Smartphones from Chinese manufacturers are so good. Rating of the best Chinese smartphones in terms of price-quality ratio

A Chinese smartphone is not always bad. If you play by association, then “Chinese” today is rather inexpensive. Of course, you can still find terrible phone models with a wild design, a deafening speaker and four SIM cards, but serious Chinese manufacturers have long understood how to make mobile devices that are not much inferior to Samsung flagships or Apple devices.

It is clear that any rating that contains the word “best” in its title will be subjective. But I will still try to form a small top of Chinese smartphones, demonstrating that the Celestial Empire knows how to make high-quality phones at relatively low prices.

The best Chinese smartphones 2016

Smartphone rating

Since we are talking about the best Chinese smartphones of 2016, we will consider them outside the market segments. You will find the best budget models below, and here I will give a small list of simply the best Chinese smartphones.

Xiaomi questions the adequacy of the current price distribution. If you take the same characteristics and write Samsung on top, then the cost will jump by 2 times. Xiaomi Mi5 is also not cheap, but that’s why it’s a flagship, which experts spent 2 years creating.

What we have:

Attractive glass-covered body.
Display with an unusual size of 5.15 inches and Full HD resolution with a touchscreen that supports up to 10 touches.
Snapdragon 820 processor with 4 cores and Adreno 530 video accelerator are the best solutions today.
3 GB RAM, 64 GB internal memory (of which 54 GB available).
Camera 16 MP.

In the AnTuTu Benchmark V6.0 tests, Xiaomi Mi5 took first place in the smartphone rating for the 1st quarter of 2016, showing better results than the Salaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 6S. Again, the cost of the devices is not comparable - the difference is more than 2 times.

LeTv 1s came about as a result of internal struggles in the Chinese domestic market. LeTv is the Chinese equivalent of YouTube, but this does not stop the company from creating good phones that are not ashamed to sell abroad.

Advantages of the device:

Metal body.
13 MP camera capable of recording 4K.
Great sound with DTS Premium Sound technology.
Fingerprint scanner.

The smartphone is built on a Helio X10 processor with 8 cores. I can’t guarantee escape speed, but the device works quite quickly, and it’s not that expensive – offers cost 10-14 thousand rubles.

Pro5 is a model from Meizu with flagship characteristics, which should be compared with devices such as the iPhone 6S, Sony Z5 Compact and Samsung Galaxy S6. Briefly about the characteristics:

The disadvantage of Meizu Pro5 is its size. Length 157 mm – comfortable use is out of the question unless you are a basketball player with a huge palm. If the same technical “stuffing” were combined with a 5-inch screen, it would turn out better, but this is already a subjective attitude to the size of mobile devices.

The most beautiful phone from China. But it excels not only in its visual appeal, but also in its intelligence: the Snapdragon 801 processor and 3GB of RAM do not allow the device to fail when performing tasks of varying complexity. Built-in memory is 16 GB, it is possible to expand the available volume up to 128 GB.

But the design still deserves a separate description:

Glass panels with 2.5D curve. Corning Gorilla Glass 3 doesn't leave hand marks, and the glass is durable enough to withstand drops.
Mode switch lever (vibration, all notifications, only important ones) on the left side.
5-inch AMOLED screen with good brightness and automatic backlight adjustment.

The main camera is 13 megapixels, the front one is 8 megapixels, and half the resolution would be enough for selfies. Autonomous operation is provided by a 2525 mAh battery. Combined with the economical AMOLED screen, you get 10.5 hours of unconverted video playback at maximum brightness. With moderate use, you can achieve two days of operation, but it is better to always keep the charger nearby.

The Lenovo corporation is behind the ZUK brand, so it is not surprising that the very first smartphone under this brand is included in the list of the best Chinese smartphones. This is facilitated by high autonomy (12 hours of high-quality video playback, two full days of work in mixed mode - social networks, calls, SMS) and excellent performance.

Let's go over the characteristics:

Snapdragon 801 is the flagship processor of 2015.
3 GB RAM.
64 GB of internal memory.
Android1.1, thoroughly redesigned.

The device works quickly, allowing you to easily play high-quality online videos or switch between dozens of tabs in the browser, minimizing the game with high graphic settings.

The main camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels, the front one is 8 megapixels, ideal for selfies. The device records video in Full HD. The disadvantages of the device include its large size. The screen diagonal is 5.5 inches, but combined with wide frames and a thickness of 1 centimeter, the phone looks simply huge.

The best budget models

If you think that Chinese smartphones should not cost more than $80, then pay attention to the following models:

Bluboo Xfire 2.
Homtom HT7.

You should pay close attention to UMI Rome. It was announced at the end of 2015, but even now remains popular among fans of Chinese gadgets.

The original price was $89, but now you can find it for much cheaper. On the same Aliexpress there are offers to buy “UMI Rome” for 4,000 rubles. What can you get for this money:

MediaTek MT6753 processor with 8 economical cores.
3 GB of RAM.
16 GB of internal memory.
Android1, almost without Chinese reinterpretations.
Main camera 8 MP.

Of course, 8 cores do not work simultaneously - the smartphone immediately overheats under such a load. But the processor shows better results than the mid-range Snapdragon 615/616/617. 3 GB of RAM is enough to work with a large margin.

The screen is well calibrated, image clarity is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy A3 and Sony Xperia C3, and the ASUS ZenFone Go is not even close to this indicator. Acceptable viewing angles with slight dimming when rotating the screen, high brightness - pleasing to the eyes. The ears are also not bad: if we ignore the ugly appearance of the built-in player, then the Rome headphones sound good.

As for the external design, UMI Rome looks much more expensive than it actually costs. If you wish, you can make some complaints about the assembly, but visually the phone is very good. Finding a device with similar characteristics at a comparable price is almost impossible, so “Rome” will be in the top of Chinese budget smartphones for a long time.

We invite you to look at the best Chinese Android smartphones of 2016, at various price levels: from top-level phones to affordable devices. Take a look at our selection.

Best Chinese Smartphones 2016 – Selection

Things made in China often get a bad rap, but they are more affordable due to their low price, and you can't deny that Chinese companies are strong and have recently picked up the pace when it comes to innovation.

Just look at the graph of the world's largest phone manufacturers last year, in 2015: 7 out of 10 companies are from China. This is no coincidence: the Chinese market has grown extremely quickly, but there are also international buyers who have been able to appreciate the work done by Chinese Android phone manufacturers.

With rising stars like Xiaomi and Meizu working alongside giants like Lenovo and Huawei, there are quite a few interesting and new Chinese phones that you should know about.

We have selected the best Chinese Android phones of 2016 according to the TehnObzor website, which are definitely worth your attention.

The best high-end Chinese smartphones of 2016

OnePlus 3 phone

OnePlus 3 price: $400 (25,000 rubles)

The OnePlus 3 is the first OnePlus phone that can truly feel complete: gone are those experimental models, gone is the extremely annoying invite system, and in its place is a new, great phone that's well designed.

The OnePlus 3 may not have any special features that make it unique, but it has all the similar specs found in $800 phones for half the price.

Powered by the top-end Snapdragon 820 chip with a whopping 6GB of RAM, the OnePlus 3 is fast and has a well-functioning camera. It's hard to find a reason not to recommend buying it, at this price, it's one of the best Chinese phones of 2016.

Huawei P9 price: $550 (34,500 rubles)

Huawei has had phenomenal growth in the past year, becoming the world's third-largest phone maker, leaving behind giants like Samsung and Apple.

Huawei P9 was the company's best smartphone of 2016, carrying flagship specifications and offering an innovative dual rear camera. The device has a metal design and great capabilities.

But there are a couple of peculiarities: first of all, Huawei's user interface on top of Android, which many find difficult to get used to. Then the camera has Leica lenses (no doubt Leica had a big hand in the creation of the lenses) with modeling and a super wide aperture, F/1.1, but in reality it's a gimmick and the Huawei P9's camera is worse than the best camera phones this year.

However, if you're looking for the best regular-sized Chinese smartphone of 2016, the P9 offers the performance and good looks to suit all your requirements.

The Chinese phone Huawei P9 is also more affordable than Samsung and Apple, which is why it is on the list of Best Chinese Smartphones 2016.

Price of ZTE Axon 7 and ZTE Axon 7 Mini: $400 and $300 (25,000 and 19,000 rubles)

ZTE is getting serious about entering global markets, and this year the company has unveiled not one, but two top phones: the 5.5" ZTE Axon 7 and its slightly smaller sibling, the 5.2" Axon 7 Mini.

You can already buy the larger model for $400, a good price considering the powerful specs: Snapdragon 820, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, while the smaller ZTE Axon 7 Mini with the same specs costs just $300.

There is one important thing that you should consider when it comes to buying a ZTE Axon 7 or ZTE Axon 7 Mini: the Android skin that is used on both models is very different from most others and takes some getting used to.

Camera performance is a little lower than the OnePlus 3, but still not bad compared to other smartphones.

A great feature of ZTE Axon 7 and ZTE Axon 7 Mini is the dual front-facing speakers that produce clear and loud sound, great for YouTube and Facebook video addicts and those who listen to music through speakers.

Meizu MX6 price: $300 (19,000 rubles)

The Meizu MX6 is a slim and stylish phone made from aluminum at a competitive price compared to the dominant flagships in the market.

However, for a Chinese phone, the Meizu MX6 is not a cheap device, but there is a reason for that. The phone performs well, has a smooth and stutter-free interface, and has impressive battery life, but it's not particularly stellar in terms of camera performance and has a few quirks in its menu system.

Additionally, supported 4G LTE networks are extremely limited, so there is a possibility that the Meizu MX6 will only work on 3G networks in many countries.

However, in our opinion, this is one of the best phones in our selection - Best Chinese Smartphones 2016.

Huawei Honor 8 price: $400 (25,000 rubles)

5.2" Huawei Honor 8 is a truly beautifully designed phone. It has a stylish glass design with a metal frame, a fancy dual-camera system and a pair of 12MP sensors, one of which is used primarily for collecting color information and the other for collecting brightness data.

What's surprising is how this phone squeezes 9 hours of battery life out of its 3,000mAh battery in our test, which is more than any other flagship.

Sure, the Huawei Honor 8's skin on top of Android may take some getting used to, but it functions smoothly and the learning curve isn't as difficult as it might seem.

That's why Huawei Honor 8 is on our list - Best Chinese Smartphones 2016.

LeEco Le Pro 3 price: $400 (25,000 rubles)

LeEco is sort of like the Netflix of China, except it makes its own hardware special, and the company has been making phones for the last few years.

The Le Pro 3 is the first phone that will actually be available worldwide, and it's a big step for the company. So what makes the Le Pro 3 special?

That's the price, of course: at $400, the LeEco Le Pro 3 is another phone that offers incredible specs for a reasonable price.

The phone is thin, stylish and looks very good. It's actually one of the first phones to feature Qualcomm's latest and most powerful chip: the Snapdragon 821, along with 4GB of RAM and a generous 64GB of storage.

Unfortunately, the Le Pro 3 has fallen victim to the trend, it doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack, you'll have to use your USB-C port to connect your headphones.

Price of Xiaomi Mi 5s and Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus: $400 (25,000 rubles)

Chinese company Xiaomi, the most talked about technology prodigy. Its phones usually offer great specs for little money, like the Xiaomi Mi 5s and Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus, but they have very limited support for the 4G LTE band.

However, if you are interested in the Xiaomi ecosystem, its Xiaomi Mi 5s and Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus provide more power in terms of adequate specification, at a very attractive price. These are also, in our opinion, some of the best phones in this selection - Best Chinese Smartphones 2016.

The best Chinese budget smartphones 2016

Huawei Honor 5X price: $200 (12,500 rubles)

The Huawei Honor 5X is a stylish metal phone with a 5.5-inch 1080p display, a fingerprint scanner and a very decent Snapdragon 615 processor, at a very tempting price.

Its only downside is Huawei's somewhat unusual and slightly clunky user interface, but other than that, the Huawei Honor 5X is a very good-looking device that has a lot more style than other phones, is affordable and is definitely worth considering.

Xiaomi Mi Max price: $220 (14,000 rubles)

The Xiaomi Mi Max is a gigantic 6.44-inch phone with a slim body and premium metal construction, a decent camera and very good performance.

Everything mentioned is exactly what a certain group of people will undoubtedly appreciate. The large size of the smartphone allows it to pack in a huge battery, resulting in impressive battery life.

So for whom will the Xiaomi Mi Max be quite suitable?

First of all, for those who appreciate good performance on a big screen, gamers and everyone else. But keep in mind that LTE connections are limited. Without a doubt, Xiaomi Mi Max deserves to be on our list - Best Chinese Smartphones 2016

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro price: $200 (12,000 rubles)

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro is often called the pinnacle of Xiaomi's success. A 5.5-inch Phablet with fairly good build quality, a feature-rich MIUI interface and decent specifications, at a cheap price.

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro version of the phone also has a fingerprint scanner on the back, a lot of RAM and expandable memory.

Meizu M3 Note price: $180 (11,500 rubles)

Meizu M3 Note is a repeat and updated version of the already familiar Meizu design.

With a large and good looking 5.5-inch 1080 x 1920 pixel display and traditionally fast Meizu interface, with a well-performing camera, the Meizu M3 Note has everything you need out of the box.

In addition, the smartphone has very good battery life. This smartphone is also worthy of being included in our selection - The Best Chinese Android Smartphones of 2016.

Xiaomi Redmi 3s price: $140 (9,000 rubles)

Xiaomi Redmi 3s is the most affordable phone in the Xiaomi lineup. It stands out for its remarkable battery life; after all, there aren't many 5-inch phones on the market with a massive, 4100mAh battery.

The Xiaomi Redmi 3s phone has an entry-level Snapdragon 430 processor that provides fast and smooth performance in your daily activities. The camera is also at the level of other devices in the same price category, which provides very good detail and image quality.

Meizu m3 price: $150 (9,500 rubles)

The new Meizu m3 smartphone is a direct response to the stellar Xiaomi Redmi 3. The phone has everything it needs to be a worthy contender: at a similar price.

Meizu m3 has a very refined and attractive design, which is complemented by a fingerprint scanner (many Meizu phones don't have one), Meizu user interface which works particularly well.

The device also offers a very good camera, which is not bad for such an affordable phone, right? Meizu m3 is also worth considering for purchase and that is why it is in the selection - The Best Chinese Smartphones of 2016.

If you find an error, the video does not work, please select a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

World economic experts call 2016 a turning point in the struggle in the market for smart phone manufacturers. The best Chinese smartphones have pushed aside their Korean counterparts from LG and Sony. Such a seemingly monster as Samsung is in a precarious position. The company's share of the smartphone market has declined by more than 27% this year. While manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom improved their positions by 20%. The Chinese are even promoting the iPhone, offering users cheap analogues of the legendary Apple products.

Chinese smartphones. Reviews, price and quality.

The reason for this situation is very simple. Developers from the Middle Kingdom began to produce a quality product. Today, no one is scared off by the inscription “Made in China”. And you can buy a powerful Chinese smartphone for $100-300. Isn't this a nice bonus? In this rating, we tried to collect the 10 best Chinese smartphones that would satisfy the high demands of modern users and not be intimidated by the price.

10th place

This is a striking example of a budget Chinese phone with 2 SIM cards. Its approximate cost is 10 thousand rubles. For this money, the user receives a model in a solid metal case, which immediately gives the impression of a quality product. Hidden inside the case is an 8-core platform from MediaTek and Android 6.0. Stable operation is ensured by 3 Gb RAM. The 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280*720 and the Mali-T860 video processor provide excellent images, complemented by a user-friendly interface. The camera is equipped with autofocus and flash. As for the battery, manufacturers promise a full 2 days of use without recharging.

Key Features:

OS - Android 6.0
Camera - 13 Mpx
Front camera - 5 Mpx
RAM - 3 Gb
Built-in memory - 32 Gb
Battery - 3020 Mh

9th place

This smartphone is almost a complete copy of the manufacturer's early successful development - Huawei P9 Lite. This applies to the internal filling. Externally, this model has smooth lines and smoothed corners. In this it is similar to Honor 5c. But, unlike it, Huawei Honor 7 Lite can read fingerprints on the back. The function allows the gadget to quickly recognize the owner. This device, included in the ranking of the best Chinese smartphones of 2016, is equipped with an 8-core processor and a good graphics editor. This allows the model to easily “play” 3D games. Memory is not much by modern standards - 16 Gb. But it is possible to support a 128 Gb flash drive. For this model in the online store you will have to pay about 22 thousand rubles.

Key Features:

OS - Android 8.0
Camera - 13 Mpx
Front camera - 8 Mpx
RAM - 2 Gb
Built-in memory -16 Gb
Battery - 3000 Mh

8th place

While looking through Chinese smartphones with a good camera in 2016, we came across this model and could not help but include it in our rating. 16 Mpx - main camera and 8 Mpx - front camera. What else do those who love photographing others and taking selfies need? Girls will be attracted to this device by its subtle design. And the guys will be delighted with the 4 core processor and 6 GB of RAM, which will allow you to play any games. There is a lot of memory - 64 Gb, but there is no slot for an additional flash drive. Its price is about 31 thousand rubles.

Key Features:

OS - Android 6.0
Camera - 16 Mpx
Front camera - 8 Mpx
RAM - 6 Gb
Built-in memory - 64 Gb
Battery - 3000 Mh

7th place

This gadget has an impressive screen - 6.44 inches with an extension of 1920*1080. Although there could be more pixels with such a diagonal, the Xiaomi Mi Max 16Gb has only 342 ppi. But here is an excellent camera, like its predecessor in the top best Chinese smartphones of 2016, it is 16 Mpx. You can take and send photos for quite a long time, given the 4850 Mh battery. At the same time, the device is incredibly thin - 7.5 mm and is available in 3 colors: gold, silver, gray. There is a slot for a flash drive and 2 SIM cards. The cost of such pleasure is very democratic - from 15 to 20 thousand rubles.

Key Features:

OS - Android 6.0
Camera - 16 Mpx
Front camera - 5 Mpx
RAM - 2 Gb
Built-in memory - 16 Gb
Battery - 4850 Mh

6th place

Another best Chinese smartphone 2016 with strong cameras. The mini version of the Chinese manufacturer's flagship features an 8-core processor and 3 Gb of RAM. A 5-inch diagonal screen with a resolution of 1920*1080 and 411 pixels is more than enough for high-quality images. Memory can be increased from 64 to 200 GB. The battery for new models is frankly rather weak - 2800 Mh. So it is more suitable for those who do not leave the outlet too far. But the main thing is that if you have to pay more than 20 thousand rubles for ZTENubia Z11, but the smaller model will cost 13 000 — 14 000.

Key Features:

OS - Android 5.1.1
Camera - 16 Mpx
Front camera - 8 Mpx
RAM - 3 Gb
Built-in memory - 64 Gb
Battery - 2800 Mh

5th place

When choosing the best Chinese smartphones, price and quality, it is impossible to ignore this gadget. Elephone S3 will cost the user no more than 12-14 thousand rub. For this modest amount, the buyer receives an 8-core MediaTek MT6753 processor and 3 Gb of RAM. A small memory of 16 Gb can be easily expanded with a 128 Gb flash drive. A 5.2-inch screen has an extension of 1920*1080. The non-removable battery is only 2100 Mh, and this is only 8 hours of active work - the only drawback of the model.

Key Features:

OS - Android 6.0
Camera - 13 Mpx
Front camera - 5 Mpx
RAM - 3 Gb
Built-in memory - 16 Gb
Battery - 2100 Mh

4th place

Another model from the absolute leader of Chinese smartphone manufacturers, Lenovo. This gadget has an excellent “stuffing”: MediaTek Helio P10 processor with 8 cores, Mali-T860 MP2 video processor, RAM - 3 Gb. A high-quality picture is provided by 401 pixels with an extension of 1920*1080 and a diagonal of 5.5 inches. At the same time, the device is equipped with a fairly powerful battery - 3500 Mh. At the same time, it has a very affordable price, as for the flagship of the industry - 14 thousand rubles. By asking the query “Chinese smartphones rating of the best”, this device will definitely get into every top on thematic sites.

Key Features:

OS - Android 6.0
Camera - 13 Mpx
Front camera - 8 Mpx
RAM - 3 Gb
Built-in memory - 16 Gb
Battery - 3500 Mh

3rd place

This manufacturer from the Middle Kingdom began conquering the Russian market quite recently. But users have already managed to consider all its advantages. The Doogee X5 Max Pro has a 5-inch screen, a 4-core processor and 2 gigabytes of RAM. The cameras here are modest - both are 5 Mpx. What then allowed him to be in the top three in the battle for the title of “The Best Chinese Smartphone”? First of all, it is a powerful 4000 Mh battery. This charge is more than enough for 2 days of full-time work. The second indisputable advantage is the price. Doogee X5 Max Pro costs less than 5,000 rubles.

Key Features:

OS - Android 6.0
Camera - 5 Mpx
Front camera - 5 Mpx
RAM - 2 Gb
Built-in memory - 16 Gb
Battery - 4000 Mh

2nd place

The flagship of Chinese manufacturers gives our rating another excellent model. When choosing which Chinese smartphone is better to buy in 2016, you can safely give preference to Lenovo and this will never be a mistake. The VIBE Z2 Pro model has an excellent 6-inch screen with an extension of 2560 * 1440 and almost 490 pixels. This gadget has a 4-core processor and 3 Gb of RAM. Moreover, the device is equipped with a good battery that can withstand 2 days of operation and a 16 Mpx camera. But its price is considerable - almost 25 thousand rubles.

Key Features:

OS - Android 4.4
Camera - 16 Mpx
Front camera - 5 Mpx
RAM - 3 Gb
Built-in memory - 32 Gb
Battery - 4000 Mh

1st place

The head of Chinese smartphones of good quality is a gadget that has amazed everyone with its RAM. Unprecedented 6 Gb! But this is not the only advantage of Vivo Xplay 5. 70% of its front panel is occupied by a 5.43-inch diagonal screen with an extension of 2560 * 1440. The glass is curved on the sides, like the new Samsung Galaxy model. The device does not have a slot for an additional flash drive. But who would think of buying additional memory if theirs is 128 GB. The cameras are beyond praise: 8 and 16 Mpx. This model was developed as an elite model, which is why its price is not similar to the prices of other Chinese smartphones - 40,000 rubles.

Key Features:

OS - Android 5.1
Camera - 16 Mpx
Front camera - 8 Mpx
RAM - 6 Gb
Built-in memory - 128 Gb
Battery - 3600 Mh

When choosing a smartphone, buyers usually study models from well-known manufacturers. They can be understood. After all, it is believed that brands have a more responsible attitude to production, and therefore better quality materials and programs. But recently, more and more consumers are paying attention to the Chinese market. As it turned out, equipment from Chinese manufacturers can be no worse, and even better in quality and more accessible to the average person.

Our top 10 includes smartphones that ranked high in the 2016 ranking. We will consider devices with approximately the same parameters, which, according to buyers, received the highest rating in terms of price-quality ratio.

All you have to do is make a choice based on your budget.

10 Elephone P8000

This model is an excellent choice of a powerful smartphone at an affordable price. A high-quality display with excellent viewing angles, high performance without unnecessary lags, clear and pleasant sound in headphones - all these are the main advantages for purchasing it. The capacitive battery provides long-lasting operation, but is also heavy. Therefore, it is more suitable for the male half.

Elephone P8000 may become warm during heavy gaming. The camera shoots well in daylight conditions. The recessed camera eye is protected from scratches during use. A good screen, sufficient power and a large battery make it the best choice among similar smartphones.

Pros:

Battery capacity.
Good color rendition.
Affordable price.
Excellent performance.

Cons:

Build quality (there are some gaps in parts).
The LED on the Home button is too bright.
Poor quality of photos.

9 Meizu M3s 16 Gb

Smartphones from this manufacturer have recently become the most popular. After all, reviews from previous users are mostly positive. The stylish metal body with rounded edges and compact size makes it easy to use.

A high-quality display with a good range of brightness adjustment allows you to work with it in any conditions. An 8-core processor provides faster graphics performance. The SIM card tray is hybrid, also suitable for a memory card. To get rid of freezes and lags, you need to select a performance power mode in the settings.

With the right skill, you can take pretty high-quality pictures. For night shooting, it is better to use manual mode. Meizu M3s 16 Gb doesn't offer anything special, but its quality and performance make it a desirable purchase.

Pros:

Capacious battery.
64 GB of internal memory.
Great price.
Stylish and comfortable.

Cons:

Weak camera in poor lighting.
Quiet speaker.

8 Elephone S3

Stylish design and frameless screen will not leave this smartphone model unnoticed. The metal case and high-quality assembly without unnecessary gaps and backlashes ensure reliable use of this device. It does not slip and conducts heat well.

Compact size allows for comfortable one-handed use. The viewing angles are ideal, the picture is readable from any angle. The 13 MP camera allows you to take good photos with the proper settings. A loud speaker will prevent it from being unheard.

Fast response and decent performance allow it to be used in gaming modes. To expand the memory you will have to sacrifice a second SIM card. Elephone S3 is a stable and high-quality device.

Pros:

Stylish design and excellent build quality.
Compact size with decent screen.
No unnecessary applications.
Nice price with decent parameters.

Cons:

Discharges quickly.
It's getting warm.

7 Lenovo Vibe K5

Despite the standard design of this smartphone, it contains many advantages. The aluminum body with plastic inserts ensures reliable operation and feels comfortable in the hand. For music lovers, there are stereo speakers with Dolby sound on the rear panel.

The fast processor copes well with 3D games. Many pre-installed applications will not let you get bored, and 16 GB of memory will allow you to download a sufficient number of programs. The expansion slot supports cards up to 32 GB. Lenovo Vibe K5 supports 3G and 4G networks.

The main 13-megapixel camera comes with autofocus and LED flash. It will provide good photos in natural light. The front camera will take high-quality selfies. It comes with a bumper and protective film.

Pros:

Excellent color rendition.
High quality photos.
Fast processor.
Dolby sound.
Stylish design.

Cons:

There is no backlight for touch buttons.
Problems with some software.

6 Xiaomi Redmi 3

An unusual stylish design, a non-removable battery and an affordable price put this model at a high position in the ranking of desirable smartphones. The back metal panel makes it more reliable in operation. And the proposed colors (gold, silver and gray) will suit both male and female audiences.

Stable operation of the interface, good autonomy, and the ability to use two SIM cards are reliable assistants in daily use. The memory is not loaded with useless gadgets. Xiaomi Redmi 3 is rightfully considered the best budget smartphone this year.

Pros:

Screen parameters at a high level.
Long lasting battery.
Budget price.
Good camera.

Cons:

Built-in battery.
Slippery.

5 Ulefone Power

A non-boring and attractive design, a plastic body and tempered glass with a factory protective film give this smartphone rigor and reliability. The 13-megapixel camera will provide good quality photos in excellent lighting. High-quality hardware can easily run even modern 3D games, but you can’t play at maximum effects. SIM cards work alternately.

The 6050 mAh battery lasts up to 2-3 days, even in the most active mode. Offered in an excellent package: headphones, silicone case, OTG cable, replacement film. Ulefone Power is the best choice in its price segment.

Pros:

Bright display.
Battery capacity.
High performance.
Good equipment.

Cons:

A bit heavy.
It gets very hot.
Poor sound quality.

4 ZUK Z1

ZUK Z1 is an excellent smartphone for its price segment. Stylish design and pleasant tactile sensations make it a desirable purchase. The battery capacity is more than 4000, a good display and support for 2 SIM cards, which is still needed for the average user.

The presence of 64 GB of memory is an undoubted advantage of this model. And 3 GB of RAM and a fast processor will delight you with excellent performance. The 8 MP front camera will delight you with excellent images during video calls. This smartphone is an ideal option when choosing from those offered on the market, the performance of which matches the price.

Pros:

User-friendly design.
Good performance.
The battery lasts a long time.
Fast fingerprint scanner.

Cons:

The main camera is of average quality.
Sometimes it gets warm.

3 LeEco Le 2 Max

The 8 mm wide all-metal housing without plastic imitations ensures reliable, comfortable operation. The build quality and parts are at an excellent level. Everything is carefully adjusted, no creaks or gaps are observed. When the smartphone is not active, the glass seems to have no frames. A bright and clear image is a nice bonus when watching movies or playing games.

The ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is located on the back of the smartphone, which is very convenient. It provides higher recognition accuracy, identifying the fingerprint even if the fingers are wet. LeEco Le 2 Max supports two SIM cards.

A powerful processor and 6 GB of RAM allow applications to fly. The built-in memory of 64 GB is enough for a lot, so there is no slot for a memory card. Fast charging function implemented. It only takes him 30 minutes to quickly restore his energy supply.

Pros:

Perfect image quality.
Good camera.
High performance.
High quality build.
Fast charging.

Cons:

Weak battery.
Software support.

2 Meizu MX5 16 Gb

Meizu MX5 16 Gb is a beautiful metal smartphone with a bunch of newfangled things. This non-collapsible model is made from a single piece of metal, according to the manufacturers. Available in 4 colors. The presence of fingerprint recognition makes unlocking more convenient. Depending on the environment, the screen brightness is automatically adjusted.

You can play without problems even at maximum settings. The battery has excellent battery life and can work for up to 2 days in normal mode. The front camera provides excellent selfie quality. SIM cards work alternately. The root installed out of the box allows you to manage settings without restrictions.

Pros:

High charging speed.
Large screen with excellent images.
The battery lasts up to 2 days.
High-quality case materials.

Cons:

Slippery.
The back panel is easily soiled.

1 OnePlus OnePlus3 64 Gb

This device can proudly be called a gaming device. A powerful processor, AMOLED display, no freezing or overheating guarantee convenient use. A thin and light body made of high-quality materials fits perfectly in the hand and is suitable for lovers of stylish and impressive models.

The front panel is made of modern safety glass. There is a fingerprint scanner built into the central button at the bottom of the screen. OnePlus OnePlus3 64 GB is the most powerful smartphone on the market at the moment. Speed, instant loading of applications and an operating system that is not overloaded with unnecessary programs are its undeniable advantages.

Manufacturers support the phone using firmware, which allows you to deal with minor issues. Music lovers will like it due to the excellent sound of the speakers.

Pros:

Very fast response.
Reliable aluminum housing.
Fast charging.
Good software support.
Loud speaker.

Cons:

There is no slot for a memory card.
Poor quality of night photography.
Protruding camera eye.

The beginning of 2016 was rich in ultra-low-cost products from China. Such smartphones are always in demand, so manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom pay great attention to this price segment. If you watch our YouTube channel or visit our website, you know that we have published reviews of several popular ultra-budget models. And today there will be something like a final video, where we will try to rank the most affordable smartphones from China as of spring 2016.

But first, let's define the price range. We have set a price limit of up to $70. It was this price category that Chinese manufacturers focused on. Although, to be more precise, the Chinese focus on prices up to $60. And this bar was set by last year's bestseller. By the way, I did not include it in the rating, because... This smart comes from 2015, and we will talk about more recent models. But we remember and appreciate the Doogee X5 because, by and large, it became the first mass-produced 5-inch smartphone with adequate characteristics and a price tag of up to $60.

I've had a lot of ultra-budget products in my hands lately. But, of course, I am not able to cover this entire segment – neither physically nor financially. Too many inexpensive smart phones have been released. And in this regard, I thought - how can I adequately compare smartphones with which I am well familiar with devices that I have not held in my hands and do not know all their nuances. And in the end I decided to divide this material into two parts. The first part is a rating of smartphones that I had the opportunity to test. And the second part is a list of other interesting devices that I am familiar with only on paper. I think it will be more honest. At the same time, I ask you not to take this rating as the ultimate truth. Cheap phones are very difficult to compare because... By and large they differ only in details.

TOP 5: BEST ULTRA BUDGET SMARTPHONES FROM CHINA (SPRING 2016) THAT I TESTED

If Alfa 5 had a Mediatek processor on board, like all its competitors, it would probably be higher in the ranking. But here we get an uncommon and weaker percentage from Spreadtrum. Therefore, its performance is the lowest, and the built-in audio solution is very weak, resulting in very mediocre sound quality from the headphones. But there are also advantages - a nice design and a pleasant display. In general, I give fifth place to Leagoo Alfa 5.

WHERE TO BUY LEAGOO ALFA 5:

It must be said that the HT7 is the only ultra-budget device in this rating that has a 5.5-inch display diagonal. Other smartphones have 5-inch screens. Users who want a large display would naturally put this smart at the top of the list. But on the other hand, for many this is a minus; not everyone is ready to put up with shovel-like dimensions. Therefore, we will omit the diagonal factor and will not take it into account. HomTom HT7 could have turned out to be a more successful smartphone if not for its three main drawbacks: a slow touch, a non-standard audio jack and viruses included. If the last two problems can be corrected, then nothing can correct the operation of the wheelbarrow. Therefore, only 4th place and nothing more.

WHERE TO BUY HOMTOM HT7:

VK700X is the only smartphone from the VKWORLD brand that gave me positive emotions. It has a good display, more or less usable cameras, and a decent appearance. Let me remind you that the smartphone has metal ends, which has a positive effect on the strength of the case. The disadvantages I would include is the lazy GPS, which only works after a good kick through the engineering menu. Well, I would like to see better autonomy. If the VK700X had a more solid battery, it would definitely take second place.

WHERE TO BUY VK700X:

And it was a good battery that brought HomTom HT3 to second position. The manufacturer announced a battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. The actual capacity is, of course, less, but you can count on 2500 mAh and that’s quite good. Unlike the HomTom HT7, the HT3 model has a more adequate touchscreen, and the quality of the matrix itself is decent. Everything works stably, I don’t have any serious complaints about the smartphone. The only fly in the ointment is viruses in the firmware. But installing the official update via WiFi and running it with Dr. antivirus. WEB solves the virus problem in 5 minutes. Overall, for $56-57 it’s a decent choice.

WHERE TO BUY HOMTOM HT3:

It must be admitted that Bluboo Xfire 2 took first place in my rating in a not entirely fair fight. All of his opponents have a price tag of up to $60. Xfire 2 costs 70 bucks. But with a difference of only a chervonets, our champion is able to offer several significant trump cards at once, which bring him to first place. It has a metal body and the most pleasant design in this company. It has a fingerprint scanner, which works quite well. And, of course, we need to praise the smart for a full-fledged 5-point multi-touch, while in competitors we see a 2-touch dual touch. In terms of the quality of the display, cameras, and interface speed, Xfire 2 is not inferior to its pursuers. Its battery, of course, is not surprising in any way, but let’s not forget that the Xfire 2 is the thinnest smartphone on the list, and slimness requires sacrifice. The result is a well-deserved first place.

WHERE TO BUY BLUBOO XFIRE 2:

5 MORE WORTHY ULTRA-BUDGET SMARTPHONES FROM CHINA

Now let’s move on to smartphones that I didn’t have a chance to test. But among them there are definitely models that are no worse, and maybe even better, than the devices from the rating. Since I am not familiar with these smartphones in detail and do not know their shortcomings, I will not place them in places. Let's just look at it as a list.

The model is known for the fact that at the time of its release it became the most affordable smartphone with support for 4G networks. The BV2000 comes in several colors, has an MT6735P processor, and costs no more than $70. It has a simplified version of BV2000S without 4G support, which can be found on our website. In the version with the S prefix, I didn’t like the camera at all. I suspect it's the same here. But otherwise, the smart looks good and is suitable for people who are looking for an affordable 4G smartphone.

WHERE TO BUY BLACKVIEW BV2000:

This handsome guy immediately attracts attention with his stylish appearance, which is unusual for ultra-budget employees. It is a direct competitor to the HomTom HT7, another affordable option with a 5.5-inch screen. Fans of budget “shovels” can consider this as an option.

WHERE TO BUY UMI ROME X:

Still, the ghost of Doogee X5 continues to haunt us. This time in the form of an upgraded version of the X5S. In fact, we have before us the same X5, but built on a different hardware platform. Thanks to the presence of the MT6735P processor, the model received support for 4G networks, but the price tag also increased to 70 bucks. The design is still the same - brutal and angular plastic tiles.