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What phone can you comfortably afford?

Last updated 21 August 2026

A phone is a small purchase with a short life, so it does not deserve a car loan's arithmetic. We cap a comfortable phone EMI at 4% of take-home and, separately, cap the price at one month's salary — because stretching a plan to 24 months does not make an expensive handset cheaper, it just keeps you paying for it after you have stopped wanting it.

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How we work it out

Comfortable is 4% of take-home after your existing EMIs, manageable 6%, stretch 8%. Alongside that, a comfortable phone costs no more than one month of take-home, manageable one and a half, stretch two. Both tests run and the stricter one decides, which is why a long tenure cannot promote a phone into a band it does not belong in.

No-cost EMI is assumed on by default in India, so the instalment is the price divided by the term. That is usually close to the truth — but processing fees are common and tax is sometimes charged on the notional interest, so ask for the total amount payable before signing.

Prices are street estimates for popular configurations, from ₹7,499 upward, and they move constantly. Confirm with the retailer.