Rating of smartphones 2021: top 10 best models

The concept of “best smartphone” can be interpreted in different ways: for some it is a top-end flagship, but for others it is simply a good device for the money. Therefore, we did not get hung up on expensive flagships and chose models from different price categories, ranking smartphones in 2021 by price and quality. This way, each user will be able to find a suitable gadget in our top and decide which phone to buy in 2021.

Let's start the rating with the flagships and end with the most budget model.

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra

• Screen 6.8″, resolution 3200×1440 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 108 MP, 12 MP, 10 MP, 10 MP
• Samsung Exynos 2100 processor
• Memory 12/128 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 5000 mAh

A top-end smartphone with a good camera from the Galaxy S21 line, and at the same time the most expensive. In official stores, the Galaxy S20 Ultra model can be bought for an average of 99,000 rubles, but this price includes many “chips”. Firstly, the gadget is equipped with a huge amount of RAM (12 GB) and one of the most powerful processors of 2021, Exynos 2100.

The model also has an excellent 6.8-inch screen with support for a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a high resolution of 3200×1440 pixels, IP68 water protection and four cameras with a 108 MP main lens. The smartphone can shoot video in 8K and supports 100x Space Zoom thanks to a system of two telephoto lenses with different optical zooms.

We did a detailed review of the Galaxy S21 Ultra camera - in it you can evaluate the pictures from the phone and its characteristics. Also in 2021, smartphones from the previous S20 line deserve attention. They differ slightly from the S21 in camera configuration and run on a different processor, but they are still powerful and functional.

Best foldable smartphone 2021: Motorola RAZR 5G

We are aware that Samsung is the leader in the number of clamshell models. Based on the technology used to make them (“clamshells”), probably the same. But! If we evaluate smartphones with flexible screens not with a cold mind, but with our hearts, then we can call the Motorola RAZR 5G the best and only it. In this model, the developers managed to combine modern technologies and the charm of the original RAZR V3 of the early 2000s - those times when almost every mobile phone was a work of engineering art.

Motorola RAZR 5G

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

• Screen 6.1″, resolution 2532×1170 pixels.
• 3 cameras: 12 MP, 12 MP, 12 MP, LiDAR
• Apple A14 Bionic processor
• Memory 6/128 GB, without memory card slot

In 2021, four new iPhones were released at once. For the iPhone 12 Pro model with 128 GB storage they are asking from 99,000 rubles. The smartphone received an improved camera with a LiDAR sensor for night photography, an updated A14 Bionic processor made using a 5 nm process technology, and a magnetic pad on the back for convenient wireless charging. Like previous models, the smartphone supports eSIM.

The screen is now covered with a material based on ceramic nanocrystals - it is much stronger than ordinary glass. The design of the devices has also changed: the edges have become sharper, and the color schemes are different from the eleventh series. The iPhone 12 Pro is now available in gold, graphite, white and blue.

iPhone X – new design and technology

The best smartphones of 2021 in all respects should start with this model. iPhone X is completely different from Apple's usual concept of changing the inside of the phone and not adjusting the design.

This model received not only a new design, but also modern technological innovations, for example, a unique Face ID system - recognition of the user’s face.

Let's take a closer look at the appearance changes:

• New display with a resolution of 5.8 inches.
• No sharp corners, only smooth curves.
• Unusually thin frames.
• Vertical arrangement of cameras.
• The body is covered with glass over the entire surface, with the exception of the edges.

At the top of the smartphone, in addition to the speaker, there is a block of cameras and sensors. Information from this block is processed by the Face ID system, which identifies the owner’s face and unlocks the smartphone. With its novelty, the system is guaranteed to overtake fingerprint scanners.

iPhone X is designed to withstand short-term immersion in water. Protection standard: IP67, but the smartphone manufacturer does not recommend testing the phone for leaks if the depth exceeds 1 meter.

The iPhone X pricing policy in 2021 varies from 56,390 to 85,670 rubles, depending on the configuration.

HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro

• Screen 6.76″, resolution 2772×1344 pixels.
• 3 cameras: 50 MP, 20 MP, 12 MP
• Huawei Kirin 9000 processor
• Memory 8/256 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 4400 mAh

The flagship HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro was released at the end of 2021 and at the start of sales it cost 89,000 rubles. Its main feature is cameras from Leica. Thanks to them, the smartphone is even suitable for action photography: the main and telephoto lenses support optical stabilization, there is 5x optical zoom, laser autofocus and the ability to shoot in 4K at 60 fps.

The smartphone supports fast charging with record power: 66 W wired and 50 W wirelessly. Like the previous model, the screen has 3D glass with a large diagonal and a fingerprint sensor. The gadget runs on the most powerful processor from Huawei Kirin 9000 and still does not support Google services. We talked about how you can do without Google Play in a recent article.

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Samsung Galaxy A72

• Screen 6.7″, resolution 2400×1080
• 4 cameras: 64 MP, 12 MP, 8 MP, 5 MP
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor
• Memory 6/128 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 5000 mAh

In the category up to 35,000 rubles, there is even more choice than among the flagships. The smartphone with the best price-quality ratio can be considered the Galaxy A72, which costs about 34,000 rubles. It has a large AMOLED screen with a miniature cutout for the front camera - just like the flagships of the Galaxy S21 line. Unlike the previous model, it supports a 90Hz refresh rate and has an improved camera. The gadget can shoot in 64 megapixels, supports fast charging and runs on a fairly powerful Snapdragon 720G processor, which even allows you to run top games at high settings.

The model also received water protection according to the IP67 standard, the latest Android 11 and an enlarged 5000 mAh battery. Read more about the smartphone in our review.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact – compactness comes first

The top small smartphones with high quality and good characteristics should start with this model - Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact.

Briefly about the technical characteristics:

• Operating system: Android 8.0.
• Diagonal: 5 inches.
• Processor: eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 845.
• RAM capacity: 4 GB.
• Built-in memory capacity: 64 GB.
• Battery capacity: 2870 mAh.

The characteristics of the phone are standard at first glance, and barely reach the “flagship” level.

But this is why the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact model was created, especially for practical users who want to get a small, multifunctional smartphone at an affordable price.

The design of the model is modern: no sharp corners, only rounded and streamlined edges. You won’t find a glass cover like on the iPhone X here, only matte plastic on the back cover. It is worth highlighting the correct location of the fingerprint scanner - exactly under the main camera.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is designed to withstand direct exposure to water. But you shouldn’t expect the phone to withstand a long time under water - the manufacturer does not recommend such experiments. After exposure to moisture, the USB port of the smartphone must be thoroughly dried, especially before charging.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is not budget, but not too expensive either. The average price is 46,600 rubles.

realme 8 Pro

• Screen 6.4″, resolution 2400×1080 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 108 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G processor
• Memory 6/128 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 4500 mAh

Smartphones from the Chinese company realme have proven themselves well over the two years that they have been presented on the Russian market. The new flagship realme 8 Pro, which costs about 24,000 rubles, is the most affordable gadget with a 108 MP camera. What also makes it a camera phone is a huge set of built-in effects for shooting portraits. In addition, the model received an AMOLED screen and a Snapdragon 720G gaming processor, as in the previous version of realme 7 Pro. The device supports 65W fast charging and can charge to 100% in less than an hour. We talked more about the smartphone in the review.

Rating TOP 10 best smart smartphones

Having analyzed the market for goods in this area, we have compiled the following rating:

• Huawei Y6P.
• Viva V17.
• Xiaomi Redmi 8.
• Apple iPhone 11.
• Samsung Galaxy S10.
• Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
• Samsung Galaxy Note 10+.
• Honor 20 Pro.
• Huawei Mate 30 Pro.
• OPPO Reno 2.

Let's look at each model in more detail, paying attention to individual characteristics.

Huawei Y6P

Huawei Y6P copes well with its direct responsibilities, having a stylish design and a durable semi-metallic body. The best version of the gadget is MED-LX9N, which provides an NFC chip on board, as well as 64 GB of ROM combined with 3 GB of RAM.

An important difference between this smartphone model and others is the charging method - all actions will have to be done via a microUSB cable, and not as in a standard phone (USB). The manufacturer notes fast data transfer via the Bluetooth wireless network.

Price: from 9,650 to 10,990 rubles.

Huawei Y6P

Advantages

• automatic color correction and focusing during photography;
• clear sound from the speakers (no interference or noise);
• There is an NFC model for contactless payment.

Flaws

• not found.

This is a quite interesting touch phone model in terms of its filling. For such a price I can’t say anything bad - everything is perfect. I'm pleased with the presence of NFC, color correction and focus on the camera, as well as as much as 64 GB of memory. I tested the gadget in many tests, in which the device scored very high points, ranking with such flagships as Huawei and Apple. Overall, I’m happy with everything and I confidently recommend you buy.

Viva V17

Vivo V17 is a very powerful model from a Russian manufacturer that meets all the necessary requirements: beautiful design, bright display, progressive functionality and clear cameras. Support for two Nano SIM cards gives great potential and makes the gadget stand out among its analogues.

A special feature of Vivo V17 is the presence of as many as five cameras, four of which are located on the front (48/8/2/2 MP) and one on the back (32 MP). The pre-installed Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor ensures stable, uninterrupted operation even in several programs at once.

Price: from 19,541 to 22,990 rubles.

Viva V17

Advantages

• high speed and display response;
• stylish appearance, emphasizing the elegance of the owner;
• a block of four rear cameras of various resolutions.

Flaws

• not detected.

My wife has been using this smartphone for more than two years and has never complained about its performance. Highlighting the main advantages of the device, you can pay attention to the large amount of built-in and internal memory, the “juicy” image on the display, and the capacious lithium-ion battery. The device can also be used as a speaker - the speakers produce a fairly loud sound without unnecessary hiss and rattling.

Xiaomi Redmi 8

This smartphone is an ideal budget solution for ladies, which is in high demand in the market due to its extensive functionality. The device has a built-in high-sensitivity dual camera with rear view projection, made in Fast-Throw style.

The Snapdragon 439 processor, combined with a powerful lithium battery, ensures smooth and uninterrupted operation of the gadget for the longest possible period of time.

Price: from 10,910 to 15,113 rubles.

Xiaomi Redmi 8

Advantages

• high performance;
• large amount of built-in memory (64 GB);
• long battery life (up to 3 days without recharging).

Flaws

• not found.

Really impact-resistant glass, water does not penetrate and does not interfere with the operation of the smartphone. I’ve been using it for more than six months, I’m happy with everything, I even recommend it to my friends. The camera is normal, suitable for medium-professional photography. The sound in the headphones is spacious, clear, without any wheezing. The manufacturer was able to pleasantly surprise with its reliable assembly and low market value.

Apple Iphone 11

Apple products have become famous for their unique design, logo with a bitten apple and the expensive cost of the devices, which is due to the high performance of their gadgets.

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The iPhone 11 model is ideal for any girl, emphasizing the subtlety and uniqueness of her nature. The reference IPS display with a pixel density of 324 PPI will allow you to clearly see any image and correctly convey the color of each pixel from the screen to the user.

Price: from 54,890 to 63,240 rubles.

Apple Iphone 11

Advantages

• luxury brand (Apple);
• face recognition function (Face ID);
• wireless charging capability.

Flaws

• not detected.

I’ve been using this gift from my boyfriend for a month now and decided to tell you a little about it. Overall, the phone is smooth, fast and reliable. The case withstood a fall from two meters - nothing happened to the device (except for two or three scratches on the case). The camera is pretty good, but it works and focuses better during the day than at night. Support for the wireless charging function greatly saves space and increases the speed of filling the gadget with charge. In general, I am grateful to my boyfriend for such a wonderful gift.

Samsung Galaxy S10

Samsung decided to open the anniversary version of its flagship new products with this particular model. The device interface has been significantly redesigned for the better, taking into account the opinions of regular users.

The device’s display has learned to fully adapt to the required content, so the picture has become much more pleasant, which was also facilitated by the lack of frames on the screen. The older version of the Plus smartphone has a slightly larger display, a more capacious battery and a front camera, but even the manufacturer itself does not see the point in overpaying.

Price: from 39,990 to 59,990 rubles.

Samsung Galaxy S10

Advantages

• stylish curved screen without frames;
• high-quality stereo sound;
• IPX8 moisture protection.

Flaws

• Unergonomic placement of the power keys.

A pretty good modern smartphone that is equipped with all the necessary functionality. Games on this device simply fly even at ultra settings. The power buttons are located too chaotically, but you can get used to it. The cameras are clear, self-focusing, and have many popular filters built-in. There is plenty of built-in and RAM memory. The screen is large, watching movies and TV series is convenient and interesting. In general, I recommend it to everyone.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Although the appearance of modern smartphones can only rarely be described in an original way, the Galaxy S20 Ultra has a distinctive feature, and that is the ultra camera unit. Judge for yourself: the thickness of the smartphone is 8.8 mm, while the camera protrudes by a couple of millimeters, and the dimensions of the unit are 45x31 mm. Interestingly, all Galaxy S20 Ultra cases are designed to protect the cameras. True, in this case the thickness of the device will increase by 1.1 mm.

Almost the entire front surface is occupied by the display: at the bottom is a small “chin”, at the top in the center is the front camera eye. The screen is slightly curved, but significantly smaller than in previous generations.

Price: from 77,980 to 109,990 rubles.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra

Advantages

• good technical component;
• constant updates of licensed software;
• built-in ultra-camera unit.

Flaws

• The fingerprint scanner is poor in sensitivity.

I recently became the proud owner of such a device and, to be honest, I am very happy. The device works stably, no system failures or stutters are observed. There are many different functions like smart alarm, pen input, heart rate monitor, NFC payment and the like. Although the battery is not removable, it is quite powerful and has both wired and wireless charging capabilities. It's definitely worth the money spent, I recommend buying it.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

This smartphone is equipped with the “latest technology”, corresponding to most of the current gaming trends. The device is intended, first of all, to perform complex resource-intensive tasks, store large amounts of information and have long battery life.

The manufacturer constantly releases various updates aimed at improving the performance of the system, and it really succeeds - over the past two months, the performance of the smartphone has increased by 12%. A powerful processor will ensure stable multitasking, which will allow you to use the phone for its intended purpose.

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Price: from 49,990 to 89,950 rubles.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10+

Advantages

• modern pen control;
• advanced fingerprint;
• automatic connection to Wi-Fi using geotags.

Flaws

• not found.

I bought this phone as a gift for my son. He has been using it for more than three years, so our whole family has a common opinion. The smartphone greatly helps out in situations where the lights are cut off - it has a powerful built-in flashlight and a reliable cellular signal receiver. There is a fingerprint scanner and an NFC chip. The Samsung product works stably, the response is fast, no stutters were noticed. The appearance is beautiful, I can’t say anything bad.

Honor 20 Pro

An outstanding camera, ultra-fast processor, All-View screen, artificial intelligence and machine learning - all this is about the Honor 20 Pro 2021. The smartphone incorporates truly flagship characteristics, while remaining priced in the middle segment.

The main camera of the device allowed it to break through to the top lines of the prestigious international rating of photo and video equipment DxOMark. The photo module includes four lenses at once: a wide-angle for landscape and panoramic photography, a macro for capturing small objects from a distance of 4 cm, a telephoto lens to help capture distant objects, and a universal main one with a 48-megapixel matrix.

But the “photo power” of the Honor 20 Pro rests not only on high-quality optics. Frame stabilization occurs using three lenses and is controlled by artificial intelligence. Take photos from a car, while running, on a carousel, or even from a boat in a force nine storm.

Price: from 29,980 to 33,101 rubles.

Honor 20 Pro

Advantages

• holds charge well;
• beautiful play space;
• Possibility of fine-tuning “for yourself”.

Flaws

• not found.

After testing this Honor, I had amazing impressions. The smartphone received a Kirin 980 processor, 8 GB of RAM and 128/256 GB of internal memory out of the box, as well as a large battery. The presence of a high-quality main lens with an f/1.4 aperture from Sony allows you to take excellent pictures, even in low light. The bad news is that Google may also deprive Honor of its Android license. This means that it will be impossible to update Huawei or Honor branded smartphones in the future. Therefore, I advise you to wait a little and see how events develop further.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

The Huawei Mate 30 Pro smartphone in a glass case in “cosmic silver” color combines capabilities that surpass the functionality of many tablets and laptops. The 6.53-inch frameless OLED display has a resolution of 2400×1176 pixels. This allows it to stream literally limitless content in great quality.

The screen is supplemented with a protective layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 6 and an oleophobic coating. The built-in memory capacity of 256 GB indicates the ability to store a huge number of files, including movies, videos and games with applications. The latter, by the way, can function and respond to the owner’s actions with lightning speed.

This Huawei Mate 30 Pro “obliges” an 8-core processor, a Mali-G76 graphics accelerator and 8 GB of RAM. Face and fingerprint scanners are responsible for the safety of the owner’s personal data.

Price: from 59,943 to 61,132 rubles.

Huawei Mate 30 Pro

Advantages

• excellent reception of 3G/4G signals;
• 3x optical zoom and powerful camera;
• Auto-recording and compression of all call records.

Flaws

• The camera block protrudes strongly from the main body of the device.

The model’s appearance is memorable and non-standard in its own way. On the back panel there is a round block with four cameras, around which a peculiar halo shines. The designers do not hide that they were inspired by the appearance of classic cameras, primarily Leica. But the main feature of the Mate 30 Pro is the so-called waterfall screen, which bends almost at a right angle and continues on the side edges. Because of this, the smartphone looks extremely unusual. The technical specifications are also good, so I can confidently recommend the device for purchase and long-term use.

OPPO Reno 2

OPPO Reno 2 combines functionality, ease of use, and attractive design. The model is made in a glass case with an oleophobic coating with a 6.5″ diagonal screen. Thanks to the Corning Gorilla Glass 6 coating, the screen will not be affected by any impact due to its scratch resistance.

The device features a retractable front camera, which will keep it intact, because you will use it only when needed. The AMOLED screen shows excellent images in a resolution of 2400x1080 even in sunlight.

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At night, DC dimming can be used to provide more shades at different brightness levels. The device uses a 48+8+13+2 megapixel camera, which makes it possible to shoot in any conditions, which will allow you to unleash your creative potential.

Price: from 33,095 to 38,959 rubles.

OPPO Reno 2

Advantages

• high-quality AMOLED matrix;
• cool modern design;
• The speakers have excellent factory sound.

Flaws

• not detected.

What is attractive about the device is the line in the center, which makes the appearance strict. Here you can find the Oppo logo and the inscription Designed For Reno. It is noteworthy that in the first generation the inscription read Design By Oppo, but now it tells us that Reno has received its design support. It is also worth noting the packaging of the device, because the box contains a high-quality branded case of dark blue color, which resembles leather in texture. This case will help protect your smartphone, but without it the device looks much more beautiful. At the back, attention is drawn to a block consisting of four cameras and O-Dot - a special ceramic element that reminds us of a small mirror, like in phones from the 2000s. But O-Dot has an important function - to protect the camera unit: since all the lenses are hidden in the body, engineers are worried when you put the smartphone on a table and you can scratch the lenses.

Redmi Note 10 Pro

• Screen 6.67″, resolution 2400×1080 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 108 MP, 8 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor
• Memory 8/128 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 5020 mAh

Another mid-class smartphone that can easily be called a camera phone thanks to its 108-megapixel camera. Redmi Note 10 Pro is also equipped with a powerful gaming processor from Snapdragon, has a decent amount of memory and a capacious battery. The screen here has a top refresh rate of 120 Hz and a brightness of up to 1200 nits - like flagships. The smartphone also supports fast charging and can replenish the battery from zero to 100% in just 42 minutes.

Which inexpensive smartphones have the best camera?

Camera quality is the first thing that manufacturers sacrifice when releasing budget models. But there are inexpensive smartphones in which the camera works decently. The top five such devices, according to Roskachestvo, included:

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s (128GB);
• Samsung Galaxy M32 (128 GB);
• Samsung Galaxy A12 (128 GB);
• TCL 20L (128GB);
• Realme Narzo 30 5G (128GB).

Based on the test results, the best photo and video quality was found in Xiaomi Redmi Note 10s (128GB). However, the camera of this smartphone is still inferior to the cameras of smartphones from Apple and Samsung, as well as Xiaomi flagships.

OPPO Reno 4 Lite

• Screen 6.43″, resolution 2400×1080 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 48 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• Processor MediaTek Helio P95
• Memory 8/128 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 4000 mAh

Reno 4 Lite was released at the end of 2021 - we have already tested the smartphone. The gadget turned out to be very thin and light, but at the same time with a fairly large screen. We also liked the way it took pictures - the smartphone has excellent cameras, especially considering its low price (about 23,000 rubles). Interestingly, there are two front cameras: the second sensor is used to determine the depth of the scene and more clearly separate the foreground when shooting with the bokeh effect. The smartphone runs on Android 10 in one of the most convenient ColorOS shells, is equipped with a large amount of memory and has good battery life. The kit comes with an 18W fast charger.

SMARTPHONE AS PLAYER

Assessing a smartphone's "musical capabilities" is mainly an assessment of its sound quality. The smartphone included the same audio tracks in MP3 format. The listening took place in two settings – “pop” and “classical”; the devices reproduced works by Handel, Bach and Pink Floyd. Experts listened to music through a speaker and through headphones, both through those supplied with the smartphone and through high-quality “non-native” headphones. During the study, any sound deficiencies were recorded, which affected the rating points.

“I like to listen to music, and a variety of music, not just classical,” the famous Russian pianist Denis Matsuev

. – And, of course, with my schedule, downloading and listening to music almost always happens on the road, which means through a smartphone. I've tried dozens of phones and hundreds of different headphones from different companies and I can say that the quality of the music you play directly depends on what headphones you use. Several years ago, a Japanese company gave me their special, “limited edition” headphones. There is no comparison with the original headphones of the same iPhone, I have never felt anything close to this sound. They transmit even the oldest mono recordings in such a way that I have the complete feeling that I am present at that very concert. I hear the smallest details, the subtlest things between the notes that interest me, even in non-studio listening conditions. But if you compare the playback quality of the phones themselves, then there is almost no difference between the sixth and first iPhone. Perhaps some subtleties, but even for me, a professional musician, they are insignificant.

Poco X3 NFC

• screen 6.67″, resolution 2400×1080 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 64 MP, 13 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor
• memory 6/128 GB, memory card slot
• battery 5160 mAh

If we consider the best budget smartphones, then it is worth paying attention to the Poco brand - like Redmi, it belongs to Xiaomi, so it is logical to expect the best quality for your money from these smartphones. And Poco X3 NFC lives up to expectations: it costs about 20,000 rubles, but is equipped with a screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Even new iPhones have not received the same Hertz power as this Chinese smartphone. It also boasts a Snapdragon 732G gaming processor, a large battery and a stylish design with a round camera unit - of which there are four. Read more about the smartphone in our review.

Best smartphone for selfies 2021: ASUS Zenfone 7 Pro

And it is the best in this area because it... does not have a front camera. Instead, a block of main cameras is used, capable of turning and looking at the user’s face. This is probably the only way today that allows you to implement a really cool front-facing camera in a smartphone - without any “buts” and “ifs”. In general, the owners of this ASUS can take gorgeous 64-megapixel self-portraits. And both regular and wide-angle. And in general, I must say, the device is very good - as we were recently convinced of after testing it thoroughly.

HONOR 10X Lite

• Screen 6.67″, resolution 2400×1080 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 48 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• Processor Hisilicon Kirin 710A
• Memory 4/128 GB, memory card slot
• battery 5000 mAh

The X10 Lite model joins the line of affordable HONOR smartphones. The gadget is equipped with all the necessary functions that can be found in a device for 16,000 rubles: NFC, a decent quad camera and performance, fast charging with a power of 22.5 W, 128 GB of memory, microSD support and two separate SIM card slots. When you buy a smartphone, you get a lot of coupons from the brand’s partners as a gift - and this is not a short, but a permanent promotion that can be used through the Member Center application. We talked more about the gadget in our review.

Tips for choosing

Let's consider what criteria should be taken into account when choosing a high-quality and reliable smart smartphone.

1. Operating system. Perhaps the fundamental factor that users all over the world argue over. There are two candidates to choose from: Android and iOS. An important advantage of the first option is that most systems, and not just telephone ones, work under its control. Yes, and such a device costs much less than iOS. However, iOS can boast of the absolute stability of its models and some licensed programs that are completely absent on Android.
2. Screen size. As for the display size, it all depends on your preferences and physiology. Most users can comfortably use the screen with one hand if its diagonal length does not reach six inches. But for watching videos and surfing the web, such a display may be too small. If you choose a larger device, it will not always be convenient to hold it in your hands, but more information will fit on the display.
3. Matrix type. The matrix plays a vital role in any device that displays data on any display. A person, spending a lot of time on his phone, does not notice how his vision is gradually deteriorating, he perceives the world worse and does not see changes in the quality of the picture on different screens. Accordingly, there are three standard types of matrices: TN (cheap, old, built into old smartphones), IPS (budget, but better than TN) and OLED (divided into AMOLED, sAMOLED - all have the best image quality and reduced strain on the human eye). We recommend that you do not skimp on your health and purchase only high-quality smartphones.
4. Camera. The situation with cameras is almost the same as with display resolution: the number of megapixels is not an indicator of quality. A good camera is a combination of hardware and software components, debugged and correctly configured. This is why two smartphones with the same sensor shoot differently. It is impossible to predict the level of performance of a camera based on its parameters, so it is better to try it in practice right away.

Redmi 9

• Screen 6.53″, resolution 2340×1080 pixels.
• 4 cameras: 13 MP, 8 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP
• Processor MediaTek Helio G80
• Memory 4/64 GB, memory card slot
• Battery 5020 mAh

Another inexpensive and popular device from the Xiaomi clan is Redmi 9. The version with a 64 GB drive can be bought for an average of 12,000 rubles. Due to its affordable price and well-balanced characteristics, the smartphone is suitable for those who are looking for an inexpensive gadget for communicating on social networks, working, surfing and contactless payment via NFC. You can safely buy it for a schoolchild, student or elderly parent. The large 6.53-inch screen will be convenient for working with applications and reading, and the 5020 battery will last for one to two days of active use.