If you don't constantly monitor the smartphone market, then it can be difficult for you to choose the right phone that you won't regret buying later. The site’s experts have collected for you answers to the most important questions about choosing a smartphone. Here you will learn how to choose the phone that is right for you, which phone is best to buy in 2018-2019, and how to save on your purchase.
Before buying a smartphone, you should decide on the set of features that you expect to receive. Do you need a powerful device or just a dialer? Do you want high-quality photos? Do you expect your smartphone to work for several days without recharging? Do you need a metal body and features like a fingerprint scanner, water resistance or bezel-less?
Today you can find a smartphone to suit every taste, but it is better to avoid some misconceptions. For example, if a phone has twice as many processor cores and RAM, the screen resolution and the number of megapixels of the camera have increased, then it will definitely be better. This is not entirely true. , obtained by our experts after testing devices in the laboratory and during daily use, clearly showed that many parameters and characteristics do not directly affect the quality of the phone. Therefore, if you have a smartphone from last year or the year before, then it is absolutely not necessary to change it precisely because of its “outdated” characteristics.
If you still decide to change your phone, pay attention to the constantly updated website compiled by experts. With it, you can compare smartphones based on various parameters or simply find out which smartphone is the best today. This became possible due to the fact that for the first time all phones were tested using a single method. Also, every year we sum up the results by making selections, as we did in 2016, or choosing the best smartphones of the year, as, for example, we did in 2016.
The smartphone can run on the operating system iOS, Android and some others, for example, Windows. But these two OS are the most popular.
iOS is an operating system from Apple that runs all of the company’s portable devices: iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. The main advantages of the system are ease of learning and a high level of optimization, and at the same time stability, high speed and excellent compatibility with applications. Another plus is the constant system updates for most of the company’s devices, but keep in mind that older gadgets may slow down after updating. The main drawback of iOS is that the system is closed; for example, you can’t just download a movie from your computer or put a song on a call. iOS is also characterized by limited support for multimedia formats, and here you cannot replace many basic applications and change the appearance of the system without doing a Jailbreak - the operation of opening access to the file system to expand the capabilities of the device. Just keep in mind that after Jailbreak you will lose the warranty on your gadget. Over the past couple of years, Apple has been working on fixing the shortcomings. For example, they are expanding the options for setting up the phone - adding support for third-party keyboards, the ability to transfer some media files to the iPhone without the help of iTunes, and already allowing you to delete some pre-installed applications. Also keep in mind that iOS devices are, on average, significantly more expensive than their Android competitors.
Android- an operating system from Google with extensive customization options. A standard browser, utilities for writing text messages and calls, a calendar, notes, a keyboard, an email client - most of these applications can be removed and installed others that are convenient for you personally. You can even change the appearance of the interface. This system has many settings and changeable parameters, and the number of applications and games for Android is huge. The disadvantages are that the degree of protection against malware is not as high as in iOS, and the simultaneous coexistence of a huge number of models on different versions of the system. This can lead to difficulties with optimization and compatibility with different applications and devices. Another drawback is the limited time support for the gadget. So, most devices receive system updates within a year or two, no more. Then you have to either buy a new device or stay on the old OS.
Windows Phone is an operating system from Microsoft, which has almost disappeared from the mobile device market. Its features are the “tiled” style and high speed of operation even on frankly weak hardware. The disadvantages of the system are an unintuitive menu and a small number of applications and games in the store. Now this system is living out its last days on smartphones; you are unlikely to find a Windows phone in stores, except perhaps a budget one.
One of the main parameters of a smartphone is the diagonal and screen resolution. The dimensions and such an important point as the ease of use of a smartphone directly depend on this.
Less than 4.6 inches- a compact smartphone with a small screen that is comfortable to hold in your hand, carry in any pocket (this is an important point in the summer, when we wear light clothes) and which is comfortable to talk on even for a long time due to its small dimensions. The downside is that operating a smartphone with such a screen may be inconvenient at first. If you have big fingers or are choosing a smartphone for the older generation, it is better not to consider this option. Due to the increase in device sizes, it is not easy to find a phone of this size with good characteristics. These are mainly budget or old phone models, for example. Exceptions include 4-inch or 4.6-inch.
4.6 - 5.3 inches— universal screen sizes. These can be either budget or mid-segment models, or flagship smartphones (for example,). If the diagonal is closer to 4.6 inches, the device fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and is easy to operate with one hand. A smartphone with a diagonal closer to 5.3 inches is not very comfortable to hold in your hand, but on a larger screen it is easier to work with small icons, play games, watch movies, read email, and so on. In this category, you will find both small phones (like the 4.7-inch) and larger models (like the 5-inch or 5.2-inch).
Over 5.3 inches— a separate term was invented for such phones: phablet (phablet, combination PHone + tABLET). Such devices combine the capabilities of a smartphone and a tablet, so they need to be controlled using two hands: with one you hold the smartphone, with the other you touch the screen. Phablets are difficult to carry in clothing pockets; most often they simply do not fit there. A device of this type is suitable for those who are willing to put up with the huge dimensions and corresponding inconveniences of a smartphone. But it seems that today this no longer bothers anyone, and people are willing to endure it for the sake of the big screen. Typical representatives of phablets are (5.5 inches) and (5.5 inches). There are also larger models, for example (6.44 inches).
Manufacturers of modern smartphones, as a rule, indicate information about the type of screen directly on the box. This can also be found in open sources (for example, on the manufacturer’s official website).
TFT/TN— screens based on this matrix are usually used in the most inexpensive smartphones. Key features are low contrast, narrow color gamut, faded image and small viewing angles. Of course, when purchasing a budget smartphone, you shouldn’t expect good picture quality. Owners of such a screen are extremely budget smartphones, for example, and.
IPS/S-IPS/PLS— screens based on such matrices have a natural color gamut, wide viewing angles and a high level of brightness. Also, this type of matrix has good readability in the sun - this is important if you often use your smartphone outdoors.
Some manufacturers use specific names to refer to this type. For example, HTC indicates “Super LCD” screens in its smartphones, while in reality it is the same IPS matrix. IPS matrices can be found both in inexpensive phones, like, and in flagship models, for example, in or.
AMOLED/Super AMOLED— previously, screens based on these matrices were used only in flagship Samsung smartphones, but now they can be found in other manufacturers, for example, in phones or. In addition, AMOLED matrices have spread to inexpensive models, such as. Distinctive features: very rich and contrasting colors, good viewing angles, wide color gamut, perfect black color display and energy saving. Disadvantages are the high price and “burn-out” of blue pixels over time, which is why the service life of such a display is shorter than that of screens based on IPS/S-IPS/PLS matrices. Also, some Super AMOLED screens use Pentile technology, which consumes less power, but when viewed closely, the image on them appears grainy and unnatural (with a red halo around letters, icons and other elements).
Screen resolution- another parameter that sometimes leads to confusion. It would seem that everything is simple - the higher it is, the better the image will be. But in reality, you are unlikely to see the difference in picture clarity between a 5-inch Full HD screen (1920x1080 pixels) and a 5.5-inch 4K display (3840x2160 pixels).
In our opinion, HD resolution (1280×720) is optimal for smartphones with a diagonal of up to 5 inches, and Full HD for phones with a screen larger than 5 inches. Excessively clear Quad HD, firstly, will only be useful for tablets or phones with virtual reality glasses, and secondly, it often has a bad effect on the battery life and performance of the smartphone.
It is believed that the more megapixels there are, the better the pictures - and this is true, but only partly. The quality of a photo depends not so much on the number of megapixels, but on the size and quality of the matrix, optics, image processing algorithms and a number of additional options. Therefore, first of all, we advise you to look at the quality of photos taken on your phone (you can test the camera yourself in a store or look at the pictures in reviews of the device). In our opinion, some of the best smartphones in terms of shooting quality are LG G6, iPhone X. Of the cheaper models, we can recommend any of last year’s flagships, for example, or. Among state employees there are also good cameras, for example, .
It is impossible to predict the battery life of a smartphone based only on technical characteristics. It depends not only on the capacity of the battery, but also on the “gluttony” of the filling, resolution, screen brightness, type of matrix, device optimization and, of course, the mode of its use. That is why we check the operating time and test the autonomy of smartphones using a single method. It would be wrong to give a specific value for battery capacity and say that it is optimal. But we can still give you approximate guidelines for phones based on screen diagonal:
What stands apart from other models are “long-lived smartphones” with huge-capacity batteries, such as the popular ones (5000 mAh) or (4100 mAh). There are also models with a battery capacity of 10,000 mAh, for example.
If you are buying a device based only on technical characteristics, then you can skip this point. In another case, before purchasing, you should decide what kind of smartphone you want: made of plastic, metal or glass. So, which phone should you buy? Let's figure it out in order.
Matte plastic is a commonly used material and is usually smooth. Plastic is inexpensive and practical, it does not leave marks or fingerprints, and if scratches appear, they are almost invisible. This material is used in .
Glossy plastic is a shiny plastic, usually plain, but sometimes with graphic effects on the surface. Such smartphones look impressive at first (especially on a store shelf). However, the “gloss” quickly loses its original appearance - the body becomes covered with fingerprints, greasy stains and scratches, which are clearly visible. Popular smartphones with a glossy plastic body - and.
Polycarbonate- one of the plastic options, externally something between smooth and glossy plastic. A universal material used in most Microsoft smartphones or any others, for example, an old or .
Coated plastic Soft-touch— plastic with a special elastic rubber-like coating that feels like a rubberized surface. Pros - a smartphone with a soft-touch coating is comfortable to hold in your hand; it will not slip out, even if you take it with wet palms. Disadvantages - after six months to a year of active use, the case begins to wear out: the “soft-touch” coating peels off and a surface with simple plastic is exposed. As an example of a device with such a coating, we give.
Metal- usually an aluminum alloy is used, less often - stainless steel. A smartphone in a metal case looks and feels more expensive in the hand than any plastic one. This effect is difficult to describe in words; it is much easier to understand it by simply holding such a phone in your hand. In addition, people always think that such a smartphone is more reliable. There are also disadvantages: painted metal wears out over time - the paint peels off, scratches and dents appear. The most popular smartphones using metal in the body are and.
Glass- hardened or simply with increased resistance to scratches and impacts. Used to protect the screen from damage and sometimes as an anti-glare layer. This material is used in almost all modern devices, usually Gorilla Glass from the American company Corning, DragonTail Glass from the Japanese Asahi Glass or others. There are smartphones on the market that are covered with glass on both sides, for example, and. It looks beautiful, but such surfaces get dirty and slip easily, and you are unlikely to be happy if you suddenly drop such a “glass” phone.
The performance of a smartphone depends on the processor, the amount of RAM, as well as its firmware and optimization. As a rule, all modern phones are powerful enough for basic tasks and simple applications. And when buying a mid-level device (for example), you can reasonably expect that it will run any applications and heavy games, perhaps sometimes with graphics limitations.
If you need maximum performance, then take any modern flagship, for example, or. But a noticeable difference with the same “average level” will be noticeable only in the heaviest applications and games. Therefore, when choosing a smartphone, it is not at all necessary to focus only on top-end hardware. By overpaying for the flagship filling, you are most likely buying a supply for several years in advance. But during this time, the smartphone may well break down, or it will become outdated for some other reason (for example, the manufacturer will stop updating the operating system).
Some limitations and performance problems can only be noticed in the budget segment. Here we would advise focusing on at least 2 GB of RAM and at least four cores in the processor, with operating frequencies from 1.3 GHz, for example, like or. Going lower, you risk experiencing delays in the daily operation of the device.
Any smartphone has a certain amount of built-in memory for storing user data: music, videos, photos and more. Cheap memory models may have 4 or 8 GB, but we would advise targeting at least 16 or 32 GB. Although today there are models with 64, 128 GB and so on. As an additional option, you may be offered a slot for a microSD memory card, but not all smartphones have it.
Important: in any smartphone, part of the built-in memory is occupied by system files and is inaccessible to the user. The amount of such memory depends on the specific model and manufacturer. If the smartphone's characteristics indicate 8 GB of memory, approximately 3-6 GB will be available to the user; if 16 GB is specified, about 10-13 gigabytes will be available. Before you buy a phone, consider how much memory you need.
16 GB- if you buy a smartphone mainly for making calls, checking email and the Internet, a version with a built-in memory of 16 GB or even less is suitable. The presence of a slot for a memory card will allow you to expand this volume and store additional photos, audio and video.
32/64/128 GB— if you plan to use your smartphone as an MP3 player, store captured photos, play like on a game console, or turn it into a DVR, then it is advisable to choose a phone with a memory capacity of at least 32 GB.
Smartphones with a memory card slot offer another 32 to 200 gigabytes of memory. Moreover, budget models, as a rule, support microSD cards with a capacity of 32-64 GB, and more expensive devices - up to 200 GB. The expanded memory capacity will allow you to use your smartphone to the fullest: play games on it, listen to music, download and watch movies and TV series. But keep in mind that memory cards do not last very long and break easily, that is, one day you can suddenly lose data from it.
Modern manufacturers offer so many phones that you can easily get confused in their diversity. We offer a convenient catalog in which you can find out the full characteristics of the smartphone, its price, see photos and main features. You can do it yourselfselect a smartphone based on characteristics and parameters using the filters on our website or read the models, which can be found in the corresponding section of the MobileGadjet portal.
When planning to buy a new smartphone from China and beyond, you need to answer a number of questions for yourself:
There is only one answer - the catalog of our website, where there is everything related to smartphones and electronics in general.
To select a smartphone based on its characteristics, use filters that allow you to specify a wide variety of parameters - limit the cost, specify the processor manufacturer, type of screen matrix, diagonal and much more. As a result, the catalog will display those models that really interest you. A convenient catalog with prices will help you choose a smartphone based on its characteristics and parameters online, where there are models from various brands - Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei, Meizu, OPPO. OnePlus and many others, both famous and not so famous. Also here you will find accessories for every taste and price.
Having studied catalog of smartphones 2018-2019 with prices, photos and full technical specifications You are guaranteed to find a suitable model for yourself that will meet all the requirements. There are especially many phones in the budget category, where a real war has now broken out between manufacturers. They account for the bulk of purchases, because at an affordable price they are practically not inferior to flagships. Gone are the days when budget devices attracted attention solely by price; now they also offer excellent technical characteristics. By looking through the catalog of phones with prices and photos, you will only be convinced of this. You will also find here
The computer has long become a reliable human companion. With its help, an ordinary person can gain access to a huge database of information and media files, simplify their work, while professionals and scientists can quickly and efficiently carry out calculations and modeling. Ten years ago, compact computers - smartphones - came to the masses. By the end of 2017, they appeared in almost every pocket. And it just so happens that the average lifespan of a modern phone is a year and a half, after which the once ideal device is sent into the back drawer.
But many people don't intend to change devices that often. In addition, the performance of smartphones is quite enough for a couple of years. The only problem remains the quality of the devices - many models, after a few months of use, begin to “crumble”: the screen turns yellow, the battery capacity is lost, the case is scratched. But there are also real long-livers who will delight the user for several years.
In this review you will find, in our opinion, some of the best phones in terms of quality and reliability. The following mobile phone (smartphone) indicators are important to us:
Durable body and screen
Country: Finland
Average price: 8880 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6
A neat candy bar from the legendary Nokia, which is famous for its high-quality and reliable phones. This is an inexpensive model with screen protection from scratches and an NFC module for contactless payment. Inside there is a simple processor from Mediatek, 2 GB of RAM and 16 permanent memory. There are no serious complaints about this Nokia in the reviews - everyone is happy with the high-quality build, the inexpensive price, and its trouble-free operation.
Some users note that under heavy load the case gets noticeably hot - this is a consequence of using the Mediatek chip. Otherwise, this is a cheap unit for daily use. The technical specifications were selected with the user in mind, so the phone turned out to be very ergonomic. And the manufacturer achieved compactness with a diagonal of 5.5 inches and the absence of “bangs” with an aspect ratio of 18 to 9.
Basic functionality at an affordable price
Country: Korea
Average price: 6270 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8
Second place in the rating goes to such a popular manufacturer from Korea. An excellent choice for those who are willing to spend from 6,000 to 7,000 rubles on a phone. Samsung is already 100% build quality. The 4.5-inch diagonal is for those who don’t like a huge phone. Beautiful design. Remarkable battery capacity of 2050 mAh. for a not very large display it will give more time to use without recharging; according to reviews, the battery lasts more than two days.
The Amoled screen means unconditional image quality and energy saving. Very fast internet with 4G LTE support. This is facilitated by the technical content of the device: a total memory of 8 and 1 GB - RAM, a quad-core processor with an outdated but stable version of Android 5.1 makes the smartphone trouble-free. A high-quality 5 MP camera, a 2 MP front camera and the ability to shoot video provide a full opportunity to communicate on social networks and in life. It's hard to find something more worthy for this budget price. According to consumer reviews, it is one of the best models of 2016.
Pros: Reasonable price. Screen. Build quality and technical specifications. Fast and reliable. The presence of GLONASS in combination with GPS provides an accurate geoposition. Camera with video function. Processor with 4 cores. Excellent sound during conversations and as speakers. Design.
Cons: The camera takes decent pictures only in good lighting. Poor equipment: no USB cable. No oleophobic coating
Work without freezes
Country: China
Average price: 10439 rub.
Rating (2019): 5.0
Inexpensive, but at the same time high-quality smartphone with thin frames and a simple, uncomplicated design. The model comes with Android 8, decorated with the MIUI shell. The software pleases with the absence of freezes, lags and brakes. The Snapdragon 450 processor is powerful enough for daily and light gaming tasks, and at the same time has modest battery consumption. Therefore, in combination with a 3.3 Ah battery and economical HD+ screen resolution, the battery life can exceed three days.
The model is already over a year old, and during this testing time it has proven itself to be one of the best quality phones in a budget of up to 10,000 rubles. The body is made of plastic and metal, and it is durable enough to withstand everyday falls. The screen is not covered with an anti-scratch coating, so for safety it is better to stick a protective glass on it.
Reliable operation of the operating system
Country: USA
Average price: 21,900 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7
This is the most budget smartphone on iOS, which has not lost its relevance in 2019. The model is definitely not suitable for gamers and those who are demanding on hardware, but it will appeal to those who use a smartphone for such daily tasks: surfing the Internet, calls, correspondence in instant messengers, light gaming, watching videos.
The model boasts a smooth interface, well-optimized software, and no freezes or lags. And it's also compact. This is the best smartphone for users who are not ready to put up with the fashion for elongated 6-inch shovels. NFC is in place, the matrix is chic, the body is durable - made of aluminum, there is a fingerprint scanner. A serious drawback that cannot be mitigated is the short battery life. In the best-case scenario, the battery produces daylight hours. We recommend purchasing a power bank together with your iPhone.
Physical reliability and NFC
Country: Japan
Average price: 14990 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8
Budget smartphone of Japanese quality. The new product runs on stable Android 8.0. Inside there is an equally stable processor from Mediatek Helio P22. This is an eight-core system, which, coupled with 3 GB of RAM, shows praiseworthy performance results.
The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 5, so you don't have to worry about the durability of the display. The autonomy will please those users who are accustomed to criticizing Sony for their small batteries in reviews. There is also a 3300 mAh battery installed here, which should be enough for two days with moderate use of the gadget. This one of the highest quality phones also had other advantages - for example, a USB Type-C port, fast charging function and NFC.
Robust monolithic body
Country: China
Average price: 13,600 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.9
A reliable new product from Huawei, a company that pays great attention to the quality of its smartphones. The model runs on Android 9 and the manufacturer’s proprietary shell. The shell from Huawei works perfectly - it is reliable, does not slow down, does not freeze. In reviews, users describe rare bugs in the latest version of Android, and this is normal, since the version is new. Updates arrive regularly - the software is on the path to perfection.
The smartphone is ideal for those who do not like a unibrow and thick frames above the screen. Here the front camera is hidden in a miniature drop. There is NFC and a dual camera of 13 + 2 megapixels. 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of flash memory. Huawei installed a self-developed Kirin 710 processor inside, which is designed to perform average user tasks. This is one of the best inexpensive and high-quality smartphones.
Best software optimization. Durable glass
Country: USA
Average price: 40,590 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7
One of the most popular smartphones from Apple, which cannot be called inexpensive. At one time, the G8 took first place in performance tests, but in 2019 it is simply an excellent, powerful gadget with fast response and trouble-free operation.
In the reviews, some users admit that after several falls, including with the screen facing down, the iPhone still works just fine, and not a single crack has appeared on the case or display. iOS, the operating system of Apple phones, is famous for its security and reliability. Also, the manufacturer always supports its information product and regularly releases updates with performance improvements. The smartphone is protected from viruses that often infect Android devices. Optimization of work at a high level - despite the fact that the installed processor is not the most powerful, it demonstrates top-end performance and can handle even heavy games and programs. iPhone 8 is one of the most reliable and secure phones.
Best in speed and stability
Country: China
Average price: RUB 33,999.
Rating (2019): 4.7
This is the creation of a company that produces flagships that are close to ideal twice a year. 6T was no exception - it has not only powerful and balanced hardware, but also a well-thought-out shell. In reviews, experienced users pay attention to the reliable case and durable glass on the screen.
The uninterrupted operation of the software deserves attention - bugs and “brakes” happen so rarely that in terms of stability and performance, OnePlus products are compared with the famous iPhone. All this thanks to a powerful processor, a harmoniously selected working connection, frequent updates of the Oxygen OS shell software and prompt resolution of all emerging problems. A nice bonus for geeks - after performing certain actions, the shell gives you access to a wide range of settings. This is one of the highest quality and reliable phones.
Dust and moisture protection according to IP68 standard
Country: South Korea
Average price: 50,900 rub.
Rating (2019): 5.0
A relatively inexpensive modification of the 2019 flagship from Samsung. The model has an almost limitless screen - the frames are barely noticeable, a dual camera, a metal and glass body and protection from dust and water in accordance with the IP68 standard. This means that you can take your smartphone into the shower and swim with it in the pool - it will endure everything.
Despite the fact that the new product only recently went on sale, users have already written their first impressions of use in reviews. Some people complain about slight software glitches, but this is the fault of the new Android 9. Otherwise, sheer delight and emphasis on its quality and reliability. Information for left-handers – the fingerprint scanner is located on the right side and is designed for the user to hold the device in his right hand.
Which phone will stay relevant the longest? Of course, top devices. Their filling allows you not to remember about slowdowns for at least 2 years, and a comfortable speed will be ensured even longer. In this category, we tried to select for you the highest quality premium smartphones, so that the reason for changing it would be the user’s own desire, and not technical problems.
The most proven premium smartphone
Country: South Korea
Average price: 34,900 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8
The third place in the ranking of the highest quality premium smartphones is occupied by the Galaxy S8. The model was presented at the beginning of 2017. While on the shelf, all possible shortcomings were identified, the firmware was updated several times, and now we have a very high-quality phone with a minimal percentage of defects and high reliability. And yes, you can rest assured – Samsung batteries will no longer explode!
In terms of filling, we have a typical 2017 flagship. Inside, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 is installed paired with 4 GB of RAM - the figures are not record-breaking, but for the vast majority of users this combination will be enough for several years of trouble-free operation. In addition to the filling, the chic frameless 5.8-inch display attracts attention. The diagonal is large, but due to minimal horizontal and completely absent vertical frames (the display extends onto the side edges), the dimensions of the device remain relatively compact. The Galaxy S8 is also worth praising for having one of the best cameras on the market, dust and moisture protection, and fast wireless charging. The only complaint about the phone is that the fingerprint scanner is not very well located, which is why many users turn it off.
The most sophisticated software
Country: USA
Average price: 87,490 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8
A smartphone running the latest iOS 12, filled with innovative technologies and software goodies for convenience. The model pleases with a huge 6.5-inch display and its high resolution – 2688x1242. In reviews, it is difficult for users to find objective shortcomings of the model - this is one of the highest quality, reliable and powerful smartphones in 2019.
The main caveat is that not all developers have adapted their applications to the increased screen resolution. This is a matter of time, and this fact does not affect the functionality, but only the aesthetics - the program interface has become a little larger. The battery lasts a full day - for iPhones this is really a lot. The operating system is as convenient as possible: swipes speed up the process and increase the convenience of one-handed operation, presentation modes in the photo album allow you to create photo masterpieces and well-designed collections in a couple of clicks. A simple NFC payment process, wireless charging support, and amazing speeds are all included in the price of the Xs Max.
Largest built-in storage capacity (256GB)
A country: USA (manufactured in China)
Average price: 59,689 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7
The rating opens with the iPhone 8, introduced in the fall of 2017. The smartphone received a large number of innovations, among which the most noticeable was the change in the body material - from now on it is glass. But don’t think that the smartphone has become more fragile. On the contrary, judging by many “crash tests”, resistance to falls and scratches has increased significantly. If dropped from a height of human height, a smartphone can only get away with a couple of scratches on the metal frame. This solution also made it possible to install a wireless charging module.
The filling has also changed. The once brand new Apple A11 Bionic is installed inside, the performance of which is not even worth talking about - it will be enough for years to come. The communication modules are the latest - Bluetooth 5.0, which supports connection with several devices at once, LTE-A and other delights of the modern world. The dust and moisture protection, which first appeared in the iPhone 7, remains in place - you don’t have to worry even while swimming with your smartphone. Otherwise, we have before us the already familiar “seven”, all of whose problems have long been studied and corrected.
Best price
Country: Taiwan
Average price: 16910 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.6
Beautiful, fast and harmonious smartphone. Inexpensive and therefore extremely interesting. The model has not gained much popularity, and this is strange: the software is optimized, there are no bugs, the hardware is great, photography skills are not bad, the screen is excellent, battery life is at a sufficient level (5000 mAh battery). NFC and other wireless interfaces are in place. The manufacturer does not forget about his brainchild - he regularly updates the software.
The case is durable, but cannot resist scratches - without a case, you will quickly “renew” the delicate coating of the back panel. The peculiarity of the model is that it is based on pure Android. This means that you will not find alien programs in the menu, and in the settings - atypical sliders and checkboxes. For lovers of minimalism and those who are looking for something high-quality and reliable for reasonable money, this is the best option. You will only have to put up with the micro-USB port and the tendency of the case to be scratched.
The best ratio of price and quality
Country: South Korea
Average price: 44,300 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7
An excellent flagship of 2018, which after more than a year of operation has not revealed its hidden shortcomings. One of the most optimized, it shows top results in synthetic tests and is not prone to slowdowns and bugs. Reviews are full of praise for the gorgeous screen, performance, photo capabilities, sound, and water resistance.
There are a small number of owners who complain about loss of communication. A pattern emerged - all users used both SIM cards with the checkbox turned on next to the line “Dual SIM in active mode.” The problem appeared on a few models, so even taking into account this significant drawback, the phone deserves the title of one of the highest quality. One more thing - don't expect amazing battery life from the S9. The battery is the weak point of the model. With moderate active use, the battery will last a day, and if you do not let go of the gadget, make sure that there is a charged power bank or outlet nearby.
Time-tested reliability
Country: China
Average price: 29,900 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8
A smartphone that is very loved by users from all over the world. The reason for everyone’s adoration lies not only in the inexpensive price with powerful characteristics, but also in the detailed development of the software, and operation without glitches and slowdowns. The model runs on Android 7.1, which is improved with a proprietary shell from 1+. The phone looks great even by the standards of 2019 - thin frames, no unibrow, a large diagonal of 6 inches, a dual main camera and stylish colors. There is a 3.5 mm minijack.
In reviews, 5T owners reveal their cards: over a long period of operation, they did not identify any problems with the software. The device does not lag or slow down. The only thing they complain about is the slippery body and lack of moisture protection. But there is an excellent AMOLED display, good battery life and a rich supply package - the box contains a case, a power adapter with support for fast charging, and a factory-made film for the screen. This is the best of the highest quality phones that are time-tested and still relevant.
Nowadays, smartphones are becoming more expensive every year. There were times when, for example, Apple smartphones at the start of sales cost $600 and many considered this price too high. And now the iPhone 8 is $699, the iPhone 8 Plus is $799, and the iPhone X costs $999, which for many is not a reasonable waste of money. The time when flagship smartphones cost 30,000 rubles has passed. After the jump in the price of equipment in 2014, buyers began to approach the choice of smartphones more carefully.
Thanks to some factors, you can still find the best smartphone in terms of price and quality.
Growing competition.
A large number of players in the smartphone market leads to the fact that some begin to reduce prices in order to attract consumers. Chinese manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Meizu, Huawei followed this path and were able to acquire multimillion-dollar fans. They offer truly balanced devices at reasonable prices.
Frequent release of new smartphones.
Another pleasant factor influencing the price reduction. Some manufacturers, in the race for market share, try to frequently release smartphone models, presenting new features. Due to this, prices for previous generations have to be reduced. For example, Xiaomi Mi 5S Plus, at the start of sales in Russia, the device cost 34,990, but after the release of Mi 6, prices went down. At the moment, Mi 5S Plus in Russia is available from 20,500 rubles, and on Aliexpress you can buy it for 16,500 rubles.
The problem is that a large selection of models can make it difficult to make a purchasing decision. Finding the best price-quality ratio has never been so easy and yet so difficult, despite the many options. A good screen, a powerful processor, a camera that takes great pictures and a capacious battery are still some of the most important features when choosing a smartphone.
A low budget does not mean that you will not have access to excellent options and functionality. Of course, flagship models may be out of your reach, but we tried to select the best smartphones in terms of price-quality ratio, where every ruble invested will be justified. Due to lack of knowledge about what is available on the market, we want to prevent you from buying budget models from Samsung, Sony, LG and others. Often they cost the same, or even more, while having much worse characteristics (low-resolution screen, simple camera, small amount of RAM and internal memory, not a powerful processor).
The average cost of a smartphone sold in Russia in 2017 was 13,400 rubles. Our rating includes 5 smartphones from 8,500 to 13,000 rubles, which will delight you with their parameters. We also included several smartphones in the range from 15 to 20 and from 20 to 30 thousand rubles.
When choosing a new smartphone, we are accustomed to paying attention to key parameters: processor speed, memory capacity, battery capacity, number of camera megapixels. However, in reality, comparing features is increasingly becoming a waste of time.
If just a few years ago flagships on Android could differ greatly in processors, today comparison by this criterion has practically lost its validity. Top smartphones use the same or almost identical chips. We no longer look at the specs to find out how fast the new flagship is.
Of course, benchmarks like AnTuTu allow you to highlight the most powerful of the flagships, but such tests may not reflect the real picture and the speed of the device when performing everyday tasks. The largest chipmaker Qualcomm compared choosing a smartphone based on processor performance with choosing a car based on its tires. And this comparison perfectly describes the fact that installing a powerful CPU is not enough for the gadget to work quickly.
In 2018, it is much more important to become familiar not with the number of cores and benchmark results, but with the capabilities that the chip offers. This could include support for high-speed LTE networks, the fastest charging, and high-quality 4K video recording.
blorge.com Some modern flagships are equipped with 8 GB of RAM, which allows them to store much more data in memory. However, it is not at all necessary that such a smartphone will provide faster access to games and programs in the background than, for example, with 3 GB of RAM. The efficiency of RAM management plays a big role.
In the case of Apple, laughing at 2 or 3 GB of RAM is quite stupid. If applications for Android must be developed for a huge number of devices with completely different equipment, then software for iOS is tailored only for a few iPhone models, which differ slightly in the amount of RAM. Developers always know exactly the only possible hardware configurations, which allows them to better optimize the code and reduce the load on RAM.
Over the past few years, smartphone manufacturers have switched from constantly chasing megapixels to optimizing more important details. The sizes of the pixels themselves are changing, auxiliary sensors appear, focusing and stabilization technologies are improving. All this, of course, is great, but the list of photo module characteristics still won’t give you an overall picture of how this smartphone shoots.
A striking example of the fact that you shouldn’t rely on bare characteristics is the Google Pixel 2 with the Visual Core chip. The latter was created specifically for processing photos from a 12-megapixel camera. It is responsible for the incredible HDR+ effect and portrait blur mode, for which competitors use a second camera.
Even if you don’t take into account Google’s flagships, which are not officially sold in Russia, you should understand that a camera with top specifications does not guarantee you the best shooting quality. Record aperture and larger pixels only reflect the potential that photo processing software algorithms must reveal. They are the ones who squeeze everything possible out of the camera.
The capacity of smartphone batteries is measured in mAh (milliamp-hours). It is this parameter that allows you to characterize the energy charge that the battery can hold. It would be logical to say that the more the better. However, bare numbers in this case also do not guarantee anything.
How the smartphone will manage this charge depends on the technical equipment and software algorithms. The power and efficiency of the processor, the size and resolution of the display, the number of built-in sensors and even the sound settings - all this affects.
Some manufacturers, to increase the operating time of smartphones, resort to tricks such as temporarily disabling sensors or forcing applications to unload from the background. Moreover, this is often done by default. Such moments should definitely be checked in the battery and performance settings.
gizmodo.com But still, you shouldn’t turn a blind eye to the technical characteristics. The main thing is not to exaggerate their importance, but to use them only as a guide. Sometimes some manufacturers get the maximum from hardware that is less impressive on paper, while the top specifications of another gadget in practice may turn out to be completely imperceptible.
When choosing, it is very important to study as many reviews as possible, read the reviews and comparisons of the resources you trust. It is field tests and experience from other customers that can be much more useful than a list of characteristics.
