The best Chinese camera phones of the year. Are there inexpensive smartphones with a good camera? The best camera phones according to experts

When choosing a budget smartphone with a good camera, the only thing you need to pay attention to is examples of real pictures. Since neither the camera resolution, nor the aperture of the optics, nor the presence of various software enhancers allow us to judge the photographic capabilities of a particular gadget.

We have prepared for you a rating of smartphones with the best cameras in the price range from 5 to 20 thousand rubles. This selection is relevant at the beginning of 2017, but it contains many not-so-recent smartphones released in 15-16. All of them are still on sale, have competitive technical characteristics, and at the same time shoot much better than modern state-of-the-art cameras.

Leagoo M8

M8 is one of the few ultra-budget Chinese products whose camera does not cause an oppressive feeling of despondency. The cost of the M8 is 4.5 thousand rubles, for this money you should not expect revelations, but given the price, this gadget is not bad not only in terms of the camera, but also in other characteristics - 5.7'' screen, 16/2 GB of memory, 3500 mAh battery, dedicated DAC and high-quality multimedia speaker.

The Leagoo M8 produces quite passable images with good detail, sharpness and pleasant colors. Disadvantages: weak dynamic range, thoughtful camera, and slow autofocus. In general, there are a lot of compromises, and you have to try hard to take a good photo. The front camera here is quite good, it is a full 8 MP and not interpolated 3 or 5, like most Chinese. But the M8 records video (FHD/30fps) frankly poorly; among the serious shortcomings, we also note the lack of support for LTE networks.

Honor 5A

Also in the ultra-budget segment, Honor 5A from Huawei deserves attention. Its price is already 8 thousand, but the picture quality of the 5A is much better, at the level of smartphones for 13-15 thousand. The main module at 5M has an aperture of f/2.0 and a focal length of 27 mm. During the day, in good lighting, the shots come out very decent, and I am pleased with the adequate operation of the automation - in the pull-out-point-shoot mode, no problems arise.

The front camera 5A takes better pictures than the main cameras of most cheap Chinese cameras; an additional plus is the presence of a flash on the selfie camera. The device is powered by the MT6735P chipset + 16/2 GB of expandable memory, which is rather weak for gaming, but in everyday use everything is fast and stable. The 5’’ HD IPS screen is also not bad, the only disappointments are the lack of oleophobic coating and a weak 2200 mAh battery.

LeEco Cool1

Cool1 is an excellent, balanced smartphone with a good camera, a capacious battery and productive hardware. It uses a dual 13+13 MP module, which allows you to get very decent photos during the day, but, like most Chinese, it fails when shooting in poor lighting. In fact, the second camera is needed only to be able to simulate bokeh in software - blurring the background, which in practice does not always work correctly.

The smartphone runs on the Snapdragon 652 chipset, has 32/3 GB of memory, a 5.5-inch FHD screen and a 4060 mAh battery. It has no significant drawbacks; the only downside is the unaesthetic black frame around the screen. By the way, Cool1 can record video in 4K resolution. Price – from 10 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X / Xiaomi Mi4c

The main reason for the weak popularity of the regular version of Redmi Note 4 was the weak processor, which is why the old RN3P sold much better than its updated version. But in the recently released modification, which received the Snapdragon 625 chipset, the Note 4X lost all its weaknesses.

Note 4x is a beautiful smartphone for 15 thousand in a metal case with a 5.5’’ Full HD screen, a large amount of 64/4GB memory and a thick 4100 mAh battery. The main 4X camera is represented by a Sony IMX258 sensor with a pixel size of 1.12 nm and f/2.0 aperture. The front camera is normal – 5 MP, f/2.0.

For those who want to get comparable photo quality at a lower price, we recommend paying attention to the Xiaomi Mi4c. It’s already difficult to find it on sale here, but if you order from China, you can spend 7.5-8 thousand rubles. For that kind of money, the Mi4C has no alternative characteristics - it has the same camera module as the Note 4X, a Snapdragon 808 processor, a 5’’ FHD IPS screen, a 3000 mAh battery and 16/2 GB of memory. In general, Mi4C is cheap and cheerful. The device has only one critical disadvantage - the lack of a slot for a flash drive.

LG G4

G4 is the flagship of the last generation from LG, which, 2 years after the start of production, remains one of the best devices on the market in terms of photo quality. The new G4 can be purchased in Russian online stores for 16 thousand rubles. We recommend buying a smartphone with a warranty, since this model is known for problems with the motherboard bootloop. But if you manage to pick up a problem-free smartphone, you won’t regret it.

The photos taken on the LG G4 speak for themselves, and the device's characteristics remain more than decent today. The smartphone is equipped with a gorgeous 5.5’’ IPD screen with 2K resolution, a Snapdragon 808 processor + 32/3 GB of memory (there is a slot for a flash drive up to 128 GB) and a removable 3000 mAh battery. The chic design with a leather back cover is the icing on the cake.

Nexus 5X

The story with the Nexus 5X is the same as with the LG G4. The smartphone is already more than two years old, it is still on sale, and in terms of photo quality, none of the modern devices in the mid-price category has come close to it. The 5X can be called an ideal smartphone for automatic shooting; in the pull-out mode, it produces better images than most smartphones with manual settings. And advanced amateur photographers will have something to do, since the 5X supports the RAW format and shoots video in 4K resolution.

In terms of hardware, the 5X can be classified as a modern mid-budget segment - 5.2’’ FHD IPS screen, Snapdragon 808 chipset, 32/2 GB of memory, 2700 mAh battery. However, despite its not the most advanced characteristics, in terms of smooth operation and performance, thanks to software support from Google, Nexus will give odds to many Chinese flagships. Well, the latest version of Android on board always speaks in favor of this gadget. Price tag – from 17 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi Mi5

Flagship smartphones from Xiaomi are cheaper than devices with similar characteristics at the time of release, and six months to a year after the start of sales, their price becomes very attractive. What other smartphone with close to top-end specifications and a Snapdragon 820 can you buy for 14-15 thousand rubles?

Xiaomi Mi5 takes very good photos. It is equipped with a Sony IMX298 sensor (size 1/2.8", pixel - 1.12, aperture f/2.0, optical stabilization), which allows you to take decent pictures not only during the day, but also indoors and in low light. Photos are detailed, with excellent sharpness across the entire frame. The only things I can complain about are the not-so-best automation and the clumsy HDR mode, but for the money the Mi5 has one of the best cameras on the market. In addition, the smartphone supports Camera2 Api, which makes it possible to shoot in RAW, which provides solid opportunities for post-processing images.

Honor 6X

The 6X is a high-quality smartphone, into which they not only stuffed a good camera module from SONY, but also paid enough attention to the software part. If you don't want to buy the Nexus 5X due to obsolescence, but still need a smartphone for point-and-shoot photography, the Honor 6X would be an excellent choice. He takes excellent photographs on automatic, making almost no mistakes with exposure, white balance and focusing.

Honor 6X boasts a dual camera, the main module is Sony IMX386, paired with an auxiliary 2MP sensor. As in the case of the previously reviewed Cool1, the second camera is needed for software background blur, which is implemented much better here than in LeEco.

The hardware of the 6X is quite simple - Kirin 655 chipset, 32/3 GB of memory + MicroSD, 5.5’’ FHD IPS screen, 3340 mAh battery, but the cool camera fully justifies the 17 thousand price tag.

Meizu MX6

Meizu MX6 is a controversial smartphone. In Russia they ask for about 20 thousand rubles (although, if you work hard, you can find a price tag of 16 thousand), which is a bit expensive considering the MX6’s not the most productive hardware. But at a price of 13-14 thousand, for which you can order a smartphone from China, this is a very good option.

The MX6 camera is equipped with a 12 MP Sony IMX386 sensor similar to the Honor 6X with a pixel size of 1.25 micron, and it takes really good pictures. It’s pointless to find fault with the quality of pictures taken during the day, but at night, due to the lack of optical stabilization, the MX6 sags somewhat. But despite this, the MX6 is one of the few Chinese smartphones that can compete with top-end devices from A-brands in terms of photographic capabilities. In addition, it is equipped with a chic screen, has a high-quality metal body and pleases with performance thanks to the perfectly optimized Flyme shell. But there are some drawbacks, including the lack of a memory card slot with a modest built-in 32 GB and mediocre battery life.

Samsung A5 2016

A5 in the 2016 version can now be found in stores for 18-19 thousand rubles, and for this money it is one of the most balanced smartphones from A-brands. For high-quality photos, it has everything - a 13 MP camera module with f/1.9 aperture, hybrid autofocus and optical stabilization, thanks to which good pictures are obtained not only during the day, but also at night.

There is only one significant drawback here - for such a price I would like to be able to record 4K video, but Samsung traditionally reserves this function for its flagships. In all other respects, the smartphone is great - 5.2 FHD Super AMOLED screen, Exynos 7580 chipset and 16/2 GB of memory expandable with cards up to 12 GB, 2900 mAh battery. The characteristics are not amazing on paper, but they are quite enough for comfortable use of the smartphone, and when using the A5 every day, you can feel that same “quality”, manifested in the smallest details.

Nubia Z11 Mini S

Z11 Mini S is a smaller version of the flagship Z11 smartphone, which ZTE produces under the premium Nubia brand. You can’t find fault with this device: Snapdragon 625, 64/4 GB of memory, 5.5’’ FHD IPS screen, 3000 mAh battery - all this can be obtained for 15-20 thousand rubles, depending on the place of purchase. The camera here is amazing. The smartphone is equipped with a 23MP Sony IMX318 (f/2.0) module, which takes stunning pictures (especially in terms of detail) during the day.

In addition, the Z11 Mini S records video in 4K resolution and does it very cool - an example is below.

In terms of photographic capabilities and other characteristics, this smartphone has very few competitors, except that the Xiaomi Mi5 can compare with the Z11 Mini S in terms of price/functionality, but it still takes worse photographs. We recommend for purchase.

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20,000 rubles is a very good budget for a smartphone. Of course, you won’t buy the latest flagship for this money, but you are guaranteed a high-quality “mid-range” with good hardware, screen and cameras. Xiaomi, Huawei, Nokia and even Samsung offer cool phones in this segment. Next are the TOP 5 models that you can safely buy in March-May 2019.

Xiaomi Pocophone F1

Many will not agree with this, but Pocophone is the best smartphone in the “under 20 thousand” category. This is the only device with flagship hardware from Qualcomm and for little money. You won't find a phone with the same characteristics for 20 thousand rubles.

Parameters:

• Housing: plastic.
• Glass: IPS LCD, 6.18”, 2246×1080, 403 ppi, Gorilla Glass (version not specified).
• Processor: Snapdragon 845 + Adreno 630 graphics chip.
• Memory: 6 GB RAM + 64 GB disk. There are versions with 8 GB of RAM, but they go beyond 20 thousand rubles.
• Main camera: 12 + 5 MP, f/1.9, 1.4 micron pixels. 4K video recording at 30 FPS and even 4K/60 FPS is available, which even more expensive flagships are not capable of.
• Front camera: 5 MP, f/2.0.
• Battery: 4000 mAh + fast charging QC 3.0. 18 W adapter included.

Among inexpensive phones, Pocophone F1 is the most productive. Plus there is a large 4000 mAh battery and fast charging. In terms of autonomy, the device is cool:

• 25:30 hours of communication;
• almost 14 hours of web surfing;
• over 12 hours of video playback.

It also has an excellent screen with minimal color rendering errors and good cameras. By the way, when installing GCam, the quality of photo shooting will increase. Of course, Pocophone is far from the TOP flagships, but in the middle segment it produces decent pictures. For test results of battery life, screen and examples of camera photos, see the full review of the phone:

As for the shortcomings, first of all it is a plastic body, which spoils the impression. There is also no optical stabilization on the cameras, protection from water (at least from splashes), electronic stabilization for 4K shooting, or an NFC chip. All this is forgivable given the low price.

Meizu 16

Meizu presented its new smartphone - the “sixteenth”, which received Android 8.1 out of the box, but is updated to Android 9 Pie. It is notable primarily for its in-display fingerprint scanner, and this is the prerogative of flagships.

Specifications:

• Housing: aluminum.
• OS: Android 8.1 + update to 9 Pie.
• Glass: Amoled, 6”, 2160×1080, 402 ppi.
• Processor: Snapdragon 710 + Adreno 616 graphics.
• Memory: 6 GB RAM + 64.128 GB disk.
• Main camera: 12 + 20 MP, f/1.8 aperture, 1/2.3-inch matrix, 4-axis optical stabilization, dual pixel.
• Front camera: 20 MP, f/2.
• Battery: 3100 mAh.
• Communications and connectors: Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, USB Type-C.

Despite the 6-inch display, the smartphone is very compact and fits perfectly in the hand. It has a cool SD710 processor, an excellent Amoled screen and cameras for shooting during the day or even in the evening. The in-screen fingerprint scanner is a separate bonus; similar technologies are used in flagships. Of course, in terms of performance, the smartphone is inferior to the Pocophone F1, but the Meizu 16 is more beautiful, with an Amoled matrix, plus it can also record 4K video. By the way, Meizu 16 has a cool night mode - the phone captures a lot of light and is perhaps the best in its segment.

As for the shortcomings, there is no NFC chip, there are also complaints about insufficient brightness - during the day in bright sun it may not be enough. Well, the 3100 mAh battery is definitely not an advantage. However, a thin and elegant body is more important than autonomy - this is what the Chinese thought.

The model is a hit of 2018. The smartphone is popular even in March 2019, despite the fact that it was released in May 2018. The problem is that its price exceeds the 20 thousand mark, but due to the expensive gifts offered by the official store, the final price of the smartphone itself drops to 20,000 rubles .

Specifications:

• Body: glass, aluminum frame.
• OS: Android 8.1 + update to 9 Pie.
• Glass: LCD IPS, 5.84”, 2280×1080, 432 ppi, Gorilla Glass.
• Memory: 4/64 GB.
• Main camera: 16 + 24 MP, f/1.8 aperture, 4K/30 FPS shooting possible.
• Front camera: 24 MP, f/2.
• Battery: 3400 mAh, fast charging from 18 W adapter (50% in 24 minutes).

Honor 10 is an excellent smartphone, almost a camera phone, and at one time it produced photos that were among the best in quality and dynamic range. This was achieved through two camera sensors - monochrome, without a Bayer filter, and color. Also here is the TOP processor Kirin 970 (Kirin 980 has already been released), a very good IPS matrix with a maximum brightness of 508 cd/m2 and the highest contrast ratio of 1558:1.

As for the disadvantages, first of all it is the lack of any protection from water and dust. Let me remind you that the phone is more expensive than all the others in the rating, therefore the requirements for it are higher. There are also complaints about a slow fingerprint scanner and poor-quality video recording in Full HD 60 FPS mode.

Honor Play

This smartphone from Huawei was initially positioned as a gaming platform. It was the first to receive Turbo GPU technology, and now it is the cheapest device based on the TOP HiSilicon Kirin 970 processor. The phone is very similar to the Honor 10 in design and hardware, it just has weaker cameras and a screen. However, this is also reflected in the price - Honor Play is cheaper and fits into our framework.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 8.1 + update to 9 Pie.
• Glass: LCD IPS, 6.3”, 2340×1080, 409 ppi.
• Processor: Hisilicon Kirin 970 + Mali-G72 MP12.
• Memory: 4/64 GB.
• Main camera: 16 + 2 MP, f/2.2 aperture, 4K/30 FPS shooting possible.
• Battery: 3750 mAh, fast charging from 18 W adapter.
• Communications and connectors: NFC, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD support, USB Type-C.

If the Pocophone F1 is the cheapest phone with an SD845 processor, then by analogy the Honor Play is the most affordable based on the Kirin 970, last year’s flagship chip. Plus, there is an excellent IPS display with a brightness of 470 cd/m2 and an average DeltaE 3.4 (color rendition error), as well as a 3750 mAh battery. In terms of autonomy, the device is good - it is enough for:

• 25:06 hours of communication.
• 13:40 web surfing.
• 11:29 h video playback.

Honor Play is an autonomous and productive smartphone with cool cameras and even an NFC chip. This is how it differs from the devices above - Pocophone F1 and Meizu 16 cannot pay for purchases via NFC.

Huawei Honor 8X (4/128 GB)

Specifications:

• OS: Android 8.1 + update to 9 Pie.
• Glass: LCD IPS, 6.5”, 2340×1080, 397 ppi, Gorilla Glass 3.
• Processor: Hisilicon Kirin 710 + Mali-G51 MP4.
• Memory: 4/128 GB.
• Main camera: 20 + 2 MP, f/1.8 aperture.
• Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.
• Battery: 3750 mAh, charging from a 10 W adapter.
• Communications and connectors: NFC, Dual SIM, Wi-Fi 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX support, microUSB.

The smartphone stands out for its large size - it fits awkwardly in a woman’s hand, but in a man’s it feels quite comfortable. The huge 6.5-inch display is of high quality, with a maximum brightness of 427 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 1234:1, and there is also a small color rendering error - DeltaE 3.7. And although the screen is large, the 3750 mAh battery and power consumption optimization do their job - the smartphone can withstand:

• 32:21 hours of communication.
• 11:24 hours of web surfing.
• 12:13 h video playback.

A good Kirin 710 processor, NFC and cool cameras with high-quality AI mode are included. By the way, it is in Honor 8X that the scene recognition mode works better than in all other mobile phones. You will learn more about this in a full review of the model.

20,000 rubles is the amount within which in the summer of 2019 you can buy a high-quality Chinese / Taiwanese / British / Korean smartphone with a fingerprint scanner, two, three or even four gigabytes of RAM, and if a powerful battery is important, then for this price you can easily find a suitable smartphone model.

If you want to buy a flagship smartphone and stay within the above-mentioned amount, then you should pay attention to Chinese brands, some of which offer budget flagships of certain families, for example, Huawei Honor X, ZTE Nubia, Xiaomi Redmi Note.

In this rating, we looked at the best smartphones costing up to 20,000 rubles. The rating was compiled based on reviews in Yandex Market (only those smartphone models that scored at least half of the fives were included in the top 10). The technical characteristics of the smartphone were also taken into account (volume of built-in and RAM, quality of the main and front cameras, battery capacity, display quality, etc.) and price-quality ratio. The top 10 included smartphones from Chinese, Russian, and Taiwanese manufacturers.

10 Wileyfox Swift 2

The average price is 9,000 rubles. The smartphone from the subsidiary brand of the Russian company FLy, which went on sale in November 2016, scored 77% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 16 GB of permanent and 2 GB of RAM, with two SIM cards, there is a slot for an external memory card up to 64 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). 4G LTE support. Battery capacity - 2700 mAh; Battery life in talk mode - 23 hours, in standby mode - 180 hours, in music listening mode - 33 hours. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner.

The main camera matrix with a resolution of 13 megapixels has an f/2.2 aperture and is characterized by high light sensitivity. Combined with dual flash and wide night mode configurations, the Wileyfox Swift 2 camera allows you to create real masterpieces of night photography. High-quality optics, consisting of 5 physical lenses, will help capture every detail and prevent distortion. The front camera resolution is 8 megapixels.

Thanks to the Quick Charge function, a full charge of Wileyfox Swift 2 will take no more than 100 minutes, and the smartphone can be charged up to 25% in just 10 minutes.

9 Xiaomi Redmi 4X 16Gb

The average price in Russia is 8,500 rubles. You can buy Redmi 4X 16Gb on AliExpress for 6.2 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The second best-selling model in Russia today in the Xiaomi catalogue, which appeared in February 2019, scored 78% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5-inch screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 6.0 operating system, 16 GB of internal and 2 GB of RAM, there is a memory card slot up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). 4G LTE support. Main camera 13 MP with LED flash and autofocus. Front camera 5 MP. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 MSM8940 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal body.

8 ASUS ZenFone 3 Max ‏ZC520TL 32Gb

The average price is 12,000 rubles. The summer 2016 model from the Taiwanese brand scored 60% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.2-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1280x720, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of internal and 3 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards, there is a slot for a memory card up to 32 GB, 13 MP main camera, 5 MP front camera. 4G LTE support. Asus calls models Max if they have a powerful battery. This model is no exception: the battery capacity is 4130 mAh. Battery life in talk mode is 20 hours, in standby mode 720 hours, in music listening mode - 87 hours. The fingerprint scanner located on the rear panel not only serves to instantly unlock the smartphone, but also supports several other useful functions. For example, by swiping down on it, you will activate the front camera to take a selfie, so that you can then take a photo by touching the same scanner, which in this case will act as a duplicate shutter button. MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor.

7 Alcatel IDOL 4

The average price in Russia is 14,000 rubles. The model, which appeared in 2016, scored 65% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080, Android 6.0 operating system, 16 GB of internal storage (12.3 GB available to the user) and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB. Supports two SIM cards. 4G LTE support. Main camera 13 MP with LED flash and autofocus. Front camera 8 MP. Battery capacity 2610 mAh. Battery life in talk mode is 15 hours, standby time is 21 days. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 MSM8952 processor.

6 Meizu MX6

The average price in Russia is 16,100 rubles. You can buy Meizu MX6 on AliExpress for 13.2 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). This model, which went on sale in July 2016, scored 79% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. This is the best result among the Meizu smartphone catalog. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards. 4G LTE support. Battery capacity - 3060 mAh. There is a fingerprint scanner.

Main camera 12 MP, front camera 5 MP. Camera based on Sony IMX386 sensor. With built-in phase detection autofocus, the MX6 achieves superior focusing accuracy and speed. As in Meizu MX5, a lens of 6 lenses is used. Despite the decrease in resolution of the main camera compared to the Meizu MX5 (the Meizu MX5 camera was 20.7 megapixels), the quality of photography in comparison has become noticeably better compared to this and other previous models.

5 Wileyfox Swift 2 X

The average price is 11,950 rubles. The smartphone from the Russian manufacturer, which went on sale at the beginning of 2019, scored 75% of the five stars according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, with two SIM cards, there is a slot for an external memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card ). 4G LTE support. Battery capacity - 3010 mAh; Battery life in talk mode - 24 hours, in standby mode - 190 hours, in music listening mode - 34 hours. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 MSM8937 processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal body.

The main camera is 16 MP (Samsung S5K3P3 ISOCELL module, BSI back-illuminated, pixel size 1 micron, matrix size 1/3.06", F2.2 aperture and 5 lenses). Front camera is 8 MP (F2.2 aperture). There are two flashes .

Thanks to the Quick Charge function, a full charge of the Wileyfox Swift 2 X will take no more than 117 minutes, and the smartphone can be charged up to 25% in just 15 minutes.

4 OUKITEL K6000 Pro

The average price in Russia is 9,060 rubles. You can buy OUKITEL K6000 Pro on AliExpress for 8.1 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The model from the Chinese brand received 61% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM. There is a slot for an external memory card (combined with a slot for a second SIM card). 4G LTE support. Main camera 13 MP, front camera 5 MP. OUKITEL specializes in smartphones with powerful batteries, this smartphone is no exception: the battery capacity is 6,000 mAh (for comparison: the 6th iPhone has a battery that is 3.5 times weaker - 1,715 mAh). Battery life: talk time - 46 hours, standby time - 360 hours (15 days), music listening mode - 45 hours. 8-core MediaTek MT6753 processor. Video processor Mali-T720. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal case with plastic inserts on the top and bottom of the back panel.

3 Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X 32Gb

The average price in Russia is 10,500 rubles. You can buy Redmi Note 4X on Aliexpress for 8.6 thousand rubles. Introduced at the end of January 2019, the flagship of the mega-popular Redmi Note family of the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi scored 72% of fives according to reviews in Yandex Market (see reviews of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X). Last year's winter flagship of this family, Redmi Note 3 Pro, became the most popular Android smartphone in the world, Russia, India and some other countries at the end of 2016 (see The most popular smartphones in Russia in 2016).

Technical characteristics of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X: 5.5-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM, there is a slot for a memory card up to 128 GB (combined with a slot for a second SIM card ). 4G LTE support. Main camera 13 MP, front camera 5 MP. Battery capacity 4100 mAh. 8-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 processor, 2000 MHz. Adreno 506 video processor. There is a fingerprint scanner. Metal case with plastic inserts on the top and bottom of the back panel.

If we compare this model with last year’s flagships of the family (winter Redmi Note 3 Pro and summer Redmi Note 4), then thanks to the new processor and graphics chip, Redmi Note 4X has increased autonomy and performance, and thanks to the new Sony IMX258 camera module, the quality of shooting has noticeably improved. Apparently, Redmi Note 4X will become one of the most popular models of 2019, which is facilitated by the excellent price-quality combination that Xiaomi is famous for.

2 Huawei Honor 6X 32Gb

The average price in Russia is 14,600 rubles. You can buy Honor 6X 32Gb on AliExpress for 10.4 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). The new product of the most popular Honor family from the leading Chinese manufacturer (and third in terms of sales in the world) Huawei appeared in Russia in January 2019 and today has scored 57% of the top five reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.5-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 32 GB of storage (23.40 GB available to the user) and 3 GB of RAM, support for two SIM cards, the slot for the second SIM card is combined with a slot for a memory card . 4G LTE support. Battery capacity - 3340 mAh. At the same time, the phone is equipped with the latest 8-core HiSilicon Kirin 655 processor, so Honor 6X is able to work longer without recharging than many competitors with comparable battery capacity. The manufacturer promised up to 11.5 hours of battery life when watching videos, up to 70 hours of listening to music, and up to 8 hours of gaming. There is a fingerprint scanner. New fingerprint features let you view photos (simply swipe left or right), turn off alarms (press and hold the scanner), take selfies, or make calls with one touch.

Metal body with curved glass at the edges. Eye Protection Mode reduces harmful UV rays from the screen, preventing eye fatigue.

The main thing that attracts attention in Honor 6X is the dual main camera. Huawei was the first to equip its flagships with a dual camera; last year, the 7th iPhone took the baton; however, of the mid-price segment models, only Xiaomi Redmi Pro can boast of a dual camera. Returning to the Honor 6X, we see that the top sensor is a 12-megapixel Sony IMX386 sensor with phase detection autofocus and LED flash, focusing speed is only 0.3 seconds. This sensor is also distinguished by an increased size of the photosensitive pixel to 1.25 nm with Prim ISP technology for isolating individual pixels. Thanks to this, there is surprisingly little color noise in the pictures and very natural color rendition. The lower monochrome sensor has 2 megapixels. At first glance, this is very little. Even Xiaomi Redmi Pro has a 5 MP secondary module, not to mention the flagship Honor 8, where the second module has the same resolution as the first - 12 MP. However, Huawei explains that a 2 megapixel bottom sensor is quite enough, because its task is to capture as much light as possible, since monochrome matrices are much more sensitive than color ones. The camera combines the light from the lower sensor with the color of the upper one and produces very high-quality photographs even in low light conditions. In addition, thanks to the dual camera, Honor 6X can do what the creators of the 7th iPhone boasted about - bokeh (that is, the ability to beautifully blur the background in a photo). There is another interesting feature - selective color filling will allow you to place color accents on black and white photos.

The 8 MP front camera is equipped with a 77° wide-angle lens and a Prim image processor. There is a face detection function. Without autofocus, at the same time, according to reviews, it takes selfies very well.

1 ZTENubia Z11 MiniS 64GB

The average price in Russia is 18,100 rubles. You can buy Nubia Z11 Mini S on Aliexpress for 16.4 thousand rubles (delivery to Russia is free). A slightly smaller and more technically advanced version of the flagship of the ZTE Nubia family, released in October 2016, received 73% of five reviews in Yandex Market. Technical characteristics: 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, Android 6.0 operating system, 64 GB of storage and 4 GB of RAM, there is a slot for an external memory card. Supports two SIM cards. 4G LTE support. Battery capacity - 3000 mAh. There is a fingerprint scanner, which, in addition to unlocking the smartphone, can be used to control the camera, take screenshots, and also make mobile payments using NFC.

Main camera 23 MP, front camera 13 MP. The main camera uses a Sony IMX318 module, like the ASUS ZenFone 3 Deluxe.

As a rule, all top camera phones are equipped with matrices from Sony. True, Sony’s own models do not reach the top lines of our camera phone ratings - in addition to the quality of the matrix, post-processing is of great importance, which already differs from phone to phone at the software level. This makes it a little more difficult to choose a suitable camera phone based on its characteristics: a meticulous buyer will have to study reviews and example photographs in each specific case.

The main thing is that you don’t have to chase resolution: 16 megapixels is quite enough for photos from a mobile phone. Much more important are the video capabilities (if, of course, you also need video from the camera): support for 4K resolution, frame rates when shooting in various resolutions, slow motion mode. From the photo you can find out whether the camera supports shooting in RAW, look at the flash operating modes and the type of flash itself. Modern camera phones are equipped with a flash with several diodes that glow in different shades of white to obtain the most accurate white balance.

New trend - dual camera

Last year, LG introduced the first smartphone with a dual camera to the market. Since then, brands such as Apple, Huawei, and now Honor have joined the firm. In this way, manufacturers want to bring smartphone cameras closer to conventional ones and circumvent a number of limitations. But does adding a second lens really improve image quality?
Interestingly, the dual camera is different from the dual camera.

So, currently, each manufacturer is working on its own technology, different from others, so it is difficult to compare models one-on-one. For example, the G5 dual camera consists of two matrices and two lenses with different focal lengths and apertures. Huawei has one of the cameras - black and white, it allows you to take sharper pictures, which also increases the sharpness of pictures from the main, color camera. Like the LG G5, the cameras have different focal lengths, but the additional camera is equipped not with a wide-angle lens, like the Koreans, but with a telephoto lens.

: Unrivaled camera

This new product has a 16-megapixel main camera with a matrix manufactured by Sonу. In our test, photos taken in daylight received excellent marks, while photos taken in low light received good marks. The single LED flash on the rear illuminates dark scenes, but isn't always perfect.

The camera's comprehensive equipment (optical image stabilization, support for RAW format, the ability to record video in 4K resolution, manual mode) raises the score in the corresponding test category to 100 points. The high resolution of the front camera also contributes to this. OnePlus 3T turned out to be significantly better than all its competitors in terms of camera quality, which is especially nice considering their low price.

Huawei Nova Plus: Affordable and modern

Some models that received high places in our rating are flagships of the past, and today their obsolescence is already noticeable. This particularly applies to the LG G4. Therefore, we suggest a smartphone as an optimal purchase - it was released in the fall of 2016, has high performance, a good screen and an impressive camera.

An eight-megapixel front camera is available for selfies. The corresponding application provides numerous shooting modes and a variety of settings. Thus, even amateurs in this matter will be able to get good quality pictures. The only problem is with the Perfect Selfie mode. Here the smartphone blurs the image too much.

PHOTO: manufacturing companies; Zhenia Vyazankina/Fotolia.com

20 thousand rubles is serious money; you can use it to buy a smartphone that will remain relevant for at least several more years. Uncompromising devices that combine all the best are more expensive, but if you choose wisely, you can satisfy any need - get a camera like a flagship, a reference screen, or top-end performance.

We present to your attention a selection of smartphones that make sense to buy with 20 thousand rubles on hand. The cost of all devices is indicated based on the prices of domestic online stores, so you still have the opportunity to save additional money by buying your favorite smartphone on AlieExpress.

Nubia Z11 Mini S

The Z11 Mini S smartphone is notable primarily for its camera. It is equipped with a Sony IMX318 module with an impressive 23 MP resolution, which is capable of capturing images of amazing quality and detail under good shooting conditions. Due to the lack of an optical stub, things are worse in low light, but this is definitely one of the best camera phones under 20,000 rubles in 2017.

The Z11 Mini S has quite compact dimensions - a 5.2’’ screen (IPS FHD) and good hardware: Snapdragon 625 + 64/128 built-in and 4 GB of RAM, expandable. Autonomy is provided by a 3000 mAh battery, from which you can get a day of battery life under moderate load. Price – 19 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi Mi5 and Mi5S

Xiaomi has two cool smartphones in the price range we are considering - this is the regular version of the Mi5, which has a chic appearance (ceramic body), but a weaker processor - Snapdragon 820 versus 821 in the Mi5S. But the Mi5S, in a metal case, generally does not look so attractive, and if you are looking for a fashion device, then it makes sense to go with the Xiaomi Mi5 - the difference between the chipsets will be 99% unnoticeable. And it costs less, prices start from 14 thousand rubles.

Xiaomi Mi5S will remain one of the most powerful smartphones until 835 Dragon flagships hit the market. This device is good on all fronts - 5.15’’ FHD IPS screen, 64/4 GB of memory, a good 12 MP camera with optical stabilization, 3200 mAh battery. The price tag starts from 18.5 thousand rubles for the version with 64 GB of memory, the younger version with 32 GB costs a thousand less.

Huawei Nova

Nova is a smartphone that does not impress with its technical characteristics, but when you hold it in your hands, you feel that same “quality”. The device is interesting in its design (body made of a combination of aluminum and ceramics) and decent cameras (12/8 MP). And in terms of other characteristics, this is a perfectly balanced device: 5’’ Full HD IPS screen, Snapdragon 625 processor + 32/3 GB of expandable memory, 3020 mAh battery.

The only thing you can blame a smartphone for 20 thousand is the lack of fast charging. If you are looking for a smartphone with a good balance of features and appearance, capable of delivering a flagship-like experience, then the Huawei Nova will be an excellent choice.

Samsung A5 (2016/2017)

The “A” series from Samsung includes middle-class smartphones; 3 models are released annually - A3, A5 and A7, but it is the A5 that is usually the most interesting device from a price/quality standpoint.

Samsung A5 2016 still remains relevant today, it is an excellent smartphone with a 5.2'' FHD Super-AMOLED screen, Exynos 7580 chipset + 16/2 GB of memory, cool 13 and 5 MP cameras (each aperture is f/1.9), as well as many pleasant bonuses - perfectly optimized power consumption, fast charging, NFC module fully working in the CIS. Price – from 16 thousand rubles.

If your budget allows, then you can go a little beyond 20 thousand and take the more recent Samsung A5 2017, which has quite a lot of differences. The main ones are a changed design (now the smartphone is similar to the flagship S7), more memory - 32/3 GB, the presence of dust and moisture protection according to the IP68 standard, improved cameras (both 16 MP resolution, but the optical stub was removed from the main module) and the possibility of full using 2 SIMs and a memory card. Price – from 23 thousand rubles.

Meizu MX6

The MX line is no longer MEIZU’s flagship line, which is why the MX6 has lost a dedicated DAC and now cannot be recommended to serious audiophiles, but in all other respects it is a cool, easy-to-use smartphone in a metal case with a gorgeous 5.5’’ FHD IPS screen and a cool camera.

The MX6 is available in one modification, which is powered by the Helio X20 chipset and has 32/4 GB of memory (there is no slot for Micro-SD), a 3060 mAh battery provides a day of reliable operation with active use. Price – from 15 thousand rubles.

If the lack of memory expansion is critical for you, then you can save money and take the Meizu M5 Note, this is a smartphone of a lower class, but in a direct comparison it loses only in the quality of photography, while the performance of the devices is approximately the same, and the autonomy of the M5 Note is completely noticeable better. Price – from 11 thousand rubles.

Honor 6X

Honor 6X is another smartphone from Huawei in our selection. 6X stands out among its analogues by the presence of a dual camera, one module in it is color, the second is monochrome, which allows you to increase the dynamic range and light sensitivity of the matrix. As a result, the image quality is one of the best in the average price range up to 20 thousand.

Add to this a high-quality metal case with a catchy design, a lot of memory (versions 3/32, 4/32 and 4/64 are available), an excellent 5.5" FHD IPS screen, reliable battery life for two days (3340 mAh battery), as well as the availability of fast charging and full-function NFC, and get the best smartphone of 2017 in terms of price-quality ratio up to 20,000 rubles. In the 3/32 modification, the device can be purchased for 16 thousand, the price of 4/64 is from 19 thousand rubles.

Asus ZenFone 3

ZenFone 3 is a beautiful and capable smartphone that looks and feels like a premium device. The device is made of ceramic, the only metal element in which is the side frame. On each side of the body, the glass is curved using 2.5D technology, which makes the design of the smartphone even cooler. But you have to pay for beauty - using ZenFone 3 without a case is problematic, as it constantly tries to slip out of your hands.

The characteristics of the device are quite balanced: 5.2’’ Full HD IPS display, Snapdragon 625 chipset + 64/32 built-in and 3/4 GB of RAM, 16 MP camera (optical stabilizer and 4K video recording), 8 MP front camera. The only thing that confuses us is the 2650 mAh battery, but it is quite enough for a day of battery life, and there is support for fast charging. Price tag - from 16 thousand rubles for version 3/32.

Xiaomi Mi Max

Xiaomi Mi Max is the largest phablet in our ranking. This is a real shovel phone with a 6.44’’ screen diagonal, capable of becoming a full-fledged tablet replacement. The Mi Max case is made of plastic, it has a typical Xiaomi design and very good technical characteristics - FHD IPS display, Snapdragon 650 processor + 32/3 memory with a slot for a flash drive, 16/5 MP cameras and a 4850 mAh battery.

The phablet boasts an excellent quality screen and powerful hardware. Among the shortcomings, the build quality varies from model to model - users often complain about the body creaking. However, if you have the opportunity to test Mi Max before purchasing, then you can safely take it. Considering the price of 12-13 thousand, it has no analogues.

Sony Xperia XA and XA Ultra

Summer is just around the corner, and if you want a smartphone that people will pay attention to, we recommend checking out the Xperia XA. This is a fashion model in an almost frameless (on the sides of the screen) body, which, in addition to standard white and black colors, is available in bright lemon and pink colors.

The Xperia XA is a very beautiful smartphone with enough performance for most users. It has a 5’’ HD IPS screen, Helio P10 processor + 16/2 GB of memory with expandability, 13 and 8 MP cameras. The only real weak point of the device is the battery, the capacity of which is only 2300 mAh. Fast charging is designed to compensate for the mediocre autonomy; we also note the presence of an NFC module. Price – from 15 thousand rubles.

Phablet lovers should take a closer look at the XA Ultra. The device still has the same frameless design, but its dimensions have increased significantly - the screen is 6”, and the resolution has increased to FHD. XA UItra also boasts a large amount of RAM (3GB) and powerful cameras: the resolution of the main one is 21.5 MP, the front one is 16 MP, which will undoubtedly appeal to selfie lovers. The weak point remains unchanged - the battery is 2700 mAh. Price – from 19 thousand rubles.

LG Nexus 5X

To the question of what makes a smartphone from 2015 in the selection, we will answer - Nexus 5X, which is on sale to this day, remains one of the best in terms of photo capabilities and is second only to flagships priced at 40 thousand rubles, and even then not to all . Therefore, anyone looking for a good camera phone should take a closer look at the 5X.

It can shoot in RAW and takes equally cool photos in both good lighting and poor shooting conditions. In addition, the device retains competitive characteristics - 5.2’’ FHD IPS screen, Snapdragon 808 chipset + 32/2 GB of memory, 2700 mAh battery. And thanks to excellent OS optimization and regular software support from Google, in terms of speed and smooth operation, the Nexus 5X looks worthy even against the background of flagships with top-end hardware. Price – from 19 thousand rubles.

iPhone 5S

iPhone 5S is the only smartphone in the rating not from the Android device universe. Like the Nexus 5X, it came out a long time ago, but has retained its relevance to this day. According to statistics, this is the best-selling iPhone in Russia last year, and since the price limit of 20 thousand allows you to buy only 5S, those who want to join the world of Apple have little choice.