POCO M6 Pro 5G
POCO recently introduced its latest best phone under 10,000, the M6 Pro, in India. While its specifications may appear familiar, it distinguishes itself with a unique design and some notable features. Powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, this phone boasts a 6.79-inch FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, a 50MP dual rear camera setup, and a robust 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging. In this review, we delve into what sets the POCO M6 Pro 5G apart and who should consider buying this smartphone.
Design:
The POCO M6 Pro stands out with its dual-tone design, setting it apart from the Redmi 12 5G. The rectangular camera bar on the back, available in Forest Green and Power Black color options, adds to its aesthetic appeal. It features a glass back, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and is IP53 splash resistant. The absence of a dedicated microSD card slot is a minor drawback.
Display:
The phone sports a 6.71-inch FHD+ 90Hz display with a centred punch-hole selfie camera. The display offers good visibility both indoors and outdoors, with 550 nits of peak brightness. While the LCD panel's viewing angles are somewhat limited, it holds Widevine L1 certification, enabling full HD content streaming.
Cameras:
The POCO M6 Pro features a 50MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor for its rear cameras. The 8MP selfie camera delivers satisfactory results in favorable lighting conditions, particularly during daylight. However, portrait mode struggles with edge detection. A more comprehensive camera analysis is available in our Redmi 12 5G review.
Performance and Software:
Equipped with the new Snapdragon 4 Gen 2, the POCO M6 Pro performs well for everyday tasks, such as browsing, social media, and streaming. It handles games like BGMI without significant lags but may face challenges with heavy loads. The phone is available in 4GB + 64GB and 6GB + 128GB variants, with expandable RAM and storage. It runs Android 13-based MIUI 14, which includes pre-loaded third-party apps and push notifications.
Battery and Charging Speeds:
The smartphone boasts a remarkable 5,000mAh battery, providing all-day battery life with regular usage. Charging takes over two hours for a full charge, which may seem slower compared to competitors. It supports 18W fast charging, despite the inclusion of a 22.5W charger in the box.
The POCO M6 Pro closely resembles the Redmi 12 5G in many aspects, including pricing. The unique design and the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset set it apart. It excels in battery life and performs well in daylight conditions. If these qualities align with your preferences, the POCO M6 Pro is a compelling choice, particularly for those leaning towards Flipkart over Amazon. However, it faces competition from devices like the Infinix Hot 30 5G, which offers a massive 6,000mAh battery and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 6020 SoC.
Xiaomi Redmi 12
the Xiaomi Redmi 12 is the best phone under 10k priced at just Rs 9,299, it introduced in August 2023, has carved a niche for itself in the competitive budget smartphone market.In this review, we'll dive into the details of the Redmi 12's design, display, camera performance, overall capabilities, and why it stands out in the budget smartphone segment. Let's explore what makes the Xiaomi Redmi 12 a compelling choice for those seeking value without breaking the bank.
Design:
The Xiaomi Redmi 12, launched in August 2023, boasts a sleek and modern design. It's a budget-friendly smartphone that doesn't compromise on looks. The device measures 168.6mm in height, 76.2mm in width, and has a thickness of 8.1mm, making it comfortable to hold and use. With a weight of 198.5 grams, it feels substantial in hand, offering a reassuring build quality. The Redmi 12 is available in three attractive colors: Moonstone Silver, Pastel Blue, and Jade Black. It's also rated as splash-proof with an IP53 certification, ensuring it can handle a few splashes without issue.
Display:
One of the standout features of the Redmi 12 is its impressive 6.79-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display. With a resolution of 1080 x 2460 pixels and a pixel density of 396 ppi, it delivers sharp and vibrant visuals. The phone's screen-to-body ratio is an excellent 85.35%, thanks to its bezel-less design with a punch-hole display for the front camera. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass v3, offering durability against scratches and minor impacts. With a peak brightness of 550 nits, this display performs well both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, the Redmi 12 supports a 90Hz refresh rate, contributing to smooth and fluid interactions.
Camera:
The Redmi 12 features a capable camera setup, with a 50MP primary wide-angle camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The primary camera has an f/1.8 aperture, allowing for good low-light performance. The camera captures detailed and well-exposed photos, particularly in well-lit conditions. However, like many budget smartphones, it may struggle in low-light situations, even with the LED flash. The ultra-wide-angle camera is a valuable addition for capturing wide scenes. While the Redmi 12's camera performance is impressive for its price range, it may not be the best choice for night photography. On the front, you'll find an 8MP wide-angle camera, perfect for selfies and video calls. It's capable of recording videos in 1080p resolution at 30fps.
Performance and software:
Under the hood, the Xiaomi Redmi 12 is powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 chipset. It features an octa-core CPU with two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.8 GHz. This processor, built on a 12nm fabrication process, provides smooth performance for everyday tasks. It's sufficient for activities like browsing, streaming videos, and messaging. While it may not handle the most demanding apps and games, it's a capable performer considering its budget-friendly nature. In benchmark tests, the Redmi 12 achieved good scores, with AnTuTu benchmark scoring 283998. The device scored 449 in the single-core and 1518 in the multi-core tests in Geekbench.
Battery and charging speed:
The Redmi 12 is equipped with a robust 5000mAh battery, which is one of its standout features. Thanks to the efficient processor and FHD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate, the device offers excellent battery life. It can easily last up to one and a half days with moderate usage and up to two days with lighter usage. This makes it a reliable choice for users who value long battery life.
When it comes to charging, the Redmi 12 supports 18W fast charging via USB Type-C. While the charging speed is not the fastest, it ensures that you can quickly top up your device when needed.
The Xiaomi Redmi 12 is an impressive budget smartphone with a lot to offer. Its modern design, FHD+ display, capable camera system, and exceptional battery life make it an attractive choice for budget-conscious consumers. It's suitable for everyday tasks, multimedia consumption, and general smartphone usage. While it may not excel in demanding performance scenarios, it's a reliable and well-rounded device in its price range.
Realme C55
Realme's C55 is the top phone under 10k . Realme C55 has entered the budget smartphone arena with a promise of sleek design, commendable performance, and intriguing features, including fast charging and a unique mini capsule on the display. Priced from Rs 9,999, this latest addition to the Realme C-series aims to captivate budget-conscious consumers. In this comprehensive review, we'll explore whether the Realme C55 lives up to its ambitious claims and where it falls short. Let's dive in to find out.
Design:
The Realme C55, despite its plastic build, impresses with its stunning design. It exudes a premium look and feel, featuring a dual-tone finish on the back panel and a glossy accent around the cameras. The matte texture not only enhances its visual appeal but also provides a comfortable grip. The phone's flat edges and curved corners make it easy to hold for extended periods without causing fatigue. With its lightweight construction at just 189.5 grams and slim profile at 8.1mm thickness, it's one of the thinnest phones in the C-series, offering excellent battery life for its category.
Display:
The Realme C55 boasts a 6.72-inch IPS LCD display with a centered punch hole. It incorporates a 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz touch sampling rate, and achieves a peak brightness of 680 nits. While it's a standard budget panel, the high resolution compensates for it, delivering an enjoyable viewing experience for gaming and media consumption. The display offers pleasing colors and detail, with acceptable bezels and a non-intrusive punch hole. The 680 nits of brightness ensure comfortable outdoor use, although direct sunlight may pose challenges. The touch response and animations are fluid, enhancing the overall user experience.
Camera:
In the camera department, the Realme C55 boasts a dual rear camera setup with a 64MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor. For selfies and video calls, it features an 8MP front camera within the punch hole. Daylight photography is a strong suit for this smartphone, with the 64MP sensor capturing sharp, detailed shots with vibrant colors and well-managed highlights. The front camera, while not as detailed, delivers decent selfies with natural skin tones in good lighting. In low light, the phone maintains reasonable accuracy, but there's noticeable graininess and a slight reduction in color vibrancy and highlight brightness. The device features a portrait mode that performs adequately but may struggle with edge detection.
Performance and Software:
Under the hood, the Realme C55 relies on the MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, a processor introduced in 2021 and featured in several smartphones. While it doesn't outperform its competitors, it manages to keep pace. The device handles everyday tasks with ease, offering a smooth user experience with minimal instances of lag. It's not ideal for heavy-duty tasks but can handle moderately heavy games without excessive heat generation. The Realme C55 offers multiple RAM and storage options, with expandable storage of up to 1TB via a dedicated microSD slot.
Battery and charging speed:
The Realme C55's battery life can comfortably last a full day with typical usage, including browsing, gaming, and social media. However, it may not excel in battery longevity, as it achieved a score of 10 hours and 25 minutes on the PC Mark battery test with its 5,000mAh battery. With moderate to heavy usage, such as continuous navigation using Google Maps, the battery might not last until the end of the day. Fortunately, the device supports 33W fast charging, delivering a full charge in under an hour and a half.
OPPO A18
The top phone under 10k OPPO has added a new contender to the budget smartphone arena with the A18. Priced between 8 - 12K, this device packs in a MediaTek Helio G85 processor, a large 5,000mAh battery, and a smooth 90Hz display. In this review, we'll take a closer look at the OPPO A18's features and how it stacks up against its competition.
Design:
The OPPO A18, despite its budget-friendly price tag, manages to offer an attractive design. The phone's plastic build doesn't detract from its premium appearance. With a dual-tone finish on the back panel and a glossy accent around the cameras, it's visually appealing. The matte surface not only enhances the aesthetics but also ensures a comfortable grip. The device is impressively lightweight at just 188 grams and slim at 8.1mm thickness. It comes in two colors - Glowing Black and Glowing Blue, with the latter offering an intriguing play of colors when hit by light. The phone's rear camera rings are a bit on the large side, but overall, it's a well-designed budget phone.
Display:
The OPPO A18 boasts a 6.56-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, offering a smooth visual experience. While it may not be the most high-end panel, the high resolution and responsive touch make it a joy for gaming and multimedia. The display delivers pleasing colors and details, though the viewing angles are somewhat limited. With a peak brightness of 720 nits, it's suitable for outdoor use, except under direct sunlight. The device's bezels, while not razor-thin, are acceptable for the price, and the punch hole doesn't significantly impact the viewing experience. Additionally, the punch hole can be transformed into a mini capsule, adding a unique touch.
Camera:
The OPPO A18 features dual rear cameras, an 8MP primary unit, and a 2MP depth sensor. The front camera is an 5MP snapper. In daylight conditions, the camera performance is reasonable. The 8MP sensor captures sharp and detailed shots with vibrant colors. However, the front camera lags slightly in terms of detail, but it still delivers decent selfies with natural skin tones. In low-light scenarios, the camera struggles, resulting in some noise and reduced vibrancy. The device includes a portrait mode, which works adequately but isn't the most accurate in terms of edge detection.
Performance and software:
At the heart of the OPPO A18 is the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which provides decent performance for everyday tasks. It can handle regular use, including web browsing, social media, and video streaming, without significant hiccups. While not ideal for heavy-duty tasks, the phone manages moderately heavy games reasonably well. The device offers limited RAM options, with the base model featuring 4GB. However, it supports expandable storage and even virtual RAM expansion for added versatility.
Battery and charging speed:
The OPPO A18 boasts an impressive 5,000mAh battery that can comfortably last a full day with typical use, including browsing and gaming. However, it doesn't lead in terms of battery life, scoring 10 hours and 25 minutes on the PC Mark battery test. With moderate to heavy use, the device might require a mid-day recharge. Thankfully, the phone supports 33W fast charging, offering a quick charge time of under an hour and a half.
The OPPO A18 is competitively priced, making it a compelling budget smartphone. While it excels in design, battery life, and expandable storage, it falls short in the camera department and offers limited RAM options. If you can overlook these drawbacks and the minor bloatware, the OPPO A18 provides a solid performance at its price point.
Moto G14
Motorola introduced the Moto G14 as the latest addition to its budget smartphone lineup, sharing a similar price point with the Moto G13. Both devices, however, offer distinct sets of specifications and features. The Moto G14 is the best phone under Rs 10,000 in India and is tailored for users who prioritize multimedia consumption. In this review, we'll explore the Moto G14's strengths and drawbacks, helping you determine if it's the right choice for your needs.
Design:
The Moto G14 adheres to the familiar design language of Motorola's G-series phones. While the design is tried and tested, it doesn't particularly stand out in this competitive price range. Nevertheless, the phone's glossy back adds an eye-catching touch. The handset offers good ergonomics, making it easy to handle with one hand.
Display:
The device features a hole-punch display design that doesn't interrupt the viewing experience. The 6.5-inch FHD+ IPS LCD display with a standard 60Hz refresh rate presents a high-resolution and a pixel density of 405ppi. This results in crisp visuals, ideal for multimedia enthusiasts. The display brightness is suitable for outdoor usage, but it's worth noting that this isn't an AMOLED panel, so expectations for legibility under direct sunlight should be tempered.
Camera:
The Moto G14 boasts a dual-camera setup, featuring a 50MP primary camera with an f/1.8 aperture and a 2MP macro sensor with PDAF support and an f/2.4 aperture. While the primary sensor captures shots with good detail and acceptable color accuracy in well-lit conditions, it struggles in low-light scenarios. The dedicated night mode does improve low-light photography but doesn't excel in producing social media-worthy shots in such conditions. For video recording, the device supports up to 1080p resolution at 30fps. Video quality is acceptable in well-lit environments but becomes grainy in low-light settings. To achieve better night-time video recording, external light sources are necessary.
Software and Performance:
The Moto G14 runs Android 13 with Motorola's My UX interface, offering a near-stock Android experience with added features like three-finger screenshots, Quick Capture, and Fast Flashlight. The interface is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it suitable for those who appreciate a clean UI. However, the device comes with some pre-installed apps and a 'Glance' lock screen, which shows customized content and can be turned off if it's not to your liking.
Performance-wise, the phone features the UNISOC Tiger T616 chipset, capable of handling light tasks effectively. However, it may not be the best choice for demanding apps and games. While it can manage basic tasks such as web browsing and video watching, it may experience lag and slowdowns when switching between apps and during gaming. Benchmarks show decent scores, but real-world performance may not align with the numbers.
Battery and charging speed:
The Moto G14 incorporates a 5,000mAh battery, which, coupled with a non-intensive processor and a standard refresh rate display, delivers impressive battery life. Users can expect the device to last up to one and a half days with ease and even two days with moderate usage. The device's efficiency in terms of battery life means you won't need to carry a charger with you often. However, the device's charging speeds may not match its battery life efficiency. It takes approximately 2.5-3 hours to fully charge from zero percent with its included 20W charger.
The Moto G14's positioning might seem puzzling due to its similarities with the Moto G13, particularly in the same price range and series. In this price bracket, the Redmi 12 is a worthwhile alternative to consider. The Moto G14, however, offers a Full HD+ display and the UNISOC processor, which can make it an excellent choice for users who prioritize multimedia consumption and seek a clean UI. While it may not excel in gaming or demanding tasks, its long-lasting battery and multimedia capabilities present a compelling option.