Still ridiculed a few years ago, smartphones from China are now competing seriously with the established providers from the US and South Korea, especially in terms of price. We present our selection of Chinese phones with the best price-performance ratio here.
Due to the excellent price-performance ratio, the Chinese cell phones are well received by users. Thus, you can find absolute value-for-money smashers in different price segments that offer a lot of features for the paid sum. We present some of our favorites below.
Xiaomi Mi 11: Elegant China phone for photo enthusiasts
Even though the Xiaomi Mi 11 belongs to the upper price range, the elegant Chinese phone offers many worthwhile features for the demanded sum. The smartphone leaves hardly any wishes unfulfilled and is meanwhile often available for less than comparable competing devices.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 is primarily aimed at creative movie and photo enthusiasts. If you love to capture your life in still pictures, the main camera with a 108 MP resolution is definitely interesting. You prefer filming? Then the integrated effects (magic zoom, slow shutter, time freeze, time-lapse at night, “parallel worlds”, still video) might make you curious. The curved AMOLED display of the Mi 11 also impresses with ample space and a 6.81-inch diagonal. With a refresh rate of 120 Hz and a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels, the picture is also crisp.
The 5G-enabled Snapdragon 888 chipset is currently the top model from the manufacturer Qualcomm and, together with at least 8GB of RAM, offers maximum performance for every game and every imaginable task. The smartphone also sounds good thanks to speakers from HiFi great Harman Kardon. The playback software is also certified for Hi-Res audio content. The company does not skimp on the scope of delivery either: The Xiaomi Mi 11 comes with a 55-watt fast-charging power adapter, cable, adapter and protective cover directly in the box, while other manufacturers only include a cable. Overall, a strong package at a price that has dropped a bit in the meantime.
Poco X3 Pro: Affordable gaming smartphone
With the Poco X3 Pro, Xiaomi has introduced an upgraded version of last year’s celebrated price-performance tip “Poco X3”. The name “Poco”, which is now established as an independent brand, makes price-conscious gamers sit up and take notice. For around 250 Euros, you primarily get computing power with the 4G smartphone Poco X3 Pro.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 860 is a new edition of an older high-end chipset. Together with 6 GB of RAM, it also outperforms some higher-end mid-range smartphones. The 6.67-inch Full HD Plus display also even offers a high refresh rate of 120 Hz, which makes animations and compatible games look even smoother. A combination that is hard to find in this price range.
You will have to make concessions in terms of the camera. However, the 48 MP main camera is sufficient for snapshots. The quadruple is completed by a weaker 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a macro and depth sensor with 2 MP each. With a 5160 mAh battery, the Poco X3 Pro does not run down so quickly and also offers an expandable 128 GB base storage. If you are looking for performance and endurance for little money, the Poco X3 Pro is one of the best Chinese phones.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro: A lot of camera for little money
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 10 Pro is primarily aimed at users who are looking for a cheap China phone with a very good price-performance ratio in the camera field. The 4G-enabled smartphone focuses on a strong 108 MP main camera and an AMOLED display with a high frame rate. A combination that is really rare in this price range.
The 6.67-inch display not only offers a sufficiently sharp Full HD Plus resolution, but also a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This makes menu animations and scrolling through lists particularly smooth.
Besides the 108 MP main camera that delivers particularly high-resolution pictures, you can also use an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle, a 5 MP macro, and a 2 MP depth sensor. The smartphone is powered by the mid-range Snapdragon 732G chip, which enables a good everyday performance, but quickly reaches its limits in games. Space and endurance are taken care of: The 5020 mAh battery should last at least a day thanks to the FHD Plus resolution despite the higher frame rate. The basic version also has 64 GB of expandable storage. If you want a very inexpensive smartphone with a strong main camera and a nice display, the Redmi Note 10 Pro offers a lot for the money.
Oppo Find X3 Lite: Balanced 5G phone
Those who already want to rely on the network of the future should take a look at Oppo’s Find X3 Lite. The cheapest model of the Find X3 series can convince with a chic design, robust overall equipment, and 5G support. The 6.43-inch AMOLED screen has a Full HD resolution and displays content smoothly at 90 Hz. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G not only enables the 5G connection, but also provides decent performance in the upper mid-range. The everyday work speed is fast and even current games run smoothly together with 8 GB of RAM, even if not always at the highest quality level.
Oppo relies on a 64 MP main and an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle sensor for the quad camera. A 2 MP macro camera and a 2 MP depth sensor are also integrated on the back. For higher-resolution selfies, the manufacturer installs a 32 MP front-facing camera in a punch hole. The 4300 mAh battery will get you through the day and can be charged super fast with 65 watts via cable in case of need. The Find X3 Lite has 128 GB of internal storage that cannot be expanded for apps, photos, or games.
With the Oppo Find X3 Lite, you get a well-balanced total package with 5G support that does not only focus on partial equipment. The combination of a glass back and aluminum frame also gives a higher-quality feel than plastic elements of cheaper smartphones.
Xiaomi Redmi 9T: China phone for beginners
When it comes to China phones, Xiaomi is hard to bypass due to its broad selection. The Xiaomi Redmi 9T is aimed at beginners with a very limited budget. The 6.53-inch LC screen displays your content in Full HD Plus. The 8 MP front-facing camera is integrated into a drop-shaped notch. The Snapdragon 662 delivers everyday performance and is supported by 4 GB of working memory.
The Redmi 9T offers a combination that is sufficient for everyday media apps or messengers. The performance is often not sufficient for graphically demanding games. The quad camera is particularly suitable for occasional photos in good lighting conditions with the 48 MP main and 8 MP ultra-wide-angle lens. But a 2 MP macro camera and a depth sensor for image effects are also on board. However, videos are limited to a Full HD resolution.
On the other hand, the smartphone shines again with the monstrous 6000 mAh battery and provides plenty of endurance for more than a day. The 64 GB storage can be expanded with a microSD card via the triple slot even with a dual-SIM inserted. If you are looking for a very affordable Chinese phone with long endurance and sufficient everyday performance, the Xiaomi Redmi 9T could be the right choice.
