Brands 2021 - classification of smartphone manufacturers present on the market in 2021

When choosing the best smartphone of 2021, you can focus on different user requirements. Some people are interested in a device with record performance indicators. Others will choose the opportunity to take high-quality photos. Still others are interested in a multifunctional, inexpensive model. Our rating of smartphones was compiled, not least of all, based on sales figures from various manufacturers. But the functional characteristics of the models were also assessed. The top 10 smartphones included products that are interesting to a wide variety of consumer categories.

Nokia 6

The last position in the ranking of quality smartphones includes a product from a Finnish brand purchased by Microsoft. Nokia 6 will be convenient for a wide range of consumers. The phone doesn't offer breakthrough performance. This is not a cool smartphone, but rather a reliable and trouble-free assistant.

Built on Snapdragon430, the hardware platform will not allow you to play demanding games. But at the same time, the phone has a large battery for its 5.5-inch screen, a 16 MP camera, support for 2 SIM cards and as much as 3 GB of RAM. Without a doubt, this is the best price-quality model with an attractive price.

• screen;
• fast operation of the operating system;
• metal body;
• autonomy 2 days.

• dimensions, inconvenient for small hands;
• sound in headphones;
• no video stabilization;
• bad included headphones.

Nokia 6 on Yandex Market

First about the choice

Traditionally, before going to the store, customers turn to the list of the 10 best smartphones of 2021. However, to choose the best phone, you need to understand several issues. You must understand for yourself what exactly you want, and only then study the list. And our independent rating of the most reliable smartphones and tips will help you avoid disappointment and trouble. It should be noted that all the models presented in our rating run different versions of Android.

1. Why do you need a smartphone? Today, such devices have long ceased to be used only for calls. You can go online, download games, work, chat and much more. Depending on the purpose, you should think about the screen diagonal, battery and processor power. You will also have to decide on the number of cores.
2. OS. Good modern smartphones run Android, iOS or Windows Phone. There are some others, but they are unpopular and not as high quality. It all depends on the manufacturer. They are all different, have their own differences and advantages, so they are worth studying in more detail.
3. Accessories. Look at what additional products are offered on the market for the models you like, so that there are no unpleasant surprises later. It is natural that it is always easy to find high-quality cases, headphones, batteries and other necessary and useful accessories for good popular phones.
4. Screen diagonal and resolution. For simple access to the network, calls and working with most applications, a diagonal of 4-5 inches will be enough. But if you plan to watch movies, play games, then the best smartphones of 2021 for you are 6-inch models. But they won’t fit in every pocket, and it’s not always convenient to use them. It is best to “try on” several options in the store and understand which one will be more convenient. Don't forget about screen resolution and technology. Here it is also better to compare several options.
5. Specifications. The number of cores, RAM and camera pixels are not the most important thing. A lot depends on the installed OS and its “build”.
6. Memory card. If you know that the pre-installed memory will not be enough for you, then take a closer look at models for which you can purchase a memory card of different sizes. But if you want to save money, you can use cloud storage.

HTC U11 EYES

This model is the best smartphone of 2021 under 20,000 rubles. This is exactly what consumer ratings say. The device is positioned as the best smartphone in the series, before the release of which the manufacturer did a lot of work on bugs.

The model offers an excellent functional set. This best smartphone of 2021 (consumer opinion) has a 6-inch high-quality screen, a 12 MP photosensor, a separate slot for an SD card, as much as 3 GB of RAM and a capacious 3930 mAh battery . Its popularity confirms that HTC is deservedly included in the best phone brands for a wide audience of buyers.

• autonomy up to 2 days at any load;
• very good signal reception performance;
• excellent camera;
• fast operation of the operating system;
• NTS proprietary functionality.

• slippery body;
• TypeC headphone interface;
• no radio;
• There is no separate slot for memory cards.

HTC U11 EYEs on Yandex Market

HTC U11 Plus 128GB

New flagship from HTC. In its shape, it is very reminiscent of the previous generation model U11, but now it uses a frameless design, thanks to which the screen diagonal reaches 6 inches.

The device is very powerful: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. Powerful battery - 3930 mAh.

Interestingly, the rear camera here is single, and not dual, like many competitors.

• Screen diagonal: 6 inches

• Screen resolution: 2880x1440

• Weight: 188 g

• Number of SIM cards: 2

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

• Memory capacity: 128 GB

• RAM capacity: 6 GB

• Battery capacity: 3930 mAh

• Camera: 12 MP

• Memory card support: yes

• Support for 4G networks: yes

LG G7 ThinQ

Another model that falls into the “top smartphones” category. Its characteristics and functionality are highly appreciated by customers. The model’s hardware platform is built on a top-end (to date) processor, with enough performance for any task. It's not the most sophisticated smartphone, but its price makes it accessible not only to people with deep pockets. The model has 6 GB of RAM, 64 or 128 GB of data storage, and a separate slot for SD cards.

Important! Separately, it is worth noting that the LG G7 ThinQ can top the reliability rating. It is certified to NATO 810G standard. The phone is not afraid of vibrations, hypothermia, water, dust, shock. Only the most reliable smartphones in the world, specially protected models, can boast of this.

• bright high-quality screen;
• excellent sound in headphones;
• picture quality;
• security;
• wireless and fast wired charging.

• not very convenient location of buttons;
• autonomy;
• no branded accessories;
• The fingerprint scanner is inconveniently located.

LG G7 ThinQ on Yandex Market

⇡#ASUS Zenfone Max Plus (M1)

• Operating system: Android 7.0 Nougat (proprietary ZenUI shell).
• Display: 5.7 inches, IPS, 2160 × 1080.
• Platform: Mediatek MT6750T (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores (4 × 1.5 GHz + 4 × 1.0 GHz)).
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Flash memory: 32 GB.
• Camera: 16 + 8 MP.
• Two SIM cards and a separate slot for a memory card.
• Fingerprint's scanner.
• Average price: from 9,700 rubles.

Why it’s worth buying: excellent battery life, good dual camera, metal body, Full HD display.

What can stop it: no NFC, thick body, mediocre performance.

Come on, it's cheaper! Since January, when we reviewed the ASUS Zenfone Max Plus (M1), the smartphone has dropped up to six thousand rubles and fit exactly within the scope of our “Guide”. For this money, the offer is really excellent. First of all, due to a really decent camera (perhaps the best among those presented here) and a powerful battery, the smartphone is quite capable of lasting a couple of days without recharging.

It doesn't shine, but it has enough memory. It’s especially pleasing that the proposed 32 GB can be expanded using a microSD card without sacrificing a second SIM card. There are few such devices today.

Alternative: BQ BQ-5510 Strike Power Max 4 G. There are no more frills here like a Full HD display or dual camera. Only autonomy and cheapness, only hardcore. 5000 milliamp-hours is half that of the ever-memorable Oukitel K10000, but Strike Power uses them much more efficiently. And the quality is much more stable.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus

This model is included in the “most popular smartphones” category. It has an affordable price and has an optimal set of characteristics. As a manufacturer of truly high-quality smartphones, Xiaomi provides prompt software updates and offers the most sophisticated solutions.

The phone has a large 5.99-inch display, a 12 MP camera, 4 GB of RAM and up to 64 GB of storage. It is included in popular models, not least due to the presence of a separate slot for memory cards. The device also supports connecting wired headphones.

• design;
• speed of work;
• price;
• autonomy.

• no headphones included;
• poor sound recording when shooting video;
• a sharp drop in photo quality when lighting decreases;
• no NFC.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus on Yandex Market

Google Pixel 2 64GB

New generation Pixel from Google.

Externally, the smartphone has not changed very much - the features of the previous generation can be discerned in it. The display diagonal has not changed, it is still the same 5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The number of supported SIM cards has not changed either - only 1.

The processor uses the most powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of ROM, there is no slot for memory cards, but the Always On Display function has appeared.

Google Pixel 2 is distinguished by its camera (according to some publications, the smartphone has the best camera on the smartphone market), very high operating speed, and the presence of the latest version of Android firmware.

• Screen diagonal: 5 inches

• Screen resolution: 1920×1080

• Weight: 143 g

• Number of SIM cards: 1

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

• Memory capacity: 64 GB

• RAM capacity: 4 GB

• Battery capacity: 2700 mAh

• Camera: 12 MP

• Memory card support: no

• Support for 4G networks: yes

OnePlus 6 128GB

OnePlus 6 128GB is positioned as the number 1 smartphone in the world, a real smartphone killer. However, the price of the model is quite high with ambiguous characteristics.

Important! Among the disadvantages, this super smartphone has an extremely slippery body, poor camera performance, and an inconvenient fingerprint scanner.

But if you need the most functional smartphone, you simply can’t find a better OnePlus 6. This device will solve any problem. One of the best smartphones in the world, OnePlus 6 128GB has a 6.28-inch AMOLED display, a 16+20MP dual camera, 6GB of RAM and the latest version of the Android 9.0 operating system.

• performance, model from the top ten smartphones;
• there is an interface for wired headphones;
• proprietary mode switch (mechanical);
• loud sound from speakers.

• no possibility to use SD;
• autonomy;
• glass body;
• The fingerprint scanner is inconveniently located.

OnePlus 6 128GB on Yandex Market

⇡#Moto G5s

• Operating system: Android 7.1 Nougat.
• Display: 5.2 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080.
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores [4 × 1.4 GHz + 4 × 1.1 GHz]).
• RAM: 3 GB.
• Flash memory: 32 GB.
• Camera: 16 MP.
• Dual SIM cards, memory card slot.
• Fingerprint's scanner.
• Average price: from 9,500 rubles.

Why it’s worth buying: original design, excellent build, good camera, pure Android, NFC.

What can stop it: the performance is quite ordinary, the display is a bit small by today's standards.

The shadow favorite of the rating is last year’s smartphone from the Lenovo/Motorola combination, which is going through hard times. One of the conditional exceptions to the Chinese trend. Conditional - because Lenovo, which owns the Moto brand, is a Chinese company. Exceptions - because both in philosophy and in approach this is not a typical smartphone for China. Quite ordinary characteristics here are combined with original ideas in the interface, and the metal case did not interfere with installing NFC in this gadget. Yes, you can use it to pay for purchases - this is a very rare option for cheap phones.

In terms of approach to design and dimensions, this is more like a smartphone from 2016: a small 16:9 screen with large frames and a fingerprint scanner underneath. But its resolution is Full HD. In terms of pixel density, no one can really argue with the Moto G5s. And yes, of course, this is pure Android!

Alternative: Elephone P9000. But this, to be honest, is a dubious alternative on formal grounds. A little-known brand with unstable product quality - but with 4 GB of RAM, NFC and a not very large Full HD display.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

The list of the best smartphones includes a reliable and durable phone from Huawei with unique functionality. The model is equipped with a neural coprocessor, this allows the system to take photos with automatic image recognition and adjusting quality parameters. Therefore, Huawei Mate 10 Pro can be called the best smartphone of the year for a wide audience of consumers.

The model received a 6-inch screen, 6 GB of RAM, a capacious 4000 mAh battery, a 20+12 MP dual camera with fast laser autofocus. And at the same time, this coolest smartphone for a photographer is more affordable than premium segment models.

• excellent screen;
• pictures;
• performance;
• autonomy;
• simultaneous operation of 2 SIM.

• in the version for Russia - 1 SIM;
• no possibility to use SD cards;
• the body is easily soiled;
• Headphones are TypeC only.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro on Yandex Market

ASUS ZenFone Max Pro M2

Why he?

How else? Now this is almost the only smart from a major brand with 5000 mAh, and at the same time quite cheap - less than 18,000 rubles. We tested it recently and it's good, very good. Fast enough for gaming, durable enough that you don’t have to run around with a charger, cute enough that you wouldn’t be embarrassed to put it on your desk.

By the way, his little brother – Zenfone Max M2 – is also excellent.

Review of ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M2 and ASUS Zenfone Max M2: good cameras, impressive batteries

Huawei P20 Pro

This 2021 flagship can be assessed in several categories at once. This model is the fastest smartphone built on the proprietary Kirin 970 CPU. It is stylish and recognizable. At the same time, it confidently topped the world ranking of smartphones in terms of the quality of photographs that can be taken with its help. The proprietary technology of neural computing is used.

Huawei P20 Pro has surpassed other popular brands in the premium segment in terms of sales volumes in a matter of months and received the title of “customer choice.” The device has a 6.1-inch screen, a dual camera with record characteristics of 40+20 megapixels, 6 GB of RAM. The model supports the operation of 2 SIM cards simultaneously in LTE networks.

• camera and its functionality;
• video stabilization;
• autonomy;
• performance.

• narrow earpiece;
• low quality oleophobic coating;
• no separate camera button;
• no support for memory cards.

Huawei P20 Pro on Yandex Market

A-class smartphones, the most popular mobile phone brands in 2021

A1 is a category of top brands, represented throughout (or almost throughout) the world and occupying the first positions in terms of smartphone shipments

• Samsung
• Huawei
• Apple

And precisely in this sequence, because in 2021 a significant event took place and, according to the research agency IDC, the Chinese Huawei overtook Apple in terms of smartphone sales in numerical terms. Samsung's market share in 2021 was 22.9%, and in the second quarter of 2018 this figure dropped to 20.9%, while Huawei's share grew from 11% of the market in 2018 to 15.8%, which allowed the Chinese vendor overtake Apple and take its beloved second place. The Cupertino giant also increased shipments and held 12.1% of the smartphone market in the second quarter, but this was not enough to maintain its position.

The Statcounter service shows slightly different statistics, showing what share of traffic is generated by smartphones of a particular brand on the network. This indicator is less accurate because it does not reflect the number of devices, but shows their overall activity on the Internet.

According to Statcounter, Samsung is in first place; owners of smartphones from this brand generate 32% of global traffic. Apple remains in second place with 20% of traffic, third place is occupied by a host of branded operator devices without precise reference to any manufacturer brand (7.5% of traffic), and Huawei is in fourth place with 5% of traffic.

At the same time, it is very interesting to analyze the specialization of the three pillars of the market:

Samsung is a large electronics manufacturer producing household appliances, industrial equipment, petrochemicals, and is involved in the construction and banking sectors. Smartphones occupy a not very large, but very significant share in this entire production.

Huawei is the largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment in the world. Smartphones are also just an addition, albeit quite an important one, to the main production.

Apple is a manufacturer of smartphones, laptops, computers and other elements of the consumer ecosystem. Here, smartphones occupy a central place in production.

These three manufacturers are united by one little-known, but extremely important fact: all three companies produce mobile processors of their own production for their devices: Exynos for Samsung, Hisilicon KIRIN for Huawei smartphones and Apple Ax for iPhones. This helps them maintain a leading position and not only keep up with competitors, but sometimes even overtake them!

A2 - category of the largest brands that are on the path to leadership or have recently fallen from their pedestal

Xiaomi has been the most popular Chinese manufacturer in Russia over the past few years. If you need an inexpensive but high-quality smartphone, then most likely it will be Xiaomi. The manufacturer's portfolio includes a full range of smartphone models for every taste: from budget phones like Redmi 6A, mid-range Xiaomi Mi A2, flagships Mi 8 and Mi Mix 3

Meizu is another very popular Chinese brand in Russia, which slightly tarnished its reputation with not very successful decisions in 2017 (the disastrous flagship Meizu Pro 7 on the Mediatek processor), but is successfully recouping this year thanks to the renewal of friendship with Qualcomm and the release of an entire line of top-end devices. Snapdragons: Meizu 16, 16 Plus, 16X

Oneplus is a daughter of the largest Chinese concern BBK Electronics, which managed to conquer the world market. Two top devices per year (OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T in 2021) and millions of loyal fans. Definitely worthy of attention!

Sony is a fading Japanese brand that has cut production from thirty models a year to one dozen and proportionately reduced its market presence by almost three times over the past few years. The current flagship is the Xperia XZ3 with a Snapdragon 845 processor, but without any obvious advantages over similar flagships from other manufacturers.

These brands are united by high quality; smartphone models predominantly use Qualcomm processors, good screens and interesting cameras. Almost the entire range of these brands can be recommended for purchase (taking into account the budget, of course, because Sony is oh so expensive)

A3 - category of top brands having difficulties

Oppo is a large Chinese manufacturer that has long held first place in terms of sales in its homeland (in 2021 it was supplanted by Huawei). There are good smartphones (Oppo A7 and A7X), but most of the lineup is built on MediaTek processors. Attempts to capture the world market have so far been largely unsuccessful: even in Russia the brand is still poorly represented, although our market is very loyal to most Chinese brands.

Google - Google Nexus smartphones, and later Google Pixel (current Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL), have historically turned out to be the most sophisticated, most powerful and cool, including due to the use of bare Android without any graphical shells on top. However, without having its own production, Google is forced to attract partners to produce new models: the same LG and HTC, but at the end of 2021 Google bought the production of the bankrupt HTC and breathed a second life into the dying production.

Nokia is the second attempt to revive the top brand of the past, this time with the hands of the Finnish-Chinese HMD Global). Brains in Finland, production in China. The attempt is still controversial, since the solutions are controversial, and there are complaints about their quality and support. Time will tell whether Nokia will reach the A1 category or fall into the abyss of second and third class...

Apple iPhone X

iPhone X rightfully belongs to the category of premium smartphones. This is evidenced by both its characteristics and cost. The model offers a laconic interface, unconditional reliability, and the ability to take sharp, detailed photos using a 12+12MP camera.

On a note! The rather modest characteristics of the camera do not in any way characterize the final parameters of the photographs. The Apple iPhone X uses sensors with larger pixel sizes. The phone takes good pictures in low light.

The model runs on the Apple 11 Bionic chip and is protected from dust and moisture. This is the longest-living smartphone in the ranking, capable of 21 hours of talk time and the ability to listen to music for 60 hours.

• cameras;
• design;
• reliability;
• screen;
• autonomy.

• price tag;
• weight;
• no possibility to use SD cards;
• To unlock using FaceID, you need to raise the device to eye level.

Apple iPhone X on Yandex Market

C-class smartphones - a polite name for third-rate brands

In the third class, we collected factoryless vendors who do not produce their devices themselves, but simply order them from numerous Chinese factories. These brands may be of Russian, European and even American origin, but their legs grow exclusively from inexpensive assembly factories near Hong Kong, where they do not particularly monitor quality and do not give any guarantee for the devices at all. They can also be roughly divided into three levels - C1, C2 and C3, but note that we cannot recommend any of these brands for purchase.

C1 - category of large third-tier manufacturers

BQ Mobile is a Russian manufacturer that has suddenly become very popular and has stolen absolutely everything on the technology market, including the name! BQ is a Spanish smartphone manufacturer, also factoryless, but appeared on the market much earlier than the Russian one: the first models were released in 2013. The first steps of the Russian brand began at the end of 2015 with the BQS-4555 Turbo model. In 2018, the manufacturer’s portfolio has already reached 40 models and, judging by the pace of production, this is not the end yet. The company occupies an office in the Moscow Megapolis shopping center, under the interchange of the third transport ring. From there these numerous state employees of varying degrees of lousiness pour in at clearly inflated prices. The only model with a Qualcomm processor this year is the BQ-6015L Universe, but at the price that the greedy Moscow brand wants for it, it is absolutely uncompetitive. The quality of components and assembly is quite low, but this is not so noticeable in the stream of custom-made positive reviews.

DEXP is a brand of the Russian electronics network DNS, launched in 2014 to replace the DNS brand, apparently to distance itself at least a little from the store. The vendor's portfolio is filled with slightly more than completely budget and ultra-budget employees at media libraries and spreadrooms. The latest gadget on Qualcom was released in 2021 and bore the proud name X355 Zenith. Recently, by the way, the DEXP Z355 model was released, but not at all on Qualcom...

Digma is a brand owned by the Russian electronics distributor Merlion. Only three years on the market, but there are already almost a hundred device models in the portfolio. True, half of them are tablets, and the other half are a piece of glitchy plastic on the spreadroom, but purchased reviews and catchy promotions solve the problem of low demand.

Texet - St. Petersburg, which came to the market back in 2013. In 2017, it went through a crisis, presenting only two models in a year, but this year it “recovered”, if you can call it that for the dozen budget gadgets released mainly on Spreadrooms. Model names have long lost their individuality, turning into a faceless set of alphanumeric codes

Vertex is another Russian brand actively promoting in the offline market. Three dozen state and ultra-state employees, mostly on the weakest media libraries and spreadrooms. But marketers come up with sonorous English names for each model, though without any logic: in the model range you will find Impress Spring, Impress Click, Impress Disco, Impress Frost, Impress Wolf, Impress Pear, Impress Bear, Impress Eclipse, Impress Vega, Impress Cube , Impress Reef, Impress Funk and Impress Indigo, and this is not even a complete list for 2021...

C2 is a category of third-tier brands that are losing their popularity and reducing production

Fly is a Russian brand, reliably hidden from taxation behind a British office and Pacific offshores. I started with ordinary push-button telephones, but in 2012 I quickly came to my senses and cheerfully took up smartphones: more than three dozen models in 2014, two dozen in 2017, but only 4 models this year, and they are of very dubious quality. The last one is Power Plus 3 on a weak media library.

Highscreen is again a Russian brand, owned by Moscow-based Vobis Computer, a company that was the first to bring Chinese smartphones to Russia and sell them under its own name. The first Android smartphone Highscreen PP540 went on sale even earlier than HTC Hero, HTC's first Android smartphone. Over several years of active work, there were still many “first” and “most” smartphones from this brand, it was given an honorable place as the largest Russian manufacturer, but by 2021 the ideas had dried up and the only model from the vendor entered the market - Highscreen Expanse

Panasonic is a good-looking manufacturer of budget devices (there are even powerful gadgets with Snapdragon 660), but it has almost completely been cut out of the Russian market

Philips - again a stream of barely distinguishable state employees, which dried up in 2018 and turned into a skinny trickle of two models - Philips S257 and Philips S395

Prestigio is a Belarusian manufacturer of ASBIS, which moved to Cyprus in time and distributes all kinds of electronics from there. Our own range of devices consists of dozens of similar smartphones and tablets that are continuously pouring into the market of the CIS countries and Eastern Europe. Over the past three years, they have not released a single device with a processor higher than Mediatek MT6739, which determined this category in the classification. In 2021, there was an attempt to enter the market of secure smartphones with the Muze G7 LTE model (https://www.stevsky.ru/smartfoni-prestigio/prestigio-muze-g7-lte-obzor-charakteristiki-novogo-zaschischennogo-smartfona-za- 180-dollars), but judging by the reviews, not very successful

Senseit is another Russian manufacturer, registered under the name Sensit LLC. In its entire history, it has not released anything better than the MediaTek MT6737 platform, but from year to year it is gradually increasing the number of budget devices presented to the market. Apparently, demand is growing, spurred by customized positive reviews.

Yotafon is no longer Russian, an “innovative” brand of a domestic operator-vendor that was recently completely purchased by the Chinese. Everyone knows the distinctive feature of the models; these are two screens - the main LCD and the black and white reader screen on the rear panel. The entire model range was limited to one smartphone in 2013, one in 2014 and two in 2017: YotaPhone 3 and Yota 3+. There were no new models introduced for 2018.

C3 - category of third-tier smartphones that have difficulties or are very poorly represented on the market

Allcall is a young brand that appeared in 2021. There are only two models in 2021; there is nothing left for sale on the Russian market.

Ark - the same story: 6 smartphones last year, only two this year, and they are far from the best

BLU - British brand, large selection of different models, but not represented in Russia7

Caterpillar is an American brand that produces two models a year: average performance, impact resistance, crazy price tag.

Ila is a Chinese newcomer, also with two models per year so far, it’s worth taking a closer look

INOI is a Russian newcomer, actively promoting since May 2021, releasing state-funded films on junior media libraries

Intex - still the same state employees in media libraries and spreadrooms, poorly represented in Russia

Irbis - again public sector employees on media libraries and spreadrooms, plus tablets. They are widely represented in Russia, the reviews are positive, but at the same time users honestly write that smartphones die for no reason

Itel is again a state-owned product, but in some places it uses Snapdragons; it is poorly represented in Russia; you can only find the cheapest devices from the model range. No reviews

Jinga is an in-house brand of an electronics distributor called Retentiva Distribution Company, headquartered in Moscow. Consistently 6 budget models per year, all on media libraries, bad reviews.

Maxvi is a Russian brand that first produced ordinary phones, but decided to try smartphones too. Only one model available

Nomu is a Chinese brand of rugged, water-resistant smartphones. Produces 2-3 models a year, almost nothing reaches Russia

Pixelphone is a fresh Russian brand that appeared in 2021. It belongs to the store of the same name, which sells a standard set of Xiaomi-Meizu-Samsung-Huawei and at the same time decided to promote its own brand. The business began and ended on two models: smart phones are buggy, overgrown with viruses, and no one except the original store wants to sell them

MTS is operator branding that has lost popularity. The last smartphones came out in 2021, and they were so-so. The reviews are completely negative.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

This phone knows its worth. Every ruble paid for it more than pays off. The 2021 flagship offers record-breaking performance and a beautiful display that truly has no equal. Running Android 8, the phone runs on Samsung's proprietary Exynos Octa processor and has 6 GB of RAM.

A 3500 mAh (non-removable) battery with an economical hardware platform provides good autonomy for any operating scheme. The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus offers one of the best cameras for great photos even in low light conditions compared to other smartphones.

• protection from water and dust;
• SuperAMOLED display;
• 5 mm minijack for wired headphones;
• performance and stability;
• autonomy.

• no IR port;
• fragile and quite slippery;
• The built-in assistant does not turn off;
• heavy weight.

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus on Yandex Market

No. 6 – Xiaomi Redmi 6

Price: 10,600 rubles

The second smartphone from Xiaomi in our top is Redmi 6. It has a 5.45-inch display with a resolution of 1440 by 720 pixels, as well as a Helio P22 processor. The main lens is dual – 12 and 5 MP, the front single – 5 MP. There are two memory configurations – 3/32 GB and 4/64 GB. Battery capacity – 3000 mAh.

Xiaomi has virtually no equal when it comes to equipping its smartphones with the most powerful hardware on a limited budget. Therefore, Xiaomi Redmi 6 is an excellent solution in the entry-level price segment - it has an excellent screen, which, although not perfect, will not cause serious complaints, a processor thanks to which you can forget about lags and freezes, as well as cameras that can capture any bright moment your life in excellent quality.

Xiaomi Redmi 6

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 tops the list of best smartphones. This is a business class device in which every detail is thought out. This most functional smartphone offers its owner literally everything. It is comfortable to hold in your hands; the hardware platform is built on a top-end processor manufactured by Samsung. For ease of use, a stylus is offered, and good autonomy is guaranteed by a 4000 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has 6 GB of RAM, you can buy a version with as much as 512 GB of storage . The model has a 6.4-inch screen with record performance and the highest image quality. Unlike other flagships on the market, the user is offered support for 2 SIM cards and a separate slot for memory cards.

• HDR support for video;
• performance;
• proprietary software;
• stereo speakers and sound;
• autonomy;
• screen.

• not everyone likes to control the device in the included case;
• insufficiently rounded corners of the body;
• The auto brightness adjustment functionality does not always work correctly;
• glare on the curved edges of the screen.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on Yandex Market

Best camera

Winners : Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and Pixel 3/3 XL.

androidpit.com

This year the best camera was chosen in two categories. The first was to determine the best solution for so-called traditional photography, when detail, natural color rendition, and a minimum of noise and artifacts are important. In this regard, the lead is the Galaxy Note 9, which has a dual camera with 12 megapixel sensors.

HTC U12+, Samsung Galaxy S9+, LG G7, Huawei Mate 20 Pro and Sony Xperia XZ3 were noted as alternative solutions. All of them were slightly behind the leader.

The second nomination took into account image processing algorithms, the use of artificial intelligence functions and additional shooting modes. Here, the undisputed leaders are the new Google Pixel 3 flagships, equipped with identical single 12-megapixel cameras.

The closest to the Pixel 3's capabilities were Huawei P20 Pro, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Xiaomi Mi A2, LG V40 and Vivo Nex.