Rating of the best Chinese smartphones

Today, almost all popular smartphones are made in China. Even brands from the USA and other countries that are engaged in self-development of devices make them in Chinese factories. But what about the brands directly related to the Celestial Empire? Is it possible to find worthy manufacturers among them, for whose products it is not a pity to give money? Without a doubt, there are such smartphones. Moreover, the best Chinese smartphones easily bypass the products of companies with a long history in terms of quality, capabilities, and price. In support of this claim, we have compiled a rating that includes the five most popular phone categories on the market.

Best cheap Chinese smartphones (budget under 10,000)

By modern standards, the threshold is Is a fairly modest amount for a smartphone. But not for Chinese manufacturers. Today, companies from the Middle Kingdom can offer customers excellent smartphones at a modest cost. Moreover, they will delight not only with excellent quality and attractive design, but also with wonderful equipment.

Read also:

• Best Xiaomi smartphones
• Best smartphones Meizu
• Best smartphones under $ 100
• Best smartphones with Aliexpress

1.Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus 4 / 64GB

The first Chinese smartphone, if not the best, then one of the most interesting in the category. The price of Redmi 5 Plus is almost approaching the mark in , but giving such a sum for such a good device is not at all a pity.

First, it uses a great hardware platform. Yes, we all have the well-known and boring bunch of Snapdragon 625 and Adreno 506 in front of us. But it is hardly worth criticizing Xiaomi for using this "hardware", because it copes well with all tasks, including most games.

Secondly, the smartphone pleases with a sufficiently capacious 4000 mAh battery, which is enough for almost two full days of work under moderate load. The RAM and internal memory in Redmi 5 Plus is installed 4 and 64 GB, respectively, which is also excellent for its price.

Thirdly, the device is equipped with a well-calibrated matrix with a diagonal of 5.99 inches and an actual aspect ratio of 2: 1 (resolution 2160x1080 pixels). Watching a video, playing or just surfing the Internet on such a screen is a pleasure.

What we liked:

• performance;
• perfect combination of cost / quality;
• Battery capacity;
• stylish frameless design;
• calibration and display brightness;
• system speed.

2.ZTE Blade V9 Vita 3 / 32GB

Another good inexpensive smartphone from China is offered by the ZTE brand. This brand was presented on the mobile device market not so long ago, but it has already managed to win a huge army of fans. Reasonable price, nice design and balanced parameters are some of the key factors that attract buyers' attention to ZTE smartphones. In the Blade V9 Vita, the customer gets:

1. chipset - Snapdragon 435;
2. graphics - Adreno 505;
3. 32 GB ROM;
4. 3 GB RAM.

The device is equipped with a 5.45-inch display, and due to the elongated shape of the case (matrix with a ratio of 18: 9), it fits perfectly in the hand. At the same time, the screen resolution of the ZTE Blade V9 Vita is equal to 1440x720 pixels, which ensures a good performance of the device in games even on relatively modest hardware.

Advantages:

• NFC module for only 9 thousand;
• screen diagonal and aspect ratio;
• system performance;
• face unlock function;
• Memory;
• good photo quality.

Disadvantages:

• mediocre autonomy.

3. Meizu M6T 3 / 32GB

Do you want a beautiful and practical device, the power of which does not matter to you? In this case, we can offer you M6T from the Meizu company. The body of this smartphone is made of high quality polycarbonate and is available in four color options (blue, red, black and gold). The rear camera in the device is double, but the 13 and 2 MP modules are clearly inferior to the dual cameras in other, more advanced smartphones.

Important! The smartphone is based on the MediaTech processor and Mali graphics, so almost all games will demonstrate mediocre performance on it. But the performance in other tasks and the autonomy of the M6T are simply excellent!

The mobile phone has a screen with an aspect ratio of 2: 1, due to which the upper and lower frames of the device have become slightly smaller. For this reason, this inexpensive smartphone has lost its usual mTouch button under the screen, and the fingerprint scanner is now located at the back.

Features:

• affordable cost;
• dual main camera;
• first-class build;
• battery life.

The best Chinese smartphones for price and quality (up to )

By increasing the budget by one and a half to two times, users can look at more advanced solutions. Moreover, their quality and characteristics are so good that it is often pointless to look closely at the flagships. Chinese smartphones under 20 thousand can offer excellent cameras, premium build, up-to-date hardware platform, and luxurious appearance.

1. OPPO A5 4 / 32GB

A good Chinese frameless smartphone OPPO A5 could be placed even higher in this category, if not for the average cost in ... For this amount, the manufacturer, alas, was unable to offer customers impressive parameters, but limited itself to medium (in its segment) equipment:

1. 6.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1520x720 pixels (19: 9);
2. dual main camera with 13 and 2 MP modules;
3. Snapdragon 450, Adreno 506, 4 GB RAM;
4. battery with a capacity of 4230 mAh.

Unfortunately, the company decided that the NSF module is not needed in the phone for 16 thousand. Consider this nuance before buying a smartphone. An outdated port "micro USB" is also installed here, which is very strange for its price segment. On the other hand, the user will find a cover and a protective film (already on the screen) complete with the device, which somewhat compensates for the disadvantages.

Advantages:

• beautiful appearance;
• screen size and quality;
• capacious battery;
• excellent equipment;
• the ability to install a memory card and two SIM cards at the same time;
• portable cameras.

Disadvantages:

• plastic case;
• there is no fast charging.

2. Huawei P20 Lite

One of the most attractive phones according to customer reviews is offered by the Huawei brand. The P20 has a 5.84-inch large screen, which, in line with current trends, has a notch and has an elongated aspect ratio (2280x1080 pixels).

For contactless payments for purchases, the smartphone has an NFC module, and for listening to music, the manufacturer left a 3.5 mm connector in the case, which is already becoming a rarity today. Also included with the smartphone is a simple transparent case. Its quality is rather low, as for a device for 16 thousand, but at first it can be used to protect a slippery and easily soiled case.

Pros:

• excellent display;
• modern design;
• face recognition;
• fast charging and NFC module;
• excellent cameras with advanced settings.

Minuses

• the battery runs out quickly;
• the case collects prints very strongly.

3. Honor 9 4 / 64GB

The leader in the ranking of Chinese smartphones before Honor 9 is performing. The youth device from Huawei offers a 5.15-inch screen, which will appeal to buyers with a small hand size. The phone has its own Kirin 960 hardware platform, which is complemented by graphics from Mali and 4 GB of RAM.

Note. Honor 9 supports all LTE bands common in Russia and Europe, and also has a large number of interfaces. Among other things, the smartphone has an NFC module, an infrared port and Wi-Fi of the 802.11ac standard.

The device has a good main camera with 20 and 12 MP modules. They can even record UHD video, but only at 30 fps. The smartphone has good autonomy (with a 3200 mAh battery) and there is support for Huawei's SuperCharge (9V / 2A charging included), which allows you to fully charge the battery in a little more than an hour.

Advantages:

• the speed of the system is simply phenomenal;
• there is NFC and IRDA;
• stability of the GPS;
• the speed of the fingerprint scanner;
• nice appearance.

Disadvantages:

• the glass case will not be to everyone's liking;
• heavy weight, caused by the use of glass in the case.

Best Chinese smartphones with powerful battery

When measuring performance and large screens, manufacturers often forget that all this should also work without the need for a constant connection of a memory device or a power bank. As a result, modern mobile phones, at best, survive to the end of the day, and at worst they can be discharged at the most inopportune moment. And since manufacturers and developers are not yet trying to fix the problem by means of optimization, users have only one way out - to buy a smartphone with a capacious battery.

1. ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL 4 / 128GB

The Chinese manufacturer of ASUS offered buyers one of the best smartphones in the middle price segment - ZenFon Max Pro M1. This device has a good value for money. Device for about boasts:

1. IPS display with FHD (2: 1) resolution and 6 inches diagonal;
2. Snapdragon 636 and graphics accelerator Adreno 509;
3. 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of permanent memory.

By the way, if you want to save money, you can choose modifications with a smaller storage size. To compensate for its shortage in the future, you can use memory cards up to 2 TB, the slot for which in the smartphone is separated from a pair of SIM cards.

The ZenFone Max Pro M1 has a 5000 mAh battery, and so that the user does not have to wait long at the outlet, the manufacturer has taken care of supporting fast charging. But if this is already familiar to modern devices, then ASUS can only be praised for the presence of an NFC module in a fairly inexpensive device.

Advantages:

• high screen contrast;
• excellent hardware platform;
• huge battery capacity;
• decent build quality;
• separate tray for SIM and microSD;
• pure Android OS.

Disadvantages:

• mediocre cameras.

2. DOOGEE S55

The second place in the TOP of phones with a capacious battery is taken by the model from DOOGEE. This smartphone is powered by MediaTech SoC, so it's best not to choose it for gaming. But on the other hand, the S55 boasts a protected and stylish case. Moreover, the device is not afraid of not only water and dust (IP68), but also shock.

The device uses a 5.5-inch display with HD resolution and an aspect ratio of 18: 9. The device is powered by a large 5500 mAh battery, which takes 2 hours to fully charge. A pleasant bonus from the manufacturer is the included smartphone cleaning cloth.

Also for its price, the DOOGEE S55 offers a pretty good main camera with 13 and 8 MP modules, capable of taking great pictures in good lighting conditions. The lack of light is already affecting the quality of the photo, and quite noticeably. But the 5-megapixel front camera here is clearly for show and will not please selfie lovers.

Advantages:

• protection from dust and water;
• shockproof housing;
• high-quality IPS screen;
• acceptable price;
• capacity and speed of battery charging;
• nimble work of the shell.

Disadvantages:

• the front camera is not happy with the quality of the pictures;
• the sound of the main speaker.

3. Xiaomi Mi Max 3 4 / 64GB

If you do not need NFC, but you want to get the same "hardware" as described by ASUS, then get Mi Max 3 from Xiaomi. A powerful 5500 mAh smartphone battery with Quick Charge 3.0 support, as well as an infrared port, distinguish the device favorably from competitors.

Also, the device will appeal to those who like large screens.In Mi Max 3, its diagonal is 6.9 inches, which is ideal for games, videos, social networking, Internet surfing and other tasks. As for the 12/5 MP main camera, it is typical for its category and does not stand out for impressive pictures. But for most buyers it will be enough.

The body of the phablet is made of metal, and its screen is covered with durable protective glass. For the design of the smartphone, you can also put a separate plus, since it looks much more expensive than its real price, starting from the mark in .

Advantages:

• great and huge display;
• gaming performance;
• acceptable cost;
• huge battery;
• optimization and convenience of MIUI;

Disadvantages:

• would not hurt the NFC module;
• size for an amateur.

Chinese smartphones with the best cameras

Who said you can't get great pictures on your phone? Of course, full-fledged DSLRs can still chuckle carelessly on the sidelines, but their dimensions, capabilities and price, along with all the necessary accessories, are inferior to almost any smartphone without a fight. The latter, in turn, can be equipped with such cameras, which are not ashamed to take pictures not only for your home collection, but also for your personal blog. Some devices even boast the ability to record beautiful videos, which will delight those consumers who dream of creating quality content for YouTube.

1. ASUS ZenFone 5Z ZS620KL 6 / 64GB

In user reviews, ASUS smartphones regularly receive high marks. A similar opinion is shared by experts who note the many advantages of the brand's products from Taiwan, including:

1. high build quality;
2. excellent display calibration;
3. excellent sound in headphones and speaker;
4. price / performance ratio;
5. attractiveness of appearance.

In terms of design, the ZenFone 5Z, like most modern models, is very similar to the latest generations of iPhones. However, the device still differs from competing products by its proprietary cover - concentric beams on the back cover. The same ones are present on many laptops and tablets of the company, so fans of the brand will definitely recognize the characteristic style of the manufacturer.

There are two main cameras in the smartphone and they are really impressive in photo quality. The device also copes well with video, as the ZenFone 5Z boasts the ability to record video at a frame rate of 240 fps (in HD and Full HD) and optical stabilization. At the same time, a smartphone is based on the flagship Snapdragon 845 CPU that still retains the title, so it can be chosen by game lovers.

Advantages:

• one of the best displays on the market;
• excellent main camera;
• productive "filling", which is ideal for games;
• operation of wireless modules;
• beautiful design and good build.

Disadvantages:

• autonomy is not at all happy.

2. Huawei Mate 20 Lite

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite mobile phone offers excellent design and an abundance of possibilities. In this case, the cost of this smartphone starts from the mark in , which can be called a good proposal for the stated capabilities. This phone has the best cameras in its price range:

1. Rear: 20 and 2 MP modules (the ability to record HD clips at 480 fps).
2. Front: main sensor with a resolution of 24 MP and an additional one at 2 MP.

On each of the cameras, the smartphone can take excellent portrait shots. Reception: lack of illumination does not greatly affect the quality of the photo, which is very important.

Advice! If you want to invest money in the purchase of a camera phone as competently as possible, then this smartphone will be the ideal solution. The device has excellent rear and front cameras, NFC module, advanced hardware, and a large screen suitable for games, video and other tasks.

Among the other advantages of the smartphone are good performance and good equipment. The latter, in addition to the usual elements, includes a protective case and a film already glued to the display, as well as headphones.Their quality is not perfect, but quite decent for their price and for the first time they will be quite enough.

Advantages:

• beautiful design and good build;
• charging speed and battery life;
• excellent pictures on the rear and front cameras;
• large and perfectly calibrated display;
• the speed of the fingerprint scanner.

Disadvantages:

• dim notification LED in the speaker grill.

3. Honor 10 4 / 64GB

In terms of photographic capabilities, the Chinese company Huawei confidently bypasses any competitors, regularly occupying top positions in the DxOMark rating. For example, it is now led by the P20 Pro with a score of 109, which is 4 points more than the new iPhone Xs Max. But if you don't want to give almost for a phone and don't need amazing pictures, the Honor 10 might be the perfect solution.

This smartphone is produced under the Huawei sub-brand and also boasts excellent cameras. The front-facing sensor of the device is represented by a 24 MP module (Sony IMX576) with an f / 2.0 aperture and a pixel size of 0.9 microns. Also, the Chinese smartphone has a good camera on the back, represented by a pair of modules at once: 12 MP color (IMX498) and 24 MP monochrome (IMX550).

What we liked:

• stable working shell EMUI;
• the battery confidently holds one and a half to two days;
• reliable operation of wireless modules;
• excellent sensors with artificial intelligence made by Sony;
• powerful chipset;
• very fast fingerprint sensor;
• loud speakers.

Best Chinese flagship smartphones

If at the beginning of the 2000s, buyers associated Chinese phones with fakes of well-known brands and were of low quality, today smartphones from China are able to compete on equal terms with other companies. Moreover, it is the Chinese who create the most interesting devices based on Android, and the cost offered by brands from the Middle Kingdom leads to stagnation or unprofitableness of the mobile business of large brands. We also included 3 devices in the flagship category, which are almost perfect models in every way.

1. OnePlus 6 8 / 128GB

One of the best Chinese flagships of past seasons is offered by OnePlus. Model 6 is no longer the oldest in the line, as the 6T has recently appeared on the market. However, little distinguishes them, but the cost of new items starts from , when 6-ku can be bought for 10 thousand cheaper. For this amount, the user will receive:

1. dual main camera with 16 and 20 MP modules;
2. productive hardware platform;
3. juicy AMOLED display with a resolution of 2280x1080 pixels;
4. battery 3300 mAh with fast charging Dash Charge;

By the way, the OnePlus 6 differs from the updated model by the presence of a 3.5 mm jack, which will delight the owners of wired headphones. Traditionally, for new devices, the 6-ki package includes a case and a protective film on the screen. However, their quality is not very good and it would be better if the manufacturer finally took care of full IP68 certification.

Advantages:

• perfect system optimization;
• there is a 3.5 mm jack;
• very fast charging;
• there is no unnecessary software;
• mode switch lever;
• performance;
• excellent main camera;
• loud speakers;
• the presence of the Slow Motion function;
• an impressive amount of 8 and 128 GB of RAM and ROM, respectively.

Disadvantages:

• there is no Always On, although AMOLED.

2. Xiaomi Mi8 6 / 128GB

Xiaomi decided to make its best smartphone in terms of characteristics also the best in appearance. But in this case, the manufacturer decided not to bother too much and took the design of the latest iPhones. This approach can be scolded, but the fact remains that Apple creates the most stylish technology, so other brands should look up to it if they want to increase supply.
As for the hardware platform, the smartphone has incorporated all the best at the time of its release. One of the distinctive features of the device is face unlocking. Moreover, not only the front camera is responsible for it, as in most devices on the market, but a whole set of sensors that do not allow them to be deceived with ordinary photography.

The screen is AMOLED, and its diagonal is 6.21 inches. This is the ideal size, because, taking into account the elongated shape (18.5: 9), it allows you to conveniently use the device. The smartphone also surprises with the quality of shooting a pair of main 12 MP modules (optical zoom and optical stabilization) and a good 20-megapixel front camera.

What you should pay attention to:

• great design in the style of iPhone X;
• perfect main and front cameras;
• there is a full-fledged 3D face scanner;
• productive stuffing on a modern processor;
• large and high-quality display;
• smart fingerprint sensor;
• decent autonomy;

3. Meizu 16th 6/64

Finally, Meizu realized that it is not worth producing phones with MediaTek and Mali, especially when it comes to flagship devices. More and more often, Snapdragon is installed in smartphones, and in the 16th, as in the devices described above, the 845th model of the "stone" is used along with the graphics of Adreno 630.

Note. The Meizu 16th smartphone has three options for controlling the system to choose from. The device also features a pleasant vibration motor, reminiscent of the Taptic Engine in the iPhone. Another advantage over the competition is its excellent sound, which only a few can match. And all this for a very nice price.

The smartphone has an excellent main camera with 12 and 20 MP modules. The selected sensors demonstrate excellent photo quality not only in theory, but also in practice. Even in low light, the Meizu 16th manages to take impressive pictures.

Another plus of the popular Chinese smartphone is the juicy AMOLED display, which is not inferior in brightness and saturation to the current Samsung flagships. AMOLED technology, by the way, was not chosen by the company by chance, since it is required in order to be installed under the fingerprint scanner under the screen.

As for the minuses, they are practically absent here. More precisely, there is only one - there is no NSF module in the mobile phone. Of course, this is not a problem for the Chinese buyer, because QR codes rule in the Celestial Empire, but for the international market, the manufacturer should still add such a chip if he wants to increase sales.

Advantages:

• the area occupied by the screen;
• fingerprint scanner under the display;
• built-in DAC and advanced sound in speakers;
• excellent main camera;
• attractive appearance;
• battery charging speed;
• high performance.

Disadvantages:

• no NFC.

Which smartphone from China to buy

When choosing a Chinese smartphone today, you can hardly worry about quality. Modern brands from China make excellent products that do not cause anxiety due to the possibility of quick breakdown. As a result, you can concentrate on price, performance and design. On a modest budget, consider the first category of smartphones. If you are ready to spend more then the price up to 20 thousand is your option. The wealthiest buyers can take the flagships, which this year the Chinese have turned out to be just great. But don't forget that sometimes autonomy is more important than performance. In this case, we have added the category of phones with a capacious battery to the review.