The best Chinese smartphones in 2022

Premium models of smartphones are not affordable for everyone, and it does not always make sense to spend money on them. The same or almost the same functionality and quality can be obtained for a much lower amount. What should you pay attention to first of all?

Previously, buyers associated Chinese products with something of poor quality and disposable, but now the situation is completely different. The editors of Healthy Food Near Me compiled their own rating of the best smartphones from China in 2022, based on expert recommendations.

It is worth noting that when we talk about the duration of a smartphone without recharging, we mean “standard use”. It means using a messenger, surfing the Internet, as well as finding the phone in the background.

Editor’s Choice

Xiaomi Redmi 9C 2/32GB (NFC)

The smartphone is suitable for users for whom the speed of the device and a good battery are important parameters. Despite the low price, the device is equipped with a powerful battery of 5000 mAh. In the mode of active use, it will last more than a day. The functionality of the smartphone provides contactless payment.

Despite the significant size and weight, the device fits comfortably in the hand. The factory settings partially compensate for the 13 MP rear camera, so the user can take high-quality amateur photos.

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Top 15 Best Chinese Smartphones of 2022 According to KP

Chinese smartphones with good cameras

1. Vivo Y31

The rugged 6.58-inch smartphone is equipped with blue light suppression, so you can use it for a long time without feeling tired in your eyes. In addition to a powerful camera that provides high-quality shooting even in the dark, the device has an excellent battery life. There are practically no fingerprints left on the matte body of the phone. Users will appreciate the light weight and comfortable fit in the hand. Access to information is protected by a password or fingerprint lock that works without freezing.

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2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S

The modern smartphone Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S combines an excellent camera and a capacious battery that provides long battery life up to 48 hours in standard use. The phone has 4 cameras – main, macro, ultra-wide and depth camera. The main camera is equipped with a 64 MP module, thanks to which the photos are rich, clear and bright. Also, the lens is capable of shooting video in 4K and Full HD resolution, and a feature is the built-in shooting function in Slow Mo mode (slow motion video mode).

The body and screen of the phone are protected by a reliable coating of Gorilla Glass 5. The diagonal of the AMOLED display is 6,43 inches – you can comfortably play and watch videos on your smartphone, and stereo speakers with a wide range of sound will provide complete immersion in the world of movies and games.

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3. Blackview BV9900E

Users choose Blackview BV9900E not only for a good camera and reliability, but also for functionality that other devices in the same price segment do not have. The waterproof case reduces the risk of damage to the phone when exposed to rain. The stereo headphones that come with your smartphone will allow you to listen to music wherever you are. The smartphone is sold with a case and a protective film included. The device has a powerful call signal and a good speaker. Four rear cameras will provide pictures in excellent quality.

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4. Realme c21

Budget smartphone with good performance, bright display and functional camera. The camera consists of three modules – the main one with a resolution of 13 MP and two two-megapixel auxiliary modules, which are responsible for the depth of shots in portrait mode and macro photography. Photos during the day are spectacular and saturated, but it is worth noting that in the night shooting mode, the pictures lose their clarity, and small details become barely noticeable.

The smartphone is equipped with an IPS screen with HD + resolution. Thanks to these characteristics, the display has a good supply of brightness – it remains readable even in bright sunny weather. The processor gives good performance when watching videos or surfing the Internet, but it will not cope with heavy games. The phone also lacks an indicator of unread notifications – a blinking LED located at the top of the screen. 

The device is powered by a 5000 mAh battery, which provides battery life up to 20 hours with standard use (background mode, web browsing). 

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5. OPPO Reno 5 Lite

The youngest model of the Oppo Reno 5 line with the prefix Lite is equipped with 30W fast charging, which allows you to charge your smartphone up to 100% in just 28 minutes. The user also has a quad camera, an NFC module and a fingerprint scanner. 

The camera consists of four blocks: the main one at 48 MP, wide-angle with a viewing angle of 119 degrees, as well as a macro camera and a depth-of-field sensor responsible for high-quality shooting in portrait mode. Also, the lens is capable of shooting video in 4K and FullHD resolution, and a feature is the simultaneous recording of video on the front and main cameras. The model received a 6,43-inch AMOLED display with excellent color reproduction. 

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Chinese smartphones with good battery

1. OPPO A54 4/64GB

Equipped with an excellent battery, the OPPO A54 smartphone has rich stereo sound, exquisite design and decent functionality. The battery capacity is enough for a long period of active use. The device holds a charge well, and smart technologies for its use allow the user to always stay in touch. Fast recharging replenishes the charge in the shortest possible time. The 6.5-inch screen is ideal for reading books, watching movies and editing images. The smartphone’s small internal memory can easily be expanded up to 256 GB by installing a card. 

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2. Realme 8 6/128GB

The device combines an excellent battery, a good camera and a user-friendly interface. When the charge level drops to a critical level, the smartphone offers one of two energy saving modes and predicts the time until it is completely discharged, which is very convenient. The functionality provided by the OS keeps financial applications under special control and cuts off attempts of unauthorized access to them. 

An additional advantage of the device is the ability to use it as a USB-drive. The bright screen will allow you to see images clearly even on a sunny day. 128 GB of memory is enough to store the user’s personal information, and 6 GB of RAM will provide quick access to it and to applications.

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3. OUKITEL K15 Plus

The reliable OUKITEL smartphone stands out for its robust body and high-capacity battery. The model is really autonomous, the manufacturer claims that the phone can work up to three days even with active use. But, it is worth noting that the phone does not have fast charging, so it takes about 5 hours to charge the battery to 100%.

The device is equipped with a large 6.52-inch display with a good margin of brightness and saturation. In addition, the device supports three convenient ways to unlock the screen: a fingerprint scanner on the back of the case, a graphic pin code and Face ID. 

Also, the advantages of the smartphone include a shockproof case that is resistant to any external influences, support for navigation systems and a built-in NFC module.

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4. Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G

Xiaomi Poco M3 Pro 5G is equipped with three cameras, powerful hardware and a capacious 5000 mAh battery. The manufacturer claims that the smartphone in the mode of simple surfing the Internet, using instant messengers and listening to music can work up to two days without recharging, and a powerful processor will allow you to continuously play heavy games for up to 5 hours in a row.

The device is equipped with a 6,5-inch display with excellent picture detail. The amount of RAM and internal memory is presented in two configurations to choose from: 4/6 GB of RAM and 64/128 built-in. The case is made of plastic, on which there is no oleophobic coating – the back cover is very easily soiled and fingerprints remain on it. The phone has an NFC module for contactless payment. 

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5. TECNO Pova 2

The TECNO model can be called a gaming one thanks to a powerful processor and a 7000 mAh battery. The smartphone demonstrates good battery life – with average activity, the device works up to two days without recharging. Also an advantage is the powerful Helio G85 processor, thanks to which you can play even the most demanding modern games.

The device is equipped with a large 6.9-inch display with a good margin of brightness, which will allow you to comfortably use the phone in all weather conditions. In addition, the device supports two practical ways to unlock the screen: a side-mounted fingerprint scanner built into the power button, and Face ID.

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Cheap Chinese smartphones

1. ZTE Blade L8 1/32GB

Smartphone ZTE Blade L8 confidently holds the charge and provides the user with high-quality communication. Due to the lack of pre-installed applications, the device’s 32 GB of memory is enough to install the required number of programs. Smart battery management system unloads open inactive applications from memory, which makes efficient use of the small capacity of the battery. However, this smartphone only works with the 3G communication format – it is enough for instant messengers and checking mail, but it will not be enough for entertainment.

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2. Huawei Y5p

Affordable budget smartphone with an ergonomic design and a processor whose performance covers only the simplest and easiest tasks. The main camera is equipped with an 8 MP module, thanks to which high-quality pictures are obtained in daylight. The device has 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, expandable up to 512 GB using a memory card.

The device is equipped with a bright 5,45-inch display with a good resolution of 1440×720 and the ability to unlock the face. The case is completely made of plastic, which gives the device lightness. It is worth noting that the smartphone does not support Google services, but many applications are available in its own AppGallery market. The autonomy of the device averages 13 hours in normal use.

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3. Itel Vision 1 PRO 2/32

The Itel Vision 1 PRO smartphone is equipped with 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of shared memory for installing applications. Photos and personal information of the user will be placed on a memory card up to 128 GB. Applications do not freeze, and even with intensive use, the battery lasts more than a day. The built-in anti-virus protection program cuts off suspicious activities and notifies the user. The device will be appreciated by users who value a large screen, speed and reliability.

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4. Realme Narzo 50i

A budget smartphone from Realme with a nice design will satisfy the needs of users for whom long battery life is an important parameter. The manufacturer claims that a capacious 5000 mAh battery will allow you to continuously watch videos for up to 23 hours at an average screen brightness.

The device is equipped with a bright and large 6,5-inch display with good color reproduction and face unlock. The main camera has an 8 MP module and a minimum set of software features – portrait shooting, autofocus and automatic HDR (high-sharp photo). The amount of internal memory is presented in two versions – 32 GB and 64 GB with the possibility of using memory cards up to 256 GB.

The case is completely made of textured plastic in soft, pleasant colors. 

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5. Vivo Y1s

An affordable smartphone Vivo Y1s with a modest set of features is suitable for undemanding users. The device has 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, expandable up to 256 GB. The device is equipped with a large 6,22-inch display with the ability to unlock the screen in the face, the Eye Protection function is also available, which reduces eye strain in the dark. 

The main camera is equipped with a 13 MP module, thanks to which high-quality pictures are obtained, but only in good lighting conditions. The case is completely made of textured plastic with a matte finish, thanks to which the surface does not leave fingerprints, scratches and marks. The autonomy of the device averages 15 hours in normal use.

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Leaders of the Past

1. HONOR 9X Premium 6/128GB 

The stylish smartphone is equipped with three cameras, so the user can take great shots. High-quality photos are obtained due to the factory preset auto focus settings. The kit comes with a silicone case and a protective film, which reduces the risk of chips and scratches. The retractable chamber is reliably protected from accidental damage. The large diagonal allows you to watch videos in a convenient format.

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2. Vsmart Joy 4 3/64GB 

Vsmart Joy 4 will satisfy the needs of users for whom a large screen and a good battery are important parameters in a smartphone. Music lovers will especially appreciate the capabilities of the battery, because it allows you to listen to music for 166 hours continuously. The ultra-wide-angle camera, despite the small number of megapixels, allows you to take high-quality photos of landscapes. 

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3.OUKITEL C21

An inexpensive smartphone will pleasantly surprise you with a set of functions. The performance of the device is provided by the MediaTek Helio P60 processor. Switching between applications is seamless. Thanks to the active cooling system, the device does not overheat. High-quality selfies are obtained thanks to a powerful front camera of 20 MP. Three rear cameras with factory presets will help you take photos, providing good shooting. The 6.4-inch diagonal ensures a comfortable position of the smartphone in the hand.

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How to choose a Chinese smartphone

The choice of products on the market today is huge. Although Chinese smartphones are cheaper than products from companies from other countries, few people like to throw money away. First of all, attention should be paid to brand name, firmware features и originality goods.

Brand name

To date, dozens of Chinese companies produce smartphones. Some of them are quite functional and are not inferior to the flagship models of well-known manufacturers. Others are cheaper, but no less quality. The most popular on the market today is the products of such companies as Huawei, Xiaomi, Meizu, OnePlus, LeEco. Slightly less popular smartphones include Newman, Doogee, UMI, vkWorld and Oukitel.

Firmware features

Some Chinese phones do not have localization, so there may be problems with the settings. This happens especially often with Xiaomi smartphones. For example, the MIUI operating system installed on them exists in two implementations – China (with exclusively Chinese and English languages) and Global (where there are dozens of languages). It is better to immediately select a smartphone with Global firmware, otherwise you will have to reinstall the system.

In addition, some Chinese smartphones have a problem with the lack of Google services. Even devices from more reliable manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei and Meizu) often come without the Google Play app store pre-installed, as well as a contact sync provider and other useful services. In some devices, they can be installed independently, in others – it will not work.

Beware of imitations!

When ordering phones directly from Chinese sites, you need to read the description very carefully. Sometimes a suspiciously low price is a signal that a product may be fake. And visually it will not be distinguished from the original. The device is equipped with a large amount of RAM and a powerful processor, but during operation it slows down and quickly “dies” – the device is not balanced.

It is impossible to guarantee that when ordering online, the user will not receive a fake. But if the model costs an order of magnitude cheaper than its usual market price, it is probably a replica.

Popular questions and answers

Healthy Food Near Me asked an expert to answer the most popular questions from users Evgeny Kharitonov, editor-in-chief of Ferra.ru, a publication about gadgets.