The best inexpensive Chinese smartphones of 2021

The rapid development of the Chinese mobile device market 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. Very successful solutions have also appeared that can compete with famous brands.

It’s easy to get confused 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 price components made it possible to compile the TOP 10 most successful models of 2018-2019, as well as a rating of the best smartphones according to the most important indicators.

Chinese smartphones with powerful batteries

The trend towards larger screens and increased productivity of mobile devices leads to the fact that some smartphone models barely survive from morning to evening. For users who don't like to sit near a power outlet, our rating of the 5 best models with the most capacious batteries will certainly help.

Oukitel K10000 Pro

Oukitel K10000 Pro is the record holder for battery capacity among all long-lasting smartphones on the market. Its survivability is ensured 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, a fingerprint scanner and the latest Android 7.0. The price of the smartphone is 12 thousand rubles, and it is definitely worth the money.

Oukitel K10000 Pro

Doogee BL7000

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

Doogee BL7000

Moto E Gen.4 Plus

The Moto E4 Plus is an excellent workhorse from a trusted brand that costs the right amount of money and has everything to satisfy 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 highlight the solid body weight of 200 grams, as a result of which it cannot be recommended for purchase by fragile girls.

Moto E Gen.4 Plus

Ulefone Power 2

The smartphone has a stylish design, whose front panel is reminiscent of 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 the Ulefone Power 2, it is enough for 3 days of active use of the gadget. The performance and display are typical for inexpensive Chinese phones, but the cameras are terrible, so lovers of mobile photography should avoid this smartphone.

Ulefone Power 2

Fly FS554 Power Plus

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

Fly FS554 Power Plus

Huawei

This company was founded in the 80s and has been on the Russian market for a long time. Below is information about its products.

Frameless Chinese smartphones

Chinese manufacturers have never forgotten that a modern smartphone is not only powerful hardware and a capacious battery, but also an image accessory. The last factor is directly related to the design of the device, so we present to your attention a rating of frameless new Chinese smartphones for the 2021 model year.

Leagoo KIICAA Mix

KIICAA Mix is ​​a 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 are the location of the main speaker, which causes poor audibility of the interlocutor, and the absence of brightness/proximity sensors and a 3.5 mm jack, while the adapter required to connect headphones is not included. However, taking into account the low price of 6 tr. it's not critical.

Leagoo KIICAA Mix

Doogee Mix

Doogee Mix is ​​a smartphone from the same opera. It outperforms its Leagoo counterpart due to rich equipment (there is a case and a film for 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 crude Doogee Mix firmware, with numerous bugs, can cause quite a few headaches for the owner of the device, so before buying a device you should weigh the pros and cons.

Doogee Mix

UMIDIGI Crystal

UMIDIGI Crystal stands out from its analogues with its interface - it runs on an almost pure Android 7.0 shell, as a result of which using this smartphone is much more pleasant than other Chinese ones with trashy OS. The characteristics are also not bad - MT6750T, 64/4 GB of memory, IZGO screen from Sharp and dual camera. For a price of 100 dollars - not bad.

UMIDIGI Crystal

Bluboo S1

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

Bluboo S1

Maze Alpha

Maze Alpha is the best frameless Chinese smartphone that can be bought in the price segment of about 10 thousand rubles. This is a well-built device with a high-quality 6-inch screen and good performance.

It also outperforms its analogues due to its autonomy; the 4000 mAh battery lasts for an average of two days of using a smartphone. When purchasing, you should take into account the considerable weight of the smartphone, as much as 225 grams.

Maze Alpha

Honor

• Honor 20 Pro

  It is considered the best telephone from the manufacturer in 2021 in terms of cost and quality. A powerful device equipped with a HiSilicon Kirin 980 processor that can handle any task. Disadvantages include the lack of wireless charging, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and an IP rating for dust and water resistance.

  Honor 20 Pro - first review of the flagship

• Honor 30 Pro+

  The 2021 photo flagship is assembled from high-quality materials. The body is water-repellent and consists of two glass panels connected by a metal frame. It has many advantages: stylish appearance, memory card slot, high sound quality and excellent pictures. Disadvantages include the lack of Google services and a headphone slot.

  Honor 30 Pro Plus - Full review

• Honor X10

  Presented as the brand's cheapest 5G smartphone. A glass body, a side fingerprint scanner, and a front camera hidden in the surface are not all the advantages of a budget phone. There is a headphone jack, which is rare in 2020. A powerful processor and battery will provide 8-9 hours of uninterrupted gaming. The downside is the lack of NFS and AptX.

  Honor X10 review

• Honor 30 pro

  This new product will surprise you with its size and matte ocean-colored body. Despite its size, it fits comfortably in your hand. Its advantages: two front cameras, 256 GB of internal memory, fast wired and wireless charging. Does not support 3.5 mm, but a special adapter is included in the kit.

  Honor View 30 Pro review

• Honor Magic 2

  The Honor line of phones is produced under the control of Huawei, whose devices are also discussed in this review. In 2019, Honor Magic 2 was released, with pre-installed Android 9 OS, 256 gigabytes of memory and light weight, only 206 grams.

10 Chinese smartphone manufacturers: Honor Magic 2 review

Click on the banner to buy Honor Magic 2

Chinese phablets

We consider the best smartphones with a large screen diagonal in 2021 to be:

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

The third generation of Mi Note from Xiaomi has evolved from an uncompromising flagship, which was Mi Note 2, into an affordable smartphone with a large screen (5.5'' FHD) and average specifications. 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), battery capacity is 3500 mAh. This is a good choice if the Mi Max 2 seems like a huge shovel to you, but you don’t want to overpay for the flagship bells and whistles of the Mi6.

Xiaomi Mi Note 3

Honor 8 Pro

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

Honor 8 Pro

Meizu M3 Max

M3 Max is not the latest model from Meizu, which has been successfully selling 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 a pleasure to use due to its excellent build and perfectly polished Flyme OS, which in terms of speed and smoothness of operation will give odds to the operating system of any Chinese smartphone.

Meizu M3 Max

Leagoo M8 Pro

An ultra-budget phablet with a 5.7-inch display and modest specifications (MT6737, 16/2 GB of memory, 13/8 MP cameras, 3500 mAh battery). When buying an M8 Pro in China, you can buy it for 5 thousand rubles, and you won’t find anything better for that money. The smartphone works quite quickly and stably, supports LTE, recognizes external devices in USB OTG mode, and has a fairly loud multimedia speaker. Thanks to the massive metal frame, the M8 Pro is extremely durable, it confidently survives falls from great heights, and in general is perfect for the role of a child’s first smartphone or a gadget for heavy-duty use.

Leagoo M8 Pro

LeEco Le Max 2

After the LeEco fiasco on the Russian market, you can only buy their smartphones on AlieExpress, and if this doesn’t 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, and a 3100 mAh battery. Le Max 2 runs any game at maximum graphics settings, takes good photographs, records 4K video, but does not have a 3.5mm jack or NFC chip.

LeEco Le Max 2

Vivo

This company introduced its first product in 2009. Vivo products have taken root in South Asian countries, but later the company announced plans to enter the Russian market. Now Vivo smartphones are gaining more and more popularity among Russians. They are sold primarily online, so they are not as easy to find in regular electronics stores.

Vivo has some pretty good models. They are provided below.

• Vivo X50 Pro+

  The 2021 flagship is characterized by many advantages: cute design, fast charging, trendy Snapdragon processor, bright display. High-quality materials were used during assembly. In different lighting conditions, high-quality images are obtained: colors are contrasting and deep. The disadvantages include the lack of slots for headphones, memory cards, stereo speakers and wireless charging. The gadget's body is not protected from dust and moisture.

  Read also:  Choosing between a laptop, netbook and tablet

  Vivo X50 Pro+ officially presented

• Vivo iQoo Neo 3

  Positioned as the cheapest device with a Snapdragon 865 chip. The battery capacity is 4500 mAh. Received a 144 Hz IPS display, similar to the Nubia Red Magic, 12 GB of RAM and a 256 GB drive. The battery capacity becomes 4500 mAh. There is also an installed cooling system. Considered an excellent gaming option.

  Vivo iQoo Neo 3 5G - gaming smartphone with 144 Hz screen

• Vivo S6 5G

  Another representative of 5G gadgets. The manufacturer has improved the model with the best technologies: Multi-Turbo against overheating, a capacious battery for long-term operation, a universal camera with 4 modules, fast charging, a 32 MP selfie camera.

  Vivo S6 5G Official Introduction

• Vivo iQOO

  Released in 2019, this is a solid smartphone for a serious person. Check out this smartphone with three cameras, a capacious battery and a 2K display for yourself by ordering it at a price of 24 thousand Russian rubles on AliExpress.

  Vivo iQOO review

BUY Vivo iQOO Neo SMARTPHONE

• Vivo NEX

  – a good device with average characteristics, having two cameras and a clear display with a resolution of 1080 by 2316 pixels. There is NFC, but there is no slot for a memory card.

  10 Chinese Smartphone Manufacturers: Vivo Nex Review

BUY XIAOMI MI 10 PRO SMARTPHONE

• Redmi Note 9 Pro 6/64GB

  In terms of its characteristics, it does not lag behind those mentioned above. You can highly appreciate the 5020 mAh battery and the quad camera with a 64 MP sensor, macro photography and wide-angle optics. A special merit is the permanent memory of 64 GB.

  Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro

• Mi Note 10 Lite 6/128GB

  A smartphone with a non-removable 5260 mAh battery, a good rear camera (minimum aperture 1.89 and maximum video resolution 3840 by 2160) and a modest Snapdragon 730G processor.

  Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite review

• Xiaomi CC9 Pro

  Perhaps it is worth highlighting the CC9 Pro model, which many critics call “one of the best camera phones in the world.” Judge for yourself - this smartphone is the very first “owner” of a camera with a resolution of, attention, 108 megapixels! In addition to the ability to take sharp photos and videos, the product stands out from others due to its interesting design (the display has curved edges that light up when you receive a notification or an incoming call) and the presence of shock-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides.

  Xiaomi CC9 Pro(Mi Note 10) Review

  BUY Xiaomi Mi CC9 Pro SMARTPHONE

The most expensive Chinese smartphones

The top most expensive Chinese smartphones traditionally include products from 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 famous world manufacturers. We present to our readers a rating of the most expensive smartphones from China.

Mi Mix 2

Mi Mix 2 is a continuation of the cult smartphone from Xiaomi, which became the reason for the appearance on the market of all the frameless crafts we are considering above. The second generation Mi Mix increased autonomy, received an adequate earpiece, and retained top-end technical characteristics. This is an excellent fashion smartphone that evokes the same “wow” effect that can be bought for 30-35 thousand rubles.

Mi Mix 2

Meizu Pro 7

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

The smartphone is great in terms of photo capabilities, sound quality and software, but loses to other flagships in screen quality and lack of NFC. The latter is a serious setback for a top-end smartphone, but it’s worth considering that Meizu Pro 7 is cheaper than its analogues – 20-25 thousand rubles.

Meizu Pro 7

Axon M

Another unusual smartphone is a transformer from ZTE, which consists of two panels with 5.2-inch FHD screens, which when folded out forms a kind of tablet. The Axon M is equipped with a not-so-top-end Snapdragon 820 processor, but it does have a dedicated AKM4962 DAC, which makes the smartphone sound amazing in headphones. Only the battery raises serious questions; its capacity is a modest 3180 mAh, which is frankly not enough for the active use of a gadget with two screens. Price: $725.

Axon M

Razer Phone

The parade of unusual Chinese continues with the Razer Phone - the first “gaming” smartphone on the market, which is aimed at an 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 for each speaker. But the main feature of this smart device is the 5.7-inch display with a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which provides an extremely smooth picture when playing any content. The Razer Phone costs $700.

Razer Phone

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Let's move on from unusual models to real premium ones. Huawei Mate 10 Pro is the most expensive Chinese flagship of 2021. The smartphone, priced at 800 euros, is crammed with everything possible - more powerful hardware, a 6-inch 2K OLED display, dust and moisture protection, stereo speakers, cameras from Leica and, what the manufacturer himself highlights, a separate processor for implementing artificial intelligence, which gives Huawei's business phablet many additional functions, 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

ZTE

• ZTE Nubia Z17 6/64GB

  A modern device with an attractive design and enormous capabilities. There are no frames on the sides of the case. The screen is characterized by excellent color rendering quality. The flagship is equipped with high-end trend cameras with instant autofocus. During operation of the model, no shortcomings were found.

  ZTE Nubia Z17 - The best smartphone in recent times

• ZTE Axon 10 Pro

  The once popular manufacturer of Android smartphones has slowed down, but, like the Taiwanese company HTC, it still produces interesting models. Among them is the ZTE Axon 10 Pro with high resolution for smartphones, support for two SIM cards and a powerful Snapdragon 855 processor.

  10 Chinese Smartphone Manufacturers: ZTE Axon 10 Pro Review: It packs a HUGE punch

  
  Click on the banner to buy ZTE Axon 10 Pro

ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3

There is another interesting, slightly more expensive product. We are talking about ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3, created specifically for gamers. Enjoy playing CoD, PUBG with high FPS and clear images. NFC is missing.

Nubia Red Magic 3 review

• ZTE Nubia Red Magic 5G

  It is called a gaming monster, primarily because of the 144 Hz screen. Exciting, colorful design. The gadget is equipped with side control buttons, a magnetic connector, and a cooling system. It is also equipped with stereo speakers, an AMOLED matrix and a Snapdragon 865 processor.

  Nubia Red Magic 5G is a gaming monster with a 144 Hz screen

  
  Click on the banner to buy ZTE Nubia Red Magic 5G

Axon 11 5G

The new flagship based on Android 10 has a number of advantages: 64 MP main camera, AMOLED screen, Snapdragon 765G chip, Qualcomm Adreno processor, 6/8 GB of RAM, 128/256 GB internal storage. The best thing for gamers.

ZTE Axon 11 5G - gaming smartphone with an advanced camera

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 price segment under $100. It does not shine with performance (Snapdragon 425 percent), but it does not have any obvious weaknesses that could spoil the experience of owning this device. Among the advantages are separate slots for 2 SIM cards and a flash drive, the presence of an infrared port, and the absence of throttling, which is typical of most cheap smart phones, under load. We recommend for purchase.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A

Meizu M6

Many will say that budget smartphones from Meizu have 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 that golden mean in terms of quality and economy, making its smartphones always a pleasure to use? Meizu M6 is made in a metal case, has a good 5.2-inch display, a good camera and normal battery life. With an issue price of $100, this is a very good choice, which will be head and shoulders above any basement China.

Meizu M6

ZTE Blade A6

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

ZTE Blade A6

Huawei Honor 6C Pro

Huawei is also sold at most retailers, and when buying a smartphone offline, Honor 6C Pro can be a priority choice. The gadget has standard characteristics for its price - 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 well both in terms of build quality and software, and therefore no problems should arise during its use.

Huawei Honor 6C Pro

Huawei P20 Pro

Huawei's flagship, codenamed P20 Pro, is the epitome of a camera phone in the modern world. In terms of hardware, there is not much in common with other smartphones in the P20 line, except perhaps the processor, front camera and battery. As for the rest, everything varies.

Huawei P20 Pro has a triple main camera

The Pro's diagonal extends to 6.1 inches, which is significantly larger than the average model. Also noteworthy is the smartphone’s triple lens, with a total size of 68 megapixels (40+20+8). This camera is considered one of the best in the world. Shooting is carried out mainly with a 40 megapixel lens, but truly high-quality photos are obtained thanks to the integrated actions of all three lenses. The 20 MP lens is more light-sensitive with a 1/2.7″ matrix, and its bright aperture is f/1.6. All this improves the detail of the pictures and makes them brighter.

Huawei P20 Pro camera is considered one of the best for smartphones

Main characteristics of the smartphone:

• memory - 6/128 GB;
• processor - HUAWEI Kirin 970 (8 x 2.3 GHz), Mali-G72 MP12;
• cameras - front 24 MP, main 40 + 20 + 8 MP;
• battery capacity - 4000 mAh;
• Dimensions - 180 grams, 155.0 x 73.9 x 7.8 mm.

Huawei P20 Pro smartphone camera test - video

Leagoo M8

If you need something “cheap and cheerful”, take the Leagoo M8. On Aliexpress, a smartphone costs 4,000 rubles, and this is the best you can get for that price. The only thing that limits this device is the lack of support for LTE networks. But it handles 3G well, and you simply don’t expect to see such a decent screen and cameras, along with a somewhat rough but reliable build, and a loud multimedia speaker in a smartphone for $75.

Leagoo M8