The best smartphones in terms of price / quality ratio

Every year smartphones appear on the mobile market, the quality of which does not always determine the price. It often depends on the brand, the amount of money spent on advertising by the manufacturer, so when choosing such a model, the buyer overpays. Not every Russian can afford to make such a purchase, but a low budget does not make devices with good parameters and functionality inaccessible. Taking into account expert assessments and comparative analyzes, the rating contains the best smartphones in terms of price / quality ratio. Each ruble invested in any top gadget will be justified.

Smartphone in terms of price / quality ratio which company is better to buy

The decrease in the cost of devices is due to the large number of manufacturers in the market who are trying to attract customers to their product. This trend is typical for most Chinese firms. At the same time, their models are not inferior in quality to more expensive smartphones. They often introduce new functions into them, which allows to reduce the price of mobile devices of the previous series. Models of the following manufacturers correspond to the main review criterion:

• Xiaomi Is a Chinese corporation that, over 10 years of its existence, has become one of the main competitors of the famous brands Apple and Samsung. Their products are equipped with their own interface, all kinds of innovative technologies. At the same time, the price for the models is 30-50% lower.
• Meizu Is an international company headquartered in China. Manufactures various digital electronic devices. It entered the smartphone market in 2007. Its products attract customers with a wide variety of models. The range includes devices with different operating systems, which allows the company to compete with other popular smartphone manufacturers.
• Alcatel-Lusent - The French company received a double name in 2006 after a merger with an American company. The production facilities associated with the release of mobile devices were moved to China in 2004. This allowed the price of smartphones to be reduced. They say about the brand's products that they can be chosen as a budget alternative to Samsung devices, the quality is time-tested.
• Samsung Is a South Korean manufacturer of electronics, household appliances, and other goods in the chemical, light and automotive industries. The brand works under the motto: "Inspire the world, create the future", therefore its devices are high-tech, meet the interests of consumers, and are equipped with innovative developments.
• Huawei Is a Chinese company that produces telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics. The Honor brand is considered a youth brand that represents quality models at an average and low price. Huawei smartphones are positioned as advanced devices with technological filling.
• BBK Electronics LTD. Is a Chinese consumer electronics manufacturer, owner of Vivo, OPPO, Realme brands. In 2024, the corporation surpassed the brands Huawei and Xiaomi in sales. Its subsidiaries operate as independent firms. The OPPO brand is focused on the production of smartphones with new technologies, while Vivo is focused on devices for the general consumer.
• Sony Is a Japanese corporation working in the production of multimedia equipment and electronics.The company has been producing Xperia series models since 2012. Users appreciate them for their quality, durable battery, deep sound and high performance.
• HMD Global Oy Is a Finnish company that develops and sells smartphones under the Nokia brand. The latest models attract with a stylish appearance, an unusual round camera on the back, which is an attribute of flagship gadgets.
• Philips Is a Dutch multinational company, one of the leaders in the consumer electronics market. The rights to use the brand have been sold to the Chinese, so inexpensive but good smartphones are produced in Asia. Letter indices in the series indicate good functionality, stylish appearance or consumer purpose of the model. All products are appreciated for their high reliability, low price.
• BQ Is a young Russian company that produces budget smartphones and tablets, the production of which is concentrated in China. The main principle of the brand policy is the affordability of devices for a wide audience. The advantages of devices include design, build quality, high level of technical characteristics.

Rating of smartphones in terms of price / quality ratio

The gadget market is filled with devices from various manufacturers. When buying from users, the question often arises of how to choose an inexpensive smartphone with an optimal price-quality ratio. Experts advise you to check the parameters of the processor, camera, battery and screen, since their functions are considered the fundamental criteria for evaluating a product. The best smartphones of 2024 are selected for the ranking by comparing the following characteristics:

• Type, diagonal, screen resolution;
• The amount of RAM and built-in memory;
• Body material;
• Dimensions;
• The weight;
• OS version;
• Type, processor power;
• Battery capacity;
• Number and resolution of cameras;
• Interface;
• Functional.

An important point when choosing is the price, if it does not exceed 6 thousand rubles, then the quality of the models leaves much to be desired. For production, materials with low strength are used, and the parameters of the main elements will not correspond to a quality product. The nominees in the review are divided into 2 categories according to two main selection criteria - camera resolution, battery power. Analysis of user reviews allowed us to highlight the pros and cons of each model.

The best 5-inch smartphones

The best smartphones in terms of price / quality ratio with a good camera

Experts say that in order to evaluate this parameter of a gadget, you need to look at the quality of the images obtained. With a large number of megapixels, the phone must be equipped with a powerful processor that can process this amount of information. For inexpensive models, this is rare, so a smartphone with a good camera rarely costs less than 10 thousand rubles. Comparative tests of technical characteristics made it possible to single out 7 smartphones out of 15 nominees, the parameters of which correspond to the principles of selection into the category.

Xiaomi Mi 9 Se 6 / 64gb

Xiaomi smartphone with Android 9.0 OS is released in 3 colors. The amount of RAM, an 8-core processor with increased performance ensure fast operation of the gadget. It features a 5.97-inch Samsung Amoled touchscreen display that occupies 90.47% of the front panel area. The design includes a 48MP triple main camera with a wide-angle lens. A low aperture value indicates good performance when shooting at dusk.

Advantages

• Durable body material;
• Supports the alternating mode of operation of 2 nano SIM cards;
• Compact;
• Light;
• Intelligent brightness control mode;
• Scratch resistant glass;
• NFC;
• Improved fingerprint scanner.

disadvantages

• Low battery capacity;
• There is no headphone jack.

In reviews of the Xiaomi Mi smartphone, users note the compact size of the gadget, which provides one-handed operation. Due to the wide NTSC color gamut and a powerful processor, images are accurate, vivid and vivid.The front camera supports 3D make-up, adds sparkle to the eyes for a refreshing selfie. The model can be used to control TV, set-top box and other types of devices from 4000 manufacturers.

Meizu X8 4 / 64GB

The model is inferior in characteristics to the nominee, but it has a more powerful battery and a 6.2-inch screen diagonal. The low price is due to the older version of Android, lower processor performance. The amount of RAM is 4 GB. The nominee has 2 rear cameras with a resolution of 12 and 5 MP. Good clarity and detail of images is provided by the IPS matrix.

Advantages

• Low f-number;
• Support for 4G LTE frequencies;
• Powerful processor;
• Stereo speakers;
• Fast charging capability;
• Event indicator light.

disadvantages

• Low strength of the glass of the screen;
• There is no NFC.

More than 90% of respondents advise buying a product. They are attracted by the appearance, ease of use, performance and battery life of the gadget. In terms of price / quality ratio, it is not inferior to the previous nominee, but the functionality and filling of the device are more modest.

Alcatel 3L 5039D

The cheapest nominee in the category is equipped with a dual rear camera with AI technology, which ensures high quality images. A front-facing photo module with a resolution of 8 MP is responsible for a spectacular selfie and high-quality video communication. The 5.94-inch bezel-less display reproduces crisp images. It takes up almost all the space on the front panel, so the phone is convenient for playing games and watching widescreen videos. The processor with 4 cores and 2 GB of RAM ensures stable application performance.

Advantages

• Works without recharging in talk mode up to 50 hours;
• Stylish design;
• Low price;
• The body material is resistant to wear and tear and mechanical damage;
• Light;
• Support for 2 SIM cards;
• Face scanner.

disadvantages

• Small amount of internal memory;
• Android 8.1 version.

At this price, users consider the shortcomings of the nominee insignificant. The memory can be expanded up to 128 GB. The OS in a number of parameters is inferior to the new versions, but this practically does not affect the usability of the gadget. The respondents rated performance, sound and picture quality at 5.

Samsung Galaxy A50 64gb

The model is available in black, blue and pearlescent white. A 6.4-inch bezel-less display covers the front of the device from edge to edge. The color Amoled screen with an image size of 2340x1080 transmits a clear picture, and the FHD + resolution allows you to completely immerse yourself in the video you are watching. The back 3D panel is made of durable plastic, creating a smooth body shape. The device is equipped with 2 rear cameras, the parameters of which provide bright photos with high detail at any time of the day.

Advantages

• Minimum drop-shaped cutout for the front camera;
• Adjusting the depth of field when shooting with the front camera;
• The presence of functions that improve the quality of images;
• Works in video or game mode up to 24 hours;
• Fast charging;
• Android OS 9.0;
• 8-core processor;
• Average price.

disadvantages

• Inconvenience of fingerprint unlocking;
• There is no protection of the screen from mechanical damage.

The users have no complaints about the main characteristics of the nominee, but the quality of the screen material leaves much to be desired. For a number of buyers, the display cracked in a short time. Problems with the fingerprint scanner are also noted.

Honor 9x 4 / 128gb

The stylish and expensive appearance of the smartphone is given by a metal case, the back panel of which is made using a three-dimensional pattern in the shape of the letter X. When light falls on it from different angles, an optical effect occurs, the surface shimmers and flickers. The device is equipped with a 6.59-inch bezel-less screen with an image resolution of 2340x1080. The pop-out front camera automatically returns to its place after shooting. The main photomodule accurately identifies the subject for portrait photography.The low aperture value ensures high quality images in all lighting conditions.

Advantages

• Eye protection mode;
• Image stabilization technology for video shooting;
• 8-core processor for fast application performance;
• Expandable memory up to 512 GB;
• Autonomous work in talk mode up to 24 hours;
• Fast connection to 4G network and Wi-Fi with weak signal;
• The set includes a protective film, headphones.

disadvantages

• Thicker and heavier than previous nominees;
• Slippery.

Not all users are happy with the performance and quality of the nominee's images. They claim that the video is overexposed, the quality of images from the front camera is average. The disadvantages include the low strength of the display material. The cover does not save from the appearance of cracks when falling.

Vivo Y91c

With an innovative cutout design, the 6.22-inch screen occupies 88.6% of the bezel. The smart design supports gesture control for a comfortable use of the large display. The back panel painting technology creates an optical effect. The model is produced in red and black. Artificial intelligence algorithm enhances facial features when taking photos. The efficient operation of the smartphone is due to the 8-core processor with high performance.

Advantages

• Good battery capacity;
• Owner's face recognition;
• Light;
• IPS matrix;
• Low price;
• The set includes a cover, glass;
• High definition images.

disadvantages

• Small amount of RAM;
• Marked case.

An inexpensive smartphone with a good camera attracts buyers with high performance, long battery life, full screen, high-quality sound. The resulting photos can be compared with professional ones. Users claim that when using the gadget, there is a feeling of buying an expensive and high-quality device.

Sony Xperia 10 Plus

The 6.5-inch phone is equipped with a powerful 8-core processor, which will provide a comfortable Internet experience and support multitasking. Side sense allows you to run 2 apps at the same time in split screen mode. The user can watch videos, read news or write a chat message. The absence of frames around the screen enhances the impression when watching a video, increases the realism of the image. Dual cameras with 2x optical zoom will allow you to get closer to the subject and get pictures with an artistic effect.

Advantages

• The convenience of use;
• Video recording in a format used in the film industry;
• High strength of body materials;
• Rich sound even with wireless transmission;
• Power saving mode;
• Battery overload protection;
• Video filming in motion mode;
• 4 color options.

disadvantages

• High price;
• Low battery capacity.

All characteristics, except for the quality of the camera, are highly rated by users. Even when installing a large number of applications, they start up quickly, there is enough memory for everything. The advantages include the absence of a cutout in the screen, because not every client likes such a design feature. The disadvantage is the average quality of images in the dark.

The best rugged phones

The best smartphones in terms of price / quality ratio with a powerful battery

The ability to use the gadget for filming, playing games, watching movies over the Internet, communicating on social networks has become the reason for the dependence of the choice of model on the battery capacity. This parameter determines the duration of the device's operation without recharging, increases the convenience and comfort of using the smartphone. According to the test results, out of 10 nominees, the best parameters were recorded in 5 models.

Huawei Mate 20 Lite

The phone went on sale at the end of 2024 and has Android 8.1. The dual main camera with f / 1.8 aperture and bokeh effect makes pictures more expressive, and artificial intelligence optimizes the shooting scenario.A powerful battery with a capacity of 3750 mAh, the fast charging function will allow the user to be sure that the device will be in working order for a long time. The flagship processor optimizes power consumption, ensures fast launch of any application.

Advantages

• Slow motion;
• Automatic blocking of unnecessary notifications when playing;
• Fast 4G signal recovery in unstable connection conditions;
• Strengthening noise reduction in windy weather;
• Decent functionality;
• The ability to create a personal animated GIF image.

disadvantages

• Slippery.
• Bad sound when watching a video.

Users believe that the price of the model corresponds to the quality. The parameters of the screen, camera, processor and battery are estimated at 4.5. The smartphone works for a long time without recharging, even in games and video mode.

Nokia 6.2 3 / 32gb

A smartphone with a spectacular design, a sleek metal body, a new version of the OS is released in black, silver, copper and blue. The 5.5-inch Full-HD display delivers crisp images even in bright sunlight. The wide viewing angle improves the comfort of watching videos. The case is made by precise milling from a single piece of aluminum, the screen is made of durable glass, which protects the device from mechanical damage. Dual-tone flash on the main camera enhances realism in low-light situations.

Advantages

• Loud, clear sound with deep bass;
• Convenient location of the fingerprint sensor;
• Nice graphics;
• Powerful battery;
• The set includes a headset;
• NFC;
• High performance.

disadvantages

• There is no optical stabilization;
• Soiled and slippery body.

The materials of the case and the build quality of the nominee are not inferior to the flagships. The model works quickly, without glitches, the picture on the screen is saturated, without going over colors. The functionality corresponds to the price of the device. The disadvantages include the average quality of images in dusk conditions.

Philips S561

The smartphone is equipped with a 13 megapixel camera with autofocus and flash, which allows you to take pictures in HDR quality. Lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 4000 mAh provides long battery life in any mode. The 5.45-inch LCD screen delivers color-rich and detailed images.

Advantages

• Wide-angle front camera;
• New version of Android;
• Good performance;
• Compact dimensions;
• Separate slot for a memory card;
• Fingerprint reader;
• Low price.

disadvantages

• The model is presented in black only.

The main disadvantage of the gadget, users highlight the occurrence of an echo in the interlocutor, resetting the settings to the factory settings does not help for long. At this price, the quality of the images is considered normal. The advantages include a good battery capacity.

Oppo A5 (2020) 3 / 64gb

The gadget with the best battery capacity among the nominees is equipped with a wide-angle camera with 4 lenses, dual stereo speakers, a 6.5-inch screen. Any event is clearly recorded thanks to the electronic image stabilization function. Automatic age detection, face skin alignment based on gender allows you to get high-quality selfies.

Advantages

• Pure surround sound at maximum volume;
• Good performance, energy efficient processor;
• Quick response in games;
• Autonomous work in video mode up to 11 hours;
• Reverse charging of other devices;
• Eye protection technology.

disadvantages

• Fat;
• There is no information LED.

85% of respondents recommend buying a large smartphone with a good battery. They note the high-quality assembly, fast operation, no glare on the screen in sunlight, the presence of glass and headphones in the kit. In conversation mode the nominee loses no more than 10-15% of the charge per day.

BQ 6040L Magic

Another inexpensive model with good battery capacity is equipped with a 6.09-inch bezel-less screen. At the top of the front of the case there is a U-shaped cutout with a front camera.The ability to view small details in the game, the film is due to the fact that the screen occupies 90% of the front panel area.

Advantages

• Good performance, multitasking processor;
• Clear and bright shots in low light conditions;
• Artificial intelligence module in the main camera;
• Automatic adjustment of scene shooting parameters;
• Unlock by face recognition, fingerprint scanning;
• NFC;
• Work without recharging up to 40 hours of talk time.

disadvantages

• Small amount of RAM;
• Low screen resolution.

If you want your device not to fall out of your hands without a case, buy the model in black. The special texture of the case reduces the soiling of the surface, making it less slippery.

Which smartphone is better to buy in terms of price / quality ratio?

With a limited budget, it can be difficult to choose a good model, you need to understand the dependence of the quality and price of a gadget on a number of characteristics. The processor type determines the speed of operation, the performance of the device. The capacity of heavy applications depends on the amount of memory. The quality of the pictures is affected by the camera settings, and the duration of the operation is influenced by the battery capacity. The following guidelines will help to facilitate the selection of the best model in terms of price / quality ratio for a specific situation:

• For lovers of large images, the Sony Xperia 10 Plus is suitable;
• Cheap smartphone with good specs - Alcatel 3L 5039D;
• A device with a powerful processor - Xiaomi Mi 9 Se 6 / 64gb;
• The best option in terms of battery life is Oppo A5 (2020) 3 / 64gb;
• The best camera on the Samsung Galaxy A50 64gb smartphone;
• High-quality model with good functionality at an average price - Huawei Mate 20 Lite;
• Connoisseurs of clear and deep sound are recommended to buy Meizu X8 4 / 64GB;
• The model with the best material strength parameters is Nokia2 3 / 32gb.

A high-quality version of a smartphone is not always expensive, because some manufacturers inflate the price to show the prestige of the brand. The rating will tell you how to solve the problem of choice with a small budget, point out the best aspects of each model.