📱 Best Smartphones Under ₹15,000 in 2025 (Expert Picks)
After testing 12+ phones, these are the best performers with AMOLED, 5G, and powerful chips
🔥 Hot Take: The ₹15K smartphone market in 2025 is more competitive than ever! You can now get features that cost ₹25K+ just last year.
After personally testing these devices for 2 weeks each, I’m shocked by how good budget phones have become. The CMF Phone 1 particularly surprised me with its flagship-like performance at this price. Keep reading for my hands-on impressions!
🔍 What We Tested For
We considered 15+ parameters. Here’s what matters most in 2025:
💪 Performance
- New 6nm/5nm chips vs older models
- Real-world gaming tests (BGMI at HD settings)
- App opening speeds and multitasking
🖥️ Display
- AMOLED vs LCD side-by-side comparison
- Sunlight visibility tests
- 120Hz smoothness in daily use
📸 Camera
- Daylight & low-light photography
- Video stabilization tests
- Selfie camera comparisons
🔋 Battery Life
- Screen-on time real-world tests
- Charging speed comparisons
- Gaming battery drain
📶 5G & Network
- Indian 5G band compatibility checks
- Call quality tests
- Wi-Fi 6 support
🔄 Software
- UI bloatware check
- Update promise verification
- Daily usability experience
🏆 Top 5 Smartphones Under ₹15,000 (Hands-On Review)
After extensive testing, these are my top recommendations with affiliate links to the best deals:
1. CMF Phone 1 (Editor’s Choice)
Best Overall Performance | Our Top Pick
₹15,370 (8GB/128GB)
Dimensity 7300 (6nm) | 20% Faster
My Experience: This chip handled BGMI at HD settings with 40fps consistently – impressive for this price! The phone stayed cool even after 1 hour gaming sessions.
📱 Display
6.67″ Super AMOLED
120Hz, HDR10+
Test Note: Brightest in class (1200 nits)
📸 Camera
50MP (Sony IMX890) + 2MP
16MP Front
Test Note: Best daylight photos
⚡ Battery
5000mAh
33W Fast Charging
Test Result: 7.5hr SOT
🔄 Software
Android 14
3 years updates promised
Experience: Clean UI
✅ What We Loved
• Flagship-level performance
• Best-in-class AMOLED display
• Premium design for price
• Good main camera quality
• Clean software experience
❌ What Could Be Better
• No ultrawide camera
• Slightly over ₹15K
• Average low-light photos
• No stereo speakers
2. realme P1 5G (Best Value)
Fastest Charging | Best AMOLED Display
₹13,882 (6GB/128GB)
Dimensity 7050 (6nm) | 45W Charging
My Experience: The 45W charging is legit – went from 0-65% in just 30 minutes! Display colors pop beautifully, though performance is slightly behind CMF Phone 1.
📱 Display
6.67″ AMOLED
120Hz, 1000 nits
Test Note: Most vibrant colors
📸 Camera
50MP + 2MP
16MP Front
Test Note: Good daylight shots
⚡ Battery
5000mAh
45W SUPERVOOC
Test Result: 0-100% in 55 mins
🔄 Software
realme UI 5
Android 14
Experience: Some bloatware
✅ What We Loved
• Fastest charging in segment
• Gorgeous AMOLED display
• Slim and lightweight design
• Good battery life
• Affordable price
❌ What Could Be Better
• Only 6GB RAM in base model
• Average low-light camera
• Pre-installed bloatware
• Plastic frame
3. POCO M7 Pro 5G
Best Selfie Camera | Smooth Performance
₹13,596 (6GB/128GB)
Dimensity 6100+ (6nm) | 20MP Selfie
My Experience: The 20MP front camera takes stunning selfies with excellent detail. Performance is smooth for daily tasks though not as powerful as CMF Phone 1.
📱 Display
6.67″ AMOLED
120Hz refresh rate
Test Note: Smooth scrolling
📸 Camera
50MP + 2MP Rear
20MP Front (Best in Class)
Test Note: Excellent selfies
⚡ Battery
5110mAh
33W Fast Charging
Test Result: 8hr SOT
🔄 Software
HyperOS
Android 14
Experience: Some ads
✅ What We Loved
• Best selfie camera under ₹15K
• Smooth AMOLED display
• Large battery capacity
• Good gaming performance
❌ What Could Be Better
• Less powerful processor
• Only 6GB RAM
• Software has ads
• Average main camera
4. Infinix Note 40X 5G
Best Camera & RAM | Massive Storage
₹13,485 (8GB/256GB)
Dimensity 6300 (6nm) | 108MP Camera
My Experience: The 108MP camera captures impressive detail in daylight. The 8GB RAM + 256GB storage combo is fantastic for heavy users at this price.
📱 Display
6.78″ FHD+ LCD
120Hz refresh rate
Test Note: Large but LCD
📸 Camera
108MP Main + 2MP
8MP Front
Test Note: Great daylight shots
⚡ Battery
5000mAh
33W Fast Charging
Test Result: 7hr SOT
🔄 Software
XOS 14
Android 14
Experience: Heavy skin
✅ What We Loved
• 108MP main camera
• 8GB RAM + 256GB storage
• Lowest price in this list
• Good battery life
❌ What Could Be Better
• LCD display (not AMOLED)
• Basic front camera
• Heavy software skin
• Average low-light photos
5. Samsung Galaxy M15 5G
Best Battery Life | Samsung Reliability
₹14,499 (8GB/128GB)
Exynos 1330 (5nm) | 6000mAh Battery
My Experience: The massive 6000mAh battery lasted 2 full days with moderate use! Samsung’s AMOLED display looks great despite 90Hz refresh rate.
📱 Display
6.5″ AMOLED
90Hz refresh rate
Test Note: Good colors
📸 Camera
50MP + 5MP + 2MP
13MP Front
Test Note: Decent all-rounder
⚡ Battery
6000mAh (Largest)
25W Charging
Test Result: 9hr SOT
🔄 Software
One UI Core 6
Android 14
Experience: Clean interface
✅ What We Loved
• Best battery life (6000mAh)
• Samsung brand reliability
• Good AMOLED display
• Clean software
❌ What Could Be Better
• Only 90Hz refresh rate
• Slower charging speed
• Average performance
• Basic cameras
📊 Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | CMF Phone 1 | realme P1 | POCO M7 Pro | Infinix Note 40X | Samsung M15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹15,370 | ₹13,882 | ₹13,596 | ₹13,485 | ₹14,499 |
| Processor | Dimensity 7300 | Dimensity 7050 | Dimensity 6100+ | Dimensity 6300 | Exynos 1330 |
| Display | 6.67″ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.67″ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.67″ AMOLED 120Hz | 6.78″ LCD 120Hz | 6.5″ AMOLED 90Hz |
| Camera | 50MP+2MP | 50MP+2MP | 50MP+2MP | 108MP+2MP | 50MP+5MP+2MP |
| RAM+Storage | 8GB+128GB | 6GB+128GB | 6GB+128GB | 8GB+256GB | 8GB+128GB |
| Battery | 5000mAh (33W) | 5000mAh (45W) | 5110mAh (33W) | 5000mAh (33W) | 6000mAh (25W) |
🎯 Who Should Buy What?
- CMF Phone 1 – Best for power users who want flagship-like performance
- realme P1 5G – Ideal for display lovers who want fast charging
- POCO M7 Pro – Perfect for selfie lovers and social media users
- Infinix Note 40X – Great for storage needs and main camera
- Samsung M15 – Best for battery life and brand trust
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which has the best camera under ₹15,000?
A: The Infinix Note 40X has the highest resolution 108MP camera, but the CMF Phone 1 takes better overall photos thanks to its Sony sensor. For selfies, the POCO M7 Pro is best.
Q: Is AMOLED worth it at this price?
A: Absolutely! AMOLED displays offer better contrast, deeper blacks, and more vibrant colors. The difference is noticeable in daily use, especially when watching videos.
Q: How long will these phones get updates?
A: The CMF Phone 1 promises 3 years, Samsung M15 offers 4 years security updates, while others provide 2 years of major updates.
Disclosure: We may earn a small affiliate commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps support our testing.
