20 great Chinese smartphones from AliExpress and GearBest

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Excellent gadgets from China at the best prices.

The cheapest smartphones

Here you can count on good performance at the best price.

1. Vernee Thor E

The main feature of Vernee Thor E, which distinguishes it among the gray mass of cheap Chinese smartphones, is its increased autonomy. The device can withstand up to 16 hours of video playback. Otherwise, this is an ordinary representative of its price category with an HD screen, modest cameras and average performance.

• Display: 5 inches, HD (1 280 × 720).
• Memory size: 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Mediatek MT6753 (8 cores at 1, 3 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 8 Mp; frontal - 2 Mp.
• Battery: 5,020 mAh.
• Price: 8 942 rubles.

2. Elephone P8 Mini

The full-HD display and power of the Elephone P8 Mini are enough to make you feel less like a typical budget device user. In addition, the smartphone provides an increased, compared to competitors, the amount of internal memory for storing files - 64 GB. Another advantage of the Elephone P8 Mini is the high resolution of the front camera and a separate flash for it, which may interest selfie lovers.

• Display: 5 inches, FHD (1,920 x 1,080).
• Memory capacity: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: MTK6750T (8 cores, 1.5 GHz).
• Cameras: main - double, 13 Mp and 2 Mp; frontal - 16 megapixels.
• Battery: 2 680 mAh.
• Price: from 10 168 rubles.

3. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X can be confidently called one of the most successful smartphones in the lower price segment. The developers have achieved an almost perfect balance between price, autonomy, speed, functionality and other characteristics of the gadget.

• Display: 5.5 inches, FHD (1,920 x 1,080).
• Memory capacity: 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (8 cores @ 2 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 13 Mp, front - 5 Mp.
• Battery: 4 100 mAh.
• Price: 13 166 rubles.

4. Xiaomi Redmi 4A

Xiaomi Redmi 4A is a cheaper version of the previous model. Not as productive and autonomous, with a plastic case and a less clear display. But rather cheap to compensate for the simplification of the characteristics. The 5-inch diagonal of the screen will be convenient for children and adults with small hands.

• Display: 5 inches, HD (1 280 × 720).
• Memory capacity: 2 GB of RAM, from 16 GB of built-in + microSD card.
• Processor: Qualcomm MSM8917 Snapdragon 425 (4 cores).
• Cameras: main - 13 Mp, front - 5 Mp.
• Battery: 3 120 mAh.
• Price: from 6,025 rubles.

Top-level budget employees

More often than not, smartphones in this category offer better build quality, more advanced features, and sometimes even fashion features. But without any claims to premium.

1. MAZE Alpha X

The MAZE Alpha X phablet follows the trend of frameless devices and is one of the cheapest gadgets of this format. The main advantage of the device is a clear 6-inch display in a relatively small body. It is also worth noting the powerful - especially considering the cost of the MAZE Alpha X - filling and spectacular design.

• Display: 6 inches, FHD + (1,080 × 2,160).
• Memory capacity: 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: MediaTek Helio P25 (4 cores at 2.5 GHz and 4 at 1.4 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 13 Mp; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 3,900 mAh.
• Price: from 10 887 rubles.

2. Huawei Honor 6X

Huawei Honor 6X is an affordable device with a dual main camera, a thin metal body and a large bright display. The gadget does not have any outstanding features, but no serious shortcomings were noticed either. A solid smartphone for its price.

• Display: 5.5 inches, FHD (1,920 x 1,080).
• The amount of memory: from 3 GB of RAM and from 32 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Kirin 655 (4 cores at 2.1 GHz and 4 at 1.7 GHz).
• Cameras: main - double, 12 Mp and 2 Mp; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 340 mAh.
• Price: 13,990 rubles.

3. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus

The main advantages of Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus include a capacious battery and a large high-resolution display. Therefore, you can enjoy excellent picture quality from wide viewing angles without worrying about frequent recharging. There are no complaints about performance. The device is equipped with budget cameras that do not stand out in any way, but it can boast of a metal body and a fingerprint scanner.

• Display: 5.99 inches, FHD + (1,080 × 2,160).
• The amount of memory: from 3 GB of RAM and from 32 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 (8 cores @ 2 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 12 Mp; frontal - 5 megapixels.
• Battery: 4000 mAh.
• Price: from 11,049 rubles.

4. Meizu PRO 6 Plus

The Meizu PRO 6 Plus phablet got a large Super AMOLED display with a huge resolution (QHD). The single camera of the device supports optical image stabilization. A powerful sound amplifier will please any music lover. Very few gadgets in this price segment can boast of such data.

• Display: 5.7 inches, QHD (2,560 × 1,440).
• Memory capacity: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal.
• Processor: Exynos 8890 (4 cores at 2 GHz and 4 at 1.5 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 12 Mp, front - 5 Mp.
• Battery: 3 400 mAh.
• Price: from 14 628 rubles.

5. Vernee X1

The indisputable advantage is the battery capacity. 6 200 mAh is enough for two days of full-fledged work, and if you use your smartphone only as a dialer, then for 4–5 days. Vernee X1 can be unlocked not only with your fingerprint, but also with your face. The main camera is dual, with the ability to take portraits with background blur.

• Display: 6-inch, FHD + (2,160 × 1,080)
• Memory capacity: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Helio P23 (4 cores at 1.5 GHz + 4 cores at 2 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 16 Mp + 5 Mp; front - 13 Mp + 5 Mp.
• Battery: 6 200 mAh.
• Price: 12 904 rubles.

6. Xiaomi Redmi 6

A budget novelty from Xiaomi for those who do not like the "monobrows" at the top of the display. The performance of the Redmi 6 will be enough for many modern games, and the battery capacity will be enough for a full working day. Xiaomi Redmi 6 has a dual main camera, as it should be for smartphones in 2018.

• Display: 5.45 inches, HD + (1440 × 720).
• Memory capacity: 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Helio P22 (8 cores 2 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 12 Mp + 5 Mp; frontal - 5 megapixels.
• Battery: 3000 mAh.
• Price: from 8 270 rubles.

7. Lenovo K5

If for any reason you don't trust Xiaomi and Meizu, take a look at this smartphone. On the display with a diagonal of 5, 7 inches, you can quite comfortably watch movies and TV shows, as well as play games: the power of the Lenovo K5 processor is definitely enough for this.

• Display: 5.7 inches, HD + (1,440 × 720).
• Memory capacity: 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Mediatek MT6750V (8 cores at 1.5 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 13 Mp + 5 Mp; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 3000 mAh.
• Price: from 8 608 rubles.

Chinese mid-range smartphones

Users of such devices receive functionality and quality often close to flagship ones. At the same time, smartphones from this segment remain available to a wide audience.

1. Xiaomi Mi5S Plus

Smartphone in a compact aluminum body with beveled corners, making it comfortable for one-handed use. Most often, Xiaomi Mi5S Plus is praised for its bright large screen, excellent performance and high-quality speakers. The device does not have a slot for microSD cards, but the developers have equipped the gadget with an extended supply of internal memory. Thanks to the dual sensor, the main camera takes great pictures, but only in daylight conditions.

• Display: 5.7 inches, FHD (1,920 x 1,080).
• The amount of memory: from 4 GB of RAM and from 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (2 cores at 2.35 GHz and 2 at 2.2 GHz).
• Cameras: main - double, 13 Mp + 13 Mp; frontal - 4 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 800 mAh.
• Price: from 17 828 rubles.

2. Huawei Honor 9

The Huawei Honor 9 offers near-flagship performance at a relatively low price point. The power of the gadget is enough with a margin, and the quality of the dual camera is commendable. Plus, the device stands out with its unusual body with a glass back panel and a metal rim.

• Display: 5.5 inches, FHD (1,920 x 1,080).
• Memory capacity: from 4 GB of RAM and from 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Kirin 960 (4 cores at 2.4 GHz and 4 at 1.8 GHz).
• Cameras: main - double, 20 and 12 megapixels; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 200 mAh.
• Price: from 24 160 rubles.

3. Huawei Honor 7X

The Honor 7X is another attractive mid-range Huawei smartphone. But unlike Honor 9, this model attracts attention not with a stylish body, but with a large and very clear screen. As it is now fashionable, there is practically no frame on the sides. The hardware and cameras of the Honor 7X are more modest, but the autonomy is better, and the cost is noticeably lower. All in all, the 7X can be considered a worthy sequel to Honor's well-balanced lineup.

• Display: 5.33 inches, FHD + (2,160 × 1,080).
• The amount of memory: 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Kirin 659 (4 cores at 2.4 GHz and 4 at 1.7 GHz).
• Cameras: main - double, 16 Mp and 2 Mp; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 340 mAh.
• Price: from 10 364 rubles.

4. Xiaomi Mi 8 SE

In May, Xiaomi introduced new smartphones, and one of them is the Mi 8 SE. This is a cheaper version of the flagship Mi 8, while not much inferior to it.

The manufacturer has taken into account all modern trends. There is both a dual main camera and a "monobrow" at the top of the display. And the 20MP front camera will give you great selfies.

This smartphone has a Qualcomm processor and 4 GB of RAM, which means that the performance is enough for any task.

• Display: 5.88 '' FHD + (2,244 x 1,080).
• Memory capacity: 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 (4 cores at 2.2 GHz + 4 cores at 1.7 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 12 Mp + 5 Mp; frontal - 20 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 120 mAh.
• Price: from 17 984 rubles.

5. Huawei P10

Slim all-metal smartphone with textured back panel. Users who are tired of the abundance of "shovels" among the flagships will certainly be pleased with the dimensions of the Huawei P10: the display diagonal reaches only 5.1 inches. But, despite the image bias of the smartphone, the developers have not forgotten about the hardware. The device has got a powerful filling and a dual camera from the legendary manufacturer of photographic equipment Leica.

• Display: 5.1 inches, FHD (1,920 x 1,080).
• The amount of memory: 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Kirin 960 (4 cores at 2.4 GHz and 4 at 1.8 GHz).
• Cameras: main - double, 20 Mp and 12 Mp; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 200 mAh.
• Price: from 22,291 rubles.

Flagships

Smartphones with top specs and, of course, the highest prices.

1. Xiaomi Mi 8

Xiaomi Mi 8 immediately attracts the eye with a stylish and compact body made of protected glass. Among the main advantages are a bright AMOLED screen with a notch at the top and a dual main camera, which is worthy of competition with the flagships of A-brands. But a conservative buyer may not appreciate the presence of a USB Type-C port instead of a standard headphone jack.

• Display: 6, 21 inches, Full HD + (2,248 × 1,080).
• Memory capacity: 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (8 cores).
• Cameras: main - double, 12 Mp + 12 Mp; frontal - 20 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 400 mAh.
• Price: from 24 772 rubles.

2. One Plus 6

The OnePlus 6 has all the advantages of its predecessor (OnePlus 5T) and lost its disadvantages. The flagship from OnePlus meets all modern trends. There is a display with an aspect ratio of 2: 1, and a main dual camera with excellent image quality, and unlocking not only by fingerprint, but also by face.

• Display: 6.28 inches, Full HD + (2,280 x 1,080).
• Memory capacity: 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (8 cores).
• Cameras: main - double, 16 Mp + 20 Mp; frontal - 16 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 300 mAh.
• Price: from 31 319 rubles.

3. Huawei Mate 10 Pro

Even if the P10 isn't cool enough to impress you, check out its improved version - the Huawei Mate 10 Pro. The developers have increased the battery capacity and screen resolution, added protection against dust and moisture, and also pumped up the performance. But the smartphone doesn't have a headphone jack, so you'll have to use wireless ones.

• Display: 6 inches, FHD + (2,160 × 1,080).
• Memory size: 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Kirin 970.
• Cameras: main - double, 20 Mp and 12 Mp; frontal - 8 megapixels.
• Battery: 4000 mAh.
• Price: 48 509 rubles.

4. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S

Continuation of the legendary frameless line from Xiaomi. The Mi Mix 2S has not only a unique design, but also an uncompromising filling: the latest processor from Qualcomm and 6 GB of RAM.

• Display: 5.99 inches, FHD + (2,160 × 1,080).
• Memory capacity: 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of built-in.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 (4 cores at 2.8 GHz + 4 cores at 1.8 GHz).
• Cameras: main - 12 Mp + 12 Mp; frontal - 5 megapixels.
• Battery: 3 400 mAh.
• Price: from 28 472 rubles.