The Indian smartphone market is brimming with options, especially in the sub-Rs. 15,000 category. Several brands are vying for consumer attention with compelling features and competitive pricing. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders in August 2025, including the iQOO Z10x, Poco M7 Pro, and Moto G85.

iQOO Z10x

The iQOO Z10x stands out as a well-rounded device, particularly for its performance and battery life. Priced around Rs 13,498, it offers a compelling package for budget-conscious consumers.

• Design and Build: The iQOO Z10x features a modern, minimalistic design with a matte-glitter finish on the Titanium variant and a glossy rectangular camera island. It's also available in an Ultramarine color option for those preferring a bolder look. The phone feels ergonomic, with slim dimensions (8.09mm thick) and a manageable weight (204 grams) despite its large battery. The build is solid plastic, and it boasts an IP64 rating for dust and water resistance and is MIL-STD-810H certified, ensuring it can function in extreme conditions.
• Display: It sports a 6.72-inch Full HD+ IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,050 nits. While it's not an AMOLED display, it performs well for streaming, gaming, and everyday use, with adequate brightness even in direct sunlight. It also has Widevine L1 certification for Full HD playback on OTT platforms and supports wet and greasy touch.
• Performance: The iQOO Z10x is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, paired with up to 8GB LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB UFS 3.1 storage. This configuration delivers smooth performance for daily tasks and light to moderate gaming. It maintains stable frame rates in BGMI and runs COD Mobile smoothly on high settings with minimal heat. On AnTuTu, the device scored 688,475, outperforming rivals like Vivo T4x and CMF Phone 1 by a small margin.
• Camera: It features a dual-camera setup with a 50-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The front houses an 8-megapixel selfie camera. Daylight shots are well-lit with vibrant colors and reasonable detail, while night performance is adequate.
• Battery: The standout feature is its massive 6,500mAh battery, paired with 44W fast charging. It can easily last up to two days on moderate use and clocked an outstanding 28 hours and 7 minutes in the PCMark battery life test at 50% brightness.

Poco M7 Pro

The Poco M7 Pro 5G is another strong contender, known for its display and 5G capabilities. It typically sells for around Rs 12,899.

• Display: The Poco M7 Pro 5G boasts a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display has up to 2100 nits peak brightness, Dolby Vision, and HDR10+ support. It also features Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for scratch and drop resistance.
• Performance: It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7025 Ultra chipset. It also has up to 12GB of RAM, including 12GB of extended memory.
• Camera: The Poco M7 Pro 5G comes with a dual rear camera setup: a 50 MP wide camera with OIS and a 2 MP depth sensor. The front camera is 20 MP.
• Battery: The phone is powered by a 5110 mAh battery that supports 45 W wired charging.
• Other Features: The Poco M7 Pro 5G supports 5G bands with VoLTE functionality. It also has dual nano-SIM slots with IP64 water resistance, Bluetooth 5.3, dual-band Wi-Fi, GPS, USB-C, FM radio, infrared port, and NFC.

Moto G85

The Motorola Moto G85 5G is a recent entrant aiming to disrupt the budget segment with its impressive specifications. While pricing varies, some sources suggest it could be available around Rs 12,499. However, other sources indicate a price around Rs 15,884.

• Camera: The Moto G85 5G features a 108MP primary sensor, accompanied by a secondary ultra-wide lens and a dedicated depth sensor. It also has a 32MP front camera.
• Battery: It is equipped with a large 7200mAh or 7300mAh battery and supports 100W blazing-fast charging.
• Performance: The Moto G85 5G is powered by a Snapdragon 7-series 5G chipset, backed by 8GB or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 256GB UFS storage. It also has a 6.8-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

Other notable contenders:

Several other phones also offer compelling features in this price bracket:

• Realme P1 5G: Known for its MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor and AMOLED display.
• Redmi Note 13: Praised for its 108MP camera and AMOLED display.
• Tecno Pova 6 Neo: Notable for its massive 7,000mAh battery.
• CMF Phone 1: Stands out with interchangeable back covers and Nothing OS 3.0.

When choosing a smartphone under Rs. 15,000, consider what features are most important to you. The iQOO Z10x excels in battery life and performance, the Poco M7 Pro offers a vibrant AMOLED display, and the Moto G85 aims to deliver flagship-like features at an affordable price. Other brands like Realme, Redmi, and Tecno also provide competitive options, ensuring consumers have a wide array of choices to suit their individual needs.