Best Gaming Phone Under 10000: A Complete Buyer’s Guide for Budget Gamers

Finding a solid gaming phone under 10,000 in India used to be a headache, but as of late 2025, the market has actually gotten pretty decent. While you won’t be running high-end games on “Ultra” settings, you can definitely find a device that handles 40–60 FPS on balanced settings without turning into a toaster.

 * POCO M7     

POCO M7: The Best Gaming Phone Under 10000 for Budget Gamers

Finding a powerful smartphone on a tight budget is no longer a challenge. The POCO M7 has quickly gained attention as a reliable gaming phone under 10000, offering solid performance, long battery life, and a smooth display at an affordable price. Designed for users who want gaming power without spending too much, the POCO M7 delivers impressive value for money.

• The Processor: It’s powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. In this price segment, you usually see weaker chips, but this one actually allows for smooth 40–60 FPS gameplay in titles like BGMI or Free Fire Max on balanced settings.
• The Screen: It has a massive 6.88-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It feels way more premium than it is when you’re scrolling or dodging shots in a match.
• Battery Life: With a 5160mAh battery, you can easily pull off a 4–5 hour gaming marathon. It even comes with a 33W charger in the box, which is a lifesaver when you need a quick top-up between sessions.

 

 

* Xiaomi Redmi 13 5G

Xiaomi Redmi 13 5G Review — A Surprising Gaming Phone Under 10000

It honestly feels like the Redmi 13 5G is a bit of a “sleeper” hit in this category. While most people immediately jump to Poco for gaming, this Redmi model actually matches it spec-for-spec with the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chip but feels a little more balanced for someone who also uses their phone for photos or binge-watching.

As of late 2025, the base price usually hovers around ₹11,899, but during Amazon or Flipkart sales, it’s a total steal. I’ve seen it drop to around ₹9,499 with bank offers, which officially puts it in the elite club of gaming phones under 10,000.

1. Performance: The Snapdragon Advantage

While many competitors in this bracket rely on older MediaTek Helio or entry-level Dimensity chips, the Redmi 13 5G utilises the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (Accelerated Edition).

• Architecture: Built on a flagship-grade 4nm process, it offers better power efficiency and less heat generation during extended gaming sessions.
• Gaming Stats: In real-world tests, it handles BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile comfortably at “Smooth + Ultra” settings, maintaining a stable 40–50 FPS without immediate thermal throttling.

2. Display: Higher Resolution than Rivals

Most “gaming” phones under 10k sacrifice resolution for refresh rate, often giving you a 720p (HD+) screen. The Redmi 13 5G refuses to compromise here:

• FHD+ Resolution: The 1080p screen ensures that textures and enemy movement in games are crisp, not pixelated.
• 120Hz Adaptive Refresh Rate: It provides the fluid scrolling and high-frame-rate support essential for fast-paced competitive games.
• Size: The massive 6.79-inch display provides ample real estate for four-finger claw controls.

3. Build & Durability: Glass Over Plastic

Budget phones usually feel “cheap,” but the Redmi 13 5G features a Crystal Glass design on the back. For a gamer, this isn’t just about looks; the glass back dissipates heat slightly differently than plastic and provides a more rigid, premium feel during intense matches. It also includes an IP53 rating, offering basic protection against sweat and light splashes.

4. Battery and Charging

Gaming drains juice fast, and the Redmi 13 5G counters this with:

• 5030mAh Battery: Easily survives 5–6 hours of continuous heavy gaming.
• 33W Turbo Charge: While some rivals still ship with 10W or 18W chargers in the box, the 33W charger included here can top the phone up to 50% in about 30 minutes, allowing for quick “refuelling” between gaming sessions.

5. The Camera “Bonus”

Though marketed for gaming, it carries a 108MP main sensor. This is a significant “value-add” for users who want a device that can capture high-quality photos for social media when they aren’t in a match—a feature almost non-existent in other budget gaming-centric phones.

 

* Moto G35 8GB RAM

Motorola G35 8GB RAM – Is It a Great Gaming Phone Under 10000?

The Moto G35 5G is an interesting entry into the sub-10k segment, primarily because it chooses “balance” over raw, unoptimized power. While the 4GB variant often sits comfortably at ₹9,999, the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage model is the one you really want for a smooth gaming experience. It’s a phone that feels built for someone who spends as much time on YouTube and Instagram as they do in the lobby of BGMI.

Here is why the Moto G35 is carving out its own space as a gaming phone under 10,000.

1. Performance: The Unisoc T760 Surprise

Don’t let the name “Unisoc” scare you off. The Unisoc T760 is a 6nm chip that actually punches above its weight class.

• Stable Frames: In games like Free Fire and BGMI, it handles “Smooth + Ultra” settings surprisingly well. You can expect a consistent 40 FPS, which is plenty for casual competitive play.
• The 8GB RAM Edge: This is the game-changer. Most budget phones choke when you switch from a game to a WhatsApp message. With 8GB of physical RAM, the Moto G35 keeps the game alive in the background much longer than its 4GB rivals.

2. Display: Bright and Fluid

The screen on the Moto G35 is arguably one of the best you can find for under 10k:

• 1000 Nits Peak Brightness: This is massive. Most budget phones look like a mirror in direct sunlight, but this panel stays visible even if you’re gaming outdoors.
• 120Hz Refresh Rate: It makes the entire UI feel faster. In fast-paced games like Asphalt 9, the high refresh rate helps with that sense of speed and fluid motion.

3. The “Clean” Experience

One of the biggest “hacks” for budget gaming is having a clean OS. Motorola’s My UX (based on Android 14) is nearly stock Android.

• Zero Bloatware: Unlike some competitors that come pre-loaded with “junk” apps that eat up CPU cycles, the Moto G35 stays lean. This means more processing power goes directly to your game rather than background advertisements.

*HMD Fusion

HMD Fusion Review: A Stylish Gaming Phone Under 10000 for Everyday Gamers

The HMD Fusion is a wild card in the “gaming phone under 10,000” conversation. Unlike Poco or Redmi, which focus on raw specs, the HMD Fusion leans into a modular, “DIY” vibe. It actually has smart pins on the back that let you snap on a dedicated Gaming Outfit—which is basically a hardware controller shell that turns your phone into a handheld console.

However, if you’re looking to buy this specifically for gaming, there are a few things you need to know about how it actually feels to use.

1. Performance: The Reliable Snapdragon 4 Gen 2

Under the hood, it runs the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2. It’s the same chip found in the Poco M7 and Redmi 13 5G, so the baseline gaming performance is solid.

• Gaming Test: It handles BGMI at “Smooth + Ultra” (40 FPS) quite well. It’s not a “Pro” level device, but for casual matches with friends, it doesn’t stutter or drop frames significantly.
• The Software Bonus: Because HMD uses a very clean, near-stock version of Android, there’s very little background “junk” eating up your CPU. This helps keep the gameplay feel a bit more consistent over long sessions.

2. The Modular “Gaming Outfit”

This is the real reason to consider the HMD Fusion. You can get a specific “Gaming Outfit” (case) that adds physical triggers and buttons.

• The Feel: Playing Asphalt 9 or Call of Duty with physical buttons feels 10x better than tapping a piece of glass. It gives you a much better grip and keeps your fingers from blocking the screen.
• The Catch: These “Outfits” are often sold separately or bundled in special offers. Without the gaming shell, it feels like a standard budget phone.

3. The Compromise: The Display

To keep the price low while offering modular pins, HMD made a choice: the screen is HD+ (720p) rather than Full HD.

• Reality Check: While the 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smooth, the lower resolution means games won’t look as “crisp” as they do on the Redmi 13 5G. If you’re a “graphics snob,” this might bother you, but if you just want smooth frame rates, the lower resolution actually helps the GPU perform better.

Price Strategy: Is it actually under 10,000?

The HMD Fusion launched at a slightly higher price (around ₹15,999-₹17,999), but as we head into late 2025, it frequently sees deep discounts.

• Current Status: You can often find the base variant for ₹10,999, and with bank offers (like SBI or ICICI), it easily slides under the ₹10,000 mark.