Flagship smartphones are magnificent: they are lightning fast in work, have impeccable ergonomics and are equipped with many additional features. But they are expensive (sometimes prohibitively expensive).
Therefore, if you are looking for a reasonable compromise between price and quality, we will tell you how to choose an inexpensive but good smartphone in 2019 in different price categories.
10. ZTE Blade A5 (2019)
The average price is 6,490 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 5.45 ″ screen, resolution 1440 × 720
- 13 MP camera
- 16 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
- RAM 2 GB
- 2600 mAh battery
- weight 157 g, WxHxT 70.60 × 146.30 × 9.55 mm
This smartphone is a reminder that you can get a truly convenient mobile device at an extra-budgetary price. It has a small screen with a modern aspect ratio of 18: 9, as well as the SC9863A processor, suitable for not very demanding games and applications.
The pride of the ZTE Blade A5 is a surprisingly high-quality rear 13 MP camera for a budget employee. It shoots well under normal lighting conditions. And an 8 MP selfie camera also pleases with pictures with a small amount of “soap”.
pros: 3.5 mm audio jack, separate slot for a memory card, light indication of events.
Minuses: obsolete micro-USB connector, low-power battery (but removable, which is very rare), no NFC.
9. Motorola Moto G7
The average price is 19,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- 6.2 ″ screen, resolution 2270 × 1080
- dual camera 12 MP / 5 MP, autofocus
- 64 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 3000 mAh battery
- weight 172 g, WxHxT 75.30x157x8 mm
The Moto G7 is a typical Motorola smartphone: affordable, looks good, and does a great job with most tasks.
It features a 6.2-inch FullHD + edge-to-edge display (19: 9 aspect ratio) with a small cutout at the top for a selfie camera. On the back there is a fingerprint sensor, in addition, you can unlock the smartphone in the face of the owner.
The case is made of glass and metal, it looks solid and modern, like premium models. The front glass panel is completely flat, while the rear panel has curved edges for easier placement in the hand.
Each version of the Moto G7 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor. This single-chip mobile platform is 40% more efficient than its predecessor, the Snapdragon 630. And it allows you to play modern games at low and medium settings.
The main camera consists of a 12 MP sensor with an f / 1.8 aperture and a 5 MP depth sensor for portrait shots. On the other hand, inside the tiny cutout there is an 8 MP front camera.
Front and rear cameras perform best under ideal lighting conditions. The colors are bright and saturated, and the photos have a lot of details. In low light, pictures are overexposed.
pros: water resistant, quick charge, headphone jack and microSD card slot.
Minuses: no NFC.
8. OPPO A5s
The average price is 11,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 8.1
- dual SIM support
- 6.2 ″ screen, resolution 1520 × 720
- dual camera 13 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
- 3 GB RAM
- 4230 mAh battery
- weight of 170 g, WxHxT 75.40 × 155.90 × 8.20 mm
In the segment of budget Chinese smartphones is a merciless war. And the winner is the one who can offer users the best specifications at an affordable price.
So far, the OPPO A5s with its fantastically-tenacious battery and excellent screen with an aspect ratio of 19: 9 manages to be among the winners.
The display has a sufficient margin of brightness (480 nits) so you can easily see the text even in sunlight, and Gorilla Glass 3 protects it from scratches.
The “heart” of the smartphone is the MediaTek Helio P35 chip with a clock frequency of 2.3 GHz. It has a reputation for being energy-efficient and productive, and has no problems switching between multiple applications or games at medium settings.
The device has a 13- and 2-megapixel dual camera at the rear, and an 8 MP front-facing selfie camera with innovative OPPO AI Beautification 2.0 technology. On this device, excellent photos are obtained, which is rare in the price category up to 15 thousand rubles.
pros: fingerprint scanner, separate SIM card slot, protective case and film included.
Minuses: no 3.5 mm headphone jack, outdated micro-USB charging jack.
7. Honor 10i
The average price is 19,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- screen 6.21 ″, resolution 2340 × 1080
- three cameras 24 MP / 8 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 3400 mAh battery
- weight of 164 g, WxHxT 73.64 × 154.80 × 7.95 mm
Looking at the beautiful overflow of light on the back cover of the Honor 10i, it is hard to believe that the device costs less than 20 thousand rubles.
The smartphone lies perfectly in the hand and gives a pleasant tactile sensation. And the rounded edges make it more comfortable to grip.
On the front side is a 6.21-inch Full HD + display with more than 90% screen-to-body ratio. Its quality is quite acceptable for comfortable viewing of media content.
On the back of the Honor 10i is a trio of cameras. The main 24 MP camera is equipped with an f / 1.8 aperture and Quadra CFA sensor for better performance in low light.
And artificial intelligence allows the camera to recognize more than 500 scenes and professionally evaluate images, performing all their processing for you.
The front 32 MP camera is also equipped with built-in AI, which is based on Honor algorithms. Its feature is the ability to take excellent pictures even in low light.
The HiSilicon Kirin 710 processor, installed inside the Honor 10i, is quite capable of pulling “heavy” games, such as Asphalt 9, at medium settings and without “stuttering”.
pros: there is a headphone jack, you can make contactless payment.
Minuses: Outdated micro-USB connector.
6. Honor 8S
The average price is 8,490 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- screen 5.71 ″, resolution 1520 × 720
- 13 MP camera, autofocus
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
- RAM 2 GB
- 3020 mAh battery
- weight of 146 g, WxHxT 70.78 × 147.13 × 8.45 mm
If you are looking for a good cheap smartphone that fits comfortably in your hand, then it is in front of you. At the moment, this is the most inexpensive smartphone released by Honor in 2019.
The case of the novelty is made of polycarbonate with a textured rear panel. On the front side is a 5.71-inch IPS display with a small number of pixels per inch (295). But the aspect ratio is good - 19: 9. A small recess in the upper part of the screen is used to place the front camera.
Since this is a budget smartphone, there is no fingerprint scanner in it. Instead, the device owner will have to rely on face unlocking.
The Honor 8S runs on the MediaTek Helio A22 MT6761, an entry-level chipset that you should expect low power consumption from, but don't have to wait for speed. Many modern games will slow down even at the minimum settings.
In terms of optics, the smartphone is equipped with one 13 MP camera on the back. And for a selfie there is a 5 MP camera. Both of them shoot well under normal lighting conditions, but do not expect the pictures to be very bright and with a lot of visible small details.
pros: there is an unlock on the face, there is a 3.5 mm jack, a separate slot for a memory card.
Minuses: no NFC chip, micro-USB charging slot, no fingerprint scanner.
5. Xiaomi Mi9 SE
The average price is 24,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- screen 5.97 ″, resolution 2340 × 1080
- three cameras 48 MP / 8 MP / 13 MP, autofocus
- 64 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 3070 mAh battery
- weight 155 g, WxHxT 70.50 × 147.50 × 7.45 mm
When it comes to a decent camera, accessibility shouldn't mean a compromise. And a striking example of this statement is the Mi9 SE, which offers an excellent camera at a price that won't force you to sell a kidney.
Xiaomi claims that the Mi9 SE has a 48 MP main camera, but usually it shoots in 12 MP mode. You will get 48 MP if you find this option in the list of shooting modes and turn it on. But then you can’t use a number of other functions - HDR, AI, portrait, zoom. That is, you lose consumer qualities and what do you get in return?
A 48 MP camera creates a larger file than with 12 MP shooting. This means that you will have more options for scaling and cropping.
If you want to enlarge the image and crop at a later stage, the 48 MP mode will do it for you.
However, for most people, ignoring the 48 MP mode is likely to give the best results, since in this case you will get the full advantage of AI and HDR.
The flat display, without bends, gives you a large convenient space for viewing various content, and on top there is a tear-like cutout for the front camera, which has already become a trend for modern models. Like many Chinese companies, Xiaomi insists that it uses Samsung's AMOLED display as a quality mark.
A smartphone running on the Snapdragon 855 mobile platform with 6 GB of RAM allows you to play games at maximum settings and launch the most “heavy” applications.
pros: Powerful filling, wireless and fast charging.
Minuses: mono speaker, no microSD card slot. You have to charge your smartphone every day if you are an active user.
4. HUAWEI P30 lite
The average price is 21,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 6.15 ″ screen, resolution 2312 × 1080
- three cameras 14 MP / 8 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 3340 mAh battery
- weight of 159 g, WxHxT 72.70 × 152.90 × 7.40 mm
About half the price of Huawei’s flagship P-series phones, the P30 Lite looks just as good and ranks among the best smartphones for 20,000 rubles, although it does not have some premium features.
For example, instead of the top-end Kirin 980 processor that the P30 and P30 Pro are equipped with, under the “hood” of the P30 Lite there is a less powerful Kirin 710 chipset and an integrated Mali-G51 graphics processor, which are not quite suitable for playing the latest games with high frequency frames. However, there should be no problems with medium and low graphics settings.
And although there is a triple camera on the back of the P30 Lite, like the “older brothers”, it does not use the optical zoom capabilities. At the same time, the quality of the P30 Lite images is hard to find fault with. The pictures are quite detailed, the colors are juicy, and there are few digital noise.
In addition, the P30 Lite does not include a trendy on-screen fingerprint scanner. Instead, there is a traditional fingerprint scanner on the back of the phone, although you can use quick face unlock instead.
The P30 Lite was able to cover 93% of the sRGB color gamut, although the color accuracy is not perfect. It is bright enough (416 cd / m²) for reading in the sunlight.
But in terms of design, this model is in no way inferior to more expensive versions. Its 3D curved glass rear is comfortable to hold, and the rainbow color gradient finish looks amazing.
pros: you can make contactless payments, there is a quick charge, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack.
Minuses: slippery, the camera sticks out of the case, which is why the phone is unstable.
3. Samsung Galaxy A50
The average price is 24,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- 6.4 ″ screen, resolution 2340 × 1080
- three cameras 25 MP / 8 MP / 5 MP, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 4000 mAh battery
- weight of 166 g, WxHxT 74.70 × 158.50 × 7.70 mm
Among the top 10 good inexpensive smartphones up to 30,000 rubles in 2019, the Galaxy A50 model stands out with an impressive amount of RAM, as well as its triple camera.
However, the first thing you notice is a beautiful 6.4-inch AMOLED screen with high brightness and contrast, making the video and other content look great.
Under the hood of the Galaxy A50 is a powerful Exynos 9610 processor, and the smartphone will be able to work with any resource-intensive application or game.
Interestingly, although the main rear camera sensor has a resolution of 25 MP, by default the device shoots in a resolution of 12 MP. To change this, you need to select the “3: 4H” mode in the settings.
About the 25 MP selfie camera, we can say that on a sunny day it shoots very well, the face comes out not “blurry”, the colors are bright and natural. But in poor lighting detail is not so good. By the way, the story with the mysterious 3: 4H mode is also relevant for the front-end.
pros: powerful battery, there is a USB-C quick charge port, a separate slot for a memory card, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
Minuses: Slow fingerprint unlock, you can use the alternative - face unlock.
2. HUAWEI P Smart (2019)
The average price is 14,770 rubles.
Specifications:
- smartphone with Android 9.0
- dual SIM support
- screen 6.21 ″, resolution 2340 × 1080
- dual camera 13 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 3 GB RAM
- 3400 mAh battery
- weight of 160 g, WxHxT 73.40 × 155.20 × 7.95 mm
This is a strong newcomer to the league of the best low-cost smartphones up to 15 thousand rubles. It has a flat plastic back panel with gradient colors and a fashionable drop-shaped front cutout.
The screen has an aspect ratio of 19.5: 9, a density of 415 ppi and the ability to hide a drop-shaped cutout in the settings.
Headphone users will be glad that this model has a 3.5 mm audio jack, and those who like to get cashback from contactless payments will be pleased that the new P Smart has an NFC chip.
The Kirin 710 octa-core processor is a good choice for most user tasks. The smartphone performs well even in heavy games, thanks to proprietary GPU overclocking technology called GPU Turbo 2.0.
The rear camera has an auxiliary 2 MP module responsible for the blur mode. Under normal lighting conditions, pictures are bright, with good white balance and excellent detail. For filming at dusk, there is a "Night" mode.
pros: capacious battery, dual front camera 8 MP / 16 MP (exclusive to Russia).
Minuses: Outdated micro-USB charging port.
1. Xiaomi Redmi 7
The average price is 11,990 rubles.
Specifications:
- Android smartphone
- dual SIM support
- 6.26 ″ screen, resolution 1520 × 720
- dual camera 12 MP / 2 MP, autofocus
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS
- 3 GB RAM
- 4000 mAh battery
- weight of 180 g, WxHxT 75.58 × 158.73 × 8.47 mm
This smartphone provides an elusive balance between accessibility, design and functionality.
Its plastic case has two beautiful gradient colors, and thin rims mean that the 6.26-inch display provides high-quality visualization.
Even without Full HD resolution, the Redmi 7 screen does not disappoint. The colors in the video and games look quite bright and natural.
As a mobile platform, the manufacturer chose the Snapdragon 632 processor (1.8 GHz) and from 2 to 3 GB of RAM. A smartphone worth up to 15,000 rubles can easily cope with most applications and tasks, and even with demanding hardware games, such as FIFA Mobile and Real Cricket 2019.
The rear camera consists of a 12 MP sensor for ordinary shots and a 2 MP sensor for shooting with bokeh effect. Although portrait shots look good, ordinary landscape shots lack clarity, and even the colors look slightly blurry. The front 8 MP camera makes good selfies in bright sunlight, and mediocre ones in all other conditions.
pros: powerful battery, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, there is a fingerprint scanner, a separate slot for a memory card.
Minuses: no NFC chip, outdated micro-USB connector for charging.
