Best Budget Smartphone Under 15,000 in 2025: Okay, it’s the sale season going on and honestly I feel budget smartphone absolutely suck. if you want to buy a budget phone in India under 15,000 in 2025, here are five things that it must have like number one processor.
It has to have a 7 series plus or Dimensity 7,000 plus processor and then at least 5500 mAh battery because you get 7,000 mAh battery but bigger battery doesn’t mean better battery life and AMOLED display must have or OLED depending on the company and charger inside the box and it should have bare minimum of 30 watt charging because 15 watt 18 watt charging you get with phones under 10,000 and finally 4K 30fps recording because that is what is majorly missing in budget smartphone segment.
And then we went ahead and scrolled through bunch of budget smartphones and we got two interesting option. Moto G96 5G which surprisingly launched for 17,999 but during the BBD sale it will be down to 14,999. And then there’s Vivo T4R which again launched for 17,499 but it will be down to around 15,000 during the sale.
And these phones not only justify these five parameters but you get extra stuff. IP rating stereo speakers. So okay video done. Get these two phones. Well, there’s a catch. So, the question is, if I have 15,000, which is the best budget smartphone to buy? So, today we are going to compare both in all departments and we’ll give them points.
Highlight Features
| Feature | Moto G96 5G | Vivo T4R |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 7 Series / Dimensity 7000+ | 7 Series / Dimensity 7000+ |
| Battery | 5500mAh with 33W fast charging | Slightly larger with 44W fast charging |
| Display | 6.7” Curved AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR (Water Touch 2.0) | 6.77” Quad-curved AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10 support |
| Build | Vegan leather back, IP68 | Marble-like back, IP68 + IP69, Military grade |
| Software | Hello UI (Android 15), clean, no bloat | FunTouch OS 15 (Android 15), with preinstalled apps |
| Camera | 50MP Sony + 8MP Ultra-wide + 32MP Selfie | 50MP Sony IMX 882 + Depth + 32MP Selfie |
| Video | 4K 30fps rear & front + 4K 30fps ultra-wide | 4K 30fps rear & front |
| Extras | Stereo speakers, Moto Secure features | Stereo speakers, flashy design |
Unboxing Experience
Moto G96 5G: Comes with adequate stuff inside the box but no case. → Half Point
Vivo T4R: Comes with a case included. → One Point
Design & Build Quality
Moto G96 5G: Premium vegan leather back, simple yet elegant design. Offers IP68 rating. → Half Point
Vivo T4R: Flashy marble-like pattern, fingerprint magnet but comes with IP68 + IP69 rating and military grade protection. → One Point
Battery & Charging
Moto G96 5G: 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging (about 1 hr full charge). → Half Point
Vivo T4R: Slightly larger battery with 44W fast charging (about 45 min full charge). → One Point
Display
Moto G96 5G: 6.7″ curved AMOLED, 144Hz refresh rate, Water Touch 2.0, very smooth UI. → One Point
Vivo T4R: 6.77″ quad-curved AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR support on paper but inconsistent brightness. → Half Point
Software
Moto G96 5G: Hello UI (Android 15), clean, no bloatware, practical features like Moto Secure, double tap shortcut, smart connect (copy-paste across devices, webcam mode, TV casting). → One Point
Vivo T4R: FunTouch OS 15, some pre-installed apps (removable), old-school UI design. → Half Point
Performance
- Moto G96 5G: Strong real-world performance, good gaming with motion control & bypass charging. → One Point
- Vivo T4R: Higher benchmark scores but in daily use both similar. → Half Point
Camera
Moto G96 5G: Dual usable cameras (50MP Sony + 8MP ultrawide), 4K 30fps from both main & ultrawide, better natural photos and details, balanced exposure in video. → One Point
Vivo T4R: 50MP Sony IMX882 + 2MP depth (not very useful), selfies are decent but slightly overexposed. → Half Point
Final Scoreboard
| Feature | Moto G96 5G | Vivo T4R |
|---|---|---|
| Unboxing Extras | 0.5 | 1 |
| Design & Build | 0.5 | 1 |
| Battery & Charging | 0.5 | 1 |
| Display | 1 | 0.5 |
| Software | 1 | 0.5 |
| Performance | 1 | 0.5 |
| Camera | 1 | 0.5 |
| Total | 5.5/7 | 5/7 |
Conclusion
The Moto G96 5G wins this comparison with 5.5 points vs 5 points.
- Moto G96 5G → Best for users who want clean UI, reliable cameras, practical features, and smooth display performance.
- Vivo T4R → Best for users who want flashy design, tough build, slightly bigger battery, and faster charging.
At the end of the day, it comes down to your priorities – do you want flash and battery or clean UI and cameras?
Also Read-
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Features
| Must-Have Feature (2025) | Moto G96 5G | Vivo T4R |
|---|---|---|
| 7-series / Dimensity 7000+ | Yes | Yes |
| 5500mAh+ Battery | No | Yes |
| AMOLED / OLED Display | Yes | Yes |
| Charger in Box | (33W) | (44W) |
| 4K 30fps Recording | (Main + Ultrawide) | (Main only) |
Pros & Cons
Moto G96 5G
Pros:
- Clean UI with no bloatware
- 144Hz AMOLED curved display with Water Touch 2.0
- Better camera system with ultrawide & 4K video
- Practical features (Moto Secure, smart connect, double tap shortcut)
- Reliable performance with gaming features
Cons:
- Slower charging (33W)
- No case in the box
- Slightly smaller battery than Vivo T4R
Vivo T4R
Pros:
- Flashy design with military-grade build
- IP68 + IP69 protection
- Bigger battery with faster 44W charging
- Case included in the box
Cons:
- FunTouch OS feels outdated
- HDR display performance inconsistent
- Camera setup not as versatile (no ultrawide)
- Fingerprint magnet back
Which One to Buy?
| Preference | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Clean software, better cameras, ultra-wide 4K video | Moto G96 5G |
| Flashy design, stronger build, bigger battery | Vivo T4R |
| Best all-rounder under ₹15,000 | Moto G96 5G |
Final Verdict
If you want value + reliability → Moto G96 5G.
If you want style + toughness → Vivo T4R.
Our Recommendation: Moto G96 5G.
FAQ
Q1. Which is better for gaming: Moto G96 5G or Vivo T4R?
Moto G96 5G offers motion control, bypass charging, and a smoother 144Hz display, making it slightly better for gaming.
Q2. Which has a better camera: Moto G96 5G or Vivo T4R?
Moto G96 5G clearly wins with dual usable cameras (main + ultrawide) and 4K video support on both.
Q3. Does Vivo T4R really support HDR?
Yes, but its HDR brightness is inconsistent in real-life usage.
Q4. Which phone charges faster?
Vivo T4R charges faster with 44W support (full in ~45 min) compared to Moto G96’s 33W (full in ~60 min).
Q5. Which should I buy under ₹15,000 in 2025?
Buy Moto G96 5G if you want a clean UI, better camera, and practical features. Buy Vivo T4R if you want flashy design, strong build, and faster charging.
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