5 best alternative smartphones to JioPhone Next 4G in 2021

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JioPhone Next is a highly hyped smartphone from Reliance and it’s available in India from Diwali 2021. It comes with an HD+ display, Snapdragon 210 chipset, a 3500mAh battery, and specs that are typical of an affordable Android phone. Speaking of which, within JioPhone Next, you get Pragati OS, which is a custom-tuned Android Go software. It has been made in partnership with Google specifically for Indian consumers. Now, all that and the phone is available for a sticker price of ₹6,499. Jio has announced an easy EMI payment option too.

So JioPhone Next is an affordable 4G smartphone. However, it is not the only affordable smartphone in the Indian market. We have curated a list of the best alternatives to JioPhone Next. These also happen to be the best smartphones in the sub-7k price range in India.

Come, let’s take a look.

1. Redmi 9A

Redmi 9A in 3 colors

Xiaomi’s Redmi 9A is currently the most affordable 4G smartphone from the brand with a price of under 7k. This device is meant for people who want to own a smartphone but don’t have a good budget to own it. Redmi 9A is an android smartphone that works for the basic call, text, browsing, and social media apps and has a large battery (5000mAh) that will last for 2 days with moderate usage.

It runs MIUI 12 which has good features and gets regular software updates. Games like BGMI or Call of Duty Mobile can be played only in their Lite versions at low settings on Redmi 9A. Android 10 features like Dark Mode and Google Assistant are all available and the bloatware is minimum. The photo quality on both cameras is decent for the price when shooting in good lighting conditions. It starts at Rs. 6999 and is available in 3 colors – Sea Blue, Nature Green, and Midnight Black.

Redmi 9A Specs

Display- 6.53-inch IPS LCDFront Camera- 5MP
Processor-Helio G25 Octa CoreWeight- 196g
RAM- up to 3GBDimensions- 164.9x77x9mm
Storage- up to 32GBBattery- 5000mAh, 10W charger
Software- Android v104G Bands- 1,3,5,8,40,41
Rear Camera- 13MPVariants Available- 2 (2GB+32GB, 3GB+32GB)

2. Realme C11 2021

Realme C11 2021 is the first offering by the company in the ultra-budget price segment. The smartphone gives a sturdy build quality and has a good battery life too. The smartphone is a pretty-looking phone with a polycarbonate body that does not look or feel cheap. The textured rear panel also keeps fingerprints at bay. There2GB RAM makes the waiting time of a few seconds in launching daily apps and multitasking is not smooth too.

Realme C11 2021 in 2 colors

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Realme UI is neat and clean but there is some bloatware present. Some pre-installed apps can’t be uninstalled so that is annoying. The camera performance is again alright for the price you pay. It is available for a price of Rs. 7000 and is a smart buy for users graduating from a feature phone to a smartphone. It comes in 2 colors – Cool Blue and Cool Grey.

Realme C11 2021 Specs

Display- 6.52-inch IPS LCDFront Camera- 5MP
Processor- Unisoc SC9863AWeight- 190g
RAM- up to 4GBDimensions- 165.2×76.4×8.9mm
Storage- up to 64GBBattery- 5000mAh with 10W charger
Software- Android v114G Bands- 1,3,5,8,38,40,41
Rear Camera- 8MPVariants Available- 2 (2GB+32GB, 4GB+64GB)

3. Nokia C01 Plus

Nokia C01 Plus in 2 colors

Nokia would be one of the first phone brands that you came to know or use. In 2021, bringing the nostalgia factor back, Nokia announced the C01 Plus which was technically a successor to C1 Plus, one of its early smartphones. The newcomer brings a bigger battery, the latest version of Android Go, and a more powerful chipset.

Nokia C01 Plus is covered in blue or purple plastic with a textured finish for a better grip and a splashproof design. It has 2GB RAM, and the chipset used is Unisoc SC9863a. It has dual nano-SIM slots, an audio jack, Bluetooth 4.2, and LTE support too. It is available for Rs. 6199 in India with 2 color options Blue and Purple.

Nokia C01 Plus Specs

Display- 5.45-inch IPS LCDFront Camera- 5MP
Processor-Unisoc SC9863AWeight- 157g
RAM- up to 2GBDimensions- 148×71.8×9.3mm
Storage- up to 16GBBattery- 3000mAh, 5W charger
Software- Android v114G Bands- N/A
Rear Camera- 5MPVariants Available- single

 4. Samsung Galaxy M02 Core

Samsung Galaxy M02 is Samsung’s budget offering in this segment. If you ought to have the Samsung brand value, then go with this M-Series smartphone. When we consider the under 7K price range, the design of MO2 Core has a good quality build. The plastic frame and the plastic back should be durable too. The back panel has ridges for a better grip and a 5000mAh battery is a huge plus point. The display stretches 6.5-inches with HD+ resolution.

Samsung Galaxy M02 Core in 4 colors

ALSO READ: Best Android Phones in India based on Antutu Benchmark score of October 2021

One UI 2.0 is the software onboard. There is a dual rear camera setup plus a selfie snapper for photos. It starts for Rs. 6999 for the 2GB RAM variant which makes it pricey, but if you are someone who wants brand value, then this one can be your choice. It is available in Blue, Black, Red, and Gray color options.

Samsung Galaxy M02 Core Specs

Display- 6.5-inch PLS IPS (16nm)Front Camera- 5MP
Processor- MT 6739W Quad CoreWeight- 206g
RAM- up to 3GBDimensions- 164×75.9×9.1mm
Storage- up to 32GBBattery- 5000mAh, 7.75W charger
Software- Android v104G Bands-1,3,5,7,8,20,28,38,40,41
Rear Camera- 13MP+2MPVariants Available- 2 (2GB RAM+32GB, 3GB RAM+64GB)

 5. Karbonn X21

Karbonn X21 in 2 colors

If you are someone who wants to own an ultra-budget smartphone from an Indian brand, and you don’t want JioPhone Next, then Karbonn’s X21 is a good option. It comes with an HD+LCD display and runs Android 10 Go. It has a traditional screen with thick top and bottom bezels. It doesn’t have a fingerprint sensor.

Connectivity options include single-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, a headphone jack, and a micro-USB port. It only comes in a single 2GB RAM variant but it should suffice for very light smartphone usage. It is available at Rs. 5000 and comes in 2 color options- Aqua Green and Midnight Blue.

Karbonn X21 Specs

Display- 5.45-inch IPS LCDFront Camera- 5MP
Processor- Unisoc SC9863 Octa CoreWeight- 160g
RAM- up to 2GBDimensions- 147.5×71.8×9.35mm
Storage- up to 32GBBattery- 3000mAh
Software- Android v104G Bands- 3,40
Rear Camera- 8MPVariants Available- single

Best 4G smartphones in 7k range

               Name of Smartphone                            Price
Redmi 9ARs. 6999
Realme C11 2021Rs. 7000
Nokia C01 PlusRs. 6199
Samsung Galaxy M02 CoreRs. 6999
Karbonn X21Rs. 5000
Shivangi AgarwalShivangi Agarwal
Shivangi is a tech writer at Smartprix, where she covers consumer technology news with a focus on smartphones, wearables, laptops, and the evolving world of OTT streaming. Since joining the team in August 2021, she has written over 120 in-depth reviews, comparisons, and buying guides aimed at helping readers navigate the ever-changing tech landscape.

With a strong foundation in English literature and education, Shivangi brings clarity, insight, and a reader-first approach to every story. Her expertise lies in breaking down complex features into accessible, practical insights—whether she’s reviewing the latest smartphone or exploring trends in infotainment.

Shivangi holds a B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in English, along with a B.Ed in English and Social Studies. She is based in Faridabad, India. You can follow her work on Smartprix or connect with her for tech-related queries.

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