Rating of the best smartphones

Contents:

  •  Mid-range phones are getting cheaper and cheap phones are getting better. This is a trend that took several years to form, but every year it becomes more and more relevant.

Certainly in the price range up to 15 rubles for the best smartphones some compromises have to be made. You will not find the most powerful processor, cameras with optical image stabilization or 5G support in them. But in general, you will be pleasantly surprised by what the models from our rating offer.

10.Realme C15

• Screen: 6.5″ (1600×720) 60Hz
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 64 GB, memory card slot
• 4 cameras: 13 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 6000 mAh
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G35
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 209g

  •  The top smartphones under 15 rubles are opened by a budget device with a 000 mAh battery, which is not easy to find on other phones in this price segment. This means that even with the most active use of the smartphone, it will not have to be charged at the end of the day.

  •  Realme C15 also has a super power saving mode that only allows you to run six apps when the battery is low. So, the battery is what makes the Realme C15 a good buy.

  •  Many users pay attention to the screen size when choosing a smartphone. Well, the Realme C15 will not disappoint in this regard either. It has a large 6,5-inch display with a waterdrop notch at the top. The screen has good color reproduction and is bright enough that you can read text in direct sunlight.

  •  The Realme C15 captures four cameras: a 13MP main camera, an 8MP ultra wide-angle camera, a 2MP black and white sensor for portraits, and a 2MP macro sensor.

  •  For selfies, there is an 8-megapixel front-facing camera housed inside a notch. If desired, you can turn on the beautification mode.

  •  The capabilities of the device are quite enough for Tanks, Fortnite, PUBG and other popular games at medium and low graphics settings.

Pros: the memory card is placed in a separate slot, there is fast charging 18W, long battery life, there is a fingerprint scanner (on the back), the camera unit does not protrude from the case, there is NFC, you can connect wired headphones.

Cons: there is no cover in the kit, the main camera, despite 4 lenses, shoots mediocrely in low light, micro-USB connector instead of the modern Type-C.

9. Nokia 5.3

• screen: 6.55″ (1600×720)
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 64 GB, memory card slot
• 4 cameras: 13 MP, 2 MP, 5 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 4000 mAh
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 185g

  •  All in all, the Nokia 5.3 is a solid phone, offering a great main camera, a dedicated Google Assistant key, a 3.5mm audio jack, and decent battery life. A bright display and a fingerprint scanner on the back are just icing on the cake.

  •  Snapdragon 665 chipset with Adreno 660 graphics accelerator belongs to the mid-range segment. It will even handle heavy games like Genshin Impact, although the smartphone can lag at high graphics settings.

  •  And 64GB of storage for all your apps and media can be expanded with a dedicated memory card slot.

  •  Another small but nice feature of this model is the presence of an LED notification indicator. It's on the power button.

Pros: excellent picture and video quality, contactless payment possible, pure Android.

Cons: fingerprint scanner works slowly, cool screen colors, standard 2A/5V charging.

8.Samsung Galaxy A20

• screen: 6.4″ (1560×720)
• RAM: 3 GB
• memory: 32 GB, memory card slot
• dual camera: 13 MP, 5 MP
• battery: 4000 mAh
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 9.0
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 169g

  •  The Samsung Galaxy A20 offers some pretty good features for the price. It includes a 4000mAh battery that lasted an impressive 13 hours and 46 minutes in Tom's Guide's test, a vibrant 6,4-inch AMOLED display, and dual rear cameras with Live Focus.

  •  Another plus is 15W fast charging; Galaxy A20 charges from zero to 30% in just 30 minutes.

  •  However, the trade-off for budget is a branded plastic back cover, which is easily scratched, and the somewhat slow performance of the Samsung Exynos 7904 processor. But if you run casual games on the A20 at medium and low settings, they will “fly”.

Pros: a memory card can be installed in a separate slot, there is an audio jack for connecting headphones, a good main camera, you can make contactless payments, a smart fingerprint scanner (located at the back).

Cons: performance is not for heavy games like Asphalt 9, a little bit of screen grain (if you look closely).

7. HONOR 9C

• Screen: 6.39″ (1560×720) 60Hz
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 64 GB, memory card slot
• 3 cameras: 49 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 4000 mAh
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 176g

  •  Another noteworthy smartphone in the ranking boasts a beautiful design in Space Blue color and good functionality.

  •  It features a 6,3-inch HD+ IPS color display. The 19:9 screen aspect ratio is quite suitable for comfortable watching movies or playing games.

  •  The triple rear camera consists of a 48MP wide-angle sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. With them, you can take portrait shots with bokeh effect and good quality shots, even in the evening, thanks to the night mode.

  •  The Kirin 710A chipset with the Mali-G51 MP4 GPU and support for GPU Turbo technology will run World of Tanks at 30 fps at maximum graphics settings, but more demanding games will run only at medium and low settings. In addition, it is energy efficient, which is important, since the HONOR 9C battery is not very capacious.

Pros: the presence of a film and a case in the kit, a good main camera, high performance, a slot for a memory card.

Cons: No Google services or fast charging.

6. HONOR 10X Lite

• screen: 6.67″ (2400×1080)
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 128 GB, memory card slot
• 4 cameras: 48 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 5000 mAh
• Processor: Hisilicon Kirin 710A
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 206g

  •  One of the best smartphones under 15 rubles is the successor to the previously released 000X Lite. Some of the key features of the new smartphone are a punch-hole display for the front camera and a quad-camera array on the back. Both the front and main cameras, according to the reviews of the owners of the device, shoot well, the pictures are bright and clear in good lighting conditions.

  •  The Honor 10X Lite features a 6,67-inch Full-HD+ screen, runs MagicUI 3.1 based on Android 10, but does not include Google services. Instead, the novelty comes with a proprietary application store Huawei AppGallery, which should fill the void left by Google services.

  •  It also boasts a side-mounted fingerprint scanner and a massive 5000mAh battery with support for 22,5W SuperCharge fast charging.

  •  As for performance, including gaming, the device will not have any problems with it, unless you run a couple of games like Asphalt 9 on it at maximum settings. The Hisilicon Kirin 710A processor is designed for mid-range smartphones and has 8 cores. The most powerful cores operate at a frequency of 2.2 GHz, the rest – at a frequency of 1.7 GHz.

Pros: there is already a factory film, good cameras, a large and bright screen, there is a 3.5 mm audio jack, a dedicated slot for a memory card.

Cons: no Google services.

5. Vsmart Joy 4 4/64GB

• screen: 6.53″ (2340×1080)
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 64 GB, memory card slot
• 4 cameras: 16 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 5000 mAh
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 216g

  •  This Vietnamese-made phone has everything that most users would need from their smartphone. There is the possibility of contactless payment, a capacious 5000 mAh battery with 18 W fast charging is installed, and the IPS-matrix screen boasts rich colors, good viewing angles, a large margin of brightness and a high pixel density (395 PPI).

  •  Add to this the presence of a 3.5 mm audio jack, no ads in the shell, a fast Snapdragon 665 processor that will not slow down during game battles, and you will understand why this device received a lot of positive reviews on Yandex.Market.

  •  An interesting solution for the Vsmart Joy 4 selfie camera is a window on the screen that you need to look into while shooting, so that the picture does not create the feeling of looking away. Simple and elegant.

  •  The main camera takes detailed pictures with natural colors (albeit with a slight yellowing), but only in good lighting conditions. At dusk, the quality of the photo drops sharply.

Pros: does not heat up under load, matte back is not a "magnet" for fingerprints, good performance, long autonomy, loud and clear sound.

ConsA: no LED event indicator, it is difficult to find suitable accessories for this model.

4. HUAWEI Y8P 4/128GB

• Screen: 6.3″ (2400×1080) 60Hz
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 128 GB, memory card slot
• 3 cameras: 48 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 4000 mAh
• Processor: HiSilicon Kirin 710F
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 163g

  •  One of the rare new smartphones under 15 rubles, which is equipped with an excellent OLED screen with Always On Display technology. In addition, the device has a high pixel density – 000 ppi, so there can be no talk of any graininess.

  •  Another significant advantage of this model is a fingerprint scanner built into the screen. Seeing such a decision in the state sector is strange, but nice.

  •  At the heart of the Huawei Y8p is the mid-range Kirin 710F octa-core chipset clocked at 2,2GHz. Its capabilities are enough to run any modern game on medium and low settings.

  •  HUAWEI Y8P has an NFC module, and contactless payment can be made using the Wallet application.

  •  The phone runs Android 10 without Google Play Service, although the phone does have a Huawei AppGallery with more apps and games.

  •  Huawei Y8p has a triple AI camera. The main sensor has a resolution of 48MP, followed by an 8MP ultra wide-angle lens with a 120° field of view and a 2MP depth sensor. In addition, this model has an HDR mode for images with better color reproduction. For selfies and video calls, there is a 16-megapixel camera.

  •  The battery of the smartphone is not too capacious – only 4000 mAh – but it will last for a whole day of work with periodic browsing of social networks, chatting in instant messengers, calls and watching a couple of videos on YouTube.

Pros: the protective film is already pasted from the factory, the case is included, there is an audio jack for connecting headphones, loud and clear sound, excellent screen.

Cons: no Google services, nanoSD hybrid slot, no fast charging.

3.OPPO A52 64GB

• Screen: 6.5″ (2400×1080) 60Hz
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 64 GB, memory card slot
• 4 cameras: 12 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 5000 mAh
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 188g

  •  The top 3 smartphones start with a cute design and affordable device, with a 6,5-inch IPS display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a high pixel density of 405 PPI.

  •  Under the hood of the smartphone is a mid-range Snapdragon 665 processor, which is integrated with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. As well as a 5000 mAh battery that supports an 18W fast charger.

  •  Even heavy games like PUBG run fast and smoothly on the OPPO A52, but only with medium and low graphics settings. And the presence of stereo speakers makes gaming or watching movies more enjoyable.

  •  On the back of the device is a 12MP main camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, and two 2MP sensors for portrait photography. In addition, the camera app has features such as panorama, time lapse and slow motion. For selfies and video calls, there is a 16-megapixel camera. In terms of video recording, you can record UHD 4K videos at 30fps with the main camera.

  •  The quality of the pictures of both the front and rear cameras, according to user reviews, is average – the detail is lame. So, if you take this smartphone for high-quality pictures, it is better to consider another option.

Pros: both film and case are included, you can install a memory card in a dedicated slot, there is a connector for connecting wired headphones, a fast and conveniently located fingerprint sensor.

Cons: although call recording is present, it works well only with a speakerphone, the back plastic cover, although beautiful, is easily soiled and glare. So a cover is a must.

2. Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 4/128GB (NFC)

• screen: 6.53″ (2340×1080)
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 128 GB, memory card slot
• 4 cameras: 48 MP, 8 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 5020 mAh
• Processor: MediaTek Helio G85
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• wireless interfaces: NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 199g

  •  One of the most popular smartphones under Rs 15 has a 000-inch 6,53Hz LCD display with 60 nits of brightness enough for outdoor text viewing. It's not the best display, but it's good quality and comfortable for browsing the web, YouTube videos, and other multimedia applications.

  •  The camera quality of Xiaomi Redmi 9 is pleasantly impressive considering the price of the device. Of course, it is far from a true flagship smartphone, however, most people will be satisfied with the quality of the pictures from both the main and selfie cameras of Redmi 9. For lovers of bright colors, there is an AI recognition mode in the photo. In addition, this smartphone can make slow motion videos and records videos in Full HD resolution at 30 fps.

  •  The performance of this model is on top, given the MediaTek Helio G85 processor, which is positioned as a mobile platform for mid-price smartphones. It supports HyperEngine technology, which makes the gaming experience as stable and smooth as possible through the efficient use of resources.

  •  A capacious battery ensures that the smartphone is not discharged for the whole day of the most active use. Xiaomi Redmi 9 also has support for 18W fast charging.

  •  The fingerprint scanner is located on the rear panel, under the camera array, and if you're not used to it, you can get into the camera with your finger. But this is a matter of practice.

Pros: a dedicated slot for a memory card, an audio jack for headphones, a silicone case is included, high quality photography, easily soiled plastic case.

Cons: Ad in the shell.

1. Xiaomi Poco M3 4/128GB

• Screen: 6.53″ (2340×1080) 60Hz
• RAM: 4 GB
• memory: 128 GB, memory card slot
• 3 cameras: 48 MP, 2 MP, 2 MP
• battery: 6000 mAh
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662
• SIM cards: 2 (nano SIM)
• operating system: Android 10
• wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0
• Internet: 4G LTE
• weight: 198g

  •  This is the best smartphone for several reasons:

1. The Poco M3 is available in three color options: Cool Blue, Power Black and Yellow. If you are thinking about buying this device, just choose the yellow option and ignore all the others. Why? Because yellow looks great.
2. The advantage of using colored polycarbonate for the Poco M3's back cover is that after a few bumps and scratches, the underlying plastic won't be visible, as the plastic itself is yellow in color. In addition, the matte back panel does not collect fingerprints.
3. The Poco M3's display is perfectly calibrated and easy to read even in direct sunlight. Typing, watching movies or playing games is a pleasure with minimal eye strain.
4. Stereo speakers are a rarity in budget smartphones, and here the Poco M3 is a welcome exception. Thanks to them, games become more exciting, and movies can be watched without headphones, the sound will be loud and clear enough. And if wired headphones are not enough for you, the smartphone has a 3,5 mm jack.
5. The smartphone, based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset, allows you to run high-end games such as Call of Duty: Mobile or Asphalt 9 Legends. Just do not set high graphics settings, otherwise the phone heats up quickly and starts to slow down.
6. Photos taken with this model's 48-megapixel main camera show enough fine detail, and the colors are surprisingly natural. But pictures taken under street lighting are abnormally yellow or oversaturated. The good thing is that there is a night mode that takes impressive photos with low levels of detail, but with the right colors and exposure.
7. The Poco M3's large battery usually lasts two days on a single charge.

Pros: design, stereo sound, photo quality, fast charging up to 18 W, dedicated memory card slot, convenient location of the fingerprint scanner (on the side).

Cons: no NFC, ads in the shell, no notification light like Poco X3.