Best phones under Rs 12,000 in India for July 2018

A good phone under Rs 15,000 isn't the most difficult to find nowadays since there are plenty to choose from, but the options under Rs 12,000 are very limited. When you look for some good options, there are phones that were first launched at a higher price in early 2017, but are available at cheaper rates today. A good example is the Moto G5 Plus or Honor 6X.

To help you find the right phone for your budget, we have selected the best phones under Rs 12,000. The list contains phones that are old but still lead the segment and some of them have recently been launched at a lower price.

Don't need to worry about cost? Check out our best phone list

Asus has made a comeback in the Indian market with a new approach in the shape of the Zenfone Max Pro M1. The phone, unlike the previous models is free from the cluttered ZenUI and instead runs stock Android.

There are more than just one highlight of the phone. There's a 5000mAh battery that's even larger than the benchmark Redmi Note 5 Pro's 4000mAh cell. On top of that, there's Snapdragon 636, making it the cheapest phone with this chipset. The Rs 10,999 has a 3GB RAM and 32GB storage, that can sail through all the basic tasks without a stutter.

Read the full review: Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1

The Xiaomi Redmi Y2 is a camera centric device from Xiaomi aimed at selfie lovers. It is a major upgrade over its predecessor and offers excellent value for money. Xiaomi has powered the device with the Snapdragon 625 SoC, which it has used in multiple devices till now.

Apart from a dual camera setup, the device also brings the 18:9 display to the Redmi Y series, allowing users to enjoy a taller display. If you are looking for a device under Rs. 12,000, the Redmi Y2 3GB + 32GB storage variant is a good option at Rs. 9,999.

Read the full review: Xiaomi Redmi Y2

The Honor 9 Lite has everything going for itself in the design department with the shiny 2.5D glass on front and back. It looks just too premium for its price, especially in the Sapphire Blue colour variant.

The 18:9 aspect ratio display is vibrant and is reason enough to buy this phone. It also has a quad-camera setup. The front-facing cameras capture some good pictures while the rear one leaves much to be desired. There's no fast charge support which might be a deal breaker for some.

Do note that only the 3GB RAM variant will fall under Rs 12K.

Read the full review: Honor 9 Lite review

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 continues to recreate the value for money proposition it has been known for. It packs a solid set of specification, a new 18:9 display, hefty battery and a decent display. The only issue with the phone is its old software and design language, which isn't bad, but it is boring.

Still, for its price, the phone offers the best value under Rs 12,000 when compared to its competitors.

Read the full review: Redmi Note 5 review

The Redmi 5 succeeds the Redmi 4 from Xiaomi, and it's a huge upgrade over its predecessor in terms of display and internals. But the design still remains identical to the older Xiaomi phones.

It runs Snapdragon 450, which is the latest chipset for budget phones and works pretty well in day-to-day usage. There are three RAM variants of the phone but the 3GB variant at Rs 8,999 offers the best value for money proposition. Despite a cut in the battery, it can easily sail you through a full day of usage. The build is solid and new display looks like a great alternative to consume media on the go.

Read the full review: Xiaomi Redmi 5 review

The Honor 7X is another affordable phone featuring a dual camera setup and 18:9 display. While the device is originally priced at Rs. 13,999, it is being offered at a discount of Rs. 2,000 for some time now, making it eligible for this list.

Just like its predecessor, the Honor 7X also features an aluminium body and Corning Gorilla glass protection at the front. The device offers decent performance, a good camera setup and premium build with an affordable price tag.

Read the full review: Honor 7X

With the Realme brand, Oppo has entered the online exclusive segment aiming to take on its Chinese counterpart Xiaomi in the budget and mid-range segment. The Realme 1 features a unique diamond cut pattern that allows it to stand out among the similarly designed devices in this segment.

While the device lacks a dual camera setup, it makes up for it with its unique design, powerful processor and AI portrait mode. The Oppo Realme 1 4GB RAM + 64GB storage variant at Rs. 10,990 is a good option if you are looking for a device that stands out.

With a Snapdragon 430 processor and 3GB of RAM, the Moto G5 does make some compromises, but provides decent day-to-day performance. Having the latest version of Android out-of-the-box makes it rare among its competitors.

The 13MP rear shooter is quite dependable for the sub-12k mark. If you want to be able to take good photos but can't afford to buy a high-end phone, this is a phone you should consider.

The missing fingerprint reader and a flush metal design is an incremental upgrade over its predecessor.

Read the full review: Moto G5

The Honor 6X was the first to bring a dual camera to the mid-range segment. Not just that, the camera onboard the 6X is a pretty good snapper while the slick metal unibody makes it feel like a premium smartphone.

The hardware is not as good as the Redmi Note 4, but still the closest to it than the other competition in this range. For those who want a good camera phone with premium build quality and decent performance, the Honor 6X is pretty good.

Read the full review: Honor 6X