The majority of Russian mobile technology users are sure: domestic smartphones are a myth, they do not exist. They are partly right, because mobile gadgets are not assembled in Russia. The lion's share of all smartphones are made in China, and these are not only devices with unpronounceable names, but also devices from Apple, Sony, and Samsung.
However, there are Russian smartphone manufacturing companies. They are called such because the head offices of these brands are located in the Russian Federation, and their products are aimed at the domestic market. The production of smartphones, as is usually the case, is carried out in China. We will talk about the main Russian brands and their popular models in this article.
BQ
Those who believe that quality should always prevail over quantity can certainly be convinced otherwise by a Russian company. The manufacturer releases new models at an incredible speed, so unsuccessful devices, even if they appear, are quickly forgotten. The latter almost immediately roll off the assembly line and are replaced by new products. The fact remains: if you decide to buy a mobile phone, at any given time you will find several inexpensive ones equipped with the necessary minimum.
This approach gives results. In the summer of 2022, BQ for the first time entered the top 5 mobile electronics manufacturers in the Russian market with a share of 2.8%. But it’s only existed since 2013! At the end of October 2022, BQ once again, for the third time in a row, received the title of “Brand No. 1 in Russia.” One can only be happy for the manufacturer, because this is one of the few domestic technology brands that demonstrate consistently positive development dynamics.
BQ 6645L Element
One of BQ's new products, released in 2022. Its cost is just over 8 thousand rubles. For this money, the user gets a large, stylish smartphone with a 6.52-inch IPS screen, available in three colors (black, pink and dark green). The model has a budget eight-core processor, 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory, a dual main camera with a resolution of 13 MP and autofocus, a selfie camera with a resolution of 5 MP, 4G support and a 4000 mAh battery. The device runs on Android 11 OS, has a fingerprint scanner and unlocks using the Face Unlock facial recognition system.
Where to buy Russian BQ smartphones ?
In the online environment - almost everywhere. All the largest Internet platforms - OZON, Yandex.Market, ONLINE-TRADE, Wildberries - sell BQ products. You can also place an order in the official store of the manufacturer.
Top 5. VERTEX Impress Zeon 3G 1/8 GB
Rating (2021): 4.20
19 reviews from resources were taken into account: DNS, Yandex.Market
Simple setup The gadget is easy and quick to set up, so even the most unprepared users can use it.
- Characteristics
Average price: 4089 rub.
- Display: IPS 5.5″ 960×480
- Cameras: main 8 MP; front 5 MP
- NFC: no
- Battery: 2300 mAh
An inexpensive smartphone with a responsive screen and average cameras. The phone runs on an old 4-core MediaTek MT6580 processor and stripped-down Android 8.1. But even with such characteristics it functions without serious glitches. The device rings loudly enough, the call quality is good, but the battery is a weak point. With daily calls, it lasts for 2-3 days, and as the load increases, the smart device “dies” in 12-16 hours. The gadget has no serious shortcomings, with the exception of defects and low performance. The model can be an excellent workhorse or the first gadget for a young user.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Captures documents without blurring letters
- Works without glitches or freezes
- Quick and easy to set up
- Gets hot under heavy load
- There are examples with manufacturing defects
INOI
The INOI company was founded in 2016 to produce domestic smartphones for the corporate segment with an adequate price. The Russian brand was well advertised by Russian Post, which awarded it victory in the competition for the purchase of smartphones for its employees. Thus, INOI sold 15 thousand units of R7 smartphones.
The 15,001st user was Dmitry Medvedev, to whom the R7 was presented at the Import Substitution exhibition in 2022.
By 2022, the brand has released an impressive number of devices that attract attention due to the ratio of functionality, quality and price. You can get acquainted with the current models for today in a separate article.
Inoi 5 2021
New for 2022 from Inoi is a budget smartphone in two colors costing up to 5,500 rubles. It has a 5.5-inch IPS screen, a quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, expandable via microSD cards up to 128 GB. The main and front cameras with a resolution of 5 and 2 MP, respectively, are responsible for shooting in the device. The device runs on Android 10, is equipped with a removable battery with a capacity of 2500 mAh and has 4G support. There is no fingerprint scanner, but the screen can be unlocked by face.
Where to buy Russian INOI smartphones ?
INOI smartphones are sold everywhere today. You can purchase them online in the official INOI store, in the Wildberries and OZON online stores, in large retail chains (M.Video), in Yandex.Market, etc.
Top 10. INOI 2 Lite 1/8 GB
Rating (2021): 3.99
234 reviews from resources taken into account: Yandex.Market, Otzovik, Svyaznoy
Best price This phone is the cheapest in the selection. Its cost is only 3706 rubles.
- Characteristics
Average price: 3706 rub.
- Display: TFT 5″ 854×480
- Cameras: main 5 MP; front 2 MP
- NFC: no
- Battery: 2500 mAh
A smartphone with a 5-inch screen and a budget matrix that is prone to inversion. The 5 MP camera is only suitable for shooting text documentation. The device has only 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of built-in memory, in addition, the 4-core MediaTek MT6580 is responsible for the performance of the model. The characteristics are weak, but they are quite sufficient for calls and instant messengers. Yes, the smartphone looks quite simple compared to other gadgets from Russian manufacturers, but it justifies its price 100%. If we put aside the shortcomings, mostly caused by the ultra-budget nature of the segment, the device is quite suitable for daily use as a regular “dialer” with smart functions.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Firmware without advertising and junk applications
- The screen can withstand frequent drops
- Very low price
- Good, durable case
- Low RAM and internal memory
- Faint flash
- Screen with poor viewing angles
- Unrepairable: it’s easier to buy a new one than to find spare parts
DEXP
DEXP is a Russian brand created in 1998 and is a subsidiary of DNS. It is in this retail chain that the bulk of DEXP equipment is sold. These are smartphones, tablets, smart watches, TVs, laptops, computers, etc. The products have a low price compared to competitors: for example, the cheapest mobile device on the manufacturer’s official website costs 999 rubles.
The DEXP line of smartphones includes over 30 models, the cost of the most expensive of which is 6,490 rubles. Gadgets differ from each other, in addition to prices, in functionality, technical characteristics and quality. New models appear regularly, and 2022 is no exception.
DEXP BL160
The inexpensive smartphone DEXP 2022 is sold at a price of 6,499 rubles. For this money, the buyer receives a device with a 5.99-inch IPS screen and a resolution of 1440x720 MP. The case is plastic, there are thin frames on the front side on the left and right, and a wider one on the top. The model is equipped with an inexpensive quad-core Mediatek MT6739WA processor, 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory. A 5000 mAh battery is responsible for the operating time, and the rear and front cameras with a resolution of 5 and 2 MP, respectively, are responsible for photography. The smartphone runs Android 10 OS. The model has a blue-black plastic case.
Where to buy Russian DEXP ?
You can buy DEXP brand smartphones in DNS stores or on the manufacturer’s official website.
Buy
Top 4. DIGMA LINX RAGE 4G 2/16 GB
Rating (2021): 4.24
43 reviews taken into account from resources: Yandex.Market, Otzovik, OZON
Affordable smartphone with 4G This simple model supports the 4th generation of mobile communications and provides a fast Internet connection. Among devices with similar support, LINX RAGE from DIGMA is one of the most inexpensive.
- Characteristics
Average price: 7595 rub.
- Display: IPS 5.7″ 1440×720
- Cameras: main 8+2 MP; front 5 MP
- NFC: no
- Battery: 3300 mAh
A phone from a Russian brand with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage, a sensitive touchscreen and a screen with optimal brightness. Weak hardware represented by the budget 4-core SC9850 processor does not prevent the smart device from simultaneously working with several applications without freezing: in reviews, users say there are no lags. However, as soon as the storage is full, the gadget begins to behave inappropriately. But after deep cleaning, the smartphone comes back to life. The owners have only 3 complaints about the model: lost connection with MTS SIM cards, defects and low sound quality from the speaker. True, these shortcomings do not make the gadget any less interesting. The smartphone works without problems with other cellular operators, and defective devices are quite rare.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Clear connection without interruptions during calls
- Sensitive screen
- Good color rendering
- Flash on front and main cameras
- Flat sound from speaker
- Sometimes there is a defect
- There are problems with communication when using MTS SIM cards
Maxvi
This Russian company was born in 2013 and is primarily engaged in the production of push-button phones, tablets for drawing and taking notes, as well as accessories for mobile technology. The quality of the brand’s products is constantly improving, which is why there are more and more positive reviews about it.
Maxvi also has smartphones in its assortment, although there are not many of them - only a couple of models. These are budget gadgets at an affordable price (up to 5,000 rubles), with appropriate technical characteristics and good quality.
Maxvi Vega MS 531
An inexpensive smartphone, the cost of which on the official website is 4990 rubles. For this money, the buyer will receive a device with a 5.34-inch diagonal, a 3000 mAh battery, LTE support and a fingerprint scanner. The model has three colors and is equipped with a main and front camera with a resolution of 8 and 5 MP, respectively.
The gadget runs on a quad-core processor, has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of permanent memory. Operating system – Android 8.1. There is OTG support, allowing you to connect USB peripherals directly. The device body is made of metal and plastic.
Where to buy Russian Maxvi smartphones?
Smartphones produced by Maxvi are available for purchase on Yandex.Market.
Features of Russian smartphones
Smartphones from domestic brands occupy a budget and ultra-budget niche, where they “fight” with Chinese devices. To attract the attention of buyers, at a low price, an NFC chip is installed in the model for cashless payment, application packages with temporary or permanent subscription to popular services are pre-installed. The best devices use a modern design with waterdrop notches, multiple cameras and a gradient fill on the back cover.
Despite positioning as a “domestic product,” smartphones are produced in China, where they are based on devices released for the domestic or foreign market. This is reflected in similar characteristics, design, and functions. Differences: Russified Android operating system, increased number of slots for SIM cards.
Texet
Among domestic manufacturers, Texet is considered a long-lived company, because it was founded back in 2004. When customers discover Texet smartphones in store windows, they are often surprised, because they are familiar with this manufacturer from a completely different technology.
Texet produces a variety of devices under its brand: electronic books, clock radios, navigators, video recorders, and, most importantly, the so-called granny phones - the simplest mobile phones without an OS, but with huge buttons.
Texet's share in the Russian mobile gadget market is consistently low. The devices themselves are rather inconspicuous copies of Chinese devices and, as a rule, have the only advantage over competitors - price.
Where to buy Russian Texet smartphones?
Currently, Texet has stopped the production and release of smartphones. The company's official website contains information only about push-button mobile phones of different formats - with large batteries, large buttons protected from moisture and dust, clamshells, all-in-one PCs. There are no smartphones in the Texet online store either. However, you can still sometimes find some models on Yandex.Market.
Where can I buy?
If you have already selected the model of domestic smartphone you need, but don’t know where to buy, then our article will help you solve the problem that has arisen. We suggest you look at the list of stores where you can purchase goods at a discount.
- DNS . A wonderful store specializing in the sale of household and digital equipment. Regularly providing discounts and bonuses to our clients.
- Svyaznoy . One of the best stores selling digital equipment. Pleasant service, staff assistance and guaranteed discounts.
- Eldorado . A huge selection of smartphones for every taste. High-quality customer service, and regular customers enjoy impressive discounts.
- M Video . Wide selection of products and friendly attitude towards customers. On certain days there are discounts up to 50%.
- Citylink . Offers a large selection of digital equipment and smartphones. Upon presentation of the code, a discount is granted. And if you are a birthday boy, then you are doubly lucky! Enter your date of birth and receive the product at the lowest price.
Yandex.Phone
At the end of 2022, Yandex presented its first smartphone under the appropriate name - Yandex.Phone. According to the company, its development was carried out by its own programmers, engineers and designers.
The model received an eight-core Snapdragon 630 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of permanent memory. A dual 16 + 5MP main camera and a five-megapixel front camera were responsible for photography. The screen had a diagonal of 5.65 inches, a resolution of 2160x1080 and was protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The device ran on Android 8.0 OS with the Yandex.Launcher graphical shell. A feature of Yandex.Phone was “Alice” as the main voice assistant and pre-installed services as the default payment system, caller ID connected to Yandex.Directory, etc.).
The price of the smartphone was initially 17,990, but after six months it dropped to 9,990 due to low sales, after which its stocks were completely sold out by November 2019. Reviews about the model were mixed. Buyers spoke negatively about the price, problems with the software, weak hardware, and lack of quality support.
Where to buy Yandex.Phone?
Currently, the first Yandex.Phone has been discontinued. The company promised to eliminate all errors and shortcomings in the new model, but today there are only rumors about Yandex.Phone 2, there is no official information about it.
Top 9. Highscreen Max 3 4/64GB
Rating (2021): 4.00
120 reviews from resources were taken into account: Yandex.Market, DNS, OZON
Wireless charging This smartphone from the Russian brand is one of the most affordable gadgets with this function. Unlike the younger model, the smart works with all wireless chargers.
- Characteristics
Average price: 12990 rub.
- Display: IPS 5.93″ 2160×1080
- Cameras: main 16+16 MP; front 8 MP
- NFC: yes
- Battery: 5000 mAh
A Russian-made smartphone that can withstand frequent falls. The reviews write that even after hitting the asphalt, the gadget remained intact, works stably and without bugs. It can last up to 3 days without recharging, and is fully charged within 2 hours. In addition, the model supports fast and wireless charging. MediaTek Helio P35 and 4GB RAM provide stable multitasking performance. There are also good cameras installed here, but due to focus problems, out-of-the-box pictures turn out blurry. The most common problem with this model is the dull and quiet speaker. True, this drawback occurs, as well as a lost network, freezing NFC, mainly in defective copies.
Advantages and disadvantages
- Bright and rich display colors
- Type-C connector
- Pure Android
- Contactless charging
- Muffled speaker
- The main camera doesn't focus well
- There are problems with NFC and communication
YotaPhone
Yota, founded in 2007, has gained nationwide fame as a cellular communications provider and manufacturer of high-tech 4G equipment. In 2011, she opened a department dedicated to developing her own mobile gadgets.
Yota has chosen a different strategy for distributing its smartphones than other domestic providers, for example, MTS and Megafon. While representatives of the “Big Three” offered very modest gadgets with SIM-Lock for little money, Yota did not seek to tie customers to its own SIM card and actively introduced innovations.
YotaPhone 2
The YotaFon 2 smartphone was presented at the MWC exhibition in Barcelona, and then appeared at the traditional international CES event in Las Vegas. He was awarded at both exhibitions. The smartphone was worth noting at least for its uniqueness - in 2014 it was the only gadget in the world with two screens.
The presence of a pair of displays is not just an advertising ploy to attract attention to the model. The second screen, located on the back of the device, is made using E-Ink , most often used to create e-books. With it, you can see the time, check the weather forecast or received SMS messages without activating the main screen and thereby helping to save device power.
YotaPhone 2 did not look like a “whipping boy” in terms of general parameters: the smartphone was equipped with a 5-inch main FullHD display, an 8 megapixel camera and 2 GB of RAM.
At the end of 2022, the Yota 3 smartphone appeared, but this was not a big event. The new Yotaphone never made it to Russia, but it can still be found on Aliexpress.
Where to buy Russian Yota Devices smartphones?
Finding a cellular smartphone from Yota Devices on sale is quite difficult. In 2022, the company was declared bankrupt. Even at the time of its existence, the brand’s devices were poorly represented in retail, and today remnants can only be found on AliExpress.
Lists of the best!
We will separately consider the TOP 3 devices that, for certain reasons, were not included in the general selection.
- Yotaphone 3 is the most elegant;
- Highscreen Boost 3 SE – largest battery;
- Senseit T300 – large display.
Let's get to know them better.
Yotaphone 3 - the most elegant
The famous Yotafon from a Russian development company. It has two displays - the front one for basic needs and another one on the back cover for status monitoring. There is a clock, a call signal, and notifications from social networks.
Cost: 21,000 rubles.
phone Yotaphone 3
Highscreen Boost 3 SE – largest battery
The company Highscreen took the vector for high autonomy. In the case of Boost 3, there is a case with a separate battery for an additional 6000 mAh of use. It connects via a standard USB port and adds one and a half centimeters in thickness to the smartphone.
Price: 19,550 rubles.
phone Highscreen Boost 3 SE
Senseit T300 – large display
Another representative of the top rating. It has a 6.2-inch display, excellent viewing angles and pleasant color rendition. Thin frames around the edges add elegance and create a wow effect from the purchase.
It will cost 16,251 rubles.
Senseit T300 phone
Highscreen
Highscreen is a trademark formerly owned by . Not only smartphones are released under her name, but also other devices, for example, DVRs.
The best characteristics of Highscreen devices were given in 2013 by a rating published by PC Magazine . According to his version, Highscreen gadgets, in terms of price-functionality ratio, share second place with Apple itself!
Vobis Computer focused specifically on the functional component, and not on the external effect, so the owners of Highscreen gadgets were users who valued hardware more than original design solutions. Unfortunately, the manufacturer paid almost no attention to appearance. Initially, Highscreen smartphones were simply copies of little-known Chinese devices.
In recent years, Vobis has stopped “rebranding the Chinese” and has generally lost interest in the field of mobile electronics. The Highscreen catalog is becoming more modest from year to year, and the brand has passed into the hands of Highscreen Smart LLC. This company is trying to revive the brand, acting selectively, and not releasing stupid gadgets in batches.
Highscreen Power Five Max 2
One of the first smartphones under HighScreen Smart was the Power Five Max 2. It is not very different from the first Max visually, and the component base is still the same. But the manufacturer has added several modern features, thanks to which the smartphone can even be called interesting.
The device has a fast fingerprint scanner, a 6-inch Full HD screen, support for wireless charging and an NFC module, thanks to which you can pay via Google Pay. It has a metal body and looks more than impressive in blue. Of course, a powerful battery (the main advantage) is in place. The battery capacity is 5000 mAh, and a full charge lasts for at least two days.
In 2022, the device received an update - the Power Max 3 model was released. It has a more powerful Helio P35 processor, a new version of Bluetooth, Android 9. Other parameters are almost the same.
Unfortunately, after the release of Power Max 3, Highscreen did not release any new smartphones. In 2022, the company announced the release of a new Truesound audio adapter, but there is no information about new mobile gadgets to date.
Where to buy a Russian-made Highscreen smartphone?
It is quite difficult to purchase Highscreen smartphones today. They are not available in the company's official online store. The situation is similar in retail chains and other online stores.
Explay
Speaking about domestic smartphones, one cannot fail to mention the manufacturer Explay. Explay is a closed joint stock company that was originally engaged in the supply of electronics from East Asia. Until 2012, the company was selling navigators and headphones, and by 2012 it switched to developing smartphones.
In 2013, the company achieved unprecedented success: it took fourth place in the market after Nokia, Samsung, Fly and unexpectedly even surpassed Apple. It was recognized as the brand of the year, and the Infinity 2 model received the title of “product of the year.” In 2016, Explay was bought by the British company Fly, so the company itself was abolished, but the name of its products remained.
What is the secret of Explay's success? Judging by the latest Explay Tornado model, this is a thoughtful combination of price and quality. This model can well be called an anti-crisis smartphone. Its advantages:
- brightness (five body colors);
- support for three SIM cards;
- screen 4.5 inches diagonally;
- battery 1550 mAh;
- memory card slot.
Explay
With all this, the model has a more than affordable price - 4,500 rubles. One of the disadvantages is the small RAM.
Is Ermak a special smartphone?
In the summer of 2016 (WMD), the first Russian smartphone “Ermak WMD” with the Sailfish OS . Journalists vying with each other began to write about this device, because for the domestic mobile market the appearance of a completely “own” smartphone is an extraordinary event.
It would seem that patriots should be happy, because they will no longer have to carry a device assembled by hardworking Chinese in their pocket. Only there was nowhere to buy Ermak - leading retailers M.Video and Svyaznoy immediately stated that such a device was unlikely to arouse interest among the general public, and refused to sell it. The reason for this was the cost of the gadget - 2 thousand dollars, which translated into Russian rubles amounted to 130 thousand rubles.
Why was “Ermak” so good if its price was so cosmic?
Features of the national “gadget industry”
Externally, “Ermak”, to put it mildly, was not impressive. It looked like a guest from the past and resembled the strict HTC Desire, Sensation and Mozart series. The functionality of the device also left much to be desired: 1 GB of RAM, a front camera with a resolution of 2 megapixels, an old Qualcomm Snapdragon MSM 8960 processor. All this looked ridiculous, especially when compared with the leading smartphones on the mobile market in 2016, which cost three times less.
However, “Ermak WMD” would not have been designed for ordinary consumers - according to the manufacturer’s plan, civil servants .
The smartphone supported data transfer over closed communication channels, worked with radio frequency tags and barcodes, was equipped with a scanner for reading fingerprints, the machine-readable zone of passports and excise stamps, and could easily withstand temperatures of +60°. Do the average user need such options? The question is open.
Where to buy Ermak?
In 2022, as in 2016, Ermak is not sold either in retail chains or in large online electronics stores. Today the project is considered closed and there are no fresh mentions of such an unusual (at least in terms of price) device.
MTS Smart Surf 2 4G
An “operator” phone with the ability to use only one SIM card - MTS. You can purchase the model only in MTS communication stores for a price of 3.5 thousand rubles. Among the advantages, we should highlight a 5-inch diagonal screen, which is rare for a budget model. The phone also has a stylish design.
The model is no different in functionality. Smartphone characteristics:
- RAM: 1 GB;
- ROM: 8 GB;
- cameras: 5/2 MP;
- battery: 2400 mAh;
- autofocus;
- Android 6.0.
Almost all smartphones from five years ago have similar hardware features. Among the disadvantages is also the lack of branded cases and films for sale.
They don’t exist, so to protect your phone you have to buy generic ones or carefully choose from the range of other brands offered.
What is Nokia G11 for?
The Nokia G11 smartphone is a simplified version of the Nokia G21. The devices are very similar in appearance and have a long list of identical parameters.
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In particular, the Nokia G11 uses exactly the same screen, processor, battery and front camera as the G21. A USB-C charging port is also present, as is a microSD slot.
Nokia G11 tries to be similar to the older model
The differences lie primarily in the amount of memory, which has the biggest impact on the price difference. Also, the Nokia G11 does not have a main 50-megapixel sensor - it was replaced with a 13-megapixel one.
The new Nokia all-in-one PCs weigh 190 grams each and are 8.55 mm thick. Inside they are GPS and GLONASS receivers, Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11ac modules. Smartphone cases are made of polycarbonate.
High-end phones
YotaPhone 2
This is probably the most popular domestic phone among Russians. This manufacturer has done everything possible to popularize this model among citizens of the Russian Federation. And he succeeded, despite the fact that the phone costs from 10,000 rubles. Specifications:
- processor – 4 cores with a frequency of 2200 MHz;
- RAM – 2 GB;
- internal memory – 32 GB;
- screen - 5";
- additional screen – 4.7”;
- front camera – 2.1 megapixels;
- main camera – 8 megapixels.
A special feature of this smartphone model is the second screen, which is located on the back of the device. The operating principle of this display is based on electronic ink, thanks to which an image appears on the back of the phone. By and large, this is a full-fledged screen and you can view movies, images, etc. on it, but only in black and white.
Often this Russian phone is bought by people who want to stand out from the crowd due to an unusual device. After all, it’s not every day that you see a phone with an image on its back.
