With Durga Puja just weeks away, smartphones are emerging as the new festive essential for pandal-hopping and celebrations. Tech brands are spotlighting feature-rich devices under ₹10,000, debunking the notion that a quality festival-ready phone requires a ₹20,000-plus spend.
Experts highlight five essentials driving consumer demand this season: long-lasting batteries to survive day-to-night pandal visits, low-light cameras for vibrant night photography, strong connectivity to handle reels and video calls in crowded streets, built-in security for safe UPI transactions, and premium designs that complement the festive mood.
Among the options, the Ai+ Nova 5G and Pulse are positioned as budget-friendly yet powerful choices, offering 5G support, strong cameras, privacy-focused features, and battery life designed for marathon celebrations. In Kolkata, retailers are already reporting higher footfall with students, professionals, and families looking for affordable yet stylish phones ahead of Puja. Shop owners note that customers are prioritizing battery life and camera quality this year, reflecting the growing trend of capturing and sharing the festival digitally. Analysts expect sales in the sub-₹10K category to rise sharply, as festive discounts and online offers further fuel demand.