By and large, the selection of a smartphone from the budget segment is not much different from the selection of flagship samples. Although the modest budget framework imposes certain restrictions, the technical parameters that should be paid attention to remain the same. The main and significant difference will be the operating system, which can become either a new version from Android (at best), or an outdated version from Apple (new apple operating systems are simply not found on budget models). Moreover, the prices for smartphones from "Yabloko" (even past years) are traditionally not small.
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Before the direct purchase, you need to decide for what purpose the smartphone is purchased:
Based on the future destination, it is possible to already begin to select the appropriate parameters - sound system, battery charge, number of cameras, screen size and processor power. With the development of the smartphone market, today it is quite possible to find a budget device that will not be far behind the expensive flagship models. However, some problems cannot be completely eliminated - premium samples will always win in terms of the quality and quantity of cameras and the power of the control chipset. At the same time, budget models, as a rule, consume less resources, so their battery charge can almost double that of expensive smartphones.
Nowadays, comparing the clock frequency (number of gigahertz) and the number of cores between the chipsets used is, to put it mildly, a meaningless idea. These performance indicators of iron can be increased programmatically, through special command algorithms, advanced cache and other means.Without going deep into the technical component, the easiest way is to test the selected model on the AnTuTu synthetic performance indicator (benchmark), for this software package, the current version for 2022 is No. 8. However, you should make sure that the methodology for all models was chosen the same.
Standard results may be as follows:
It is the size of the display that does not play a big technical role and this issue will depend solely on the taste preferences of the future owner. However, the larger its inch diagonal, the more convenient it will be to play and watch videos, read websites and e-books, but the more the smartphone itself will be. If we turn directly to the issue of technology, then modern displays support two technologies. The first - IPS - is able to produce more natural colors and does not burden the eyes too much. This technology is very economical to manufacture, but puts a lot of strain on the battery. AMOLED technology produces rich colors coupled with increased contrast levels, but these displays are not cheap to produce, although they drain the battery to a lesser extent.
The smartphone's random access memory (RAM) is loaded with applications launched by the user and open documents. If you are supposed to work only with browsers and instant messengers, then you can get by with 512 MB.The required minimum for office programs and running the game is set to 2 Gigabytes. Editing and shooting high-quality video will require at least 4 gigabytes or more.
Permanent (built-in) ROM memory is responsible for storing downloaded programs, games and documents in the smartphone. If the user only needs office use and Internet surfing, 8 GB will be enough. If you need to place a large collection of audio and video files, or games, a 32 GB model will do. In cases where it is supposed to edit video or store photos in high resolution (16 Megapixels), even 64 GB may not be enough.
As with the CPU clock issue, the milliamp-hours of a battery is not an indicator today. But their proper use is another matter. If you save the charge, do not load the device with energy-intensive tasks (for example, watching videos, listening to music, mobile gaming), and use it exclusively for talking, then a battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh will easily last two or more days. If the device is used vigorously, then even a capacious 5000 mAh battery will easily be used up until the evening.
Approximately, the battery should be selected based on its full consumption within 1.5 - 2 days. The extreme limit of this indicator - even with intensive loading, the battery must withstand at least 12 hours. In any case, everything will also depend on the possibility of a quick recharge, which can be facilitated by a power bank.
Quite interesting is the fact that in 2022, economy-class smartphone models have already appeared that can support 5G networks. The pioneer here is the affordable MediaTek Dimensitu platform.Its closest competitor, Qualcomm, costs almost twice as much in production, which is why it is installed in the model of the middle price segment. However, it is for the Russian expanses that the support of 5G networks is not so important, because their support works only in some metropolitan areas, and nowhere else on the territory of the Russian Federation does it function yet. The expected wide distribution of new generation networks will only begin at the beginning of the third quarter of 2022. But support for 4G LTE networks is available even for ultra-budget models.
The optimal set of wireless connections in 2022 should look like this:
In 2022, Android version 9 is still relevant.It is compatible with many modern applications, and constantly receives security updates. The operating system based on Android 10 version is characterized by advanced interface settings, consumes battery power more carefully, and is able to play and write high-definition videos. Android 11 version features an increased security threshold, can process videos faster, has lower latency when connecting to the Internet, and the processor running it can produce increased performance.
In fairness, it is worth mentioning the fact that some manufacturers develop their own user interface based on Android:
IMPORTANT! The iOS operating system is not considered in this article, because its older versions are much behind the existing versions of Android, and there are simply no new ones in the economy class.
As previous years have already shown, the presence of several cameras on the device is the norm. The optimal set consists of:
Such a kit allows you to work with any plot with high quality, however, in its entirety it is found only in premium-class models.
Inexpensive models can also install several cameras, but only one is really high-quality - the base one. In rare cases, an ultra-wide-angle option can also be added to it. All other cameras are just marketing ploys, because their work will not be based on their optical components, but more implemented at the software level. So, in a similar way, they achieve the creation of various effects or a change in the color depth of the frame. In fact, everything except the basic camera on budget smartphones is practically useless.
It is worth noting that it is not worth buying a budget smartphone model, it is safer to use it for high-quality photo / video shooting. These simply do not exist in nature. Even if on a cheap smartphone it is stated that its camera shoots at 48, 64 or 108 megapixels, then you should not trust this information, because cameras will shoot at a maximum of 12 megapixels by default, and then, programmatically, several pixels will be combined into one .To improve image quality, it is better to use special programs for its processing and shoot through them using their image compression algorithms.
Due to the fact that most of the smartphone body is occupied by the display, the size of the device itself is often determined by the screen size. Today, devices with a diagonal of 5 and 5.5 inches with an aspect ratio of 18 to 9 are very popular. Nevertheless, such samples are difficult to put in a pocket, but their large display gives a high-quality picture, and they themselves are comfortably held in the palm of your hand. For the budget segment, 4-inch models are more common, which, although ergonomic in their behavior in the hand, are not very convenient to work with office applications. Thus, before buying it is worth deciding what will be more important - ease of holding and carrying or convenience for work.
These may include:
As a rule, models up to 8,000 rubles are purchased for schoolchildren or the elderly. In such models, there is all the necessary minimum to surf the Internet or watch a TV show. Naturally, such samples are not designed for the production of high-quality photos and videos, but if desired, it is possible to take decent photographs on them. And the presence of a strong flash will allow you to shoot in low light conditions.
On today's market, there are a number of manufacturers that produce inexpensive and high-quality smartphones:
This Russian model is of fairly high quality production. The case cover is rubberized, the phone itself lies securely in the hand. The glass has some bend, its frames are narrow, which visually increases its size. The total diagonal is 5.5 inches, and the resolution reaches 1440x720 pixels. The battery is removable and is capable of holding a charge of 2850 mAh.The operating system is Android 8.0, capable of supporting high quality audio playback. Ability to install two SIM cards. The read-only storage device has a capacity of 8 gigabytes. The cost in retail chains is 4500 rubles.
Video unpacking of this smartphone:
This traditional and simple model, equipped with a 6-inch screen, runs on the Android 8 operating system, which does not detract from its functionality. In particular, the model is provided with a light indication of viewed events, which is not even in expensive devices. The resolution of this model is rather weak and is 960x480 pixels. Auto brightness setting is present. The recommended cost for retail chains is 4700 rubles.
More about the functionality of the smartphone:
Not a bad phone from the budget segment, running on the chipset of the first level UNISOC of its own production. The device itself does not have a large number of options, it is not equipped with NFC. Nevertheless, this device has a bright and good display, and wireless communications are capable of supporting 4th generation networks. It is quite possible to install various messengers. The entire device itself is very small and amounts to 150 grams. The base camera can take good quality pictures in natural light.The amount of ROM is 16 GB with 2 GB of RAM. The recommended retail price is 4800 rubles.
Video review of this smartphone:
Another model from a Russian manufacturer that has high ratings from consumers. The total diagonal is 5.45 inches with a resolution of 1440x720 pixels. The installed operating system is Android 9.0., the ROM size is 16 GB, and the RAM is 2 GB. The ROM can be expanded up to 64 GB. The model is capable of working with two SIM cards. Protection against unauthorized access is carried out by scanning a fingerprint. There is support for 4th generation networks. Equipped with NFC, the base camera takes pictures with a resolution of 13 megapixels. The recommended cost for retail stores is 5000 rubles.
Video review of this smartphone:
This model has 3 gigabytes of RAM, with a ROM size of 16 gigabytes. The ROM expansion slot is a combo slot, i.e. you have to make a choice, which is more important - additional memory or a second SIM card. The total diagonal is 5.5 inches, the resolution assumes HD quality, the aspect ratio is 18 to 9. The front camera is rather weak and has 2 megapixels. The device supports the latest versions of Wi-Fi and 4th generation networks. The sample has a good battery capacity.The established cost for store chains is 5,500 rubles.
More about this smartphone - in the video:
A cheap version of the gadget for users who do not pursue great functionality. Great for battery life. The battery has a capacity of 5500 mAh. The screen is very large - 6.19 inches, the aspect ratio is 18 to 9. The sample is capable of playing high-definition video. There is a fingerprint scanner, on the rear panel there are two cameras - 13 and 8 megapixels. The front camera has 5 megapixels. The expandable ROM allows you to reach a capacity of 64 GB. The established cost for shops is 6500 rubles.
Smartphone video review:
The Chinese “Xiaomi” has achieved such popularity of its “Redmi” line that they began to single it out as a separate product. This model is rightly called a representative of the budget segment with the full functionality of the device from a higher level. The chipset used is quite strong and able to cope with a wide range of modern tasks. Installed sizes of RAM and ROM may vary, i.e. they can be 2 and 4 gigabytes and 16 and 64 gigabytes, respectively. The base camera takes pictures at a resolution of 12 megapixels, and the front camera takes 8 megapixels. The screen diagonal is 6.26 inches with an aspect ratio of 19 to 9.The established cost for retail chains is 7,700 rubles.
Video review of this smartphone:
This device has a screen with IPS technology, with a total diagonal of 6.6 inches, resolution is 1640x720 pixels. The device is equipped with its own OS based on Android version 10.0. RAM has a size of 2 GB and 32 GB in read-only memory. The battery capacity is 5000 mAh, the manufacturer claims an average battery life of 17 hours. The processor chipset has 4 cores. The quad camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels, the front camera has 8 megapixels. The established cost for retail chains is 8,000 rubles.
Video review of this "smart":
The basic rule of economics is the assertion that competition is always beneficial for the buyer, which inevitably leads to a decrease in the cost of goods. The mobile phone market is now more competitive than ever - over the past 2-3 years, many new entrants have appeared on it. And they, in order to have time to grab a place in the sun, offer their products to the buyer at almost bargain prices, one might say, at cost.
Thus, consumers have not an illusory opportunity to purchase a cheap, but high-quality smartphone - one glance is enough for manufacturers from Asia, especially from the People's Republic of China.Moreover, a certain paradoxical situation has even developed on the market, in which most consumers note that the Chinese monitor the quality of their cheap smartphones even better than South Korean or Japanese venerable manufacturers.