Review of budget Chinese smartphones. Phones. Main models: pros and cons of Chinese smartphone brands

Seeing the growing consumer craving for powerful yet affordable smartphones, the top Chinese smartphone makers of 2017 continue their expansion into Western and European markets. Companies such as Xiaomi, ZTE and Asus regularly delight users with new flagships and successfully compete with such "mastodons" of the mobile market as iPhone, Samsung, Sony, etc.

We present to the attention of readers a list of Chinese smartphone brands, ranked based on global sales statistics and reviews users of various online stores and specialized portals about product quality.

Sales statistics of smartphones of Chinese brands, %

Xiaomi managed to take the mobile world by storm in 2014. Their flagship device Mi 4 was one of the best-selling mobile phones in history and paved the way for mid-range smartphones. At the moment, the company's "piggy bank" has such hits as Redmi Note 4, Mi5 and Mi Max. And in 2017, the range was replenished with a frameless Mi Mix with a 6.4-inch display and Mi Max2 with a fantastically tenacious 5300 mAh battery. And all this for a very affordable price.

Flagship 2017 - Huawei P10

One of the most respected and popular Chinese smartphone brands of 2017 is currently releasing devices with fast Kirin 960 processors. Such chipsets can handle the latest games and score about 53 thousand points in the AnTuTu test.

The cameras of top Huawei smartphones, such as Huawei P9 and Huawei P10, were also highly rated by users, they have dual cameras from the well-known German manufacturer Leica and shoot, if not at the level of the latest generation iPhone, then very close to it. Many Huawei models have dual cameras with Sony sensors, the shooting quality of which also delights the owners.

2.Vivo

Flagship 2017 - Vivo X9 Plus

Vivo was founded in 2009 as a sub-brand of BBK Electronics. The company entered the telecommunications and consumer electronics market with its landline and cordless phones. In 2011, Vivo began manufacturing and marketing its own range of smartphones.

As of Q3 2016, Vivo had a 5.9% share of the global smartphone market. In the same year, it launched the V5 / V5Plus model with the world's first 20MP dual front camera. And in July 2017, Vivo demonstrated a working prototype of a smartphone with a scanner integrated into the screen. Thanks to this innovative approach to its gadgets, the brand is unlikely to disappear from the list of popular global mobile phone manufacturers in the foreseeable future.

In June 2017, Vivo entered into an agreement with FIFA to become the official sponsor of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

1 Oppo

Flagship 2017 - Oppo R11

In first place in the ranking of Chinese smartphone manufacturers is a relatively young company that created the Oppo R5 and Oppo R5s with a 4.85 mm thick case. Oppo is the leading 4G smartphone manufacturer in China, with a market share of 15.2%, although it is generally behind other brands such as Chinese rivals Xiaomi and Lenovo and South Korean manufacturer Samsung.

The main activity of the company is the creation of mobile phones with some of the best selfie cameras in the world.

There are tons of "cheap" Chinese phones out there, what makes Oppo's products stand out from the crowd?

Firstly, the brand's philosophy, which is to maintain a very close relationship with both users and developer communities involved in creating firmware and other “improvements” for gadgets that have gone on sale.
Secondly, the company strives to update its phones on a regular basis, adding new features and changes based on the feedback received from users.
Thirdly, Oppo engineers are not afraid to try new things and think outside the box when it comes to hardware and features.

As an example, Oppo has traditionally released various firmware updates at least once a week. While most users liked it, some also felt that the rapidly changing firmware had an eternal "beta" status. The solution was simple: Oppo now has two different sets of upgrades to choose from. The official release of the new firmware comes out every 2-3 months. The "beta" path is for those who are hungry for the latest features and don't mind a minor "hit" to stability in exchange for quick updates.

To sum it up: the Oppo brand has a lot of potential, producing high-quality and quickly updated smartphones, taking into account the wishes of users, and is an excellent alternative to more popular and expensive brands.

Today, almost all popular smartphones are made in China. Even brands from the US and other countries that develop devices on their own make them in Chinese factories. But what about the brands directly related to the Middle Kingdom? Is it possible to find worthy manufacturers among them, for whose products it is not a pity to give money? Without a doubt, such smartphones exist. Moreover, the best Chinese smartphones easily bypass the products of companies with a long history in terms of quality, capabilities, and price. To prove this statement, we have compiled a rating that includes the five most popular categories of phones on the market.

Best Cheap Chinese Smartphones (Budget Under 10000)

By modern standards, the threshold of 10,000 rubles is a fairly modest amount for a smartphone. But not for Chinese manufacturers. Today, companies from the Middle Kingdom can offer customers excellent smartphones at a modest cost. Moreover, they will delight not only with excellent quality and attractive design, but also with wonderful equipment.

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1. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 4/64GB

The first Chinese smartphone, if not the best, then one of the most interesting in the category. The price of Redmi 5 Plus is practically approaching the mark of 10 thousand rubles, but it’s not a pity to give such an amount for such a good device.

First, it uses an excellent hardware platform. Yes, we have before us the well-known and annoying bunch of Snapdragon 625 and Adreno 506. But it’s hardly worth criticizing Xiaomi for using this hardware, because it does an excellent job with all tasks, including most games.

Secondly, the smartphone pleases with a sufficiently capacious 4000 mAh battery, which is enough for almost two full days of work with a moderate load. The Redmi 5 Plus has 4 and 64 GB of RAM and internal memory, respectively, which is also great for its price.

Thirdly, the device is equipped with a well-calibrated matrix with a diagonal of 5.99 inches and an actual aspect ratio of 2:1 (resolution of 2160x1080 pixels). Watching videos, playing or just surfing the Internet on such a screen is a pleasure.

What we liked:

performance;
the perfect combination of cost / quality;
Battery capacity;
stylish frameless design;
display calibration and brightness;
the speed of the system.

2. ZTE Blade V9 Vita 3/32GB

Another good inexpensive smartphone from China is offered by the ZTE brand. This brand has been introduced to the mobile device market not so long ago, but it has already managed to win a huge army of fans. Reasonable price, nice design and balanced parameters are some of the key factors that attract the attention of buyers to ZTE smartphones. In the Blade V9 Vita model, the buyer receives:

chipset - Snapdragon 435;
graphics - Adreno 505;
32 GB ROM;
3GB RAM.

The device is equipped with a 5.45-inch display, and due to the elongated shape of the body (matrix with a ratio of 18:9), it fits perfectly in the hand. At the same time, the screen resolution of the ZTE Blade V9 Vita is 1440x720 pixels, which ensures good performance of the device in games even on relatively modest hardware.

Advantages:

NFC module for only 9 thousand;
screen diagonal and aspect ratio;
system speed;
face unlock function;
Memory;
good photo quality.

Disadvantages:

mediocre autonomy.

3. Meizu M6T 3/32GB

Do you want a beautiful and practical device, the power of which does not play any role for you? In this case, we can offer you M6T from Meizu. The case of this smartphone is made of high-quality polycarbonate and is available in four colors (blue, red, black and gold). The rear camera in the device is double, but the 13 and 2 MP modules are clearly inferior to the dual cameras in other, more advanced smartphones.

Important! The smartphone is based on the MediaTek processor and Mali graphics, so almost all games will show mediocre performance on it. But the speed in other tasks and the autonomy of the M6T are just excellent!

The mobile phone has a screen with an aspect ratio of 2:1, due to which the upper and lower bezels of the device have become slightly smaller. For this reason, this inexpensive smartphone has lost the mTouch button under the screen, which is familiar to the manufacturer, and the fingerprint scanner is now located at the back.

Peculiarities:

affordable cost;
dual main camera;
first-class assembly;
battery life time.

The best Chinese smartphones in terms of price and quality (up to 20,000 rubles)

Having increased the budget by one and a half to two times, users can look at more advanced solutions. Moreover, their quality and characteristics are so good that most often it makes no sense to look closely at the flagships. Chinese smartphones under 20,000 can offer excellent cameras, premium assembly, up-to-date hardware platform, and luxurious appearance.

1.OPPO A5 4/32GB

A good Chinese frameless smartphone OPPO A5 could have placed higher in this category, if not for the average cost of 16,000 rubles. For such an amount, the manufacturer, alas, could not offer customers impressive parameters, but limited itself to average (in its segment) equipment:

6.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1520x720 pixels (19:9);
dual main camera with 13 and 2 MP modules;
Snapdragon 450, Adreno 506, 4 GB RAM;
4230 mAh battery.

Unfortunately, the company decided that the NFS module is not needed in the phone for 16 thousand. Consider this nuance before buying a smartphone. Also, an outdated “micro USB” port is installed here, which is very strange for its price segment. But complete with the device, the user will find a case and a protective film (already on the screen), which somewhat compensates for the disadvantages.

Advantages:

beautiful appearance;
screen size and quality;
capacious battery;
excellent equipment;
the ability to install a memory card and two SIM cards at the same time;
demolition cameras.

Disadvantages:

plastic case;
no fast charging.

2. Huawei P20 Lite

One of the most attractive phones according to customer reviews is offered by the Huawei brand. The P20 has a large 5.84-inch screen, which, in line with current trends, features a notch and an elongated aspect ratio (2280x1080 resolution).

For contactless payment for purchases, the smartphone has an NFC module, and for listening to music, the manufacturer left a 3.5 mm jack in the case, which is becoming a rarity today. Also included with the smartphone is a simple transparent case. Its quality is quite low, as for a device for 16 thousand, but at first it can be used to protect a slippery and easily soiled case.

Pros:

excellent display;
modern design;
face recognition;
fast charging and NFC module;
great cameras with advanced settings.

Minuses

the battery runs out quickly;
The case picks up a lot of fingerprints.

3.Honor 9 4/64GB

The leader in the ranking of Chinese smartphones under 20,000 rubles is Honor 9. The youth device from Huawei offers a 5.15-inch screen, which will appeal to buyers with a small hand size. The phone has a hardware platform of its own production Kirin 960, which is complemented by graphics from Mali and 4 GB of RAM.

Note. Honor 9 supports all LTE bands common in Russia and Europe, and also has a large number of interfaces. Among other things, the smartphone has an NFC module, an infrared port and Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac.

The device has a good main camera with 20 and 12 MP modules. With their help, you can even record UHD video, but only at 30 fps. The smartphone has good autonomy (battery capacity of 3200 mAh) and there is support for SuperCharge from Huawei (9V / 2A charger included), which allows you to fully charge the battery in a little more than an hour.

Advantages:

the speed of the system is simply phenomenal;
there is NFC and IRDA;
GPS stability;
the speed of the fingerprint scanner;
nice appearance.

Disadvantages:

the glass case will not be to everyone's liking;
heavy weight, caused by the use of glass in the case.

The best Chinese smartphones with a powerful battery

Measuring performance and large screens, manufacturers often forget that all this should also work without the need for a constant connection of a memory or power bank. As a result, modern mobile phones, at best, survive by the end of the day, and at worst, they can be discharged at the most inopportune moment. And since manufacturers and developers have not yet sought to fix the problem through optimization, users have only one way out - buying a smartphone with a capacious battery.

1. ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL 4/128GB

The Chinese manufacturer ASUS has offered customers one of the best smartphones in the middle price segment - ZenFon Max Pro M1. This device has a good value for money. The device for about 17 thousand rubles boasts:

IPS display with a resolution of FHD (2:1) and a diagonal of 6 inches;
Snapdragon 636 and Adreno 509 graphics accelerator;
4 GB RAM and 128 GB storage.

By the way, if you want to save money, you can choose modifications with a smaller storage size. You can compensate for its shortage in the future with the help of memory cards up to 2 TB, the slot for which in the smartphone is separated from a pair of SIM cards.

The battery capacity in the ZenFone Max Pro M1 is 5000 mAh, and so that the user does not have to wait long at the outlet, the manufacturer has taken care of supporting fast charging. But if this is already familiar to modern devices, then the presence of an NFC module in a fairly inexpensive ASUS device can only be praised.

Advantages:

high contrast screen;
excellent hardware platform;
huge battery capacity;
decent build quality;
separate tray for SIM and microSD;
pure Android OS.

Disadvantages:

mediocre cameras.

2. DOOGEE S55

The second place in the TOP of phones with a capacious battery is occupied by a model from DOOGEE. This smartphone is based on SoC from MediaTek, so it is better not to choose it for games. But on the other hand, the S55 boasts a protected and stylish case. Moreover, the device is not afraid of not only water and dust (IP68), but also shocks.

The device uses a 5.5-inch display with HD resolution and 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is powered by a large 5500 mAh battery, which takes 2 hours to fully charge. A pleasant bonus from the manufacturer can be called a cloth for wiping the smartphone in the kit.

Also, for its price, DOOGEE S55 offers a pretty good main camera with 13 and 8 MP modules that can take great pictures in good light. The lack of light already affects the quality of the photo, and quite noticeably. But the 5-megapixel front camera here, obviously for show, and selfie lovers will not please.

Advantages:

protection from dust and water;
impact-resistant case;
high-quality IPS screen;
acceptable price;
battery capacity and charging speed;
smart shell work.

Disadvantages:

the front camera is not happy with the quality of the pictures;
main speaker sound.

3. Xiaomi Mi Max 3 4/64GB

If you do not need NFC, but want to get the same hardware as described by ASUS, then get Mi Max 3 from Xiaomi. A powerful 5500 mAh smartphone battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, as well as an infrared port, distinguish the device from competitors.

Also, the device will appeal to those who love large screens. In Mi Max 3, its diagonal is 6.9 inches, which is ideal for games, videos, social networking, Internet surfing and other tasks. As for the main 12/5 MP camera, it is typical for its category and does not stand out with impressive shots. But for most buyers, it is enough.

The body of the phablet is made of metal, and its screen is covered with a durable protective glass. You can also put a separate plus for the design of the smartphone, since it looks much more expensive than its real price, starting at 17,000 rubles.

Advantages:

excellent and huge display;
gaming performance;
acceptable cost;
huge battery;
optimization and convenience of MIUI;

Disadvantages:

the NFC module would not interfere;
amateur size.

Chinese smartphones with the best cameras

Who said you can't take great pictures on your phone? Of course, full-fledged DSLRs can still laugh carelessly on the sidelines, but their dimensions, capabilities and price, along with all the necessary accessories, are inferior to almost any smartphone without a fight. The latter, in turn, can be equipped with cameras that are not ashamed to take pictures not only for a home collection, but also for a personal blog. Some devices even boast the ability to record great videos, which will please those consumers who dream of creating quality content for YouTube.

1. ASUS ZenFone 5Z ZS620KL 6/64GB

In user reviews, ASUS smartphones regularly receive high marks. A similar opinion is shared by experts who note the many advantages of brand products from Taiwan, including:

high build quality;
excellent display calibration;
excellent sound in headphones and speaker;
price/performance ratio;
attractive appearance.

As for the design, in ZenFone 5Z, as in most modern models, it is in many ways reminiscent of the latest generations of the iPhone. However, the device still differs from competing products in its proprietary cover - concentric rays on the back cover. The same ones are present on many laptops and tablets of the company, so fans of the brand will definitely recognize the characteristic style of the manufacturer.

There are two main cameras in the smartphone and they are really impressive in terms of photo quality. The device also handles video quite well, as the ZenFone 5Z boasts the ability to record video at a frame rate of 240 fps (in HD and Full HD) and optical stabilization. At the same time, the smartphone is based on the Snapdragon 845, which still retains the title of the flagship CPU, so it can also be chosen by gamers.

Advantages:

one of the best displays on the market;
excellent main camera;
productive "stuffing", which is ideal for games;
operation of wireless modules;
great design and good build.

Disadvantages:

autonomy is not happy at all.

2. Huawei Mate 20 Lite

Excellent design and an abundance of features offers a mobile phone Huawei Mate 20 Lite. At the same time, the cost of this smartphone starts at 19,000 rubles, which can be called a good offer for the declared capabilities. This phone has the best cameras in its price range:

Rear: 20 and 2 MP modules (capable of recording HD videos at 480 fps).
Front: main sensor with a resolution of 24 MP and an additional 2 MP.

With each of the cameras, the smartphone can take excellent portrait shots. Receiving low light does not greatly affect the quality of the photo, which is very important.

Advice! If you want to invest in the purchase of a camera phone as competently as possible, then this smartphone will be the ideal solution. The device has excellent rear and front cameras, an NFC module, advanced hardware, and a large screen suitable for games, videos and other tasks.

Among other advantages of the smartphone can be noted good performance and good equipment. The latter, in addition to the usual elements, includes a protective case and a film already pasted on the display, as well as headphones. Their quality is not perfect, but it is quite worthy for its price and for the first time they will be enough.

Advantages:

beautiful design and good assembly;
charging speed and battery life;
excellent pictures on the rear and front cameras;
large and perfectly calibrated display;
the speed of the fingerprint scanner.

Disadvantages:

dim notification LED in speaker grille.

3. Honor 10 4/64GB

In terms of photographic capabilities, the Chinese company Huawei confidently outperforms any competitors, regularly occupying top positions in the DxOMark rating. For example, the P20 Pro currently leads it with a score of 109, which is 4 points more than the new iPhone Xs Max. But if you don't want to pay almost 45 thousand rubles for a phone and don't need amazing shots, then the Honor 10 can be an ideal solution.

This smartphone is produced as part of a sub-brand of Huawei and also boasts excellent cameras. The front sensor of the device is represented by a 24 MP module (Sony IMX576) with an aperture of f/2.0 and a pixel size of 0.9 microns. Also, the Chinese smartphone has a good rear camera, represented by a pair of modules at once: 12 MP color (IMX498) and 24 MP monochrome (IMX550).

What we liked:

stable working shell EMUI;
the battery confidently holds one and a half to two days;
reliable operation of wireless modules;
excellent sensors with artificial intelligence manufactured by Sony;
powerful chipset;
very fast fingerprint sensor;
loud speakers.

The best Chinese flagship smartphones

If at the beginning of the 2000s, Chinese phones were associated among buyers with fakes of famous brands and were of low quality, today smartphones from China are able to compete on equal terms with other companies. Moreover, it is the Chinese who create the most interesting devices based on Android, and the price offered by brands from the Celestial Empire leads to stagnation or unprofitability of the mobile business of large brands. In the flagship category, we also included 3 devices that are almost perfect models in every respect.

1.OnePlus 6 8/128GB

One of the best Chinese flagships of 2018 comes from OnePlus. Model 6 is no longer the eldest in the line, because the 6T has recently appeared on the market. However, there is little that distinguishes them, but the cost of new items starts from 41 thousand rubles, when you can buy 6-ku for 10 thousand cheaper. For this amount, the user will receive:

dual main camera with 16 and 20 MP modules;
productive hardware platform;
juicy AMOLED display with a resolution of 2280x1080 pixels;
3300 mAh battery with Dash Charge fast charging;

By the way, OnePlus 6 differs from the updated model in the presence of a 3.5 mm jack, which will please owners of wired headphones. Traditionally, for new devices, the delivery set of the 6-ki includes a case and a protective film on the screen. However, their quality is not very good and it would be better if the manufacturer finally took care of full IP68 certification.

Advantages:

perfect system optimization;
there is a 3.5 mm jack;
very fast charging;
there is no unnecessary software;
mode switch lever;
performance;
excellent main camera;
loud speakers;
the presence of the Slow Motion function;
an impressive amount of 8 and 128 GB of RAM and ROM, respectively.

Disadvantages:

no Always On, though AMOLED.

2. Xiaomi Mi8 6/128GB

Xiaomi decided to make its best smartphone in terms of characteristics also the best in appearance. But in this case, the manufacturer decided not to bother too much and took the design of the latest iPhones. This approach can be scolded, but the fact remains that Apple creates the most stylish equipment, so other brands should look up to it if they want to increase supply volumes.
As for the hardware platform, the smartphone has incorporated all the best at the time of release. One of the distinguishing features of the device is face unlock. Moreover, not only the front camera is responsible for it, as in most devices on the market, but a whole set of sensors that does not allow them to be deceived by an ordinary photo.

The screen in the device is AMOLED, and its diagonal is 6.21 inches. This is the ideal size, because, given the elongated shape (18.5:9), it allows you to comfortably use the device. The smartphone also surprises with the quality of shooting a pair of main modules of 12 MP (optical zoom and optical stabilization) and a good 20-megapixel front camera.

What you should pay attention to:

great design in the style of the iPhone X;
perfect main and front cameras;
there is a full-fledged 3D face scanner;
productive stuffing on a modern processor;
large and high-quality display;
smart fingerprint sensor;
decent autonomy;

3. Meizu 16th 6/64

Finally, Meizu realized that producing phones with MediaTek and Mali, especially when it comes to flagship devices, is not worth it. Increasingly, Snapdragon is being installed in smartphones, and in the 16th, as in the devices described above, the 845th “stone” model is used along with Adreno 630 graphics.

Note. The Meizu 16th smartphone has three system management options to choose from. Also, the device is distinguished by a pleasant vibration motor, reminiscent of the Taptic Engine in the iPhone. Another advantage over competitors lies in the excellent sound, which only a few can compare with. And all this for a very reasonable price.

The smartphone has an excellent main camera with 12 and 20 MP modules. Excellent photo quality, the selected sensors demonstrate themselves not only in theory, but also in practice. Even in low light, Meizu 16th manages to take impressive pictures.

Another advantage of the popular Chinese smartphone is the juicy AMOLED display, which is not inferior in brightness and saturation to the current Samsung flagships. AMOLED technology, by the way, was not chosen by the company by chance, since it is required in order to install it under the fingerprint scanner under the screen.

As for the cons, there are practically none. To be more precise, it is only one - there is no NFS module in the mobile phone. Of course, this is not a problem for the Chinese buyer, because QR codes rule in China, but for the international market, the manufacturer should still add such a chip if he wants to increase sales.

Advantages:

the area occupied by the screen;
fingerprint scanner under the display;
built-in DAC and advanced sound in speakers;
excellent main camera;
attractive appearance;
battery charging speed;
high performance.

Disadvantages:

no NFC.

Which smartphone to buy from China

When choosing a Chinese smartphone today, you can practically not worry about quality. Modern brands from the Middle Kingdom make excellent products without worrying about the possibility of quick breakage. As a result, you can concentrate on price, features and design. With a modest budget, pay attention to the first category of smartphones. If you are willing to spend more, then the price of up to 20 thousand is your option. The wealthiest buyers can take the flagships, which this year the Chinese turned out to be just great. But do not forget that sometimes autonomy is more important than performance. In this case, we have added a category of phones with a capacious battery to the review.

If you are looking for a powerful smartphone, you have come to the right place. We will guide you through the hottest mobile phones of the year to save time when you go to your local phone shop. Of course, the most important factor when buying a new device is to buy the best smartphone. The size that's right for you, the features you need that you'll feel good with, and the platform that's best for you. For this purpose, a rating of the most powerful Chinese smartphones for 2017 has been created.

LeEco (LeTV) Le 2 PRO X620 32Gb

The Le 2 review element stood out the most with its Rose Gold color, which definitely draws attention. The LeEco website also lists the colors gold, silver, and gray as choices, so if you don't like those colors, you can get something more conventional. The front of the smartphone is glass with colored panels above and below the screen, while the side and back panels have a polished metal finish, except for the shiny brushed metal stripes where the sides meet front and back. Surprisingly, this phablet still has the old LeTV logo on the back, unlike the Le Max 2 (Review), which launched at the same time. The power and volume buttons are on the right, while the dual Nano-SIM slot is on the left. The only thing that is on top is an infrared emitter. There is a USB Type-C port on the bottom, flanked by two symmetrical grilles, but only one on the right is a speaker. The main thing to note is the lack of a 3.5mm audio jack.

Main characteristics:

Android 6.0;
Camera: 21 and 8 MP;
Battery: 3000 mAh;

Pros:

Stunning display;
Powerful processor;
Efficient fingerprint scanner;

Minuses:

Average build quality;

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro

Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is the first commercial product from the Google Tango team, which is working on machine vision on mobile devices. The smartphone has a camera and sensor setup that allows for motion tracking, depth perception, and area exploration. All of this is for augmented reality (AR) applications such as indoor navigation, search, and games. At the expense of characteristics, the smartphone has a 6.4-inch QHD IPS display and four cameras. It also has an 8-megapixel front camera and a 16-megapixel RGB rear camera, a depth infrared camera with a thermal imager and emitter, and a motion tracking camera. The Lenovo Phab 2 Pro is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 octa-core processor built for Tango, paired with 4GB of RAM. It comes with 64GB of built-in storage and supports expandable storage via microSD card up to 128GB. A dual SIM device supports two Nano-SIMs.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 6.4 inches with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels;
Processor: 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 MSM8976 and Adreno 510 video processor;
Android 6.0;
Camera: 16 and 8 MP;
Battery: 4050 mAh;

Pros:

Nimble;
Device for AR;
Huge screen;

Minuses:

Not very powerful front camera;

OnePlus OnePlus 3T 128Gb

The OnePlus 3T has a faster processor, more storage, an improved front camera and a bigger battery. The OnePlus 3T features a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (two cores at 1.6GHz and two cores at 2.35GHz) compared to the Snapdragon 820 on the original. The OnePlus 3T comes in 64GB and 128GB storage models, compared to only the 64GB model of the OnePlus 3. As for the improved front camera, OnePlus has doubled the front camera resolution from 8MP on the OnePlus 3 to 16MP on the OnePlus 3T - at the same time switching sensors from Sony IMX179 with 1.4 micron pixels to Samsung 3P8SP with 1 micron pixels. The smartphone will please you with a good sound. All in all, a good value for the price.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels;
Processor: 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 MSM 8996 Pro and Adreno 530 video processor;
Memory: 128 GB of internal memory and 6 GB of RAM;
Android 6.0;
Camera: 16 and 16 MP;
Battery: 3400 mAh;

Pros:

Excellent updated pair of cameras;
New processor;

Minuses:

No FM radio;

Alcatel Shine Lite

On the eve of IFA 2016 in Berlin, Alcatel has launched a new smartphone - Shine Lite. Focusing on the camera for good photography, Alcatel Shine Lite boasts a 13-megapixel camera, which is also the biggest highlight of this smartphone. The new Alcatel Shine Lite has a metal design and glass. The affordable smartphone is available in three different colors: black, gold, and white. Alcatel Shine Lite runs on Android 6.0. It houses a small 5-inch (720x1280 pixels) IPS screen with 2.5-inch glass covered on both the front and back of the phone. For own purposes and other front camera shooting requirements, Shine Lite has a 5 megapixel camera. The front camera is also equipped with a flash module for low light conditions. Alcatel has made it easy to sort photos with a complete new folder. Moreover, you can also create videos with an app called Face Show.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5 inches with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels;
Processor: 4-core MediaTek MT6737 1300 MHz and Mali-T720 MP2 video processor;
Memory: 16 GB of internal memory and 2 GB of RAM;
Android 6.0;
Camera: 13 and 5 MP;
Battery: 2460 mAh;

Pros:

Excellent cameras;
Low screen resolution;
Little internal memory;

Minuses:

Little battery life;

DOOGEE F7 Pro

The design of the smartphone is simply amazing, it comes with a metal unibody chassis. On the front, there is a 5.7 Full HD display, i.e. 1080p resolution. Above it is an 8-megapixel camera and a proximity sensor. On the back is a 21-megapixel camera with LED flash, and below it is an ultra-fast touch sensor. The phone is absolutely beautiful to show off and extremely thin. It is pleasant to hold the smartphone in hand, it does not seem very large or bulky. One of the most important features of this smartphone is that it comes with a massive battery that can last up to 2 days. It houses a 4000mAh non-removable large battery that never lets the device fail. You can also use the power saving mode to increase your battery life a lot more.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5.7 inches with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels;
Processor: 10-core MediaTek Helio X20 (MT6797) and Mali-T880 MP4 video processor;
Memory: 32 GB of internal memory and 4 GB of RAM;
Android 6.0;
Camera: 21 and 13 MP;
Battery: 4000 mAh;

Pros:

Huge screen;
Great battery life;

Minuses:

Little RAM;

Blackview A8 Max

The Blackview A8 Max is the newest member of the Blackview series. The smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS LCD panel with HD resolution (1280×720 pixels) and comes with 16 GB of flash storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card (max 64 GB). Even if a MicroSD card is used to supplement the integrated storage, the A8 Max still supports Dual-SIM functions. The smartphone is equipped with a Mediatek quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM. The 2.5D glass panel is slightly curved at the edges, which makes the smartphone look more upscale.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5.5 inches with a resolution of 1270x720 pixels;
Processor: 4-core MediaTek MT6737 and Mali-T720 MP2 video processor;
Memory: 64 GB of internal memory and 3 GB of RAM;
Android 6.0;
Camera: 8 and 5 MP;
Battery: 3000 mAh;

Pros:

Decent screen colors;
Good viewing angles;

Minuses:

Bad display;
Slow flash memory;
Not always stable WLAN;

ZTE Axon 7 64Gb

In fourth place in our ranking of the most powerful Chinese smartphones that have become popular in 2017 is the ZTE Axon 7 64Gb. It supports hybrid dual SIM and features a 5.5-inch QHD Super Amoled display. It is powered by a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (MSM8996) with an Adreno 530 GPU and 4GB of RAM. The smartphone houses two speakers that support M-Base material and is claimed to provide high fidelity sound reproduction. ZTE even made renowned pianist Lang Lang as a brand ambassador for its Axon series. The Quick Charge feature can charge the Axon 7 up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.

Main characteristics:

Processor: 4-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 and Adreno 530 video processor;
Memory: 64 GB of internal memory and 4 GB of RAM;
Android 6.0.1;
Camera: 20 and 8 MP;
Battery: 3250 mAh;

Pros:

fast charging;
Nimble;
Good sound quality;

Minuses:

Hybrid SIM slot;

Meizu Pro 7

The Meizu Pro 7 smartphone was released in May 2017. It is equipped with a large 5.62-inch screen with a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels. The screen is also protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass Scratch Resistant display. The smartphone is powered by a Deca Core Helio X30 processor and comes with 6GB of RAM. This means that the processor has Deca cores in the processor and 6GB of RAM keeps the smartphone running smoothly while running multiple apps at the same time. The novelty also comes with a PowerVR GT7400 GPU and 64 internal memory, and also does not support expandable storage. Meizu Pro 7 runs on the Android 7.0 operating system and is powered by a 3000 mAh battery.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5.62 inches with a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels;
Processor: MediaTek Helio X30 and PowerVR GT7400 video processor;
Android 6.0.1;
Camera: 12 and 8 MP;
Battery: 3000 mAh;

Pros:

Stylish case;
High performance;

Minuses:

Non-expandable internal memory;

Xiaomi Mi6

The new flagship smartphone from Xiaomi and its ceramic body looks very beautiful. Xiaomi Mi 6 looks exquisite and premium with four-sided curved glass on four sides and the frame is made of stainless steel. Unlike the Xiaomi Mi 5, the Mi6 has a fingerprint sensor under the front glass which adds to the overall aesthetic. Xiaomi's new fingerprint sensor is in line with what other companies, including Samsung, are reportedly trying to achieve. At its launch in China, Xiaomi claimed that the stainless steel case is resistant to wear and tear. In addition, Mi 6 has a splash-proof body, while the SIM tray is also closed from liquid damage. Reliable smartphone costing within 27 thousand rubles.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5.15 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels;
Processor: 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8998 and Adreno 540 video processor;
Memory: 64 GB of internal memory and 6 GB of RAM;
Android 7.1;
Camera: 12 and 8 MP;
Battery: 3350 mAh;

Pros:

Fantastic design;
Quality assembly;
New fingerprint sensor;

Minuses:

Bad front camera;

Huawei P10 Plus 256Gb Ram 6Gb

In the first place of our TOP is the best smartphone from Huawei. The new devices improve on last year's P9 and P9 Plus, especially in the camera department, continuing the company's partnership with Leica. Speaking of design, the Huawei P10 and P10 Plus have a Hyper Diamond finish that prevents scratches and smudges. On the right, you get volume controls and a red power button, while on the bottom you can see a USB Type-C connector, a headphone jack, and a single speaker grille. The Home button on the front is equipped with a fingerprint scanner and also contains some interesting gesture controls. Beveled edges run along the front surface of the smartphone, which is protected by 2.5D Gorilla Glass 5.

Main characteristics:

Screen: 5.5 inches with a resolution of 2560 × 1440 pixels;
Processor: 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 960 and Mali-G71 MP8 video processor;
Memory: 256 GB of internal memory and 6 GB of RAM;
Android 7.0;
Camera: 20 and 8 MP;
Battery: 3750 mAh;

Pros:

Support for memory cards;
High quality screen;

Minuses:

Not visible;

Conclusion

Phones from China are no longer associated with a second-rate product, in which all components are inferior to those of Western ones. Thanks to the efforts of companies such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Meizu and Honor, you can buy a good Chinese smartphone for relatively little money.

10. Meizu M6s 64GB (11,000 - 16,340)

This model was introduced by Meizu in early 2018. It has a 5.7-inch IPS display, which is especially notable for its extremely narrow bezels. In addition, it has an aspect ratio of 2 to 1. Cameras of stars from the sky are not enough, but with good lighting they work pretty well. Well, the Samsung Exynos 7872 processor and 3 GB of RAM are enough for all everyday tasks.

Smartphone Meizu M6s 64GB can be bought in different colors

Disadvantages:

there is no NFC module and USB Type-C;
far from the best Flyme OS system;
The brightness of the screen is not too high.

9. Honor 9 Lite 32GB (10,499 – 15,740.00)

This Chinese smartphone model has a lot of positive reviews. Most often, it is praised for its bright 5.65-inch screen with a resolution of 2160 × 1080 pixels. The processor is Huawei's proprietary development - Kirin 659. Also, the pluses include a beautiful design and good case materials.

Honor is an offshoot of Huawei, which decided to make a more youthful and euphonious name for Western audiences.

The back of the phone is made of glass, so you can see all the chips and scratches on it.

Disadvantages:

the back cover picks up fingerprints too quickly;
The image quality of the main camera could be better.

8. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 64GB (9250 – 16490)

Xiaomi is one of the most beloved Chinese smartphone manufacturers in the CIS countries. And Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 64GB clearly shows the reason for such popularity. This is one of the most inexpensive frameless phones, which, in addition, has a relatively good filling. The advantage of this model is a large 5.99-inch screen with a huge resolution of 2160 × 1080 pixels. Another nice bonus is the proven 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 64GB smartphone battery is capacious - 4000 mAh, but not removable

Disadvantages:

there is no NFC module (as in most other Xiaomi models);
The camera takes high-quality pictures only in good lighting.

Read also which smartphones are in the top 5 most budget:

7. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 64GB (9999 – 15990)

Well, this copy bears the well-deserved title of the most popular Xiaomi smartphone. And all thanks to good performance, a bright screen, a capacitive battery and an adequate price. With moderate use of the phone, the charge is more than enough for several days. This figure is achieved thanks to the latest version of Android 8.1 and a battery capacity of 4,000 mAh. Well, the combination of Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 and 4 GB of RAM is enough for all everyday tasks.

The body of the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 64GB is made of aluminum

Disadvantages:

no NFC module;
there are performance issues in demanding games;
there is no USB Type-C.

6. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S 6/64GB (23,590 – 29,000)

This novelty went on sale at the beginning of this summer. The biggest advantage of the device is the use in the architecture of the flagship model of Qualcomm processors - Snapdragon 845 with the Adreno 630 graphics accelerator. It also has an NFC module, which is so loved by many.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S 6/64GB boasts a stylish frameless design and excellent ergonomics, it is pleasant to hold it in your hands

Disadvantages: there are problems with the face unlock function of the phone.

5. Xiaomi Pocophone F1 6/64GB (18,900 – 24,600)

There is no such thing as too many Xiaomi. Especially when it comes to Pocophone. This is probably the cheapest smartphone with an 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 on board. With the help of Xiaomi Pocophone F1 6/64GB, the Chinese company broke the stereotype that only expensive flagship models can have such a processor. Other pluses of the device include a fairly capacious battery (4,000 mAh), 6 GB of RAM and the presence of a heat pipe for cooling the processor.

Despite the presence of disadvantages, reviews of the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 6/64GB smartphone are mostly positive.

Disadvantages:

rustic plastic case;
lack of NFC;
not the best front camera.

4. OnePlus 6 6/64GB (28680 – 41550)

OnePlus 6 6/64GB is another branded flagship competitor that came to us from China. It boasts very good sales and an overwhelming amount of positive reviews. Buyers note the excellent quality of the 6.26-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2280 × 1080. The frames of this device are very narrow, which enhances the already prestigious look of the phone. The camera takes very decent pictures both during the day and in low light conditions.

OnePlus 6 6/64GB battery capacity is only 3300 mAh

Disadvantages:

easily soiled glass case;
poorly working HDR shooting mode.

3. Honor View 10 128GB (24,000 - 35,150)

The flagship from Honor went on sale at the beginning of the year and was able to win the love of the public in the shortest possible time. And there is nothing surprising here, because the smartphone has a high-quality dual camera, stylish design and enviable performance (6 GB of RAM and HiSilicon Kirin 970). Despite all this, the price is quite modest.

Honor View 10 128GB is made in the spirit of modern trends and will delight you with minimal frames

Disadvantages:

not too long battery life;
there is no moisture protection and optical stabilization.

2. Huawei P20 Pro (44,540 – 51,950)

This is Huawei's best device. The narrow-frame phone has a high-quality AMOLED screen, an octa-core Kirin 970 processor, 6 GB of RAM and a 4,000 mAh battery. The main feature of the smartphone was a triple camera from the German manufacturer Leica. According to statistics from the DxOMark website, this phone has the best camera among all mobile devices (including the iPhone XS Max).

Huawei P20 Pro - premium smartphone

Disadvantages:

rejection of the headphone jack and microSD slot;
quite high price.

1. Xiaomi Mi 8 6/128GB (24550 – 30990)

Probably one of the most powerful and at the same time inexpensive Chinese phones. It ranks 3rd in the AnTuTu ranking for performance, but it costs much less than flagships from other companies. The dual main camera is equipped with Sony IMX363 and Samsung S5K3M3 modules, thanks to which pretty good pictures are obtained. In general, this is an extremely good device, which has an unusually low price for its characteristics.

Xiaomi Mi 8 6/128GB - a smartphone dedicated to the eighth anniversary of the company

Disadvantages:

copying the iPhone X design;
poor video stabilization when shooting 4K;
no stereo speakers.

See also our next selection of the best smartphones of 2018:

The difference between Western and Chinese flagships is blurring more and more every year. It remains only to get rid of the prejudice that Chinese phones are necessarily worse than the models of well-known brands.

You can find a good smartphone with decent features within $100 only among Chinese models. We offer you a selection compiled taking into account current trends and user preferences in 2018. All devices are characterized by relatively good performance, which will make it possible to comfortably surf the Internet and use all the features of the Android system.

blackview s6

Ulefone Mix 2

The key advantages of the smartphone are a high-quality frameless screen with a diagonal of 5.7 inches with HD + resolution, a dual camera IMX135 at 13 MP + 5 MP and good performance. The device is running Android 7.0. Mix 2 is equipped with a 4-core chip, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage and a 3300 mAh battery. Inexpensive smartphone with up-to-date stuffing and excellent build quality. Calling Ulefone a third-tier manufacturer is getting harder every year.

Price: $99.99

Cubot R11

This novelty appeared on sale in the spring. R11 received a high-quality 5.5-inch HD + screen and a nice design. Of note is 90% NTSC color coverage, 450 nits brightness and 1300:1 contrast ratio on an IPS panel. A 4-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of shared memory are responsible for the fast operation of the smartphone. Battery - 2700 mAh. Cameras: main dual 8 MP + 2 MP and front 5 MP. OS installed. We especially focus on the latter: budget gadgets with the latest version of Android are not yet common.

Price: $94.99

Doogee X60L

The smartphone has balanced characteristics that allow you to comfortably play, surf the Internet and watch videos. Operates X60L running Android 7.0. The device has a 5.5-inch display with HD + resolution and IPS-matrix, a 4-core chip, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of shared memory, and a 3300 mAh battery. It should also be noted the main dual camera 13 MP + 5 MP and front 8 MP. The company has once again proved that it can make very worthy devices with a modest price tag.

Price: $99.99

Oukitel K5

A very good smartphone with a wonderful screen on an IPS-matrix with a diagonal of 5.7 inches HD + and a large 4000 mAh battery. The K5 has a nice design with a dual camera setup and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. Responsible for the performance of a quad-core chip, 2 GB of "RAM", a drive with a capacity of 16 GB. The operating system of the device is Android 7.0. For the money, K5 is a very worthy option.

Price: $99.99

Keecoo P11

The performance of P11 on AnTuTu reaches 40,000 points - this is an excellent result for a "budget". The performance of the device is provided by a 4-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of total. The screen of the device has a diagonal of 5.7 inches, a matrix and HD + resolution. The battery capacity is 3080 mAh, Android 7.0 is installed out of the box. Also, the gadget is provided with 8 megapixel and 5 megapixel cameras, a fingerprint scanner and all modern interfaces.

Price: $89.99

HOMTOM S7

Leagoo M9

Bluboo S8 Lite

A simplified version of the previous successful S8 model, which was equipped with a 5.7-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1080 x 540 pixels, a quad-core chip, 1 GB RAM and 16 GB storage. There are Sony 5 MP + 3 MP and 5 MP cameras, as well as a good capacity 3450 mAh battery. The smartphone comes with Android 7.0 operating system out of the box. By the way, the S8 Lite is very similar in design to the super popular Galaxy S8.

Price: $99.99

Coming soon

M-Horse Pure 1

M-Horse Pure 1 was left with us "for dessert". For its price, this device has an extremely impressive design. The young manufacturer attracts attention by releasing smartphones with low prices and fairly good performance. The Pure 1 comes with a 5.7-inch HD+ IPS screen, a quad-core chip, 3GB RAM, 32GB total storage, and a 4350mAh battery. At the same time, let's not forget about the main camera 8 MP + 2 MP and the front camera 5 MP + 2 MP. The device runs on Android 7.0.

Price: $103.99

Conclusion

The rating contains only current smartphones of 2018 with a new type of screen - with. The performance is almost the same for all, but there are a couple of particularly interesting models from HOMTOM and M-Horse, which received more memory.

Other models can boast of their own advantages - like Sony branded cameras or a relatively large battery capacity. Each of the smartphones presented in the top is different in that it gives the user much more options than you might imagine looking at the price tag.