How to choose the right Chinese budget smartphone. The best brand of Chinese smartphones: review, specifications and reviews Beautiful Chinese smartphones
There are five basic things you need to know about Chinese smartphones.
Secondly, don’t be alarmed if you suddenly see hieroglyphs in the interface - this is an absolutely normal practice, you can only accept it. Thirdly, the most profitable way to buy Chinese phones is on Chinese websites: delivery will take longer, but you can easily snag a $20–30 discount from the original price.
Fourthly, the Chinese love to copy the flagships of Apple and Samsung: in the Middle Kingdom they really believe that patents are not for them, and there is nothing shameful in plagiarism.
Finally, the fifth point: the stated characteristics are not always worth believing - vendors regularly embellish the reality.
Now you can move on to choosing a device, because there are plenty of profitable options in China.
The calling card of this company is the crazy K10 smartphone with an edge-to-edge screen and a fantastic 11,000 mAh battery. You shouldn't buy it just because of its dimensions: it is thick (13.5 millimeters) and heavy (283 grams - slightly smaller than an iPad mini). The price is also not encouraging - only a person who is completely disappointed in external batteries will pay almost 18 thousand for a Chinese device.
But Oukitel did not limit itself to a pot-bellied phone and set its sights on something great - they created a copy of the iPhone X with a cutout at the top of the screen. The replica turned out to be funny, but cheap - without a coupon, the U18 model costs 180 dollars (11 thousand rubles), and with a discount - 160 dollars (10 thousand). The original tenth iPhone will cost seven to eight times more, so it’s pointless to take the model from Oukitel seriously - it’s just an Android smartphone with a stolen design.
However, if you forget that this is a shameless fake, the device is quite tolerable.
It does not have very large frames (even in real life), a bright screen (alas, pixels are visible at 5.85 inches), a solid amount of memory (4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of its own), good cameras from Sony, a hefty 4000 mAh battery and even Face ID scanner. Of course, it works on a different principle than in the iPhone X: it simply remembers the owner’s selfie, rather than scanning his face every time.
It’s easy to deceive such a system with a photograph, but it’s time to think: who needs this? In principle, this Face ID will also work. Moreover, it functions quite quickly, as does the fingerprint scanner located on the back.
The USB Type-C connector makes this gadget even prettier, but the processor spoils everything: the Chinese skimped on hardware and installed a mediocre MediaTek chip. You won't be able to play serious games on the Oukitel U18 - the phone will slow down furiously and then get terribly hot.
The final verdict is this: if you are not bothered by the secondary nature of this device, and games are not a critical point for you, you can order, but strictly at a discount. You definitely shouldn’t buy this miracle for more than 10 thousand rubles.
Collage © L!FE. Photo: © Leagoo
But there are obvious problems with originality. The S8 model is a complete copy of the Galaxy S8, but for the Korean device they ask for about 40 thousand, and for the Chinese one - only eight. Of course, the specifications for such money are very modest, but the point here is not in performance, but in the frameless format.
The Celestial Empire has really cleverly parodied the appearance of one of the main flagships of 2017: from the front, the budget S8 is very similar to the real version. In addition, I am pleased with the screen from Sharp, which does not seem cheap at all, despite the HD resolution. On the contrary, the 5.7-inch display is the best thing about this smartphone: it is not only bright, but also protected by Gorilla Glass (thanks for not spending money on it).
Unfortunately, the compromises are also noticeable. The back panel is plastic, the charging connector is microUSB, the built-in memory is only 32 GB, and the MediaTek processor gives out the price category of the fake S8.
But all these shortcomings are explained by the price. For eight thousand, the Leagoo S8 has only one serious competitor - Xiaomi with the Redmi line, but there the emphasis is precisely on the characteristics. Yes, they will be a little better (Snapdragon instead of MTK), but the design of Xiaomi phones is extremely boring, brick-built and unrecognizable.
And here is an almost real Galaxy S8, albeit for 115 euros.
Collage © L!FE. Photo: © UleFone
The name already gives away the main feature of this device: the Chinese have packed a giant 6000 mAh battery into a relatively thin case (1 cm). In theory, it should hold a charge for three to four days, but in Asia they are too irresponsible about optimization, so the actual lifespan from one charge is two full days. But during this period, you can do anything with UleFone Power 3: watch movies, surf the Internet, use the camera, and so on.
It should be noted that for its 13 thousand, this phone is really good. Like Leagoo, UleFone was inspired by the Galaxy S8 case, but here the similarities are not so striking. Power 3 is similar to any frameless Android device (from HTC, LG, etc.), so those who appreciate uniqueness have nothing to worry about.
But here we see the same case when the manufacturer tried to overwhelm a potential buyer with numbers and chips. In addition to the crazy battery, the Power 3 has a huge supply of RAM (6 GB), as many as four cameras (two on each side, with a “bokeh effect”), Face ID (they didn’t even come up with a new name), fast charging and up-to-date Android.
Some of these options are actually useful (like a fresh OS and Quick Charge), but there are also some that don't make a difference. Let's say that a huge amount of RAM will not help the MediaTek processor work without stuttering.
But these are trifles - of course, in general, Power 3 is close to the flagship level and is excellent for purchase in terms of price and quality ratio.
However, Umidigi sets prices so low that it’s even awkward to get angry and find fault - rather, it’s more interesting to use their devices and draw your own conclusions. After testing two or three devices, we can admit: with the exception of microlags and mediocre cameras, everything is in order. Especially for your money.
S2 Lite is the best model today to get to know Umidigi better and get ready for the company's more expensive devices. A heavy metal body, a six-inch frameless screen, the dimensions of an iPhone Plus, a plump 5100 mAh battery, 4 GB of RAM, a 3D face scanner and a ridiculous price of 8,500 rubles - all this is impressive on paper and practically does not disappoint in life.
Naturally, the battery in intensive mode will only last one and a half to two days, and it’s better not to even turn on the dual camera, but some aspects of the S2 Lite are really pleasing. For example, a USB Type-C connector, a guaranteed update to Android 8.1 (although the Chinese can deceive you) and a bright red case are uncharacteristic things for the average device under 10 thousand rubles.
Considering that the S2 Lite is a budget version of the main device, we can expect even bolder discounts. For 7-7.5 thousand, the Umidigi gadget simply will not have competitors, not only on Russian, but also on Chinese shelves.
Collage © L!FE. Photo: © Doogee
15 thousand rubles is a significant amount of money for Chinese devices, but this particular device fully covers it. True, for some reason the manufacturer cut off the name of Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, but everything else turned out to be original.
Doogee has stuffed the flagship with absolutely all the trendy goodness: a six-inch frameless screen with Full HD+ resolution (no grains), 6 GB of RAM, a powerful battery (4000 mAh), a relatively decent main camera (the front is the bottom) and an NFC module for paying for goods from a smartphone.
But still, the key advantages of Doogee Mix 2 lie elsewhere. Firstly, the Chinese threw into the box not only all kinds of adapters, but also a case with film - a rare generosity in these days. Secondly, Mix 2 received a design that allows us to call this smartphone an independent product. Surprisingly, the Asians have made a truly beautiful and pleasant device from all points of view: it looks good both in appearance and to the touch - thanks to the durable glass back cover.
The price, of course, is a little confusing, but Doogee Mix 2 is head and shoulders above those devices that are sold for 15-16 thousand in Russia. Therefore, decide for yourself what is more important - the sonorous name of the manufacturer or the ultimate specifications from China.
Our project team continues to publish monthly reviews of the best offers from Chinese online stores. This time we present the April rating of smartphones from proven and high-quality brands with prices ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 rubles. Our selection includes models from Xiaomi, Lenovo, Motorola, iLA, CUBOT, UHANS, Bluboo.
In April, some Chinese online stores hold sales in honor of their birthday. During promotions, you can buy smartphones at a discount of up to 25% of their market value. In this case, delivery to Russia will be free of charge.
The Internet project site analyzed the offers of Chinese online platforms and compiled a rating of devices as of April 2018. All prices listed below and marked with an “*” are as of the date of publication of this article and may change over time.
1. Xiaomi Redmi 4A
id="sub0">Price: 5,290 rubles (on promotion)*
The Xiaomi Redmi 4A smartphone belongs to the class of budget devices. For relatively little money, you get a phone with good performance and a high-quality camera with an honest 13 megapixels and the ability to record video in FullHD.
The smartphone body is made of plastic that is pleasant to the touch. Xiaomi Redmi 4A uses a 5-inch diagonal screen with a resolution of 720x1280. The display is very bright, saturated, even in the sun everything is readable.
The smartphone uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 4-core processor. Operating frequency 1.4 GHz. Adreno 308 graphics coprocessor. 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of built-in file storage.
The phone supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou navigation. Navigation works well and connects to satellites quickly. It is also worth noting the presence of two slots for nanoSIM-sized SIM cards, support for LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.1. Xiaomi Redmi 4A is equipped with microUSB ports, an infrared port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. The smartphone has a battery with a capacity of 3120 mAh.
The phone runs on the Android 6.0 operating system with MIUI.8 shell. Firmware version with Russian language support.
2. Xiaomi Redmi 5A
id="sub1">Price: 5,559 rubles (on promotion)*
The Xiaomi Redmi 5A smartphone has a 5‑inch HD display (resolution 720x1280), a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdrsgon 425 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB storage. The main camera of Xiaomi Redmi 5A has a resolution of 13 megapixels, the front camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels.
The device received a 3000 mAh battery. Xiaomi Redmi 5A runs Android 7.0 Nougat. There are three body colors - golden, pink and gray. The first two have a white front panel, while the gray version has a black one.
3. iLA X 3/32 Gb
id="sub2">Price: 7,125 rubles (on promotion)*
The iLA X smartphone is a variation on the iPhone X theme. It has a 5.5-inch display with the now fashionable 18:9 aspect ratio. The device is also equipped with a dual camera with Samsung sensors, a front-facing fingerprint scanner and support for fourth generation networks.
The resolution of the 5.5-inch iLA X display is 1280x640 pixels, the screen is framed by thin frames. The gadget is equipped with a quad-core MediaTek MT6737 processor with a maximum frequency of 1.3 GHz, 3 GB of RAM and a 32 GB drive with the ability to expand with microSD cards up to 128 GB. The capacity of the built-in battery is 2,500 mAh.
We also note that iLA is a sub-brand of the Xiaolajiao company, whose name is translated from Chinese as “Little Pepper”. In Chinese, the syllable “LA” means “sharp”, “burning”.
4. CUBOT X18 Plus
id="sub3">Price: 8,900 rubles (on promotion)*
Cubot X18 Plus has a stylish appearance and a 5.99-inch display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The phone runs on the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system.
The performance of the device is ensured by the powerful MediTek MT6750T chip, the RAM capacity is 4 GB, and the flash memory capacity is 64 GB. Memory cards up to 256 GB are supported. The main camera uses image sensors with a resolution of 20 and 2 megapixels. The front camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels. The battery capacity is 4000 mAh.
The smartphone has a fast user interface. Programs, applications and mobile games work with a bang. The phone supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou navigation. Navigation works well, the smartphone connects to satellites quickly. It is also worth noting the presence of two slots for nanoSIM-sized SIM cards, support for LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.2. The phone is equipped with microUSB ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
5. UHANS K5000
id="sub4">Price: 8,900 rubles (on promotion)*
The UHANS K5000 smartphone belongs to the class of devices protected from dust and water. This model has IP68 protection, that is, the device can withstand immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter for 30 minutes. It is also worth noting the brutal appearance of this model.
The fingerprint scanner, the ergonomic and stylish texture of the rear panel, and the effective oleophobic coating of the 5-inch OGS panel do not allow us to find fault with the appearance of the device. Although the HD screen will not amaze you with the brilliant detail of the displayed image, it will not disappoint with its brightness and contrast. In addition, the low power consumption of the display guarantees up to 10-12 hours of active screen time from a single charge of a huge 5000 mAh battery.
The Mediatek MT6753 processor has become outdated from a technical point of view. However, with HD resolution, its performance is sufficient for many demanding gaming applications, and the Android Nougat interface remains smooth and fast. 3 GB of RAM and the Mali T720-MP3 graphics video chip also cope with this task. There is 32 GB of built-in memory for data storage, which can be expanded using microSD cards.
13 and 5 megapixel cameras can hardly be called outstanding. With mediocre lighting, both the amount of detail and the naturalness of color rendition decreases. However, static objects and documents work well for modules. The list of advantages of the gadget can also be expanded due to 4G and OTG mode. In the totality of the above features, it is easy to highlight a single fact: the developer has presented a balanced and attractive device, worthy of a purchase for its price.
6. Bluboo S1
id="sub5">Price: 9,900 rubles (on promotion)*
The TOP of the best offers of April 2018 included the frameless smartphone Bluboo S1, which can now be purchased with a 20% discount. Bluboo S1 has a stylish design in the style of modern mobile devices. The phone has a large 5.5-inch touch screen from Sharp with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4. The display, without frames on three sides, occupies 90% of the front panel.
Bluboo S1 is equipped with a powerful Helio P25 single-chip system. The device has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in flash memory for data storage. The smartphone received USB-C and 3.5 mm connectors.
Bluboo S1 received a dual Sony camera with image sensors with a resolution of 16 and 3 megapixels. The phone has support for FDD-LTE and WCDMA networks, two nanoSIM SIM cards, as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with an operating frequency of 2.4 GHz. The smartphone comes with a 3500 mAh battery.
7. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus
id="sub6">Price: 10,490 rubles (on promotion)*
The Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus model was included in the ranking of the best offers of Chinese smartphones in April. The device can be purchased in four body colors: gold, pink, blue with a white front panel and a completely black device.
The device has a modern frameless design; it seems to be elongated in length. The smartphone display has an aspect ratio of 18:9 and occupies almost the entire front side. Screen diagonal 5.99 inches, resolution 2160 x 1080 pixels, 403 ppi. Above the display you can see a variety of sensors and sensors, as well as a front-facing 5-megapixel camera with LED flash. The main camera has a 12 megapixel sensor.
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus has a responsive user interface. Programs, applications and mobile games work with a bang. Speed is achieved using a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor (14 nm process technology), Adreno 506 graphics chip. In addition, it is worth noting the memory of 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in flash or 4 GB and 64 GB, respectively.
The phone supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou navigation. Navigation works well, the smartphone connects to satellites quickly. It is also worth noting the presence of two slots for nanoSIM-sized SIM cards, support for LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4GHz), Bluetooth 4.2. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is equipped with microUSB ports and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Redmi 5 Plus uses a capacious 4000 mAh battery. Energy efficiency is very good; in general, the smartphone will work for 2-3 days from a full charge.
The smartphone runs Android 7.1.1 with MIUI 9 shell with the ability to upgrade to Android 8.0 Oreo.
8. Xiaomi Mi A1 4/64 GB
id="sub7">Price: 12,100 rubles (on promotion)*
During April, Xiaomi Mi A1 can be purchased in Chinese online stores with a 26% discount. It is worth noting that this device was created in collaboration with Google as part of the Android One project, which includes budget smartphones. The smartphone is housed in a metal case and has a fingerprint scanner on the rear panel. The phone runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat operating system with a “clean” interface, without additional add-ons. In the future, the device can be updated to Android 8.0 Oreo.
The main dual camera consists of a 12 MP 50 mm telephoto module and a 12 MP 26 mm wide-angle module. Together they provide 2x optical zoom. Separately, the manufacturer notes the increased pixel size (1.25 microns), according to him, this gives 56% more light than “regular” sensors.
The smartphone is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display with Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) and 2.5D glass with curved edges, a 5 MP front camera.
The eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal flash memory, expandable with microSD cards up to 128 GB, are responsible for the performance. The battery has a capacity of 3080 mAh.
Xiaomi Mi A1 is equipped with USB Type-C ports, an infrared port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Supports dual SIM cards, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS + GLONASS. The dimensions are 155.4 x 75.8 x 7.3 mm and the weight is 168 grams. Xiaomi Mi A1 is available in three colors - black with anti-fingerprint surface, pink and gold.
The Xiaomi Mi A1 smartphone (4/64 GB) can be purchased at a reduced price - 12,100 rubles*. Delivery will be free.
9. Lenovo Moto Z
id="sub8">Price: 15,400 rubles (on promotion)*
The legendary Motorola Moto Z smartphone with a gorgeous 5.5-inch AMOLED screen can be purchased in April with a 41% discount. Its price is slightly more than 15,000 rubles.
The Moto Z is a two-year-old basic flagship. The device is made of metal, the body thickness is only 5.19 mm. It is equipped with a 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, made using SuperAMOLED technology, a quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal expandable memory and a fingerprint scanner built into the Home key under the screen .
It is worth noting that the device does not have a 3.5 mm headphone output; this function is performed by the USB Type-C port. Among the advantages of Moto Z is a 13 megapixel main camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. Battery capacity - 2600 mAh. The smartphone runs on the Android 6 operating system.
The phone supports GPS and GLONASS navigation. It is worth noting the presence of two slots for nanoSIM-sized SIM cards, support for LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2.
The main feature of the Moto Z is the additional Moto Mods, which expand the functionality of each smartphone.
10. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
id="sub9">Price: 27,000 rubles (on promotion)*
Among the best offers of flagship smartphones, it is worth noting the frameless smartphone Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, which can be purchased with a 22% discount in April. The famous designer Philippe Starck worked on the appearance of this device. Thus, Mi Mix 2 received a 5.99-inch touch screen with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels. The case is made of an ultra-thin aluminum frame and ceramic back cover. 18K gold camera surround. Another feature is the absence of a standard 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones. The USB Type-C port is used here.
In terms of hardware, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is powered by an eight-core Snapdragon 835 chip, made using 10nm architecture. Xiaomi has also focused on supporting all network communication standards, allowing the gadget to be used around the world without problems with signal reception. The powerful chipset is backed by 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage. Xiaomi has worked on the camera. A 12 megapixel Sony IMX386 sensor with large pixels is used.
It is also worth noting the 3400 mAh battery with support for fast charging, thanks to which the phone is fully charged in 1.5 hours. The phone supports GPS, GLONASS, Beidou navigation. It is worth noting the presence of two slots for nanoSIM-sized SIM cards, support for LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.2.
Great home projectors at affordable prices.
- AUTOYOUTH is a popular company operating since 2004. Her specialty is car seat covers.
- DEKO is a Malaysian-Chinese company producing electric and hand tools, as well as construction equipment.
- Eunavi- a company founded in 2010. Produces multimedia players for .
- Jooan- since 2008, has been developing security systems and producing video surveillance cameras.
- Joying- a company producing multimedia devices for cars. Based in Shenzhen, operating since 2014.
- Junsun is a company founded in 2013 and specializing in DVRs, navigators and other automotive electronics.
- Launch- founded in 1992, is the first company in China to develop, produce and sell a full range of auto diagnostic and general garage equipment for car services.
- Livolo- stylish and technological touch sockets and switches.
- Luckyled- manufacturer of energy-saving and highly efficient LED products. The company was founded in 2014.
- MING&BEN- produces LED strips and lamps, as well as other lighting accessories.
- Newacalox- hand-held power tools and consumables at affordable prices. The company has been operating since 2012.
- Ownice- produces and supplies cool car radios for foreign cars, as well as other car accessories.
- Partol is a large manufacturer and supplier of automotive LED headlights.
- Sricam is a brand of Shenzhen Srictv Technology, which produces cameras and monitors for surveillance systems in smart homes.
- SUNMEIYI- a company founded in 2010. Produces LED chandeliers of classic and modern design, ceiling lamps, floor lamps, sconces, night lamps.
- Trlife- flashlights and other LED lighting for tourists, fishermen and extreme sports enthusiasts.
- VStarcam- offers IP CCTV cameras, network cameras for IP cameras and related accessories at affordable prices.
- Workpro- a company with an excellent reputation, produces hand tools and bags for them. Both amateur and professional locksmiths, installers, and car service employees work with the products of this brand.
- Angela flower- produces naturalistic artificial flowers for all occasions.
- Chenistory- a factory that produces acrylic paints, ready-made canvases and paintings by numbers.
- Choice fun- over 20 years of existence, it has grown from a small factory producing plastic tableware to a large company with several representative offices. Produces all kinds of containers and devices made of plastic.
- Diniwell- organizers and storage systems.
- Findking- produces high-quality ceramic knives and some other kitchen utensils.
- Fheal- dishes and kitchen utensils with an original design.
- Frap is a Chinese holding that is well known to European buyers. For more than 15 years, it has been selling faucets, sanitary ware and accessories for baths and kitchens in Russia.
- Hangerlink- baskets, hangers, covers and other accessories for.
- Hyha- Focuses on creating creative pillowcases and pillows. Also produces tapestries and rugs.
- iKaya- furniture for home and office, as well as furniture fittings.
- iLife- specializes in robotic vacuum cleaners since 2010. Has authorized centers all over the world.
- iSinotex- a company founded in 2017. Dealing with home textiles: producing towels, bed linen, tablecloths and much more.
- KBAYBO- a popular manufacturer of high-tech flavors.
- Meian- has been engaged in diamond embroidery for 10 years and sells high-quality needlework kits.
- Miz- a team of Shanghai designers, collaborating with several factories in Zhejiang and producing very cute interior items.
- Napearl is a company that sells ready-made curtains and sews them to order.
- ORZ is a large and very popular company in Asia that sells all kinds of small things for the home: from pepper shakers to storage systems.
- Puppyoo- The company was founded in 1999 and is considered the No. 1 vacuum cleaner manufacturer in China. Products are available in more than 80 countries.
- Sweet treats- baking trays, roasting pans and other utensils for baking and baking. The company has been operating since 2016.
- Tinton life- specializes in the development, production and sale of household appliances since 1988. Produces kitchen and cleaning equipment.
- Walfos- has been creating kitchen gadgets since 1996, which are distinguished by high quality materials.
- WANFAN- a company with six years of experience, focuses on designer and rather expensive plumbing fixtures.
- Amanda Novias- beautiful and high-quality wedding dresses.
- Bassiriana is a shoe manufacturer operating since 2008. Features - natural materials and low prices.
- Dave Bella is a brand of Hangzhou Riguan Apparel Co., established in 2011. Produces premium clothing for children from 0 to 7 years old.
- Free soldier- camouflage, hiking and military clothing and footwear.
- Giordano is a Hong Kong brand and retailer for women and men. On the market since 1981.
- Zhi Xiao is a company that has been producing things for babies since 1978: from clothes to strollers.
- HECRAFTED- handmade shoes made of genuine leather.
- Heyguys- street fashion from a Chinese manufacturer.
- Li-Ning is a company that produces sports shoes and other sporting goods. Founded in 1989 by the famous Chinese gymnast.
- MIEGOFCE is a Chinese brand specializing in down jackets and other European-style winter clothing.
- Miss ord- produces women's clothing, mainly evening dresses.
- Nakiaeoi- factory production of swimsuits of various styles and styles, including for large women.
- Onemix- the largest manufacturer and supplier of men's and women's sports shoes from the Middle Kingdom.
- Oucui- factory-made evening dresses, not the most budget-friendly, but very high quality.
- Pioneer Camp is a well-known Chinese company founded in 1999. Produces fashionable casual clothing for travel enthusiasts.
Chinese manufacturers like Huawei, Xiaomi, HMD (read Nokia), Meizu offer high-quality inexpensive phones that are superior to their American and Korean counterparts in terms of hardware. For 15,000 rubles you can freely buy a cool smartphone that will take good photographs, play games and work stably for years.
1st place – Honor 10 Lite
Huawei is a leader in the mid-segment. Only it manages to produce high-quality and well-optimized inexpensive smartphones with normal hardware and functionality, Honor 10 Lite is a confirmation.
Characteristics:
- OS: Android 9 Pie + EMUI 9 shell.
- Display: IPS, 6.21”, 2340×1080, 415 ppi. Brightness – 441 cd/m2, contrast – 1282:1; average color rendering error DeltaE = 2.7.
- Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710 (12 nm) + Mali-G51 MP4.
- Main camera: 13 + 2 MP, f/1.8 aperture.
- Front camera: 24 MP, f/2.
- Battery: 3400 mAh, no fast charging, 10 W adapter included.
- Communications and connectors: NFC, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.2
The phone is cool - it takes excellent photographs, shows high speed and optimization. The 3400 mAh battery lasts for 28 hours of communication, almost 11 hours of surfing the Internet and more than 11 hours of video playback at a brightness of 200 cd/m2. Examples of photos + test results can be found in the complete analysis of the device:
The phone has no bugs or illnesses, most reviews on Yandex.Market are positive. The assembly and quality of materials and components are also high, which makes the smartphone the best in the segment. The only problem is the old microUSB connector and the lack of fast charging.
2nd place – Huawei P Smart (2019)
This model is very similar to Honor 10 Lite in terms of hardware and appearance. It uses the same display with identical characteristics, a similar Kirin 710 processor, a rear camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels and an f/1.8 aperture, and a 2 megapixel depth sensor is also available. The only major difference is the front camera. On Honor 10 lite it is a 24 MP sensor, on P Smart it is 16 MP.
Also, the smartphones have the same batteries - 3400 mAh, however, in terms of autonomy, P Smart 2019 is worse - it provides 24:45 hours of communication, 10 hours of surfing and 11 hours of video playback. But as for the cameras, there are no serious differences between the phones. You will find examples of photos and test results in the full review:
NFC, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi AC standard, working with 5 GHz networks, included. However, Honor 10 lite has all this. The disadvantage is the old micro USB connector, lack of fast charging. This spoils the impression of a high-quality and successful device with good hardware, screen and cameras.
3rd place – Meizu X8
The new phone from the Chinese manufacturer Meizu turned out to be cool - with an excellent build, a powerful and energy-efficient processor, and a high-quality screen. Its only drawback is the lack of an NFC chip, which is why I give it third place in the TOP.
Characteristics:
- Display: IPS, 6.2”, 2220×1080, 398 ppi.
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 + Adreno 616.
- Memory: 4/6 GB RAM + 64/128 GB disk, no slot for microSD card.
- Main camera: 12 + 5 MP, f/1.9, 1.4 micron, Dual Pixel technology.
- Front camera: 20 MP.
- Battery: 3210 mAh, fast charging not stated.
- Communications and connectors: 3.5 mm, W-Fi ac standard, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C.
Meizu X8 is a good quality smartphone with an excellent build without any backlashes or creaks, it fits comfortably in the hand, takes good photographs, but there are complaints about “twisting” of colors in the final image. There are also 4K video recording capabilities, which the processor power allows. By the way, Snapdragon 710 is a new 10nm chip from Qualcomm, which has proven itself well in Xiaomi Mi 8 SE, Nokia 8.1, Meizu 16X. It's a stronger platform than the Kirin 710, but Android 8 out of the box and the lack of an NFC chip are serious drawbacks.
4th place – Xiaomi Redmi Note 7
Xiaomi is trying to keep up and also offers a cool budget phone, albeit without an NFC chip. But all the other hardware here is at the highest level, plus high-quality assembly and stable Android 9 Pie + MIUI OS.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Characteristics:
- Glass body (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame.
- Display: IPS, 6.3”, Full HD+ resolution, brightness 479 cd/m2; Contrast ratio: 1338:1, color accuracy DeltaE – 2.0 in standard mode.
- Memory: 4/64 GB.
- Main camera: 48 MP, f/1.8 + 5 MP depth sensor; matrix size 0.5 inches.
- Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.2.
- Battery: 4000 mAh + fast charging QC 4. The charge lasts for 14 hours of web surfing, 32.5 hours of communication, 14 hours of video playback.
Excellent phone under 15,000 rubles. True, you can only get it for that kind of money on Aliexpress, but we are no strangers to it. The smartphone works with a good Snapdragon 660 processor - the predecessor of the SD 710, which is found on the Meizu X8. It also has an excellent camera with a quad Bayer filter and pixel blending technology, a cool screen and QC 4.0 fast charging, but it comes with the simplest 10W charging adapter. If you want to charge quickly, buy a QC 4.0 compatible device separately.
The phone does not have NFC or a 4K video function, which is strange since the Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite has a similar feature. By the way, he is next in the ranking.
5th place – Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite
The phone was released in September 2018, managed to collect good reviews and became one of the best-selling mid-range phones at the beginning of 2019. The device is made of glass, with an aluminum frame, supports 2 SIM.
Characteristics:
- OS: Android 8 Oreo out of the box.
- Display: IPS, 6.26”, Full HD+ resolution, brightness 468 cd/m2; Contrast ratio: 1338:1, color accuracy DeltaE – 2.0 in standard mode.
- Processor: Snapdragon 660 + Adreno 660.
- Memory: 4/64 GB.
- Main camera: 12 MP, f/1.8 + 5 MP depth sensor; matrix size 1/2.55 inches.
- Front camera: 24 MP.
- Battery: 3350 mAh + fast charging QC 3. The charge lasts for 10:25 hours of web surfing, 30 hours of communication, 10 hours of video playback.
- Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C.
The smartphone turned out to be good, but there are complaints about the quality of shooting on the front and rear cameras. There is also no NFC, stereo speakers, radio, or 3.5 mm headphone output. If you have a cool headset, then you will have to use it through a Type-C to 3.5 mm adapter, which is not very convenient and bad for sound quality.
The Mi 8 Lite is good in terms of display and performance, it supports QC 3.0 fast charging, but it comes with a regular 10W charger. It gives 36% charge in 30 minutes; If you want it faster, buy a compatible QC 3.0 charger separately.
In conditions of a permanent crisis, buying a smartphone or tablet from China seems like a good way to save money and get a device with flagship characteristics for a third of the price of the same one, but made by “first-tier” manufacturers. But where do these fabulous savings come from and why are Chinese devices so cheap in general? Let’s try to find out, and at the same time talk about how to choose the right Chinese smartphone and whether it’s worth doing it when last year’s flagships from famous manufacturers are on sale.
If you don’t take into account the very cheap nonames and take a closer look at devices in the price range of $150–200, then you can find a lot of really good models at first glance. Good build quality, modern components, bright screens with excellent color reproduction - the Chinese have learned to make good products, saving on labor, design (which is simply copied), advertising and direct distribution without intermediaries. However, if you dig deeper, it turns out that everything is not so rosy and sometimes the great Chinese thought goes too far in the desire to cut the price of the device a little more.
Everyone lies
It cannot be said that absolutely all Chinese manufacturers tend to inflate the characteristics of their devices or present information in a cunning way so as to create the desired impression and keep silent about something. However, deception cannot be completely ruled out. Trust but check!
I will give a few examples from my own practice. Ulefone Be Touch 2. The manufacturer lied twice: by falsifying the version of Android that the device runs on, and by indicating an overestimated battery capacity (in reality, it remained exactly the same as in the first model, changing only the number printed on the wrapper).
How can you fake the Android version? It’s very simple: write version 5.1 in the system build.prop file. A quick, dirty and cheap way to "upgrade" from the actual 5.0 version. Ulefone Be Touch 2 is far from the only device that comes with a “fake” version of the system. Read, look at reviews - independent reviewers rarely miss such things.
Do you think that not everyone lies, but only “basement” manufacturers? No matter how it is! Lenovo, a well-known and large concern, does not hesitate to mislead the buyer. Take the Lenovo K3 Note, for example. In most foreign reviews we see the standard “the screen is good, bright, the colors are rich, everything is fine.” But reviewers from the iXBT website are not so gullible. Having taken the time to take a photo of the smartphone screen, experts discovered that instead of the stated resolution of 1920x1080, the device has a cheaper matrix with a resolution of 1920x720. Admire it.
Do you think it's an isolated incident? No! Take, for example, the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 (8″) in the Android version. On the official American website of the company, the device characteristics indicate support for memory cards up to 64 GB (quote from the site: Supporting Micro SD card up to 64GB).
And everything would be fine, but there is a subtlety. After purchasing a 64 GB card and inserting it into the tablet, you will see a prompt to format it. What is it, why? But the fact is that according to the officially accepted standard, memory cards with a capacity of 64 GB or more must (must, damn it!) comply with the SDXC specification. And it clearly and clearly, in plain English, prescribes the type of file system required for use on such cards: exFAT.
And again, everything would be fine, but using exFAT requires purchasing a license from its developer, Microsoft. But I don’t want to pay money. This is how devices appear that are hardware compatible with cards in the SDXC format, but do not support the standard file system for them. First-tier manufacturers honestly indicate compliance with the SDHC standard (memory cards up to 32 GB), and the fact that the user, at his own peril and risk, can format it in FAT32 and successfully use it in such devices is like a free bonus. But you can hardly upload a movie in HD to this card; File size in FAT32 is limited to 4 GB.
And there are also fakes
Creative presentation of specifications is one thing. What about outright fakes? iPhone clones - of course, it is usually not difficult to distinguish them, although Chinese craftsmen managed to assemble at least one device that runs on real iOS. But counterfeits from “basement” manufacturers for other Chinese brands - for example, Xiaomi or Lenovo - are another matter, much more unpleasant.
And even without backdoors
Even if the phone arrived without built-in dubious “add-ons”, it is not at all a fact that it has the original firmware installed. Take, for example, devices produced by Xiaomi. Good hardware, high-quality original firmware, good price/quality ratio. But not all of the company’s models are intended for sale outside of China. Not intended, but sold.
For devices intended for distribution exclusively in China, the company produces the corresponding firmware - Chinese. Sometimes without any translation into other languages, even into English, but certainly without Russian and without Google services.
But this fact does not stop cunning sellers from flashing into such devices... and who knows what they are flashing. Someone and somehow modified firmware with partial translation of hieroglyphs and somehow installed Google services. These firmwares, in addition to their general dubiousness, have one global drawback: over-the-air updates will either not arrive at all (this is the best case scenario), or, once they arrive, they will turn the device into a “brick.” So again, fastboot, custom recovery and other delights are in your hands (by the way, it may not help, since international firmware authored by the manufacturer, I repeat, is not available for all Chinese devices).
And then there is such a thing as SalesTrack. A very recent example: Micromax Bolt D303. Fresh, clean, factory firmware of a Micromax phone intended for sales in India sends SMS to an Indian short number immediately after turning on the phone. This is how the device is activated, but for a Russian-speaking user it will cost a pretty penny.
Optimization. Or lack thereof
In order for the operating system to work more or less smoothly, you need specific drivers, unique for each device, and the correct configuration of all firmware components - from the kernel to the shell. Unfortunately, optimization is an infrequent guest in Chinese devices. Yes, some manufacturers with a small model range (nod to Xiaomi, Meizu, Oppo and OnePlus) can afford to optimize the firmware. As for the semi-basement and basement offices churning out handicrafts and forgetting about them six months after their release, there will be a lottery. If you're lucky, everything will work more or less smoothly and stably. If you're unlucky (as in the case of the Ulefone Be Touch 2 described above), it will be a nightmare.
Of course, everyone has problems with optimization. The Nexus 9 tablet, released with the then new version of Android 5.0, worked extremely poorly. The situation was partially corrected only with the release of update 5.1.1, but the tablet revealed its full potential only with the release of Android 6.0. Or the flagship LG G Flex 2, which became the first device on the Snapdragon 810 platform. There were lags and slowdowns. And they disappeared with the release of firmware on version Android 5.1.1. How are things going with firmware updates from Chinese manufacturers?
And there are also updates. Or they don't exist
After-sales support for devices using firmware updates is an established standard practice accepted among first- and second-tier manufacturers. But basement crafts, as a rule, are doomed to work with the firmware that the manufacturer installed on them. In the best case, you will receive one or two minor updates that correct bugs found within the pre-installed Android branch. Simply put, if your device came with Android 4.4 KitKat, you probably won't be able to upgrade to 5.0 Lollipop.
What is the reason? Developing new firmware based on the latest version of Android, of course, costs money. You can save a lot of money on after-sales service, which is what the Chinese are famous for.
But is that the only thing? Unfortunately no. Very, very many Chinese devices are equipped with chips produced by the Chinese concern MediaTek (MTK). Integrated solutions produced by MTK differ from analogues, for example, from the American Qualcomm, in that the manufacturing company may release drivers for a certain set of system logic with support for the latest version of Android - or may not release them. It may provide source codes to smartphone manufacturers - or it may not. Guess in three tries whether MTK is famous for supporting its chips with drivers?
For manufacturers like Allwinner and Rockchip, you can usually forget about any support as soon as you receive the device. No, the manufacturer can try to do something with updates and without the latest driver versions, but...
Not long ago, the author of this text tested a tablet based on the RK3188 chip. Four Cortex A9 cores are a good option! But the tablet worked not just poorly, but extremely poorly. Even scrolling a simple web page experienced severe delays and jerks. Obtaining superuser rights and carefully optimizing everything possible did not help. The explanation turned out to be very simple: Rockchip provided the tablet manufacturer with drivers for Android 4.2, and the manufacturer wanted to release the device running Android 4.4 KitKat. Released. It didn't make it any better. Need I say that there have been no firmware updates since then?
And everything would look logical if it weren’t for the fact that some manufacturers (Meizu for example) successfully produce devices based on MTK chips and just as successfully support them for a long time. Here, however, we need to look deeper. A closer look at the FlyMe OS firmware shows that active firmware development is taking place within the framework of a specific Android branch. The global transition from Android 4 to version 5 within FlyMe OS happened not so long ago and with a delay of almost a year since the release of Android Lollipop.
No, what should I take?
If we’re going to order something from an online store anyway, let’s turn 180 degrees and look west instead of east. At least on trading platforms such as eBay and Amazon. And we will be surprised to discover that the flagships of last season are sold for half, or even a third of the price compared to the moment of announcement. What can you look for for your money - and not from China?
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