The Best Budget Smartphones 2018

I’ve tried 20 Chinese mobiles so far this year and these are the top ten best budget smartphones.

The quality of Chinese mobile phones continues to grow; the gap between them and brands like Apple and Samsung is closing. Their price is also rising, but the ratio of what they cost to the features they offer is still the best on the market. Terminals such as the Xiaomi Mix and the recently launched Oppo Find X; show that Chinese brands are not only following the trends set by the US and South Korea but are also innovating.

Among the ‘smartphones’ on the market in the first half of this year are several that can easily compete with the Apple iPhone X or the Samsung Galaxy S9. They do it, too, for half the price. Below, we offer the traditional Tuigy ranking, made up of around twenty mobiles of different price ranges that we have tested in the first six months of 2018.

High range (Over $390 USD)

1. Xiaomi Mix 2S

It’s hard to find a way to hit Xiaomi’s flagship. But, if we get fussy, the location of the camera of the selfies, in the lower right corner, is the most annoying. It requires you to turn your cell phone around to get a portrait. To order, it would also have been desirable to have water resistance and the headphone jack port. But you have to admit, that’s getting very picky.

The Mix 2S is an outstanding phone in all areas. The design is elegant, and the quality of the materials used in its manufacture, with ceramic lid included, magnificent. It is a beautiful and easily identifiable phone thanks to its shape and golden touches. It also dispenses with the notch popularized by Apple. It’s also an extremely powerful terminal, equipped with Qualcomm’s best chip – the Snapdragon 845 – and 8GB of RAM that will rarely be fully utilized.

In addition, although some media have said otherwise, the Mix 2S does have a facial recognition system for unlocking that makes you forget the fact that the fingerprint sensor is located on the back cover. Finally, and compared to its predecessors, Xiaomi has greatly improved the camera: in addition to including a double with two magnification zoom, the image processing is very good. Honestly, for $550 USD it’s hard to ask for more. Especially when you know that for a thousand others they give something very similar.

• Design and quality of materials: 9.5
• Hardware: 9.5
• Operating system: 8.5
• Cameras: 9.5
• Extras: 8.5

FINAL MARK: 9.1

The approximate price is $550.

2. OnePlus 6

OnePlus boasts of launching only two phones a year and does well. Its terminals are always among the best Chinese ‘smartphones’. He can be criticized for taking the designs of the big sister – in this case, the front of the Oppo R15 – and filling them with more advanced components, but little more can be said about a company that, thanks to its peculiar business model – Internet sales, short catalogue, and zero advertising – always achieves the best value for money.

OnePlus 6 is no exception. With a symmetrical, stylish glass body, reminiscent of the inaugural OnePlus One, the Shenzhen brand is once again opting for simplicity that always works. And once again, it’s betting on the most powerful brain – the Snapdragon 845 – with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. It also enhances the camera with an optical stabilizer that was missed in the 5 Series but does not include an optical zoom.

Finally, unlike almost all of its competitors, OnePlus continues to offer the Chinese operating system closest to Android -Oxygen OS-, which is much lighter and adjusted to the preferences of the Western public. Both the face recognition system and the battery charging system are the fastest on the market.

• Design and quality of materials: 9.5
• Hardware: 9.5
• Operating system: 9
• Cameras: 8
• Extras: 9

FINAL NOTE: 9

OnePlus 6 can be purchased officially on the brand’s website from $579 USD.

On the choice of the best mobile phone: It has been difficult to choose between the Mix 2S and the OnePlus 6. While the Xiaomi terminal offers wireless charging as an extra but not the splash resistance or the OnePlus headphone jack, what really makes the difference is the camera. With a 2X optical zoom and a stabilizer that works best, it’s the king of this year’s Chinese mobile phones, but within walking distance of the OnePlus 6 and the Xiaomi Mi 8. In the case of the latter, the photos are not up to the task either, and the exaggerated resemblance to the iPhone X subtracts points from the design.

3. Xiaomi Mi 8

No one doubts the great power of the Xiaomi Mi8, but during its presentation, it was impossible to avoid the design comparisons with the iPhone X. It’s true that other competitors also borrow its shapes and controversial ‘notch’, but Xiaomi has gone too far: the ‘eyebrow’ is almost the same size, and the main camera not only has the same configuration but is also located in the same place as the Apple terminal.

Having overcome this obstacle, we must recognize that the Mi8 is as powerful as the Mix 2S and has some interesting innovations, such as the dual-frequency GPS that achieves a much more precise location, a more efficient facial recognition system thanks to the infrared mechanism, and a fingerprint reader located under the screen, such as the one that premiered the Vivo X21UD.

However, the Mi8’s side frame is surprisingly thick and the quality of the materials used in its manufacture is not up to the Mix 2S standard. It is also easy to wonder why the ‘notch’ is needed when the lower frame is quite fat and does not include the fingerprint sensor, although that is a widespread evil this year. In any case, the Mi 8 is a phone of remarkable quality.

• Design and quality of materials: 9
• Hardware: 9.5
• Operating system: 8.5
• Cameras: 9
• Extras: 8.5

FINAL MARK: 8.9

The Xiaomi Mi8 will be available through the brand’s official retailers for $499.

4. Oppo R15

The Oppo R15 drops an important step in power: it does not join the Snapdragon 845’s cart and is content with the mid-range 660. It also reduces 2 gigs in RAM memory. However, these are still more than enough specifications to satisfy any user, and they come with the fast VOOC load -which achieves 58% of capacity in half an hours. However, the more players will prefer the extra speed offered by the top three in this list.

The good thing about the R15 is that it goes in through the eyes. It is, especially in the ruby red version, a mobile that attracts attention and leaves no one indifferent. It changes color with the light and has a clear ‘premium’ look. In fact, it’s probably the nicest phone on the list. However, there’s the ‘notch’ for anyone who wants to denigrate it and the main handicap of the phone is in its price. With a price of around $600, more than one can consider making the extra effort required by OnePlus 6.

But the R15 Pro has an ace in the hole to stand up to that other terminal: the camera delivers remarkable results, sometimes even superior to those of the OnePlus. And this is something that will be particularly appreciated by selfish enthusiasts because if Oppo takes care of anything, it’s the quality of the front camera. The R15 Pro has a sensor of no less than 20 megapixels.

• Design and quality of materials: 9
• Hardware: 8
• Operating system: 8.5
• Cameras: 9
• Extras: 7

FINAL MARK: 8.3

The approximate price is $630.

5. Honor 10

Huawei’s second brand has been making its mark in China for some time now. It has made its way into the ever-complicated mid-range, but the Honor 10 is the first terminal to have enough quality to stand up to other flagships. In fact, we could consider him the younger brother of the Huawei P20, and he has some of its main weapons. For example, the Hisilicon Kirin 970 chip, a powerful eight-core processor with a maximum frequency of 2.4 GHz.

Although the colors are to your liking, the Honor 10 has a more attractive appearance than its big brother and adopts a glass back cover that changes color as the light shines on it. There’s also the ‘notch’ on the screen, but at least Honor has managed to include the fingerprint reader in the bottom frame. In addition, as Meizu started doing, it allows you to convert this capacitive button into the main navigation element, eliminating the three virtual Android buttons on the screen.

With 4GB of RAM, the Honor 10 is the least memory included among the top-of-the-range terminals, but it doesn’t really show up in everyday use. Plus, you’ll soon receive the upgrade to the Turbo GPU that will further enhance mobile performance. So the question here is whether the Huawei P20 is worth paying an extra $200 for the best quality Leica camera. The answer, unless you pay a lot of attention to the photographic section, is no. Although the P20 features a larger sensor, brighter lenses, and an optical stabilizer, the Honor 10 performs very well in all situations with it’s 16 and 24-megapixel dual camera.

• Design and quality of materials: 9
• Hardware: 8.5
• Operating system: 8
• Cameras: 8.5
• Extras: 7.5

FINAL MARK: 8.3

The Xiaomi Mi 8 is on sale for approximate $499.

6. Smartisan Nut Pro 2

Smartisan is still little known outside of China, where it has achieved a certain cult brand image. Just launching terminals on the market, following the strategy of OnePlus, and the Nut Pro 2 is a good device that has the added attraction that very few use it and its design is distinctive, something unusual nowadays. In addition, the quality of the finishes is typical of the high range, although its price is closer to the middle range.

However, the processor, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, is not the fastest, although it comes with 6GB of RAM, which should theoretically put its power above the standard version of the OPPO R15.

It is also a curious system that includes very useful functions, such as the side menus that are maintained on all screens and that allow you to access applications and functions quickly without having to exit the app you are using. All this is complemented by a decent double camera, although the image is not its strongest point.

• Design and quality of materials: 8.5
• Hardware: 8.5
• Operating system: 7
• Cameras: 8
• Extras: 7.5

FINAL MARK: 7.9

The Smartisan Nut Pro 2 is on sale for $395 USD.

Medium range (between $180 and $390 USD)

7. Meizu 15

Like Honor, Meizu has decided to focus on the mid-range with the terminal celebrating its 15th anniversary. The Chinese brand that first launched a ‘smartphone’ on the market does not go through its best moment, but the 15 is a very solid mobile that, in addition, resists following the aesthetic path of the rest. It turns its back on the ‘notch’ and adopts a metal body with a ceramic finish that looks more like a top-of-the-range product. The combination of design and hardware – a bet on the Snapdragon 660 and 4GB of RAM – makes it the best in the mid-range.

It also substantially improves the camera section with a double equipped with laser autofocus, four-axis optical stabilizer, and two lenses that allow 2X optical zoom. The ‘software’ stretches the magnification up to 3X digitally without loss of quality. And the results are comparable to those of devices that cost almost twice as much. It also incorporates the smallest and fastest fingerprint reader on the market and puts it on the front panel. However, there are some that are more effective.

One could ask for more battery because of the 3,000 mAh. give just enough for a day of intensive use. But, fortunately, fast charging is very efficient and achieves 54% of capacity in half an hour and 84% in one hour. Its weakest point, however, is the brand’s Android layer, Flyme, which still uses Google version 7.1. Meizu says it does so because it is the most stable, but it would be appreciated if you would adopt the newest.

• Design and quality of materials: 9
• Hardware: 8
• Operating system: 7
• Cameras: 8.5
• Extras: 7

FINAL MARK: 7.9

The Meizu 15 is on sale for approximately $390.

8. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

Xiaomi is the king of ‘low cost’ and Redmi Note 5 explains why very well. Few offer so much for so little. The latest mid-range terminal from the Chinese manufacturer comes with specifications that can compete with much more expensive ones: Snapdragon 636 chip, up to 6 GB of RAM – although the one we tested at Tuigy is the 4 GB one -, a more than decent double camera -with 1.4µm pixels-, and a huge battery –4,000 mAh.- that lasts two days with normal use. In addition, the MIUI 9 operating system is very customizable and fast.

With this type of product, it is logical to consider whether it is worth paying two or three times the price of the Redmi Note 5 for a better terminal that actually does more or less the same thing. The big difference is in the finishes and the quality of the materials. Although much of the body is metallic, the back cover hides several plastic parts that usually wear out much earlier, and the design is generic and boring.

• Design and quality of materials: 8
• Hardware: 8
• Operating system: 8
• Cameras: 7
• Extras: 6.5

FINAL MARK: 7.5

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 is on sale for approximately $180.

Economic range (less than $180 USD)

9. Xiaomi Redmi S2

In the economic sphere, there is no doubt: Xiaomi offers the best mobile phone. Indeed, it’s hard to find another that has 4 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon processor on line 6 -625- for less than $150. Also, the Pekingese brand gets on the carriage of the reduced frames at the top and bottom and places a fast and accurate fingerprint reader on the back cover. As if that weren’t enough, the latest economical Xiaomi has a dual 12-megapixel camera that surprises with its quality.

What’s the catch? As in Redmi Note 5, it is in the materials. The S2 is made of plastic, although it is very effective and looks metallic thanks to the silver grooves in the edges. In addition, the 5.99-inch screen resolution – and 18:9 format – is HD+ only, something you can see with the naked eye if you get close enough. The last weak point is the battery, which with 3,080 mAh. just lasts a day of intensive use. The lack of a fast charging system means that getting it back to 100% requires two long hours, but these are small concessions that must be made to reduce the price of the terminal, which possibly has the best value for money on the market.

• Design and quality of materials: 7
• Hardware: 7
• Operating system: 8
• Cameras: 6.5
• Extras: 6.5

FINAL NOTE: 7

The Xiaomi Redmi S2 is on sale for approximately $160.

10. Meizu M6S

It must be acknowledged that Meizu manufactures terminals with a careful design and very good materials. Even in the most economical range, it uses a metal ‘unibody’ body that offers a high-end look and feel. Unfortunately, unlike Xiaomi, Zhuhai’s brand has cut back on technical performance. Although it adopts a Samsung Exynos 7872 chip, which is not bad at all, the RAM memory remains at 3 GB and the battery at 3,000 mAh. that seems justified.

However, the M6S comes with a curious side fingerprint reader that reduces the size of the frame and avoids the need to place it on the back. The cameras aren’t great, but they work pretty well. The problem, once again, is with the operating system. Although Flyme is a good Android layer, during this time we’ve been able to see that Meizu is getting better with the updates and rarely renews the system to the next version. It’s not critical because security news does come in, but it’s a downside when you compare your terminal to competitors like Xiaomi, who update the system often.

• Design and quality of materials: 8
• Hardware: 7
• Operating system: 7
• Cameras: 6.5
• Extras: 6

FINAL MARK: 6.9

The Meizu M6S is on sale for approximately $175.