Moreover, not only the iPhone 7 is cheaper, but also the SE and 6s. And variants of the Google Pixel of the first generations may also be quite interesting. All these smartphones on the secondary market cost the same as new budget smartphones from Xiaomi, Meizu, Huawei and other Chinese brands. Only last year’s flagships are still receiving updates and are actually “flying” when budget phones start to slow down as soon as you take them out of the box.
In this material, I propose to experiment and compare modern “entry-level” smartphones with a worthy alternative.
LG G8S ThinQ (South Korea)
Average price - 36,560 rubles
.
Characteristics
:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- Dual SIM support
- screen 6.2″, resolution 2248×1080
- three cameras 13 MP/12 MP/12 MP, autofocus
- memory 128 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 6 GB
- battery 3550 mAh
- weight 181 g, WxHxD 76.60×155.30×7.99 mm
This model was released in 2021 and has solid features at a reasonable price. It is aimed at lovers of high-quality sound, so it is equipped with two stereo speakers, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and supports surround sound.
And the triple camera module with optical stabilization allows you to take very rich and detailed photographs, which may be the envy of the owners of some point-and-shoot cameras. The standard “eight” has only two cameras.
It is possible to blur the background in the image, shoot 4K videos at 60 fps, and even identify the owner by the pattern of blood vessels in the palm (the ToF camera is responsible for this feature).
The smartphone is protected from water and dust according to the IP68 standard, has an OLED matrix, which was previously “reserved” only for premium models of the V series, and is equipped with a medium-capacity battery of 3550 mAh. You will have to charge it daily.
pros
: there is AptX HD, face recognition, wireless charging, fast charging.
Minuses
: difficult to find on sale in Russia.
LG V60 ThinQ (South Korea)
Offered at a price of 59,560 rubles. Characteristics
:
- Android 10 operating system;
- 6.8-inch screen;
- 8 GB of RAM;
- flash memory 128 GB or 256 GB;
- support for microSD cards up to 2 TB;
- rear camera - 64 MP main model; 13 MP ultra-wide-angle module, ToF camera;
- 10 MP front camera;
- 5000 mAh battery;
- size 169.3 × 77.6 × 8.9 mm, weight 214 grams;
- 5G, LTE, 3G, 2G, Wi-Fi 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC, USB-C
The latest LG V series device focuses on creating quality videos with a triple rear camera that can record 8K videos, four microphones, and advanced software.
The smartphone is powered by a massive 5000 mAh battery, so you can shoot video content for hours on end without worrying about the battery draining quickly.
Along with 5G support and a focus on video capture, the LG V60 continues the tradition of superior audio. It supports four-channel DAC and features stereo speakers. This is one of the latest smartphones to feature a 3.5mm audio port, so audiophiles will surely be pleased.
pros
: A powerful (Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor), big and beautiful phone with second-screen capability that costs $900.
Minuses
: Not for sale in Russia yet, look on eBay and other foreign online sites.
Samsung Galaxy M21 (South Korea)
The average price is 15,790 rubles. Characteristics:
- Android smartphone
- Dual SIM support
- screen 6.4″, resolution 2340×1080
- three cameras 48 MP/8 MP/5 MP, autofocus
- memory 64 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 4 GB
- battery 6000 mAh
- weight 188 g, WxHxD 75.10x159x8.90 mm
One of the best new budget smartphones of 2021 features an extremely high-capacity battery with fast charging function, NFC and a triple camera module.
Despite the low price, the new Samsung smartphone is equipped with a fingerprint scanner, a modern USB Type-C connector and even a 3.5 mm audio jack. Its octa-core Samsung Exynos 9611 processor is manufactured using a 10nm process technology and is designed for mid-range smartphones. At medium and high settings it will run all modern games without stuttering or stuttering.
pros
: Has all the features you need for work and play.
Minuses
: Adaptive brightness doesn't work well.
Green Phone 2
Considering interesting but unknown Chinese smartphones, it is worth mentioning Gree Phone 2. It is experimental for the company. A Chinese manufacturer of air conditioners, heaters, refrigerators and other home electronics decided to try its hand at producing smartphones. The first pancake turned out to be lumpy - the Gree Phone was very expensive, and the processor was installed Snapdragon 410. The company did not despair, so the second smartphone of their production interested many. Its appearance is standard, such smartphones can hardly be distinguished from each other, although the characteristics are good: 6″ Quad HD screen, 4000 mAh battery, 16 MP and 8 MP cameras, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory, USB Type port -C 3.0 and Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. Although according to reviews, Gree Phone 2 has poor optimization and the same performance.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip (South Korea)
Costs 119,990 rubles. Characteristics:
- smartphone with Android 10
- support for two SIM cards (nano SIM+eSIM)
- screen 6.7″, resolution 2636×1080
- second screen: 1.1″, AMOLED, 112×300
- dual camera 12 MP/12 MP, autofocus
- memory 256 GB, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 8 GB
- battery 3300 mAh
- weight 183 g, WxHxD 73.60×167.30×7.20 mm
This dual-screen foldable smartphone makes mobile content easy to use, essentially turning you into a powerful tablet.
When unfolded, the Z Flip reveals a stunning 6.7-inch AMOLED display. On the outside there is a small one-inch display that is mainly used for notifications. It is also convenient to look at when taking selfies with the main camera.
The gadget has a powerful Snapdragon 855 chipset, 256 GB of internal memory and the latest Samsung One UI 2 interface. The power button contains a fingerprint scanner, and it also has an interesting feature: double-clicking activates the main camera.
pros
: when folded, it fits even in a small pocket, high build quality, fast and wireless charging.
Minuses
: easily soiled, low-power battery for such a screen, overpriced.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus (South Korea)
Can be purchased for 66,940 rubles. Characteristics
:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- Dual SIM support
- screen 6.8″, resolution 3040×1440
- four cameras 12 MP/16 MP/12 MP, autofocus
- memory 256 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 12 GB
- battery 4300 mAh
- weight 196 g, WxHxD 77.20×162.30×7.90 mm
Here is one of the best Samsung smartphones, with a fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, huge amount of RAM, large internal storage that can be expanded by installing a microSD card, a quad-camera module and much more that you may need for mobile entertainment or work. tasks.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ has support for the latest version of DeX, an Android mode in which the desktop almost completely copies the look of Windows. Displaying information on an external monitor with Samsung DeX is fast and easy, and provides a rich desktop experience.
The additional ability to wirelessly charge other devices on the back of the Note 10+ is quite convenient for those who take a lot of gadgets with them on the go.
pros
: using a stylus you can work with documents and presentations (including remotely), a screen with impeccable color reproduction and viewing angles, one of the best rear cameras on the market.
Minuses
: No 3.5mm headphone jack or adapter included.
Samsung Galaxy S20+ (South Korea)
It is expensive - 67,880 rubles. Characteristics
:
- smartphone with Android 10
- Dual SIM support
- screen 6.7″, resolution 3200×1440
- four cameras 64 MP/12 MP/12 MP, autofocus
- memory 128 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 8 GB
- battery 4500 mAh
- weight 186 g, WxHxD 73.70×161.90×7.80 mm
One of the most anticipated smartphones of 2021 is already on sale. It is equipped with a top-end Exynos 990 processor, 8 to 12 GB of RAM, an AMOLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, three rear cameras, has an IP68 rating and can work on 5G networks (optional).
It can be argued that the S20 series is not the best smartphone available today, but in terms of 5G and the latest technology, it's hard to beat.
pros
: There is fast charging and wireless charging, any games and applications run quickly and smoothly.
Minuses
: Hybrid zoom only, slow face unlock.
4. ASUS ROG Phone II (Taiwan)
You can buy it for 53,000 rubles. Characteristics
:
- 6.59″ AMOLED display
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus
- RAM 12 GB
- Built-in memory (ROM) 512 GB
- Main camera 48/13 MP
- Supports 2G/3G/4G LTE standards
- NFC technology
- Battery capacity 6000 mAh
ASUS launched this powerful smartphone, not made in China, at the end of 2021. The ROG Phone II is touted as a gaming device and comes with impressive specifications. Its 6.59-inch display has a 120Hz refresh rate, and inside the device is the Snapdragon 855 Plus chipset coupled with 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of internal storage.
The smartphone has a pair of rear cameras with portrait mode, night mode and panorama, and a 24-megapixel front camera.
Dual front-facing stereo speakers with DTS:X Ultra multi-channel audio technology provide superior music during your gaming session. And the massive 6000 mAh battery allows you to play your favorite games for hours.
Pros:
There's a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the phone supports vibration while gaming and side charging to optimize landscape orientation.
Minuses
: hard to find on sale in Russia.
Sirin Labs Solarin
A phone for advanced users who want to keep skeletons in their closet. To be honest, the price is scary to look at. The minimum cost that we have been able to find so far is $13,400. They didn’t even check the maximum.
What's the salt? The body of a smartphone is much less protected than the data stored on it. Using a special button, the cryptographic protection mode is activated: conversations are encrypted, and if this is not possible, the connection is terminated. Thanks to the Security Shield system and AES256 encryption for this. Otherwise, the smartphone is unremarkable: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset, 5.5″ Quad HD display, 24-megapixel main and 8-megapixel front cameras, fingerprint scanner, 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory, IP54 protection (from dust and moisture) and a 4040 mAh battery. Operating system: Android 5.1 Lollipop not upgradable.
ASUS Zenfone 6 ZS630KL (Taiwan)
The cost in Russian stores is 42,990 rubles. Characteristics
:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- Dual SIM support
- screen 6.4″, resolution 2340×1080
- dual camera 48 MP/13 MP, autofocus
- memory 128 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 6 GB
- battery 5000 mAh
- weight 190 g, WxHxD 75.44×159.10×9.10 mm
The top 3 smartphones not made in China open with an ASUS product that has an interesting twist: its rear camera rises to become a selfie camera.
While the Zenfone 6's nighttime photos aren't as contrasty as the Pixel's or as impressive as the OnePlus 7 Pro's, the smartphone still takes excellent photos in decent lighting.
In addition to the pop-up camera feature, the gadget boasts a very capacious 5000 mAh battery, a headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare, but apparently still considered necessary for mid- and low-end phones, as well as a non-flagship, but very capable processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. So if you want to impress others with the look and capabilities of your smartphone, then ASUS Zenfone 6 is the best choice.
Pros:
average battery life - 2 days, fast and smooth interface, good selfie camera.
Minuses
: LCD screen is not very good in sunlight, poor camera performance in low light.
Summary
I categorically do not recommend buying budget smartphones from China in 2021. Last year’s flagships for the same price are superior to them in all respects.
As you might have guessed from the title, my favorite is the iPhone 7. But if this smartphone is out of your budget, I have provided several options for almost half the price, including an Android device.
Still don’t believe that cheap Xiaomi only brings pain and suffering? Read our material >>> Cheapest Xiaomi smartphone 2021: Qin 2 review
2. Sony Xperia 1 II (Japan)
The price in Russia is still unknown; abroad it will cost about $1,270. Characteristics
:
- Dual SIM support
- screen 6.5″, resolution 1644×3840
- three cameras 12 MP/12 MP/12 MP, autofocus
- memory 256 GB, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- RAM capacity 8 GB
- battery 4000 mAh
- WxHxD 166 x 72 x 7.9 mm
Although the debut of the second version of the flagship Sony Xperia 1 was supposed to take place in April, the Japanese company postponed it to the end of May. Premium features of the updated model include 5G, the top-end Qualcomm® Snapdragon 865 mobile processor and 8 GB of RAM (the original version had 6 GB).
Sony announced that its engineers have helped create the best camera for the new flagship, using high-quality lenses made by ZEISS, 3x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom, as well as real-time autofocus for capturing live subjects.
Having worked on the camera, Sony did not ignore the visual and auditory impressions that the new product should give to users. It features a 4K HDR OLED display and Dolby Atmos stereo speakers. Fans of wired headphones will be pleased with the fact that the Xperia 1 II retains the 3.5 mm audio jack.
Pros:
It's too early to judge.
Minuses
: unknown.
Sony Xperia 10 Plus (Japan)
The Xperia 10 Plus (like other modern Sony models) is unlike any other smartphone - both in terms of overall design and in terms of screen. The fact is that the device is equipped with a 6.5-inch 21:9 cinematic display. That is, narrow and long. And it provides a very unusual user experience. For example, in the same Instagram, more pictures fit on one screen than on displays with a more familiar aspect ratio. And you have to scroll the sites a little less often.
In general, if you are a fan of Japanese design and Japanese chips, you can safely take a closer look at this model (or its smaller version, the Xperia 10). You are unlikely to be scared by only two mediocre rear cameras, a rather ancient Qualcomm chipset, and a very banal 3000 mAh battery.
Sony Xperia 10 Plus
1. Google Pixel 4 XL (Taiwan)
Cost - 62,900 rubles. Characteristics
:
- smartphone with Android 10
- support for two SIM cards (nano SIM+eSIM)
- screen 6.3″
- dual camera 12.20 MP/16 MP, autofocus
- memory 64 GB, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC
- battery 3700 mAh
- weight 193 g, WxHxD 75.10×160.40×8.20 mm
The main advantage of this smartphone is its rear camera. It's easy to use and the only trick you need to learn is that the Night Sight mode takes exceptional photos both at night and during the day. Those who value balanced colors and high-detail images will surely enjoy taking photos with the Pixel 4 XL.
Google's software expertise is also commendable. You can confidently expect that after a couple of years of use, your Pixel 4 XL will perform as quickly and smoothly as the day you bought it, which is not always the case even with more expensive models. Of course, 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB of flash memory do not seem like a very generous move on the part of the manufacturer, but at least in terms of other specifications, the Pixel 4 XL is a decent device for its price.
pros
: Always up-to-date version of Android, excellent shooting quality during the day and evening, wireless charging available.
Minuses
: slippery glass back, rear camera block sticks out, Soli radar does not work in Russia.
Don't want an iPhone on principle? Hello Google Pixel
Do not misunderstand me. I'm not a hater of Android smartphones. There are a huge number of worthy examples on this platform. We are talking only about the budget segment - with the prices for last year’s flagships falling, it makes no sense to buy new budget phones.
And here it is - a worthy example of a cool Android device. More precisely, even two examples: Google Pixel and its “big brother” XL. Both are first generation.
Google Pixel Price: $128
$171
Aliexpress | Buy
Google Pixel XL Price: $136 $
194
Aliexpress | Buy
Like iPhones, these smartphones receive all the latest operating system updates and still work quickly, despite their considerable age.
Google made these devices reference to show all the advantages of Android, which also belongs to the search giant.
The first pixels came out simultaneously with the first “enlarged sevens” with dual cameras. I remember very well how the single rear camera of the first pixel at that time blurred the background as well as two iPhone cameras. By the way, the camera in this smartphone will give odds to modern budget devices even now.
You won't find anything better and more productive on Android for 120 bucks than the Pixel. Don't even try.
Well, Google offers an option with a larger display if a large screen is your priority. Personally, “shovels” with screen diagonals above six inches really bother me. They are bulky, do not fit into a pocket, and are almost impossible to use with one hand.
