Smartphone with a good camera and battery review. Choosing a phone with an excellent camera and battery - the best models

Smartphones are becoming more sophisticated and multifunctional. And customer demands for phones are also increasing. And now I want my smartphone to not only provide high-quality communication, but also take good photos, and at the same time hold a charge for a long time. The best smartphones of 2018 with a powerful battery and a good camera are presented in our rating, based on reviews from experts and ordinary buyers.

How to choose a smartphone with a good camera and a powerful battery?

The quality of mobile photography is determined by three components: sensor, lens and specialized software.

The resolution of the image and, to some extent, the sensitivity of the camera depend on the first. It is a mistake to assume that the more megapixels a smartphone produces, the better. Of course, unless we are talking about special cases when neighboring pixels are grouped in order to jointly perform certain tasks. To get excellent photos, 10-12 MP is enough. Moreover, the larger the pixels, the more accurately they are able to convey information about the subject in low light conditions. Their size is directly proportional to the size of the photomatrix and inversely proportional to its own quantity. The technology by which the sensor is made also has a certain influence, but we will not delve into such jungle. For simplicity, we recommend that an acceptable pixel size is 1.12 microns, a decent one is 1.25, and a good one is 1.4 and above.

The contribution of a lens is assessed by its aperture (also known as aperture or aperture). The higher this indicator, the more light the unit transmits and the better the quality of images in difficult conditions. Flagship devices can boast f/1.5—f/1.7 apertures, the middle class gets by with f/1.9—f/2.0 apertures, and inexpensive models are content with f/2.2 apertures. It is already indecent to call devices with lower values camera phones. Another influencing factor associated with lenses is the quality of the optics themselves. In a broad sense. Starting from the composition of the material from which the lenses are made, and ending with their geometry and adjustment. This is exactly what most buyers cannot verify for themselves. We can only trust the manufacturer that the optics for the lenses are made personally by Carl Zeiss. As a last resort, Leica at its factories in Germany.))

It’s not enough to install good sensors and high-quality lenses—they also need to be used correctly. Moreover, Apple programmers managed to squeeze everything they could out of the relatively small pixels of the iPhone 7 (1.22 microns). And some “popular” brands hope to impress a potential buyer with cool matrices, but do not optimize camera software for their features. Finally, each manufacturer has its own developed software algorithms. Some with some nuances, some with others. Here, only personal experience or competent reviews will help you make your choice.

Battery capacity is an important concept, but this indicator alone is not enough to predict autonomy - such an assessment is too multifactorial. If we take into account only the technical characteristics, the situation is as follows. The main energy consumer is the display. Direct comparison of different models is incorrect, so just keep in mind: the larger the diagonal, the higher the “appetite”. In addition, OLED displays consume less than IPS displays. Processors (single-chip systems) occupy second place in the rating of “eaters”. Even made within the framework of comparable technological standards, in terms of energy consumption, chips of the same class can show a difference of tens of percent. It always makes sense to focus on the latest hardware platforms. Well, again, optimization. A-brands are doing best with this and further downwards.

When selecting camera phones for our review, we relied on a battery capacity of 3500 mAh (with one exception).

According to statistics, when buying a smartphone, most buyers first of all pay attention to its autonomy, camera quality and design. Everything is fine with the latter today, because even state employees can boast of an almost flagship appearance. As for the operating time, it can easily be increased by increasing the battery capacity. But it’s not so easy to understand the quality of the pictures the phone takes from a few numbers in the specifications. Therefore, we have compiled a rating of smartphones with the best camera and powerful battery according to buyers, which will help you choose an excellent device for the Internet, games and photos, spending reasonable money on it.

The best inexpensive smartphones with a good camera and battery

Customer demands are growing faster than technology is developing. Once upon a time, a mediocre camera was enough for a user, but today even budget smartphones are criticized for strong noise in pictures, unclear photos and the lack of such familiar “tricks” as background blur. Taking into account such customer requests, we have selected 3 inexpensive smartphones with a good dual camera. All of them are presented by solutions from Chinese brands, and the battery capacity of each device is an impressive 4000 mAh.

1. Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite 3/32GB

Do you want to buy a smartphone under 12,000 rubles that will delight you with a stylish design, high-quality assembly and powerful hardware? A wonderful solution would be Mi A2 Lite from the Chinese brand Xiaomi. The smartphone runs on the still in demand Snapdragon 625 with an Adreno 506 graphics accelerator. This is one of the best platforms for inexpensive models, demonstrating excellent results in both regular applications and many modern games.

Note. Along with the A2 Lite, the manufacturer also released the regular A2. The cameras and hardware in it are better than in the younger version, and the display does not have a notch. If you can add another 3-4 thousand rubles to your budget, then we recommend this option.

The main cameras of the Mi A2 Light smartphone are represented by sensors from Sony and Samsung (IMX486 and S5K5E8, respectively), and the front module (OV5675) is manufactured by OmniVision. The latter is suitable not only for excellent selfies, but also for face unlocking. As for the rear modules, they take very decent photos, but the lack of lighting still leads to noticeable noise.

Advantages:

pure Android operating system;
good rear camera modules;
battery life – 4000 mAh battery;
calibration and brightness of the display are excellent for a budget employee;
separate tray for SIM and microSD.

Flaws:

Camera operation in low light still raises questions.

2. Meizu M6 Note 16GB

Second place went to a good smartphone from Meizu. The M6 Note model went on sale in the fall of 2017, and since then it has still remained quite popular. This success of the device was ensured by the excellent “filling”: Snapdragon 625, Adreno 506, 3 GB of RAM.
By the way, this is the first Meizu phone powered by Qualcomm, and not MediaTek. If we talk about cameras, they are slightly inferior to their competitors. The Sony IMX362 sensor is somewhat outdated, and the second 5 MP module is even worse. But the front camera here is simply excellent. For selfie fans, a smartphone with a powerful battery and a good camera, the Meizu M6 Note, will be an excellent choice.

Advantages:

perfect design for a budget employee;
metal body, available in 4 colors;
good performance and speed;
great price;
there is support for fast charging;
touch-mechanical button mTouch;
autonomy up to 2 days at standard load.

Flaws:

only 16 GB of storage and a combined slot.

3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 3/32GB

The Redmi Note line is considered one of the most popular in Xiaomi's product range, providing the manufacturer with the lion's share of sales. After the extremely successful Redmi Note 4, the Chinese decided to squeeze the most out of the market by releasing several modifications at once. Depending on the country, the smartphone is equipped with either the same cameras as the A2 Lite, or two Samsung modules at once (S5K2L7 instead of IMX486).

A smartphone with an excellent camera and battery pleases with productive hardware that perfectly “digests” modern games at medium graphics settings. For the younger modification with 3/32 GB of memory, the manufacturer asks only 10 thousand rubles. But other solutions are also available for sale, up to 6 gigabytes of RAM and 128 GB of ROM.

What can be highlighted:

passable sound;
high-quality main camera;
Full HD screen 5.99 inches with 2:1 ratio;
lightning-fast fingerprint scanner;
impressive autonomy;
good combination of low cost and ideal technical capabilities;
fits comfortably in the hand.

The best smartphones with a good camera and battery price – quality

Ready to spend a little more money, but want to do it smart? The second category of smartphones in our review, which contains the best devices in terms of price and quality, will help with this. For their price, the presented smartphones are an excellent choice for mobile photography. Accurate detection of objects in the frame to blur the background, excellent front cameras for high-quality selfies, as well as batteries from 3500 mAh, which are enough for a whole day of active shooting - all this will delight buyers with a budget of 15 to 20 thousand rubles.

1. Honor 8X 4/64GB

The second category is opened by a smartphone with a clear focus on young people. And this is clear not only from the name of the brand (Honor is Huawei’s youth sub-brand), but also from its attractive design. The device is housed in a glass body, available in black, blue and red colors. Most of the back cover is glossy and beautifully reflects the light falling on it (though fingerprints collect there just as “beautifully”), and the small strip on the left, where the cameras are located, is semi-matte.

If we talk about cameras, then according to reviews, this smartphone takes pictures very well. On the front panel of the device there is a 16-megapixel sensor with f/2.0 aperture, placed in the same small cutout as the light-proximity sensors, a missed events indicator and a speaker. The latter is very small, but at the same time quite loud and of high quality. The rear panel of the smartphone is reserved for 20 and 2 MP modules. The main work is done by a 20-megapixel sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, and the second camera is needed to blur the background. Moreover, the smartphone does this very well, considering its price. Obviously, the inscription “AI CAMERA” on the back cover is not in vain.

Advantages:

one of the best screens in its segment;
The camera takes decent selfies and beautiful portrait shots;
thoughtful branded shell and fast hardware;
attractive design and three beautiful colors;
fast fingerprint scanner and facial recognition;
simultaneous work with a memory card and 2 SIM cards;
Nice complete case and film for the screen.

Flaws:

the case is very easily soiled and slippery, it is better to carry it in a case;
The lack of light in the frame clearly affects the quality of the pictures.

2. Samsung Galaxy A6+ 32GB

Another youth smartphone with numerous good reviews is in second place. The Galaxy A6 Plus model is equipped with an excellent 24 MP front camera with f/1.9 aperture, which has its own flash. Thanks to the “selfie focus” option, you can get an imitation blur of the background in your photos. In general, the algorithm works well, but some errors can still occur. But even in the dark, the smartphone manages to take quite good pictures with a minimum of noise.

The main camera, which has two modules of 16 and 5 MP, also takes very decent pictures. But this smartphone is poorly suited for gaming. The Galaxy A6 Plus is equipped with a Snapdragon 450 processor and Adreno 506 graphics. Yes, for many projects this hardware is quite enough, but only if you select medium or low settings. But the energy efficiency of this hardware platform is beyond praise, which made it possible to ensure excellent autonomy of the device with a 3500 mAh battery.

Advantages:

perfectly calibrated high-resolution AMOLED display;
excellent front camera with flash;
excellent battery that lasts for 2 days;
the presence of an NFC module and the stability of its operation;
attractive appearance and reliable metal case;
decent sound.

Flaws:

no event indicator;
rather weak hardware for its price.

3.Huawei Mate 20 Lite

The first place in this category is taken by the smartphone with the best camera, the Huawei Mate 20 Lite. It is equipped with a Full HD display with a diagonal of 6.3 inches and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The screen takes up 82% of the Mate 20 Lite's front panel and covers 85% of the NTSC space. There are two cameras in the device – 20 and 2 MP. They take great pictures, but they can only record videos in Full HD resolution (60 fps). It is also possible to record video at 480 fps, but for this you will have to lower the resolution to 720p.
But selfie fans will clearly not be disappointed, since the smartphone has a dual main camera, including 24 MP (f/2) and 2 MP modules. Also, for 20,000 rubles, the manufacturer offers customers a good set of supplies.

Advantages:

attractive appearance;
good package;
excellent front camera;
built-in NFC;
the 3750 mAh battery reliably lasts 1.5-2 days;
instant response of the fingerprint scanner.

Flaws:

incorrect system optimization;
main speaker volume.

The best smartphones with a good camera and premium battery

Modern mobile phones have not yet reached the level of full-fledged cameras, but flagship models are very close to similar quality. Advanced smartphones can take beautiful photos, especially if the user spends a little time on the correct settings before shooting. Top-end smartphones can please not only ordinary consumers, but also people who run their own blogs, develop accounts on social networks, and even amateurs who do not want to constantly carry a camera and charger with them.

1. Samsung Galaxy A9 (2018) 6/128GB

Smartphone with 4 cameras

Why didn't we choose a model from the flagship S or Note lines? Yes, because none of the devices belonging to them are equipped with 4 cameras at once:

Wide angle (120 degrees).
Module for 2x optical zoom.
Sensor with standard viewing angle.
Camera for digital background blur.

However, the latter is partly superfluous, since two modules are enough for the bokeh effect. But this does not prevent us from praising a smartphone with a very powerful battery and a decent camera for its interesting idea.

The AMOLED screen is also worthy of praise, the diagonal and resolution of which are 6.3 inches and 2280x1080 pixels, respectively. As for the “filling”, Samsung gave preference to the Snapdragon 660, popular in the mid-range segment, with the Adreno 512 graphics coprocessor.

Advantages:

6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of permanent memory;
separate slot for microSD (up to 512 GB);
main camera including 4 sensors;
recognizable corporate style and excellent assembly;
sufficient performance and speed.

Flaws:

Considering the characteristics, the A9 is clearly overpriced;
in practice, the phone does not need so many cameras;
no optical stabilization.

2. OnePlus 6T 8/128GB

The next position in the ranking of smartphones with a good camera and battery is occupied by the OnePlus 6 cosmetic update. The new product, which received the prefix “T” in its name, is available exclusively in black. However, the smartphone can be glossy or matte, which leaves users with a choice. Visually, both solutions look great, but the gloss is still more slippery and collects fingerprints more easily.

OnePlus has once again refused full IP certification. A formal claim about an improved water-repellent layer should be taken with skepticism, since it does not guarantee protection against moisture.

The hardware platform of the OnePlus 6T smartphone is completely similar to its predecessor. But the device screen has changed a little. And we are talking not only about the drop-shaped cutout instead of the “bangs”, but also about increasing the diagonal to 6.4 inches with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 instead of the previous 19:9. The screen is still made using AMOLED technology, and it is traditionally good (151% sRGB coverage and 99% DCI P3). However, all this is not as impressive as the fingerprint scanner hidden under the display. For convenience, the device has face unlocking.

Advantages:

fingerprint scanner under the display;
first-class color rendition of the screen;
superior gaming performance;
Android 9.0;
under moderate load the battery lasts 1.5 days;
almost perfect main camera;
clear and loud sound;
ability to shoot Ultra HD video at 60 fps.

Flaws:

there is no full protection from water and dust;
rejection of the 3.5 mm jack, which was in the “six”.

3.Huawei P20 Pro

The review closes with a real masterpiece, the dream of any mobile photographer and ordinary buyer - Huawei P20 Pro. We can talk for a long time about its main camera, which includes three modules at once, but they will not look as colorful as the fact that the smartphone is now the leader in the well-known DxOMark rating. In it, the current flagship of Huawei managed to overtake even Apple, and by 4 points at once. The iPhone Xs Max itself was ahead of the following Samsung Galaxy Note 9, HTC U12+ and Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 by only 2 points.

If you are not impressed solely by the camera, then the high-power battery (4000 mAh) installed in the smartphone and the 6.1-inch display with excellent brightness are also important arguments in favor of the model under review. It’s also worth adding a powerful “filling” to this:

proprietary processor Kirin 970 (4 x 2.36 GHz, 4 x 1.84 GHz);
advanced graphics Mali-G72 (12 x 767 MHz);
6 gigabytes of RAM at once (LPDDR4X, 1833 MHz);
fast UFS 2.1 storage with a capacity of 128 GB.

Moreover, the manufacturer asks only 40 thousand rubles for all these advantages.

Advantages:

king in the mobile photography segment;
impressive amount of built-in storage;
productive hardware and thoughtful software;
optimal diagonal and high screen brightness;
good optical stabilization;
extensive customization options to suit your own preferences;
IP67 protection;
front camera, ideal for selfies.

Flaws:

quite slippery and easily soiled body;
no support for wireless charging;
There is no 3.5 mm jack.

Which smartphone with a good camera and a powerful battery is better to buy?

By studying the rating of smartphones with a good camera and battery, each user will be able to find a suitable device to suit their own requirements. If you don't need an ideal camera, but want to save money, then look towards Xiaomi and Meizu. In all smartphones from the second category, you will get an excellent design, rich display and excellent front cameras. The clear leader in the top segment is the Huawei P20 Pro, which no competitor can beat in terms of shooting quality.

In recent years, new devices with good cameras have appeared on the market, including simple inexpensive models and premium-segment mobile devices. The former are more interesting, because the combination of low cost and high-quality shooting gives the devices an advantage over competitors. It is clear that other characteristics of a phone are also important, but when you want to buy a budget camera phone, they fade into the background.

The best inexpensive smartphones with a good camera

The speed of the communicator is judged by the name of the processor; autonomy is judged by the battery capacity. If you need an inexpensive phone with a good camera, then you need to look not at megapixels, but at the quality of the pictures. Everyone knows the feeling when an expensive, well-advertised communicator distorts colors, takes blurry photos, and does not have time to focus. Flagship devices use many innovations, but the efforts of manufacturers do not always lead to excellent results.

Today, you can buy an inexpensive smartphone with a good camera without any effort. Although phones have not yet replaced professional cameras, they have already learned how to take pictures in such a way that they have almost forced ordinary point-and-shoot cameras out of the market. Over the past couple of years, many people have appeared who buy mobile phones solely for taking selfies and posting self-portraits on social networks.

Xiaomi

These models are a happy exception to the rule that a cheap product will not be of high quality. Every year Xiaomi releases different phones, expanding its model range, making it attractive to consumers of any purchasing power. The combination of modern design, attractive price and amazing characteristics ensured the popularity of the gadget:

model name: Xiaomi Mi 5;
price: 15580 rubles;
characteristics: IMX298 sensor from the famous Sony brand, 15 megapixel camera, sapphire glass;
pros: large 5.15-inch screen, two SIM card slots, fingerprint scanner;
Cons: slippery body, not fully Russified firmware, charging via USB Type-C.

Another version from Xiaomi, which risks becoming the standard for mid-range devices. This is a cheap phone, released in three colors: gray, silver, gold:

name: Xiaomi Redmi 3 Pro;
price: 15500 rub.;
characteristics: all-in-one communicator with a screen diagonal of 5.5", module from Samsung;
pros: display resolution 1920x1080 pixels, metal body, 16-megapixel camera with autofocus and panoramic shooting;
cons: in low lighting there is a lot of noise in the pictures.

Lenovo

Although Lenovo's DSLRs are a long way off, pictures taken with camera phones of this brand are not much inferior in quality to professional photographs. Mobile devices are constantly being improved, so the company offers consumers inexpensive phones with a good front camera and a budget line of communicators with high-quality rear cameras:

name: Lenovo VIBE Z2 Pro;
price: about 400 dollars;
characteristics: QuadHD display with a resolution of 2560x1440, 3 gigabytes of internal memory and 32 GB of storage;
pros: 16 megapixel camera with image stabilizer, plenty of manual settings, dual LED flash;
Cons: lack of a slot for a flash drive.

Another gadget from Lenovo that surprises with the quality of its photographs. Available in a white plastic case. The device is equipped with a thin frame on the front and aluminum inserts on the sides. The back cover is matte with a light soft-touch coating, which prevents the device from slipping out of your hand.

name: Vibe X3;
price: RUB 22,990;
characteristics: 6-core processor with a clock frequency of 2 GHz, 21 MP camera, 1.5 W front stereo speakers;
pros: 5.5" IPS screen, color balance with increased brightness;
cons: unstable Wi-Fi.

Acer Liquid

Pay attention to the Acer Liquid Z520 model. At first glance, this is just another ordinary budget phone, but the communicator presented a few surprises to photography enthusiasts:

name: Acer Liquid Z520;
price: 6490 rub.;
characteristics: capacitive multi-touch TFT screen, 5", 480x854, 4-core processor, 1 GB memory, 8 MP rear camera with flash and autofocus;
pros: organic design, Bluetooth 4.1, fast GPS;
cons: TFT TN matrix display, poor viewing angle.

Another inexpensive communicator from Acer requires attention. For those whose main selection criterion is having a good camera, this model will be ideal:

name: Acer Liquid E3;
price: 5200 rub.;
characteristics: IPS color touch display, 16.78 million colors, 4.7" screen, 13.4 MP camera with LED flash;
pros: good color rendering, 4 cores, support for quick touches;
cons: low-capacity battery, slow autofocus.

ThL

The Chinese company ThL is considered one of the best manufacturers of inexpensive smartphones. The created models easily passed international certification, as they are distinguished by their build quality and excellent performance. Now ThL devices are equipped with the latest developments in MediaTek chips, which are characterized by low power consumption. Successful camera phone models:

name: ThL T6c;
price: 5990 rub.;
characteristics: support for 2 SIM cards, 5 MP camera with autofocus, 8 GB memory;
pros: excellent processor for a budget smartphone, stylish design;
Cons: weak battery and video recording.

Another Android from ThL with high performance and a good camera. In addition, manufacturers equipped it with a fingerprint scanner:

title: ThL 2015;
price: 14300 rub.;
characteristics: 5" screen, 1920x1080 resolution, 13 MP camera with autofocus;
pros: support for 2 SIM cards, high-quality assembly;
cons: little internal memory (2 GB).

Meizu

Inexpensive smartphones are offered by another Chinese company Meizu. You rarely see the company’s gadgets on store shelves; they are sold mainly through online stores. The brand is not yet very well known in Russia, but Meizu products are in demand in the USA, Japan, and Korea, which gives us the right to assume about the reliability and quality of the communicators.

Every season the company offers new phone models that are not similar to similar devices from other brands. The advantage of the product is the steel body, which increases the strength of the gadget. In 2019, the company introduced budget smartphones:

name: Meizu M5C;
price: 7900 rub.;
characteristics: 5" screen, Android 6.0 OS and 16 GB of permanent memory;
pros: 8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, excellent sharpness and color rendition;
Cons: weak video chip, dirty case, slow when multitasking.

Another smartphone in the mid-price category from Meizu, which is worth paying attention to. Equipped with a large 6-inch IPS screen, it demonstrates the best value for money:

name: Meizu M3 Max;
price: 14990 rubles;
characteristics: Android 6.0, permanent memory 64 GB and 3 GB RAM, rear camera 13 P, front camera – 5 MP;
pros: bright, large screen, fast charging support, good battery life;
cons: in cloudy weather there is a lot of noise in the photo and poor detail.

Elephone

The quality of the products of the Chinese company Elephone has become much better, so their mobile phones are being purchased more often. The latest generation gadgets are equipped with a high-quality display, a multi-pixel camera, and a unique design. The screens of most Elephone phones are covered with glass that has a protective oleophobic coating. Powerful processors with plenty of RAM and a graphics accelerator provide high performance.

The latest models are equipped with a fingerprint scanner. Rechargeable batteries allow you to use the gadget in offline mode for a long time. The following models are sold cheaply:

name: Elephone R9;
price: 11,500 rub.;
characteristics: 5.5" screen, resolution 1920x1080, 10 core processor, 3GB RAM, built-in 32GB, 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera;
pros: durable metal body, high-quality images;
Cons: gets very hot, few accessories.

Another phone from Elephone that is popular. Since the model supports 4G and works with two SIM cards, it is preferred not only by selfie lovers, but also by fans of Internet surfing.

name: Elephone C1X;
price: 6300 rub.;
characteristics: 5.5" screen, 4-core processor, 2 GB RAM, built-in 16 GB, 8 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera;
pros: low cost, updated OS, good camera;
Cons: fingerprint scanner doesn't work well, slippery body.

Oukitel

You can often find an inexpensive smartphone with a good camera from the Chinese company Oukitel on sale. Buyers are attracted by the low cost of multifunctional gadgets that stand out for their unusual appearance. The communicators of this brand are equipped with a large screen and a high-quality camera that takes great pictures. In all the latest models, 2 SIM cards are inserted, working alternately.

The performance of Oukitel devices is long-lasting. The multimedia capabilities of the gadgets are also pleasing. Oukitel smartphones with multi-pixel cameras:

name: U7 Plus;
price: 5600 rub.;
characteristics: 5.5" screen with a resolution of 1280x720, 8 MP camera, 16 GB device RAM;
pros: high-quality footage, fast fingerprint scanner;
Cons: low quality front camera, quiet sound.

An improved version of the previous smartphone, which was recently introduced to the Russian market by the Chinese company Oukitel. At an inexpensive cost, some parameters of the gadget are brought to the ideal:

name: U15 Pro;
price: 6500 rub.;
characteristics: Android 6.0, 16 MP camera, LTE support;
pros: metal back cover, plenty of RAM (32 GB);
cons: during a conversation, sometimes you cannot hear the interlocutor due to the poor quality of the external speaker.

Sony

Smartphone lovers call Sony the favorite among all gadget manufacturers. Some users put the company on par with the iPhone. A huge plus of Sony Xperia mobile devices is that they are equipped with first-class cameras, both main and front. Flagships can especially boast of this. Another plus is the design. All Sony models have a number of proprietary elements that make the brand recognizable. The most popular budget smartphones:

name: Sony Xperia M5 (Dual);
price: 11250 rub.;
characteristics: 2000 MHz processor, 16 GB + 200 GB memory, 21.5 MP camera;
pros: bright display, high performance;
cons: weak battery.

One of the most inexpensive smartphones from a Japanese manufacturer with a 20 megapixel device is the Sony Xperia Z1. This device was released a long time ago, so it is often bought at sales or promotions in stores.

name: Sony Xperia Z1;
price: 8800 rub.;
characteristics: Android 4.4, 5" screen with Full HD resolution, 20.7 MP camera;
pros: powerful processor, LTE-A category 4 support;
Cons: thick frames on the sides of the display, old version of the operating system, large size of the device.

ZTE

Inexpensive phones from the Chinese company ZTE have wide functionality and excellent service. A wide range of devices makes the choice flexible, taking into account the buyer's requirements. Over the period of its existence, the company has introduced all modern technologies to expand the functionality of gadgets. In the international market, ZTE's main competitors are Samsung and Nokia. Review of inexpensive models that take high-quality pictures:

name: ZTE Blade Z7;
price: 12300 rub.;
characteristics: two SIM cards, 5" screen, 16 MP camera, 2 GB of RAM;
pros: large screen, high-quality photos, 4G support;
Cons: little RAM, weak battery.

Another smartphone from ZTE that takes great selfies. The mobile device demonstrated excellent build quality at a relatively low cost:

name: Nubia Z11;
price: 18,000 rub.;
characteristics: screen diagonal 5.5", 4 core processor, 4 GB memory;
pros: chic appearance, high performance;
cons: some games run on minimum settings.

Honor

Huawei is a leading Chinese mobile device manufacturer. At the end of 2019, the company accounted for 9.6% of smartphone sales. Unlike other Chinese brands that produce inexpensive gadgets, Huawei is not afraid to compete with Samsung and Apple by producing premium communicators. Models with good cameras:

name: Honor 5A;
price: 7500 rub.;
characteristics: 5" screen, Android 5.1 OS, 2 GB of memory, 13 MP and 5 MP cameras;
pros: the battery lasts a long time, the phone does not slow down even when multitasking;
Cons: poor shooting quality in low light, no headphones included.

Another inexpensive camera phone presented by Huawei. The phone is equipped with an 8-core processor and a battery capacity of 3340. The manufacturer promises that the device will work up to 11.5 hours without charging:

name: Honor 6X 32Gb;
price: RUB 11,990;
characteristics: Android 6.0, 3 GB of memory, 5.5" screen, 2 SIM card slots, dual cameras 12 MP and 2 MP, aperture: f/2.2;
pros: fingerprint scanner, dual-tone LED flash, eye protection mode;
cons: choice between a second SIM card and memory expansion, average performance.

How to choose an inexpensive smartphone with a good camera

Recently, there has been a trend towards savings. Less and less thoughtless purchases are being made under the influence of advertising, especially since manufacturers now offer a wide selection of inexpensive camera phones that can replace a camera. You can buy a mobile device either in a hardware store or order it in an online store with delivery by mail. To ensure that your purchase does not disappoint, you need to know how to choose the right gadget.

First, you need to consider the options of inexpensive smartphones that will be useful to you. To do this, it is better to make a list of device characteristics in advance, prioritizing them. For example, put the ability to take selfies in first place, listen to music in second, play in third, and so on. To ensure that your mobile device meets all your requirements, consider not only industry flagships, but also brands that are less well-known. All manufacturers’ offers are divided into 4 categories:

And the brands. Promoted mobile devices with many additional functions that are not always needed, but you have to pay extra for them.
To brands. The average category of smartphones with characteristics similar to category A, but very different in price. This group is widely represented by Chinese manufacturers.
With brands. Unknown brands of inexpensive smartphones that are sold at a very attractive price, for example, Zopo, Cubot, Oppo, Doogee.
D brands. All other mobile devices that do not have a brand at all. Inexpensive mobile devices can be produced underground, so buying such devices is not recommended.

With good battery

As a rule, long-lasting communicators do not have advanced hardware, and vice versa, if the phone takes decent pictures, then the battery is far from ideal. Finding decent devices in the cheap segment is difficult, but possible. For convenience, smartphones are arranged in ascending order of price - from budget to expensive:

Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro;
Meizu MX6;
Xiaomi Redmi Pro;
HTC One X10;
DOOGEE F7 Pro;
Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro;
Xiaomi Mi Note 2;
Huawei Mate 9;

Chinese smartphone

As practice shows, many Chinese mobile devices have surpassed most popular brands in terms of performance and design. When buying an inexpensive smartphone with a multi-pixel camera and a capacitive battery, pay attention to other criteria:

Screen size. Varies from 4 inches or more. If you want to use the device only for sending photos, making and receiving calls or text messages, then it is recommended to purchase a screen with a size of 4 to 4.7 inches so as not to overpay.
Permission. If you plan to use the gadget as a regular phone, then a screen resolution of up to 720x1280 is enough. For the Internet and reading books, buy a phone with a higher resolution.
Processor and RAM power. The minimum OS for the normal functioning of the phone is 512 MB. As for the processor, if you plan to use only one application, then a 2-core one is enough. For multitasking, you need a device with a 4-core processor or higher.
Battery capacity. Expressed in milliamps/hour. The larger the screen size, the higher the mAh number should be. Compare these indicators when purchasing a device.
Photo and video camera. The more pixels, the higher the quality of the pictures. For high-quality photos and videos, choose models with 8 megapixels and higher.

With a good front camera

The development of social networks has given rise to a whole generation of lovers of taking selfies (self-portraits). To look great in photos, you definitely need to get a phone with a good front camera. This is a camera located on the front panel of a mobile device. It is sometimes difficult to notice it, since in some models the peephole is very small.

Often, smartphones do not please with their capabilities in terms of battery life. We are already starting to get used to the fact that the device should be charged almost every night. Fortunately, there are exceptions. The best smartphones with a powerful battery are in our rating.

What are the criteria for choosing a smartphone with a good battery?

Large battery capacity- This is an important, but not the only defining feature of a long-lived smartphone. If we draw an analogy with automobile technology, the model with lower fuel consumption will go farther with one fill of the gas tank. In our case, the role of the motor is performed by a chip (single-chip system), and gasoline energy is “helped” by all the main components of the smartphone. Analogies are always conditional, but in this case the example is quite clear.

"Motor". As a rule, with comparable power, the best results are demonstrated by "newer" engines. In relation to electronic devices, this term should be understood as the technological standards by which chips are manufactured. Now, the most advanced 10-nanometer technical process produces "brains" for the latest models of iPhone, Samsung, Sony and other flagships, and the autonomy indicators of these smartphones are head and shoulders above the corresponding characteristics of previous generations of “tops”. Another thing is that for this category of smartphones, the operating time on one charge is not the main “bun”, and it is not. they are trying to increase it at the expense of everything else. The middle and budget classes are still content with hardware platforms made according to 14 and 28 nm standards, and power consumption in the latter case very much depends on firmware optimization.

Screen. The larger it is in size, the higher its resolution and the longer it is turned on, the more significant its contribution to the overall “appetite”. You also need to take into account the nature of the output content and the associated energy costs. An e-book is one thing, the active content of Internet pages is another, video decoding is a third, and demanding game graphics are a fourth thing. Consequently, the choice of a “long-lasting” smartphone with a good battery depends on the scenario of its future use, and there really is a difference.

Our recommendations for choosing a smartphone with a good battery are based on battery life research results available on reputable online resources such as GSMArena, PhoneArena and iChip. At the same time, we tried to take into account the successes of applicants in other “disciplines”. As for the price range, the situation is as follows. In flagship categories, you can be guided by personal preferences, focusing on models with the latest SoC (10 nm). They do not demonstrate autonomy records, but in terms of relevant indicators they are clearly better than their predecessors. Frank " budget"attracts potential buyers with super-mega-capacity batteries, but they usually come with other cheaper components and unoptimized firmware. At best, the owner of such a device receives a device with a decent wait time. But in mid-price category there are decent options.