Should you buy cheap Chinese smartphones? Should I buy Chinese smartphones, phones and tablets?

My favorite work smartphone almost burned out in my hands. It is good that I prepared myself - only thanks to this I did not burn out.

In its place could be any other gadget with a lithium-ion or lithium-polymer battery.

Favorite work toy

As a "working tube" in 2016, I purchased an interesting Chinese smartped Leagoo Shark 1.

Well, why not? At that time, there were not many 6-inch devices with normal filling, a good screen and a capacious battery.

Shark 1 bribed with a bright IPS-display with FullHD resolution, a fairly economical processor and sufficient memory. But most importantly, it had a solid metal case and an unreal 6000 mAh battery with support for fast charging.


However, as practice has shown, the real characteristics were not rosy. Autonomy - like; the metal case was quickly scratched and lost its presentation; the protective glass (although the test revealed it was real Gorilla Glass) was covered with minor defects.

Again, MediaTek is not a Snapdragon, so the shell was pretty slow. Not all items of the operating system have been translated yet.

But a fast scanner, gestures for control. And good multimedia capabilities.


A good photo for a smartphone for the top ten.

It's no joke - the only smartped with a normal camera and a good amplifier, which, together with the Wolfson DAC integrated into the processor, worked wonders.

Not worse than iPhone or fashionable Sony, 2-3 times more expensive.

But even in Xiaomi there are no such batteries with fast charging. MediaTek Pump Express... Found out - not casual.

What happened before the explosion?

The fact is that older versions of Pump Express used an insufficiently thought out charging protocol. From 0 to 70%, the smartphone consumed 12V / 1.5A, after which it reduced consumption from 9V / 2A to 5V / 2A.

Like the popular Quick Charge - but without taking into account the temperature regime of operation. Shark 1 on charging could heat up to 70 degrees!

Qualcomm Quick Charge and Apple proprietary charging speeds slow down when heated to a certain temperature. When it is reached, the smartphone lowers the current or voltage consumed, or even turns off charging altogether.

For greater reliability, the largest batteries are charged not by 2, but by 4 wires (as in).

The combination of an overly aggressive charging algorithm and apparently not the best parts resulted in a slight swelling of the battery. Well, okay, I thought.

How it all happened

To the credit of the developer Leagoo, the smartphone died before the disaster struck. At some point, it was discharged to a full 0 and stopped charging at all (a broken screen does not count).

It's just that the charging socket has deteriorated. But, since the smartphone was the second (the main, or even the third - I conduct tests regularly), it just lay on the table for quite a long time. Laziness and lack of time practically saved me.

After a couple of months it looked like this:

Disassembly showed that the battery was swollen more than 2 times! Praise to the developers - they never worked for Samsung, so the Shark 1's case was deformed as required. And it became 2 times thicker.

Excessive pressure led to an even greater increase in temperature (remember the laws of physicists

How do I dispose of the battery? Swollen and serviceable batteries of any type must be handed over to special collection points. Lithium and other constituents are toxic and the battery can detonate.

There are only 2 of them in my city. But there are special tanks for the disposal of toxic and construction waste, which are moved to special points. Shark 1 battery went there.

When thrown into a deep, empty metal container, the battery burst into flames from the impact. The force is about the same as if I hit my smartphone pocket lightly (lightly, not even to a bruise).

What if? ..

If the smartphone had not refused in advance, most likely the smartphone would have died of old age. That is, it would still stop holding the charge.

Although, in the case of large batteries over 3500 mAh, the smartphone can still be used for a couple of hours. When the battery is swollen enough, a quick charge will sooner or later trigger a detonation.

The same thing can happen

• at the moment of connection to the network in conditions of poor connection (heating),
• incoming call (same reason),
• impact or deformation (sat on a smartphone - got burned),
• trying to open the smartphone,
• operating system errors.

The combustion temperature of lithium is ~ 300 degrees. Enough for fabrics, wood, leather. The fire is inevitable.

Who is to blame and what to do?

Do you think the main problem is that I used a low-quality Chinese smartphone? This is the tip of the iceberg: such devices are more likely to suffer from battery problems.

The rapid development of the Chinese market for mobile devices contributes not only to excellent quantitative indicators of production development, but also to their qualitative growth. An analysis of smartphones released in 2018-2019 showed that the number of gadgets with decent technical characteristics far exceeded the number of frankly weak devices. There are also very successful solutions that can compete with eminent brands.

It is easy to get lost among the abundance of gadgets, given the fact that even in certain price or target niches there are dozens, if not hundreds of models. The study of technical parameters, popularity, owner reviews and the price component made it possible to compile the TOP-10 most successful models of 2018-2019, as well as the rating of the best smartphones by the most important indicators.

TOP 10 most popular Chinese smartphones

Xiaomi Redmi 4X

Redmi 4X is one of the best-selling smartphones of the outgoing year, continuing the victorious course of Xiaomi in the Russian market, started by the legendary Redmi Note 3 Pro. This gadget, taking into account its adequate price, is not to dig into with all the desire - there are balanced characteristics, and high-quality assembly, and regular updates with the ability to install many third-party firmware. There are simply no worthy alternatives for Redmi 4X in the price segment up to 10 thousand rubles. And if you wish, you can buy it even cheaper - for 7/8 thousand

Meizu M6 Note

We consider the Meizu M6 Note to be the closest competitor to Redmi 4X. Moreover, the first Meizu smartphone on a Snapdragon processor surpasses 4X in some characteristics - it has fast charging and a dual camera, and in general, the photos on the M6 ​​Note come out an order of magnitude better. But it costs more, by about 3-4 thousand rubles. Of the major differences between smartphones, we note the location of the fingerprint scanner - in Meise, it is built into a mechanical key located under the screen, while Xiaomi has a scanner on the back cover, and firmware - Flyme and MIUI. In all other respects, these smartphones are roughly equivalent.

Huawei Nova 2

In the above-average price segment, the ball is traditionally ruled by smartphones from Huawei, the first model to be included in our rating is Nova 2. It is a smartphone in a compact metal case with a dual main camera, plenty of memory (64/4 GB) and a powerful processor. If you want to buy a hassle-free smartphone that will perfectly show itself in any scenarios of use - take Nova 2 and you will not regret it. Of the pitfalls, it is worth considering not the most outstanding battery life (a 2950 mAh battery, fast charging is present) and a somewhat overestimated, in our opinion, price tag around 20 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi Mi6

All the strengths of Xiaomi smartphones are concentrated in the flagship Mi6. It is head and shoulders above other competitors in terms of price / quality ratio, since there is no other smartphone on the market that will give you a top-end Snapdragon 835 processor, a lot of memory, stereo speakers and excellent autonomy for 26 thousand rubles. We reproach the Mi6 for the lack of a 3.5 mm jack (there is an adapter for USB-C in the kit) and a camera that is not as cool as other flagships. But this is already nit-picking. This smartphone will delight anyone, even the most demanding user.

One plus 5

One Plus 5 is a good smartphone, but controversial. It copies the apple design, does not provide the user with moisture protection, stereo speakers, and does not have support for memory cards. Against the background of the flagship from Xiaomi, these minuses can become critical, but there are pluses here. In particular - pure Android version 7.1.1, the best camera among Chinese flagships, which pleases not only with high-quality pictures, but also with lightning-fast speed, as well as an AMOLED display, which positively affects the autonomy of the gadget. The advantages of One Plus 5 include the presence of a traditional 3.5 headphone jack.

Motorola Moto Z2 Play

After the American brand Motorola was bought by Lenovo, the once cult company can be safely ranked among the Chinese manufacturers - all Lenovo smartphones are now released under the name Moto. One of the most successful results of such cooperation is the Moto Z2 Play - a smartphone that supports replaceable modules, with good autonomy, a camera, excellent sound quality in headphones and an AMOLED display. Disadvantages - mediocre performance for a price of 25 thousand (Z2 Play is equipped with a Snapdragon 626 processor), and not the most powerful main speaker.

Motorola Moto Z2 Play

ZTE Nubia Z17

Smartphones of the Nubia line from ZTE have always been solid flagships, which, even without aggressive marketing from the manufacturer, found their loyal user. The Z17 is a continuation of the very successful Nubia Z11, in which nothing has changed fundamentally, and everything that was good has become even a little better. There is a powerful Snapdragon 835, 128/8 GB of memory, a dual camera and an excellent frameless design. But there is no 3.5 mm headphone jack, which looks somewhat strange in the absence of moisture protection as such.

Huawei Honor 9

The Honor 9 is a very cool smartphone. It looks cool and stylish, has an excellent camera (20 + 12 MP), good performance (chipset - Kirin 960), enough memory (64/4 GB) and fast charging.

In fact, this is an ideal choice for everyone who does not want to pay fabulous money for flagship models, overpaying for an excessively powerful processor and numbers of unclaimed characteristics, but at the same time wants to get almost all their inherent advantages.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2

Mi Max 2 is the best shovel phone 2017 on the market. Xiaomi gave buyers everything they could want from such a smartphone with a price tag of less than 20 thousand rubles. Judge for yourself - 6.4-inch screen, Snapdragon 625, 64/4 GB expandable memory, 5300 mAh battery with fast charging, stereo speakers. We recommend Mi Max 2 to anyone looking for the optimal device for consuming multimedia content. You can only find fault with the lack of an NFC module.

Chinese smartphones with a powerful battery

The trend towards larger screens and better mobile performance means that some smartphone models barely survive from morning to evening. For users who do not like to sit next to a power outlet, our ranking of the 5 best models with the most capacious batteries will undoubtedly help.

Oukitel K10000 Pro

Oukitel K10000 Pro holds the record for battery capacity among all long-playing smartphones on the market. Its survivability is provided by a 10,000 mAh battery, which in a standard scenario of using a smartphone is enough for 4-5 days of operation without recharging. And the characteristics here are quite decent - 5.5 '' FHD IPS screen, 8-core MT6750T processor, 32/3 GB of memory with a microSD slot, 13 and 5 MP cameras, there is a fingerprint scanner and fresh Android 7.0. The price of a smartphone is 12 thousand rubles, and it is definitely worth its money.

Oukitel K10000 Pro

Doogee BL7000

BL7000 differs from Oukitel in a more modest design and a smaller battery, 7000 mAh. With active use, the smartphone lasts for 3 days, which can be considered an excellent result. According to the characteristics of the Doogee BL7000, it is even better, there is more memory - 64/4 GB, and a dual camera of 13 + 13 MP, the resolution of the front camera is also 13 MP. The smartphone just went on sale at a price of $ 200, and the first owners speak of it exclusively from the positive side.

Moto E Gen.4 Plus

The Moto E4 Plus is a great workhorse from a trusted brand that is worth the money and has everything to meet the needs of the average user. The smartphone is based on the MediaTek MT6737 processor, equipped with a 5.5-inch HD screen, 16/3 GB of memory, 13/5 MP cameras, an NFC chip and, most importantly, a 5000 mAh battery. Among the shortcomings of the E4 Plus, we single out a solid body weight of 200 grams, as a result of which it cannot be recommended for purchase to fragile girls.

Moto E Gen.4 Plus

Ulefone power 2

The smartphone has a stylish design, which with its front panel resembles devices from Meizu (the multifunctional Home key is also present here), and the back side is the flagship HTC 10. The 6050 mAh battery is the main trump card of Ulefone Power 2, it lasts for 3 days of active use of the gadget. The performance and display are typical for inexpensive Chinese, but the cameras are terrible here, so it is better for fans of mobile photography to bypass this smartphone.

Fly FS554 Power Plus

If most of the smartphones from our rating have to be ordered somewhere and waited for, then Fly FS554 Power Plus can be purchased in almost any local cellular salon. At the same time, as for the price of 10 thousand rubles, this is a very decent smartphone with a 5.5 "FullHD display, a MediaTek MT6737T chipset, 16/2 GB of expandable memory, 13/5 MP cameras and a 5000 mAh battery. You can safely take it.

Fly FS554 Power Plus

Frameless Chinese smartphones

Chinese manufacturers have never forgotten that a modern smartphone is not only a powerful productive hardware and a capacious battery, but also a fashion accessory. The last factor is directly related to the design of the device, so we present to your attention the rating of frameless new products of the Chinese smartphone industry for the 2017 model year.

Leagoo KIICAA Mix

KIICAA Mix is ​​the representative of a countless group of smartphones that copy the design of the flagship Xiaomi Mi Mix. At a price several times lower than the original, it can offer an almost identical design and relatively good hardware (5.5 '' FHD display from Sharp, MT6750T chipset, 32/3 GB of memory, 13 + 2 and 13 MP cameras, 2930 mAh battery). The pitfalls lie in the location of the main speaker, which provokes poor audibility of the interlocutor, and the absence of brightness / proximity sensors and a 3.5 mm jack, while the adapter required for connecting headphones is not included in the kit. However, given the low price of 6 tr. it is not critical.

Leagoo KIICAA Mix

Doogee mix

Doogee Mix is ​​a smartphone from the same opera. It wins over the analogue from Leagoo due to the rich configuration (there is a cover and a film on the screen), more memory - 64/4 GB, and a slightly more capacious 3380 mAh battery. However, in terms of software, everything is not so rosy here - the raw Doogee Mix firmware, with numerous bugs, is capable of delivering quite a bit of headache to the owner of the device, so before buying a device it is worth weighing the pros and cons.

UMIDIGI Crystal

UMIDIGI Crystal stands out against the background of analogs with an interface - it runs on almost a clean shell of Android 7.0, as a result of which it is much more pleasant to use this smartphone than other Chinese with littered OS. The specifications are also not bad - MT6750T, 64/4 GB of memory, IZGO screen from Sharp and a dual camera. Not bad for a $ 100 price tag.

Bluboo S1

Bluboo S1 is positioned as a more expensive device, which manifests itself in the build quality and materials - the body of the smartphone is covered with glass not only in front, but also on the back. The heart of the smart is a powerful Helio P25 processor, memory - 64/4 GB. The owners of Bluboo S1 attribute weak cameras and quiet sound from the main speaker to its shortcomings, as well as a cool display and stylish appearance.

Maze alpha

Maze Alpha is the best frameless Chinese smartphone that you can buy in the price segment of about 10 thousand rubles. This is a smart device with a solid build, a quality 6 "screen, and good performance.

It also wins over its counterparts due to its autonomy, a 4000 mAh battery lasts on average for two days of using a smartphone. When buying, you should take into account the considerable weight of the smartphone, as much as 225 grams.

Chinese phablets

We consider the best smartphones with a large screen diagonal in 2017:

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

The third generation of Xiaomi's Mi Note has evolved from an uncompromising flagship, which was Mi Note 2, into an affordable smartphone with a large screen (5.5 '' FHD) and average performance. The phablet is equipped with a Snapdragon 660 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 64/128 GB storage. The camera resolution is 12 + 12 MP and 16 MP (front camera), the battery capacity is 3500 mAh. This is a good choice if the Mi Max 2 seems like a huge shovel to you, and you don't want to pay extra for the flagship bells and whistles of the Mi6.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

Honor 8 Pro

Another smartphone from Huawei in our ranking, which is hard to find fault with with all the desire. The characteristics for its price are excellent - 5.7 '' 2K display, top-end Kirin 960, 64/6 GB of memory with a slot for a flash drive, 12 + 12 MP dual camera, 4000 mAh battery with fast charging, NFC, IR sensor, USB -C. At a price of just over 30 thousand rubles, this is an excellent smart that can become an alternative to any flagship.

Meizu M3 Max

The M3 Max is not the freshest model from Meizu, which has been successfully sold for a year now, and will remain relevant for a long time. The smartphone is equipped with a 6-inch screen and a Helio P10 processor with 64/3 GB of memory. This is a gadget without any special complaints, which is simply pleasant to use due to the excellent assembly and perfectly licked Flyme OS, which, in terms of speed and smoothness of work, will give odds to the operating system of any Chinese smartphone.

Leagoo M8 Pro

Ultra-budget phablet with a 5.7-inch display and modest specifications (MT6737, 16/2 GB memory, 13/8 MP cameras, 3500 mAh battery). When you buy the M8 Pro in China, you can take it for 5 thousand rubles, and you will not find anything better for this money. The smartphone works quite fast and stable, supports LTE, recognizes external devices in USB OTG mode, and has a loud enough multimedia speaker. Thanks to its massive metal frame, the M8 Pro is extremely resilient, it can withstand falls from great heights, and in general is great for the role of the first smartphone for a child or a gadget for difficult operating conditions.

Leeco le max 2

After the LeEco fiasco in the Russian market, you can buy their smartphones only on AlieExpress, and if this does not scare you, then Le Max 2 - in terms of price / performance ratio, will be an ideal choice. For less than 15 thousand, you can get a smartphone with a 5.7-inch 2K display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 64/6 GB of memory, 21 and 8 MP cameras, a 3100 mAh battery. Le Max 2 pulls any toys at maximum graphics settings, takes good pictures, records 4K video, but does not have a 3.5mm jack and an NFC chip.

The most expensive Chinese smartphones

The top of the most expensive Chinese smartphones traditionally includes the products of the most famous brands from the Middle Kingdom. Their technical characteristics are truly impressive, so these popular phablets are able to compete with devices from well-known world manufacturers. We present to our readers the rating of the most expensive smartphones from China.

Mi Mix 2

Mi Mix 2 is the continuation of the cult smartphone from Xiaomi, which became the reason for the appearance on the market of all the frameless handicrafts that we considered above. The second generation Mi Mix added autonomy, received an adequate earpiece, and retained its top-end technical characteristics. This is an excellent fashion smartphone, calling the common people the same "wow-effect" that can be bought for 30-35 thousand rubles.

Meizu Pro 7

The flagship from Meizu does not sport the now fashionable frameless design, but takes another one - an additional screen on the rear panel, which displays notifications and other useful information, including an image when using the main camera for selfies.

The smartphone is cool in terms of photo capabilities, sound quality and software, but loses to other flagships in screen quality and the lack of NFC. The latter is a serious stone in the garden of a top smartphone, but it should be borne in mind that Meizu Pro 7 is cheaper than analogues - 20-25 thousand rubles.

Axon M

Another unusual smartphone is a ZTE transformer, which consists of two panels with 5.2-inch FHD screens, which, when unfolding the device, forms a kind of tablet. Axon M is equipped with not the top-end Snapdragon 820 processor, but at the same time it received a dedicated DAC AKM4962, thanks to which the smartphone sounds amazing in headphones. Serious questions are raised only by the battery, its capacity is modest 3180 mAh, which is frankly not enough for the active use of a gadget with two screens. The price is $ 725.

Razer Phone

The parade of unusual Chinese continues Razer Phone - the first "gaming" smartphone on the market, which is aimed at the audience of gamers. The gadget is equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 835 processor, 64/8 GB of memory, stereo speakers, a dedicated 24-bit DAC and an amplifier on each of the speakers. But the main feature of this smart is a 5.7-inch display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which provides an extremely smooth picture when playing any content. The Razer Phone is priced at $ 700.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Let's move on from unusual models to a real premium. Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the most expensive Chinese flagship of 2017. The smartphone, priced at 800 euros, is stuffed with everything that is possible - there is more powerful hardware, and a 6-inch 2K OLED display, and dust-moisture protection, and stereo speakers, and cameras from Leica and, which the manufacturer himself highlights - a separate processor for the implementation of artificial intelligence, which gives Huawei's business phablet many additional features such as the ability to recognize objects in the frame, speed up the launch of applications and allows the smartphone to adapt to the habits of its owner

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Inexpensive Chinese smartphones

For those users who do not need a "wow effect", as well as people who do not think that "a good show is more expensive than money" are aimed at budget models of many manufacturers. Despite the low cost, many of them are well-equipped and functional. So, the rating of inexpensive, but productive and high-quality devices.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

Chinese manufacturers know a lot about budget smartphones, and Xiaomi has succeeded in this niche almost better than all other brands. Redmi Note 5A is a balanced smartphone with the best camera in the under $ 100 price segment. It does not shine with performance (Snapdragon 425 percent), but it does not have frankly weak points that can spoil the experience of owning this device. Among the advantages are separate slots for 2 SIM cards and a USB flash drive, the presence of an IrDA port, the absence of throttling characteristic of most cheap smartphones under load. We recommend buying.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

Meizu M6

Many will say that a budget smartphone from Meizu has not changed for a couple of years, and they will be right in their own way. However, are these changes necessary if the company has found the very middle ground in terms of quality and economy, thanks to which its smartphones are invariably pleasant to use. Meizu M6 is made in a metal case, has a good 5.2-inch display, a good camera and normal battery life. At $ 100, this is a very good choice, head and shoulders above any basement China.

ZTE Blade A6

Inexpensive smartphones from ZTE are widely represented in domestic stores of cellular equipment, so you will most likely be able to buy Blade A6 locally. It will stand out from neighbors in the showcase with good performance, thanks to the Snapdragon 435 processor and 32/3 GB of memory, good autonomy (5000 mAh battery) and a high-quality metal case. But the smart itself is not without its drawbacks - almost all of its owners complain about the heating of the device under load, and in terms of cameras it loses noticeably to the same Xiaomi and Meizu.

Huawei Honor 6C Pro

Huawei is also sold by most retailers, and when buying a smartphone offline, the Honor 6C Pro could be the top choice. The characteristics for its price are standard for the gadget - MT6750 processor, 32/3 GB of memory, 13 and 8 MP cameras, 3000 mAh battery, metal case with a fingerprint scanner. The smartphone is made very soundly both in terms of build quality and in terms of software, and therefore no problems should arise in the process of using it.

Huawei Honor 6C Pro

Leagoo M8

If you need "cheap and cheerful" - take the Leagoo M8. On Aliexpress, a smartphone costs 4000 rubles, and this is the best that you can get for such a price. The only thing that limits this device is the lack of support for LTE networks. But it does 3G well, and such a decent screen and cameras, along with a somewhat rough but reliable build, and a loud multimedia speaker, you simply cannot expect to see in a $ 75 smartphone.

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How to choose a phone, focusing not on a brand, but on technical data

Considering purchasing a smartphone from a Chinese brand, most Ukrainians fear low quality. Like, it will work for a couple of weeks and break or disappoint with poor performance. On the other hand, the price of smartphones from China is lower than the products of Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers. Besides, it is said that there is strife between China and China. So can you trust Chinese gadgets?

"SECRETS" OF MANUFACTURERS

Let's start with how gadgets (smartphones and tablets) are developed. At the heart of any of them is a chip produced on the basis of a specific processor architecture. The two most common are x86 and ARM. Since a feature of chips on the x86 architecture is high power consumption, they are mainly used in desktops and laptops or in tablets with an additional battery. For the production of smartphones, which require a long battery life, chips with ARM architecture are used. ARM Limited currently allows everyone to use their invention for a modest fee - 0.067 cents from each device produced. Therefore, such chips are used by IT giants like Samsung, NVIDIA, Qualcomm (and so on), and numerous Chinese factories with names that are difficult to pronounce for a European.

Chips of the ARM architecture, in addition to one or more computing cores, include a number of related components - from a RAM controller, a graphics accelerator, a video decoder, an audio codec, to wireless modules. That is, they are an excellent basis for the production of smartphones. The name of modern processors for them is Cortex. They have a large number of modifications, for example, A5, A7, A8, A15 and so on (see table).

And although smartphone manufacturers often bring their own know-how into chips (and then release them under their own name) and select the filling (from RAM to the camera), all smartphones still remain similar to each other. And given that most of them have Android OS installed, we can confidently say that a non-techie consumer will not feel much difference when buying a "Chinese" than if they bought a model from a more popular Korean or Taiwanese brand. Let's note a nuance: there is a factory "China" (the most popular of the manufacturers are in the review), and there is handicraft (usually fakes of famous brands are produced). It is better not to take such gadgets.

ALGORITHM OF SELECTION

Step 1. Find out the processor model

At the heart of any smartphone is an ARM chip. Instead of evaluating a brand, look at which processor was used in a smartphone and select several models for comparison with the same from the range on the market (they will be similar at different prices). If you plan to shoot and watch HD video, you need a 4-core smartphone. If you limit yourself to surfing the Internet and playing games, two cores are enough.

Step 2. Compare screens

The second item of expenses in the cost of a smartphone is the screen. We recommend a model with a resolution of at least 960x540 pixels, made using IPS technology. Screen size is a matter of personal preference.

Step 3. Compare cameras

The manufacturer can install a more or less high-quality camera on the same crystal (the price depends on this). The minimum for a modern smartphone is 5-8 megapixels for the main camera and 0.3 megapixels for the front camera.

Step 4. Check build quality

The final assembly of the smartphone is done manually. Good manufacturers have it checked by the quality control department, while cheap ones cannot afford to maintain it. The smartphone should not bend or creak when pressed.

Step 5. Find out the battery capacity

The more powerful the processor, the more capacious the battery should be. The minimum specifications for a flagship (4-core) are 2500 mAh, but for an average smartphone, 1750 mAh will be enough for 12-hour operation without recharging.

HUAWEI

The company is one of the world and technological leaders in the production of electronics, networking equipment and gadgets. The gadgets are based on crystals Qualcomm, MediaTek and HiSilicon. The quality of smartphones (more than 15 models at a price of 1.5 thousand UAH) is high, but the price bites too. So, the flagship Huawei Ascend P7 costs about 7 thousand UAH ( ), and the middle one is Ascend Y530-U00- 2 thousand UAH( ) .

LENOVO

Another Chinese company recommended in terms of price-quality ratio. The gadgets are based on Qualcomm and MediaTek chips. The assortment includes a dozen models at a price of 1 thousand UAH. The flagship S860 costs 4.8 thousand UAH (), and the average price of a smartphone (for example, A536) is 2-2.2 thousand UAH. There is a risk of purchasing a defective model, but the manufacturer changes them under warranty without question.

XIAOMI

The chip supplier for this manufacturer is also Qualcomm and MediaTek, respectively, the level of smartphones is quite high. The disadvantage is the small assortment on the market (only 8 models). Flagship price - Xiaomi Mi3 64GB- 6.3 thousand UAH (). The average price of a smartphone from this manufacturer (Red Rice 1s and Redmi Note HM-2W models) is 2.8-3.5 thousand UAH.

Over the past couple of years, the Chinese smartphone market has grown significantly, and at the beginning of 2019, a clear oversaturation of proposals began to be felt. It is not difficult to guess what consequences this will cause in the future - sales of leading manufacturers in 2019 will decrease, which is a fact.

For the leading players, these are not critical changes, but the percentages and percentages of the drop in sales are a serious signal to such companies as Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo, which occupy the first lines in the number of released smartphones in the world.

These changes will affect all Chinese manufacturers, for some it will be a chance to strengthen their positions, and some, on the contrary, will be at the bottom of the trough, who will be difficult to say.

We will consider all worthy representatives of the Chinese market, both from the first league and below the rank. All smartphones are interesting in their own way and are the best in their price categories.

Blackview BV9600 Pro

• CPU:
• Screen:
• 16 + 8 Mpix / 8 Mpix
• 6 GB / 128 GB
• Battery capacity: 5580 mAh

Price: from 30 300 rubles.

Doogee S90

• CPU: 8-core Helio P60, 2 GHz
• Screen:
• Cameras (main / front): 16 + 8 Mpix / 8 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 128 GB
• Battery capacity: 5050 mAh

Price: from 25,000 rubles.

A very interesting novelty, which has received the maximum degree of protection that is generally available at the moment, plus a case with titanium elements. True, this affected the thickness and weight of the device, but the indestructibility is off the scale. The rest of the smartphone is not bad either.

Confident performance, high-quality screen and optimal battery capacity. For this money, it is a very good option for extreme lovers who will certainly benefit from the SOS functions, walkie-talkie and modular design. The magnetic mount on the body allows you to attach various add-ons there: a night vision camera, a battery, a digital walkie-talkie, a gamepad and a 5G communication module.

Advantages:

• Acceptable price.
• High quality IPS display.
• Good performance.
• Powerful battery with fast and wireless charging.
• IP69K, MIL-STD-810G and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
• NFC function.

Flaws:

• Case thickness - 14 mm, weight - 300 grams.
• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

Elephone a5

• CPU: 8-core Helio P60, 2 GHz
• Screen: 6.18 inches, resolution 2248 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 12 + 5 + 0.3 Mpix / 20 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 4 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Price: from 13 400 rubles.

HUAWEI HONOR 8X

• CPU: 8-core Kirin 710, clocked at 2.2 GHz
• Screen: 6.5 inches, resolution 2340 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 16 + 2 Mpix / 16 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 4 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 3750 mAh

Price: from 14 500 rubles.

A successful model of the Huawei smartphone, offering a low price tag with fairly good parameters. The performance is sufficient for absolutely everything, including games that will look great on a large, high-quality display.

The device also received decent cameras, but the front camera for selfies with AI functions will especially please. The battery life is also excellent.

Advantages:

• Acceptable price.
• High quality and large IPS display.
• Good performance.
• Decent battery with fast charging.
• Metal body.
• The presence of Face Unlock.
• NFC function.

Flaws:

• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

Lenovo Z5s

• CPU:
• Screen:
• Cameras (main / front): 25 + 8 + 5 Mpix / 16 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 4 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 3300 mAh

Price: from 16 800 rubles.

Meizu 16

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 710, clocked at 2.2 GHz
• Screen: 6 inches, resolution 2160 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 20 + 12 Mpix / 20 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 3100 mAh

Price: from 17 300 rubles.

One of the bestsellers of 2018 with powerful configuration and quality build. The smartphone has a nice glass and metal design, a bright detailed display and a powerful processor. Everything is optimal and relatively inexpensive.

As in the previous model, the battery was not given due attention here. The cameras can be praised, but not very good about the battery. In general, the model is very decent.

Advantages:

• Acceptable price.
• High quality IPS display.
• In-display fingerprint scanner.
• Gaming performance.
• The presence of unlocking in the face.

Flaws:

• There is no NFC function.
• Weak battery.
• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

Nubia z18

• CPU:
• Screen: 5.99 inches, resolution 2160 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 24 + 8 Mpix / 8 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 3450 mAh

Price: from 26 400 rubles.

OnePlus 6T

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 845 @ 2.8 GHz
• Screen: 6.41 inches, 2340 x 1080 resolution
• Cameras (main / front): 20 + 16 Mpix / 16 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 128 GB
• Battery capacity: 3710 mAh

Price: from 37,000 rubles.

Everything is known about this smartphone, there is absolutely no doubt about the quality and performance. OnePlus is quite unique, since all support is launched on the only smartphone in essence in slightly different variations.

This is the manufacturer's phenomenon. The model is one of the most productive in 2018 and does not need special advertising.

Advantages:

• Flagship performance.
• The display case is covered with Gorilla Glass 6.
• Powerful AI cameras.
• The presence of the NFC function.
• Android OS 9.0.

Flaws:

Oppo R17 Pro

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 710, clocked at 2.2 GHz
• Screen: 6.4 inches, resolution 2340 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 20 + 12 + TOF 3D Mpix / 25 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 128 GB
• Battery capacity: 3700 mAh

Price: from 56 900 rubles.

Oppo has never been distinguished by low prices, but the company cannot be blamed for the lack of quality and premium quality. The smartphone has a lot to offer, albeit for a price: pre-flagship performance, powerful AI cameras with support for depth measurement and an excellent battery in terms of the quality of lithium-ion cells.

In addition to the above, premium design and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. With such prices, the company runs the risk of losing all its fans in the current competition.

Advantages:

• High quality Super Amoled display.
• In-screen fingerprint scanner.
• Gaming performance.
• Nice design.
• Powerful AI cameras.
• Good battery with fast charging.
• The presence of the NFC function.

Flaws:

• Extremely high price.
• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

Oukitel U23

• CPU: 8-core Helio P23, 2 GHz clock speed
• Screen: 6.18 inches, resolution 2246 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 12 + 2 Mpix / 8 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 3500 mAh

Price: from 13 100 rubles.

Ulefone Armor 6

• CPU: 8-core Helio P60, 2 GHz
• Screen:
• Cameras (main / front): 21 + 13 Mpix / 8 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 128 GB
• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

Price: from 22 200 rubles.

Another Chinese smartphone with maximum protection that can generally be assigned to a mobile device. At the same time, the weight of the model is one of the smallest, given the massiveness of the case, and all thanks to the durable and lightweight polycarbonate. In terms of performance, everything is also very good here and even suitable for gamers.

The battery and camera are also at their best, the smartphone turned out to be successful and attractive for the price.

Advantages:

• Acceptable price.
• High quality IPS display.
• Gaming performance.
• IP69K, MIL-STD-810G and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
• There is an NFC function.
• Design and light weight.

Flaws:

• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

Vernee M8 Pro

• CPU: 8-core Helio P60, 2 GHz
• Screen: 6.2 inches, resolution 2246 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 16 + 8 Mpix / 13 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 4100 mAh

Price: from 14 900 rubles.

Vivo v11

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 710, clocked at 2.2 GHz
• Screen: 6.3 inches, resolution 2280 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 16 + 2 Mpix / 25 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 128 GB
• Battery capacity: 3250 mAh

Price: from 27 500 rubles.

Vivo is twinned with Oppo (both sub-brands are owned by BBK) and offers similarly high prices. The smartphone has received pre-flagship performance for any modern task. We can praise the rather advanced AI cameras and the definitely high-quality display.

In general, a decent high-quality smartphone with a simple design, but very expensive.

Advantages:

• High quality IPS display.
• Gaming performance.
• On-screen scanner function.
• Good cameras in particular for selfies.

Flaws:

• High price.
• No NFC function.
• Weak battery.
• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

XIAOMI REDMI NOTE 7

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 660 @ 2.2 GHz
• Screen: 6.3 inches, resolution 2340 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 48 + 5 Mpix / 13 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 4 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Price: from 13 900 rubles.

You don't really need to introduce the manufacturer, Xiaomi always offers the lowest prices for very good parameters and this model is no exception. Balanced performance, good screen, sufficient battery life and powerful cameras.

Watching the price tag, you are simply amazed at this model. Plus, the current operating system will definitely please.

Advantages:

Flaws:

• No NFC function.

ZTE Axon 9 Pro

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 845 @ 2.8 GHz
• Screen: 6.21 inches, resolution 2248 x 1080
• Cameras (main / front): 12 + 5 Mpix / 20 Mpix
• Memory (operative / built-in): 6 GB / 64 GB
• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Price: from 43 100 rubles.

ZTE is still losing its position in the smartphone market, but still offers powerful flagship devices in the face of this model. The basic top-end assembly at a fairly high price will not attract many people, but it will probably attract fans of the vendor.

The device boasts a waterproof case and an in-screen fingerprint scanner. Also worthy of praise is the surround sound quality of the Dolby Atmos speakers.

Advantages:

• Quality Amoled Gorilla Glass Display.
• In-display fingerprint scanner.
• Flagship performance.
• Nice cameras.
• Battery with wireless charging.
• There is an NFC function.

Flaws:

• High price.
• Outdated OS Android 8.1.

Excluded from selection

Meizu M3 Max

• CPU: MediaTek Helio P10, 8 cores, 2000 MHz
• Display: 6 inches, IPS, 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Main camera: 13 MP, f / 2.2
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 22 990 rubles.

An excellent smartphone for those who need a lot of storage space. You can upload a lot of music, photos and other media files here. And if 64 GB of internal memory seems small, then the microSD card slot will come to the rescue. The front panel of the device houses a 6-inch screen with Full HD resolution. Under it you can find a physical key with a built-in fingerprint sensor. On the back there is a 13-megapixel camera lens. The smartphone also includes a 4100 mAh battery that supports fast charging.

The device is powered by an eight-core processor from MediaTek. The available power is enough to run any modern game. Everything is in order here with the RAM, the volume of which is 3 GB. An interesting feature of the smartphone is the port - now Chinese flagships have begun to receive it as well. And the buyer will also be able to install two SIM-cards here.

Dignity

Flaws

• The front camera could be better;
• No support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
• Quite high cost;
• It will seem too big to many people.

Alcatel Shine Lite

• CPU: MediaTek MT6737, 4 cores, 1300 MHz
• Display:
• Main camera: 13 MP, f / 2.2
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 10 290 rubles.

Some people use their smartphone very often to take selfies. Sometimes this process is carried out in a cafe, club or somewhere else. Usually in such places it is quite dark, which makes the pictures look terrible. However, the Alcatel Shine Lite smartphone is devoid of such a problem. Its front camera does not have the highest resolution (5 megapixels), but it is supplemented by a flash.

Otherwise, this is a typical mid-budget smartphone created by TCL Mobile. The body of the device is made of metal and glass. Support for LTE networks allows you to upload photos to a social network almost instantly. 2 GB of RAM makes it possible to keep a large number of programs in the background. There is even a fingerprint sensor here - a rare guest in smartphones of this price category! You can only complain about not the most capacious battery, lack of GLONASS support and only one SIM card slot. However, the last two shortcomings can hardly serve as a serious obstacle to buying.

Dignity

• High-quality housing;
• Not a very high price;
• 2 GB of RAM;
• Decent display
• Good rear camera
• Both cameras are equipped with a flash;
• There is a sound amplifier;
• Not very heavy (156 g);
• The latest version of the operating system.

Flaws

• Not very long battery life;
• Slippery body;
• Not the best navigation module.

OnePlus OnePlus3 64Gb

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4 cores, 2200 MHz
• Display: 5.5 inches, AMOLED, 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Main camera: 16 MP, f / 2.0, optical stabilization
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 29 990 rubles.

The best Chinese smartphone according to many buyers. This device stands out from the competition at least due to its colorful and energy efficient AMOLED display. But there is also a 16-megapixel camera with a wide aperture. And the front camera is good here too - it has a resolution of 8 megapixels. Fast data transmission is carried out via LTE-A of the sixth category. There is also support for GLONASS, due to which the positioning accuracy in Russia is very high. It also has 6 GB of RAM. Although this is already a marketing ploy, since Android in its current state is simply not capable of working with such a volume.

Dignity

• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• Maximum amount of RAM;
• 64 GB of permanent memory;
• Two slots for a SIM card;
• A large number of wireless modules, including Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
• Fast charging technology supported;
• Very good cameras;
• The display is made using AMOLED technology and has a high resolution.

Flaws

• No memory card slot;
• Not everyone can afford it;
• Battery capacity is not very high (3000 mAh).

Alcatel PIXI 4 (6) 8050D

• CPU: MediaTek MT8321, 4 cores, 1300 MHz
• Display: 6 inches, IPS, 540 x 960 pixels
• Main camera: 8 megapixels
• Operating system: Android 5.1

Price: from 6 490 rubles.

One of the cheapest smartphones with a 6-inch screen. For the sake of reducing the cost, the creators had to save a lot on components. As a result, the resolution of the LCD panel has dropped dramatically. Pixelation is clearly visible, but many buyers are not disappointed at all. Also, there is no 4G module, which is much more frightening. Fortunately, no one forbids accessing the global web via Wi-Fi. The capacity of the battery installed here is 2580 mAh. Support for fast charging technology, as you might have guessed, is missing. In a word, this is a good device, but with a lot of compromises. Its main advantage is reliability - this smartphone fails a rare buyer.

Dignity

• The presence of two slots for a SIM card;
• Stable functioning;
• High reliability;
• Very low cost;
• Not a bad package bundle, including a stereo headset;
• Relatively small in thickness and weight.

Flaws

• Not the most recent version of the operating system;
• Low screen resolution;
• No LTE module;
• Small by modern standards the amount of memory;
• It will seem very big to some people.

CUBOT Dinosaur

• CPU: MediaTek MT6735, 4 cores, 1300 MHz
• Display: 5.5 inches, IPS, 720 x 1280 pixels
• Main camera: 13 MP, f / 2.0
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 7 630 rubles.

Externally very simple smartphone. It is quite inexpensive and has two SIM card slots. It has an HD screen and a camera that captures decent social media shots. The front camera also does not cause serious complaints, since it has a resolution of 5 megapixels. But even more buyers are pleased with the support of LTE networks, thanks to which very fast data transfer is possible. But the navigation chip let us down here, since it is capable of recognizing signals only from GPS satellites, whereas in our country the support of GLONASS would not hurt.

Dignity

• Capacious battery (4150 mAh);
• Two slots for SIM-cards;
• There is support for fourth generation networks;
• Many useful gauges are present, including a barometer;
• Solid rear camera;
• The latest version of the operating system;
• 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory.

Flaws

• A little-known brand in our country;
• Not very high resolution LCD;
• There are English-language items in the settings.

Huawei Ascend P7 Dual sim

• CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 910T, 4 cores, 1800 MHz
• Display:
• Main camera: 13 megapixels
• Operating system: Android 4.4

Price: from 19 490 rubles.

Huawei has installed a processor of its own production in this smartphone. This means that she made a bet on this model, expecting a high level of sales. As a result, the buyers were really satisfied. There are excellent cameras here, and support for LTE allows you to use the Internet at high speeds. But most of all, the device surprises with its thickness, which does not exceed 6.5 mm. The creators also managed to reduce the weight - up to 124 grams. But because of this, the capacity of the battery has also decreased, which is why the device will have to be charged every evening. And yet it makes it to our top - not least thanks to the included one. Importantly, the navigation chip of the device is capable of recognizing signals from GLONASS satellites.

Dignity

• Powerful processor;
• 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory;
• Support for 4G networks and NFC;
• Rich equipment;
• The ability to install two SIM cards;
• Very high pixel density;
• Great main camera
• Front camera resolution is 8 megapixels;
• Small size and weight.

Flaws

• Not very high battery capacity (2500 mAh);
• An old version of the operating system;
• The interface may not be fully Russified.

Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, 8 cores, 2000 MHz
• Display: 5 inches, IPS, 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Main camera: 13 MP, f / 2.2, optical stabilization
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 13 590 rubles.

It's hard to see the flaws in the Xiaomi Redmi 4 Pro smartphone. The resolution of the 5-inch screen installed here has been brought up to Full HD, resulting in a very high pixel density. The body of the device is made of metal, which testifies to its high reliability. The camera is supplemented with optical image stabilization - this is also good news. There is also support for fourth-generation networks. The volume of the operative installed here is 3 GB, this will be more than enough for any person. If this device is not the most powerful, then it is certainly one of the best selling. This should not be surprising, because with such characteristics it costs significantly less than any flagship.

Dignity

• The latest version of the operating system;
• Excellent IPS display
• 13-megapixel camera supplemented with optical stabilizer;
• Two slots for a SIM card;
• Large amount of RAM and permanent memory;
• Powerful eight-core processor;
• Battery capacity increased to 4100 mAh;
• Support for LTE-A fourth generation;
• There is a fingerprint scanner.

Flaws

• Low microphone sensitivity;
• The firmware does not work well;
• No support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and NFC.

Xiaomi Redmi 3S 16Gb

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430, 8 cores, 1200 MHz
• Display: 5 inches, IPS, 720 x 1280 pixels
• Main camera: 13 MP, f / 2.0
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 11 990 rubles.

The cost of this smartphone is close to the budget segment. However, that did not stop it from getting an excellent rear camera and a very powerful processor from Qualcomm. The device is also capable of boasting support for fourth-generation networks. Of the other wireless modules, an infrared transmitter should be noted, which helps to change channels on the TV. The amount of RAM here can be called standard - it is equal to 2 GB. A distinctive feature of the device is a fingerprint sensor - it is usually found only in more expensive devices.

Dignity

• Capacious battery that supports fast charging;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• The latest version of the operating system;
• Powerful processor;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Great rear camera
• Support for LTE-A of the fourth category;
• Two slots for a SIM card;
• Reliable metal case;
• Optimal price tag.

Flaws

• There is no support for NFC and Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
• Low microphone sensitivity.

Meizu MX6

• CPU: MediaTek Helio X20, 10 cores, 2300 MHz
• Display: 5.5 inches, IPS, 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Main camera: 12 MP, f / 2.0
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 22 990 rubles.

Meizu MX6 has a metal body. However, this does not make it heavy - the weight does not exceed 155 g. The device also has a very good main camera at its disposal. But it is not because of this that they actively ask him in stores. The fact is that the device has a large number of high-speed wireless modules. For example, there is support for the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard, which should please the owners of new routers. Also, the device includes 4 GB of RAM, and this is still the maximum that the Android operating system can recognize. There are also many smart sensors, including a barometer and a fingerprint scanner. The device seems to have absolutely no flaws. But this is not the case. Almost all smartphones from Chinese manufacturers have a memory card slot. Here, the buyer will have to limit themselves to 32 GB of internal memory, which may seem a little to some.

Dignity

• There is support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and LTE-A Cat. 6;
• High resolution display;
• Fresh version of Android;
• The battery supports fast charging technology;
• There is a USB Type-C connector;
• Decent main camera;
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• Two slots for a SIM card;
• Large amount of memory;
• A very powerful processor.

Flaws

• Battery capacity - only 3060 mAh;
• No memory card slot.

Huawei P9 Lite

• CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 650, 8 cores, 2000 MHz
• Display: 5.2 inches, IPS, 1080 x 1920 pixels
• Main camera: 13 megapixels
• Operating system: Android 6.0

Price: from 16 290 rubles.

This model made it into our ranking of the best Chinese smartphones due to its screen. It was created using IPS technology, which speaks of wide viewing angles. But the main advantage of the installed LCD panel is its high resolution. Individual pixels can only be seen here under a microscope! The rest of the device's components will also delight any customer. For example, the processor's power is enough for the built-in camera to record video at 60 frames / s. Everything is fine here with the wireless modules - they include NFC and LTE.

Dignity

• Two slots for a SIM card;
• Great rear camera
• Good front camera (8 MP);
• There is support for NFC and 4G networks;
• Powerful processor;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Not the highest cost;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• The screen has a very high pixel density.

Flaws

• The Wi-Fi module is limited to the 802.11n standard;
• The body is mostly made of plastic;
• The battery capacity is only 3000mAh.

The range of mobile devices is replenished with new products almost every year. Even within the same line, a manufacturer can release several models that will have different names, some differences in characteristics, but almost the same design. Sometimes, in the midst of this abundance, it is not so easy to find a good device that is really worth the money. And sometimes you can even come across gadgets that are best avoided for a number of reasons. This article contains basic recommendations that are designed to help the reader make the right choice when buying a smartphone, as well as to warn against unnecessary purchases.

Forgeries, replicas and copies

The reader probably thinks that this is quite obvious: who will buy a fake? But the most interesting thing is that some legally designed shops are not shy about selling copies of popular models. Moreover, the prices for copies are simply exorbitant. You need to be extremely careful, since such devices are 100% not worth the money they want for them.

You can also refrain from buying smartphones that are intended exclusively for the domestic Chinese market. They can only be designed to work with the 3G / 4G frequencies of Chinese operators. There may also be a problem with the localization of the firmware, there may be no services from Google, such as the app store. In Lenovo, such models have a prefix "t" at the end of the name, for example, Lenovo S898t.

How not to get hooked by marketers

The job of marketers is to grab the attention of buyers and make them empty their wallets. And for the sake of such a goal, all methods are good.

Brand smartphones

When it comes to mobile devices from well-known, top world-class manufacturers - never believe your eyes. Especially if they see an inspiring commercial on TV, or on the Internet. The official websites of the manufacturer cannot be trusted either: the description of the Samsung Galaxy J1 mini says that it has a "Great camera", and with its help you get "Bright and clear photos even in low light." Considering that the budget camera module is not equipped with a flash or autofocus, you understand that in the description they did not just embellish reality - this is already the height of cynicism.

Another neat trick is to place smartphone images in front of high-quality photos. It seems that these are indeed pictures taken with his camera.

And here is the page of the smart phone HTC Desire 626G, also on the official website.

Let's start in order: "Thanks to the best-in-class 13MP camera." It is a confirmed fact that this smartphone is not nearly the best camera in its class. Rather, the expression "typical, not outstanding" is appropriate. Going further: "Enjoy unmatched performance ...". As you know, HTC Desire 626G uses a processor MediaTek MT6592 is not the most top-end for the middle class, and also only 1 GB of RAM. So what kind of "unmatched" performance can we talk about?

Also, by buying a smartphone from a top manufacturer, you automatically agree to a huge overpayment for the brand. Even the most budget models will cost a pretty penny, and in terms of their capabilities they will be inferior to their counterparts from China. In this case, it is better to get a good Chinese smartphone.

Chinese smartphones

Many Chinese manufacturers in the technical specifications indicate excessive data. Most often this concerns the camera and battery capacity. In fact, the camera may have 8 megapixels, but 13 megapixels will be written. This is neither true, nor a lie: the image resolution is simply increased programmatically, using interpolation, to the desired size. And with the battery in general, everything is simple: lying at 200-300 mAh is the norm for manufacturers from China. But not for everyone: some of them have reached the international level, and therefore do not allow themselves such liberties.

"Verified" manufacturers

You should not buy a new model just because you or someone else has previously used the products of this manufacturer, and are happy with everything. Sometimes it happens that a new model may not be entirely successful. This can happen with any manufacturer. Let's take, for example, HTC one M9: the model is clearly a failure, considering the design that is boring even for fans, severe overheating due to the processor, and other factors. And the company Doogee, famous for its ultra-budget X5, soon after released the failed models that bring continuous disappointment to the owners.

Way out of this situation

How not to overpay for overpriced smartphone features

Often, when buying a mobile device, people study its characteristics. But relying only on numbers is a common mistake. Sellers-consultants, taking advantage of the ignorance and naivety of the buyer, impose more expensive goods, in terms of numbers in the characteristics. The following are some of the most common misconceptions about technical specifications.

The number of cores in the processor

For most people, the number of cores in a processor is associated with performance, that is, "the more cores, the faster the smartphone works." In fact, this is not the case. Several factors simultaneously affect the performance of the hardware part: the amount and speed of RAM, the speed of reading and writing flash memory, characteristics of the processor and graphics accelerator, optimization of the software component. Also, an important role is played by the bit capacity of the processor and the technical process by which it is executed.

The descriptions usually indicate the maximum frequency at which the processor operates. But no one says that the smartphone normally does not use the processor power at full capacity, otherwise the power consumption would be prohibitive. And in the interface and ordinary non-gaming applications, the chip operates at the lowest permissible frequency. And what is most important, the lower frequency differs in different processor models. It depends on this indicator whether the work in the interface will be smooth.

So that the buyer does not have to delve into all these details, they came up with benchmarks - synthetic tests such as AnTuTu and Geekbench. With their help, you can roughly determine the performance of the device, and compare it with other smartphones. You can also watch video reviews, and "by eye" evaluate the speed of the device in various modes.

The number of megapixels in the camera

Often in the descriptions of smartphones, even in reputable online stores, and on the official websites of the manufacturer, it is allowed to manipulate numbers. The buyer is used to believing the numbers: if there are 8 megapixels, then the smartphone takes good pictures. And if it's 13 or 16, then it's great. It's important to understand a simple truth: the number of pixels affects the final resolution of the image, but not its quality. In addition to the resolution, the photographic module has a number of specifications, such as aperture ratio, noise reduction, autofocus response speed, and much more.

Determine how well a smartphone photographs best of all "by eye" by looking at reviews with examples of photos in various shooting conditions. As a last resort, you can navigate the matrix models from various manufacturers. But we must not forget that the results of the same camera module in different smartphones may differ. This is where the camera driver plays a role - the software installed by the smartphone manufacturer.

Screen resolution

Manufacturers constantly have to invent something so that the consumer can see progress and pay money for the opportunity to take advantage of its "fruits". The constant increase in display resolution is clear evidence of this. For example, it is now fashionable to install displays with 2K resolution (2560 x 1440 dpi) in flagship smartphone models. They were followed by devices with 4K resolution (3840 x 2160). To get the buyer interested, marketers come up with various stories explaining the benefits and benefits of such a solution.

In practice, it is very difficult to tell the difference in picture between 2K and 4K. But you can feel the difference in the final cost of the product. Also, with an increase in pixel density, the load on the processor increases, and the charge in the battery is consumed faster. Below is information that will help you determine the resolution that is comfortable for your eyes in relation to the display diagonal:

• for smartphones with a screen diagonal of 4 to 4.5 inches, 854 x 480 and 960 x 540 pixels are quite enough;
• for 5-inch displays, HD resolution (1280 x 720) is optimal;
• for a diagonal of 5.5 inches and more FullHD (1920 x 1080) resolution is enough for the eyes. 5.5-inch models with HD screens are usually in the budget segment. But pixels at this resolution are visible only when the image is examined in detail from a very close distance.

Where is it better not to buy smartphones

Based on the real experience of buyers, a list of not the most successful places to buy a smartphone was compiled. Familiarize yourself with it to save yourself from unpleasant moments.

Markets, kiosks, underpasses

In big cities, there are radio markets where you can find almost any kind of electronics. Selling mobile devices in subways and small kiosks is also common practice. But buying a smartphone in such a place is not the best decision. Firstly, there is no guarantee that the device has not been disassembled, repaired, and has all the "native" parts. Secondly, you can forget about the service. As for the prices, they are not very different from the store prices.

China

Surely, many people know that in China you can order a smartphone a little cheaper. Those who have experience in ordering from Chinese online stores know the difficulties they face. First, delivery can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months, and this is no joke. Secondly, problems may arise when the parcel passes through customs, due to the discrepancy between the description of the goods and / or its value. But this is not the saddest thing yet. The item may arrive defective and you will have to ship it back to China and again wait a long time to receive a refund. Sometimes the seller just fools his head by not shipping the item. And then it turns out that the buyer wasted his time. And sometimes international parcels are lost on the way, and then it is very difficult to find the last one. And the last thing is the lack of a guarantee. More precisely, if there is one, the smartphone, in which case, will have to be sent to the manufacturer, directly to China.

However, this does not always happen, often people receive parcels on time, with fully working goods. But the risks are quite real, so when buying a mobile device in China, you need to be aware of them and be prepared for any situation. Sometimes it is easier to overpay, but save your time and nerves, especially when it comes to an expensive purchase.

Small towns and urban centers

Residents of provincial settlements are the hardest. The assortment in local stores is rather scarce, there is practically nothing to choose from, and the prices are not the most attractive. And if you go to any of these stores, consultants immediately begin to "circle" over a potential buyer, like vultures over prey. It is quite difficult to make an informed and correct choice in an environment where you are under pressure from all sides. In this case, the best option is to order your favorite smartphone through a good online store by cash on delivery, and pay for the goods upon receipt.

Air sellers

There are small online stores that do not have their own warehouse, which buy one item of goods from a supplier upon receipt of an order. This is done for the sole purpose of saving money. But because of such savings, the buyer most often suffers, since a lot of time can pass from the moment of placing the order to receiving the parcel. Moreover, it is naive to count on quality service from such sellers.

Outcome

When buying a smartphone, you need, first of all, to think with your own head. Instead of listening to advice from consultants, or trusting advertisements. Otherwise, the buyer runs the risk of overpaying for the brand, and for overvalued characteristics. Also, do not neglect a detailed study of the device by reading reviews about it on specialized forums, and familiarizing yourself with text and video reviews from reputable, unpaid authors.