The best smartphones under 15,000 rubles: rating of the TOP 20 good budget models for 2021-2022

A smartphone costing up to 15,000 rubles is a budget segment, but sometimes the quality of the product can easily compete even with “advanced” and “cool” models.

Very often, the decision to buy a smartphone is not dictated by personal opinion and performance requirements, but is simply based on the preferences of friends and acquaintances. Or recommendations from sellers who have the best phone model - the one that needs to be sold from stock. Or intrusive advertising that claims that only by purchasing this device, which has a huge number of necessary and unnecessary functions, will you become the smartest and most successful.

A choice based on this principle can bring moral satisfaction only temporarily: in the process of using the purchase, a person begins to understand that he does not need half of the built-in “goodies”, and there was also no need to overpay for the brand. Disappointment can be avoided if you take a more responsible approach to choosing a mobile device, and rely on your own opinion and needs, and not on the advice of others.

What you need to consider when choosing a smartphone in the budget price segment:

Understanding which features you use most often.
Battery – its capacity will determine how long you can use the phone without additional charging. It’s also worth paying attention to the charging method.
Processor – this determines what your smartphone can do.
Software is how easily different functions will be available. So, if you need some application, then you definitely look at what platform it is available on. For example, many professional applications are only available on the iOS platform, while many government applications are available on Android.
Cameras – They allow you to capture moments that you want to cherish for years to come. Their capabilities will determine how clear the picture will be.
Other parameters - here everyone will have their own preferences: game lovers will want large screens on their phones, music lovers will want a dedicated headphone jack, and so on.

The editors of Komsomolskaya Pravda have compiled a rating of the best smartphones under 15,000 rubles. When compiling the selection, we took into account the tasks that the device can cope with, the price-quality ratio and the opinion of an expert.

Top 5 smartphones under 15,000 rubles in terms of price-quality ratio

The 2021-2022 rating contains relatively budget models with a good screen and camera, as well as a capacious battery.

Realme C15 4/64GB

A device with a 6.5″ screen and good battery life, its battery capacity is 6000 mAh, which is enough for 2-4 days of use.
The 8-core MediaTek processor works stably, but has difficulty coping with heavy games, even though it is declared as a gaming processor. The quad camera consists of four sensors: a 13 MP main sensor, a 119° wide-angle sensor, as well as a retro module and a white balance sensor. Video is recorded at 1080p resolution. There is a contactless payment module here, and micro-USB charging.

Pros:

ultra-night shooting mode with high detail;
record calls without additional applications;
instant face unlock;
clear and comfortable menu.

Minuses:

single-band Wi-Fi;
one microphone.

Samsung Galaxy A12 4/64GB

The large infinity screen of this phone with a diagonal of 6.5″ is convenient because it is elongated.
In addition to the camera, a face recognition sensor is hidden in the drop-shaped cutout, and there is also a fingerprint scanner on the side panel. The quad camera unit with a 48 MP main sensor takes high-quality, beautiful photos and shoots videos in FullHD format.

The 8 MP front lens focuses on the face and slightly blurs the background, so selfies are always successful. It will not be possible to record a telephone conversation without third-party applications. The kit includes a 15-watt charger, a USB Type-C cable and a clip for a full slot.

Pros:

standard colors: blue, white, red, black;
support for memory cards up to 1 TB;
5000 mAh battery;
high-quality assembly.

Cons: Not very loud speaker.

OPPO A52 64GB

A smartphone with stereo sound, the settings of which automatically change depending on the content.
The sound is clear, loud, without noise or interference. The model has a good IPS display with a resolution of 1080×2400 pixels, which is comfortable to use even in sunny weather; there is enough brightness reserve. The phone comes with headphones, 18 W charging and a transparent silicone bumper. The smartphone shoots video in 4K and Full HD, but it lacks stabilization. Photos in sufficient light come out very good, and at night the lens also copes with its task.

Pros:

good equipment;
high gaming performance;
availability of NFC;
unusual body colors.

Cons: Volume buttons on the left side of the phone.

HONOR 10 Lite 3/128GB

The model has a good 24 MP selfie camera, which focuses precisely on the face, and the background has a bokeh effect.
The main unit has two cameras - 13 and 2 megapixels, photos from them come out of quite high quality. The video is shot in a resolution of 1920×1080 r. The 6.21'' diagonal screen with LTPS matrix features natural color reproduction. The battery is small - 3400 mAh, but with standard usage the charge lasts for a day.

Pros:

beautiful back panel;
There is contactless payment;
optical zoom;
convenient size.

Cons: small amount of RAM.

ZTE Blade 20 Smart

This phone has a good IPS screen with a diagonal of 6.49''.
Although its resolution of 1560×720 p cannot be called high, in reality the picture is of quite high quality. The MediaTek Helio P60 processor and 4 GB of RAM allow you to run many applications in the background at once, the smartphone works without delay, smoothly and clearly. Good autonomy is provided by a 5000 mAh battery. The 16-megapixel main camera has an additional 8-megapixel wide-angle sensor, and the front one has a 13-megapixel sensor. We are also pleased with the presence of Wi-Fi 5 GHz and NFC.

Pros:

Android without shell;
128 GB of built-in storage;
nice plastic case;
instant responsiveness.

Cons: no case included and no film attached to the screen.

ZTE Blade 20 Smart

Processor: MediaTek Helio P70
Screen: 6.53 inches, resolution 2340×1080
Cameras (main / front): 48+8+2+2 MP / 16 MP
Memory (RAM / built-in): 4/128 GB
Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Price: from 13,490 rubles

The new product from ZTE offers a rather unremarkable device visually, but with an interesting filling. The model was equipped with a large “holey” screen with high resolution, a powerful chipset and a large amount of memory. There is NFC, modern USB-C, the latest Android 10 and a good camera. I would like to see fast charging, a more capacious battery and a separate slot in the device, but the hardware and camera make up for these shortcomings.

Advantages:

Powerful processor.
NFC.
Good camera.
Lots of permanent memory.
Large FHD+ screen.

Flaws:

No fast charging.
Combination tray.

The best smartphones under 15,000 rubles with a good camera

These are relatively inexpensive smartphones with modern advanced shooting capabilities. Even in auto mode, you can take high-quality photos and videos with them.

HONOR 9X 4/128GB

This model is special with its 16 MP pop-up front camera.
On the back side of the case there is a camera block of 48 and 2 megapixels. Photos come out clear, highly detailed and vibrant. The high-performance Kirin 710F processor can handle even the toughest games. There is no need to charge your smartphone several times a day, because there is a 4000 mAh battery on board. The screen diagonal is 6.59 inches, and its resolution is 2340x1080p.

Pros:

fashionable case design;
large amount of memory;
instant sensor response;
hidden front camera.

Minuses:

no proximity sensor;
energy-consuming operation of GPS.

Samsung Galaxy A31 64GB

Stylish elongated smartphone with a diagonal of 6.4''.
It has a glossy plastic body, the camera unit protrudes slightly, so the phone does not wobble when lying on the table. Despite the presence of a 5000 mAh battery, the device weighs only 185 grams. The optical fingerprint scanner is located on the screen and works in any plane. Video is recorded in Full HD format. The model takes photographs in 48 megapixel mode; the unit also includes an 8 megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens and a 5 megapixel macro sensor.

The front camera is 20 megapixels, it produces bright, juicy and clear selfies. The sound when shooting is excellent.

Pros:

Super AMOLed screen;
handles even heavy games;
face unlock;
4 GB of RAM.

Cons: no stabilization.

HUAWEI P30 lite 4/128GB

A model with good performance, a Kirin 710 processor and a large amount of memory, which can be expanded via a slot if necessary.
The smartphone will run games, but only at medium or low settings, but for everyday tasks it is quite enough. The IPS screen with a diagonal of 6.15'' has a resolution of 2312 × 1080 p, colors are displayed accurately, the picture is rich and has moderate contrast. A triple camera unit of 24, 8, 2 megapixels takes highly detailed photographs and shoots videos in Full HD format. The 32 MP front camera works great even in low light.

Pros:

fast charging;
fast processor;
clear sound;
intuitive shell.

Minuses:

3340 mAh battery;
slippery body.

Realme 6i 4/128GB

A smartphone with a 6.5” display and a 5 thousand mAh battery.
In games, the device does not slow down, the dynamics are smooth, and the picture is detailed. A quad camera with 48, 8, 2 and 2 megapixel modules and a front 6 megapixel lens take high-quality pictures. There is a night mode and a face decoration function. Video is shot in HD and Full HD at 30 frames per second. The sound is not particularly loud, but it cannot be called quiet either.

Pros:

transparent bumper included;
optimized game mode;
affordable price;
10x digital zoom.

Cons: single-band Wi-Fi.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8T 4/64GB

Device diagonal 6.3''.
It is quite possible to play resource-intensive games on it, but the graphics settings will be average. The camera here has a 48 megapixel main sensor, but by default the photos will be 12 megapixels; with sufficient lighting, the difference in resolutions will be insignificant. The front camera has 13 megapixels and has a portrait mode. Video is recorded in 4K, and digital stabilization is activated in Full HD. The sound is recorded perfectly. For this price, the characteristics are more than decent.

Pros:

NFC technology support;
4000 mAh battery;
Full HD+ screen resolution;
protective glass on both sides;
decent sound.

Cons: poor performance of the proximity sensor.

Huawei P Smart Z is an attractive and affordable phone

At first glance, Huawei P Smart Z looks similar to Honor 9X. It has an identical 6.6-inch display that offers equally good quality, surrounded by thin bezels without notches. The front camera also slides out from the body.

The model is equipped with NFC and a 4000 mAh battery. However, the P Smart Z has slower memory and worse main camera lenses, which is why it ends up lower in our rankings. However, there is a high chance that you will buy it cheaper.

Yandex Market

Rating of budget smartphones up to 15 thousand rubles with a capacious battery

These are the most autonomous devices that hold a charge for at least 2 days. The TOP contains high-performance models with batteries of at least 5000 mAh.

Samsung Galaxy M21

There is a 6000 mAh battery here.
The body of the device is made of plastic, and the camera block hardly protrudes from the back panel. The 6.4" Super AMOLed screen displays a clear picture; in the settings you can select either rich or natural color display. This model is not for heavy games, but in medium-resource games there is high energy efficiency, and this is a plus. The camera is triple, with a 48 megapixel main sensor. The video is shot in 4K format, the front camera records only in Full HD.

Pros:

stabilization when shooting video;
good earpiece speaker;
bright screen;
Convenient to operate with one hand.

Cons: not the best sound.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 64GB

The battery on board this model has a capacity of 5300 mAh.
The screen here is 6.44 inches, it is possible to simultaneously view two applications by splitting the screen. The smartphone has a Bi-amp stereo speaker, in which frequencies are amplified individually. This model is ideal for watching video content and listening to audio files. The internal memory can be increased with a memory card up to 128 GB.

The rear camera is 12 megapixels, and the front camera is 5 megapixels, which is quite enough for an undemanding user. Gamers will appreciate the large screen and the fact that the phone practically does not heat up when playing.

Pros:

4K video recording;
wide screen;
use without a cover;
clear shell interface.

Cons: Doesn't fit in every pocket.

Ulefone Armor 8

The peculiarity of this smartphone is its rubberized body and the fact that it can shoot underwater thanks to its high degree of water resistance.
It has undergone numerous crash tests involving submersion, impacts and drops, and has passed all of them successfully. Battery 5000 mAh. The device runs on Android 10. It has three camera modules with a 16 MP main module. The device comes with a protective glass, wrist lanyard and charger. A powerful processor allows you to play heavy games at maximum settings.

The 6.1'' screen with HD+ resolution has a large reserve of brightness and wide viewing angles on all planes. The speaker on the phone is very loud, does not ring or beep.

Pros:

gesture control;
immersion in water to a depth of 1.5 m;
large selection of shooting modes;
presence of a simplified mode with a large font in the menu
endurance to aggressive use.

Cons: hybrid SIM slot.

Blackview BV5100

A secure smartphone that comes with headphones, a charger and a screen protector.
The device is equipped with two holes for attaching a lanyard - under the camera and at the bottom of the case. A hand strap is included. The peculiarity of the phone is the presence of two LED flashlights at the top end. The device can withstand immersion in water and falls from a height. The capacity of the built-in battery is 5580 mAh. The 16 MP main camera with an additional 8 MP wide-angle module takes perfect pictures with high focus clarity.

The third module with bokeh mode works in a mode where everything except a person becomes monochrome. The model’s screen is relatively small – 5.7 inches.

Pros:

compacted rubberized body;
loud high-quality speaker;
large amount of memory – 4/128 GB;
Wireless charging support.

Cons: low screen resolution.

Xiaomi Poco M3 4/128GB

The screen of this smartphone has a 6.53” diagonal and Full HD+ resolution.
The battery here is 6000 mAh. The camera unit with a 48-megapixel main module is complemented by two more 2-megapixel lenses. There is no ultra-wide module here. Front camera resolution is 8 megapixels. This is not a gaming smartphone, but average games run quite well even at high settings. Users note in reviews that at a high volume level during a telephone conversation, others can hear the interlocutor, but this can be corrected by lowering the volume.

Pros:

original design;
stereo sound;
good quality of pictures;
Full charge in 3 hours.

Cons: no contactless payment module.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (NFC)

Processor: MediaTek Helio G85
Screen: 6.53 inches, resolution 2340x1080
Cameras (main / front): 48+8+2+2 MP / 13 MP
Memory (RAM/built-in): 3/64 or 4/128 GB
Battery capacity: 5020 mAh

Price: from 12,700 rubles

In 2022, Xiaomi presented an update to the popular Redmi Note line. The new product received a powerful Helio G85 processor and a large amount of memory. It has a separate slot for MicroSD, fast charging and a capacious battery, and in addition, they haven’t forgotten about NFC.

All this is complemented by a large high-resolution display and quad camera. And although auxiliary sensors like the wide-angle module and macro take pictures rather modestly, the main module does an excellent job with photographs. The result is another hit phone with an inexpensive price and well-balanced parameters.

Advantages:

Powerful processor.
Lots of memory.
Non-combined slot.
Fast charging and long lasting battery.
There is NFC.
Large high resolution display.

Flaws:

The camera's auxiliary modules are mediocre.

The best smartphones with NFC under 15,000 rubles

You don't have to buy a flagship to enjoy modern features like NFC. The rating contains models that support contactless payment and have good technical characteristics.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 4/128GB (NFC)

The smartphone has a gaming processor that allows you to play at high settings.
The camera here is quite decent; in good lighting, highly detailed, bright photos are obtained. The main module here is 48 megapixels. There is an “ultra-wide” and a blur module. The video is shot with stabilization and natural color reproduction.

Pros:

5000 mAh battery;
performance;
nice design;
perfect selfies with 13 MP camera.

Cons: The case gets very hot during games.

Samsung Galaxy A30s 64GB

This smartphone has a 6.4" Super AMOLed screen with HD resolution.
In games, it works adequately, does not slow down, displays a detailed, beautiful and smooth picture, but does heat up slightly. 4 GB of RAM and a fast processor allow you to play at maximum settings. The camera with bokeh module takes beautiful, artistic photos with natural tones. The main 25 megapixel module even copes with evening and night photography. The video is shot in Full HD format. The battery here is 4000 mAh.

Pros:

interesting back panel design;
finger and face unlock;
16 MP selfie camera with background blur mode;
In-screen fingerprint scanner.

Cons: quiet sound.

Vsmart Joy 4 4/64GB

Model with IPS screen, 6.5 inches diagonal and Full HD+ resolution.
The battery here is capacious – 5000 mAh. The device comes with an 18W charger, headphones and a transparent silicone case. This is not a gaming phone, but you can play on medium and low settings, but demanding games can only be played on automatic or low settings.

The camera module has 4 lenses: 16, 8, 2x2 MP, the front camera has 13 MP. In general, the quality of the photos is not bad, everything is very clear and natural.

Pros:

modern cutout for the front camera;
the body does not heat up;
fast processor;
Convenient to operate with one hand.

Cons: no protective film.

HONOR 20e

Large, but thin and light smartphone with a diagonal of 6.2 inches.
The memory capacity here is 4/64 GB, but it can be further increased. The camera unit is a 24 MP main lens, an 8 MP wide-angle lens and a 2 MP bokeh module. Front camera – 8 MP. The video is recorded in Full HD at 60 frames per second on the rear camera and 30 frames on the front camera.

Pros:

Full HD+ resolution;
digital zoom 6x;
selfie portrait mode;
good speaker.

Cons: micro USB charging.

HUAWEI Y6s 3/64GB

A relatively compact, grippy smartphone with a screen diagonal of 6.09''.
The rear camera is single, 13 megapixels with a good aperture – f1.8, the front camera is 8 megapixels. Photos are obtained with high clarity, correct focus and natural colors. Pros:

light weight – 150 grams;
decent level of cameras;
shooting Full HD video from both cameras;
loud speaker;
support for demanding games.

Minuses:

micro USB connector.
only one rear camera.

Oppo A9 2022 - a phone for every day

Oppo A9 2022 is an affordable smartphone ideal for everyday use. It has a large, bright display for gaming or watching movies, a high-quality sound system and a 3.5mm jack for classic headphones. The music here sounds very good.

The battery life is impressive - the A9 2022 can last 2 to 3 days on a single charge. There's plenty of storage, FM radio and good cameras (on the back with 4K recording). In a word, this is a modern, universal multimedia gadget.

What to consider when choosing a smartphone under 15 thousand rubles in 2021-2022?

When choosing a modern smartphone in 2021-2022 from the middle price category, it is recommended to pay attention to the following details:

RAM . It does not expand and is therefore selected depending on the purpose of using the smartphone. Games require a large amount of RAM.
Battery capacity . A powerful processor, high-quality screen and high-resolution camera require a lot of energy. Here, the larger the battery capacity, the better.
Screen. A large diagonal does not tolerate low resolution; the ideal choice is Full HD. As for technology, AmoLED matrices are considered the best in picture quality, but IPS are not much inferior.
Extra options . NFC, face unlock, wireless charging, etc. are welcome.

Motorola One Action is not an easy beautiful smartphone

New models from Motorola make a very good impression on the low and mid-price shelves. Motorola One Action is one of the best looking smartphones under 15,000, especially from the front. This is due to the large display surrounded by thin bezels and no padding. The front camera is located in a small hole that looks modern.

The One Action model has a clean Android 10 operating system, a good processor and enough RAM, so it works quickly in most cases. Users will also appreciate photo quality, 4K video, and contactless payments via NFC. Moto One Action is another best smartphone under 15 thousand.

Yandex Market

realme C3

Processor: MediaTek Helio G70
Screen: 6.5 inches, resolution 1600x720
Cameras (main / front): 12+2+2 MP / 5 MP
Memory (RAM/built-in): 2/32 or 3/64 GB
Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

Price: from 8,600 rubles

The Reame C3 is an inexpensive device that proves that even ten thousand rubles can buy a decent device. It has a large screen, an interesting back panel design and several bright body colors. The model offers a powerful processor, NFC (only in the 3/64 GB version) and a capacious battery with reverse charging, that is, the C3 can act as a portable battery. There is also a separate slot for SIM and memory. The camera is not one of its strong points, and one can also find fault with the old MicroUSB connector.

Advantages:

Powerful processor.
Capacious battery and reverse charging.
NFC (only in the older version!).
Low price.
Interesting appearance.

Flaws:

The cameras are average.
Old microUSB connector.

Nokia 5.3

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
Screen: 6.55 inches, resolution 1600x720
Cameras (main / front): 13+5+2+2 MP / 8 MP
Memory (RAM/built-in): 3/64 or 4/64 GB
Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Price: from 12,400 rubles

Nokia 5.3 is a smartphone that offers the bare minimum for your money. This means that for a similar amount you can find better options, but you shouldn’t write off the new product from Nokia prematurely.

Firstly, this is a phone with an interesting appearance and an unusual design of the main camera unit. Secondly, although the camera does not amaze the imagination with numbers, it shoots well, without any frills, but if you want to get in the photo what you see with your own eyes, it is for you. Thirdly, there is a clean OS here. This means that Android 11 and 12 will be available to device owners. Fourthly, the device received a separate button for calling the Google Assistant and has an event indicator.

Otherwise, the smartphone has a good processor from Qualcomm, the minimum required amount of memory and a separate slot for MicroSD. It also has Type-C and NFC. Disadvantages that do not particularly spoil the impression include the modest screen resolution and the lack of fast charging.

Advantages:

Original appearance.
Clean OS.
Good camera.
Event indicator.
Enough performance for everyday tasks.

Flaws:

Modest screen resolution.
Charges over two hours.

Which company should you choose?

When purchasing a fairly budget smartphone, you should prefer products from well-known and popular brands such as Oppo, Samsung, Huawei or Xiaomi, since the listed companies strictly monitor the quality of their products.

Very good and affordable models are also found in the lines of other popular manufacturers - Meizy, Vivo, Phillips.

And the recognized leaders among inexpensive rugged smartphones are DOOGEE, Blackview, Ulefone and OUKITEL.

Vivo Y19

Processor: MediaTek Helio P65
Screen: 6.53 inches, resolution 2340×1080
Cameras (main / front): 16+8+2 MP / 16 MP
Memory (RAM / built-in): 4/128 GB
Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

Price: from 10,000 rubles

Vivo Y19 was released at the end of 2022 and gathered under its body everything necessary for the user’s daily life. It has a powerful processor and good memory, a triple tray, an excellent camera, a capacious battery with fast charging and a large high-resolution screen. Yes, this is not the latest model, but given the characteristics and cost, the smartphone can be considered for purchase today.

Don't forget about NFC and Wi-Fi ac. The body of the device is plastic, the design is typical, but thanks to the interesting color schemes, the model still looks nice. The only drawback that does not greatly spoil the overall picture is the old microUSB.

Advantages:

Beautiful design colors.
Large screen with high resolution.
Good camera.
Non-combined tray.
Capacious battery.
Powerful processor.
There is NFC.

Flaws:

Old microUSB connector.