It is very difficult to choose a smartphone when there are devices of several generations in stores: for example, initially inexpensive novelties and cheaper models of past years. The situation is also aggravated by manufacturers with several sub-brands – almost identical models under different names get into stores. All this leads to the fact that people who are not too tech-savvy buy popular (or advertised), but far from optimal gadgets. I found seven of these – for their price they are more likely to disappoint the owners than to serve faithfully for many years.
💡 So that this article does not look like a surge of negativity towards specific brands, I picked up an alternative for each unsuccessful smartphone from the same manufacturer – so the least biased and most revealing.
Up to 14,000 rubles
This price segment is considered the most budgetary, it often includes only simple smartphones designed to perform only basic tasks. Nevertheless, even it has both quite decent models for everyday use, and frankly disappointing, buggy or outdated options.
❌ Xiaomi Redmi 10C (4/128 GB)
✅ Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 NFC (4/64 GB)
By itself, the Redmi 10C is a pretty good budget phone with acceptable cameras and a processor that is enough for basic tasks. But either the 4/128 GB version of memory is prohibitively expensive, or other models are indecently cheap, but the fact remains that for your money there is a much better option from the same Xiaomi.
Against the background of its “little brother”, Redmi Note 11 NFC seems to be a representative of a completely different league: on all fronts, a fancy display, better cameras, twice as fast charging, NFC is supported, there is dust and water protection (albeit basic). At the same time, the smartphone is only slightly more expensive. The only catch is that in this modification it has half the storage, but the problem is solved by a memory card.
| Xiaomi Redmi 10C (2022)
From 11 110 rubles |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 NFC (2022)
From 12 900 rubles |
| 6.71 inches 1650×720 IPS 60Hz |
6.43 inches 2400×1080 AMOLED, 90 Hz |
| Snapdragon 680 6 nm, up to 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Adreno 610 |
|
| four/128 GB | 4/64 GB |
| 50 MP (main) 2 MP (bokeh) 5 MP (selfie) |
50 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) one3 MP (selfie) |
| 5000 mAh 18 W |
5000 mAh 33 W |
| — | NFC |
| — | Water and dust resistant (IP53) |
| Android 11 MIUI 13 |
|
❌ Samsung Galaxy A12 (4/64 GB)
✅ Samsung Galaxy A23 (4/64 GB)
The Galaxy A12 was among the first to hit the budget price segment with 4GB of RAM. For the sake of equipping a smartphone with such a large amount of RAM, the manufacturer made some compromises, which at first were not perceived with hostility. However, now the smartphone looks like a very bad option for its price, especially against the background of the older model.
Even from the name, it is obvious that the Galaxy A23 is superior to the A12 – it is not clear why they cost almost the same. The A23 is better in absolutely every significant detail, from the display and processor to the battery. They even installed optical stabilization in the camera, which is a rarity for the budget segment. It is also two years newer (hence, it will be supported longer). Why the A12 is still popular, especially for its price, is a real mystery.
| Samsung Galaxy A12 (2020)
From 11 990 rubles |
Samsung Galaxy A23 (2022)
From 13 390 rubles |
| 6.5 inches 1600×720 PLS 60Hz |
6.6 inches 2408×1080 pls. 90 Hz |
| Helio P35 12 nm, up to 2.35 GHz Cortex-A53 PowerVR GE8320 |
Snapdragon 680 6 nm, up to 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Adreno 610 |
| 4/64 GB | |
| 48 MP (main) 5 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 8 MP (selfie) |
50 MP with OIS (main) 5 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 8 MP (selfie) |
| 5000 mAh 15 W |
5000 mAh 25 W |
| Android 10 One UI 3.1 |
Android 11 One UI 4 |
Up to 20,000 rubles
Models for this price already offer something more than just basic functions for not the most demanding users. Buyers of such devices can count on fairly stable operation and uncompromising satisfaction of basic needs – of course, only if you choose a good model.
❌ Xiaomi Redmi Note 11s (6/64 GB)
✅ Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (8/128 GB)
S-models of the Redmi Note series almost always turned out with some obvious flaws – for example, the brand new Redmi Note 11S lost support for the NFC chip. Apparently, in China they don’t pay much attention to this (there all stores are pasted with QR codes for payment), but in other countries the lack of NFC can be considered a significant drawback. However, with everything else, the smartphone is also not as good as we would like – especially against the background of another more successful model.
Redmi Note 10 Pro can already be considered oldies, but it is still very good: a great AMOLED display at 120 Hz (versus 90 Hz), an ageless processor with an 8-nanometer process technology (against the old 12 nm in Note 11s) and, importantly, the memory is 8/128 GB (versus 6/64 GB). The only caveat is that support for this model will end earlier. However, the benefits clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 11S (2022)
From 15 750 rubles |
Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro (2021)
From 16 490 rubles |
| 6.43 inches 2400×1080 AMOLED, 90 Hz |
6.67 inches 2400×1080 AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Helio G96 12 nm, up to 2.05 GHz Cortex A76+A55 Mali-G57 MC2 |
Snapdragon 732G 8 nmup to 2.3 GHz Kryo 470 Adreno 618 |
| 6/64 GB | 8/128 GB |
| 108 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 16 MP (selfie) |
50 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 5 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 16 MP (selfie) |
| 5000 mAh 33 W |
5020 mAh 33 W |
| — | NFC |
| Android 11 MIUI 13 |
|
❌ HONOR 50 Lite (6/128 GB)
✅ HONOR X8 (6/128 GB)
Those who want to buy HONOR 50 Lite are quite understandable – the smartphone has an eye-catching design that many will like. But there are hidden pitfalls behind a beautiful wrapper: in addition to a fairly outdated processor and a regular 60 Hz screen, the absence of Google services is striking. Although the branded HMS has already improved a lot, it is strange to refuse GMS when you can not do it.
Against the backdrop of HONOR 50 Lite, the design of the newer HONOR X8 is perceived, to put it mildly, not very well. But this is its only significant drawback compared to its counterpart. Otherwise, it beats it thanks to a more modern processor and, of course, support for Google services. True, charging is noticeably slower, and the camera is slightly worse.
| HONOR 50 Lite (2021)
From 18 880 rubles |
HONOR X8 (2022)
From 16 990 rubles |
| 6.67 inches 2376×1080 IPS 60Hz |
6.7 inches 2388×1080 IPS, 120 Hz |
| Snapdragon 662 11 nm, up to 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Adreno 610 |
Snapdragon 680 6 nm, up to 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Adreno 610 |
| 6/128 GB | |
| 64 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 16 MP (selfie) |
50 MP (main) 5 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 16 MP (selfie) |
| 4300 mAh 66 W |
4000 mAh 22.5 W |
| — | Google Services |
| Android 11 Magic UI 4.2 |
|
❌ Samsung Galaxy A23 (6/128 GB)
✅ Samsung Galaxy A32 (6/128 GB)
Perhaps this is the most controversial comparison in the article. All because of the successful “third” generation of Galaxy A smartphones (with the number “3” in the last digit). The Galaxy A23 itself turned out to be quite good, albeit expensive for its price in the 6/128 GB version: long-term support for updates, a sufficient processor, fast charging, and even optical camera stabilization. The catch lies in the fact that for the average user, most likely, a different balance of characteristics is important at this cost.
The Galaxy A32 has a roughly identical processor in terms of performance (but more gluttonous), but a much better screen and more capable camera. Its support will end a year earlier, but the display and cameras seem to be more significant than the advantages of the “little brother”.
| Samsung Galaxy A23 (2022)
From 15 780 rubles |
Samsung Galaxy A32 (2021)
From 15 880 rubles |
| 6.6 inches 2408×1080 PLS 90Hz |
6.4 inches 2400×1080 sAMOLED90 Hz |
| Snapdragon 680 6 nmup to 2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Adreno 610 |
Helio G80 12 nm, up to 2.0 GHz Cortex-A75+A55 Mali-G52 MC2 |
| 6/128 GB | |
| 50MP s OIS (main) 5 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 8 MP (selfie) |
64 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 2 MP (bokeh) 20 MP (selfie) |
| 5000 mAh 25 W |
5000 mAh 15 W |
| Android 12 One UI 4 |
Android 11 One UI 3 |
Up to 28,000 rubles
In this price category, strong middlings are sold – they rarely have flagship chips, but such smartphones are able to satisfy most buyers. However, this is only possible when choosing the optimal model with the right balance of characteristics (manufacturers often make unfortunate compromises).
❌ Xiaomi Poco X4 GT (8/128 GB)
✅ Xiaomi 11T (8/128 GB)
Xiaomi’s POCO sub-brand has several lines, but they all have one thing in common – an emphasis on gamers. But if in other series they only try to install a more powerful processor if possible, then in X-models this is the main rule – to adapt the smartphone to gamers as much as possible. In practice, this orientation translates into the most powerful processor among competitors, a screen with maximum frequencies and a large battery. All this is also typical for the Poco X4 GT, only such a shift in the balance of characteristics will rather disappoint the average user than please – we had to save on all other components.
Xiaomi 11T itself looks like a very thoughtful smartphone, and against the backdrop of Poco X4 GT and even more so. If we compare these two models side by side, then 11T loses only in terms of the processor (and even that is not significant). The extra 24Hz to the screen refresh rate, as well as the increased touch rate, is hardly worth considering. But the display as a whole and the cameras are two heads better than the Xiaomi 11T, and the autonomy is about the same.
| Xiaomi Poco X4 GT (2022)
From 21 930 rubles |
Xiaomi 11T (2021)
From 22 450 rubles |
| 6.6 inches 2460×1080 IPS, 144Hz |
6.67 inches 2400×1080 AMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Dimension 8100 5 nm, up to 2.85 GHz Cortex-A78+A55 Mali-G610 MC6 |
Dimension 1200 6 nm, up to 3.0 GHz Cortex-A78+A55 Mali-G77 MC9 |
| 8/128 GB | |
| 64 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 2 MP (macro) 16 MP (selfie) |
108 MP (main) 8 MP (wide) 5 MP with AF (macro) 16 MP (selfie) |
| 5080 mAh 67 W |
5000 mAh 67 W |
| Android 12 MIUI 13 |
Android 11 MIUI 12.5 |
❌ Samsung Galaxy A52 (8/128 GB)
✅ Samsung Galaxy M52 (8/128 GB)
Foldable devices aside, Samsung now has three lines of smartphones: A, M and S. The A-series acts as a kind of middle ground between the cheaper M-models and the flagship S models – they even try to introduce some flagship features into it. For example, in the Galaxy A52, this manifests itself in the presence of optical stabilization of the camera and protection against dust and water according to the IP67 standard. Nevertheless, you have to pay for such gadgets – for the same money there are better options, even from the same Samsung.
Surprisingly, the A52 loses out to its direct younger brother, the M52. It does not have the flagship features described above, but the display is faster, the processor is faster and more economical, and the battery is larger. In practice, all this is clearly more important, especially given the same cost of smartphones.
| Samsung Galaxy A52 (2021)
From 22 990 rubles |
Samsung Galaxy M52 (2021)
From 21 480 rubles |
| 6.5 inches 2400×1080 sAMOLED, 90 Hz |
6.7 inches 2400×1080 sAMOLED, 120 Hz |
| Snapdragon 720G 8 nm, up to 2.3 GHz Kryo 465 Adreno 618 |
Snapdragon 778G 6 nm, up to 2.4 GHz Kryo 670 Adreno 642L |
| 8/128 GB | |
| 64MP s OIS (main) 12 MP (wide) 5 MP (macro) 5 MP (bokeh) 32 MP (selfie) |
64 MP (main) 12 MP (wide) 5 MP (macro) 32 MP (selfie) |
| 4500 mAh 25 W |
5000 mAh 25 W |
| Android 11 OneUI 4 |
Android 11 OneUI 4 |
Source: Trash Box
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
