The best budget smartphones from Aliexpress in 2022: review of the top 17 models

Anyone who wants to buy an inexpensive and high-quality phone by visiting Aliexpress can drown in the sea of ​​choice that the Chinese give us. In order to minimize your risks and not regret it after the purchase, you have to study dozens of reviews before you settle on any option.

We decided to make your search easier. After a lot of research, we have selected the 10+ best smartphones that you can buy on Ali. Each of them works 100% and even more than that for their price. We divided them into five categories: up to 5000, 10000, 15000, 20000 and 25000 rubles. Anything that is more expensive cannot be called budget options.

All product descriptions are general statements. If you want to study each model in more detail, then look for specialized reviews.

For those who find these examples not enough, you can look at our other selection with the 10 best smartphone stores that are available on Aliexpress.

Category up to 5000 rub. (up to $65)

Just 6-8 years ago, buying a smartphone for that kind of money that wouldn’t slow down and could take photos and videos more or less acceptable was not realistic. But time passes, competition is growing, so in China for this amount you can now buy quite a workhorse.

Cubot Note 7

First of all, it is better to consider such a phone as a toy for a child. Since for $50-$65 it won’t be such a shame if it gets broken. Despite such a low price, you can watch Youtube and play games. The sound is quite loud. The camera takes and takes pictures quite well for that kind of money. If you are very limited on budget, then you can take it for yourself. The best thing you can get on Ali for that amount.

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Is it possible to buy a phone in China?

Buying a phone in China itself is a fairly ordinary procedure, and many people do it. But sometimes it's easier to check local stores for availability. Often the difference in price is such that it is easier to buy right away than to wait , and at the same time not to risk your free time and nerves if something breaks during shipment.

The smartphones above are not a call to buy one of them, but rather a suggestion to take a look at some other models. Before purchasing, be sure to read reviews and read/watch full reviews .

Category up to 10,000 rub. (up to $130)

In this price category, phones can already be safely used. Dialer, social networks, instant messengers, YouTube, play. It won't fly like lightning, but it will be easy to perform everyday tasks. Perfect for children, grandparents or picky parents.

Cubot MAX 3

The first thing that makes it stand out is its large 6.95" screen and 48 megapixel camera. During the day you can get normal photos, but if there is a lack of starlight, it does not capture stars at all.

Equipped with a 60Hz HD+ screen that only supports 5 touches. Oddly enough, you can remove the back cover and take out the battery. This is rare now. Two SIM cards and one micro SD card fit inside. 5000 mAh battery. Memory capacity 4/64 GB.

There is a fingerprint scanner under the unlock button, but it does not work quickly - up to 0.5 - 1 second. Equipped with Helio i22 processor. To put it simply, you can play modern games, but only at minimum settings. Check social media networks, communicate, watch videos. Enough for a child or an elderly parent.

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Xiaomi Redmi 9C

The most budget device from the Redmi line at the moment.

Some may be pleased that there is a Jack 3.5 connector for headphones. Just like in the previous model, the battery is 5,000 mAh, which means the charge will last for a long time. The screen is IPS, the viewing angles are not very good, but for that kind of money it’s not worth putting this as a minus. It takes good photos during the day. It is better not to take photographs at night.

Who can buy it? Definitely not for demanding parents or children. It definitely doesn’t look like a modern youth phone. But for the title of best, up to 10,000 rubles. can bravely fight.

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realme C21Y

Perhaps the best combination of price and quality in this range. It's worth considering the 4/64 version rather than the 3/32. Over time, you will realize that 3 GB of RAM will not be enough for convenient use.

For this money you get a fairly powerful device with which you can comfortably use the Internet, watch videos and play any toys, even if not at high settings.

There is a fingerprint scanner on the rear panel, a 5000 mAh battery, an NFC module, a fairly loud speaker and a regular camera that takes good pictures during the day and mediocre ones at night. Phone audience: undemanding parents, children and thrifty students.

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Chinese smartphones with good battery

Vsmart Joy 4 3/64GB

Vsmart Joy 4 3/64GB
Vsmart Joy 4 will satisfy the needs of users for whom a large diagonal and a good battery are important parameters in a smartphone. Music lovers will especially appreciate the battery capabilities, because it allows you to listen to music for 166 hours continuously. The ultra-wide-angle camera, despite its small number of megapixels, allows you to take high-quality photographs of landscapes.

Main characteristics:

Advantages and disadvantages

Low price, light weight, reliable battery, ability to install a memory card, long standby time

Lack of RAM for modern applications, freezing, muffled sound transmission

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Smartphones with powerful batteries

Autonomy and quality communication are paramount in modern life

OPPO A54 4/64GB

OPPO A54 4/64GB
Equipped with an excellent battery, the OPPO A54 smartphone has rich stereo sound, exquisite design and decent functionality. The battery capacity is enough for a long period of active use. The device holds a charge well, and smart technologies for its use allow the user to always stay connected. Fast charging replenishes the charge in the shortest possible time. The 6.5-inch screen diagonal is ideal for reading books, watching movies and editing images. The smartphone's small internal memory can easily be expanded by up to 256 GB by installing a card.

Main characteristics:

Advantages and disadvantages

Corrugated anti-slip body, economical power consumption, memory card installation, fast charging

Freezes on power-hungry apps, weak camera, limited app installation space

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Realme 8 6/128GB

Realme 8 6/128GB
The device combines an excellent battery, a good camera and a convenient user interface. When the charge level drops to critical, the smartphone offers one of two energy saving modes and predicts the time until complete discharge, which is very convenient. The functionality provided by the OS keeps financial applications under special control and cuts off attempts of unauthorized access to them.

An additional advantage of the device is the ability to use it as a USB drive. The bright screen allows you to see images clearly even on a sunny day. A memory capacity of 128 GB is enough to store the user’s personal information, and 6 GB of RAM will provide quick access to it and applications.

Main characteristics:

Advantages and disadvantages

Low price, screen brightness adjusting to lighting levels, high-capacity battery, high quality photos, speed, built-in application control system

Unreliable factory protective film, no warning light, rapid battery consumption in heavy load mode, heating

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Phone won't charge

How to fix the problem yourself?

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Expert advice

Cheap Chinese smartphones

OUKITEL C21

OUKITEL C21
An inexpensive smartphone will pleasantly surprise you with its range of functions. The performance of the device is ensured by the MediaTek Helio P60 processor. Switching between applications occurs without freezing. Thanks to the active cooling system, the device does not overheat. High-quality selfies are obtained thanks to the powerful 20 MP front camera. Three rear cameras with factory presets will help you take photos, ensuring good shooting. The 6.4-inch diagonal ensures that the smartphone fits comfortably in your hand.

Main characteristics:

Advantages and disadvantages

Clear loud sound, low price, stable operation

In the dark, there may not be enough brightness, lack of a cover included

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Smartphones with the best cameras

High-quality photos are available to many smartphone users

ZTE Blade L8 1/32GB

ZTE Blade L8 1/32GB
The ZTE Blade L8 smartphone confidently holds a charge and provides the user with high-quality communication. Due to the absence of pre-installed applications, the device's 32 GB memory is enough to install the required number of programs. Smart battery management system unloads open inactive applications from memory, which allows you to efficiently use the small battery capacity. However, this smartphone only works with 3G communication format - it is enough for instant messengers and checking mail, but it will not be enough for entertainment.

Main characteristics:

Advantages and disadvantages

Low price, light weight, easy to use, works stably with pre-installed applications

Lack of 4G, no protective glass, freezes after updates, incorrect call reception, heats up

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Itel Vision 1 PRO 2/32

Itel Vision 1 PRO 2/32
The Itel Vision 1 PRO smartphone is equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of total memory for installing applications. Photos and personal information of the user will be placed on a memory card with a capacity of up to 128 GB. Applications do not freeze and even with intensive use, the battery charge lasts more than a day. The built-in anti-virus protection program cuts out suspicious actions and notifies the user. The device will be appreciated by users who value a large screen, speed and reliability.

Main characteristics:

Advantages and disadvantages

Performance, reliable battery, no lag, system for disabling suspicious applications

Weak camera, no light sensor, does not support modern applications, difficulty in purchasing a case and glass

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Smartphones up to 10,000 rubles

Ultra-budget options for everyday tasks

Xiaomi Redmi Note 11

Among the first advantages are the presence of stereo speakers and a full slot for two SIM cards and one memory card. The quality of the speakers is not bad. There is no excessive highs and the sound itself is quite spacious. It also features an AMOLDED screen with 90Hz support.

The fingerprint scanner is located in the side button. Usually it works quickly, but sometimes it is delayed up to 0.5 seconds.

Despite the number of cameras and the declared 50 megapixels, the photo quality is at an average level. During the day you can still get normal pictures, although the dynamic range is not so great, but at night it’s a complete wash.

But his autonomy is fine. The 5000 mAh battery allows you to watch videos for up to 19 hours and play for at least 7. Fast charging charges up to 60% in half an hour.

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Haval H9

The all-wheel drive Haval H9 entered the top 5 Chinese cars in Russia thanks to the high level of active and passive safety systems. It is available in two versions: with a 4C20A gasoline engine (245 hp) and a 4D20T diesel engine (190 hp). This car is specially designed for smooth driving even on off-road terrain, thanks to the multi-functional ATS all-wheel drive control system, as well as the smooth shifting of the gearbox.

The car is equipped with 6 modes of automatic traction and braking control: automatic, “4L”, sport, separately for driving on sand, mud and snow. A rigid body with a durable frame, airbags and seat belts, the presence of a tire pressure monitoring system - all this makes the Haval H9 one of the best Chinese cars for Russian roads.

realme 9i

First of all, it differs in its design. Despite the matte body, the back is painted in a beautiful iridescent gradient. It looks very impressive. Also, many will be glad that there is still a headphone jack.

The screen is FHD+ with 90 Hz, but the display itself is IPS. Even so, the display is still usable and the brightness is quite sufficient. The scanner is built into the side button and works very quickly. No misfires were noticed.

Thanks to the Spapdragon 680 processor, it can handle any modern games. Almost everything is on high settings. The camera is stated to be 50 megapixels. It has three lenses, but, like everywhere else, there is essentially only one that works. The quality of the images during the day is, as always, good. For night photography there is a night mode. It highlights photos quite well, but it produces a lot of noise. One plus is that details are not lost.

I'm pleased with the sound quality. There are two stereo speakers that produce good volume and volume.

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Summarize

Chinese cars are gradually winning the hearts of even the most demanding drivers. And if about ten years ago they were wary of products from the brands Gili, Chery, etc., now cars are valued on an equal basis with Korean brands. What attracts China?

Firstly, stylish design. Because Now the trend is an aggressive appearance, which includes expressive optics and a smart silhouette; Chinese engineers are in full swing developing just such new items.

Secondly, the number of technical options also plays a big role. If you take a certain budget and compare two models of the same class made in China and Korea, then the creation of the Celestial Empire will “outweigh” in terms of additional options. At the same time, all systems will work properly and for a long time. The bitter experience of owning old models from the country in question showed how unreliable their metal turned out to be. It literally rotted in a couple of years, and in an accident it crumpled instantly. The latest Chinese models can boast of a durable body structure, improved metal quality, reliability, reinforced side members and an increased level of safety. Therefore, all the skeptics’ ideas that there is no need to buy such cars are unfounded. Chinese-made cars really have good quality finishing materials, good maneuverability and high reliability.

POCO M3 PRO

Compared to POCO M3, they decided to pump the screen to 90 Hz. The processor was changed to Dimensity 700 from Mediatek and it’s not bad at all. There is practically no throttling observed and the smart device almost does not heat up. But we must not forget that this is not a gaming device, although with low settings you can run any games. Improved performance in the operating system is also noticeable. Much less stuttering and smoother animations.

The speaker, unfortunately, is not stereo and the sound is very modest, but not everything is so bad. For some, the presence of NFC may be a plus and the lack of a notification indicator may be a minus. The camera is far from ideal - a standard budget option, but it is worth noting that the quality is better than that of the younger M3 model. In addition, stabilization has appeared in video shooting.

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How to choose a Chinese smartphone

The choice of products on today's market is huge. Although Chinese smartphones are cheaper than products from companies from other countries, few people like throwing money away. First of all, you need to pay attention to the brand , firmware features and originality of the product.

Brand . Today, dozens of Chinese companies produce smartphones. Some of them are quite functional and are not inferior to flagship models from well-known manufacturers. Others are cheaper, but no less high quality. The most popular products on the Russian market today are products from companies such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu, OnePlus, LeEco. Slightly less popular smartphones include Newman, Doogee, UMI, vkWorld and Oukitel.

Firmware features . Some Chinese phones do not have Russian localization, so there may be problems with the settings. This happens especially often with Xiaomi smartphones. For example, the MIUI operating system installed on them exists in two implementations - China (with exclusively Chinese and English languages) and Global (with dozens of languages ​​present). It is better to immediately choose a smartphone with Global firmware, otherwise you will have to reinstall the system.

In addition, some Chinese smartphones have a problem with the lack of Google services. Even devices from more reliable manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei and Meizu) often come without a pre-installed Google Play app store, as well as a contact synchronization provider and other useful services. In some devices you can install them yourself, in others you cannot.

Beware of fakes!

When ordering phones directly from Chinese sites, you need to read the description very carefully. Sometimes a suspiciously low price is a signal that the product may be a fake. Moreover, visually it will not be distinguishable from the original. The device is equipped with a large amount of RAM and a powerful processor, but during operation it slows down and quickly “dies” - the device is not balanced.

It is impossible to guarantee that when ordering online, the user will not receive a counterfeit product. But if a model costs an order of magnitude cheaper than its usual market price, it is probably a replica.

POCO M4 Pro 5G

Let's briefly go through the details. The case immediately hits the minuses. Very slippery, definitely need a cover. Also a combination tray. Either two SIM cards, or one plus a memory card. Despite the stereo speakers, the sound quality is not up to the price. It's very strange that this happened.

The IPS screen and brightness reserve are very modest, another thing that is not clear. In defense, we can say that there is 90 Hz, good viewing angles and fairly rich colors. The Dimensity 810 processor is clearly not a gaming processor. But on average it will handle any game. During video recording, the sound noise reduction works so hard that it cuts out half of all frequencies. There is also no event indicator.

The pluses include a fingerprint scanner. It's built into the button on the side and works like a lightning bolt. Just instantly. There is also an audio jack. Music lovers will be pleased. There is also NFC. The 5000 mAh battery holds its charge quite well. Enough hours for 15 videos and 6-7 games.

It should have already become clear to the reader: when he drops 2-3 thousand in price, then he can safely take it. In the meantime, this is not its price range.

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Redmi Note 10S

It is a real sales bomb on Ali in this price range. A very big and significant advantage of this model is the elimination of flickering of the AMOLED screen. At minimum brightness levels it is practically absent.

The Helio G95 processor packs a punch. Xiaomi positions it as a gaming device, but let's not forget that this is a middle segment. In its segment, it really carries toys more vigorously than many competitors. You can’t play normally on Ultra graphics settings, but you’re welcome at high ones.

Fans of contactless payments can rejoice. There is a version with NFC. Just be careful when purchasing that you take this particular version.

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Cheap makes and models for 2022

If the price tag of 700-800 thousand rubles seems prohibitive, then this is not at all a reason to purchase a secondary car with an unknown fate. Instead, you should take a closer look at the more affordable “Chinese”, fortunately, today this is not a problem at all.

Chery

When it comes to the Chinese automobile industry, the first association that arises for the vast majority of our car enthusiasts is Chery. This trend can be explained quite simply; this brand was one of the first to appear on our market.

Today, the popularity of this product not only does not fall, but continues to grow, pampering customers with an ever-expanding range of models.

Budget sedan Chery Tiggo 5, executive Arrizo 7, SUV Tiggo 3x, known in our area as Tiggo 2 - there are really a lot of options, and they are all good in their own way.

Geely Emgrand X7

More popular than Chery, perhaps, is only Geely with its universal SUV Emgrand X7. Indeed, this model has everything you need, from a durable suspension and anti-lock braking system to a 1.8-liter engine with 125 hp. s., which reduces average consumption to 8.1 liters (an unprecedented figure for a full-size crossover).

The overall picture is completed by the spectacular design of the car, although its interior decoration turned out to be more modest (after all, it was necessary to save on something).

Changan CS35

Not the most budget option of all the offered “Chinese”, since the basic equipment has a 1.6-liter engine and a power of 113 hp. With. will cost buyers almost 800 thousand, but it is stylish and reliable.

If you don't have enough for the Emgrand, which costs about 1.4 million, then you really can't find a better CS35.

POCO X3 Pro

For this price, of course, there is an Amoled screen. The fingerprint scanner was installed underneath it. Despite this, it works instantly.

The camera is stated at 108 megapixels. And during the day the detail is really not bad. Of course it’s worse at night, but the results are very decent.

An obvious disadvantage is the lack of stereo sound. For this money, many competitors offer more interesting options. The battery is set to 4500 mAh and the device’s battery life is fine. In addition to the battery, it feels like good optimization of energy consumption has been carried out. There is a fast charging function. Snapdragon 720G processor.

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Realme GT Master Edition

As befits this price, there is a cool Amoled display with support for 120 Hz. Also on board is the fresh Snapdragon 778G, which produces sky-high results, with a complete absence of throttling. For example: you can safely play Genshin on high settings. In addition, there is NFC, Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 and a high-quality on-screen fingerprint scanner. Simply put, the manufacturer did not skimp on the configuration.

So that buyers do not relax, there are still some small disadvantages: only one speaker. No stereo. Even though he is alone, he does just fine. There are three cameras: the main one is 64 megapixels. But photo capabilities are definitely not this phone's strong point. During the day it’s like day, and at night it’s full of soap.

The 4300 mAh battery delivers results exactly to its capacity. Enough for about 5 hours of games or 14-15 hours of video.

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Blackview A55 - the most affordable phone

And last but not least. This is the most economical phone on the list - Blackview A55. The smartphone is equipped with a MediaTek Helio A22 processor, 3 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory (expandable).

Bright and stylish phone.

It also received a large display with a 6.53-inch panel with HD+ resolution and a 5 MP selfie camera. Meanwhile, on the back we have an 8MP main camera and two more 0.3MP sensors.

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Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite

First of all, it is distinguished by its thickness and weight: thin and light. Total 156 grams. It also stands out from its competitors in the quality of its camera: the main one is 64 megapixels, but that’s not the point. Both day and night, the camera produces better images in terms of details and noise compared to other phones in this selection. I'm also pleased with the battery. Despite the 4250 mAh, you can watch up to 16-17 hours in video mode. Fast charging allows you to fully charge your phone in 1 hour.

One of the disadvantages is the easily soiled back cover. Yes, it is beautiful, mirror-like, but it constantly leaves prints. There's also no headphone jack, although that's not a negative for everyone. The proximity sensor has the same problem as the Redmi line; it does not always work when you put the phone to your ear.

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It is not so easy to select phones for this TOP. All have their pros and cons. But still we stopped at these. If some of your favorite devices are not included here, write in the comments what you think should be removed from here and what should be added.