Should you buy Chinese phones and tablets? Today this question is asked by many, and many have asked it a long time ago, even several years ago. One of the second "many" is the author of these lines, who used Chinese gadgets and has a good idea of the Chinese market as a whole. In today's big article, we will talk about the best budget and most popular brands of the Middle Kingdom, about the possibilities of modern Android tablets and smartphones from China, as well as about where you can and should buy these gadgets. Go!
Major market players
The main ones can be considered those companies that are not only firmly entrenched in China, but have become serious contenders for the title of top global manufacturers. Now they can compete with the market leaders - Sony, LG, HTC, Samsung and Apple. I will not say anything about Nokia for now, because the Finns are not doing well, allowing even the current Chinese brands to grab larger chunks of the electronics market than Nokia.
So, over the past few years, Huawei and ZTE, popular in their homeland, "got out of the crowd" and now occupy the fourth and fifth lines in the ranking of the best smartphone manufacturers, overtaking HTC, Sony, Nokia and BlackBerry. Nice, right? Lenovo, a well-known laptop maker, is also actively gaining ground, thanks in part to the company's new flagship K900.
In addition to these three, Xiaomi, Oppo and Meizu are among the most popular. All of these manufacturers equip their devices with the best hardware from top manufacturers. So, the latest flagships of the companies run on Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro and Snapdragon 600 processors. It only uses its own chips, which, by the way, show decent results in benchmarks and serious performance in games. In addition, all these devices use high-quality IPS matrices with HD or Full HD resolution. In addition, each manufacturer has its own stylish design, as well as a branded shell.
The price for these devices corresponds to the class, but it is significantly lower than the cost of the flagships Samsung and HTC.
As for tablets, there are no serious leaders who could stand out in the world market. Of the Top 5 smartphone manufacturers in China, only Huawei makes its own tablets, and ZTE showed several devices at Mobile World Congress, but they are not yet popular.
Top tablet manufacturers include Cube, Ainol, and Onda. These manufacturers use Rockchip, Allwinner and Actions Semiconductor processors in their devices, which show good performance. It is enough for basic tasks and even for many demanding games. Gaming will be especially comfortable if your tablet is equipped with chips from Rockchip and Allwinner.
Growing popularity of manufacturers:
These include BBK, Zopo, Vivo and THL. These manufacturers are actively winning the love of users outside their homeland thanks to high-quality and efficient smartphones with low cost. Judge for yourself, $ 200-250 for a smartphone with a 4-core processor and a high-quality HD or even Full HD IPS matrix is cool!
Thanks to these brands, a new serious player has appeared on the processor market - MediaTek. For several years now, Chinese manufacturers have been actively using MTK chips in their smartphones. The bestsellers are the 2-core MT6577 and the 4-core MT6589. The second, by the way, is now used in modern Chinese smartphones and was continued in the form of an overclocked version of MT6589T (Turbo).
As I already said, smartphones JiaYu, BBK, Zopo and THL are equipped with high-quality IPS HD and Full HD matrices, as well as a fairly large amount of RAM of 1 or 2 GB.
The pluses of Chinese devices can also be attributed to the presence of Dual SIM (support for two SIM-cards), which is an undoubted advantage over competitors.
Chinese copies:
This niche is slowly dying out. More and more Chinese brands are hiring normal designers who do an excellent job and create a corporate design for devices. Yes, elements of an integrated design can slip from popular first-tier devices, but a similar situation occurs with devices of top-level companies.
Yes, nobody canceled the copies, but they also became very high quality, especially their hardware component. But, I would advise buying the smartphones I described above.
Where to buy Chinese devices?
You have several options - either you buy directly from China, while saving an extra $ 40-50, or you buy from your home country. To be honest, I have never used the first method, and in general I have not bought anything from abroad at auctions like Ebay.
Fortunately, our country is now full of shops where you can buy Chinese gadgets, and with a guarantee.
Another option is to buy from local auctions. The price for them is also lower than in stores, and the choice there is simply huge.
I will not dwell on each of the smartphones in detail, so I will give a list of the flagships of the best Chinese companies.
- Oppo Find 5
- Meizu MX2
- ZTE Grand S
- Huawei Ascend P6
- JiaYu G4 Turbo
- Zopo ZP980
Conclusion
Chinese smartphones and tablets have reached a completely new level - now they are not just some cheap fakes, now they are high-quality and powerful devices that can cope with the tasks set. The choice among them is simply huge and you will definitely like something. It's up to you to decide, of course, but I believe that everything is already obvious - Chinese devices at least have the right to life, although they are already used by millions of people around the world, and this result speaks for itself.
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Before answering this question, you need to clarify what "Chinese smartphones" are, because it is no secret to anyone that even high-quality smartphones from Apple are produced in the same China. But in our article we will not be talking about eminent companies that have already achieved universal recognition and trust. We will talk about those brands that still confuse us with their suspiciously low prices.
Nowadays, not everyone can afford expensive smartphones from Apple, Sony and Samsung, so more and more often we give preference to promising newcomers from the Middle Kingdom. But is it worth saving on a smartphone and taking a conscious risk when purchasing equipment from little-known manufacturers? To answer this question, let's figure out what kind of "Chinese" are and how they differ from other smartphones?
What kind of "Chinese" are there?
Many people associate the word "Chinese" with something dubious, poorly assembled and cheap, and there is some truth in this, but Chinese products are different. If you buy a smartphone assembled at a good factory, you get a quality product that will last you more than one year, but if you buy a copy of an iPhone made in the basement with an antenna and a bitten pineapple instead of an apple, then you can be sure that you will soon regret your purchase.
Today's popular smartphones from Huawei have come a long way from dark horses to devices associated with quality and innovation. The same story with smartphones Lenovo, ZTE, Meizu and Xiaomi: they were able to prove that Chinese companies are able to surprise with their quality and originality. But the main advantage of these devices is still their low price, which provides them with a huge advantage in the international market.
However, the success of these companies is the exception rather than the rule. there are a huge number of other Chinese smartphone manufacturers trying to break into the market at the expense of low prices, without paying due attention to the quality of their products. Therefore, by purchasing smartphones of unknown brands, you run the risk of wasting money.
What is the difference between cheap Chinese smartphones?
If earlier it was possible to distinguish a "Chinese" smartphone by cheap body materials and handicraft assembly, today such shortcomings are rare. Novice manufacturers are trying to keep up with big brands, so they use high-quality materials for the cases, among which you can find the now popular metal and glass. The appearance of such smartphones is beyond doubt, but what's going on inside these devices is a mystery. A beautiful case can hide cheap components and poor-quality assembly. This problem is especially common in "gray" smartphones that are sold without licenses and certificates.
In addition, lately, smartphone manufacturers have been trying to surprise us with a large number of cores in a processor, gigabytes of RAM and other technical characteristics. But do we really need these vaunted gigabytes and megahertz? They are, of course, needed, but good optimization is more important. For example, the iPhone 6 has 1GB of RAM and a dual-core processor, but its performance, thanks to good optimization, significantly outperforms other devices with similar characteristics. A poorly optimized Chinese smartphone can have at least a ten-core processor, but at the same time it constantly slows down and freezes. In addition, it is not profitable for developers to release games and applications only for powerful devices, therefore, in order to reach the maximum audience, even the most demanding games are developed for smartphones with average characteristics.
Chinese smartphones are different, so it is difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the main question of the article. But if you want to buy an inexpensive and high-quality smartphone, then pay attention to devices from Meizu and Xiaomi... They have already earned a good reputation for themselves, but have not yet dramatically increased the prices of their smartphones.
Premium smartphones cost more than 40,000 rubles on average. But in order to get your hands on a smart phone with the latest technology, you don't have to spend so much money, because you can buy a gadget from China. Those who believe that such devices are cheap replicas of successful Samsung or Apple models with limited functionality and ugly design are living in the past.
Once upon a time, the Celestial Empire was considered an unsurpassed master of cloning. But today's devices, as a rule, are equipped with the latest technology and, in general, even outperform smartphones released by well-known brands. In addition, the quality of workmanship has also ceased to suffer - in any case, not on such a scale as it was before.
We tested smartphones in three price categories: up to 7,000 rubles, from 7,000 to 10,000 rubles, and from 10,000 to 15,000 rubles, choosing models from three manufacturers that are recommended by experts in online stores of Chinese smartphones. These sites gained prominence along with the growing popularity of imports from Asia. We compared these devices to entry-level models from Samsung and Sony, which, according to the current Chip rankings, are in the same price range as the Chinese ones.
Available entry-level models
In the price segment up to 7,000 rubles, the differences between the markets are most clearly traced. If in Asia a lot of smartphones are offered at a price of up to 7,000 rubles, then there are no analogues in quality and functionality in Russian retail. Of course, if the device will be used only as a phone, then there is no point in buying an expensive gadget. But looking in this price range for a touchscreen smartphone with the latest Android version and a fingerprint scanner is useless.
Chinese devices are generally relatively well equipped. LTE, for example, is supported by almost all smartphones - however, not always LTE Band 20, which is mainly used in Russia, so when you choose, be sure to pay attention to this function.
Biometric security methods
The advantages of devices from the PRC and in another aspect - safety. Even modern budget models are often equipped with a fingerprint scanner and at least a relatively new version of Android, most often 6.0 Marshmallow. And operating system security updates arrive even faster than Samsung, Sony, LG and other brands.
Despite the low cost, many Chinese models priced under 7,000 rubles are equipped with a fingerprint scanner. Skeptics attribute this high speed to superficial quality control of the software, but this is still just speculation. During our testing, the manufacturer's preinstalled apps crashed every now and then, but similar problems are observed on other devices running Android. Like smartphones from Samsung and other companies, Chinese devices are based on Android and on top of that, they create their own OS interface with applications.
Weak embedded components
When it comes to the quality of particularly affordable models, Chinese manufacturers also make some compromises. This can be seen primarily when looking at the display. Our test device, available, has a relatively large 5.5-inch display, but the panel lacks brightness. With the resolution of the camera, the situation is the same, the quality of the lenses is quite average.
In general, in the price category up to 7,000 rubles, Chinese smartphones, despite some quality flaws, give very good performance, and in some individual indicators, for example, shutter release delay, they even bypass smartphones in the upper price segment (see graphs at the top right ). Comparing the Chinese to other smartphones in this category is difficult because you can hardly find one at a similar price.
We took the Samsung Galaxy J3, the closest in price, as a guideline - it costs about 9,000 rubles. In comparison with, which costs only 6,000 rubles, the J3 lacks free memory, a new version of the operating system and a Full HD display.
Unbalanced middle category
Chinese devices from 7,000 to 10,000 rubles give a mixed impression. While the overall performance and camera are not impressive, the battery life is good, as is the speed. The Chinese model Ulefone Power was pleasantly surprised by the remarkable battery endurance (see graphs on the upper right) - in this indicator the smartphone surpasses even such a flagship as the iPhone 7 Plus.
Disadvantages in performance and camera
The cases of the Chinese models are made almost exclusively of metal. It would be great if only the performance didn't fail - for example, the Doogee Y6 Max has a flimsy USB connector.
The reason for this could be the high fault tolerance of Chinese models, which we do not see on devices for the Western market. Our test gadget Doogee Y6 Max is equipped with a 13-megapixel camera, but the quality is poor - taking pictures on Doogee will not bring much joy.
Points for additional features
Many Chinese models compensate for the mediocrity of the camera with rich equipment. For example, Doogee has a 3D curved display. So you can watch movies in 3D without any additional equipment.
There is also a slot for two SIM cards. In Asia, such models are very popular; even such flagships as are available in the Duos modification - with support for two SIM-cards.
Many Asian models are equipped with a Dual SIM slot, that is, they allow you to use two SIM cards at the same time The size of Doogee is also pleasing. 6.4 inches is ideal for YouTube and similar applications. True, it is not so easy to fit it into your pocket. Power is supplied by a 4300 mAh battery. Compared to a comparable Motorola model, it doesn't last much longer, but on the other hand, the Moto G4 has a five-inch screen. However, the G4 has other disadvantages in comparison: less memory, lower screen resolution and lower resolution of the camera matrix.
Quality at an affordable price
In the category of devices from 10,000 rubles, Chinese smartphones also do not set records, but thanks to a well-thought-out general concept, they can freely compete with comparable counterparts on our market. And in some ways they even turn out to be a little better.
Everything essential on board
There is hardly another manufacturer in this price category, which “stuffs” so many technologies into its smartphone. Memory, for example, is a huge amount - Apollo X provides 55 GB of free space, which is a lot: comparable in price offers only 10 GB.
And this remains a mystery, since memory modules, even on expensive models, are used from China and in bulk purchases they cost about the same amount to manufacturers of branded equipment.
Devices in this price segment also differ in additional modules that provide ease of use, for example, a fingerprint scanner: the Chinese model already has it, as expected, but the LG smartphone does not.
The manufacturer Vernee, perhaps, decided to save on only one detail: the Wi-Fi module supports the 802.11n standard, and modern 802.11ac is out of reach. However, like LG. And in the aspect of telephone conversations, Asian models can even be called high-tech. For example, Apollo supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE), a technology for transmitting voice over LTE with crystal clear sound and fast connection. The only condition for both parties to the conversation is that both the operator and the end device must support VoLTE.
Premium class even in China will cost a pretty penny
Even in China, those who wish can pay monstrous sums for a smartphone. Huawei, for example, offers a smartphone that costs a lot more than a full-featured iPhone at RUB 98,000. Nevertheless, the original model (without the Porsche Design attachment), which is much more affordable, is in the third line of our ranking. But the price-performance ratio is mediocre: 71 points - much lower than our test devices, which offer optimal performance in this sense. However, when buying, you should take into account some of the nuances.
Today, many Chinese brands have officially come to Russia, although the most budgetary ones are still available only through specialized online stores. In addition, even if Chinese brands are legalized in Russia (most recently, these are Xiaomi and Doogee), then their prices increase and the purchase ceases to be so profitable. Therefore, in this context, we are most interested in ordering smartphones directly from China.
The CE mark indicates that the product is safe for health and the environment. Looking for compatible wireless standards
To use a smartphone in Russia, it is important that the device supports LTE and is compatible with the standards of local operators. Look for “LTE Band 20” or another value in the description. In Russia, in the center of large cities, bands 3, 7 and 38 are most often used. In the regions, Band 20 is actively used, since this band has the highest coverage of the base station signal. In any case, support for LTE Band 20 is almost a prerequisite for LTE operation even in Moscow, otherwise the coveted LTE network indication will appear on the status bar of the smartphone only sporadically.
We consider only serious proposals
If you have found the device that you need, then now it is the turn for the right store. In Russia, purchases on eBay and AliExpress are the most popular. True, shipping from eBay is rarely free, in this sense AliExpress is more profitable and easier. Recently, the latter even had the opportunity to deliver some goods directly from a warehouse in Russia, which takes less than a week compared to the usual delivery time of two weeks. Both stores offer various options for customer protection, but purchasing from AliExpress from a warehouse in Russia is easier to return.
We avoid problems at customs
The limit on duty-free import to Russia is still 1,000 euros (70,000 rubles), so in our case there is almost nothing to worry about. Unless the presence of wireless communication modules in a smartphone, as well as encryption tools, can complicate matters at customs - if the smartphone is not notified by the FSB, a notification may be sent to the mail instead of the goods.
To try to get a purchased device, you should write an e-mail to the FSB, collecting the following documents: bank statement (with a seal) on payment for the goods, a statement that you, full name, purchased such and such a product in such and such a store and ask for permission import into the territory of the Russian Federation for personal use (the application form is relatively free); description of the device, screenshots confirming the order in the online store, scanned the first two pages of the passport, notification received from the customs service.
All these documents need to be collected into one PDF file and sent to the address [email protected] or contact the web reception at fsb.ru. Otherwise, your package will be sent back to the seller.
You can find a phone that is not manufactured in the PRC - if you are ready to hunt.
In recent months, many gadget manufacturers (but mostly Apple if we're being honest) have faced a lot of public pressure about working conditions in Chinese factories (mostly those run by Foxconn, if we're being honest) where their devices are made. This made me wonder for a month: Can Foxconn afford all the working of one of the iPhones they make? Answer: Not without saving up to completely your earnings for several months.
All the fuss over the state of manufacturing in China has led to another question I heard from more than one reader last week: So, are there any decent smartphones made in China?
This led to much head scratching and then a lot more research. The short answer is yes, but not much and probably not much longer.
On the one hand, a smartphone is a complex device with dozens of components that come from all over the world, and the materials used to make these small components can be traced back to mines, factories, laboratories and other factories around the world. Your phone is truly a citizen of the world, and it is likely that some of these materials and supplies are through China at some point. In fact, some of the raw materials that end up in the phone are mined from places in Africa, the workers face much worse hardships than your original Foxconn worker.
But that's another story, and I get from it. The bottom line is that our phones and the long-term industrial journey they go to get into our hands is almost as difficult as the world we live in, so don't buy one of the phones below just feel righteous next time The topic of global working conditions appears at a dinner party ...
Again, if you're interested in having a smartphone at least collected from locations where conditions are a little closer to what you'd expect in Michigan and not Shenzhen, here are your best bets (this is by no means a complete list ):
Nokia N9 uses a dead OS and dying means of production - outside of China.
Nokia (No. 9 and some others)
It's a little saying that your best chance when buying a Nokia phone is actually made in Finland by the N9, which is running the discontinued MeeGo OS. Most of the N9s were made in Scandinavia, and the company also has manufacturing facilities in Hungary and Mexico, but not for long. Nokia announced last month that it was moving all of its assembly operations to Asia (read China), a move that had been in the works for a while.
Htc
While Nokia is moving its phone to take over operations from Europe and China, HTC is doubling down on storing most of its products on its home island of Taiwan, with the construction of a new plant there. Last year, the company announced plans to build another large plant in Taiwan to handle the increased demand. Check the box on any HTC phone and there is a very good chance it will speak made in Taiwan.
More blackberries, made in Malaysia and other non-Chinese languages.
(Photo: RIM)Blackberry
Over the years, Research In Motion has used factories around the world, including in its native Canada, as well as Hungary and China, to create parts used in smartphones and assemble the final product. Last year, RIM moved some of its manufacturing facilities to a plant in Malaysia. This means that this is a much better than average chance of getting a new BlackBerry made elsewhere than China.
Samsung
Buying a Samsung flagship phone like Galaxy Note is a bit of a crapshoot, with a fair amount made in China and Korea. Even if you are lucky enough to get a Galaxy phone batch that originated in Korea, however, it is likely that a large number of parts are from China, and the phone was simply assembled in South Korea. Samsung is also taking steps to set itself deep in China, with a planned new plant on the mainland to make chips for mobile phones.
Apple iPhone
That's right - not all iPhones are created equal, or at least not all of them are made in China. Foxconn also has factories in countries outside of Asia, and reports have surfaced that some new iPhones are already being manufactured at Foxconn in Brazil. Of course, we still do not see much to put up on the working conditions at these facilities.
So in the end, if you want a smartphone from somewhere other than China, I would start with HTC or another brand above and give a good exam before buying.
Meizu M3s mini
Pros: The "well-coordinated device" in a thin metal case with 2.5D-glass bribed the users of the Russian Internet with its design and low price. Decent performance and battery life are noted: the battery will last for two days of "moderate use". The speed and accuracy of the fingerprint scanner is a delight: "Works better and faster than iPhone",- writes one of the owners.
Minuses: The body is made of low quality material: "Fairly easily subject to cosmetic defects"... The vaunted fingerprint scanner often fails, and so does the touch-sensitive Back button. The camera “lathers”, the colors are faded, and at low light levels it “chokes” on noise. Users who switched to Meizu M3s mini from old iPhones regret what they did: "If not Apple, then who?"
Referee: Inexpensive, elegant, productive midrange in a metal case. Photo enthusiasts will be disappointed with the quality of the camera. It is worth buying a smartphone in white retail so that in the event of a fingerprint scanner breakdown there are no problems with a return or warranty repair.
Xiaomi Redmi 3s
Pros: The overwhelming majority is attracted by the low price tag. Happy smartphone owners are delighted with the battery: it lasts for two days in intensive mode. At the same time, the iron is quite powerful - you can even play. Final smear - fast fingerprint scanner: smartphone unlocks in less than a second.
Minuses: You need to monitor the firmware update so as not to drown in glitches - either the time zone will be reset after a reboot, then incoming calls are not detected, then the cheek presses on the screen during a call. Nuances - darkness! Generally, "Dancing with tambourines cannot be avoided", - summarize the users of the Russian Internet.
Referee: A mid-range phone with impressive battery life for little money. Everything is good in it, except for the "raw" firmware. For geeks, the need to dig into a smartphone is just a joy, but for an ordinary person, it will cause a bad mood.
LeEco Le 2
Pros: For a little money, you get everything - from a metal case to a powerful processor and USB Type-C port. There's even fast charging.
Minuses: "The battery runs out as quickly as it charges.", - writes one of the users. Under intense load, the charge may not be enough even for a day. Many people report squeaking from the USB connector - they cannot be heard with the naked ear, but when recording video or audio, as well as during a conversation, it manifests itself. The camera lathers even in daylight, users say. The chip in the form of the lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack turned out to be a disadvantage of the smartphone for many.
Referee: A beautiful, powerful, modern smartphone. But, unfortunately, it leaves the impression of incompleteness. It seems that the manufacturer was in too much of a hurry to put it on sale.
Xiaomi Mi5
Pros:“This phone is no compromise. He really does everything he should - and he does it beautifully! " The smartphone is not inferior to branded flagships with a similar filling and is at the same time much cheaper, users of the Russian Internet are sure. Not only high performance is noted, but also the fast charging function: up to 100% in one hour. The rear and front cameras are simply gorgeous, write the owners of the smartphone.
Minuses: Many are annoyed by the black frames around the screen. "Eats the battery like crazy." The firmware is teeming with unpleasant little things. When a call comes in, the subscriber's number is indicated, and not his name from the phone book, even if the subscriber is recorded, one of the users specifies. “After you add a fingerprint, then it is not deleted, writes an error. But this can be easily solved by temporarily changing the language to English, ”- clarifies another. It is noteworthy that there are much fewer complaints about the firmware of this model than the budget employee Xiaomi Redmi 3s.
Referee: This flagship would be flawless if it were not for the "dampness" of the firmware and high power consumption.
Meizu MX6
Pros:"Everything is like well-known flagships, only several times cheaper", - the opinion of Runet users. Cool design a-la iPhone 6. Performance is great too. No freezes or slowdowns were noticed, one of the owners of the smartphone shares. They also praise fast charging, thanks to which the smartphone "gorges" up to 100% in 75 minutes, the camera and the sound in the headphones.
