display6.52-inch HD+ IPS

That sums up our curated list of the eleven best smartphones in India under Rs.8,000. With this article, we hope that we have helped you pick the right smartphone suiting your needs.

If you have any queries or if you think we have left out any good smartphones under Rs.8,000, don’t hesitate to let us in the comment section below.

As always, thanks for your time and have a great day!

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