Samsung Galaxy F06 5G Challengers: Redmi 14C, iQoo Z9x, More
Samsung Galaxy F06 5G alternatives: Moto G45, Poco M6 Plus, and more smartphones to choose from.
Samsung Galaxy F06 5G Challengers: Samsung may have been making headlines with its flagship Galaxy S25 series but the brand's market extends well beyond premium devices. Samsung has launched the Galaxy F06 5G which comes with an introductory price of Rs 9,499 for its base 4 GB RAM and 64 GB version. And for that price, the Galaxy F06 does come with some decent specs. It comes with a big 6.7-inch display, which may be LCD and HD+ (and has a refresh rate of 60 Hz) but given its Samsung genes, promises to be both colourful and bright.
The phone is powered by the budget but still capable MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, paired with up to 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. In photography, the phone brings a 50-megapixel main sensor along with a 2-megapixel depth camera, while an 8-megapixel sensor takes care of selfies. One of the biggest USPs of the phone is that it not only comes with Android 15 topped with Samsung’s OneUI Core 7 (a slightly lighter version of Samsung’s OneUI) out of the box but also with four years of promised OS updates which is a rare sighting at this price point.
The device is backed by a 5,000 mAh battery which comes with support for 25W charging, although there is no charger in the box, which can be a problem in this segment. Its pros make it a great option below Rs 10,000, but the Galaxy F06 5G also has a few cons in its spec sheet. which leave space for the competition to sneak in.
Here are five smartphones that can be a point of pain for the Samsung F06:
Redmi 14C: The Note Replacement
Price: Rs 9,999 onwards
For the longest time, the budget smartphone segment was ruled by Xiaomi, courtesy of the Redmi Note series that dominated all other devices in this zone. Although the Note series has gone semi-premium, Redmi has introduced the Redmi 14C to fill that gap.
Apart from its very premium looks – there are two glass back options here - the phone also brings a very strong budget spec sheet. It has a slightly bigger 6.88-inch LCD display which also has 120 Hz refresh rate. It is powered by MediaTek Helio G81 processor, which is a level below the Dimensity 6300 but also comes with up to 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.
There is a 50-megapixel main sensor on board but the phone has an auxiliary lens and misses out a real secondary sensor, and selfies are handled by an 8-megapixel lens on the front. The Redmi 14C also has a slightly bigger 5,160 mAh battery but comes with 18W charging support which is a bit slower than the Samsung F06’s 25W charging speed.
That said, the biggest edge the Redmi 14C has over the F06 is the 33W charger that the brand packs in the box. A little disappointing is the presence of Android 14 on the phone which is paired with Xiaomi’s HyperOS. While HyperOS comes with a lot of functionality and features, you only get two years of updates with the device which means you actually get only one major OS update, given Android 15 is already out and for some time now.
But even then, the bigger display, battery and bundled charger make this a Galaxy F06 5G challenger.
Moto G45: Clean Android, Some Major Spec-Ups
Price: Rs 10,999 onwards
It may have a slightly higher, but for those additional specs, Motorola packs in a lot of upgrades over the Galaxy F06. The Moto G45 comes with a 6.5-inch display but it is full HD+ in resolution and also has 120 Hz refresh rate, and even has Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top. The processor that powers it is quite capable too.
It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 chipset with up to 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage. The Moto G45 also brings much better camera figures as compared to the Galaxy F06. It has a 50-megapixel main sensor camera which is paired with a 2-megapixel sensor, but comes with a 16-megapixel selfie sensor which is much higher than the Galaxy F06. The phone runs on clean Android, although it comes with Android 14 out of the box.
It has a 5,000 mAh battery with support for 18W charging and also has a 20W charger in the box. The phone is available in five different funky colours, has a vegan leather back version and also comes with IP52 rating, all of which makes it a tough competitor for the Galaxy F06.
iQoo Z9x: Another Budget Spec Beast
Price: Rs 11,999 onwards
The iQoo Z9x is another budget phone that carries some spec edges over the Galaxy F06. Most notably, the phone brings a more powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset to the table, which is coupled with up to 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.
The iQoo Z9x also has a significantly bigger 6,000 mAh battery which comes with very fast 44W charging support and a charger in the box as well. It has a 6.72-inch full-HD+ LCD display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, and also the same camera numbers as the Galaxy F06 – a 50-megapixel main sensor with a 2-megapixel secondary sensor and an 8-megapixel selfie snapper. The iQoo Z9x runs Android 14 and some might find the iQoo FunTouchOS on top of it a bit overwhelming, but the phone also comes with an IP64 rating and has stereo speakers as well.
A tough contender for the latest Galaxy, surely.
Poco M6 Plus: A Pure Camera Contender
Price: Rs 10,999
The Poco M6 Plus comes as a standout device in this price band, thanks to its triple-digit main camera – it has a 108-megapixel main sensor with 3x in-sensor zoom which is backed by a 2-megapixel macro sensor. The phone also has a 13-megapixel selfie sensor on board, which makes it one of the best phones in its segment in camera terms. The Poco M6 Plus stands out in design too– it has a glass back, giving it a premium feel and comes with Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the front.
The M6 Plus boasts a 6.79-inch full HD+ display with 120 Hz refresh rate and runs on the budget-but-efficient Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 AE processor which is paired with up to 8 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.
The phone’s base variant also has 6 GB RAM which is another major pro in its corner. It is backed by a 5,030 mAh battery which comes with 33W charging support and there is a charger in the box too. It comes with Android 14, topped with Xiaomi’s HyperOS, and has an IP53 rating too, This one has camera numbers and more to worry Galaxy F06 5G.
Vivo T3 Lite: A Competent Contender That Clones Key Specs
Price: Rs 10,499
The Vivo T3 Lite is another device that can cause some serious distress to the Galaxy F06, mainly because it shares so many of its specs. The phone has a 6.56 inch LCD HD+ display with 90 Hz refresh rate and also brings IP64 dust and water resistance.
It runs on the same processor as the Galaxy F06 5G - a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor - and has RAM and storage that go up to 6 GB and 128 GB, respectively. Its camera numbers are also very similar to the Galaxy F06 - a dual camera setup comprising a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 2-megapixel depth one on the back, and an 8-megapixel sensor up front for selfie snaps.
The presence of Android 14 out of the box is a bit of a downer and some might not like the phone’s FunTouch OS, which is not very simple to use. Keeping the Vivo T3 Lite ticking is a 5,000 mAh battery, but with relatively slow 15W charging support, although there is a charger in the box.
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