5 budget 5G smartphones to enjoy free data from Airtel and Jio

One of the most affordable 5G phones (Image credit: HMD)

5G smartphones have gotten a lot more accessible over the last couple of years. Considering two major telecoms of India, Airtel and Jio, are bundling complimentary unlimited 5G networks with select data plans, it is the right time to upgrade from a 4G device to a 5G smartphone.

If you are looking for a new 5G smartphone that is pocket-friendly and doubles up as a great everyday device, here are a few things to consider before buying one:

For 5G, hardware matters

Most modern 5G smartphones offer stellar download and upload speeds. However, to get the most out of it, you also need a device that is compatible with all the major 5G network bands. Ensure that the device you are getting supports both NSA (non-standalone) and SA (standalone) 5G network, as Airtel's 5G Plus network is based on NSA technology, while Jio's True 5G is based on SA technology.

The phone should have decent specifications

Realme 12+

5G network works like charm (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Since you are upgrading, it is most likely this phone will remain your primary device for the next few years. Hence, always get a device with best-in-class specifications. Try to get a phone with a slightly higher internal storage, at least 128 GB. This ensures you will be able to store all your multimedia, apps, and games natively on the device, without depending on a cloud storage service.

Look for a phone with a bigger battery

Using a phone in a 5G network can quickly drain its battery and one way to guarantee all-day battery life is to get a smartphone with the largest possible battery. We recommend looking for smartphones with at least a 5,000 mAh battery. Features like fast charging is definitely an added bonus.

Here are five affordable 5G smartphones that offer fantastic value:

iQOO Z9x 5G

This device starts at Rs 12,999 for 4 GB RAM and 128 GB variant, and is easily one of the best 5G smartphones in this price range. With a massive 6,000 mAh battery with support for 44W fast charging, the smartphone is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC. The device has a big and bright 6.72-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.

POCO M6 Pro 5G

Poco M6 Pro 6

Poco M6 Pro

The POCO M6 Pro 5G is one of the most affordable 5G smartphones and currently sells for Rs 9,499. Despite being a budget device, it offers 128 GB of storage and is powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 SoC. The smartphone has a 5,000 mAh battery and supports 22.5W fast charging. Plus, it runs on Android 13-based MIUI 14.

Lava Storm 5G

Storm 5G

Excellent entry-level 5G phone (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

If you multitask a lot, the Lava Storm 5G is a great device. This smartphone, priced at Rs 11,999 offers 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The smartphone is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 6080 SoC. Unlike most phones that offer a plastic back panel in this price-range, the Storm 5G comes with a glass back panel.

Nokia G42 5G

nokia g42 review featured

Here's why the Nokia G42 stands out in the budget smartphone arena. (Image: Anuj Bhatia/The Indian Express)

The Nokia G42 5G (review) is another 5G smartphone under Rs 10,000 (costs Rs 9,999), and this device is powered by the Snapdragon 480 Plus SoC. The smartphone offers 4 GB RAM, 128 GB of internal storage, and comes with a triple rear-camera setup at the back. The device offers stock Android OS, two years of OS upgrades, and a 5,000 mAh battery, making it a great choice for anyone looking for a Nokia device.

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G

Samsung Galaxy M14 5G

Despite having a plastic backpanel, the phone feels sturdy in hand (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar / Indian Express)

This is currently the most affordable 5G smartphone from Samsung. Powered by the in-house Exynos 1330 processor, the Galaxy M14 5G (review) currently retails for Rs 12,490, and offers 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage. The smartphone offers two major Android OS upgrades and also packs a 6,000 mAh battery with support for fast charging.

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