The best budget smartphones of September 2021 (official retail)

Today, the mobile technology market provides a wide range of choices, which is easy for the average person to get confused about. When buying a smartphone, the main selection criteria are price, quality and functionality. Not everyone can afford expensive phones, and cheap ones seem mediocre and weak, which is why the purchase turns into a hassle of endless choices and doubts.

It is for these cases that modern manufacturers have allocated a separate segment - budget. It is distinguished by its low price, high quality and lack of fancy frills. A truly budget smartphone is often devoid of advertising and PR, which also has a positive effect on pricing. Therefore, you should not be surprised by previously unknown brands that provide quality products on the market.

Below are the top 7 best budget smartphones of 2018-2019 in the same price range. The advantages and disadvantages of gadgets will stand out relative to the rest.

Meizu M5c 16GB

If you have 7-9 thousand rubles, you can take a closer look at the Chinese smartphone Meizu M5c. A budget model with very good characteristics for its price.

The case is made of plastic, but the plastic is of very good quality; the smartphone itself looks expensive and even stylish, especially if we talk about the black case. The display diagonal is 5 inches, the standard resolution for this price category is HD.

Meizu M5c is powered by a 4-core MediaTek MT6737 processor, it has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory + support for memory cards. Battery capacity - 3000 mAh.

On the front panel you can see the Home key. Unfortunately, it does not have a fingerprint scanner, which older Meizu models have. But it has built-in touch gestures.

It is clear that the smartphone does not have enough stars in the sky, but for its price it is perhaps the best choice on the market.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 135 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: MediaTek MT6737

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 3000 mAh

Camera: 8 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

The best models of inexpensive smartphones in 2021

Nokia 2.2 16GB

This company returned to the global mobile technology market not too long ago. To date, the company’s products have not been able to achieve any serious success in the flagship segment, but in the field of budget smartphones it has occupied a confident niche. The presented model belongs to the latest generation; it has a very interesting design and has updated a whole set of parameters. The display diagonal has a quite familiar aspect ratio of 16:9, there is a teardrop-shaped cutout for the camera on the front panel, and the frames are quite thin. For one of the most budget models, the design turned out to be very interesting. The body is made of original polycarbonate, which has good flexibility and decent strength.

One of the key features of the smartphone is the presence of a removable back cover, under which there is a removable battery, which can be replaced if necessary, as well as all the main slots - for SIM cards and memory cards (they are separate, unlike many other smartphones). In other words, you can use two phone numbers at the same time and expand the memory of your phone. The display diagonal is 5.71 inches, it is made using IPS technology, its resolution corresponds to the HD+ format. The sensor is very responsive, color rendition is close to natural. The processor used here is a quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 microchip, which, together with a graphics accelerator, ensures very decent performance of the device.

Advantages:

Works stably and quickly;
The cameras produce fairly acceptable content;
Quite a wide range of functionality for such a device;
Possibility of battery replacement.

Flaws:

The battery heats up under heavy loads.

10. Nokia 2.2 16GB

Honor 8S

This smartphone was first presented to the general public in April of this year, and it immediately became very popular among ordinary users due to its speed and other characteristics. It comes in three color options - blue, black and gold. The back panel is also polycarbonate, made from multilayer material. It is partially made of glossy plastic, which gives the product originality and style; unfortunately, fingerprints and other types of contaminants will remain on the area with a glossy coating. The main camera is located at the top of the device, it is equipped with an LED flash, and it is quite bright. Like most modern smartphones, the display occupies almost the entire front side; a drop-shaped cutout is made for the front camera. All navigation buttons are virtual.

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The device has a capacitive LCD display, the resolution of which is 720x1520 pixels, its diagonal is 5.71 inches with an aspect ratio of 19:9. It is additionally protected from damage due to special 2.5D glass. The screen is produced using TUV Rheinland technology, which can significantly reduce eye strain. The brightness reserve is decent, viewing angles are wide. The device operates on a quad-core single-chip MediaTek MT6761 Helio A22 processor, the maximum frequency of which is 2000 MHz. All applications open very quickly, but the gadget is not suitable for demanding games. There is no protection against battery overheating, so the case gets quite hot during continuous use.

Advantages:

The back panel is rough and does not slip out of your hands;
There is eye protection;
Decent viewing angles and brightness margin;
Good performance of the device;
Ability to control gestures;
The screen can be unlocked using facial recognition.

Flaws:

Relatively wide frames;
A protective case is not supplied;
Poor color rendering;
Absent

Honor 8S

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A30s 32GB

The device has an updated design; an original geometric pattern is applied to the back panel. The fingerprint scanner is built directly into the display. The main camera is equipped with an additional module, thanks to which you can take wide-angle shots. The display diagonal is 6.4 inches, resolution is 1560x720 pixels. The first two lenses of the camera are used for standard and wide-angle photography and video, there is also a third additional module designed specifically for portrait photography. There is a lithium-ion battery installed here with a capacity of 4000 mAh. This is a fairly serious indicator, so the gadget can work offline for up to two days, even with active use. It can work in three modes - optimized (characterized by decent performance and not too much energy consumption), medium economical (allows you to limit background data, reduces the processor frequency, reduces screen brightness) and maximum economical (supplements average savings with a simplified interface, disabling screensavers, widgets and so on).

The smartphone has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. The processor function in this device is performed by the proprietary Samsung Exynos 7904 chipset, which is complemented by the Mali-G71 MP2 GPU graphics chip. There are all the main wireless communication modules.

Advantages:

Excellent camera with good resolution;
The fingerprint scanner is built directly into the display;
There is an additional lens responsible for portrait photography;
High data transfer speed over wireless channels.

Flaws:

Very mediocre display resolution;
The processor will not allow you to play demanding games.

Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A30s 32GB

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 7A 2/16GB

Manufacturers are positioning this model as an ultra-budget smartphone with a fairly powerful battery. The gadget has full splash protection and a fast charging function. The body is made of high-quality polycarbonate with a matte coating. The coating is very pleasant to the touch. The main camera unit with LED flash is located in the upper left corner. On the front side there is a FullView display with rounded corners, which gives the device additional style. There is a light sensor at the top, and the screen itself is covered with reliable 2.5D glass, which also significantly increases the durability of this device. With overall dimensions of 146.3 x 70.4 x 9.6, it weighs only 165 g.

The IPS display diagonal is 5.45 inches with a resolution of 1440x720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 18:9. Viewing angles are wide, picture detail is simply excellent. The maximum brightness level is enough to use the smartphone in direct sunlight. The device is equipped with an 8-core Snapdragon 439 processor with a maximum clock frequency of 2000 MHz, and the gadget also has an Adreno 505 graphics accelerator. The smartphone has 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of built-in memory - quite decent performance for a budget model.

Advantages:

Quite compact overall dimensions;
High level of hull strength;
Good performance;
Very loud speakers;
Reasonable cost;
Powerful battery.

Flaws:

The product turned out to be quite thick;
There is no fingerprint scanner.

Review of Redmi 7A - smartphone for 5100 rubles

Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 7A 2/16GB

ZTE Blade A7 2019

For its performance characteristics, this product is even too cheap. The first thing I would like to note is that the display is quite large, its diagonal is 6.088 inches, and the resolution corresponds to the HD+ format. The battery capacity here is 3200 mAh, and it is also equipped with an energy saving function, so the gadget can work offline for a long time. The aspect ratio of the display is 19.5:9, it occupies almost the entire front panel, the frames are practically invisible, and a drop-shaped cutout with a minimal area is allocated for the front camera. The main camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels, and it is also equipped with an f/2.0 aperture, so pictures and videos are of quite high quality.

The front camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, thanks to which it allows you to take very clear selfie pictures or take photographs in portrait mode. The product is equipped with an eight-core processor with a clock frequency of 1600 MHz. There are slots for two SIM cards and an additional slot for a memory card up to 256 GB in microSD format. In addition, using the front camera you can unlock your smartphone.

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Advantages:

One of the latest versions of the processor is installed;
Decent display diagonal;
Almost invisible frames;
Very affordable cost;
High display brightness;
Natural color rendering;
Both the front and rear cameras are very good.

Flaws:

There is no fingerprint scanner;
Weak speakers;
A little heavy;
Short charging cable.

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ZTE Blade A7 2019

Honor 8A

In fifth place in our ranking of the best inexpensive smartphones are entry-level products produced by a fairly well-known Chinese company. The device was presented at the very beginning of the year and immediately gained wild popularity among fans of mobile new products. The gadget is equipped with a very powerful MediaTek Helio P35 processor, which ensures not only good performance of the device, but also a complete absence of failures in the operation of the device’s operating system. The smartphone body is made in the form of two plastic panels, which are connected to each other using a rounded frame made of durable aluminum alloy. On the front there is an edge-to-edge screen with a single teardrop-shaped cutout for the camera at the top. The front panel is covered with a special 2.5D protective glass. All navigation buttons have become virtual.

The display diagonal is 6.09 inches, the aspect ratio is 19.5:9, and its resolution is 1560x720 pixels. Individual points cannot be seen even at close range. The processor clock frequency is 2300 MHz, it is complemented by the PowerVR GE8320 graphics accelerator. This gadget has 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory, and if desired, you can install a microSD flash card with a capacity of up to 512 GB. Battery capacity 3020 mAh. Not to say that this is particularly much, but for a day of active use its resource should be enough. The device runs on the Android 9.0 platform, which is improved using the proprietary EMUI 9 shell.

Advantages:

Quite attractive appearance;
High quality frameless screen;
Separately dedicated slot for memory cards;
Powerful and efficient processor;
Latest version of the operating system.

Flaws:

Glass is quite slippery;
There is no connector for USB Type-C.

HONOR 8A IS ONE OF THE BEST BUDGETARY CARRIERS!

Honor 8A

HUAWEI Y5 (2019) 32GB

The model with a FullView display just fell short of the leaders in our review of the best budget smartphones. The hardware of the gadget, despite its simplicity, is striking in its high quality and the presence of a large number of modern features. The appearance is discreet and very practical. The body is made of plastic with a matte coating. The shape is rectangular, all corners are smooth. The side frames are medium in size, with relatively large indents at the top and bottom. The front side is additionally protected from damage using 2.5D protective glass. The screen diagonal is 5.71 inches, its aspect ratio is 19:9, and the resolution is 1520x720 pixels. The viewing angles are very wide, so the picture will not be distorted regardless of the tilt. It features automatic brightness adjustment that works reliably and accurately.

The central element here is a quad-core MediaTek Helio A22 processor, whose clock speed is 2000 MHz. It is complemented by the PowerVR GE8100 graphics accelerator. The smartphone's RAM capacity is only 2 GB; the physical drive can hold up to 32 GB of data, expandable by another 256 GB. The battery is non-removable, its capacity is 3020 mAh - this may not seem like too much, but in fact the smartphone charge will be quite enough for active use throughout the day.

Advantages:

Low weight of the device;
Easy to use display;
Long battery life;
Good performance.

Flaws:

In low light conditions, the pictures are not of the highest quality;
NFC is present only in the AMN-LX1 modification.

HUAWEI Y5 2019 review

HUAWEI Y5 (2019) 32GB

3. Smartphone Samsung Galaxy A40 64GB

Almost the entire front side of this smartphone is occupied by a display made using the latest Super AMOLED technology. Its diagonal is almost 6 inches, and the resolution is very high for a budget product - 2340x1080 pixels. Thanks to this parameter, it is possible to provide the clearest picture with good detail of objects. The color rendition here is very realistic, it is as close to natural as possible. This makes this smartphone perfectly suitable for any games, even quite demanding ones. You can comfortably view photos, videos and even full-length films on it. The main camera here is dual - it includes modules whose resolution is 16 and 5 megapixels, respectively. Thanks to a high-quality aperture, it is possible to take photographs with good detail of objects, regardless of natural light - you can take photographs in cloudy weather, in the evening and even at night.

Smartphone Camon 15 Pro

The Chinese company producing this smartphone first appeared on the domestic market about 2 years ago. There is an LED event indicator. The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel and works almost instantly. There are two slots for SIM cards and one slot for a memory card, and these cards can be changed without turning off the smartphone. The display diagonal is 6.6 inches, high resolution 1080x2340 pixels, the frames around the screen are quite narrow. The resolution of the front camera of the pop-up type is as much as 32 megapixels, the resolution of the main camera of the device is 48 megapixels, which is significantly higher compared to many cameras. The smartphone is powered by an 8-core processor, 128 GB of built-in memory, and 6 GB of RAM. This allows you to ensure excellent performance of the gadget. The device is perfect for young people, especially those who cannot live without selfies, ordinary photographs, and are constantly on the Internet. There is an artificial intelligence system that supports a large number of different functions, among which there is beauty – the resulting frames are practically indistinguishable from pictures taken on a professional camera. The battery is reliable and capacious - even with active use of the smartphone it will last for several days.

The body is made of polished glossy plastic, the color of which has a slight gradient, giving the model additional attractiveness. The smartphone is thin, the corners are rounded. The front glass is completely flat, without bends. All elements of the case are plastic, and fingerprints and other dirt remain on them, so it is best to keep the phone in a case.

Advantages:

The phone is even very cheap for its functionality;
Excellent performance;
Good resolution of both front and main cameras;
Keeps the battery charged for a long time;
The fingerprint scanner is very fast.

Flaws:

NFC module is not provided.

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Smartphone Camon 15 Pro

Smartphone Pouvoir 4

In general, the design turned out to be quite heavy and large, but this is due to the fact that the device’s display has a diagonal of as much as 7 inches, and the smartphone is characterized by a high-capacity battery (6000 mAh). The display is covered with protective glass Osaki Glass, it has an oleophobic coating that prevents glare - the eyes practically do not get tired. The device is powerful, can easily run any program, and has original game modes. The unit with five cameras on the back of the device looks quite beautiful. The cameras practically do not protrude beyond the body, so the smartphone will lie quite tightly on a horizontal surface. The pictures they take are contrasty and bright.

The front camera is large - it is located in a special drop-shaped cutout, there is also an LED event indicator. The physical buttons are large and easy to feel with your fingers. However, it is not entirely clear why the manufacturer placed a key to call the voice assistant - it is used extremely rarely. The model is equipped with stereo speakers and a Dirac sound correction system, which makes the sound quite spacious. Often people buy this device as a second phone. The device is reliable, with a good battery that will not run out at the most inopportune moment. It has a beautiful external design, although the body is made of plastic. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not provide a metal frame on the sides. The form factor is very convenient - the phone is easy to use even with one hand. The finish is glossy, the color has a slight gradient, and the corners are rounded.

Advantages:

Quite affordable device;
High battery capacity;
Wide viewing angles;
Excellent performance;
Long battery life;
Decent display diagonal.

Flaws:

No NFC module;
The battery is charged using a standard microUSB, while most modern smartphones are equipped with a USB Type-C socket.

TECNO POUVOIR 4 - NEW TOP FOR 9990 RUBLES!

Smartphone Pouvoir 4

Honor 6A

Honor has introduced another new product and this is a very interesting device at a “delicious” price.

So, here is the Honor 6A with a cool body design and a metal back cover. It has a 5-inch display, a fast fingerprint sensor, and a good Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, which works together with 2 GB of RAM. The ROM capacity is 16 GB.

The battery is quite good, its capacity is 3020 mAh.

An excellent option in terms of price/quality ratio.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 143 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 3020 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 3/32GB

One of the most interesting new products in recent times is the first budget frameless smartphone from Xiaomi. Its dimensions are similar to Xiaomi Redmi Note 5, but it uses a much larger screen - its diagonal reaches 5.99 inches! The resolution is more than decent - 2160x1080 pixels.

The new product runs on the already familiar Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, and the memory capacity is 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM. The battery capacity is almost the same as its predecessor - 4000 mAh.

The cameras used are quite good by class standards.

Screen diagonal: 5.99 inches

Resolution: 2160×1080

Weight: 180 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625

Memory capacity: 32 GB

RAM capacity: 3 GB

Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Main camera: dual 12 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus – the optimal budget phone

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is a smartphone that is unrivaled in the budget segment. You most likely won't be able to find something better for $150. The gadget has a good 6″ (18:9) screen with FullHD resolution, and this alone is a big plus. But the device also has a very energy-efficient Snapdragon 625 chipset (products from small companies do not have this), 3/32 or 4/64 GB of memory, and a fast fingerprint scanner.

The smartphone's camera is based on a 12-megapixel matrix with enlarged pixels. Finally, the Redmi series has a good (by budget standards) camera. The battery has not changed, it is still the same proven 4000 mAh, providing excellent autonomy. The only thing that the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus may be missing is NFC, but even without this module it is one of the best budget smartphones of 2021.

Huawei Nova Lite 2021

Stylish device from Huawei. The design of the case can hardly be called individual, but it looks great. It looks like there is a dual rear camera, but in fact it is a single camera with a flash next to it.

Even though this is a budget device, you can see a fingerprint scanner here. Battery capacity - 3020 mAh.

Huawei Nova Lite has a 5-inch screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, 16 GB of main memory and 2 GB of RAM.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 145 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 3020 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max ZC554KL 2/16GB

An interesting offer from ASUS.

In this smartphone you will find several unusual solutions. Firstly, there is a dual rear camera module installed here, which is not yet very common in this price segment. Secondly, a very powerful 5000 mAh battery is used, which, together with the Asus PowerMaster functionality, gives amazing results in terms of battery life, according to open sources. And this is quite a budget smartphone.

Screen diagonal - 5.5 inches, resolution - 1280x720 pixels. Processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of main memory.

Meizu M6 16GB

An inexpensive device from Meizu with a nice design. Yes, the body is plastic, but it looks very cool; from a distance, plastic can easily be confused with metal.

Screen diagonal - 5.2 inches, resolution - HD. The smartphone received a 3070 mAh battery, a MediaTek MT6750 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of ROM.

There is also a fingerprint sensor, although it is not visible on the body - it is built into the Home key.

And don’t forget about the proprietary Flyme firmware.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 143 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: MediaTek MT6750

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 3070 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Meizu M6

The average price is 9,590 rubles.

Design is not the strong point of this smartphone. The build quality is good, but the polycarbonate body is not as durable as metal. However, this disadvantage is compensated by many advantages. In particular, it is a 13 MP f/2.2 camera that takes very good pictures in daylight. In low light, grain becomes more noticeable. Also - which is rare for an inexpensive device - the smartphone has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of flash memory. For those who prefer to save a little money, there is also a 16 GB version.

The gadget is also equipped with a 3070 mAh battery, a fast fingerprint scanner, and an eight-core MediaTek MT6750 processor, designed for budget-level devices. It's not very powerful, but the chipset's capabilities are sufficient for most games.

Pros:

Excellent 5.2-inch screen with good color reproduction.
The front camera is 8 MP, not 5 MP like most competitors.
Android 7.0 Nougat with FlyMe OS 6.0 looks like a user-friendly interface.
Most ports, buttons and parts of the phone are ergonomically placed. They are located in places where they are easy to reach.
It is possible to expand the memory.

Minuses:

The only disadvantages of the Meizu M6 include its fragile plastic body.

Xiaomi Redmi 4X 32GB

One of the best “state employees” costing up to 10 thousand rubles. If you really want, you can find this smartphone even cheaper.

It is distinguished by its low cost, as well as the presence of features that are often not found even in much more expensive smartphones. First of all, it is a metal case, although there are plastic inserts on it for antennas. The 5-inch display has HD resolution, the smartphone is based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor, in this version it has 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM. Very capacious battery - 4100 mAh.

We also note the presence of a fingerprint scanner, a memory card slot and, finally, a black tint to the body.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 150 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 435

Memory capacity: 32 GB

RAM capacity: 3 GB

Battery capacity: 4100 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017)

Samsung models are traditionally more expensive than their Chinese counterparts, but the demand for them is still very high - due to the quality of workmanship, the well-known brand, good characteristics, as well as the appearance of the device itself.

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) looks very good and is definitely much more expensive than its cost. On the back of the case you can see a metal cover, which, however, cannot be removed - the case is non-separable. There is a flash under the camera eye.

Samsung Galaxy J3 (2017) has a 5-inch display, HD resolution, Exynos 7570 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. But here’s what’s really interesting: the slots for a memory card and two SIM cards are separate, and not hybrid, as in most cases. This means that you can work with two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time.

Android version is 7.0, good cameras, but, alas, there is no fingerprint scanner here.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 142 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Exynos 7570

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 2400 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max ZC520KL 16Gb

A newcomer from ASUS, which plays in the league of budget smartphones. At the time of writing, you can become its owner for about 10-12 thousand rubles. What's good about it?

The main feature is that it is one of the least expensive smartphones on the Russian market with a dual rear camera with a resolution of 13/5 MP. The front camera has a resolution of 8 MP.

The back cover is metal, but there are plastic inserts at the top and bottom. Display diagonal - 5.2 inches, resolution - 1280x720 pixels. Processor - Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, 2 GB and 16 GB of memory (RAM and ROM, respectively), capacious 4100 mAh battery.

Screen diagonal: 5.2 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 156 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 4100 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

ASUS ZenFone 4 Max

The new budget smartphone from ASUS, ZenFone 4 Max (ZC554KL), is housed in a metal case and equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1280×720 pixels. Its operation is based on an energy-efficient 8-core processor – Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 with a clock frequency of 1.4 GHz, for which 3 GB of RAM is allocated. The phone is equipped with good cameras, and the rear photo module is double, with a 13 megapixel main sensor. The front camera takes pictures with a maximum resolution of 8 megapixels. And although both cameras shoot well only in sufficient lighting, they are very good for a budget class. An inexpensive but good smartphone running Android 7.0 Nougat OS, has 2 SIM card slots, a fingerprint scanner and a powerful 5000 mAh battery, the capacity of which lasts for 2-2.5 days.

pros

Design, large IPS display, powerful processor;
Separate slot for memory cards, stable software;
The capacious battery lasts for two days or more in autonomous mode.

Minuses

Heavy and slippery;
System keys are not illuminated;
There is no standard music player.

LG G6

Yes, this is the flagship from LG. But what is he doing in our review? Everything is simple here - this is one of the least expensive flagships among famous companies. So, at the time of writing, it is quite possible to purchase it for 30 thousand rubles.

Meanwhile, this is a real flagship, which has literally everything. Don't be confused by the fact that it doesn't have the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor installed, rather than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, the performance of the device is excellent. The LG G6 will also delight its owner with a cool 5.7-inch display with a high resolution of 2880×1440 pixels, a dual rear camera that allows you to take excellent pictures, a fast charging function, and a stylish appearance (the body is made of glass and metal, and it also has minimal frames), water and dust protection, Always-on Display function and much more.

Screen diagonal: 5.7 inches

Screen resolution: 2880×1440

Weight: 163 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821

Memory capacity: 64 GB

RAM capacity: 4 GB

Battery capacity: 3300 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: no

Support for 4G networks: yes

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X 3/32GB

Let's talk about inexpensive 5.5-inch devices and here again we have Xiaomi as one of the leaders in inexpensive smartphones.

In terms of design, it is similar to the Redmi 4X, but the entire body is different, and the specifications are slightly different. Thus, this model received a higher resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM (in this version). The cameras are similar, there is a fingerprint scanner, and a good 4100 mAh battery.

Most importantly, the Redmi Note 4X is only slightly more expensive than its “little brother” Redmi 4X, so if you want a smartphone with a larger display, we recommend taking a closer look at the Note 4X.

Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches

Screen resolution: 1920×1080

Weight: 175 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625

Memory capacity: 32 GB

RAM capacity: 3 GB

Battery capacity: 4100 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus is the best budget phone

A popular smartphone of 2021 was also included in our rating - Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, which is assembled in a metal and polycarbonate case. It has an excellent widescreen IPS display with a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels, protected from damage by Corning Gorilla Glass. Inside the Redmi 5 Plus, the “heart beats” of a 64-bit 8-core chip – Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 with an operating frequency of 2000 MHz, which has 4 GB of RAM. The phone is equipped with two good cameras made by OmniVision with a resolution of 12 and 5 megapixels, the older of which has a dual flash and HDR shooting and touch focusing functions. In addition to everything, the smartphone with a large screen and two SIM cards has a fingerprint scanner and a good 4000 mAh battery with fast charging function.

pros

Large and elongated screen, good battery with fast charging;
Comfortable size, optimal price-quality ratio;
Any powerful toy can be run with maximum graphics settings.

Minuses

The camera does not focus well, the standard camera software is weak;
Combined slot for memory cards, no NFC module;
Some applications have not yet been adapted to the new 18:9 resolution.

Meizu M5 Note 16GB

The cost of this 5.5-inch smartphone from Meizu is 10-14 thousand rubles. Why such difference? Apparently, it depends on the seller’s markup. However, this also applies to most smartphones from other companies, so don’t be surprised.

Meizu M5 Note primarily stands out for its body. So, it is not just metal, but also solid monolithic, that is, the back part consists entirely of metal. The smartphone looks very cool - laconic and stylish, and in all available shades.

The display resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, the processor is MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755), 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, which can be increased via a memory card slot. The battery capacity is similar to competitors - 4000 mAh.

There is a fingerprint scanner, as well as such an important thing for many as the fast charging function.

Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches

Screen resolution: 1920×1080

Weight: 175 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755)

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 3 GB

Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A 2/16GB

A budget device from Xiaomi, one of the most inexpensive in the company’s line, whose owner can be purchased for 7,000-8,000 rubles.

Since the device is inexpensive, you shouldn’t expect a fingerprint sensor or a metal case, but for this money you get a nice plastic body, a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, decent cameras by the standards of the class, a platform with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, battery capacity of 3080 mAh. Of course, there is support for 4G LTE.

Huawei P10 Lite 3/32GB

A very stylish and at the same time inexpensive device from Huawei, which is one of the world leaders in the smartphone market. This device cannot be called very cheap, but it is really budget-friendly if you compare its cost with many competitors. Meanwhile, Huawei P10 Lite has several important features.

The first one is immediately noticeable - it's stunning appearance. The smartphone is made of glass and steel, but the tone is set by extremely unusual color shades. Take a look at the back cover - impressive, isn't it?

Display diagonal - 5.2 inches, resolution - Full HD, processor - HiSilicon Kirin 658, RAM - 3 GB, built-in - 32 GB, memory card support is available.

Huawei P10 Lite is a smartphone with a good camera, fast software and a reasonable price.

Screen diagonal: 5.2 inches

Screen resolution: 1920×1080

Weight: 146 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 658

Memory capacity: 32 GB

RAM capacity: 3 GB

Battery capacity: 3000 mAh

Camera: 12 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Nokia 5

The return of a legend to the market - Nokia presented several smartphones running on Android. Among them is the inexpensive Nokia 5 smartphone. What's good about it?

Firstly, this is an inexpensive device. Secondly, the case is aluminum and has a very interesting design. By the way, there are several shades of the case, you can choose according to your taste.

Go ahead. The platform here is not the most powerful, but for such a price it is quite enough: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 works in conjunction with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory. The cameras turned out to be quite good as well, allowing us to get decent pictures for this class. There is a fingerprint scanner located on the front of the case in the Home button (the button itself is not mechanical, but touch-sensitive).

Screen diagonal: 5.2 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: -

Number of SIM cards: 1

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 3000 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro

The device is integrated with the Snapdragon 636 chipset, which has 8 cores with a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz each and an Adreno 509 accelerator. The frameless screen with an IPS matrix of 6.26 inches has a resolution of 2280x1080 and a ratio of 18 to 9.

The rear camera has f/1.9 aperture and 12 megapixels, while the front camera has f/2.0 and 20 megapixels. In both cases, a second 5 megapixel module was added for the blur effect. Equipped with artificial intelligence and can be unlocked by face.

The Li-Po battery has a capacity of 4000 mAh. Available in 4RAM/64ROM and 3RAM/32ROM variations. The SIM card tray supports either simultaneous use of 2 SIM cards, or one SIM card and MircoSD. Micro-USB port. Equipped with an infrared port.

The body is aluminum and has plastic inserts at the ends. Externally, the smartphone resembles the Iphone XS MAX - the vertically positioned camera and “bangs” exactly copy the latest model of the global brand. There are no touch buttons.

The fingerprint sensor is located in the center of the upper half of the back of the smartphone.

The gadget is relatively large, but does not fall out of your hands. The camera takes decent pictures. The screen quality is high. Doesn't heat up when used for a long time. The MIUI 10 system dilutes Android 8.1. and allows the user to customize it to suit themselves.

Advantages

Good cameras Capacious and high-quality battery High-quality stabilization when shooting video Performance Infrared port (can be used as a TV remote control, for example) Autonomy

Flaws

No NFC No USB Type-C port Body is sensitive to scratches and leaves marks Protruding camera

LG Q6a M700

Another LG in our review. This device is more expensive than many of its competitors, and it is not built on the most powerful platform (8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of ROM), but it has something that its closest competitors do not have. What are we talking about?

Of course, about the frameless case. In this regard, the LG Q6a M700 resembles the flagship G6. True, only from the front, since plastic is visible on the back of the body, and there is only a single camera.

Interestingly, there is no fingerprint scanner here, but the company offers unlocking the device using facial recognition of the owner. Just don’t confuse it with Face ID, these are different technologies and the one used by LG is much simpler. But, if you believe the reviews, it works quite well.

There is also a front camera with a 100-degree view.

Screen diagonal: 5.5 inches

Screen resolution: 2160×1080

Weight: 149 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 435

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 2 GB

Battery capacity: 3000 mAh

Camera: 13 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes

The best inexpensive smartphones of 2021

Advanced features now available at reasonable prices

Since last year, 18:9 aspect ratio screens and dual cameras have become major trends in the mobile technology industry. New trends have affected models of all price categories, and companies like Apple have actively introduced innovations to get ahead, such as the frameless display on the iPhone X.

Manufacturers of budget models have also tried to keep up with trends: examples include the Xiaomi Mi A1 with a dual camera, as well as the LG Q6a M700 and Honor 7X - both models are equipped with 18:9 screens.

Thanks to this, buyers with a budget of 8,000 to 15,000 rubles now have access to a huge selection of smartphones. In our list we have given several examples of high-quality and productive, but at the same time budget models that are relevant for 2018.

Xiaomi Redmi 5

Motorola Moto C Plus 16GB

Motorola is slowly returning to the Russian market and offering a tangible choice among its smartphones. The budget model is Motorola Moto C Plus 16GB. An inexpensive smartphone, which could compete with, for example, the Meizu M5c.

The body is plastic, but the design is quite nice. The M logo on the back cover especially stands out. The display has a diagonal of 5 inches, resolution - HD. The processor is MediaTek MT6737, but the amount of RAM is small - 1 GB, 16 GB of internal memory. But the Motorola Moto C Plus has a capacious battery - as much as 4000 mAh, which with such characteristics should provide a high level of battery life.

Screen diagonal: 5 inches

Screen resolution: 1280×720

Weight: 162 g

Number of SIM cards: 2

Processor: MediaTek MT6737

Memory capacity: 16 GB

RAM capacity: 1 GB

Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

Camera: 8 MP

Memory card support: yes

Support for 4G networks: yes