Top budget-friendly gaming phones

Gaming on smartphones has gained immense popularity over the years, and with it, the demand for phones tailored to this experience. Recognizing this trend, smartphone manufacturers have started producing budget-friendly devices optimised for gaming. These phones strike a balance between performance, features, and affordability, making them accessible to a wider audience.

• Xiaomi Redmi 9 Prime

The arrival of Redmi 9 Prime was like a breath of fresh air in a market that had been rocked by price increases brought on by changes in India’s GST rates. With the Redmi 9 Prime, which has a price below Rs 10,000, you get a quad camera configuration, a really good chipset, good battery life, and even support for fast charging. The intense push from Samsung and Realme in 2017 caused Xiaomi to lose some of its allure, but the Redmi 9 Prime restored it to the top of the pack for this price range.

Specifications: 

• Performance: Octa core (2 GHz dual core and 1.8 GHz hexa core) MediaTek Helio G80 4 GB RAM
• Display: 6.53 inches (16.59 cm) IPS LCD, 395 PPI, 60 Hz Refresh Rate
• Camera: 13+8+5+2MP quad primary cameras, LED Flash, 8 MP Front Camera
• Battery: 5020 mAh Battery with Fast Charging
• Type-C USB Port

• POCO C55

A great pick for smartphones around Rs 10,000 is the POCO C55, which has a price of Rs 9,499. A MediaTek Helio G85 SoC, 4GB or 6GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of internal storage are included. Additionally, the smartphone has a 50 MP primary camera for taking pictures, and its front is dominated by a 6.71-inch panel with HD+ resolution. Last but not least, a normal 5,000mAh cell that can be charged at 10W is available to meet the battery needs.

Specifications:

• Performance: Octa core (2 GHz dual core and 1.8 GHz hexa core), MediaTek Helio G85, 4 GB RAM
• Display: 6.71 inches (17.04 cm), IPS LCD, 268 PPI
• Camera: Dual Primary 50 MP + 2 MP Cameras, Flashing LED, front camera 5 MP
• Battery: 5000 mAh battery 
• Non-Removable Micro-USB Port

• Realme C55

The Realme C55 has a stylish appearance and a respectable MediaTek G88 CPU that is capable of supporting typical smartphone usage. For the price, its 6.72-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate is outstanding, and the camera’s outside performance is really good. The phone also has a 33W rapid charging system, a 5,000mAh battery, and a mini-capsule feature.

Specifications:

• Performance: Octa core (2 GHz dual core and 1.8 GHz hexa core), MediaTek Helio G88, 4GB
• Display: 6.72 inches (17.07 cm), IPS LCD, 392 PPI, 90 Hz Refresh Rate
• Camera: Dual Primary Cameras with 64 MP and 2 MP Cameras, LED Flash, 8 MP Front Camera
• Battery: 5000 mAh Battery, VOOC Super Charging
• Type-C USB Port

• Realme C33

A 6.2-inch LCD screen with HD+ resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate is included in the Realme C33. Additionally, it boasts a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging and easily lasts a day under normal use. You will receive Realme UI S Edition, an Android 12-based user interface. The 50MP primary sensor on the camera side shoots pictures, while the 5MP camera on the front is in charge. Finally, Unisoc’s T612 SoC, which can support up to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, handles processing needs.

Specifications:

• Performance: Octa core (1.82 GHz dual and 1.8 GHz hex cores), Unisoc T612 with 3 GB of RAM, IPS LCD, 270 PPI
• Display: 6.5-inch (16.51-cm), 60 Hz Refresh Rate
• Camera: Dual Primary Cameras, 50 MP + 0.3 MP Camera, Flashing LED, 5 MP Front Camera
• Battery: Non-Removable Battery with a 5000 mAh 
• Micro-USB Port

• Infinix Hot 30i

One of the more attractive smartphones in the entry-level category is the Infinix Hot 30i. It also has a long list of remarkable specifications, including a 50 MP primary camera, up to 8 gigs of RAM, up to 128 gigs of storage, and a screen with a refresh rate of 90 hertz. The device’s MediaTek Helio G37 SoC is capable of handling common smartphone tasks including casual web surfing, social media use, and light gaming. For further protection, there is a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The 5,000mAh battery can be charged at 10W using USB Type-C. The Infinix Hot 30i is a reliable low-cost alternative overall.

Specifications:

• Performance: Octa core (quad core, 2.3 GHz, and quad core, 1.8 GHz), 8GB RAM on the MediaTek Helio G37

• Display: 16.76 cm (6.6 inches), IPS LCD, 267 PPI, 90 Hz Refresh Rate

• Camera: Dual primary 50 MP + 0.08 MP cameras, Two-LED Flash, front camera battery with 5 MP

• Battery: 5000 mAh
• Non-Removable USB Type-C Port