Russian operators shared statistics on which brands divide the domestic smartphone market in the first half of 2022 – active devices were taken into account, that is, those registered in cellular networks and constantly used by owners. Compared to last year, the shares of Xiaomi and Apple have grown:
However, the rating of specific models, and not the brand as a whole, looks different. In this article, we understand why people choose these particular smartphones and what are the disadvantages of the most common models.
💡 In this material, the reasons for popularity are considered only in terms of characteristics and positioning of devices, although in reality many other factors can influence the choice of buyers (aggressive marketing, discounts from stores and promotional offers, advice from biased consultants, brand love, and others).
1st place – iPhone 11
iPhone 11 became the best-selling smartphone in Russia (and beyond), so its first place is quite obvious. The model turned out to be very successful due to the ratio of price and features – being the most financially affordable in the iPhone 11 series, the smartphone differs little from the older Pro models, but at the same time stands out from its predecessors with support for night mode and an additional camera. Its popularity even in 2022 is due, among other things, to the fact that the owners have not yet changed the smartphone (sales began in 2019).
Even at the time of the release of the iPhone 11, it had a couple of significant drawbacks: an IPS-matrix with thick frames around the display and a resolution that did not reach Full HD, as well as a poor wide-angle camera (this series of smartphones was Apple’s debut, which received an additional “wide” – the first pancake turned out to be a small lump). In 2022, all these disadvantages are perceived even more sharply, and to them is added the absence of modern technologies, such as increased screen refresh rates.
Analogs iPhone 11 (64 GB) in 2022
- Galaxy S21 FE (6/128 GB): Samsung’s simplified flagship this year that boasts a head-to-head display, unbeatable cameras, and equally great speakers. In addition, this model is newer, so it will be supported by system updates for longer.
- Xiaomi 12X (8/128 GB): model 12X has become a complete copy of the base flagship Xiaomi 12, with the exception of the processor. The Snapdragon 870 is installed here instead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, but for many people the weaker 870 “dragon” may be even better: it still has enough performance with a margin, but it does not overheat (unlike its older brother).
2nd place – iPhone XR
iPhone XR is the predecessor of the iPhone 11 described above, which has exactly the same positioning (minimal differences from older models, but a significantly lower price). In addition, the iPhone XR fell in price after the release of the successor – this model became the most desirable among those who wanted to get an iPhone with a face scanner at the lowest price. It disappeared from the official sale only in 2021, which indirectly indicates its enormous popularity.
All the shortcomings of the iPhone 11 were valid for the XR even at the beginning of sales, but now more new ones are being added: the smartphone has only one main camera and there is no night mode. Previously, you could turn a blind eye to this, but not now – most likely, the reason for the high prevalence of the iPhone XR in 2022 is due to the huge popularity in the first years of sales (the owners still have not abandoned this smartphone). Especially considering that now the difference in the cost of the iPhone 11 and XR at 64 GB is only 5,000 rubles.
Analogs iPhone XR (64 GB) in 2022
- Xiaomi 11T Pro (8/128 GB): before the release of the Xiaomi 12 series, this model was considered the most advanced from the Chinese manufacturer (if you do not take into account the Mi 11 Ultra). Almost all of its characteristics are in no way inferior to the iPhone XR, but there are trump cards up its sleeve – for example, ultra-fast charging at 120 W (versus 15 W).
- Samsung Galaxy A73 5G (8/128 GB): The Galaxy A series is a cross between the flagship Galaxy S and the budget Galaxy M. The A73 is the best model in the line to date, with matching features and support for updates.
3rd place – Samsung Galaxy A51
A few years ago, Samsung had a rather confusing line of smartphones that frankly poorly competed with Chinese models in the budget and mid-budget price segments. Then the corporation realized this and completely updated its strategy: the Galaxy J series was replaced by the Galaxy M, and the Galaxy A line was completely transformed. Trying to compete with ambitious Chinese manufacturers, Samsung released the very successful Galaxy A50, followed by the A50s and A51. The hero of this article has become as perfectly balanced as the A50, but with improved cameras, fresh Android and a modern design.
By and large, at the time of release, the Galaxy A51 had no obvious shortcomings – except that the price is slightly higher than that of competitors, and not the most productive processor. However, now the smartphone is losing to modern alternatives in absolutely all respects, because it is simply outdated. In 2022, the A51 may be of interest only to completely undemanding users who have a special love for the South Korean brand.
Galaxy A51 is no longer sold in stores in Russia (with rare exceptions).
4th place – Xiaomi Redmi 9A
Xiaomi releases budget devices under the Redmi brand with any compromises, and models with the prefix “A” have always been positioned as the cheapest options for undemanding people. Redmi 9A turned out to be just that: cheaper than competitors and with amazing autonomy (due to a large battery and economical processor with a display). People who were looking for a similar smartphone could hardly find something better.
However, even at the time of the announcement in 2020, this smartphone was suitable only for the most basic tasks, and now it can be called nothing more than a dialer (especially in the version with 2 GB of RAM), especially without NFC for contactless payments. However, there are also modifications with 4 GB of RAM on sale, but even they are hardly worth considering for purchase – new models are better on all fronts.
Redmi 9A analogs (4/128 GB) in 2022
- Xiaomi Redmi 10 NFC (4/64 GB): a new model from the same Xiaomi, which is better in absolutely everything. The only caveat is that Redmi 10 has a shorter battery life due to a more powerful processor and a better display. Also, the novelty has 64 GB storage versus 128 GB (in a modification with a comparable cost).
- Samsung Galaxy M12 (3/32 GB): another modern smartphone ahead of Redmi 9A. True, there is less RAM and storage, but the overall user experience will be clearly better.
5th place – iPhone 7
In the early years of sales, the popularity of the iPhone 7 was due to several factors: firstly, it was a significant upgrade after the iPhone 6s (better main camera and a different front camera, water protection appeared, a brighter screen, etc.); secondly, the subsequent iPhone 8 cost more, but practically did not differ from its predecessor. As a result, the iPhone 7 has become very popular with both Apple fans and those who want to taste the iPhone, but not pay too much for it.
With the exception of the standard high price tag and overly scratchy Jet Black coloring, the iPhone 7 didn’t have any tangible flaws. Except for one thing: this is the first Apple smartphone to lack a 3.5mm headphone jack. The news of ditching the audio jack caused a lot of jokes and controversy, but history has shown that this decision did not turn out to be wrong for Apple at all (rather, quite the contrary).
In 2022, it is no longer possible to find a new iPhone 7 on sale.
Other Popular Models
The above top 5 was compiled according to the Yota operator – there are no full ratings from other telecommunications companies. However, the top 3 from MegaFon is known: the first place among its subscribers is also occupied by the iPhone 11 (it belongs to 3% of users), but the rest of the positions are different.
- 2nd place – Samsung Galaxy A12 (2.12%): a budget model with compromises that could not be avoided. The smartphone has excellent autonomy and even has a wide-angle camera (a rarity in this segment), but very slow charging and a weak processor.
- 3rd place – HONOR 10 Lite (1.8%): another cheap smartphone that has become popular largely due to its low price. Advantages and disadvantages are standard for the segment, but the processor even stands out for its performance (by the standards of analogues). However, there are frankly weak points in the form of a very poor camera and microUSB.
Source: Trash Box
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