Best Smartphones Under Rs. 8,000: November 2014

Several new phone launches in the last three months mean that the sub-Rs. 8,000 category has a lot more good options to choose from. We have put together a list of our favourite phones that cost up to Rs. 8,000, and in our list you’ll find phones that have great performance, good cameras or battery life, along with some choices that promise to get you the latest software updates quickly. Take a look.

Xiaomi Redmi 1S
The Redmi 1S (Review | Pictures) possibly has the best performance in its category, along with a good display and great battery life. The camera on the phone isn’t too great, and the design of the handset leaves something to be desired , but aside from these minor quibbles, the phone is a great buy – when it’s available anyway.

Android One smartphones
The Micromax Canvas A1, the Karbonn Sparkle V and the Spice Dream Uno are all famous as the launch handsets for Android One. Priced between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 6,500, there’s not much to distinguish between the three phones, as you can see in this combined review of all three phones.

While the hardware isn’t actually a standout for the price, buying one of these phones gives you stock Android with very little bloat, and the promise of guaranteed updates, something that is often a problem for cheaper devices.

If you’re looking for the best performance or battery life then there are better options on the market at the same price point, but all three Android One phones are a good option for someone looking for an entry-level handset.

Motorola Moto E
If you want the stock Android experience but aren’t interested in buying the Android One handsets, then the Moto E (Review | Pictures) is a good alternative. The phone is one of the best looking in this category, and the stock Android interface runs smoothly – and the phone will also be getting updates quickly.

The Moto E has a pretty bad camera, but its performance is really good for the price, as is the design. The battery life is a little low but again, given the price of the phone, it’s not unreasonable. For these reasons, the Moto E can be a pretty good choice.

Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM
While the phone was launched for Rs. 11,500 it has seen a price cut to around Rs. 7,500 and at that price, you won’t find any handset that can compete in terms of battery life. The Nokia Lumia 630 Dual SIM (Review | Pictures) doesn’t just have its great battery life going for it either – the phone has very good build quality, and depending on your personal tastes, the design is a winner as well. The camera and the display have room for improvement, but it offers pretty good value for money at its current price.

Huawei Honor Holly
The Huawei Honor Holly (Review | Pictures) launched at Rs. 6,999 – and at that price, you’re basically getting it for the big 5-inch 720×1280 pixel display. The camera on the Honor Holly is not going to thrill anyone, and the glossy rear cover is a fingerprint magnet, but the phone comes with 16GB of storage and the performance is pretty good for the price too.

Asus ZenFone 4
Priced under Rs. 6,000, the Asus ZenFone 4 (Review | Pictures) is a good choice for people who want an all purpose phone that looks good as well. This 4-inch phone is the entry level ZenFone model and it is powered by a 1.2GHz processor with 1GB of RAM, and a 5-megapixel rear camera. It’s an all-rounder with good design, a nice camera and solid build quality, though the battery life and screen visibility were a little disappointing.

These are our picks for Android phones that cost less than Rs. 8,000. Which Android phone would you buy for Rs. 8,000 or less? Tell us via the comments.