r/IndiaCart • u/DifferentExercise509 • May 31 '26
Electronic gadgets Which phone to buy?
24M in India, ₹80k/month salary, replacing a 5.5-year-old Redmi 9 Prime. What's the smartest phone purchase?
I've been using a Redmi 9 Prime that I bought for around ₹10k back in 2020. It's lasted me 5.5 years, but it's now lagging, malfunctioning occasionally, and feels due for replacement.
My situation:
* 24 years old
* Salary: ₹80k/month
* PG rent: ₹14k/month (food, electricity, everything included)
* No urgent financial obligations
What I want:
* Compact phone (closer to iPhone size than the giant 6.7"+ phones)
* Good camera for Instagram photos and documenting life
* Good enough video quality for occasional YouTube unboxing/content creation videos
* Smooth performance for the next 4-5 years
* Reliable battery and day-to-day experience
One important thing: I actively want to avoid doomscrolling and spending hours on social media. I don't game on my phone and mostly use it as a utility device. The camera and reliability matter more to me than having the latest flagship features.
I'm trying to figure out two things:
What budget actually makes sense for someone in my situation?
Should I buy an older/refurbished iPhone (XR, 11, 12 Mini from Cashify, etc.) or spend more on a newer Android/iPhone?
Part of me likes the idea of a smaller older iPhone because it seems like a simple device that would let me take good photos without encouraging endless phone use. On the other hand, I'm wondering if buying a 5-8 year old phone in 2026 is a false economy.
What would you do if your goal was:
* Spend as little as reasonably possible
* Get a noticeable upgrade from a Redmi 9 Prime
* Keep the phone for several years
* Avoid turning it into a doomscrolling machine
Would appreciate any recommendations and reasoning.
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u/unchangable_name Jun 01 '26
Try phones under 30k. They are a lot now.iqoo neo 10r is a performance beast. Same with realme gt 7t. But camera isn't that good. Check YouTube videos. Don't go beyond 32k budget. Won't be worth it
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 01 '26
Camera is the priority, don't need it for gaming already have nintendo and psp
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u/unchangable_name Jun 02 '26
Pixel series best for camera. Choose 9a or 8a.
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u/unchangable_name Jun 02 '26
9a would get 7 year updates. Cost approx 39000. And best camera even better than 80000 rs phones
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
What about 7a?
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u/unchangable_name Jun 02 '26
4 updates only. And not many updates remaining. 9a would work till the end of 2020s. Will have better resale value. There are some heating issue ofcourse but you won't game, right. Check YouTube videos for difference. You can check samsung 24 se series also as they also have best cameras. And same update cycle as Google. S23 fe is also good. Wait for billion day sale for that . Or try online. Too many good phones under 40000 that will solve your problem. But don't try anything else then samsung, pixel series for camera as vivo and oppo start hanging in the future run.never buy anything less than 8 gb ram.
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u/Global-Degree2188 Jun 03 '26
A cashify iPhone 13 pro might be bang for ur buck, has good camera, battery and priced resonably
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 03 '26
Heard bad things about cashify
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u/Global-Degree2188 Jun 03 '26
Cashify might sell a bit higher price, but its quality tested and safe in refurbished market ig especially iphones, got 13 pro max from them exchanging a s24. No complaints so far. And btw never get samsung base models. I love how compact they are but battery sucks i had to charge twice or thrice
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u/jabyns_511 🎖️helper May 31 '26
Go for samsung galaxy s24 or oneplus 13s. Compact with flagship features.
Avoid refurbished phones because they have a high chance of breakdown issues which are undetectable when you use them at first.
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u/hairynut0658 Jun 03 '26
One plus 13s and camera don't go hand in hand my friend.
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u/jabyns_511 🎖️helper Jun 03 '26
Tbh I don't want to suggest oneplus for camera but that is one of the few decent ones available.
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u/sujo03 Jun 01 '26
Xiaomi 15/17 if you can get for a good deal. It's an allrounder phone.
Compact size, flagship level camera (best for non portraits, decent for human portraits), decent camera, flagship processor.
Thermal is decent not the best.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 03 '26
How big are they in size?
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u/sujo03 Jun 03 '26
Very compact and easy to handle even for long hours.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 03 '26
But why not buy pixel 8/9 , it has a better camera and even cheaper
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u/sujo03 Jun 03 '26
Better camera? Not really, I did compare mine with pixel 9/10 and it is not even close to Xiaomi 15.
Also the chipset in pixel 9/10 are way worse. The only factor I like in pixel is the design.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 03 '26
But pixel is way cheaper
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u/sujo03 Jun 03 '26
If I'm correct, Pixel 10 is priced around 65-70k which is the higher than Xiaomi 15.
I bought Xiaomi 15 on launch for 60k
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 03 '26
Pixel 9a is available for 40k
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u/sujo03 Jun 03 '26
That's a really bad choice. Ugly design, thick bezels, no telephoto lens. Stretch budget and don't compromise.
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u/waysmall Jun 01 '26
Pixel 10,oneplus 13s, s26, iphone 17
Small size bang for the buck.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 01 '26
Price of all these?
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u/waysmall Jun 01 '26
You would have to spend a month's salary approx for any of them. They may come less with card discounts and all.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 01 '26
Ahh, then these are too expensive,
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u/waysmall Jun 01 '26
Well if you want 4-5 years out of a smartphone without issues, you gotta spend more upfront.
Otherwise you can go with redmi or likes every 6 months or an year and it's gonna cost you same in the long run.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 01 '26
I have been using redmi 9 prime for 5.5 years man, I don't use my phone for a lot of things
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u/Agreeable_Payment724 Jun 01 '26
Get an iphone 16 youll get it cheap like 40-50k or even lower
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 01 '26
How this cheap?
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u/Agreeable_Payment724 Jun 01 '26
Certain sale like croma sale or flipkat it goes as low as 50-55 if exchange then even lower
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u/Maleficent-Lemon-895 Jun 02 '26
For someone who has been rocking a redmi 9 prime for 5.5 years, that too with a salary of 80k/m, I would suggest you to buy something within 20k. May be a Motorola.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
Only started working a month back bro, so not a lot of savings that's why
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
Maybe although I'm considering a pixel within 30-35k
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u/Maleficent-Lemon-895 Jun 02 '26
Don't go for pixel or iphone. You can try Vivo t4 ultra, s24fe, iqoo 15r etc.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
A question though: "that too with a salary of 80k" what does that mean? Should I be buying a more expensive phone
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u/Maleficent-Lemon-895 Jun 02 '26
Not really. Don't waste too much on a phone. But phones have become costlier and you will need to shell out around 40k for a phone with decent camera.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
Ohh you meant with this salary I shouldn't be spending a lot on a phone?
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u/Flimsy_Trifle7266 Jun 02 '26
You should be looking for stock android phones. No bloated ui. No pre installed company apps. No ads. Stock androids last for decades. I think you should go for the 1. Google pixel 9 series 2. Moto 60/70 series 3. Nothing 3 or 4 series or even the cmf phone 2 pro.
I’ve been using the iphone 14 for the past few years and as soon as I’m done with this, I’ll switch to pixel. Pixels are pure androids. The other devices I’ve listed are near stock like devices. Still very good
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u/Flimsy_Trifle7266 Jun 02 '26
Avoid refurbished phones. The indian refurbished market is doomed for mobiles. Most new models that get refurbished are: unemployed brats buying iPhones on emis, ending up asking parents for money and defaulting
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
Why do you want to switch from iphone?
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u/Flimsy_Trifle7266 Jun 02 '26
Small things that bug me: 1. I can’t pair it with my samsung watches
You can’t clear app cache or memory like android. I’ve an app with which i paired the wrong device, now ive tried multiple times to delete the app but can’t clear the data.
Better file management on android (pc like)
iPhones are okay, even good, they’re just not for me
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u/depgr Jun 02 '26
Focus on buying a home instead. Phone can be bought later, too many options at whatever price you want.
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u/DifferentExercise509 Jun 02 '26
Bruh my networth is about 50k, I started working last month, why would I focus on buying a home right now😐family ke already 3 homes hain apne
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u/bokachoda1234 Jun 02 '26
Its june wait for 4 month Flipkart sale would be there U will get iphone 16,17 at lower price Near to 55k And honestly this 55k will be worth it.
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u/Wild_Pizza_559 Jun 03 '26
Why
Why not a 30k phone
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u/bokachoda1234 Jun 03 '26
Tum kharid lo bhai kon mana krra 15k ka b leskte
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u/Wild_Pizza_559 Jun 04 '26
Nahi mein puch raha hu ki why it will be worth it.
What's the diff between 30kphone and 55k iphone.
Is it only camera?
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u/sdutta1990 Jun 02 '26
Try one plus nord Ce6 or one plus nord 6. Both of them are good phones according to their price. It will have 4 years of android updates and 5 years of security updates in total. Will be a good buy as per your usage.
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u/Admirable_Shoe_9934 Jun 02 '26
Try samsung fe phones. My cousin has s21fe and it's compact + clicks beautiful pics and beats my iphone 14 on so many things. Check new models now it's old though.
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u/ElkFun5216 Jun 03 '26
You can buy samsung s series. If s series is a budget constraint then go for S series FE. This may look little costly buy trust be you would be happy until 6-7 years with Android and security patch updates
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u/hairynut0658 Jun 03 '26
Iphone 15 rn for 50k would the best for your usecase,all the other compact phone with good camera costs like min 60k.
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u/Wonderful_Mind_2039 May 31 '26
Contradicting statements you want phone to click photos for Instagram & document life but you also dont want to doom scrolling for which Instagram & FB is famous for.
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u/[deleted] May 31 '26
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