Lava Bold N1 vs Tecno Pop 9: Best Budget Smartphone Under ₹10,000 in 2025?
Lava, a well-known Indian smartphone brand, has expanded its portfolio with the launch of the new Bold series, featuring two budget-friendly models: the Lava Bold N1 and Lava Bold N1 Pro. Both smartphones are priced under ₹10,000, targeting value-conscious buyers looking for solid features without breaking the bank.
Among the two, the Lava Bold N1 has started gaining traction for offering impressive specs at a low price point. But is it the best option in this price range? To find out, we’ve compared it with another popular budget contender—the Tecno Pop 9. Here’s a detailed breakdown to help you decide which budget smartphone is right for you in 2025.
🔷 Design & Display
The Lava Bold N1 sports an iPhone 16-inspired look, featuring a vertically stacked camera module and a glossy back panel. The Tecno Pop 9 also brings an appealing design with a shiny finish that many budget buyers will appreciate. Both devices come with an IP54 rating, offering basic dust and water resistance—great for daily use.
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Lava Bold N1: 6.75-inch HD+ display, 90Hz refresh rate
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Tecno Pop 9: 6.67-inch IPS LCD display, 120Hz refresh rate
While Lava’s screen is slightly larger, Tecno takes the lead in display smoothness with its 120Hz refresh rate, promising a more fluid experience when scrolling or gaming.
Camera Capabilities
In the camera department, both smartphones offer 13MP dual rear camera setups, but there are slight differences in selfie performance:
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Lava Bold N1: 13MP dual AI rear camera, 5MP front camera
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Tecno Pop 9: 13MP dual rear camera, 8MP front camera
If selfies are important to you, the Tecno Pop 9 might have the edge with a higher-resolution 8MP selfie shooter.
Performance & Battery
Here’s how they stack up under the hood:
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Lava Bold N1: Unisoc octa-core processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage
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Tecno Pop 9: MediaTek Helio G50 processor, 4GB RAM, up to 128GB storage
In terms of raw power, the Helio G50 outperforms most Unisoc chips, offering smoother multitasking and better handling of casual games. Additionally, Tecno offers more internal storage flexibility.
Both phones pack a 5000mAh battery, which should easily deliver a full day of use on moderate usage. Expect similar battery performance from both.
Price in India
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Lava Bold N1: Starts at ₹5,999
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Tecno Pop 9: Starts at ₹6,699
With just a ₹700 difference, pricing is competitive—but Lava clearly targets the ultra-budget segment more aggressively.
Final Verdict: Which Budget Phone Wins?
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Choose Lava Bold N1 if you want:
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An attractive iPhone-style design
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A solid entry-level smartphone at the lowest possible price
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Decent daily performance for basic tasks
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Choose Tecno Pop 9 if you prefer:
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A smoother 120Hz display
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Better selfie camera
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More powerful chipset and higher storage capacity
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Bottom Line
The Lava Bold N1 is a great pick if you’re on a tight budget and want solid essentials. But if you can stretch your budget slightly, the Tecno Pop 9 offers better performance and smoother visuals, making it a more future-proof option in the under-₹10,000 category.