Best budget smartphones: TOP 10 phones of 2022

For your convenience, we have prepared a review that includes the best budget smartphones of 2022 in terms of price/quality ratio, which should be considered as an option for purchase. Manufacturers offer a huge variety of models that vary in quality, technical characteristics and a number of other important points that must be taken into account. Therefore, it is not so easy to choose a really good gadget for yourself for relatively little money, but we decided to help you by compiling a list of interesting and inexpensive phones.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S 6/64GB (NFC)

Initially, the Redmi Note 10 smartphone was added to this review, but now it’s time to replace it with the 10S model. Why?

Externally, these two devices are difficult to distinguish, except that at the back the chamfer around the main camera module is made silver. But inside the differences are much more noticeable: this is the new Mediatek Helio G95 chipset, which, judging by synthetic tests, leaves behind the Qualcomm Snapdragon 678, which is used in the Note 10. In addition, at the time of writing, the 10S version with 4 GB is not supplied to our market RAM - only 6 GB.

Another important difference is the new main camera module, the OmniVision OV64B, which shows excellent results. Finally, the 10S has an NFC sensor.

Here you will find an excellent AMOLED display with support for 90 Hz, a powerful battery with fast charging, a chic appearance, a scanner in the side button, etc.

• Screen diagonal: 6.43 inches

• Screen resolution: 2400×1080

• Weight: 179 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G95

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 6 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 64/8/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 13 MP

• Memory card support: yes

⇡#realme GT Master Edition

• Operating system: Android 11 (realme UI proprietary shell).
• Display: 6.43 inches, Super AMOLED, 1080 × 2400, 120 Hz.
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G (4 × Kryo 670 Gold, 2.4 GHz and 4 × Kryo 670 Silver, 1.9 GHz).
• RAM: 6/8 GB.
• Flash memory: 128/256 GB.
• Camera: 64 + 8 + 2 MP.
• Dual SIM cards, no memory card slot.
• Battery capacity: 4300 mAh.
• Price: 27,000 rubles.

Why it’s worth buying: powerful hardware platform, interesting (though not universal) design, good cameras (both rear and front), AMOLED screen with a frequency of up to 120 Hz, on-screen fingerprint scanner, very fast charging (65 W).

What can stop it: there is no memory expansion slot, a mono speaker, the 8/256 GB version costs more than 30 thousand.

Again, realme - the “new Xiaomi” from the BBK concern (in addition to it, it includes OPPO, vivo and OnePlus) continues to bombard the market with inexpensive smartphones with unusually good characteristics and without advertising in the shell, which has become a kind of hallmark of the Redmi series. This season, the realme GT Master Edition model especially stood out, which is distinguished by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G platform, which gives the smartphone high gaming potential, an AMOLED screen with a frequency of 120 Hz, sane dimensions and a version with a corrugated, non-slip back.

There is also a small problem - only the version with 6/128 GB of memory fits into our selection. Well, since the realme GT Master Edition does not have a MicroSD slot, this slightly limits its attractiveness. But not so much that you still can’t highlight it in the first place.

Alternative: realme 8 Pro . This is not such a “gaming” device (the well-deserved Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G platform is installed here, and the screen operates at 60 hertz), but there is a memory expansion slot, and the rear camera is even more interesting - with a main module of 108 megapixels. Nevertheless, progress in the “numbered” realme series is somewhat stalled - there has not yet been a real continuation of the breakthrough realme 6 Pro.

Samsung Galaxy A03s

A smartphone from Samsung with a low cost, classic design and good characteristics.

In general, the model is very similar to the A02s, but significantly modified. For example, the texture on the back cover has changed and a fingerprint scanner has appeared in the side key. There are two versions to choose from: with memory 3/32 GB and 4/64 GB. At the back there is a triple camera, normal for its class (main module, for macro and for blur).

The MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) chipset is responsible for performance. Battery capacity is 5000 mAh, fast charging is not announced.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 196 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765)

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 3 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 13/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 5 MP

• Memory card support: yes

⇡#Infinix ZERO X Pro

• Operating system: Android 11 (XOS proprietary shell).
• Display: 6.67 inches, AMOLED, 1080 × 2400, 120 Hz.
• Platform: Mediatek Helio G95 (2 × ARM Cortex-A76, 2.05 GHz frequency, 6 × ARM Cortex-A55, 2.0 GHz frequency).
• RAM: 8 GB.
• Flash memory: 128/256 GB.
• Camera: 108+8+8 MP.
• Dual SIM cards, dedicated memory card slot.
• Battery capacity: 4500 mAh.
• Price: 25,990 rubles.

Why you should buy: unusual design, AMOLED display with a frequency of 120 Hz, five times optical zoom (and a 108 MP main module), fast charging, dedicated memory expansion slot, screen scanner.

What can stop it: the mediocre MediaTek platform, no NFC, the shooting quality is not so good, the shell is overloaded.

One of the most impressive smartphones “on paper”: a spectacular and unusual design, an AMOLED screen with 120 hertz, a triple camera with a periscope module - which is completely unique for the mid-budget price category. Should I take it?

Not quite - Infinix ZERO X Pro is really not bad, but there are some problems in implementation: the camera, which is rich in characteristics, does not take very good pictures, the smartphone does not have an NFC module (the problem of many “Chinese” that recently entered the European market), the hardware platform is not so that it is powerful. At the same time, the set of advantages is still quite wide - lovers of “not like everyone else” should pay attention.

Alternative: TECNO CAMON 18 Premier. A smartphone with similar characteristics from a “neighboring” brand - but with a 64-megapixel camera instead of a 108-megapixel one and a sudden optical stabilizer in the wide-angle (!) module, a scanner on the side button, a more boring design, and also with a slightly more recent Helio G96 platform. True, when testing TECNO CAMON 18 Premier, the periscope module worked very strangely, but if this is corrected in the final firmware, then you should pay attention to this particular model from the proposed pair. At least it has NFC.

vivo Y31 4/64Gb

A good and inexpensive device from vivo. For our market it is offered in two colors: ocean blue or wet asphalt. Both look great.

Let's start with the back of the case, where the main camera is located. It has 3 modules: main, bokeh and macro. The main resolution of 48 MP takes good pictures during the day.

The screen is a 6.58-inch diagonal IPS matrix with a resolution of 2408×1080 pixels. The processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 662, the amount of memory in this version is 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM. A powerful 5000 mAh battery supports fast charging. There is an NFC module.

• Screen diagonal: 6.58 inches

• Screen resolution: 2408×1080

• Weight: 188 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: three 48/2/2 MP modules

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

⇡#Nokia X20

• Operating system: Android 11.
• Display: 6.67 inches, IPS, 2400 × 1080 pixels.
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 5G: eight cores (2 × Kryo 460, 2.0 GHz frequency and 6 × Kryo 460, 1.8 GHz frequency).
• RAM: 6/8 GB.
• Flash memory: 128 GB.
• Camera: 64 + 5 + 2 + 2 MP.
• Dual SIM cards, hybrid memory card slot.
• Battery capacity: 4470 mAh.
• Average price: 29,990 rubles.

Why it’s worth buying: pure Android with the fastest updates, non-slip body, decent battery life, good main camera.

What can stop it: very large dimensions, hybrid memory card slot, weak wide-angle camera, no fast charging, 60 Hz LCD screen, overpriced.

Not the best time for Nokia. The brand, which returned under the auspices of HMD Global, occupied what seemed to be a successful niche of “balanced European smartphones without dumping,” but in 2020 and 2021 it did not offer any truly interesting models - the combination of price and characteristics almost always leaves much to be desired.

The Nokia X20 also leaves much to be desired, but not everything is sad here. Yes, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4xx series platform in a smartphone for almost 30 thousand is scary, but in fact it shows performance close to the mainstream Snapdragon 720G in this segment. Yes, the wide-angle camera is frankly sad, but the main one takes really good pictures. The body is non-slip and pleasant in appearance. There is pure Android with the most immediate updates. The only thing for which there is absolutely no “but” is a 60 Hz LCD screen. This is a smartphone primarily for nostalgic fans of the brand and connoisseurs of pure Android.

Alternative: Motorola Defy 2021 . Another smartphone for nostalgics and fans of pure Android, but even more specific. Motorola Defy offers an HD screen, a weak Snapdragon 662 platform, a very simple camera with one available focal length, but in a case protected according to the military standard MIL-SPEC 810H, with tempered Gorilla Glass Victus glass and a strap on the case. Exotic, but some will like it.

realme 8i 4/64Gb

realme 8i is not the cheapest smartphone in our review, but if you buy it for 15-16 thousand rubles, the 8i is unlikely to have competitors.

The point is in the excellent characteristics of the smartphone: cool appearance, a decent 6.59-inch IPS matrix with a high resolution and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, a powerful 5000 mAh battery with support for fast charging, a very productive MediaTek Helio G96 chip that allows you to play even powerful games , although not at maximum graphics, is a surprisingly decent camera, where the main module with a resolution of 50 MP allows you to take excellent pictures with enough light.

Memory capacity to choose from: 4/64 or 4/128 GB. There is a fingerprint sensor and an NFC module.

• Screen diagonal: 6.59 inches

• Screen resolution: 2408×1080

• Weight: 194 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G96

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: three 50/2/2 MP modules

• Front camera: 16 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Conclusion: which budget phone to buy in 2021

We have reviewed the best inexpensive smartphones in 2021-2022. The selection includes models no more expensive than 20 thousand rubles. Which phone to choose depends on the user's preferences.

If you need a very cheap model with which you can watch videos and hang out on social networks, we can recommend choosing Huawei Y5p .

If autonomy is a priority for the user, then the best option would be the Doogee S86 Pro with an 8500 mAh battery.

Do you need everything at once? We recommend considering the Samsung Galaxy A22 4G . The smartphone offers balanced characteristics at a low price.

Samsung Galaxy A12 3/32GB

The Galaxy A12 is unlikely to impress the buyer, but for its price the smartphone is interesting. In addition, since the premiere, it has managed to fall in price a little.

What does the buyer get? Pleasant appearance of the case, a solid 6.5-inch display with a resolution of 1600×720 pixels, an NFC sensor, a main camera with 4 modules, which even has a wide-angle sensor, a powerful 5000 mAh battery with fast charging. As for the fingerprint scanner, it is built into the side power key.

What about the hardware? The MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) chipset, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM (for the specified version) are responsible for the operation.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 205 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765)

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 3 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 48/5/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

The best budget smartphones by price/quality

Xiaomi Redmi 9C

The affordable budget Redmi
is attractive due to the presence of an NFC chip, which is still a rarity in a budget of up to 10,000 rubles. The benefits are supplemented by a 5000 mAh battery, which is enough for two full days with active use. True, it charges through an outdated MicroUSB port. Most of the front panel is occupied by a 6.53-inch IPS display with a resolution of 1600x720 pixels. In its upper part there is a drop-shaped cutout for a 5 MP front camera.

On the back side there is a triple camera of 13, 2 and 2 megapixels. Nearby there is a flash and a fingerprint scanner. Memory - 3/64 GB in combination with an 8-core MediaTek Helio G35 processor with a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz.

Pros:

• Value for money, quality and equipment;
• One of the cheapest with NFC;
• The battery lasts for 2-3 days;
• Beautiful body colors;
• Fast fingerprint scanner on the back;
• Doesn't slow down;
• Free slot for MicroSD up to 256 GB;
• Large selection of accessories.

Minuses:

• No event indicator;
• Old MicroUSB;
• No film or case included.

Xiaomi Poco M3

Poco M3 can be considered the king of autonomy

, because it was equipped with a 6000 mAh battery, which is enough for most users for 2.5-3 days of use without recharging. By the way, it is fast 18 W Quick Charge 3.0 and flows through the USB Type-C port. You won't find anything better in this segment. The fingerprint scanner is combined with the power button, and the presence of an infrared port turns the smartphone into a remote control for all equipment in the house.

At the back there is a triple camera of 48, 2 and 2 megapixels, decorated with a huge POCO inscription. The lid is made of plastic, but it is pleasant to the touch, non-slip and textured like leather. If you are looking for a cheap but good phone for gaming, then the Poco M3 is a great choice.

There are 4/128 GB of memory on board, seasoned with a powerful 8-core Snapdragon 662 processor. 83% of the front panel is occupied by a 6.53-inch FullHD+ display with a drop-shaped cutout for the front camera on top. The picture on it is bright and detailed.

Pros:

• Memory volumes - 4/128 GB;
• The processor power is enough for games;
• The fingerprint scanner is built into the power button;
• The most autonomous thanks to a 6000 mAh battery;
• Supports 18W charging via Type-C port;
• Availability of NFC and IR port;
• Pleasant tactile body, designed to look like leather;
• FHD+ display;
• Good sound;
• Looks great.

Minuses:

• Advertising in the MIUI shell.

Samsung Galaxy A12 4/64GB

The best phone to date is clad in a plastic case, on the back of which there is a 48, 5, 2 and 2 megapixel quad camera. If photo quality comes first for you when choosing a smartphone, then this is your choice. The fingerprint scanner has been moved to the side panel. The image is displayed on a large 6.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1560x720 pixels. An 8 MP selfie camera is integrated into the drop-shaped cutout at the top.

Out of the box, the Samsung Galaxy A12 runs on Android 10, the performance of which is facilitated by 4/64 GB of memory in combination with the MediaTek Helio P35 chipset. You can put MicroSD up to 1 TB in a separate slot. A distinctive feature is the presence of NFS and a capacious 5000 mAh battery with support for 15 W charging via Type-C.

Pros:

• Good camera;
• Price quality;
• Operating time without recharging;
• Type-C and NFS;
• Memory capacity and flash drive slot up to 1 TB;
• Fits well in the hand.

Minuses:

• Recognizes a face for a long time;
• You cannot select photo resolution in the settings;
• The screen without oleophobic coating gets dirty quickly.

Redmi 9A is one of the most affordable Xiaomi phones in 2022

A tasty offer in the segment of affordable devices

, which can be
found for 7,000 rubles
.
With such a budget you don’t expect much, but the device copes well with basic functions and even simple games. It is based on an 8-core MediaTek Helio G25 chipset

2/32 GB of memory,
modest by modern standards .
Fortunately, there is a separate slot for MicroSD
.

The main advantage of a budget employee is a 5000 mAh battery

, which, in combination with the low resolution
of the 6.53-inch IPS screen of 1600x720 pixels
, gives very good battery life results.
You will charge the gadget no more than once every couple of days
.
True, full charging takes a little more than two hours and is carried out via the MicroUSB port
.

There is only one camera on each side - 5 MP front and 13 MP rear

.
You shouldn't expect much from her. NFC and a fingerprint scanner are not included
in the design.

Pros:

• Affordability;
• Dedicated slot for memory card;
• 5000 mAh battery;
• Large display with maximum viewing angles;
• Build quality of the case.

Minuses:

• The resolution is too low for such a diagonal;
• They regretted the RAM;
• There is no NFS or fingerprint scanner.

Redmi 9 is a good model with NFC, frameless design and a 5020 mAh battery

The best cheap smartphone

endowed with balanced characteristics, which are more than enough for comfortable use.
When you meet it, you immediately notice the large 6.53-inch IPS display.
It occupies
83% of the area
and operates at a resolution
of 2400x1080 pixels
.
, an 8 MP selfie camera is integrated
into a drop-shaped cutout . You can use it to make bright selfies for social networks.

MediaTek Helio G80 chipset is responsible for performance.

, which can
accelerate to 2 GHz
.
It is helped by 4/64 GB of memory
.
You can increase the volume without sacrificing a second SIM card
, because
there is a separate slot for MicroSD
.

I would also like to mention the cameras. Despite the cost, there are four of them:

• 13 MP main sensor;
• 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens;
• 5 MP for macro photography;
• 2 MP for depth detection.

During the day, the detail is pleasantly impressive. In low light, noise makes itself felt, but its amount is acceptable. The main feature of the device is its endurance. Battery 5020 mAh

allows you to forget about recharging for a long time.
18-watt charging
is supported , but
the kit comes with a 10-watt unit
, which
provides only 30% charge in 30 minutes
.
But there is a transparent silicone bumper
.

Pros:

• Amazing autonomy;
• Quad cameras with good shooting quality;
• Convenient case included;
• Fast charging;
• The case does not get very hot under load;
• Optimal memory capacity;
• There is NFC;
• MicroSD slot;
• Large and bright high-resolution display.

Minuses:

• The brightness reserve is not enough in the bright sun;
• Case dimensions;
• The fingerprint scanner was placed close to the camera, which is why at first you get to the lenses.

Realme C21Y

The best budget phone from Realme
is deservedly popular due to its excellent price-quality ratio. The model is housed in a plastic case, decorated on the back with an unusual graphic design. The matte finish makes it practical and prevents it from slipping out of your hand.

Ahead we are greeted by a 6.5-inch screen made using IPS technology. It works at a standard resolution for this price category of 1600x720 pixels, which gives a low pixel density of 270 ppi. At the top, a drop-shaped cutout was left for the needs of a 5 MP selfie camera. The main one was made triple. It includes a main 13 MP lens and two 2 MP auxiliary sensors.

Realme C21Y differs from its older brother in a simplified Unisoc Tiger T610 processor with 8 cores and a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz. Combined with 4/64 GB of memory, it scores 188,794 points in AnTuTu. The system works quickly, but the graphics in games have to be turned up to minimum. The phone, although inexpensive, boasts an NFC chip and a powerful 5000 mAh battery. The fingerprint scanner is located on the back.

Pros:

• Works quickly and stably;
• Functional shell;
• The battery charge lasts for a confident two days;
• Almost does not heat up;
• Interesting design;
• NFC available;
• Optimal amounts of memory + separate slot for a memory card;
• Loud speaker;
• Convenient sizes;
• A film is glued to the screen from the factory.

Minuses:

• Outdated MicroUSB port;
• Poor selection of accessories on sale.

Samsung Galaxy A32

The state employee stands out primarily for its design. Manufacturer

uses bright colors and does not highlight the camera block, which makes the design recognizable. Each lens is mounted separately, in a small round ledge. In its appearance, the A32 is closer to flagships than to budget competitors.

It also features the best cameras for its budget. There are four modules at the back - a 64 MP main lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens with a viewing angle of 123 degrees, 5 MP for macro photography and 5 MP for the Bokeh effect. The only disappointment is the Mediatek Helio G80 processor, due to which video recording is limited to FHD at 30 fps. Paired with 4/64 GB of memory, it scores 232,001 points in AnTuTu.

You can take excellent selfies with the 20 MP front camera, built into the drop-shaped cutout above the 6.4-inch Super AMOLED screen. It works at a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels, which gives them a high density per inch of around 411 ppi. It is also distinguished by a clock frequency increased to 90 Hz and thin frames that allow it to occupy 85% of the area. The maximum brightness level reaches 800 nits, which is plenty even in bright sunshine.

A battery with a capacity of 5000 mAh can last up to two days without recharging. True, you can’t call it fast - from a 15 W complete unit, 50% reaches 50% in 50 minutes, and you will see the coveted 100% only after 2 hours 15 minutes. There is NFC and Wi-Fi 5.

Pros:

• The best main and selfie camera for your budget;
• Excellent matrix with high brightness and frequency of 90 Hz;
• Beautiful and most importantly recognizable design;
• Functional shell;
• Battery life;
• Fast memory;
• Triple tray;
• Multi-band Wi-Fi and NFC;
• Quality of communication and GPS reception.

Minuses:

• The on-screen scanner does not always recognize the first time;
• Long charging time;
• The processor could have been better. It limits FHD video recording to 30 fps.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S

Redmi Note

10S is a budget phone with good performance and a 5000 mAh battery, which lasts for a solid 1.5-2 days without recharging. It is fast here - from 33 W of the complete unit and via a modern USB Type-C port. The user has 6/64 GB of memory in the fast UFS 2.2 format, in addition to which comes the new Mediatek Helio G95 chipset. It provides a good level of performance, sufficient for modern games and scores over 300 thousand points in AnTuTu.

Improvements have also been made to the main camera. The 48 megapixel lens has been replaced by a 64 megapixel lens. Its capabilities are expanded by an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle with a viewing angle of 119 degrees, an auxiliary 2 MP and a 2 MP for macro photography. Supports 2x optical zoom, video recording in FHD 60 FPS or 4K, but only 30 FPS. The presence of NFC allows you to pay contactlessly for purchases in stores and for travel on public transport.

The AMOLED screen has a huge brightness reserve and adds richness to any picture. It is quite large - 6.43 inches and runs at a high resolution of 2400x1080 pixels. In an island way, a 13 MP selfie camera is built into it. The case complies with the IP moisture protection class, and a fingerprint scanner is built into the power button.

Pros:

• Bright and large screen;
• Stereo sound;
• The set includes a film for the screen and a case;
• Capacious battery that lasts for a long time;
• Triple tray;
• Photo quality;
• Speed ​​of work;
• Convenient dimensions and ergonomics of the case;
• NFC and IR port on board;
• Quick scanner in the power button;
• Beautiful colors.

Minuses:

• It doesn't shoot video well, and that's because of the software.

Samsung Galaxy A51 is one of the most affordable smartphones with a Super AMOLED display and a quad camera

The rating of cheap phones continues with an interesting model from a Korean manufacturer

,
87% of the area of ​​which is occupied by a 6.5-inch display
.
There are practically no frames around its perimeter, which allows you to focus on the content and achieve smaller body dimensions with a large screen. This is a high-quality AMOLED matrix with a resolution of 2400x1080
and its characteristic deep black tint.

Battery capacity increased to 4000 mAh

., which means you no longer need to limit your activity throughout the day.
The charge will last at least until the evening. At the same time, it also charges quickly - the treasured 100% reaches after 80 minutes
.

6 GB of RAM contributes to good multitasking

then you will store your photos, games and other files on
64 or 128 GB of internal storage.
Samsung Exynos 9611 overclocks to 2.3 and runs most games on average graphics.
The triple slot allows you to simultaneously accommodate 2 SIM cards and MicroSD
.

Samsung Knox system protects personal data from viruses and hacker attacks

.
One of the main assets of Samsung's hit is its camera, which includes 48, 12, 5 and 5 megapixel
.
It gives decent results during daytime shooting, but its weak point is twilight, which is due to the f/2.0 aperture
.

Pros:

• Design and build quality;
• Large AMOLED display with minimal frames around the perimeter;
• Android 10 out of the box;
• Fast charging and autonomy;
• Great cameras;
• NFC with Samsung Pay;
• 4K video recording;
• 3.5 mm headset jack;
• Three slots for cards;
• Impressive amounts of memory.

Minuses:

• Unfinished camera software;
• We saved on case materials - plastic is used.

Poco X3 Pro

If you need to choose an inexpensive but good smartphone with maximum battery life
, then take a closer look at the Poco X3 Pro. It has an IPS screen with FHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate, which coupled with a powerful processor gives an excellent gaming experience. The experience will be complemented by stereo speakers that provide clear and spacious sound. It is covered with the most reliable tempered glass Gorilla Glass v6, supports HDR 10+ content and occupies 85% of the usable area.

Out of the box, the budget phone runs on Android 11, overlaid with the functional MIUI shell. Poco X3 Pro, although budget, has excellent characteristics - 6/128 GB of the fastest UFS 3.1 memory, a powerful 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 processor with a frequency of 2.96 GHz. This gives an impressive level of performance, which is sufficient in games and when performing any tasks. In AnTuTu, such a combination scores 560,155 points, which is typical for much more expensive smartphones.

The fingerprint scanner is now on the side. The finger rests on it itself, the response is instantaneous. You will take photos with a quad camera with a resolution of 48, 8, 2 and 2 megapixels, and for selfies there is a 20 megapixel island front camera. The body is entirely made of plastic. The material is not premium, but very light. In addition, it corresponds to the IP53 moisture protection class - you don’t have to be afraid of getting caught in the rain. There is an infrared port and NFS, but not in all modifications. Autonomy is at the highest level thanks to a 5160 mAh battery with support for 33 W charging. It works 100% after an hour.

Pros:

• Fast and convenient;
• Excellent sound in stereo format;
• The most powerful for its price;
• There is a lot of memory and it is of the fastest format;
• Transparent case included;
• Works for a long time on a single charge and charges up to 100% in an hour;
• Great cameras;
• Convenient location of the fingerprint scanner;
• Stunning 120Hz display with thin bezels;
• Price/quality/performance;
• Design.

Minuses:

• Hybrid tray;
• The camera protrudes far beyond the lid.

Redmi Note 9 Pro 6/64GB - top specs for affordable money

Budget smartphones with a good camera and battery

Xiaomi also has it at its disposal, as confirmed by the hero of our review.
Everything about Redmi Note 9 Pro is good, because in terms of price and performance it has practically no competitors. Its main difference is the amount of memory, which is 6/64 GB
,
ultra-fast charging with a power of 30 W
, more than decent cameras and autonomy.
Gaming performance is at the highest level thanks to the 8-core Snapdragon 720G chip with a frequency of up to 2.3 GHz
.
Without giving up a second SIM card, you can install MicroSD, receiving up to 512 GB of additional space
.

screen occupies 85% of the area

and is covered
with tempered glass Gorilla Glass v5
.
With a resolution of 2400x1080,
the picture is bright and detailed.
In its upper central part there is a small cutout where a 16 MP front camera
.

In terms of cameras, this is one of the best models in our rating, which uses a combination of a 64 MP main lens, 8 MP wide-angle, 5 MP macro camera and 2 MP for background blur

.
The wealth of benefits is replenished with an NFC chip, an infrared port
for controlling all equipment in your home, and
a 5020 mAh battery
, which not only works autonomously for a long time, but also
fully charges in 1 hour 25 minutes
.

Pros:

• Tempered Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides covers the beautiful body;
• Luscious display with HDR10 support;
• Autonomy and charging speed;
• Top characteristics;
• Photo and video quality;
• There is NFC and infrared;
• Separate slot for MicroSD.

Minuses:

• Uneven lighting around the teardrop cutout.

ZTE Blade A51

The ZTE Blade A51 resembles the older version of the A71 in many characteristics, but is cheaper and looks different.

It uses Go Edition firmware based on Android 11. The screen diagonal is 6.52 inches with a resolution of 1600x720 pixels. The camera is dual (main sensor and depth of field sensor). There is not only a fingerprint sensor, but also an NFC module. Battery capacity - 3200 mAh.

The chip is Unisoc SC9863A, the amount of RAM in all versions is 2 GB, but the built-in memory can be either 32 GB or 64 GB.

• Screen diagonal: 6.52 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 174 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Unisoc SC9863A

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 2 GB

• Battery capacity: 3200 mAh

• Rear camera: two 13/2 MP modules

• Front camera: 5 MP

• Memory card support: yes

The best phones with a powerful mid-range processor

The smartphone market is constantly changing, thanks to which today you can get a powerful hardware platform suitable for any applications and demanding games even in relatively inexpensive devices. Moreover, for about 20 thousand, manufacturers offer not sub-flagship, but top-end processors installed in smartphones costing 50,000 rubles and more. However, a good “filling” is not the only thing that smartphones from the mid-price segment can boast of. We will talk in more detail about all the advantages of such smartphones using the example of three models from leading Chinese companies.

Samsung Galaxy A71 6/128GB

Often, when thinking about which smartphone is best to buy, users look at smaller options. But if you often play games, watch movies and/or videos on YouTube, then a small screen, on the contrary, will be a hindrance. Therefore, the A71 smartphone from Samsung would be a much better choice. It is equipped with a large AMOLED matrix with a diagonal of 6.7 inches, offers good color reproduction, excellent brightness reserve and Full HD resolution.

The advantages of a smartphone do not end with a high-quality picture. The device did not receive the proprietary Exynos processor, which many criticize, but the very fast Snapdragon 730. Yes, for the money, some competitors offer more powerful chips. But it is unlikely that this chip will be insufficiently powerful in any tasks. But it uses battery power very economically. Galaxy A71 also boasts a great camera!

Advantages:

• stunning AMOLED display;
• in-screen fingerprint scanner;
• stability and speed of OneUI;
• a lot of permanent memory;
• good cameras;
• light weight;
• separate slot for microSD cards;
• up to two days of autonomy.

Flaws:

• the back panel gets scratched quickly;
• Average quality of night photography.

Google Pixel 4a

If you want to choose an Android smartphone, then what could be better than Google technology? For example, Pixel 4a, equipped with a Snapdragon 730G processor. It is slightly better than the chip installed in Samsung, and the price of the smartphone has not increased too much because of this. The gadgets have similar amounts of RAM and ROM, but there is no microSD slot.

The Pixel 4a 5G modification is also available for sale. Despite the slight change in the name, these smartphones differ much more than just their support for 5th generation networks. Therefore, the Pixel 4a 5G costs almost twice as much.

But the phone offers stereo speakers, and they play quite decently. Also, models developed by Google are famous for their cameras. Does she play a major role for you? Then for 32 thousand you will shoot almost at the level of current flagships. And the Pixel 4a smartphone is one of the few compact smartphones currently available for sale.

Advantages:

• high build quality;
• powerful processor;
• excellent autonomy;
• one but cool rear camera;
• high-quality stereo speakers;
• operation of wireless modules;
• advantages of stock Android.

Flaws:

• only one storage option, no memory card slot;
• Face unlock is not supported.

HONOR 30S

Recently, the Honor brand has become an independent company. But the 30S smartphone model was released under the leadership of Huawei, so it boasts an impressive set of features at a very attractive price. For example, the Kirin 820 processor is installed here, which is superior to the Snapdragon 765G. The latter is used in the 5G version of the Pixel 4a, which costs twice as much. And yes, this smartphone can also work in 5th generation networks.

In addition to the fact that the smartphone is equipped with a powerful processor, it also takes great pictures. Perhaps in some scenarios the smartphone does not live up to Google's level. But it is cheaper, supports memory cards and looks great. By the way, there are three colors here: neon purple, midnight black and titanium silver. Among the problematic issues, we can only highlight the absence of Google services on the Honor 30S.

Advantages:

• incredible performance;
• excellent design and assembly;
• good main camera;
• advanced proprietary chip;
• work in 5th generation networks;
• color rendering and ergonomics;
• very decent autonomy.

Flaws:

• branded application store;
• rare problems with sound transmission.

Xiaomi Mi 10T Lite 6/128GB

For dessert, we left a phone with a powerful battery and a fast processor from Xiaomi. Alas, unlike the 9T, the updated line did without its main feature – a retractable front camera. Now it is located in the top center in a small cutout.

The processor here is a strong middle peasant - Snapdragon 750G. It’s surprising that with such a chip, the phone screen can immediately display 120 Hz, although in practice the hardware is not always able to cope with the stable display of such a frame rate.

Otherwise, this is one of the best smartphones in the review in terms of price-performance ratio. It is equipped with a 4820 mAh battery, which takes about an hour to charge from the included power supply. The buyer will also be pleased with the cameras, and this applies to both the main modules and the 16 MP front camera.

Advantages:

• price-quality ratio;
• cool 120Hz IPS display;
• stereo speakers and cameras;
• a set of wireless modules;
• battery and charging speed;
• balanced filling.

Flaws:

• The smartphone is quite weighty (215 g);
• The screen's capabilities are not fully realized.

Samsung Galaxy M12 64GB

The Galaxy M12 is very similar to the company’s other model, the Galaxy A12. The cost difference between them is small; M12 is more interesting from a technical point of view.

For example, it uses a more powerful Samsung Exynos 850 processor, and the Android Galaxy M12 version out of the box is 11. The bodies of the devices, apparently, are the same, the dimensions are practically the same, which cannot be said about the color scheme - the M12 is more interesting.

Like the Galaxy A12, the M12 received a powerful 5000 mAh battery with fast charging, NFC, and a camera with 4 modules.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 214 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Samsung Exynos 850

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 48/5/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Comparison table of all presented models

To make it easier for readers to compare the characteristics of the smartphones presented in the selection, we have compiled a comparative table of all models:

TECNO Spark 7 4/64GB

The smartphone from TECNO turned out to be quite interesting.

It has an excellent fashionable design, a good 6.5-inch diagonal IPS matrix, an NFC module, a fingerprint scanner on the back cover, a decent dual camera for its price, and a powerful 5000 mAh battery.

One of the features will certainly be appreciated by part of the audience: you can connect several wireless headphones or speakers to TECNO Spark 7 at the same time.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 194 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio A25

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: two 16/16 MP modules

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Samsung Galaxy A32 64GB

The Galaxy A31 has been replaced - we bring you the A32.

The first thing that catches your eye is the completely new design of the back cover - it looks very interesting. The colors are unusual, although there is also classic black.

The 6.4-inch screen is AMOLED, but it was there before, but now it has support for 90 Hz. The processor is powerful - it is MediaTek Helio G80, the memory capacity is 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM.

Of course, there is an NFC module, a 5000 mAh battery supports fast charging, and the quad camera takes good pictures for its class.

• Screen diagonal: 6.4 inches

• Screen resolution: 2400×1080

• Weight: 184 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G80

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 64/8/5/5 MP

• Front camera: 20 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max 256GB

A modern, productive smartphone with a large 6.7″ screen and a strong antenna signal.
RAM 6 GB, built-in 256 GB. Compared to previous models, the 12 Pro Max comes with a 3,687mAh capacitive battery. When actively surfing the Internet, watching videos, making calls, the battery slowly drains its charge. For photo and video shooting, there are 3 built-in cameras of 12 MP each. The picture quality is excellent day and night without lighting - this is the best camera phone of 2021. iOS 14 OS, powerful Apple A14 Bionic chipset. The model is equipped with a standard set of modules: NFC, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi. The phablet weighs 226 g, dimensions 78.1×160.8×7.4 mm. Price 119 thousand rubles.

Pros:

• Internet 4G LTE, 5G;
• speaker sound;
• FaceID work;
• autonomy;
• performance;
• high-quality photographs.

Minuses:

• high price;
• weight and dimensions.

Xiaomi Redmi 10 4/128GB

The smartphone has replaced the well-known Redmi 9 model. As you can easily see, it costs significantly more. But, firstly, the device has become much better, and secondly, we should expect a reduction in cost.

Redmi 10 has received a new design, so it can now be easily confused with Redmi Note 10. The screen size is 6.5 inches, but unlike the same Note 10, the manufacturer uses an IPS matrix rather than AMOLED.

The chipset is the well-proven MediaTek Helio G88, and the amount of RAM at the time of writing is 4 GB or 6 GB (previously a 3 GB version was available).

Of interest is the main camera module with a resolution of 50 MP. There is NFC, a scanner and a powerful 5000 mAh battery with fast charging support.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 2400×1080

• Weight: -

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G88

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 50/8/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

⇡#Sony Xperia 10 III

• Operating system: Android 11 with Sony Xperia shell.
• Display: 6.0 inches, OLED, 2520 × 1080.
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 690 (2 × Kryo 560 Gold, 2.0 GHz frequency and 6 × Kryo 560 Silver, 1.7 GHz frequency).
• RAM: 6 GB.
• Flash memory: 128/256 GB.
• Camera: 12+8+8 MP.
• Dual SIM cards, hybrid memory card slot.
• Battery capacity: 4500 mAh.
• Average price: 29,990 rubles.

Why it's worth buying: still the most convenient smartphone in its class, camera with optical zoom, well-tuned OLED display, IP68 water resistance, excellent battery life.

What can stop you: a weak hardware platform, a 60 Hz screen, very slow charging from the included adapter, an unimportant selfie camera, a mono speaker.

Sony always releases slightly (and sometimes not slightly) overpriced smartphones, especially in terms of the combination of price and performance, either due to the inability to dump, or from reluctance. The Xperia 10 III is no exception. But this is far from the weakest and at the same time quite outstanding smartphone for its price category.

The main difference from all other devices in the selection is its truly modest size. The thin, narrow design makes Xperia 10 III easy to use. This user joy is complemented by full-fledged moisture protection, unexpectedly good battery life for Sony, and a camera with outstanding shooting quality, but with real optical zoom - no one here really has such a luxury. I definitely want to highlight Sony’s creation for its unique combination of qualities, even with general imperfections.

Alternative: no.

OPPO A54

A stylish smartphone from OPPO with good characteristics. By the way, the device has managed to fall in price since it went on sale.

The buyer receives a 6.51-inch screen with a resolution of 1600×720 pixels, the well-known MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765) chipset, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of ROM, a powerful 5000 mAh battery, and a fingerprint sensor in the side key. There is an NFC sensor.

What about the cameras? A module with three main cameras is installed: the main one, for macro and bokeh. The camera is generally not bad for its class.

• Screen diagonal: 6.51 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 192 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio P35 (MT6765)

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: three 13/2/2 MP modules

• Front camera: 16 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Vote

Which smartphone did you choose?

ASUS Zenfone Max (M2) ZB633KL 3/32GB

23.33 % ( 7 )

DOOGEE BL12000

6.67 % ( 2 )

Meizu Note 8 4/64GB

3.33 % ( 1 )

Nubia V18

10.00 % ( 3 )

ZTE Blade A7 2019

6.67 % ( 2 )

Motorola Moto E5 Plus 32GB

6.67 % ( 2 )

Vivo Y91i 2/32GB

6.67 % ( 2 )

Xiaomi Redmi 7 2/16GB

13.33 % ( 4 )

OPPO A3s

0.00 % ( 0 )

Samsung Galaxy A10

3.33 % ( 1 )

Honor 8A

6.67 % ( 2 )

HUAWEI Y6

3.33 % ( 1 )

INOI 7i Lite

6.67 % ( 2 )

realme C11 2022 2/32GB

Budget from realme. Despite the low cost, the smartphone has a pleasant body design.

If we abstract from the design, we can find another curious detail that is rarely found in the classroom - an NFC sensor.

A 6.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1600x720 pixels, a UniSoC SC9863 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM, and a powerful 5000 mAh battery are installed.

There are two cameras - front and rear, with the main one being single.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 190 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: UniSoC SC9863

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 2 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: 8 MP

• Front camera: 5 MP

• Memory card support: yes

How to choose an inexpensive but good smartphone in 2022

The choice of a budget smartphone should be taken responsibly, since there is a high risk of running into a second-rate model. Next, let’s find out what criteria you need to use to choose inexpensive gadgets:

• Screen. Here you need to pay attention to the type of matrix (best - IPS or AMOLED), diagonal and resolution. The larger the display, the more comfortable the experience when watching movies, playing games or simply surfing the web. In turn, a compact phone is much more convenient to hold in one hand or carry in a trouser pocket.
• Battery capacity. The larger the battery capacity, the longer the phone will last without connecting to the network. For smartphones with a diagonal of 6 inches or more, this figure should be at least 3500 mAh; for compact models, a smaller parameter is acceptable.
• Camera. You should choose a camera based on several indicators: number of megapixels, matrix size and aperture. The number of sensors also deserves attention. Even among budget employees there are models with three or four rear cameras. True, the quality of shooting in them is not always good.
• Memory size. It can be operational (RAM) or built-in. The first is responsible for the stability of the smartphone under increased loads or in multitasking mode. For basic tasks, 2 GB of RAM will be enough, for stable operation of modern applications and games - from 4 GB. It is up to the user to decide how much internal memory to choose. For some, 32 GB is enough, while others need much more. The optimal setting is 64 GB.
• Supported SIM cards. It is convenient when the smartphone supports the simultaneous operation of two SIM cards. In this way, users can differentiate between personal life and work. In addition, this is a suitable option for travel enthusiasts and those who frequently travel on business (some providers may offer better roaming rates, for example).
• Extra options. This includes the presence of a 3.5 mm jack for wired headphones, a fingerprint sensor or face unlock function, as well as an NFC chip. The latter allows you to buy goods in stores and online using a bank card using a smartphone.

Xiaomi Redmi 9C 2/32GB (NFC)

A budget phone from Xiaomi, which received a lot of everything: a fingerprint sensor, an NFC module and even a triple camera. Let it be simple, but still triple.

The main characteristics are also in perfect order: a powerful 5000 mAh battery, MediaTek Helio G35 chipset and 2 GB of RAM, a good 6.53-inch matrix.

Perhaps for the money, this is one of the most interesting offers on the market.

• Screen diagonal: 6.53 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 196 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G35

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 2 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: triple 13/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 5 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Xiaomi Mi 11 12/256GB

Flagship model with a 2K AMOLED screen measuring 6.81 inches.
Android 11 OS on the standard MIUI 12 platform. Installed 8-core Snapdragon 888. Stylish design, monolithic body. The smartphone is light and thin. RAM 12 GB, storage 256 GB. The main camera is 108 MP, macro photography is 5 MP, for self-portraits – 20 MP. The necessary communications are built-in: USB Type-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC. Price 53 thousand rubles.

Pros:

• powerful processor;
• high-quality camera;
• stylish design;
• functional.

Cons: gets warm when actively used.

Xiaomi Poco X3 Pro 6/128GB

First there was the Poco X3 NFC, and then came the Poco X3 Pro. Moreover, these models are no different in appearance, with the exception of colors. What's inside?

Unlike the X3 NFC, inside the X3 Pro there is a real flagship processor - we are talking about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 860. The X3 Pro is one of the cheapest smartphones on this chip. However, the manufacturer decided to save on the main module of the rear camera - a 48-megapixel module is used, not 64 MP, and the shooting quality is simpler.

But everything else is in place: a high-quality 6.67-inch display with high resolution and support for 120 Hz, an NFC sensor, stereo sound, a powerful battery with support for fast charging, etc.

• Screen diagonal: 6.67 inches

• Screen resolution: 2400×1080

• Weight: 215 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 860

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 6 GB

• Battery capacity: 5160 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 48/8/2/2 MP

• Front camera: 20 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Results of the rating of budget smartphones

The best budget Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone under 10,000 rubles - rating of 6 top models of 2022

Rating of the best smartphones with NFC under 10,000 rubles

The best Redmi smartphone of 2022 - which good budget phone to choose today?

The best smartphones 2022 under 8,000 rubles

The best smartphones 2022 under 15,000 rubles - TOP 10 models

The best smartphones 2022 under 10,000 rubles

The best smartphones 2022 under 11,000 rubles

The best smartphones 2022 under 9,000 rubles - TOP 10 good budget phones

realme C25S 4/128GB

realme C25S is capable of surprising with its battery: a 6000 mAh battery is installed. Although fast charging is supported, the power for such a battery is still not the highest - 18 W.

A 6.5-inch diagonal screen with a resolution of 1600×720 pixels is installed, and the “heart” of the device is a relatively powerful MediaTek Helio G85 chip. The memory capacity in this version is 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of ROM.

Of course, there is a fingerprint scanner and an NFC module. Although the main module of the rear camera has a resolution of 48 MP, you shouldn’t expect miracles from it: during the day the frames are good, in the evening the quality level drops.

• Screen diagonal: 6.5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 209 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G85

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 6000 mAh

• Rear camera: three 48/2/2 MP modules

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Alcatel 3L 5039D – price, display, battery

Visually the phone looks more expensive than it costs. Taking it in your hand, you feel the budget - a plastic textured body with rounded edges. Available in two colors: blue and black. It is convenient to use with one hand, thanks to its size and weight - 151.1 x 69.7 x 7.99 mm and 145 g. There is no fingerprint scanner.

IPS screen, 5.94 inches, with a resolution of 1560 x 720 pixels and an aspect ratio of 19.5:9. The number of pixels per inch is 289, which indicates low clarity. At the top of the screen there is a “drop” for the front camera.

Performance – 4-core Snapdragon 429 chip, 2 GB of RAM, video chip – Adreno 504. Built-in memory here is 16 GB (if we take into account that the part is “given” to the system, the user gets only 9 GB). The storage can be expanded by installing a microSD card with a maximum capacity of 128 GB.

The performance is enough for comfortable use, but playing games will be problematic (if only on the minimum graphics).

The camera is dual: a 13 MP main camera and a 2 MP lens for measuring depth, responsible for “blurring” the background when taking portraits. An interesting addition is AR emoji, which works much slower than on the iPhone, but is still present.

The new camera installed in Alcatel 3L is capable of automatically recognizing scenes (by default there are 21 of them, each with its own settings). Front camera – 8 MP.

The capacity of the installed battery is 3500 mAh. Its “lifespan”, in comparison with other phones, is not bad. The only thing missing is the fast charging feature. A full charge requires 4 hours 20 minutes (via microUSB connector).

Pros:

• price;
• two cameras, with AI, bokeh and HDR;
• "DragonTrail" protective glass;
• emoji;
• capacious battery;
• Quite bright screen.

Minuses:

• little memory.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 4/64GB (NFC)

There is no point in beating around the bush, let’s just say that Xiaomi Redmi 9 turned out to be an excellent smartphone. It is much closer to the Redmi Note line than to the company's younger smartphones.

See for yourself: a cool 6.53-inch IPS matrix with high resolution, its own design of the back cover, excellent appearance of the case, a quad camera with 4 modules and not the highest resolution (at the same time, the photo quality is one of the best in a budget segment), NFC module.

The platform is excellent: the MediaTek Helio G80 processor works together with 4 GB of RAM. And a powerful 5020 mAh battery received support for fast charging.

• Screen diagonal: 6.53 inches

• Screen resolution: 2340×1080

• Weight: 198 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G80

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 5020 mAh

• Rear camera: four modules 13/8/5/2 MP

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Smartphones with the most powerful processor

Let us immediately note that this list does not include smartphones with Snapdragon 855. Devices based on this processor have only recently begun to be presented by manufacturers, but even those that were demonstrated to the public at the recent CES 2022 exhibition have not yet reached Russia and Europe. However, the cost of such smartphones promises to be quite high, so we recommend taking a closer look at solutions based on Snapdragon 845. Devices with it can be found for less than 30 thousand, and will last for many years.

Apple iPhone 12 128GB

Apple has long been the unattainable TOP in the smartphone market. It is its processors that are the most powerful in this segment, and even a year after the release of the company’s new products, competitors are not catching up with the American manufacturer in everything. The current generation of iPhone received the fresh A14 Bionic on a 5 nm process technology. It’s available in the entire 12th line, so there’s no point in overpaying if you’re only interested in performance. However, we still decided not to consider mini, since its popularity turned out to be not high enough. Therefore, it is better to buy a regular iPhone 12.

In addition to a processor and graphics that can handle all tasks, the best phone according to customer reviews boasts a luxurious 6.1-inch OLED screen. Moreover, the smartphone display is covered with modern Ceramic Shield protective glass.

Advantages:

• unique MagSafe system;
• the most powerful CPU on the market;
• fast RAM;
• stylish body colors;
• perfect shooting quality;
• exemplary autonomy;
• OLED screen color rendition.

Flaws:

• modest equipment;
• considerable cost.

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G 12/128GB

If you are interested in a new flagship smartphone in 2022, then, of course, you should buy the Galaxy S21. But we understand that not all of our readers have the corresponding amount, so we decided to consider last year’s representative of this line. Still, the Galaxy S20+ is not much inferior to the updated gadget, and the capabilities of the Samsung Exynos 990 chip still cover the needs of most users.

If you want to get maximum performance, then, of course, you should take the version with a Snapdragon processor instead of the proprietary Exynos. The cost of this modification alone is 10 thousand higher, and it is imported into Russia unofficially.

In addition to one of the best current chips, the Korean manufacturer's smartphone can offer a magnificent 6.7-inch display made using AMOLED technology. And if it’s difficult to surprise with 120 Hz scanning in flagships today, Quad HD resolution is not common. And only a few can boast of similar quality matrices. And in addition, Samsung offers cool cameras, a 4500 mAh battery and headphones from AKG.

Advantages:

• premium design;
• charging speed;
• thoughtful shell;
• proprietary processor;
• wide selection of user settings;
• Snapdragon version;
• one of the best screens;
• cool night photography.

Flaws:

• Exynos gets a little warm in games.

OnePlus 8T 12/256GB

Perhaps, in the ranking of the best smartphones, the 8T model from OnePlus clearly stands out from its competitors with a very interesting combination of cost and characteristics. Yes, for a relatively small 43 thousand rubles, a smartphone can offer cool cameras, 12 GB of RAM, a 120 Hz screen, and a top-end Snapdragon 865 processor, which can easily handle current games even at high frame rates.

It would seem that this is already enough to run to the store for a new product. But no, the Chinese flagship decided not to dwell on these advantages. It offers a 4500 mAh battery that can easily last you a day of reliable work. Moreover, the included power supply charges the smartphone battery in just 37 minutes. The 256 GB storage is also pleasing. Yes, there is no slot for flash drives here. But why do we need it with such a memory capacity?

Advantages:

• fantastic display;
• gaming performance;
• autonomy and charging;
• spacious storage;
• convenience of the Oxygen shell;
• reasoned price tag;
• decent equipment.

Xiaomi Redmi 9A

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is the younger “brother” of the 9C model. Or rather, Redmi 9A appeared first, and then, based on it, Redmi 9C. The latter is much more interesting in terms of characteristics, but also costs a little more.

The Redmi 9A does not have a fingerprint sensor, a triple camera (a single camera is used on both the front and the back), a slightly simpler chipset - MediaTek Helio G25, and no NFC module is provided at all.

But the powerful battery is in place, as is a good 6.53-inch display.

• Screen diagonal: 6.53 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 194 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: MediaTek Helio G25

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 2 GB

• Battery capacity: 5000 mAh

• Rear camera: 13 MP

• Front camera: 5 MP

• Memory card support: yes

Let's sum it up

A large screen is convenient, stylish and modern. Don’t be afraid to buy smartphones with very large displays, because you will very quickly get used to this feature and will be very grateful to yourself for such an acquisition. Just be sure to take into account not only the screen diagonal, but also other important criteria for a quality smartphone.

If you have limited funds to buy a smartphone, and it’s difficult for you to understand the features of choosing a quality device, you can choose any smartphone you like from our rating: it contains only new and high-quality models that will delight you with performance, camera, and screen, of course . You definitely won't be dissatisfied!

ZTE Blade A71

A fresh device from ZTE, which offers good performance at a relatively low cost.

Blade A71 has a nice appearance, several colors to choose from, a large 6.52-inch display, a powerful 4000 mAh battery, and the chip uses Unisoc SC9863A, 3 GB of RAM and 64 GB of main memory.

The rear camera is triple. One of the modules is wide-angle. It is impossible not to cancel the presence of an NFC module and a fingerprint sensor in the side power key.

• Screen diagonal: 6.52 inches

• Screen resolution: 1600×720

• Weight: 180 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Unisoc SC9863A

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 3 GB

• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh

• Rear camera: three 16/8/2 MP modules

• Front camera: 8 MP

• Memory card support: yes

⇡#vivo V21e

• Operating system: Android 11 (proprietary FunTouch OS shell).
• Display: 6.44 inches, AMOLED, 2400 × 1080 pixels.
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G (2 × Kryo 465 Gold, 2.3 GHz frequency and 6 × Kryo 465 Silver, 1.8 GHz frequency).
• RAM: 8 GB.
• Flash memory: 128 GB.
• Camera: 64+8+2 MP.
• Two SIM cards, separate slot for memory card.
• Battery capacity: 4000 mAh.
• Price: 23,990 rubles.

Why it’s worth buying: a perfectly tuned AMOLED display, a screen scanner, good ergonomics, the best front camera in the class, the latest Android, nice design, a dedicated memory card slot.

What might stop you: 60Hz screen, average performance, notch, mono speaker.

In fact, vivo V21e is a slightly redesigned vivo V20 from last year (okay, the year before) in a slightly lower price category. At the same time, it did not manage to become outdated, nor lose its relevance. At the same time, the manufacturer has refreshed the design - the back panel with a characteristic pattern looks great.

Otherwise, all the advantages have been preserved: a body balanced in weight, dimensions and especially thickness, a still normal hardware platform in the form of the Snapdragon 720G, a dedicated slot for a memory card. Plus a perfectly tuned AMOLED screen, which, however, lacks an increased refresh rate - it runs at an uncontested 60 hertz. It is curious that its older comrade, vivo V21, is no longer available in Russian retail - which seems logical, it turned out to be overpriced. But the vivo V21e fits perfectly into the current smartphone market landscape.

Alternative: OPPO Reno 6. Vivo V21e’s neighbor from the BBK concern is very close in consumer qualities - thin, light, but without a notch and with a screen that supports a frequency of 90 Hz. At the same time, it is noticeably more expensive - prices for this model start at 29 thousand rubles. It’s a pity that the Reno 6 version with the more interesting MediaTek Dimensity 900 platform did not reach Russia.

ZTE Blade L210

This is one of the most inexpensive smartphones on the market, so don’t expect anything unusual from it.

What can you say about the ZTE Blade L210? Perhaps the fact that it received all the essentials, namely: a plastic case with a textured pattern, a 6-inch screen with a resolution of 960×480 pixels, two cameras (rear + front), a platform based on the Unisoc SC7731E chipset, only 1 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. Firmware - Go Edition based on Android 10.

Let's note an important detail - maximum 3G networks are supported.

• Screen diagonal: 6 inches

• Screen resolution: 960×480

• Weight: 189 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Unisoc SC7731E

• Memory capacity: 32 GB

• RAM capacity: 1 GB

• Battery capacity: 2600 mAh

• Rear camera: 5 MP

• Front camera: 2 MP

• Memory card support: yes

How to choose a budget smartphone?

First of all, you should discard all prejudices that Chinese products are of low quality and fragility. Today the situation has changed greatly compared to the situation ten years ago. Many Chinese manufacturers of mobile devices are in no way inferior in quality to such world-famous brands as LG or Samsung.

One of the most important selection criteria is RAM - this parameter is more important than built-in memory, since the latter can be significantly expanded by installing a flash drive. RAM together with the processor ensures the speed of the device. The best option is 2 GB - such a device is suitable for both games and simple surfing the Internet.

In terms of operating system, you don’t have much to choose from – all budget models run on the Android platform. You should definitely pay attention to the device’s battery. Many users, giving preference to inexpensive models, think that the charge will be consumed slowly due to a weaker processor and a screen with a low color rendering level, but this opinion is wrong. The fact is that the battery for the device is selected depending on the functionality of the model. If the smartphone has average characteristics, then a 3000 mAh battery will be quite enough. In the case when the user needs to maximize the service life of the device without recharging, he should pay attention to models with a battery of 4600 mAh and higher.

When compiling our rating of the best inexpensive smartphones of the year, we relied primarily on user reviews and also took into account the price-quality ratio of the device. For this reason, you will not be able to find low-quality models here. So let's begin our review.