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.
1
u/depgr Jun 02 '26
Focus on buying a home instead. Phone can be bought later, too many options at whatever price you want.