Chinese smartphones are high. The best brand of Chinese smartphones: review, rating, description and reviews

Currently, Chinese brands are gaining more and more popularity, accounting for more than half of smartphone sales in the world. They surpass all their competitors with an excellent price-quality ratio, which prevents other manufacturers from living in peace, taking away a larger and better part of the market from them. This article will present a rating of the 10 best high-quality Chinese smartphones for 2019 – 2020 in different price segments. Each of them can be called the best of their kind.

Rating of the 10 best Chinese smartphones

Today, there are a huge number of Chinese corporations that produce phones, but not all of them are truly high-quality. It’s probably strange for some people to hear “high quality Chinese phones.” Strange, but possible. Below are the top 10 such smartphones.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

In this smartphone, the developers retained the same design, but updated a number of key areas. It has very thin bezels on three sides of the screen and a stripe at the bottom where the front camera is located. At the back, on the ceramic cover, two eyes of the main camera with optical zoom are comfortably located. There is no doubt about its quality. Since the developers have officially announced that in 2019 - 2020 cameras will be the main area of ​​​​creating mobile devices. The new device has the most modern details: Snapdragon845 processor (in terms of power it will be on par with the best smartphones, for example, Galaxy S9+) There are two versions of this device: 8/256 and 6/64 Gb/RAM/ROM memory. Today, Mi Mix 2S is the most powerful and beautiful smartphone in Xiaomi history.

Cost 12,000 rubles.

Advantages:

• high-quality design and assembly;
• powerful processor;
• long battery;
• support for all networks;
• large amount of internal memory;
• waterproof case.

Flaws:

• lack of Quad-HD support;
• front camera location;
• no dual rear camera;
• no headphone jack;

Very powerful and fast, even heavy applications open in a second. Everything looks very stylish, high quality and expensive. The case is quite dirty, a case is definitely needed.

See the video review of the smartphone below.

Quite often, Chinese-made smartphones are called “flagship killers.” And this is no coincidence, since engineers from the Middle Kingdom, in their desire to take a leading place in the gadget market, create functional smartphones that are not inferior in performance to their Korean or American counterparts, surpassing them in quality and “stuffing”, while costing twice as much. times less. Present to your attention best Chinese phones of 2016- TOP 10 rating.

1.Lenovo ZUK Z2

Lenovo continues to delight users with its products, which are quite popular due to the high build quality of the devices, the capacious battery of the devices and, of course, affordability. Therefore, the first place in the ranking of the best Chinese phones of 2016 is occupied by the model of this particular company - Lenovo ZUK Z2. The smartphone is available in two versions: basic with 64 GB of internal memory and PRO with 128 GB. Both versions are equipped with the latest powerful Snapdragon 820 processor with 4 GB of RAM for the basic version and 6 GB for PRO. A quad-core processor operating at a frequency of 2150 megahertz, coupled with an Adreno graphics accelerator, makes both models fast and responsive to touch.

The basic version is equipped with a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, but with an IPS matrix, while the PRO version has the same resolution, but a capacitive 5.2-inch Super AMOLED with 424 pixels per inch.

The main cameras of both versions of Lenovo ZUK Z2, although similar in the number of pixels -13 MP, differ in aperture - f/2.2 and f/1.8, respectively, as well as in video quality resolution: for the basic version it is 4160 × 3120 pixels at 30 k \c, and for Pro 4807×2704 pixels. The front camera is similar for both versions - it is 8 MP.

The cost of the basic version of the Lenovo ZUK Z2 phone differs significantly from the Pro, the cost of which ranges around 15,000 rubles versus 25,000 rubles for the Pro version.

2. LeEco LE 2 max

Second place in the list of the best Chinese smartphones of 2016 is occupied by LeEco LE 2 max. Designed for 2 SIM cards, the phone comes with two types of internal storage - 32 GB or 64 GB. The 5.7-inch Retina screen, huge for a mobile phone, has a resolution of 2560×1440 pixels and a pixel density of 515 pixels per inch. The laconic design of the phone case hides the same powerful Snapdragon 820 processor with four cores in combination with an Adreno 530 graphics processor and 4 GB of RAM.

The front camera of LeEco LE 2 max is 8 MP, while the main camera of the device has 21 MP and an f/2.0 aperture, which, coupled with a dual LED flash, will give the user high-quality and rich photographs, not to mention video in 4K quality with 3840× 2160 points when shooting 30 frames per second.

The beautiful design and powerful performance of LeEco LE 2 max can make the device one of the flagships of 2016. In the meantime, the cost of the phone starts at about 17,000 rubles.

3. Xiaomi Mi5 128GB

The top three best Chinese-made phones are closed by Xiaomi Mi5 128GB. Another device from the Chinese company Xiaomi has absorbed all the top qualities and characteristics of a phone that belongs to the flagships of the year. Xiaomi Mi5 128GB in a fourth-generation Gorilla Glass case and a metal frame around the edges has a presentable appearance and no less presentable performance filling: a quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor with an Adreno 530 graphics accelerator, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory without expandability.

A 16 megapixel front camera with a maximum resolution of 4608 x 3456 pixels for photography and 3840 x 2160 pixels for video shooting, coupled with a 4 MP front camera, takes high-quality photos and videos in Ultra HD and Full HD formats for subsequent playback on a 5.15″ diagonal screen . The price of the Xiaomi Mi5 128GB phone starts from 23,000 rubles.

4. Meizu Pro 5

The top ten highest quality Chinese phones of 2016 included the new “musical” flagship Meizu Pro 5, which is similar in appearance to the sixth generation iPhone with its thin outlines of an all-metal body and two plastic inserts painted in the color of the body. Eight cores of the Samsung Exynos 740 processor, Mali-T760 graphics processor, 3 or 4 GB RAM depending on the version, 32 or 64 GB of internal memory - these are the parameters that make Meizu Pro 5 the flagship of 2016 among Chinese smartphones.

A 21.2 MP front camera, providing 4K video quality, and a 5 MP front camera are an excellent bonus to the phone’s powerful and productive hardware. The average cost of Meizu Pro 5 is 20,000 rubles.

5.UMi Super

UMi Super is a stylish Chinese smartphone that embodies all the technologies of world-famous companies: a 5.5″ LTPS screen from Sharp, a 13 MP camera from Panasonic and a phone body made of rigid aircraft aluminum. The high performance of the phone is ensured by the eight-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor and Mali-T860 graphics processor, coupled with 4 GB of RAM. The smartphone, like most creations of the Celestial Empire, is dual-SIM with alternate authentication of SIM cards, and is brought into working condition using a fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone under the camera.

UMi Super comes in a custom box - metal and quite elegant black packaging. The cost of this device from Umi is 15,900 rubles.

6. OnePlus 3

The OnePlus 3 is the best-performing Chinese phone of 2016, beating even the much-lauded Galaxy S7 and its Edge series big brother, but at a fraction of the price. The aluminum case with 2.5D glass on the Optic AMOLED screen hides 6 GB of RAM, and the same powerful Snapdragon 820 coupled with Adreno 530.

Cameras from Sony - the main 16 MP and the front 8 MP - give excellent results when taking photographs at any time of the day and video in 4K format, which will not leave even the most demanding user indifferent. The only downsides of OnePlus 3 are, perhaps, the lack of protection against moisture and the lack of a slot for an SD card. In all other respects, the OnePlus 3 smartphone is superior to Samsung's latest creation and costs only about 30,000 rubles versus 50,000 for the Korean flagship.

7. Huawei Nexus 6P 64Gb

7th place in the ranking of the top 10 best Chinese phones of 2016 goes to Huawei Nexus 6P 64Gb. A thin and elegant device with an average price of 32,000 rubles is capable of a lot thanks to its performance and excellent photo and video performance. Cameras from Sony - total 12.3 MP and front 8 MP - reproduce photo and video material on a 5.7″ AMOLED screen in Quad HD quality for photos and 4K for video.

The Nexus 6P is powered by a Snapdragon 810 series processor and Adreno 430 GPU, coupled with 3GB of RAM. One of the disadvantages of the Nexus 6P is the lack of a 2nd SIM card, which is unusual for Chinese-made phones today.

8. Elephone P9000

According to the slogan of the Chinese manufacturing company “Expect and be surprised,” the Elephone P9000 smartphone really surprises with its performance and price of 16,200 rubles for such a powerful device. The dual-SIM Chinese phone Elephone P9000 has an eight-core MediaTek processor with 4 GB of RAM.

LG's 5.5″ diagonal LTPS screen displays photos and videos captured with both the device's 13 MP main camera with laser autofocus and the 8 MP front camera in a bright and contrasting manner. Both cameras have a photo sensor from Sony.

The only drawback of this mobile phone can be considered the lack of a metal case - it is made of high-quality plastic and sits without play or creaking, but this can also explain such an affordable and competitive price.

9. Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro 32G

Among the best Chinese phones, Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro ranks 9th. Externally, the smartphone is similar to its younger brother Redmi Note 3, but inside it hides a number of advantages. This includes the performance of 6 GB of RAM coupled with a Snapdragon 650 processor and a 4000 mAh battery, which allows you to use the device for up to 3 days in “call only” mode or up to 1.5-2 days of active use along with browsing.

The 16 MP front camera and the 5 MP front camera give excellent results when shooting photos and videos. The MiUI software shell makes the device interface unique and easy to use.

The cost of the phone starts from 11,400 rubles and varies depending on the color of the phone case.

10. Lenovo Vibe X3

The dual-SIM flagship Lenovo Vibe X3 completes the top of the best phones from Chinese manufacturers. The smartphone is designed to enhance the music component. In addition to powerful cameras from Sony with 21 MP for the front and 8 MP for the front, as well as a high-performance component in the form of 6 cores with Snapdragon 808 and Adreno 430, Lenovo Vibe X3 has a three-microphone system with three amplifiers and a powerful audio chip. This will not leave even the most demanding music lover indifferent.

The 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels is capable of displaying not only high-quality photos, but also Ultra HD video with high-quality sound. The Lenovo Vibe X3 case is made of high-quality plastic, which helped the manufacturer reduce the cost of the model to 24,000 rubles without compromising the internal functionality of the phone.

Chinese smartphone manufacturers managed to accomplish a miracle - breaking the stereotype “Chinese means cheap and low-quality.” That is, cheap remains, but the quality of products from Meizu, Xiaomi and many other brands is comparable to the quality of smartphones from European and South Korean companies.

After studying the reviews and ratings that Yandex.Market users gave to various phones, and comparing the characteristics of the most popular models, we compiled a rating of the best Chinese smartphones of 2018 in terms of price and quality ratio.

Our selections of the best smartphones of 2018:
Brand country: European (A-class); Chinese; With .
Brand: ; ; ; Huawei.
Price segment, rubles: ; up to 10000; up to 15000; ; ; .
Availability: inexpensive; the most expensive.
Characteristics: push-button; best camera; camera + battery; .
Trends: new products of the year; .

10. Honor 9

The average price is 21,390 rubles.

The top Chinese smartphones of 2018 open with a stylish and beautiful device with a sapphire blue, iridescent “body”. Its 5.15-inch screen will surely appeal to those who are tired of the abundance of “shovel-shaped” smartphones.

A very fast fingerprint sensor, a high-performance HiSilicon Kirin 960 chip, a large amount of RAM (from 4 to 6 GB, depending on the version), as well as from 64 to 128 GB of internal memory make Honor 9 the preferred choice in the price range from 20 to 25 thousand rubles

The dual rear camera features a 12-megapixel RGB sensor and a secondary 20-megapixel monochrome sensor. The latter is needed mainly to add depth and nuance to the photo.

Pros:

• Attractive price.
• Unusual appearance.
• Good camera compared to devices in the same price range.
• There is NFC.
• Very loud speaker.

Minuses:

• The battery only lasts for a day of use.
• The camera does not have optical stabilization.
• The case is very slippery, you can't do without a cover.

Average cost - 25,490 rubles

The first, but not the last representative of OnePlus among the best Chinese phones. Compared to its popular predecessor, the OnePlus 3, the "T" model has a darker gray body color and more storage space - a maximum of 128 GB. The manufacturer did not skimp on RAM - 6 GB.

Additionally, the 3T boasts a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, a larger 3,400mAh battery, and a better front camera. The rear 16-megapixel camera also does not cause any complaints from users.

The 3T's battery still uses OnePlus' proprietary charging technology, which charges the battery quickly without overheating. A full charge takes approximately 1 hour 35 minutes.

Pros:

• Fast processor.
• Minimum of unnecessary software.
• Convenient location of the fingerprint scanner.

Minuses:

• No memory card slot.

• Slippery and thin body.
• The camera has few settings.

8. Meizu Pro 7

The average price is 18,950 rubles.

There are few devices with a second screen on the mobile market. It is designed to provide more space on the main screen for the applications you need.

The Pro 7's second display will broadcast the time and weather forecast and show incoming alerts. The main display measures 5.2 inches, making the smartphone easily fit even in a small pocket. However, you will definitely need a clear and durable case.

The rear camera is dual - 12/12 MP - and takes very high-quality, detailed pictures in any lighting.

The MediaTek Helio P25 chipset installed in Meizu Pro 7 is a medium-performance processor and is optimized for operation on mobile devices with a dual camera - for processing images from color and black-and-white sensors.

The 3000 mAh battery lasts for a day under high load.

Depending on the version of the smartphone, it has either 64 GB or 128 GB of internal memory and 4 GB of RAM.

Pros:

• Very low price with good characteristics.
• Unusual design.
• Convenient second screen.
• Excellent screen with vibrant colors.

• Instant fingerprint sensor.

Minuses:

• No memory card slot.
• Slippery body.
• No NFC.

7. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

Costs, on average, 28,950 rubles.

The luxurious 5.99-inch smartphone has a dazzlingly bright edge-to-edge screen. Its cool ceramic lid catches all the fingerprints, but it's also scratch-resistant and fits comfortably in your hand.

Mi Mix 2 does not have a dual camera, which is found on almost all new flagship Chinese smartphones in 2018. It has a single 12-megapixel rear camera that takes very good, clear and bright pictures in full light and mediocre ones at night. One of the main disadvantages of the placement of the front-facing 5-megapixel camera: to take a selfie, you have to turn the phone upside down.

Mi Mix 2 runs on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, thanks to which even “heavy” games run without lag. There is 6 GB of memory for programs, and from 64 to 256 GB for user files.

The smartphone has a 3400 mAh non-removable battery, and the operating time under full load reaches 15 hours.

Pros:

• Frameless design.
• High performance.
• Affordable price.

• Comes with an excellent case.

Minuses:

• Poor placement of the front camera.
• The main camera is not as good as other flagships.
• There is no 3.5 connector, although there is an adapter.

• No memory card slot.

6. OnePlus 5T

The average price is 29,580 rubles.

If you already owned a OnePlus 5, the “T” version will look very familiar at first glance. The appearance of the smartphone has not changed much compared to its predecessor. The chic aluminum back cover, painted in three layers, has a pleasant finish and is relatively resistant to fingerprints.

The display of the new product shows the greatest difference from the previous model. The screen diagonal has grown from 5.5 to 6 inches, and the aspect ratio has been changed to a more fashionable 18:9.

OnePlus 5T comes with a new facial recognition feature to unlock your phone. Not all the best Chinese smartphones of 2018 can boast of this feature. Moreover, this function works almost at lightning speed, even in the dark. You can also unlock OnePlus 5T using a traditional fingerprint sensor.

The OnePlus 5T has a Snapdragon 835 as a processor, and RAM is as much as 8 GB (in the 128 GB version) or 6 GB (in the 64 GB version).

The rear camera is dual - 16/20 MP, provides excellent images even in poor lighting conditions. It has a Pro mode with manual settings. And the front-facing 16MP sensor from Sony (IMX371) with an f/2.0 aperture takes great selfies, although, according to experts, it tends to overexpose in bright light.

The 3300 mAh battery is designed for one and a half days of intensive work.

Pros:

• Incredibly fast.
• Very attractive display.
• Good cameras.
• Long battery life.

Minuses:

• No stereo speakers.
• No moisture protection.
• There is no slot for memory cards.

5. Meizu M6 Note

The average cost is 14,040 rubles.

The M6 ​​Note is a budget 5.5-inch phone that doesn’t try to impress with either its appearance or the latest features. Instead, it offers a “golden mean” both in functionality and cost.

Despite the average components - Snapdragon 625, 16/32/64 GB of memory and 3 or 4 GB of RAM, the speed of the M6 ​​Note in solving everyday tasks is comparable to many. In addition, this device with a 4000 mAh battery has excellent battery life - up to 14.5 hours of continuous video viewing.

The main dual camera of the M6 ​​Note with a resolution of 12/5 MP deserves special praise, or rather its portrait mode with a bokeh effect. It goes beyond what you would expect for the price. Perhaps this is because the Note tends to create smooth transitions between in-focus and out-of-focus areas.

Pros:

• Very fast fingerprint scanner.

• Loud, rich and clear sound from the speaker.
• Very fast charging.
• There is a slot for memory expansion.
• There is a headphone jack.

Minuses:

• The camera does not have an auto HDR mode.
• All buttons are placed on one side, which is why there are often false presses.
• The body is very slippery.
• No NFC.

Can be purchased for an average of 22,290 rubles.

There are a lot of Xiaomi models in the 2018 ranking of Chinese smartphones in terms of price and quality. And this is not surprising, because the brand is known for its inexpensive and very competitive products.

What can the 5.15-inch Xiaomi Mi6 boast of? An elegant case made of glass and stainless steel, as well as a very impressive blue and gold version (with 128 GB of memory). The presence of NFC, a fast Snapdragon 835 chip from Qualcomm, six gigabytes of RAM memory, and 64 or 128 GB of storage for user data. The 3350 mAh battery provides two days of operation under average load.

One of the key features of the Mi 6 is its dual 12-megapixel cameras. Although this is not the first Xiaomi smartphone equipped with a dual camera, the Mi6 version has a portrait mode for the first time.

It works the same way as on the iPhone 7 Plus: you stand in front of the lens and let the phone apply the effect you want. This is much simpler than previous Xioami models like the Redmi Pro, which allowed you to adjust the depth of field after shooting.

Pros:

• Thanks to its powerful hardware, this flagship phone competes on equal terms with the Galaxy S8 and iPhone 8.
• Very fast fingerprint scanner.
• Very loud stereo speakers.
• Excellent dual camera.

Minuses:

• The mirror body looks great, but is very slippery.
• No memory card slot.
• No wireless charging.

Sold for an average of 17,312 rubles.

At just 6.9 mm thin and weighing 143 grams, this small 5-inch smartphone is one of the most compact mobile devices on the market. At this size, the device's screen offers very bright images in everyday use. Its color rendering is pleasant and natural.

Among the features of Huawei Nova 2 is the presence of a very fast fingerprint sensor, around which there is a barely perceptible ring. This makes it easier for your finger to feel the scanner.

The HiSilicon Kirin 659 processor has four fast and four slow Cortex A53 cores with a maximum clock speed of 2.36 GHz. Given the presence of 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory, this is more than enough for most games and applications.

The bottom of the Nova 2 is equipped with a high-quality mono speaker.

Nova 2 has a dual rear camera (12/8 MP). Both sensors are color, but this model does not have a monochrome sensor, as in the P and Mate series. However, the Nova 2 takes very good photos, which can be enhanced by bokeh effects. Portrait shots have their own special mode, and photos have vibrant colors and fine details.

The special pride of the smartphone is its front camera with a resolution of 20 megapixels and a background blur effect by default.

Pros:

• Excellent design and small dimensions.
• It fits very comfortably in the hand.

• Very fast fingerprint sensor.
• Intuitive and convenient EMUI 5.1 shell.

Minuses:

• The battery is only 2950 mAh.
• No NFC.

• In the latest games, the phone heats up, which can cause freezes.

It is offered, on average, for 13,300 rubles.

Perhaps the best Chinese smartphone of 2018 for those who choose a gadget with a large screen.

Mi Max 2 with a 6.44-inch display is a unique device that combines the capabilities of a smartphone and the size of a portable tablet. The 5300 mAh battery provides incredible battery life - up to 3-4 days.

The Mi Max 2 phablet is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (a very popular chipset for smartphones in this price segment), 4 GB of RAM and from 32 to 256 GB of internal memory. Thanks to this, the smartphone feels great even with a large number of open applications and does not slow down in games with “heavy” graphics.

Mi Max 2 also supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 and parallel charging. It only takes 2 hours to fully charge.

The weak point of the gadget is its 12-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture. It allows you to take pictures with good color rendition and contrast in daylight. But with insufficient lighting, the pictures come out mediocre.

Pros:

• Impressive design and build quality.

• Incredible battery life.
• Decent performance.
• It is possible to expand the storage for files.
• The stereo speakers are very loud.

Minuses:

• Average camera performance.
• No NFC.

1. Xiaomi Redmi 4X

The average cost is 9,990 rubles.

If you are thinking about which Chinese smartphone to choose in 2018, we recommend that you first pay attention to the Xiaomi Redmi 4X. It got first place in our top 10 not only because of its low price.

In appearance, Redmi 4X does not resemble a budget device. Its body is made of metal, has rounded corners and fits nicely in the hand. At the same time, the smartphone weighs only 150 grams and its thickness is 8.7 mm, which is comparable to 8 mm for the Samsung S8 and 7.7 mm for the iPhone X.

The smartphone has a 5-inch IPS screen, which occupies 70% of the phone's surface.

Redmi 4X is equipped with 16, 32 or 64 GB of storage for user files, 3 GB of RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 chipset with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz and an Adreno 505 graphics processor. The chip was released along with the ex-flagship Snapdragon 625 in 2016. If you compare these two processors, the 435 is slightly better than the 625 in terms of price and power efficiency.

One of the clear advantages of the phone is the presence of a 4100 mAh battery. What other smartphone for 10 thousand rubles will you find such capacity in?

The device also features Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 and can be fully charged in less than 3 hours.

When you think of a budget smartphone, you probably imagine, among other things, an inferior camera, “just to have it.” But this is not about 4X. The smartphone has a 13-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF (phase detection autofocus) and LED flash. Of course, Xiaomi’s brainchild is far from recognized leaders in the camera phone market, such as the Google Pixel 2, but the pictures come out quite decent.

Pros:

• There is a slot for a memory card.
• Powerful battery.
• Energy efficient processor.

• Excellent build quality.

Minuses:

• The screen resolution is not Full HD, but simply HD.
• The sound, as one user put it, is “a C plus.”
• If you need to take a close-up photo, autofocus is slow.

• The navigation keys are not backlit.
• No NFC.

But even taking into account all the above shortcomings, Xiaomi Redmi 4X is the best Chinese phone in terms of price and features.

I don't think anyone needs to be told how popular Chinese Android smartphones have become over the past couple of years. You will find many attractive models on the market, but among them it is worth noting several excellent solutions that are noticeably ahead of their competitors due to technical characteristics, software features, case quality, appearance and reasonable price.

This review presents not just flagship devices, but 5 devices that were able to stand out from other representatives of their class. We will try not to dwell on each of them for a long time, but tell only the most important things.

The phones from today's review are offered by any online store of Chinese smartphones at http://price.ua/kitajskie_telefony/ccid13.html.

Founded at the end of 2013 by people from Oppo, OnePlus introduced the world to a smartphone that the press immediately dubbed the “flagship killer.” And it was impossible not to agree with this slogan: top-end hardware, stylish appearance, excellent camera, CyanogenMod firmware based on the latest Android, and all this at a price tag of $300. Many pre-orders immediately arrived and the company simply could not ensure such mass production of the smartphone, so an invite system was introduced through which the device is still sold.

In civilized countries, One is officially sold in OnePlus branded stores, and the company recently made Tuesday the day of free sales of the phone. In this regard, the device has become cheaper in our stores, as it has become easier to purchase it. In addition, no one is stopping you from ordering it for delivery in foreign online stores.

Now let's talk about the smartphone itself. OnePlus One is a truly premium device, in no way inferior to the flagships of famous manufacturers. Even the box and accessories look amazing. As for the characteristics, everything is no less attractive here: 4-core Snapdragon 801 processor, Adreno 330 graphics accelerator, 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB or 64 GB of internal memory without expandability, 5.5-inch Full HD display from JDI, battery 3100 mAh and a good 13-megapixel camera with a Sony Exmor IMX214 CMOS sensor. By the standards of 2014, this is one of the most attractive smartphones on the market, and given the cost, it will remain so for a long time.

The smartphone comes with either CyanogenMod or ColorOS firmware. The second is designed for the Chinese market and although it has some interesting features, it is actually very colorful and does not support the Russian language. If you get a smartphone with it, then it’s better to immediately reflash it to CyanogenMod yourself. Soon the device will receive Android 5.0 Lollipop, and not only the CyanogenMod 12S firmware, but also the new proprietary Oxygen OS.

Well, it’s worth saying that OnePlus One is one of the leaders in the number of custom firmware, so if you like to try something new, then OnePlus One is definitely your choice.

Meizu MX4 and Meizu MX4 Pro

Meizu's first products made a significant contribution to the popularization of Chinese smartphones around the world. Compact, beautiful, productive devices have become known far beyond China. These were exactly the devices that were really lacking in the Android smartphone market during the “diagonal race” - flagship, but at the same time comfortable in the hand.

After several successful models, the company followed the lead of the market and released the 5.1-inch Meizu MX3, which became no less popular than previous devices in the series. Apparently, Meizu set a course for increasing diagonals and introduced Meizu MX4, and then Meizu MX4 Pro with screens of 5.36 inches and 5.5 inches, respectively.

The first feature of both smartphones is their chic appearance and thin frames around the screen, making the cases for the regular MX4 and Pro versions very compact, considering the diagonals of the displays. At the same time, both devices turned out to be very wide due to the non-standard aspect ratio of 5:3 (15:9).

The smartphones run Flyme OS, which is unlikely to feature Android - the Chinese tried to replicate iOS and they succeeded. At least externally, the firmware is very similar to Apple's OS. Control is based on gestures and this often simplifies working with such large devices. There is only one control button; in Meizu MX4 Pro it also acts as a fingerprint scanner. It is also worth mentioning that the appearance of many elements of Flyme OS can be customized.

The main cameras of Meizu MX4 and MX4 Pro are almost the same: 20.7 megapixels, 5-lens optics with f/2.2 aperture, Sony Exmor IMX220 sensor and dual LED flash of different shades, but the Pro version uses sapphire glass instead of Gorilla Glass. Video devices can record in a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2176 pixels (UltraHD 4K) at 30 fps. It is worth saying that the camera in smartphones is one of the best on the market.

The front cameras here are completely different: the younger model uses a 2-megapixel Sony CMOS Exmor R module, and the older one has a 5-megapixel OmniVision OV5693 module.

Meizu MX4 received an 8-core processor Mediatek MT6595, made using ARM big.LITTLE technology: 4 Cortex-A17 cores at 2.2 GHz, 4 Cortex-A7 cores at 1.7 GHz, and they can work simultaneously. Other technical characteristics: PowerVR G6200 graphics accelerator, 2 GB of RAM, 16/32/64 GB of internal memory without MicroSD support, Full HD screen and 3100 mAh battery.

Meizu MX4 Pro has an 8-core Samsung Exynos 5430 processor on board, again made using technology ARM big.LITTLE: 4 Cortex-A15 cores at 2.0 GHz and 4 Cortex-A7 cores at 1.5 GHz. The smartphone received a Mali T628 MP6 graphics accelerator, 3 GB of RAM, and a screen with 2560 × 1536 pixels and a 3350 mAh battery.

In synthetic tests, the younger model performs better; they cope equally well with the system, but in some games the Pro version has the advantage - after all, Samsung’s solution is more popular than MTK’s and, accordingly, the optimization is better.

In winter, Meizu presented a budget new product with a gorgeous screen, very good hardware, the proprietary Flyme OS shell and an advanced camera from Samsung. At the same time, the price of the device was $200-250 (depending on the amount of memory) - what else do you need from a cool mid-level smartphone?

Meizu M1 Note has the following technical characteristics: 8-core (ARM Cortex-A53) 64-bit MediaTek MT6752 processor operating at 1.7 GHz, Mali T760 MP2 graphics accelerator, 2 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of internal memory without the possibility expansions and battery capacity 3140 mAh.

The Meizu M1 Note uses a 13-megapixel Samsung sensor with a five-lens lens with an f/2.2 aperture covered with Gorilla Glass 3. The camera settings menu is identical to the MX4 and MX4 Pro. The photo quality in the M1 Note is at a very good level, for its class. Video is recorded in Full HD at 30 fps.

The front camera uses a 5-megapixel OV5670 sensor with a four-lens lens with an f/2.2 aperture and a viewing angle of 69 degrees.

There are no differences in the operation of the system on this device and older models, so everything that is written about the MX4 and MX4 Pro also applies to the M1 Note. In addition, this is the company's first smartphone with dual SIM cards.

It’s also worth saying a few words about the screen. The device received a 5.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels from Sharp, manufactured using IGZO technology. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 is used as protective glass. The screen is one of the strongest points of the smartphone: large viewing angles, rich, clear images, natural color rendition and high brightness.

In general, for the money they are asking for the Meizu M1 Note, you won’t find a better smartphone.

The Chinese company Xiaomi has been among the TOP 5 most popular smartphone manufacturers in the world for several years. In addition, it produces awesome accessories: headphones, fitness bracelets, external batteries, TVs and set-top boxes. Last year, Xiaomi introduced its first tablet and it turned out to be no less successful than other electronics from this Chinese brand. To be honest, I don’t remember a single product from the company that was not successful, and I have already repeatedly been convinced of the excellent quality of Xiaomi products from personal experience.

Last year's flagship Mi4 fully confirms my words - it is a compact device (by today's standards) with top-end hardware, a screen, a camera and the proprietary MIUI shell. At the same time, the official price is very pleasing - $400 for the version with 64 GB of internal memory.

The technical characteristics are as follows: 4-core Snapdragon 801 processor, Adreno 330 graphics accelerator, 3 GB of RAM, 16 GB or 64 GB of internal memory without expandability, 5-inch Full HD display made by Sharp covered with tempered glass Gorilla Glass 3 and a 3060 mAh battery . The smartphone has a main 13-megapixel 6-lens camera from Sony, capable of recording video up to 4K, and the 8-megapixel front camera will take very good selfies.

The MIUI shell is easy to customize and also has many interesting features and themes (both paid and free). In addition, there are more than a dozen original replacement back covers for Mi4. Therefore, there are simply no real shortcomings in the smartphone and I can safely recommend it to everyone.

Xiaomi Mi Note and Xiaomi Mi Note Pro

Although most of the smartphones in our review are large devices, they cannot compare with the Xiaomi Mi Note and Xiaomi Mi Note Pro phablets. These recently introduced devices are positioned by the company as flagships in Xiaomi products, so they simply could not help but be included in our review.

What do the younger and older models have in common? Both devices received a 5.7-inch screen, a 13-megapixel Sony IMX214 CMOS camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an optical stabilization system (OIS), support for two SIM cards, 64 GB of internal memory and a 3000 mAh battery.

Their other characteristics differ significantly. Mi Note Pro runs on a top-end 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor (4 Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of 1.5 GHz and 4 Cortex-A57 cores with a frequency of 2 GHz) with an Adreno 430 graphics accelerator, has 4 GB of RAM and a screen with QHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels). The regular Note received a Snapdragon 801, 2 GB of RAM and a Full HD display.

conclusions

There are a lot of good Chinese smartphones and choosing the 5 best ones was not easy. I tried to talk in as much detail as possible about the main features of each of them and I hope you liked it. If you have your own thoughts about cool Chinese devices that were not included in our TOP, then you are welcome to comment.

Many users do not accept Chinese production and prefer to buy a smartphone from a well-known manufacturer whose quality they trust. Although, these are rather prejudices, mainly of people of the older generation who once bought Chinese things at the flea markets of that time and were disappointed.

Times have passed, quality has changed dramatically, but prejudices remain. If you look at today's Chinese smartphones, you will understand that everything has changed. But now we’re not talking about that, but about what inexpensive smartphones you can buy from famous brands.

Introducing the best budget smartphones

You have to pay for a brand, and not everyone can afford to buy a flagship-level device. However, the best budget smartphones can also be powerful and durable.

Based, first of all, on the price-quality ratio, we have compiled brief reviews of the best smartphones from famous non-Chinese brands that can be bought in Russia for less than 15 thousand rubles.

Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016)

In parallel with the flagship S line, Samsung also regularly releases budget J models. In June 2015, the Galaxy J5 was released, and this year the company released an updated version of the smartphone. It can rightfully be called the best in its price category - the Koreans did not skimp on the filling and quality of workmanship. Inside the device is a quad-core Snapdragon 410 and 2 GB of memory. The body is made of good plastic, and its edges are surrounded by a metal frame.

SuperAMOLED screen with HD resolution and a diagonal of 5.2 inches provides good color reproduction and high brightness. To the delight of selfie lovers, the front 5-megapixel camera is equipped with an LED flash.

The 3100 mAh battery lasts for a long time without charging. In case you need to operate your phone for a long time with a minimum charge, the Samsung TouchWiz shell has a maximum energy saving function in which you can make calls or send SMS. On aliexpress, Samsung Galaxy G5 (2016) is sold at a price of 11 thousand rubles. As you can see, this is .

The A line features a stylish and slim design. Like the J5, the Galaxy A5 received an update in 2016. However, so far only the first version fits into our review in terms of price. The smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 410 chipset and has 2 GB of RAM. Like the filling, the screen is the same as the J5, except with a diagonal of exactly 5 inches.


The body is made entirely of aluminum and is highly polished to prevent slipping in the palm. The back panel cannot be opened; the slots for nanoSIM and microSD cards are installed on the side and covered with metal inserts. The thickness of the device is 6.7 mm. Because of this, the battery capacity is 2300 mAh, so the A5 will need to be charged a little more often than the J5. The device is for sale with Android OS version 4.4, which can be easily upgraded to 6.0.
Review of the smartphone Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 SM-A520F, .

The main feature of the LG X View is the secondary screen located above the main one. It is always on and acts as a notification bar. The main display has a resolution and diagonal of 4.93 inches, and the secondary one is made of the same IPS matrix with a resolution of 80x520 pixels. The fact that both have the same pixel density and touch each other closely gives them the appearance of a single unit.

The second screen has a lot of settings: it can be used as the top bar of Android when the phone is unlocked, it can accommodate a scrollable panel of favorite applications, and also control the music player. The X View's body is made of plastic, and its back cover is covered with glass. Those who frequently take selfies will appreciate the 8-megapixel camera with face or gesture detection and auto skin retouching features.

Among the LG X series devices, the LG X Power smartphone with a large battery also falls into the budget price category. The battery has a capacity of 4100 mAh and a fast charging function, which allows you to restore half a charge in 45 minutes, and a full charge in less than 2 hours.


The layout of the device is worth paying tribute to - only 7.9 mm thick with such a large battery. It is equipped with an economical MT6735 processor and 2 GB of RAM. The device has a 5.3-inch IPS screen with HD resolution. All this ensures the ability to actively use the smartphone for three days without recharging.

The Xperia C4 phablet fully justifies its price due to its outstanding characteristics, in some places approaching the flagships. The eight-core MT6752 chipset and 2 GB of RAM provide performance sufficient for the most demanding Android applications. The 5.5-inch display with IPS matrix FullHD resolution has a pixel density of 401 ppi - an indicator inaccessible to most other budget employees.

The 13-megapixel main and 5-megapixel front cameras take high-quality photos, and Sony's proprietary camera app provides plenty of customization and entertainment features. All this is assembled in a monolithic case made of matte plastic. The price of the smartphone so far is slightly higher than 15 thousand rubles, but it is completely worth the money. Smartphones from Sony are really very high quality, and when you buy such a device, you...

The Snapdragon 615 processor isn't as powerful as the C4, but it does a great job of keeping the Xperia M4 Aqua running smoothly for everyday tasks. The IPS matrix with HD resolution and the cameras cannot boast of anything outstanding, although they are generally good for the mid-price segment.


A key feature of the M4 is its IP68 dust and moisture protection. That is, the smartphone is completely dustproof and can safely operate at a depth of up to 1.5 meters. Because of this, all connectors on the plastic case are closed with plugs.

Sony has put a lot of effort into the device's power consumption, so the 2400 mAh battery is confidently enough for two days of full use. From Russian sellers, the cost of the gadget is from 14.5 thousand rubles, while on Aliexpress you can buy an Xperia M4 Aqua at a price of 11 thousand rubles. In addition, Aliexpress has a large selection of bumpers and cases for smartphones.

The Dutch company Philips has long established a name for itself in consumer electronics, and is now just beginning to enter the gadget market. The Philips S616 phablet with the MT6753 chipset and 2 GB of RAM does not match the Sony Xperia C4 in terms of performance, however, this can be explained by its lower price. And the main screen characteristics of the S616 and Xperia C4 are the same: IPS matrix, FullHD resolution, 401 ppi.


The average main and front cameras, 13 and 5 megapixels respectively, do not have any distinctive properties. But it’s not just that the box says “A pleasure for the eyes” – the phablet really looks stylish.

The rectangular body with barely rounded corners gives the device a strict appearance. The back cover is flat, rough and the color matches the texture of the fabric. Although the entire body is actually made of plastic, the side edges are indistinguishable from steel.

Microsoft, shortly after the release of the flagship Lumia 950, introduced the budget smartphone Lumia 650 on the latest version of Windows 10 Mobile. The device has a 5-inch screen with a good HD resolution OLED matrix.


The performance of the built-in Snapdragon 212 and 1 GB of RAM is difficult to compare with Android. The operating system is well matched to the hardware, so the device works stably, without any freezes or slowdowns. But the filling still won’t allow you to play demanding games. The flat back cover is made of plastic, and the side edges are edged with metal. The price of Lumia 650 in Russia starts from 11 thousand rubles.

The Russian smartphone with a large battery, Highscreen Power Five, received a Pro version with an increased amount of RAM of 2 GB. The MT6735 processor delivers performance thanks to good optimization. The 5-inch AMOLED screen with HD resolution and PenTile technology has high energy efficiency and high-quality color reproduction.


Calibrated energy consumption, coupled with a large battery with a capacity of 5000 mAh, gives a colossal battery life. The device can work for a whole day with the screen and Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS modules always on. With normal use, you can forget about the need to charge Power Five Pro for four days. Also included is an OTG cable, which allows you to use the device’s battery as a power bank to charge other devices.
Perhaps our material will help you choose an inexpensive smartphone, but of high quality.

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