Rating of the best Chinese smartphones in terms of price-quality ratio. Rating of the best Chinese smartphones in terms of price-quality ratio The best Chinese phone

More and more buyers are choosing smartphones from Chinese companies. And this is not surprising: Chinese smartphones are noticeably cheaper, have advanced technical characteristics and a solid appearance, and their quality is getting better and better every year. We chose Top 10 best Chinese smartphones of 2016 according to customer reviews.

The best Chinese smartphones 2016

Rating of the best Chinese smartphones of 2016 compiled on the basis of customer reviews on the largest trading platforms and online stores. For each smartphone, an “average rating” is calculated - the average score on a 100-point system. Models with a small number of reviews are excluded from the rating. Below are Top 10 best Chinese smartphones according to customer ratings:

1

92.8 (757 ratings)

2

91.6 (64 ratings)

3

91.4 (80 ratings)

4

90.5 (324 ratings)

5

89.4 (150 ratings)

6

88.7 (86 ratings)

7

87.5 (315 ratings)

8

87.1 (229 ratings)

9

87.0 (71 ratings)

10

84.4 (243 ratings)

Xiaomi products received the highest customer ratings; four smartphones from this company made it into the top ten best smartphones, including first place. The eternal rival Meizu noticeably lost ground over the year and let Huawei and ASUS pass ahead, failing to get into the top five.

Let's take a closer look at the TOP 3 best Chinese smartphones at the end of 2016:

1st place - (rating 92.8)

The best Chinese smartphone of 2016 according to customer ratings

OS version: Android 5.1 | Screen: 5.5" 1920x1080 | Camera: 16 MP | CPU: Snapdragon 650 (6 cores, 1800 MHz) | RAM: 3 GB | Battery: 4050 mAh

It seems that Xiaomi has managed to firmly win the hearts of domestic buyers. - not only the most popular Chinese smartphone of 2016, but also the most highly rated by users. Just think about it: the average smartphone rating on a 100-point system was 92.8 points based on 757 customer reviews. This is an incredibly high result given such a large number of reviews, and it is completely justified.

If we look at the specifications of the device, we see a typical flagship smartphone from two years ago. The device has a high-quality 5.5-inch Full HD screen, a good camera, a fairly powerful Qualcomm processor and a battery with a capacity of more than 4000 mAh (for comparison, most modern flagships have batteries with a capacity of no more than 3000 mAh). Moreover, this did not in any way affect the design of the smartphone - its thickness is 8.65 mm, a metal body and a fingerprint scanner are included.

The smartphone recently released a sequel (), but the new product is more expensive and its ratings are slightly worse, so Redmi Note 3 Pro still remains the most popular Chinese smartphone of 2016.

2nd place - (rating 91.6)

Beautiful and fast smartphone from ASUS

OS version: Android 6.0 | Screen: 5.5" 1920x1080 | Camera: 16 MP | CPU: Snapdragon 625 (8 cores, 2000 MHz) | RAM: 4 GB | Battery: 3000 mAh

This smartphone from the Taiwanese manufacturer, ASUS, stands out for its premium design and high-quality build. The smartphone has 4 GB of RAM and a powerful Snapdragon 625 chipset, designed for mid-priced smartphones. The performance is enough to run any games from the Play Market. Despite the battery capacity of 3000 mAh, which by today's standards cannot be called a record figure, the battery life is good - on average, a smartphone battery lasts for one and a half to two days.

The smartphone's camera is one of the best in its class, with optical image stabilization and very fast autofocus. A fingerprint scanner is present. - an excellent smartphone in the mid-price segment that will delight the owner with an expensive appearance, good performance and a high-quality camera.

3rd place - (rating 91.4)

Lightweight version of the flagship Huawei P9 line

OS version: Android 6.0 | Screen: 5.2" 1920x1080 | Camera: 13 MP | CPU: HiSilicon Kirin 650 (8 cores, 2000 MHz) | RAM: 2 GB | Battery: 3000 mAh

A lightweight version of the flagship P9 line, but it’s more correct to compare it with last year’s P8 Lite model. The new product has a much better screen, a more powerful processor, and a more capacious battery. For 16-18 thousand rubles you will get a well-built middle-class smartphone, without any obvious disadvantages. The body of the lite version is simpler than that of the flagship, but the smartphone looks very solid - matte metal edges with beveled edges and a thickness of only 7.5 mm.

Huawei has installed an excellent screen in their smartphone, clear, with good color reproduction and viewing angles. The fingerprint scanner works not only for unlocking, but also as a touch panel (for example, you can scroll through photos), this is a proprietary feature of Huawei. If you are looking for a good mid-range smartphone, but 5.5-inch smartphones are too big for you, we recommend that you pay attention to this model. Thanks to the 5.2-inch diagonal screen, the device has more convenient dimensions and fits well in the hand.

I’ll tell you a secret: it turns out that only 10% of those who plan to buy a smartphone are not tormented by the agony of choice. These are followers of famous brands. The remaining 90%, which includes me, spend weeks surfing the Internet, looking through catalogs, comparing models, scratching their heads and just can’t decide: either the device’s characteristics are not the same, or the price is too high.

Yes, choosing a worthy means of communication, given their abundance, is an extremely difficult task. But it’s solvable: if you need a modern smartphone with a good screen, a powerful camera, a capacious battery, capable of running any games, and it doesn’t matter that it has a big name, take a closer look at devices from trusted manufacturers from the Middle Kingdom. Today in front of you are the best Chinese smartphones of 2016 for every taste and budget.

Lenovo Zuk Z1: best value for money

The Z 1, the first product of Lenovo's newly opened subsidiary, called "Zuk", turned out to be extremely successful. This is a balanced, productive device with a bright, contrasting, but somewhat oversaturated screen, a very capacious battery (with continuous video playback, the charge lasts for 16.5 hours), a good rear camera, high-quality sound and many people’s favorite Cyanogen software shell. The latter has a number of significant advantages over “naked” Android, the main of which are high performance, security and economical battery consumption.

The Lenovo Zuk Z1 hardware platform is, of course, not top-end, but by 2016 standards it is significantly above the average level.

With all this, the price of the device in Russian stores is pleasantly surprising. At the beginning of autumn 2016, it amounted to about 14,900 rudders.

Specifications

• Screen: 5.5” diagonal, resolution 1920×1080, 401 ppi, 16.78 million colors, IPS matrix type, Gorilla Glass protective glass.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 4 cores, 2500 MHz.
• Video adapter: Adreno 330.
• RAM (random access memory): 3 Gb.
• ROM (read-only memory): 64 Gb.
• Communications: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE (bands 1, 3, 7, 8, 20).
• Satellite communication: GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS.
• Sensors: light, proximity, linear acceleration, rotation, accelerometer, gyroscope, fingerprint scanner.
• Cameras: 13+8 MPixel, dual-LED single-color flash, autofocus.
• Battery: 4100 mAH, non-removable, fast charging function.
• Case material – plastic and aluminum.
• Dimensions: 155.7 x 77.3 x 8.9 mm.
• Weight: 175 g.
• Operating system: Cyanogen OS 12.1 (based on Android 5.1.1).

As for the advantages and disadvantages of the Zuk Z1, the first owners included the high performance of the device, a solid build, a durable battery and a good screen with an oleophobic coating (it does not leave fingerprints on it). Among the shortcomings were the lack of a memory card slot, limited support for LTE frequencies in Russia and strong heating during intensive use.

Xiaomi Mi5: the best camera

M i5 - one of the most recognizable Chinese brands in Russia - Xiaomi (Xiaomi). Devices of this brand are chosen by those who are sure that a high-quality and functional device does not have to be exorbitantly expensive, and there is absolutely no need to overpay for the popularity of the brand. By the way, this is the most affordable smartphone based on the ultra-powerful mobile SoC Qualcomm Snapdragon 820: at the beginning of September 2016 it cost about 20,500 rubles (modification with 32 Gb ROM).

The device is in many ways superior to similarly priced analogues from other manufacturers, but perhaps the best thing it has is a rear camera with a 16-megapixel Sony IMX298 sensor, 4-axis optical stabilization, phase detection autofocus and a lens covered on the outside with sapphire glass.

The camera is equipped with a 2-color LED flash with a brightness level much higher than average. In addition, in its settings there is an option to improve a photo taken in poor lighting, and many other interesting “gadgets” that amateur photographers will appreciate.

The maximum shooting resolution with the rear camera of Xiaomi Mi5 is 3840×2160 (Ultra HD 4K).

Specifications

• Screen: 5.15” diagonal, resolution 1920×1080, 428 ppi, 16.78 million colors, IPS matrix type, Gorilla Glass 4 protective glass.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996, 4 cores, 1800 MHz.
• Video adapter: Adreno 530.
• RAM: 3 Gb.
• ROM: 32-64 Gb.
• Communications: GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE (bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41).
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2 bands), Bluetooth 4.2, USB type C, NFC, IrDA (IR), 3.5 mm headphone jack, memory cards are not supported.
• Sensors: light, proximity, accelerometer, microgyroscope, fingerprint scanner, compass, barometer.
• Cameras: 16+4 MPixel, two-color LED flash, 4-axis optical stabilization, touch focusing.
• SIM card support: 2 nano SIM.
• Battery: 3000 mAH, non-removable.
• Case material – glass (back cover), aluminum.
• Dimensions: 144.5x69.2x7.25 mm.
• Weight: 129 g.
• Operating system: Android 6.0 + proprietary MIUI 7 shell.

Mi5 owners do not note any serious shortcomings. The only things mentioned were the lack of a memory card slot, the slippery back surface and minor flaws in the MIUI software shell, which will most likely be fixed by the update.

Cubot Dinosaur 4G: longest-lasting battery

“Dinosaur” from Cubot, a smartphone manufacturer that is not yet very popular in Russia, could have remained just average if not for two features: an unusually durable battery and an attractive price - about 6,500 rubles. For this amount you will get a fast device (note that it has as much as 3 GB of RAM) with a good screen, a 13-megapixel camera, support for 2 SIM cards, a slot for installing memory cards and everything else that a mid-level smartphone should have .

Compared to the Lenovo Zuk Z1, which is equipped with a battery of almost the same capacity (4100 mAH), the battery life of the Cubot Dinosaur 4G during continuous video playback was 1 hour longer. In addition, it works approximately 1.5-2 times longer than the majority of “dialers” that are similar in price.

Specifications

• Screen: 5.5” diagonal, resolution 1280×720, 428 ppi, 16.78 million colors, IPS matrix type.
• Processor: MediaTek MT6735A, 4 cores, 1300 MHz.
• Video adapter: Mali-T720.
• RAM: 3 Gb.
• ROM: 32 Gb.
• Communications: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE (bands 1, 3, 7, 20).
• Satellite connection: GPS/A-GPS.
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack, memory card slot (up to 128 Gb).
• Sensors: light, proximity, accelerometer, barometer.
• Battery: 4150 MaH, up to 600 hours standby time, up to 30 hours talk time.
• Case material – plastic.
• Dimensions: 152.3 x 77.2 x 8.8 mm.
• Weight: 185 g.

In addition to the capacious battery and price, owners of “dinosaurs” like the convenient silicone case that is included in the package. With it, the phone is absolutely not afraid of falls even from a meter height.

Users cited a mediocre camera and a limited LTE frequency range as the device's disadvantages.

HOMTOM HT17: the best budget model

H OMTOM HT17 is a product of a fairly well-known Chinese mobile device manufacturer - Doogee. In Russia, mainly inexpensive models of this brand are in demand, since they demonstrate a very good balance of performance, quality and price.

HOMTOM HT17 is perhaps the clearest example of a high-quality ultra-budget device. With an average cost of only 4,500 rubles, it is only slightly inferior to devices that are sold in Russian stores for 7-8 thousand.

The creation of this device was based on the principle “cheap does not mean bad.” It is assembled on the basis of reliable, productive, but inexpensive components and has everything necessary that a smartphone should have.

Specifications

• Screen: 5.5” diagonal, resolution 1280×720, 267 ppi, 16.78 million colors, IPS matrix type.
• Processor: MediaTek MT6737, 4 cores, 1100 MHz.
• Video adapter: Mali-T720 MP2.
• RAM: 1 Gb.
• ROM: 8 Gb.
• Communications: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A Cat. 4.
• Satellite connection: GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou.
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2 bands), Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB, 3.5 mm headphone jack, memory card slot (up to 128 Gb).
• Sensors: light, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, fingerprint scanner.
• Cameras: 13+5 MPixel, LED flash, autofocus.
• SIM card support: 2 micro SIM, work in alternating mode.
• Battery: 3000 MaH, removable.
• Case material – plastic.
• Dimensions: 153x77.6x7.9 mm.
• Weight: 150 g.
• Operating system: Android 6.0.

The only serious disadvantage of HOMTOM HT17 is the too small amount of RAM: for many modern applications one gigabyte is not enough. However, there is a device on sale that is very similar in characteristics - HOMTOM HT17 Pro, which has 2 times more RAM. It costs about 1,000 rubles more. A smartphone based on the super-fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 platform, equipped with 6 gigabytes of RAM, a curved, ultra-clear Super AMOLED screen, a discrete sound module and an excellent 16-megapixel camera, according to the results of the AnTuTu benchmark (as of May 2016 year) was recognized as the most powerful in the world (138,706 points).

For comparison: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge lagged behind it by 4107 points, and Xiaomi Mi5 - by 1933.

Specifications

• Screen: 5.43” diagonal, resolution 2056×1440, 541 ppi, 16.78 million colors, Super AMOLED matrix type. The display has a curved shape - it smoothly flows from the front surface to the side edges.
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 4 cores.
• Video adapter: Adreno 510/530.
• RAM: 4-6 Gb.
• ROM: 128 Gb.
• Communications: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE (bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8).
• Satellite connection: GPS/A-GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou.
• Interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2 bands), Bluetooth 4.1, USB type C, 3.5 mm headphone jack, memory cards are not supported.
• Sensors: light, proximity, compass, gyroscope, accelerometer, fingerprint scanner.
• Cameras: 16+8 MPixel, dual LED flash, autofocus, macro mode.
• Audio system – ESS Saber ES9028 codec, OPA1612 amplifiers.
• SIM card support: 2 nano SIM.
• Battery: 3600 mAH, non-removable, fast charging function.
• Case material – all-metal.
• Dimensions: 153.3 x 76.2 x 7.6 mm.
• Weight: 168 g
• Operating system: Android 5.1 plus Funtouch OS 2.5.1 add-on

Vivo Xplay 5 Elite is not yet officially available in Russia, so I can’t guess how much it will cost in our country. However, those who want to purchase this miracle device can do so today. In Chinese online stores, its average price is $655.

2016 was far from the most favorable year for the Chinese economy, but despite this, brands from the Middle Kingdom continued to confidently release new smartphone models. Moreover, the Chinese managed to oust LG from the top five global manufacturers and are confidently approaching the next giant - Samsung. For a simple comparison, here are some numbers: in 2012, Samsung's share of the global community was more than 32%, while now this figure has dropped to 27.8%, while the percentage of sales of several Chinese companies (Lenovo Xiaomi and Huawei) has increased in total from 11% to 20.6%. You can’t argue with the numbers, and is it necessary? Let's just find out which smartphone models were the most popular in 2016.

It is worth noting that Chinese brands have long ceased to be associated among users with the budget segment and have reached a significantly different level. Now the flagships of many companies freely compete with apple products, but cost several times less. Is it good or bad? Of course, it’s good, because healthy competition always generates quality and the need for further development. These are the laws of business, and today we will talk to you about models that have managed to attract users all over the world. Well, which smartphone will be the most attractive is up to you, dear readers, to decide.

The first on our list is Xiaomi Redmi 3S 16 Gb, the average price of which in Ukrainian stores is 3,400 UAH. The device was equipped with a high-quality five-inch IPS screen, 13 MP and 5 MP cameras, 2 GB of RAM and a 16 GB drive. The device runs Android 6.0, and a 4100 mAh battery is responsible for its autonomy. A stable workhorse - this is exactly what we should say about this model with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 processor. Based on reviews from real users, it should be noted that the smartphone works in active mode for about two days. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best budget smartphones of this year.

Screen:	5", 720 x 1280 (HD), 294ppi
CPU:	8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (4 x 1.4 GHz + 4 x 1.1 GHz)
Graphics accelerator:
Operating system:
	two SIM cards: micro i nano
Built-in memory:	16/32 GB
RAM:	2/3 GB
Wireless interfaces:	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1
Navigation:	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Cameras:	Main camera – 13 MP, front camera – 5 MP
Battery:	4100 mAh
Dimensions:	69.6 x 139.3 x 8.5 mm
	144 g

The next budget phone on our list is HOMTOM HT17 Pro. Almost everyone can afford it, since the price of a new product is on average 2,400 UAH. For this money you will get a 5.5-inch display with a resolution of 1280x720. The operating system is Android 6.0, the RAM capacity is 2 GB, the internal storage is around 16 GB. The camera capabilities also coincide with the previous hero and correspond to 13 megapixels and 5 megapixels. The only obvious difference is the battery capacity of 3000 mAh. As you can see, the smartphone is also very interesting, especially for its price tag. For more detailed information about all the characteristics, see the table.

System:	Android 6 (Marshmallow)
CPU:	64Bit MTK MT6737 1.1 GHz, 4 cores ARM Cortex-A53
Graphics accelerator:
RAM:
Built-in memory:	8 GB
Memory card support:	There is
Connection:	WCDMA 900/2100, GSM 850/900/1800/1900, FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600
Wireless interfaces:	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0
Screen:	5.5" IPS with HD resolution (1280 x 720), multi-touch 5 touches
Front-camera:	2 MP (interpolation to 5 MP)
Main camera:	8 MP (interpolation to 13 MP)
Navigation:	GPS+AGPS
Battery:	3000mAh
Dimensions:	153.5 x 78 x 8 mm
	113 g

Third on the list of available and popular devices is the Meizu MX5 16Gb with a price tag of 5,200 UAH. For this money you will get an excellent display with a resolution of 1920x1080 and a screen diagonal of 5.5 inches. The operating system for this model is a little older - Android 5.0, but the amount of RAM is 3 GB, with an internal storage capacity of 16 GB. A 3150 mAh battery is responsible for the autonomy of the device. In this smartphone you will definitely be pleased with the 20.7 MP and 5 MP optics. The main camera boasts a laser focusing option, which makes your photos even better.

Available colors:	grey, champagne, silver with black or white front panel
Case materials:	metal, glass.
Operating system:	Flyme 4.5 based on Android 5.0 Lollipop
Networks (depending on phone versions):	GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz (band 5/8/3/2); TD-SCDMA: 1880-1920, 2010-2025 MHz; UMTS: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz; LTE: 1800/2100/2600 MHz (band 3/1/7)
SIM cards:	Dual Nano-SIM, Dual Standby
CPU:	Helio X10 Turbo (MT6795T), 64 bit, 2.2 GHz, 8 Cortex A53 cores
Video accelerator:	PowerVR Rogue G6200 MP4, 700 MHz
RAM:	3 GB LPDDR3, 933 MHz
Data storage memory:	16 GB
Fingerprint's scanner:	mTouch 2.0, 0.48 sec., 360°, up to 5 prints in memory
Interfaces:	Micro-USB 2.0, dual band 2.4/5.0 GHz WiFi 802.11 (ac/b/g/n), Wi-Fi Hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth v4.1, BLE, OTA, OTG, 3.5 mm audio
Screen:	AMOLED, Samsung, 5.5"" Full HD (1920x1080), On-Cell, 401 ppi, Corning Corilla Glass 3
Cameras:	rear 20.7 MP (5248x3936), Sony IMX220 Exmor RS, f/2.2; front 5 MP (2576x1936), f/2.0, OmniVision OV5693
Navigation:	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, digital compass
Battery:	non-removable, 3150 mAh, mCharge fast charging
Dimensions:	149.9 x 74.7 x 7.6 mm

The LeEco company has performed well this year and it is no coincidence that the LeEco (LeTV) Le Max2 X820 32Gb smartphone was included in our list. The Chinese market received the model back in the spring, but we Europeans only received the device in September. It is worth noting that the smartphone was one of the first to replace the usual analog audio output with the advanced CDLA standard. Only 5 months later, we were able to see this technology from Apple. These are not all the advantages thanks to which the device can easily compete with global flagships. At your disposal is a gorgeous 5.7-inch screen with a resolution of 2560x1440, Android 6.0, as much as 4 GB of RAM and a 21 megapixel sensor from Sony. Even the front camera received its legal 8 megapixels. The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 MSM8996 processor. You can buy a smartphone in Ukraine for an average of 8,000 UAH.

Screen:	IPS, 5.7", 2560x1440, 515 ppi, capacitive, multi-touch
CPU:	quad-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820, 2.15 GHz
Graphics accelerator:
Operating system:
RAM:
Built-in memory:	32 GB
Memory card support:
Connection:	GSM: 850/900/1800/1900 MHz || UMTS: 850/900/1900/2000/2100 MHz || LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 25, 26, 38, 39, 40, 41
	2 x nano-SIM, Dual SIM Dual Standby (DSDS)
Interfaces:	USB Type-C (including for audio)
Wireless interfaces:	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, IR port
Navigation:	GPS, GLONASS, Beidou
Cameras:	main - 21 MP (optical image stabilization, two-color LED flash, phase detection autofocus), front - 8 MP
Sensors:	illumination, proximity, accelerometer, Hall, microgyroscope, compass, ultrasonic fingerprint scanner
Battery:	3100 mAh, non-removable, supports Quick Charge 3.0
Dimensions:	156.8x77.6x8 mm
	185 grams

This model should be classified as a more expensive segment, since the price is currently at around 12,500 UAH. The device became a kind of merger of two giants - Huawei and Google. The result of the technological tandem bore fruit and the smartphone captivated buyers with its capabilities and stylish design. First of all, the screen measures 5.7 inches and has a high resolution of 2560x1440. Under the hood, the device has 64 GB of internal storage and 3 GB of RAM, and it all runs on the Android 6.0 operating system. The battery capacity in this case is 3450 mAh. The optics are also great: the 12.3 MP main camera with laser autofocus will give you really gorgeous pictures, and the dual LED flash will allow you to work in low-light conditions. The 8 MP front camera also boasts autofocus and excellent selfies.

Operating system:	Android v6.0
Display:	5.7 "; 2560x1440 pixel; 518 ppi; AMOLED
Communication standards:	GSM; 3G; 4G (LTE)
Number of SIM cards:	2
CPU:	Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810, 8 cores, 2.0 GHz
GPU:	Adreno 430
RAM:	3 GB
Built-in memory:	64 GB
Navigation:	GPS, A-GPS, GLONAS
Wireless interfaces:	EDGE; Wi-Fi / 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac /; Bluetooth /v4.2/; USB host; NFC chip
Cameras:	12.3 MP - main, 8 MP - front
Dimensions:	159.3x77.8x7.3 mm
	178 g
Battery:	3450 mAh

The price tag for Xiaomi Mi5 32GB is approximately 7,000 UAH, if you buy the device in Ukraine. The model is truly impressive and is one of the ten most productive gadgets. The system simply “flies” thanks to the super-powerful processor and 3 GB of RAM. The display is also excellent and its characteristics are a 5.15-inch diagonal and a resolution of 1920x1080. But the main pride of the smartphone is its camera with a 16 MP Sony IXM298 sensor. The pictures can easily compete with Apple devices, as well as the popular Samsung Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia Z3. The declared battery capacity is 3000 mAh.

Operating system:	MIUI 7.2 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow
Contact:	2 x Nano SIM; GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, CDMA 800 / 1900, HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100, LTE band 1(2100), 3(1800), 7(2600), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)
Screen:	5.15" IPS LCD 1080 x 1920 (428 ppi), Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Chipset:	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820
CPU:	4 Kryo cores, 2 at 1.8 GHz and 2 at 1.6 GHz
Video chip:	Adreno 530
	3 GB
Memory:	32 GB
Camera:	main: 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.8“ sensor, pixel size 1.12 µm, phase detection autofocus, OIS (4-axis), dual-tone LED flash, auto HDR, video recording at 2160p@30fps, 720p@120fps; front: 4 MP, f/2.0, 1/3” sensor, pixel size 2µm, video recording at 1080p@30fps
Wireless technologies:	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, access point; Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, LE; NFC, IR
Connectors:	USB Type-C 1.0, 3.5 mm Jack
Navigation:	GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS
Battery:	Li-Po 3000 mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 support
Additionally:	Fingerprint's scanner
Dimensions:	144.6 x 69.2 x 7.3 mm
	129 g
Case colors:	Black, White, Gold, Ceramic

This model entered the top 8 best-selling smartphones in China and received an honorable second place in the ranking of all products from Huawei. Impressive, isn't it? You can now buy a smartphone in Ukraine for an average of 10,000 UAH. For this money you will get a 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, 4 GB of RAM, which is definitely enough to solve any tasks, 32 GB of internal storage, and a 3000 mAh battery. At first glance, it may seem that such a battery will run out quickly, since the hardware demands are high, but thanks to the Smart Power 4.0 energy-saving technology, the user will get more than a day in active use mode. Another notable detail of the device is the dual 12 megapixel main camera with manual settings, like a SLR camera. In other words, if you are a connoisseur of high-quality photos, Huawei Honor 8 is created just for you.

Display:	5.2-inch with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels
CPU:	2.3 GHz HiSilicon Kirin 950
Operating system:	Android 6.0
Built-in memory:	32/64/128 GB
RAM:	3/4 GB
Memory card support:	There is
Cameras:	12 MP dual camera on the back, 8 MP front camera
Dimensions:	145.5 × 71.0 × 7.45 mm
Battery:	3200 mAh
	153 grams

Last on our list we would like to present you the most powerful smartphone in the world OnePlus3 64Gb, the average price of which is 11,500 UAH. The device was immediately dubbed a flagship killer, and all because of its top-end productive hardware and relatively affordable price tag. For a very reasonable price, you get a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920x1080, 16 MP and 8 MP optics, as well as as much as 6 GB of RAM (you must agree, this figure is shocking), thanks to which the device has received the well-deserved status of the fastest smartphone in the world. The device even outperformed the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge or iPhone 6S in real tests. The model runs Android 6.0, but soon users will be able to upgrade to Android 7.0. The autonomy of the device is ensured by a battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh.

Screen:	5.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, 401 ppi
CPU:	Snapdragon 820 with a frequency of 2.15 GHz
Graphics accelerator:
Operating system:
RAM:
Built-in memory:	64 GB
	two SIM cards (Nano-SIM);
Memory card support:
Navigation:	GPS and GLONASS
Wireless interfaces:	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot
Cameras:	main 16 MP SONY IMX298 with aperture 2.0, front 8 MP SONY IMX179
Bluetooth:	4.2, A2DP, LE
Battery:	3000 mAh
Dimensions:	1152.7 x 74.7 x 7.4 mm
	158 grams

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

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

The best Chinese smartphones 2016

Smartphone rating

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

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

What we have:

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

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

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

Advantages of the device:

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

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

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

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

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

But the design still deserves a separate description:

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

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

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

Let's go over the characteristics:

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

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

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

The best budget models

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

• Bluboo Xfire 2.
• Homtom HT7.

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

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

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

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

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

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