Smartphones with 2 active radio modules. Phones with two active radio modules. The best smartphones with dual SIM cards. The best inexpensive smartphones with two SIM cards

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 the 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-grade - there is 4G, an infrared port, and high-speed Wi-Fi. The autonomy is ensured by a battery with a decent capacity of 3080 mAh and support for fast charging.

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 the body of the device over time. In addition, it is strange that the 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

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.

This is not the first time on the pages of our portal that I have raised the issue of phones with two radio modules. It is incomprehensible and incredible that even the world's largest brands have abandoned such devices. But many people need exactly the kind of phones in which the SIM card will not suddenly disappear from the cellular network during a call to the second one (this moment will be excluded at the hardware level) and which simply work stably and maintain excellent communication on both numbers. You can always study the rating of new products on the pages of our special sections.

Need to figure it out

“Something is wrong here,” I thought. There is demand, but supply is rapidly declining, tending to zero. Old phones with two radio modules are worth their weight in gold, but there are still no new ones. This phenomenon cannot be explained by the fact that such phones do not work well on a single charge. Now it is quite possible to create an inexpensive phone with two radio modules and a 2500 mAh battery. And I'm sure Philips would be the first to release such a phone. If not for one thing...

"Secret" resolution

In March 2012, a secret decision was made that such phones had no place in Europe. Countries in our region soon joined this decision. From now on, a phone with two radio modules, in which two SIM cards are active, will not pass certification...

The reasons for this decision are obvious: on the one hand, two radio modules generate more noise and burn our heads faster, and on the other, operators have never liked phones that can have a competitor’s SIM card installed next to their own.

You can be indignant or indignant, but this cannot be changed. Apparently, this decision was known for a long time, since two active SIM cards began to disappear much earlier than March 2012. Another interesting thing is that I was unable to find records or official documents about this decision. All of them are closed and are not handed out. Electronic copies, if available, are not freely available. Only numerous rumors and very outdated information from a year ago. Rumors may not be believed, and news may be considered fabricated. But reality suggests that such a resolution most likely exists, and it is in effect. As always, they did everything, but didn’t ask the buyers anything.

There is a way out

So if nowadays you really want to buy a phone with two active SIM cards, you need to choose either fairly outdated devices, or the few Chinese smartphones in which one radio module is designed for 3G/WCDMA, and the other for ST-CDMA networks. But no one bothers you to install two regular 2G SIM cards in them. It is clear that you need to order such devices directly from China, fortunately, now this is quite easy to do.

The ZTE U960, which we have already talked about, and the Chinese Samsung Note 2 (HDC Galaxy Note 2 EX) are popular among Russian users. These two phones have been tested in our realities and work fully with all operators.

How to avoid drowning in a sea of dual-SIM smartphones, understand technologies without a dictionary and choose a good smartphone for 2 SIM cards without a consultant - read our detailed guide.

Today it is difficult to find a smartphone without support for two SIM cards, rather than vice versa (the only exception is iOS devices). Even flagship smartphones, depending on the market and other criteria, are produced in several configurations - with one or two SIM cards. Are dual-SIM users really so necessary for humanity?

Yes. For several reasons.

Firstly, this is savings on a second smartphone: often, when moving to a new job, an employee can get a new number - “work”, with corresponding favorable corporate rates. You can choose a good inexpensive smartphone for your corporate number, or you can get a “work” SIM card into your regular phone.

Secondly, it saves on tariffs when calling numbers of subscribers of other operators. And although there are favorable tariffs for such communication among Ukrainian networks, someone, simply out of habit, may leave their favorite operators for calls within these networks. Internet tariffs, like the Internet services themselves, can also be included in this item: some operators have excellent 3G coverage - even in the metro, even in the mountains, there will still be an online connection, pleasant unlimited or other attractive conditions for using the mobile Internet. It’s simply profitable to call from other cards.

And thirdly, 2 SIM can be used for frequent travel, trips abroad, by purchasing additional cards from local cellular operators - so as not to lose contact with the main SIM and not waste all the money in roaming.

The point “one SIM card for conversations, the second for the Internet” is also logical because not all smartphones support the “both cards for 3G” function. More often you have to assign a card that will be responsible for going online. Therefore, if you are interested in models in which the Internet connection can be assigned to both SIM cards, carefully read the characteristics of the phones. Inexpensive models include Xiaomi Mi MAX, Sony Xperia Z3, Xiaomi Mi Note Pro, Huawei Honor 7, Lenovo Vibe P2 and other smartphones.

By the way, Apple is probably the last brand on the market that stubbornly does not produce dual-SIM smartphones. All iPhones have a single SIM card slot. And no matter what advantages the iPhone has over its competitors, there are enough buyers in the world who chose the flagship Samsung Galaxy S8 or Galaxy Note 8 instead of Apple simply because they can accommodate two SIM cards.

Although Chinese craftsmen have long invented an adapter that will supposedly allow two cards to work on one iPhone.

Pitfalls: hybrid slots

Dual SIM is a strong marketing ploy. We have noticed that recently, no matter what smartphone you pick up, there will always be support for two SIMs marked “hybrid slot” (that is, combined with a memory card slot). And you will have to choose: either additional memory or an additional mobile number. In some models, this choice is not critical: the built-in 32 or 64 GB of memory is more than enough to store multimedia on a smartphone. But if the model has only 16 GB of internal memory (or even a makeshift 8 GB), two SIMs, but a “hybrid” slot, beware - it’s better to look for another smartphone.

Why is this happening? 16 GB is the minimum configuration for most, even Chinese manufacturers. Minimum means the cheapest. A cheap Chinese smartphone in 99.9% of cases runs on some version of Android with custom firmware on top of the OS. The operating system itself takes up quite a lot of space and instead of the stated 16 GB, at best, you will have 12 GB at your disposal. Add the weight of custom firmware on top - and the available memory will become even less. Plus, install a couple of programs, take two or three dozen pictures or short videos - and then the service message “Not enough memory!” hangs on the screen.

Therefore, if the SIM slot is hybrid, and you really need both SIM cards in your smartphone and you are not ready to sacrifice mobile communications for the sake of a memory card, do not take models with a built-in capacity below 32 GB.

Standards and characteristics

To select smartphone with 2 SIM cards , you need to know the basics: what configurations there are for dual-SIM devices and how they differ. Next, decide which technology suits you best. Nothing complicated here, just two types:

DSDS (or Dual SIM Dual StandBy) means that this smartphone has only one radio module, so two SIM cards cannot fully work at the same time. There is only one radio module, so the operation of SIM cards will be alternating: if they call you on one number, the second will be temporarily out of reach.
DSDA / DSFA (or Dual SIM Dual Active / Dual SIM Dual (Full) Active) markings are given to smartphones with two radio modules that can operate in parallel - convenient if you are one of those who always miss important calls on the second line, stuck on the first. In addition to the markings, whether there are two radio modules in the model or one, you can check it simply - by calling from one SIM card to another from the same smartphone.

The problem of connecting to the Internet on only one SIM is exactly about phones with one radio module. On models with two radio modules, in theory, both SIM cards should work with 3G. “Give me the one with two - it’s better!” the buyer, accustomed to making quick decisions, will think. But take your time. DSDA phones have their pitfalls.

The question of autonomy

On the one hand, you are always connected, but on the other, the characteristics of “always connected” and “two active radio modules” should be read differently: the smartphone will consume energy faster due to the need to keep two radio modules online at the same time.

Thus, a smartphone with two active SIMs can discharge 30% faster than a model with alternately active cards. There is a solution: buysmartphones with more energy-dense batteries , an energy-efficient processor or with a lower screen resolution (the backlight of which takes up the lion's share of the charge). Ideally, the battery capacity of a 5.5-inch smartphone with two active SIMs should be 3300-4000 mAh (more is better) so that you have enough energy for at least a day and a half of use. To save energy, you can also take a model not with Full HD (1920x1080 pixels), but with an HD screen (1280x720 pixels), although this is already extreme.

Did you know that the rate of charge consumption is affected not only by the type of radio communication modules, but also by the operator whose SIM you use, and the type of network to which you are connected? And besides dual-SIM smartphones, there are smartphones with 3 SIM cards . Don't ask why. Take it for granted.

Models with two radio modules may be more expensive than their analogues. So be careful with prices. This is not a sky-high difference, but even among Chinese smartphones it can be 25-40 USD.

TOP 7: selection of smartphones for 2 SIM cards

Most of the models in the selection are Dual Stand-By, that is, only one SIM card will work at a time. Simply because this makes the devices lighter, cheaper and more energy efficient. But we won’t leave the Dual Active model without attention either.

Price: ~500 USD.

SIM format: Nano-SIM.

The OnePlus 5T is a nice buy, if only because its analogues often cost $100 or even $250 more. And for 500 USD you get a 6-inch smartphone with one of the top processors of 2017 on board - Snapdragon 835, sky-high 8 GB of RAM and a 16 MP camera shooting in 2160p resolution. The battery capacity of 3300 mAh is alarming - for a smartphone with 6 inches this is not enough, especially since this is a dual SIM card.

On the other hand, 3300 mAh can be charged almost an hour faster than 4000 mAh: you can charge it more often and remove it from it faster.

Did you know , that the more capacity a smartphone battery has, the longer it will take to charge it? For example, a 4000 mAh battery takes on average 3 hours to charge. The charging process can be accelerated by a special Quick Charge adapter, with which you can charge up to half the battery capacity in 30-40 minutes. But such adapters are rarely included in the package of a smartphone - they have to be purchased separately, and not all smartphones support “fast charging”.

Price: from ~400 USD.

Technology: Dual SIM (dual active).

SIM format: Nano-SIM.

Huawei P9 is the first smartphone jointly designed with the famous Leica brand. This is a flagship whose feature is a dual 12 MP camera: Huawei P9’s mission is to reinvent smartphone photography. And also, add variety to the world of Dual Stand-By dual-SIM users, because... one of the “nine” configurations supports both SIM cards active, which is the exception rather than the rule for smartphones of this class.

Price: from ~450 USD.