• Meizu with two radio modules. The best smartphones with dual SIM cards. ZOOM version

    Due to numerous requests from our regular readers (and we are sure that all our visitors are regular :)), our article today will be devoted to smartphones with two radio modules. Smartphones with two SIM cards It’s already difficult to surprise anyone; almost all manufacturers have started producing such devices. But they have one small limitation. They will not be able to call you on the second phone number if you are speaking on the first one. We see that people are looking for these gadgets, but they are very, very difficult to find.

    They have many undeniable advantages:

    • you are always connected, both SIM cards are active. If you have one SIM card for “home” and the other for “work”, your colleagues or relatives will always find you;
    • more stable Internet operation. When you talk to one number, the second one will still receive messages via email or social networks;
    • significant savings on calls. By connecting to two different mobile operators, you can reduce your costs depending on your needs;
    • mobility. No need to carry two gadgets with you;

    Unfortunately, such phones have one unpleasant feature: they discharge quickly.

    But let's talk better about pleasant things, namely, what popular smartphones with two radio modules or two active SIM cards currently available in stores. Manufacturers do not particularly please us with such versions of phones; finding this smartphone is truly a rarity; we tried to select gadgets that can still be found in stores or bought on the Aliexpress site.

    Let's start with, perhaps, one of the main hits of 2015. The Asus smartphone comes in three different versions, and in our opinion, version ZE551ML is ideal. This is the epitome of simplicity and reliability. Beautiful 5.5-inch screen, Full HD IPS with Gorilla Glass 3 and oleophobic coating. Shows in the sun sufficient brightness and excellent color rendition. The cameras also pleased us: 13 MP main and 5 MP front, it is enough for video calls and excellent selfies. The cameras have many settings, so you can create real works of art. The amount of RAM is as much as 4 GB; we could not find applications or games that would slow down the work. 32 GB is available for storing personal data, i.e. In addition to a smartphone with two active SIM cards, you get an ideal, fast phone with excellent performance and NFC support. The battery is a 3000 mAh lithium polymer with fast charging technology. In 40 minutes the phone was charged to 80% from zero.

    Huawei Ascend Mate7 Premium

    • Screen: 6 inches, 1920×1080(FullHD), 367ppi
    • Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 925 octa-core processor 4 A15 cores 1.8 GHz + 4 A7 cores 1.3 GHz
    • Operating system: Android 4.4 with EMUI
    • RAM: 3GB
    • Internal memory: 32GB
    • Expansion slots: TF cards, support flash cards up to 128GB
    • Number of SIM cards: 2 SIM cards (micro SIM+nano SIM)
    • Network: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE
    • Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC
    • Navigation: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
    • Camera: 5 MP front camera, 13 MP rear camera, flash, autofocus
    • Ports: microUSB, 3.5 headphone port
    • Battery: 4100mA/h
    • Size: 81x157x7.9 mm
    • Weight: 185 grams

    Huawei Ascend Mate7 Premium

    Brand Huawei This is not the first year that it has been delighting its customers with interesting new products, but the most interesting model smartphone with two radio modules we consider Huawei Ascend Mate7 Premium. Stylish design, durable metal body, minimal screen frames, the screen itself is 6 inches (read also), the sound quality is amazing, in other words, the “stuffing” is state-of-the-art. Android 4.4 is installed, but the manufacturer promised to release an update to 5.0. Fingerprint sensor It didn’t always work correctly, we are generally skeptical about such functions in a phone, but manufacturers think differently and are doing everything to increase the cost of the device. But for those who are afraid for their personal data and who have something to hide, this function may be useful.

    RAM 3 GB, adding up to 4 GB would have been a rational decision, but we decided that this would be enough. Support for LTE networks, excellent communication quality, GPS/GLONASS satellite acquisition quickly and with high accuracy. Supports memory cards up to 128 GB, but some users note installation options up to 256 GB. Built-in memory 32 GB. The battery in the smartphone is non-removable, capacity 4100 mAh, withstands 2 days of active load calmly, in addition, it is possible to recharge other devices using a special cord included in the kit.

    The smartphone is positioned in the premium class, but it lacks something in terms of speed; there are minor problems with the proprietary EMUI shell. But if this doesn’t scare you, then the Huawei Ascend Mate7 Premium smartphone with two active radio modules will be a real find.


    The HTC model is already a little outdated, but among the smartphones with two active SIM cards you can choose from, this phone is one of the best. So, what can HTC ONE M7 Dual offer us? There is no need to delude yourself too much about the capabilities of the device, because... There is nothing outstanding about the smartphone. Unfortunately, there is a limitation on the operation of SIM cards: while the first slot supports 2G and 3G networks, the second slot only works with second generation networks. The smartphone is equipped with an aluminum removable back cover, which significantly makes the gadget heavier, but, at the same time, gives reliability and solidity.

    When we saw that the smartphone only had a 2300 mAh battery, we didn’t believe it at first and thought that this was some kind of defective version of the phone, but it turned out that it was a real battery and not a joke. It is sometimes difficult to keep the charge even from morning until evening. You need to reduce the activity of using smartphones to a minimum or carry a PowerBank in your pocket.

    Cameras are installed in the device, apparently, in order to simply say that they are there. Front 2.1 MP, rear 4 MP.

    In all other respects, it turned out to be an ordinary average phone for those who need a dialer, but with two active SIM cards: RAM 2 GB, built-in 32 GB, proprietary interface HTC Sense UI has always been HTC's signature feature. We personally didn’t have any problems with the work, but some note an “eternal” problem with the microphone, so choose the device carefully and check it directly in the store.


    When purchasing a smartphone from Lenovo, make sure that the K910 model has two letters “S”, they mean that this is a smartphone with two radio modules. The phone turned out to be classic in design, but, nevertheless, it calmly copes with everyday tasks. On board good processor with a frequency of 2.2 GHz and RAM 2 GB. Unfortunately, only 16 GB of storage is available to the user, so we immediately advise you to purchase an additional memory card. The screen is excellent, with excellent viewing angles, resolution 1080×1920 and a diagonal of 5.5 inches, protected by glass Gorilla Glass 3. It fits comfortably in the hand and weighs only 147 grams. The microUSB port supports OTG technology.

    The cameras are ordinary - 13 MP rear and 5 MP front. They are nothing outstanding, but the pictures come out quite decent. When working with two radio modules There were no problems, it’s a little inconvenient to choose which card to call from, but you can quickly get used to it.


    Another smartphone from HTC was included in our article. Users call it one of the best smartphones with simultaneous operation of two SIM cards. This is a simplified version of the company's famous flagship. The device works very stable. We did not notice any malfunctions. Looks very prestigious. There are no significant advantages in it, but there is something special about it, an ideal combination of price and quality. There is only 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB is available to store your files, videos or photos, memory cards up to 64 GB are supported. The screen is 5 inches with a resolution of only 540x960, but it is made quite well and does not cause discomfort when working.

    The smartphone uses technology HTC BoomSound, it provides superior sound quality with dual front-facing stereo speakers.

    The 8 MP rear camera showed excellent results, even despite its modest characteristics. Video recording occurs in FullHD 1080p format.

    Bottom line

    That's probably all we wanted to tell you about smartphones with two radio modules. You should determine for yourself whether you need such a gadget or not. Unfortunately, manufacturers believe that it is inappropriate to produce such devices; in some European countries it is even legally prohibited to use such phones. Perhaps in the future the situation will somehow change, but today the forecast is negative. It all comes down to the battery, which, as usual, remains the weak point of all phones. You can have a mega-cool device, but if its battery lasts only half a day, then it is of no use. Tell us about your experience using such gadgets, write about them in the comments, and we will definitely review them in our next articles.

    A selection of phones for those for whom one SIM card is not enough.

    Dual SIM phones are quite popular. At a similar cost to their single-SIM counterparts, they offer work with two numbers at once, for example, personal and work. This allows you to select a favorable combination of tariffs from different operators, eliminating the hassle of replacing a card and the cost of an additional “dialer”.

    There are, of course, disadvantages. As a rule, dual-SIM smartphones discharge faster, and the slot for the second SIM card is often combined with a slot for a memory card.

    As you can see, when choosing a good smartphone with 2 SIM cards, there are certain pitfalls. Therefore, we have compiled a rating for you of the best and inexpensive dual-SIM phones so that you can make the right choice.

    10th place

    Umi Rome X is an inexpensive phone with two SIM cards and a large 5.5-inch display. The most interesting thing about the smartphone is its design, which looks like the flagship Samsung Galaxy S7. The similarity is achieved due to the thin body, smoothed shapes and curved rear panel at the edges. The advantages of Umi Rome X include a removable battery and separate slots for two SIM cards and a memory card. At the same time, the device is quite inexpensive - about 5 thousand rubles.

    But the smartphone also has some disadvantages - the lack of 4G, heavy weight and a weak battery with a capacity of 2500 mAh, which is not enough for such a large display.

    9th place

    Doogee X5 Max is an affordable dual-SIM smartphone with 4G, a good battery and a fingerprint sensor. The phone offers its owners a clear HD display, a capacious 4000 mAh battery and Android 6.0 on board. But the most important thing is a removable cover that allows you to quickly replace the battery, as well as separate slots for two SIM cards and a memory card. In addition, we highlight the unusual design with curved ends, like some LG smartphones, and an affordable price from 4 thousand rubles.

    The disadvantages are a large and weighty body, rather weak 5 MP cameras and a small amount of RAM, only 1 GB. But if you add one or two thousand rubles, you can buy Doogee X5 Max Pro - the same model, but with more memory (16 GB ROM and 2 GB RAM).

    8th place

    Meizu M3s is perfect for those who want a metal 4G smartphone with two SIM cards. Despite the modest price tag of 8 thousand rubles, the Meizu M3s has plenty of advantages. This is a thin metal body with good assembly, a fingerprint scanner, a 5-inch display with HD resolution, as well as high-quality 13 and 5 MP cameras. In addition, the phone will feature 16 GB of permanent memory and a 3200 mAh battery.

    There are some disadvantages, but they are not serious: a slightly dim display, a non-separable body, and a combined slot for a second SIM and memory card.

    7th place

    Xiaomi Redmi 3 is a good choice for those looking for an inexpensive smartphone with a powerful battery and dual SIM cards. In our opinion, this is one of the best budget dual-SIM phones of 2016. By purchasing Xiaomi Redmi 3 for just 8 thousand rubles, you will receive a metal smartphone with a bright and clear screen, decent performance and high-quality 13 and 5 MP cameras. But the most interesting thing about the phone is the high autonomy provided by the 4100 mAh battery. Despite the powerful battery, Xiaomi Redmi 3 is not thick or heavy.

    There are also disadvantages: a non-removable battery and a combined slot for SIM and microSD cards. Separately, we note that for the same price you can buy Xiaomi Redmi 3s - the same phone, but supplemented with a fingerprint scanner.

    6th place

    Samsung Galaxy J3 (2016) is a 5-inch dual SIM phone. The LTE version of the model will cost you 9-10 thousand rubles, but the 3G modification is already more expensive. The main advantage of the smartphone is its bright and clear AMOLED display with wide viewing angles, making it easy to read in the sun. In addition, the phone is well-built, and its battery life is at a decent level. What is important for a dual-SIM model is that under the removable cover you will find separate slots for SIM cards and memory cards.

    The disadvantages include small amounts of memory (8 GB of storage and 1.5 GB of RAM), low performance and unimpressive 8 and 5 MP cameras.

    5th place

    Microsoft Lumia 640 LTE Dual SIM is a cheap dual-SIM phone running Windows 10. It may not be the newest, but as of January 2017 it costs between 6-7 thousand rubles. The phone has a clear and bright 5-inch display, a good 8 MP camera for its price tag, and high battery life. Despite the weak hardware, the smartphone works quickly and supports LTE and even NFC. We also note a well-assembled case, a removable cover and a separate slot for a memory card that does not pretend to be a SIM card.

    The disadvantages are a small amount of built-in memory, a weak 1 MP front camera and a limited selection of applications. When purchasing, be careful: there are other modifications of the phone - both single-SIM and without 4G support.

    4th place

    Xiaomi Mi4c is perfect for those who want an inexpensive dual-SIM smartphone of almost flagship level. The model was released at the end of 2015, since then its price has dropped to 7-8 thousand rubles. The phone is equipped with a clear 5-inch Full HD display and advanced 13 and 5 MP cameras. In its price range, this is the most powerful dual-SIM smartphone thanks to the 2015 flagship processor, Snapdragon 808 (the same as the top-end LG G4) and 2 GB of RAM. Xiaomi Mi4c's communications are also almost flagship-level - there is 4G, an infrared port, and high-speed Wi-Fi. A battery with a decent capacity of 3080 mAh and support for fast charging is responsible for autonomy.

    Xiaomi Mi4c has only one drawback - there is no slot for a memory card, which will be especially noticeable in the 16 GB version. Also keep in mind that the model has a non-separable body and a new USB Type C connector.

    3rd place

    Asus ZenFone 2 ZE551ML is a powerful phone with two SIM cards and two radio modules. Since 2015, the price has dropped to 11-12 thousand rubles, but has not become outdated. The main feature of the model is flagship performance. Inside the phone there is a powerful chipset and 4 GB of RAM, like some laptops. At the same time, the phone looks quite unusual, boasts a removable battery and separate slots for two SIM and microSD cards. But what is more important is two radio modules, which is extremely rare today. This means that both SIM cards can work simultaneously: receive calls and not lose connection to the Internet when calling from the other card.

    The disadvantages include low battery life and mediocre cameras for almost a flagship. In addition, the Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML is quite large and heavy, and the location of the control keys will seem inconvenient to many.

    2nd place

    Lenovo Vibe Shot is a dual-SIM smartphone with a good camera. It came out back in 2015 and significantly dropped in price to 13 thousand rubles. In addition to an advanced camera, Lenovo Vibe Shot boasts a stylish design, decent battery life and high performance. We also note that this is a rare phone with a non-separable body, but separate slots for two SIM cards and a memory card.

    The phone also has its drawbacks - the lack of an NFC chip and the easily soiled, glossy plastic that peels off from the body of the device over time. In addition, it is strange that Lenovo Vibe Shot is positioned as an advanced camera phone, but cannot shoot 4K video.

    1st place

    Huawei Honor 7 is a fairly powerful phone with 2 SIM cards and two radio modules. It costs from 19 thousand and offers almost top-end characteristics. Thus, Honor 7 can boast of high-quality 20 and 8 MP cameras, a metal body with a fingerprint scanner, a high-quality display, high performance and an additional Smart Key control button. But the main advantage of the model is two radio modules, allowing two SIM cards to work simultaneously. With such a smartphone, you will be able to talk and not lose your Internet connection from the second SIM card, and also receive two calls at once.

    Honor 7 also has some disadvantages - a non-separable body and a combined slot. The latter is especially sad, because the amount of permanent memory is small for the money, only 16 GB. Also, for a top-end model, the phone looks unimpressive, and the battery life is only average.

    Want to understand other important issues? Read

    In 2016, a smartphone with two SIM cards will not surprise anyone. If previously such functionality was considered the province of budget Chinese handsets, now global giants (like Samsung or Sony) do not neglect to install a second slot in their flagships. Only Apple stands on the sidelines, seemingly not intending to follow the lead of the market.

    At first glance, all smartphones with two SIM cards are no different in terms of working with networks. But in fact, they can be divided into 2 groups: Dual Standby and Dual Active. The main differences between them are that in Dual Standby technology the SIM cards work alternately, and in Dual Active they work in parallel, without depending on each other.

    The first technology is easier to implement and therefore occurs most often. In this technology, the phone does not exchange data with communication towers simultaneously with two SIM cards, but does it alternately, first with one, then with the other. This is enough for towers located in the access area to confirm the subscriber’s activity.

    The disadvantage of Dual Standby technology is that the device is unable to simultaneously send a request from two SIM cards. As a result, when a conversation is being carried out using one SIM card, the second one is unavailable. Sometimes you won’t be able to get through if one of the cards supports an Internet connection, exchanging packet data with the database. And if both numbers belonging to the same operator are assigned identical IMEI, then at such moments the activity of one SIM card can completely “knock out” the other from the network.

    For smartphones with two radio modules (Dual Active technology), these problems are not relevant. Each SIM card has its own active transceiver, with the help of which it communicates with the base. Accordingly, if you are talking on one number, you will be able to hear and receive a call to the second number at the same time. It’s just a pity that in 2016 there are only a few of these pipes left.

    Two active modules increase the cost of production and require fine optimization of energy consumption, and therefore are not popular among manufacturers. Our material is dedicated to those few smartphones that are equipped with two radio modules and that are still relevant in 2016.

    Asus ZenFone 2 ZE551ML is a relatively recent, and therefore relevant, smartphone with two radio modules. It was released in March 2015, and now the device can be purchased at prices ranging from 180 (2 GB RAM/16 GB ROM) to 350 (4 GB RAM/64 GB ROM) dollars. In addition to the amount of memory, the versions differ in processors. The 2 GB model uses the Intel Atom z3560 (4 x86 cores, frequency up to 1.8 GHz), the 4 GB model uses the z3580 (4 x86 cores, up to 2.3 GHz).

    Screen Asus ZenFone 2 – 5.5-inch FullHD, with IPS matrix and 3rd generation “Gorilla” protective glass. Camera – 13 MP, with dual flash, f/2.0 aperture and autofocus (not laser, regular). Operating system – Android 5, upgrade to “six” is planned.

    A 3000 mAh battery is typical for a phablet, but considering that 2 modules mean increased battery consumption, the operating time can be called average. The Asus ZenFone 2 will last two days only if it is not particularly loaded. In general, the device is balanced, and thanks to hardware from Intel, it is also quite fast.

    The second smartphone with two simultaneously operating radio modules is Huawei Honor 7. It was released in July 2015, and can now be purchased for $350. The smartphone runs on a HiSilicon Kirin 935 chip with eight cores (frequencies up to 2.2 GHz). RAM 3 GB, built-in storage – 16 or 64 GB. There is a memory card slot, it is combined with the second SIM card slot.

    The display of Huawei Honor 7 is built on an IPS matrix with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, and a diagonal of 5.2". The 20 MP camera has f/2.0 aperture, is equipped with phase detection autofocus and dual flash. The smartphone runs Android Lolipop OS, you can upgrade to the sixth version .

    The battery is non-removable, with a capacity of 3100 mAh. It will last for 13 hours of reading, 10 hours of video, 4 hours of gaming or 2 days of standby time. Huawei Honor 7 is a really good, once flagship gadget from a Chinese manufacturer, and one of the few “pure” dual-SIM phones in this category.

    Huawei also has other products that support Dual Active SIM (almost every model over $250 comes with this modification). But everything is very complicated with the versions: for different regions of the world they install radio modules tailored to the frequencies of a specific market. Among the “Europeans” there are no other dual-SIM Huawei devices.

    HTC Desire 700 is a real long-liver: it was introduced back in November 2013, and went on sale at the beginning of 2014. At the moment, its characteristics look relevant only in the budget category. It’s somehow a pity to pay $165 for a model that is more than 2 years old, but if you need a phone with two active radio modules, then the choice is small.

    HTC Desire 700 runs on a 1.2 MP quad-core processor. There is 1 GB of RAM, about 5 GB out of a total of 8 are allocated for data. There is a MicroSD slot. Screen – five-inch 960x540. The camera has a resolution of 8 MP, is equipped with autofocus and a LED flash. The device OS is already outdated Android 4.1.

    The battery in HTC Desire 700 is removable, its capacity is 2100 mAh. Not much, but enough for a day of moderate exercise. But longer - that’s how it goes: if both SIM cards are active, the charge is consumed quickly.

    Lenovo K910SS

    Lenovo Vibe Z K910SS is another not new, but still relevant smartphone with two radio modules. It was released in September 2013 and was probably the last Lenovo to support simultaneous operation of both SIM cards in transfer mode. The model with two S in the suffix is ​​the version for China, which is not so easy to find, but still possible. The issue price is about 200 dollars.

    The smartphone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor. This is a quad-core chip operating at up to 2.2 GHz, which is the flagship of 2013. The Vibe Z has 2 GB of RAM, which is normal even by 2016 standards. About 12 GB (out of 16) are allocated for files; there is no memory card slot, but there is OTG.

    The 5.5-inch diagonal screen is equipped with a FullHD IPS matrix. Protective glass (Gorilla Glass 3) is present. The 13 MP camera is unremarkable: there is autofocus, there is a flash, it records video in FullHD, the overall shooting quality is average. Initially, Android 4.2 OS was installed on the smartphone, later version 4.4 appeared, and craftsmen ported CyanogenMod based on Android 5.1.

    The 3050 mAh battery provides autonomy, which is nothing to criticize or praise for. 4 hours of games, 8-10 videos, 12 readings, a little more than 2 days in standby mode - typical indicators for most smartphones.

    Conclusion

    Finding a current smartphone with two radio modules is not easy. As the review showed, all devices that support simultaneous activity of both SIM cards were released in 2013-2015. In addition, most of them are either made in China, or for China, or both.

    Given the trend, soon the second radio module will completely become a thing of the past. However, if you don't want to miss a call on one card when another is active, you can simply set up cross-forwarding. And then the call to the unavailable number will be automatically redirected to the one from which you are currently talking.

    Today you won’t surprise anyone with a smartphone with two, or even three, SIM cards - it has become almost as natural as a touch screen. Another thing is the joint operation of several SIM cards. As a rule, one radio module and an alternating type of operation are used, and while you are talking on one phone number, calls and messages from instant messengers do not reach another. If you are not satisfied with this state of affairs, you need to pay attention to smartphones with two radio modules. We already prepared it once, but there are still very few similar devices on the market, so the choice will be small.

    The smartphone was released last year and is still in great demand in the domestic market. Huawei has proven itself to be of excellent quality devices and not very high prices. Honor 8 is made in the best traditions of the company. He received glass back panel, metal frame, 8 different colors. The screen is protected by glass Corning Gorilla Glass 3, has an anti-reflective coating, pixel density 423 ppi.

    The battery is not very capacious, but thanks to the optimized filling, energy-saving mode and fast charging technology, problems with the battery, or rather replenishing its energy, will be minimal. Feature of the model – two main cameras: one shoots in color, the second in monochrome. In this way, it is possible to capture more light so that the pictures are clearer, of higher quality and have accurate color rendition. The photo quality is up to par. Performance also does not disappoint: 4 cores at 2.3 GHz and 4 at 1.8 GHz allow you to cope with any task without any problems.

    The main feature is two active radio modules. In addition, the manufacturer has added the “Signal+” function to improve the quality of signal reception and the “Wi-Fi+” function, which allows you to connect to the most powerful network among the existing ones (Wi-Fi or 4G/3G). In fact, this is the only powerful modern smartphone with two radio modules, so it can safely be called the best.

    Torex S18


    The manufacturer decided that it is especially important to always stay in touch on all numbers when you are far from civilization, so it added the active dual function to your secure smartphone. Got the gadget Shockproof housing, protected from water and dust IP68, which made the case quite massive. The hardware is mediocre, but it is sufficient for working with instant messengers, mail and social networks (what else is needed in nature or in extreme conditions?). The screen is also far from the most ideal, but it consumes minimal energy, so 3500 mAh is enough for 360 hours of standby time. If it is important to have two active SIM cards inside a protected case, then this is a good option, although a little expensive.

    The company also has Torex Mini with a 2.5-inch screen, 256 MB of RAM and a 900 mAh battery costing just over $100. The device could be considered as an indestructible dialer, but it seems that the processor will not handle interaction with two active SIM cards.

    Conquest S6


    Another secure smartphone that allows you to receive calls simultaneously on two SIM cards. The filling here is also not the most productive, but this format does not require this. The device is protected from water and dust according to standardIP68 , has shock protection, equipped with glass Gorilla Glass 3, it provides the ability to operate with gloves, there is even a loop for attaching a carabiner - it turns out to be a powerful brick that is not scary to drop or get wet.

    ASUS ZenFone 2


    Just think, the model was presented back in 2014, but it is still actively sold and is in considerable demand, because among dual-radio smartphones it is one of the few normal options. The device is available in versions with different memory reserves, equipped FullHD display, a good battery for such a filling and a recognizable zen strip, around which there has always been a lot of controversy. It’s a stretch to call a gadget modern, but it’s definitely worth considering it as an inexpensive alternative to the Huawei Honor 8.

    Unfortunately, that's all. Maybe someday there will be a fashion not only for dual cameras and frameless screens, but also for dual radio modules.

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