The flagships of leading manufacturers are equipped with the latest technology - here you have fingerprint and iris scanners, and an intelligent voice assistant, and RAM like a gaming laptop. These gadgets are good for everyone, except for one thing – the price. In order to buy the upcoming new product from Apple, the average Russian will definitely have to sell his car.

Of course, not everyone is ready for such impressive expenses. More often than not, people want to buy an inexpensive but good smartphone – one that doesn’t require dust to be blown away and is equipped with all the necessary functionality. And this is not a utopia. You can purchase a high-quality gadget at a reasonable price - you just need to know what criteria to choose by.

How to choose a good budget smartphone?

The first thing to do is for a buyer who is looking for an inexpensive, but good smartphone – abandon prejudices towards Chinese products. The idea that goods from the Middle Kingdom are assembled by stupid self-taught craftsmen on their knees in stuffy basements has long been outdated. In terms of quality, products from Xiaomi, Oppo, Lenovo and even the lesser-known Bluboo and Doogee are in no way inferior to products from Samsung and. iPhones, by the way, are also assembled in China - and they work like clockwork.

Chinese smartphones are cheaper not because they are worse, but because their manufacturers do not charge extra “for the brand”!

Next, you need to decide on a budget. Counting on the fact that for 2,500 - 3,000 rubles you can buy a high-quality gadget is too arrogant and optimistic. But having about 10,000 rubles on hand, you can start choosing - in 2019, in the middle price segment there are great amount interesting devices.

The buyer needs to choose a smartphone based primarily on individual needs: for example, a gamer should look for a device with a powerful processor and video accelerator, and a music lover should look for a smartphone with a dedicated amplifier and digital-to-analog converter. However, there are also criteria that you need to pay attention to in any case - regardless of personal preferences.

Memory

RAM as a selection criterion is more important than built-in memory - because the built-in memory can be expanded using a flash card. However, there are some nuances here too. RAM is necessary for temporary storage of data - together with the processor, it ensures performance. If there is not enough RAM, then even with the most powerful chipset the smartphone will slow down.

Optimal volume random access memory for an average smartphone – 3 GB. If you want to save a lot, you can get a device with 2 GB, but this device is not suitable for games. As for the built-in memory, the minimum is 16 GB. Obviously, if the buyer is looking for inexpensive smartphone, he intends to use it mainly for calls and Internet surfing. These purposes do not require a large amount of ROM memory, but it is worth understanding that even 16 GB of steam installed applications They will fill out quickly as they update. Within six months, the device will begin to report that the drive needs to be cleaned.

Regarding the possibility of ROM expansion, it is worth considering the fact that in modern gadgets the MicroSD slot is often combined with a SIM card. That is, you have to choose, and sometimes it’s not easy to give up a second SIM card, because the first one can be used for personal use, and the second one is for work.

operating system

Android - and nothing butAndroid!

In fact, today the vast majority of smartphones are produced on two operating systems - iOS from Apple and Android from Google. When choosing an inexpensive device, we are not talking about software from the Apple company; their devices clearly do not fall into the budget category. Only Android remains. It is extremely important to choose a model with the most current software version. If the operating system is initially quite old, then there is a high probability that after a few years a number of functions will no longer work on it, and popular applications quickly cease to be supported on such firmware.

Google recently released the so-called “pure Android”. In this case, the system is not overloaded with unnecessary software, which significantly improves the performance of weak gadgets. Besides, stock firmware will receive prompt updates for several years.

Battery

Users often strive to purchase inexpensive smartphones because they expect that such devices will be able to work longer without recharging - after all, there is no multi-core processor “on board”, and the screen is not so bright and rich as to waste precious milliamps “in front of our eyes”. This point of view is not entirely correct: the battery is not the same as the battery - in terms of power, the gadget’s battery corresponds to its functionality.

Therefore, the buyer of an inexpensive device should definitely pay attention to the battery capacity. If the smartphone belongs to the middle price category and is provided with moderate functionality, 3,000 mAh will be enough.

CPU

The processor, together with RAM, is responsible for the speed of the gadget. Of course, you can’t count on the fact that an inexpensive smartphone will have a top-end processor - it’s not needed there, because it won’t be able to fully express itself.

A few years ago, chipsets from MediaTek in the budget segment were better than products from Qualcomm (Snapdragon). Firstly, they were cheaper in themselves and did not contribute to an increase in the cost of the device, Secondly, they used less energy. Snapdragon processors are considered more powerful and lead the way in the higher price category. However, today Qualcomm offers a number of solutions that are quite comfortable in price and show good performance. Thus, you should not focus solely on MediaTek in 2019.

Don't buy a budget smartphone with a Spreadtrum chipset! The performance of such devices, to put it mildly, leaves much to be desired.

In addition to the manufacturer of the chipset, its clock speed and number of cores are also important. The optimal number of cores for an inexpensive smartphone – 4 . If there are more of them, it doesn’t matter - it’s will not have a negative impact on the battery life of the gadget. Modern devices can disable some cores when they are not needed.

As for the clock frequency, it is responsible for the number of operations that the device can perform in a minute. A reasonable minimum for a budget gadget – 1.5 GHz.

4G support

4G support is a mandatory criterion. Without 4G, the user will not even be able to access the network normally. However, the buyer will probably have the least problems with this criterion - almost all modern smartphones support 4G.

Thus, a good but inexpensive gadget must meet the following requirements:

• Price up to 10,000 rubles.
• The operating system is “pure” Android.
• Random access memory (RAM) – from 2 GB, internal memory (ROM) – from 16 GB.
• Battery capacity from 3,000 mAh.
• Quad-core MediaTek or Snapdragon processor with clock frequency above 1.5 GHz.
• 4G support.

Regarding other parameters, it is worth noting that in the segment under 10 thousand rubles, devices with FView displays, dual cameras, and fast charging began to appear. All these functions are useful, but are of secondary importance when choosing. It's not very pleasant to have a good camera in a phone that slows down all the time due to a weak chipset and small amount of RAM.

And most importantly, the buyer should not limit himself to the assortment offered by domestic communication stores and equipment stores. Chinese trading platforms and AliExpress provide an excellent opportunity to purchase almost any device at a low price.

Good and inexpensive smartphones of 2019

A buyer who is looking for a smartphone with a low price and all the necessary functions should pay attention to the models from the following list.

OUKITEL C11 Pro

• CPU:
• 3 GB / 16 GB
• Operating system: Android 8.1
• Battery: 3400 mAh

Price: from 5000 rubles.

Front camera - 2 MP with FaceID function. The main module received two sensors - 8 and 2 megapixels, they don’t capture the stars from the sky, but they take good pictures for their level. The smartphone received support for 4G and Wi-Fi 5 GHz. Data protection is ensured not only by a face scanner, but also by a fingerprint sensor. Among other things, the model has a good battery capacity; taking into account the small display and energy-efficient chipset, 1.5 days of use at medium loads is quite realistic. For the money, this is one of the best phones in terms of hardware.

Advantages:

Flaws:

• Combination slot.
• Charging connector – MicroSD.

DOOGEE BL5500 Lite

• CPU: Quad-core MediaTek MT6739, clock frequency 1.3 GHz
• Memory (RAM/built-in): 2 GB / 16 GB
• Operating system: Android 8.1
• Battery: 5500 mAh

Price: from 6500 rubles.

A budget device for those who are not chasing performance, but are more focused on autonomy. For this purpose, the phone has a capacious 5500 mAh battery. The model has a modern appearance with a large 6.19-inch IPS matrix with an 18:9 aspect ratio and HD+ resolution. Of course, with such a screen size, I would like to see a higher dots per inch ratio, but on the other hand, this allows you to save battery.

The device received a fingerprint sensor, a dual rear camera – 13+8 MP, a front module – 5 MP. For the money, this is a beautiful smartphone with a good camera and battery. Of course, there is not enough memory, but you can add microSD up to 64 GB, in which case you will have to sacrifice a second SIM.

Advantages:

Flaws:

• Low display resolution.
• Combined memory and SIM slot.
• Small stock internal storage.
• No 5 GHz Wi-Fi support.
• MicroUSB charging connector.

Redmi 7

• CPU: 8-core Snapdragon 632, clock speed 1.8 GHz
• Memory (RAM/built-in): 2/3/4 GB and 16/32/64 GB
• Operating system: Android 8.1
• Battery: 4000 mAh

Price: from 9200 rubles.

At the beginning of the year, Xiaomi announced that the Redmi line would become a separate product. The first creation was Redmi Note 7 - the best smartphone in the mid-range segment. The company recently announced a budget phone. Of course, the price tag barely fits into 10 thousand, but for those who are considering this amount and want to buy the best, the model will be the most logical choice. Important point– the device is cheaper to buy on Aliexpress, since the minimum price tag of 9 thousand rubles does not offer the weakest build. In Russia, as of March 2019, the model is presented at several points of sale, and the price tag is inflated by 3-4 thousand.

The company offers in the new product a decent chipset that can cope with any tasks, several memory options - from 2/16 GB to 4/64 GB. The gadget received a separate slot for Sim, a special water-repellent coating of the body, a dual 12+2 MP camera with Ai support and a front module of 8 MP. Diagonal – 6.26 inches 19:9, HD+ resolution, drop-shaped cutout for the camera.

Advantages:

• Great camera with artificial intelligence features.
• Large FullView matrix with high-quality picture and Gorilla Glass protection
• Great looks.
• Selecting ROM and RAM modifications.
• Dedicated slot for microSD.
• Excellent autonomy.
• Productive chipset.
• There is a fingerprint scanner.

Flaws:

• Old microUSB connector.
• No NFC.
• No fast charging.

Conclusion

The basic rule of economics is that competition is good for the consumer because it leads to a general reduction in prices. Market mobile technologies Now it is more competitive than ever - over the past 2-3 years a gigantic number of new players have appeared on it. And since these players need to somehow cling to their “place in the sun,” they act in the most obvious way - offering their devices at minimal prices, almost at cost.

It is thanks to this that buyers now have the opportunity to buy an inexpensive but good smartphone - just look towards such Chinese companies as Bluboo, Doogee, Blackview and others. Chinese manufacturers monitor the quality of their products even more closely than Korean and European ones - after all, just one mistake is enough for them to tarnish their reputation and end up in the rear.

Testing the Doogee X30 did not reveal any significant pitfalls.

Bluboo S8

• CPU: 8-core MediaTek MT6750, clock frequency 1.5 GHz
• Memory (RAM/built-in): 3 GB / 32 GB
• Operating system: Android 7.0
• Battery: 3,450 mAh

Price on Banggood: about 8,990 rubles

It would be wrong to call the Bluboo S8 a copy of the Samsung device of the same name. Bluboo S8 is an independent device, which borrowed from the Korean manufacturer only a screen with an aspect ratio of 18:9.

The gadget is equipped with a unique security software 360 ​​Safety, as well as an ultra-fast fingerprint sensor (operates in 0.1 seconds), a capacious battery that supports Fast Charge technology and a connector. In addition, the smartphone boasts an unusual iridescent design – there are few “budget” phones on the market that look as great as the S8.

Blackview BV7000

• CPU: Quad-core MediaTek MT6737T, clock frequency 1.5 GHz
• Memory (RAM/built-in): 2 GB / 16 GB
• Operating system: Android 7.0
• Battery: 3,500 mAh

Price on GearBest: about 6,406 rubles

Refusing to produce copies of well-known gadgets, Blackview began producing inexpensive, but at the same time smart and extremely unusual devices. Any BV series smartphone is clear proof that a protected device does not have to look ugly - it can also have a very attractive design.

The BV7000 is not only cute, but its performance is top notch! What other smartphone for 6.5 thousand rubles can offer 4G, NFC, a screen with FullHD resolution and a 64-bit processor? Don't forget about durability: Blackview complies with the IP68 standard, can operate at a depth of 5 meters and can withstand pressure up to 0.5 tons.

In 2014? This note contains best phones running Android and Windows OS, the price of which does not exceed $300.

It is clear that not everyone will be able to fork out the money to buy one of the most advanced Apple models - the iPhone 5S or purchase an Android smartphone (such as Samsung Galaxy S5, for example). But all is not lost. It is possible to make a decent choice in terms of price/quality, but be prepared to make certain compromises.

The hopes of many buyers were not justified - Apple never created a budget version of the iPhone 5C, unlike HTC, Nokia, ZTE, Huawei, Alcatel and other manufacturers who are trying to make the category of inexpensive smartphones more attractive Android control And Windows Phone 8.

You will have to do without some features and details (like a Full HD 1080 pixel display, for example). You also won't have the exceptional levels of contrast, color, and vibration that allow you to enjoy the full range of video and gaming enjoyment.

Another weakness is the processor power. You shouldn't expect the power of a quad-core device from such models. They only have a single or dual core processor. Also, you won't get the quality shooting that the iPhone 5S or Sony Xperia Z1.

However, for up to $300 you can buy a phone that has both good main and front cameras, as well as access to Google Play And Windows store Phone for downloading applications and games. And what is important is that all these functions are not wrapped in an ugly shell.

With the release of Sony Xperia M2, HTC Desire 610 and Nokia X on the Android operating system, the characteristics of phones with price tags up to $300 have noticeably improved and become more attractive.

If you don’t have a lot of money, but you are looking for the best smartphone for your money, then our latest review mobile phones, created with the best price-quality ratio, will help you make the right choice.

the best inexpensive smartphones of 2014

5 TOP Phones

Cheapest phone (under $150 category)

Key Features:

• 4-inch LCD display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels;
• main camera with a resolution of 5 megapixels with LED flash;
• The design is made of plastic with a stunning finish;
• removable battery and microSD slot.

ZTE Blade V has the power of a 4-core processor and a design that is pleasing to the eye. In general, it’s good value for money if you literally have about $150 set aside to buy a smartphone.

The 4-inch display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels is quite good, and for a phone costing $150 this is an acceptable compromise that guarantees normal viewing and reading quality. With support for Android 4.1 OS, you will have access to applications from Google Play and official versions Google applications. The main 5-megapixel camera makes it possible to take pictures of very good quality, and the battery lasts for one day when working.

In terms of price “under $150”, it is significantly superior to its similar Acer Liquid Z3 and Samsung Galaxy Fame.

Price: $150

Our rating: 8/10

4. Sony Xperia M

The most economical phone (battery life)

Key Features:

• stylish design;
• long battery life;
• good sound quality for watching videos.

This is not the Xperia Z1. The $270 Sony Xperia M is a great, affordable Android phone. The 4-inch smartphone is almost the same size as the iPhone 5S, and some design elements make the Xperia's front panel look very attractive.

The device runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and is equipped with a 1GHz dual-core Qualcomm S4 Plus processor, which is sufficient for web browsing and streaming video, and also allows you to play games. The 854x480 resolution is a slight disappointment, and the 5-megapixel camera isn't particularly impressive either.

However, the 9 hours of battery life is truly amazing. In addition, the 4 GB memory (actually 2 GB) can be increased up to 32 GB using microSD card. If you're looking for an inexpensive Android phone that doesn't look cheap and don't want to wait for the more substantial Xperia M2, then the Xperia M is a great choice.

Price: $270

Our rating: 8/10

3. HTC Desire 500

The cutest phone

Key Features:

• bright and clear 4.3-inch screen with a resolution of 480x800;
• 8-megapixel main camera with LED flash and autofocus;
• 4 GB of internal memory.

Priced at $300, the stylish and beautiful HTC Desire 500 is a mid-range phone that supports Android. Its high performance fully justifies this cost.

Despite the fact that the 500 is made of plastic, it weighs only 123 g. The 4.3-inch display has a quality that can be compared with Sony display Xperia M ($270). The phone's operating system is Android 4.1.2. This is not the most a new version Google OS, but still it includes HTC Sense UI 5.0 with Blinkfeed. The quad-core Snapdragon 200 processor and 1 GB of RAM are enough to store data, and the camera takes high-quality pictures.

If you are targeting the mid-range price range but don't want to buy some cheap and mediocre phone, then consider that the Desire 500 is one of the nicest phones with a low price.

Price: $300

Our rating: 8/10

2. Nokia Lumia 620

The cheapest phone on Windows Phone 8

Key Features:

• excellent design and ergonomics;
• high-quality 3.8-inch LCD display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels;
• operating room Windows system 8 with access to services such as Xbox Music;
• high work productivity.

One of the most convincing arguments in favor of using Windows Phone 8 - Nokia Lumia 620 for $250, the best budget model, whose operating system works great on low-power phones.

This is truly one of the best budget phones out there - period. He's cute, he's well made, he has good speed and it's damn easy to use - without any loss in application performance, Email and social networks, something smartphones often do. Among the “chips” are a 3.8-inch LCD display with a resolution of 480x800 pixels, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor with a frequency of 1 GHz, a 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 8 GB of internal memory.

This indicates that Nokia's efforts to promote Lumia and Windows Phone 8 are becoming increasingly aggressive. And we like it.

Price: $250

Our rating: 9/10

The best inexpensive smartphone overall

Key Features:

• magnificent 4.5-inch IPS screen with 720 pixels;
• supports Android 4.3 Jelly Bean;
• Models available with 8 or 16 GB. built-in memory;
• incredible price/quality ratio;
• There is no microSD connector.

Currently this is the only phone in this list inexpensive smartphones, which scores 10 out of 10. Motorola Moto G wins a landslide victory.

With a weight of 143 g and a width of 11.6 mm. The model is not among the thinnest or lightest phones, but still the price-quality ratio makes it very attractive. This is the first time we've seen a 720p screen on such a cheap phone, and it produces good, clear images and the Gorilla Glass coating adds durability.

Moto G supports Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system and has a Snapdragon 400 processor with 1GB of RAM, which successfully copes with many everyday tasks (web browsing, gaming, etc.). The 5-megapixel camera provides decent photo quality, and 720P HD video quality is about the same as other similar phones.

It doesn’t matter whether you buy a model with 8 ($200) or 16 ($240) GB of memory, know that no other famous smartphone in the price category under $250 has the same characteristics as the Moto G. At the moment, this is the best smartphone in the class of inexpensive models.

The only drawback is the absence of a microSD connector, although it is successfully compensated by the large size of the built-in memory.

Price:$226 (8 GB), $268 (16 GB)

Our rating: 10/10

If you are still “floating” in the characteristics of smartphones and do not really understand what you need to pay attention to first of all when choosing a phone, be sure to read our note before purchasing.

A few years ago, smartphones with good characteristics were expensive, but now a decent device can be found for little money. Among the best inexpensive smartphones you can find models from leading Chinese manufacturers that can easily cope with everyday tasks. It is not at all necessary to purchase flagships at a high cost. Promoted companies charge a lot of money for a brand, and Chinese manufacturers set the price only for the device. Below are the budget price categories of phones that have modern characteristics.

The best cheap smartphones according to user reviews

A low price does not mean that the phone is of poor quality. After studying user reviews, our experts identified the highest quality models from the budget category and included them in the rating of the best inexpensive smartphones.

Meizu M6T 2/16GB

The TOP smartphone opens the Meizu M6T, one of the best representatives of the budget class. The body is made of durable and high-quality plastic, pleasant to the touch. On the back there is a dual optical camera module with flash and a fingerprint scanner. The front part is covered with a screen and glass with rounded edges.

The display has minimal bezels. Above it is a speaker, a window with sensors and a front camera. There is nothing on the bottom; the touch buttons are located directly on the screen. The image display quality is acceptable, considering that the diagonal display is 5.7 inches with a resolution of 1440 x 720. The dual camera shoots at a budget level, and its resolution is 13/2 megapixels.

The phone is powered by an eight-core MediaTek MT6750 processor. The electronic circuit is complemented by a Mali-T860 video accelerator, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. This is an inexpensive phone good quality, with which you can solve simple everyday problems.

Advantages:

• fast fingerprint scanner;
• low price;
• good screen;
• high-quality assembly;
• affordable price tag.

Flaws:

• combined slot for memory card and SIM card;
• insufficiently powerful hardware.

Huawei Y5 Prime (2018)

The smartphone body is made of high quality plastic. There is no play or creaks between the parts. Almost the entire front side is occupied by an elongated 5.45-inch screen. At the back there is a 13 MP main camera. The characteristics correspond to the price. It is based on a 4-core MediaTek MT6739 processor. Stable operation of the phone is ensured by 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of built-in memory.
Volume battery is 3020 mAh, not much, but with average use it is more than enough for a day. In music listening mode, the device can work up to 62 hours. There is no fast charging, so it will take about two hours to charge the battery. As operating system selected Android versions 8. There is a proprietary EMUI 8 shell. According to customer reviews, this is one of the best inexpensive phones in its category.

Note. The processor is too weak to run resource-intensive games and applications. A smartphone is best suited for solving simple everyday tasks, communicating in instant messengers, browsing the Internet, making calls and taking photos.

Advantages:

• stylish design;
• pleasant screen color rendering;
• headphones included;
• separate slot for memory card;
• good autonomy.

Flaws:

• no fingerprint scanner;
• small amount of RAM.

Samsung Galaxy A6 32 GB

The budget class representative from the Koreans is made in an all-metal case with small plastic inserts. The body design looks modern due to the new screen aspect ratio of 18.5:9. Diagonally Amoled screen 5.7 inches, resolution 720 x 1480 pixels. On the back there is a 16-megapixel lens with flash and a fingerprint scanner.
The smartphone runs on an 8-core Exynos 7870 mobile chipset. The graphics accelerator is Mali-T830. Built-in memory 32 GB, you can also use microSD cards.

The best smartphone according to reviews is equipped with an NFC chip that allows contactless payment. Long battery life is ensured by a 3000 mAh rechargeable battery. With active use with the screen on for 5 hours, the smartphone will last a whole day without recharging.

Advantages:

• all-metal body;
• large Amoled display;
• good assembly;
• The sound quality is excellent;
• good quality of pictures during the day.

Flaws:

• no protection from moisture;
• insufficient pixel density.

The best inexpensive smartphones with a good camera

Choose cheap smartphone With a good camera the task is not easy. Today there are many models at an affordable price. If you want to get a high-quality camera, you should first pay attention to its characteristics. Below are the best camera phones from the budget category.

Xiaomi Mi A2 4/64 GB

Stylish inexpensive smartphone with best camera offered by Xiaomi. On the back there is a dual optical module separated by a powerful dual LED flash. The top camera with a resolution of 12+20 megapixels is capable of taking the clearest and richest pictures. Portrait photography is also top notch. The background is naturally blurred. The 20 MP front camera allows you to take detailed selfies. The large 5.99-inch screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio makes it easy to view your photos.

The performance of an inexpensive Chinese phone is at the top level. Chipset used here Qualcomm Snapdragon 660. It allows you to run resource-intensive modern games without overheating the case. The modification is presented with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM. The volume of the non-removable battery was 3010 mAh.

Advantages:

• thin all-metal body;
• high-quality camera;
• excellent screen;
• fast interface operation;
• availability of fast charging Quick charge;
• high productivity.

Flaws:

• the main camera module protrudes;
• no support for contactless payments.

ZTE Blade V9 32GB

The second line of budget camera phones is taken by a frameless smartphone, which is equipped with a dual camera with a resolution of 16/5 megapixels that produces stunning pictures. Even in the evening, the photos are rich and sharp, there is no blur or noise. The second lens allows you to create portrait shots with a bokeh effect. The 13 megapixel front camera is also of high quality.

The metal body is made of smooth aluminum and is very pleasant to hold in your hands. Almost the entire front part is covered with a screen with an 18:9 ratio.

The heart of the device is the Snapdragon 450 chip. Graphics processing is provided by Adreno 506. The device will not freeze while solving problems, thanks to 3 GB of RAM. 32 GB is allocated for storing personal data, and you can install a memory card up to 256 GB. The 3200 mAh battery can last up to 8 hours of talk time and 200 hours of standby time.

Advantages:

• high quality camera;
• high-quality display with a resolution of 2160×1080;
• NFC module;
• price-performance ratio;
• great sound
• long enough autonomous operation.

Flaws:

• the body is very slippery and easily soiled;
• minor bugs in the software.

The best inexpensive smartphones with a powerful battery

A modern phone with all the necessary functions must be equipped with a good battery. It is unlikely that anyone would want to constantly live near an outlet or walk around with a PowerBank. Presented to users best smartphones, with low cost and a powerful battery.

Motorola Moto E4 Plus (XT1771) 16 GB

The smartphone is made in the usual style for Motorola. Despite the budget back cover made of metal and is removable. The main advantage of the phone is a powerful 5000 mAh battery. In video viewing mode, the charge will last up to 15 hours. When running games continuously, the device will work for more than 8 hours. A large battery is not the only advantage of a budget device. There is a good filling here, which includes a MediaTek MT6737 processor with a clock frequency of 1.3 GHz. RAM capacity 3 GB, internal memory 16 GB.

An inexpensive smartphone with a good battery is equipped with an NFC chip, which can be used to pay for purchases contactlessly. The rear camera with a resolution of 13 megapixels is capable of taking high-quality photographs. The front camera is primitive, its resolution is only 5 megapixels. Despite the fact that the screen is large, 5.5 inches diagonal, its resolution is 1280 x 720 pixels.

What I liked:

• Gorilla Glass protective glass;
• NFC module;
• powerful battery;
• presence of LED;
• Possibility of installing 2 SIM cards and a memory card at the same time.

What you should pay attention to:

• small amount of built-in memory;
• outdated chip;
• no fast charging.

ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M1 ZB602KL 3/32GB

The phone has all the necessary characteristics at a low cost. The screen diagonal is 6 inches, resolution 2160 x 1080 pixels. Any picture is displayed clearly and richly with color rendition as close to natural as possible.
One of the best budget smartphones is equipped with a 5000 mAh battery. Without recharging, you can get by up to 840 hours in standby mode. The processor chosen is an eight-core Snapdragon 636 from Qualcomm, which is paired with an Adreno 509 graphics accelerator. Performance is ensured by 3 GB of RAM.

By appearance The smartphone is similar to the flagship category. The frames around the display are minimal, the body is all-metal, there is a double lens on the back with a resolution of 13/5 megapixels.

Advantages:

• large display;
• high-quality sound;
• pure Android 8.1;
• battery life;
• excellent camera;
• Durable aluminum housing.

Flaws:

• The fingerprint scanner works slowly;
• The main camera does not have automatic focusing.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 64GB

We also included Xiaomi in the category of the best budget smartphones with a large battery. The smartphone has a very capacious battery, a large screen and impressive technical characteristics. It is based on a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 mobile chip, which runs on 8-core Cortex-A53 clocked at 2.0 GHz. The smartphone has an incredibly large battery capacity of 5300 mAh. There is also Quick Charge 3.0 fast charging. The phone screen is very large, its diagonal is 6.44 inches.

The design of the phablet is quite familiar. Xiaomi has used it for many of its devices. On the back there is one 12 MP main camera lens.

Note. The smartphone belongs to the phablet category due to its large screen. Users usually call such devices “tablet phones.”

Advantages:

• powerful iron;
• powerful stereo speakers;
• capacious battery;
• good combination of price and characteristics;
• high quality camera;

Flaws:

• there is no optical stabilization for video;
• no protection from water;
• Uncomfortable to use with one hand.

The best inexpensive smartphones with a large screen

For many users it is extremely important big screen. It allows you to comfortably watch your favorite movies, videos, and play games. It is not at all necessary to purchase flagship devices for the sake of a large, high-quality display. Budget models also have good characteristics.

Samsung Galaxy J6+ (2018) 32GB

The budget smartphone with a large screen has a diagonal of 6 inches and a resolution of 720 x 1480 pixels. The display has an elongated shape due to the aspect ratio of 18.5:9. The coating used is protective glass with 2.5D rounding.
The performance of the smartphone is at an average level. All processes are controlled by the 4-core mobile chip Exynos Octa 7870. Expanded electronic circuit 3 GB RAM. The built-in memory is 32 GB, but only 22.4 GB of this volume is available to the user, the rest of the space is reserved for the needs of the system. The 3300 mAh battery can work in standby mode for more than two days. If you listen to music continuously, a full charge will last for 90 hours.

The main camera is dual, its resolution is 13 and 5 megapixels, respectively. The second lens helps you create high-quality portraits with a blurred background. Also, a cheap smartphone has an NFC chip in its arsenal, which is missing in many budget devices.

Advantages:

• large screen;
• long battery life;
• NFC chip;
• fast fingerprint scanner;
• high build quality.

Flaws:

• small amount of memory;
• incorrect operation of the brightness adjustment sensor;
• a little overpriced.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro 3/32GB

You can buy a budget smartphone at a low cost. At the same time, the device looks stylish and modern. Its frameless design with a large display is the first thing that attracts attention. The display diagonal is 6.25 inches with a resolution of 2280 x 1080 pixels. This will allow you to view any content comfortably and in high quality.

On the back there is a double module in the style of the iPhone X. The lenses are separated by a powerful flash. The resolution is 12 and 5 megapixels, respectively. The affordable smartphone also has the best camera in its class. The second lens is aimed at creating high-quality portrait photographs. Rear end also includes a nimble fingerprint scanner that works very quickly and without glitches.

Note. The device can run 3D games, as it has 3 GB of RAM and a powerful eight-core Snapdragon 636 processor from Qualcomm.

The battery capacity is 4000 mAh and will ensure long battery life. Considering that the processor has energy-saving characteristics, a full charge will last for almost 15 hours in active use mode with all functions enabled. There is no support for fast charging, so the smartphone will charge from 0 to 100% in almost 2 hours. For the price and quality, this is an excellent device that has decent characteristics.

Advantages:

• high autonomy;
• large high-quality display;
• dual main camera;
• high level of productivity;
• affordable price;

Flaws:

• hybrid slot for SIM cards and memory cards (you cannot install two SIM cards and a memory card at once);
• no NFC chip;
• processor that was used in the previous model.

Which budget smartphone to buy

Even advanced user may get confused when choosing a good modern smartphone. The abundance of devices on the electronics market allows you to choose any device to suit your taste and color. The article presents the TOP 10 inexpensive smartphones with good characteristics, powerful batteries and excellent cameras. When purchasing, you can take these models into account and choose one of the presented mobile phones.

Read the review about how to buy inexpensively good phone with a good camera and screen. We have selected the best inexpensive smartphones of 2017. If suddenly you are not satisfied with those carefully selected 15 models of worthy phones, then read our advice. We have described in detail what to look for in order to choose the truly best model.

Inexpensive smartphones - we refuse to be tied to an operator

Based on our experience, it is best to take a smartphone without connection to mobile operator, and then just buy an operator SIM card separately at a favorable price tariff plan. This way, you won’t have to pay an extra 3-5 thousand every month, which you can spend on your needs.

The price of any phone in our selection does not exceed 15,000 rubles, which is a third of the cost flagship smartphones like Galaxy S 8,HTC 10 and LG G 6.

Those who want to choose an inexpensive device will sooner or later come across a lucrative offer. But it is important to ensure that the phone is sold without being tied to a mobile operator.

Inexpensive smartphones made in China and of good quality

Another option can be purchased. Chinese gadgets of some brands are little known and are not sold in Russia, but they are famous for their good technical characteristics and low price, which is why they beat their European competitors. For the most part, these are devices with average characteristics and affordable prices.

Of course, there are pitfalls here: for example, what to do if a phone from China turns out to be defective?

The smartphones presented in our selection are inexpensive devices with the best price offers available today. The following factors were taken into account:

• such as lack of binding to the operator,
• specifications,
• good camera
• decent screen
• performance.

What to expect from a smartphone at a low price?

Anyone looking for a cheap smartphone will have to put up with limited functionality, because the manufacturer is forced to cut some features for the sake of a low price. So you shouldn’t expect the same performance, feature set and display quality as from a smartphone with a price two or even three times higher than the cost of a budget model.

There was a time when cheap phones were characterized by low-resolution displays, low memory, rough plastic bodies, and so on. But over the years, everything changes, and this also applies to the mobile gadget market. Nowadays, for 15,000 rubles it is quite possible to buy a smartphone with a Full HD display and an 8mm metal body.

Also, most budget smartphones have 4G support, but not all of them are equipped with near field communication technology (Chinese phones often have the HotKnot function as compensation for the lack of such support in MediaTek processors). Below we look at some of the key technical characteristics of budget smartphones.

Functions and characteristics of inexpensive models

CPU

Today, a strange situation has arisen where cheap smartphones have the same processor power as more expensive devices.

The main role here is played not by the results of performance measurements, but by the response speed in everyday use.

Battery life

Battery life also affects performance. Typically between the best and the worst budget smartphone huge difference in this aspect. Inexpensive smartphones have batteries of approximately equal capacity, which can last a whole day (or a little more) with moderate use. Although there are exceptions here, such as the Lenovo P 2, which can work for three whole days without recharging.

Of course, if you continuously surf the web, turn on the GPS, play games or watch videos, the battery will not last even a day. Even energy-saving modes will not help in this case, since the only way to extend the operating time of a smartphone is to reduce its use to a minimum and limit it only to calls and SMS messages.

A plus for battery life on budget phones is the display, which on most models comes with a low resolution. Therefore, it does not put much strain on the battery charge.

Display resolution

With displays ever increasing in size, low resolution can make text or icons appear overly large but still unclear.

A 5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720 is the minimum for inexpensive smartphones, but the higher the resolution, the better, naturally. And, as already mentioned, you can choose an inexpensive smartphone with an -display (although you shouldn’t count on an -display).

On a compact device, say, with a 4.5-inch display, you can get by with a resolution of 960x 540, or look for a more suitable option.

Display quality and brightness probably don't play a special role here. Although a low brightness display will have adequate readability in sunlight.

Good camera

The main cameras on smartphones are constantly being improved, so when choosing an inexpensive gadget, you should focus on a camera that would take the highest quality pictures and videos.

Typically, inexpensive smartphones always have limited camera capabilities and the resulting images are of low resolution and quality.

When choosing an inexpensive smartphone, it would be a good idea to look at the characteristics of the camera and test it in action right there in the store, because indicators, as a rule, cannot judge the quality of the camera itself.

One smartphone may have a 13-megapixel camera, while another may have only 5. In any case, you need to make sure in practice that the camera is really 13-megapixel and not 8-megapixel, which, using software interpolation, creates the impression of a higher resolution.

It is also worth paying attention to the front camera. Today, almost every smartphone with a price above 4,000 rubles has it, but the quality varies depending on the model.

We recommend skipping models with a VGA camera and a very low resolution (640x 480); you should aim for at least 1.2 or 2 megapixels. Most modern budget options have 5-megapixel cameras.

Resolution plays a role in this case, since manufacturers often neglect the quality of the front camera. So for those who are used to frequently taking selfies or receiving video calls, it is better to choose an inexpensive smartphone with good front camera.

operating system

Android is the best OS according to many people, but you need to keep in mind that manufacturers often build their firmware on top of Android. For example, Nexus smartphones from Google run on “pure” Android, smartphones from Motorola adhere to the same policy, and as for other manufacturers, there are both successful and unsuccessful attempts to merge the main system with a proprietary shell.

Some firmwares actually have useful features or applications that are better than those installed on Android by default. But there are also slow and glitchy shells.

For Android, updates tend to come out faster, especially when a new version of Android itself appears. But updates for branded firmware can be released once a week, a month, six months, or not at all.

The best inexpensive smartphones

There are plenty of great deals on the market for inexpensive Android smartphones, but the Moto G 5 is the best option available today. The build quality is comparable to more expensive models, and navigation through a fingerprint scanner adds its own flavor when working with the device. The performance of the gadget and battery capacity, of course, are not the best high level, but considering the price it is quite acceptable. Moreover, the price is almost purely symbolic - 11-12,000 rubles.

Lenovo P 2 is positioned as a device with a powerful battery and, to the company's credit, it must be said that the advertising hype around the device is justified. The battery can withstand several days of continuous use and is portable Charger just in case.

In addition, let's not forget about the first-class design, high build quality and here you go - a very profitable deal is ready. This inexpensive smartphone may not have enough stars in the sky in terms of performance, but once it lasts about three days without recharging, this issue will disappear by itself.

UMI Z

UMI Z is a good Android smartphone with a very reasonable price, a capacious battery, a high-quality display, a powerful MediaTek processor and an excellent front camera. Unfortunately, the main camera leaves much to be desired, and as for other functions, there are no complaints about them. Taking into account 4G support, purchasing this gadget is a very profitable undertaking.

Elephone S 7 is a nice-looking and affordable smartphone, with decent performance and a hefty portion internal memory. However, the whole impression is spoiled by mediocre cameras and plastic back panel. Even at such a low price, it is not recommended for purchase.

Motorola Moto G 4

The new Moto G 4 costs more than its predecessor - and for good reason. Motorola has equipped its creation with a Full HD display, an improved processor, and increased the amount of RAM and permanent memory. Not everyone will like the sudden transition to a 5.5 display or the lack of full water resistance, but still, for the price range of less than 15,000 rubles, this is an outstanding smartphone.

Motorola Moto G4 Plus (2016)

The Moto G 4 Plus is a great phone but is very similar to its regular version. Since we were disappointed with the camera (in that it is no different from the camera on the regular version), we think it’s not worth overpaying for one fingerprint scanner. Moreover, it is not used in Android application Pay, since NFC technology is not supported here. If it is worth taking Moto G 4 Plus, it is only because of the larger amount of ROM and RAM; although the presence of a slot for a microSD card negates the attempt to somehow justify the purchase of a premium version of the gadget.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

The device doesn't offer any significant changes over the Redmi Note 3 or Note 4, but the Note 4X Global is a decent budget smartphone available to UK buyers.

We were pleasantly surprised by the Elephone P 9000 - a wonderful and feature-rich Android smartphone at an incredibly low price of less than £200. A fast, multifunctional gadget with a long battery life, which runs on Android Marshmallow. And support for wireless and fast charging, NFC technology, USB-C, two SIM and microSD cards is an additional bonus. We recommend.

Ulefone tried to create a fundamentally new type of device by adding a frameless display and a USB-C connector to its gadget. For a mid-range smartphone, Ulefone Future has good performance, although it is relatively heavy. We can't turn a blind eye to the mediocre camera, however, software updates should patch up the bugs that we encountered during use.

UMIDIGI C Note

UMIDIGI C Note is a budget gadget with a thoughtful and premium design. Performance isn't great, but it's decent, and the camera produces decent photos in good lighting. Favorable and inexpensive offer.

Xiaomi Redmi 3S

At the moment, the Redmi 3S Pro costs just £5 more than the 3S, but we'd say it's hard to find better value for money than what Xiaomi's Redmi 3S offers.

This is an inexpensive, multifunctional and decent Android smartphone with a fingerprint scanner. More advantageous offer for 8680 rubles simply not. Just keep in mind that Google Play is not included in the list of pre-installed applications.

Meizu M 3 Note is a wonderful device with a powerful battery and a nice metal body. However, it should not be considered as an improved Xiaomi versions Redmi Note 3, because the second one has higher performance, better camera, newer software, and last but not least, lower price.

And we wouldn't recommend the Meizu M 3 Note to UK buyers (especially inexperienced ones) as a replacement for other inexpensive Chinese smartphones. In the sense that he is no better. In addition, do not forget about the lack of Google Play and the lack of adaptation of the Chinese gadget to the global market.

After using the Sony Xperia XA, we had pleasant impressions of the device, and the smartphone is more justifiable for its price than the flagship Xperia X, which is overpriced. It is recommended for purchase by those who are interested in a stylish, nimble mid-class phone, all of whose indicators are at a decent level. It's a solid device, but we're still, oddly enough, still waiting for something more ambitious from Sony. Although lately we have been visited by vague doubts - will we wait?