best phone with lcd screen made in china
Things made in China often carry a bad rep: after all, being affordable is almost always given as their first and foremost virtue. You can"t deny that being competitive in terms of price is what Chinese companies are great at, but recently they have picked up the pace with their innovation and design. Just look at the chart of the world"s biggest phone makers and you will see the rise of Xiaomi, Oppo, and many other makers of Chinese phones. That"s not a coincidence: the Chinese market has grown hugely, but it is also international buyers that appreciate the work done by its Android phone makers. So here are the best Chinese phones right now!
There are quite a lot of exciting new Chinese phones that you should know of. They offer a ton of bang for your buck, often undercutting the competition while having the same class of hardware inside. On the software side, some Chinese manufacturers like to go crazy with re-skinning the stock version of Android, making their phones look and feel, well, unique. Be warned that some of the phones on this list do not ship with Google Play Store or any Google services for the device (ahem, Huawei).
This can"t be a list of the best Chinese smartphones without including their king, the OnePlus 10 Pro. This phone was released recently in its home country and it reportedly delivers great performance in almost every area. A global release is expected shortly. It has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor coupled with 8 or 12GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage. OnePlus smartphones are famous for being speedy, and this one is as snappy as it can get. The 10 Pro offers a gorgeous, 6.7-inch 120Hz LTPO2 AMOLED display with a QuadHD resolution. The premium OnePlus device has a nice quad-camera system too, with a 48MP main shooter and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. In terms of battery life, you won"t be disappointed either, as its 5,000mAh battery with blazing-fast 80W fast wired charging lasts at least a day. It also has one of the fastest wireless charging speeds.
Of course, all of this comes at a price, which might seem a bit hefty for some considering this company used to brag about making phones with flagship specs at affordable prices, but you can always go for the cheaper OnePlus 9 or OnePlus 9 Pro, which are great phones as well.
Xiaomi"s most premium 2021 smartphone is only available in select markets, but it is still one of the best Chinese smartphones out there. The high-end phone has an impressive under-display 20MP selfie camera, which might be the best iteration of the new technology we"ve seen so far. Other than that the Mix 4 comes packing the greatest of specs. It is powered by the fast Snapdragon 888+ processor, which is coupled with 8 or 12GB of RAM. The Mix 4 also has an impressive 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution. In terms of battery it packs a 4,500mAh one.
A key selling point of this device is its blazing fast 120W wired charging, which is one of the best in the business. The phone also supports 50W fast wireless charging, which is very cool. This phone also has a very good 108MP quad-camera system which is capable of shooting 8K 24fps video.
Realme, an offshoot of Chinese smartphone superpower Oppo, has had great success lately. The Realme GT is an excellent phone undercutting other similarly specced devices. For around $700 you get plenty of flagship features, such as a 6.7" beautiful 120Hz LTPO2 AMOLED screen with a QuadHD+ resolution, and the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip with at least 8GB of RAM. The battery is big, 5,000mAh in size, providing enough juice for more than a day of use. Camera-wise you get a 50MP main camera plus an 50MP ultra-wide, and a 3MP macro sensor.
The Realme GT 2 Pro just launched globally, so finding the device isn"t be as hard as it used to when its predecessor was first released. This phone will is easy to find in Europe at an early bid starting price of just €649.
If you want a phone that is gonna turn heads, you can"t go wrong with the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. It"s chock-full with bleeding edge, top-tier hardware on the inside, and a good value for money. As for the specs, it has a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor coupled with 8 or 12GB of RAM, a big 50.3MP main camera sensor with two more 48MP cameras for ultra-wide and telephoto shots, and a large 4,860mAh battery with blazing-fast 67W wired charging and 50W fast wireless charging.
You can buy a global version (with Google services) Xiaomi 12S Ultra from some international resellers for a price between $900 or $1,100, depending on the store, memory option, and choice of finish.
OK, this is the actual Xiaomi flagship right now — not the super-charged Ultra and not a money-saver like the 12X. The Xiaomi 12 has top-tier hardware and performance, a fantastic screen, and good looks. Spec-wise you once again have the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor with 8 or 12GB of RAM. The main camera is a 50MP sensor. A 4,500mAh battery keeps the lights on. The screen is a 6.28-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel, which means the phone is relatively small. Xiaomi 12"s global version has all the Google services every Android user needs, so no worries there. Price is about $600.
The phone itself should be a fantastic performer. The camera itself should also be fantastic — certainly capable of rivaling the iPhones and Galaxies of the world. The P50 Pro has an impressive-sounding 6.6-inch 120Hz OLED display too. It"s just a bummer that it runs HarmonyOS 2.0, which doesn"t come with Google services. This phone is a bit hard to obtain in Western markets too. The battery is 4,360mAh, which isn"t an impressive size.
ZTE launched its latest flagship in May. The Axon 40 Ultra pulls no stops, with a massive camera module, all the top-shelf hardware, and an eye-catching, matte finish on its back. It aims to be a contender for the Android crown, with its Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, 120Hz screen refresh rate, 8 to 16GB of RAM, and big 5,000mAh battery with 65W fast wired charging.
The ZTE Axon 40 Ultra has a cutting camera setup, consisting of three 64MP cameras, one of which is a periscope sensor with 3.5x optical zoom. Its price tag is desirable too, starting at about $780. This phone also has a 16MP under-display selfie camera, which is arguably the best of its kind in current days. Overall this is an impressive phone which checks all the boxes to be a true flagship, so don"t underestimate it for a second.
Another Xiaomi device brings an even better value for money than the ones above. The 12T Pro is sort of an upper-mid-range device with a giant 200MP main camera and flagship-grade Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. It is offered with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. The camera system of the 12T Pro also includes a pretty basic 8MP ultra-wide shooter and an ever more useless 2MP macro sensor.
Still, considering this device costs about $500, these compromises are understandable. The Xiaomi 12T Pro packs a big 5,000mAh battery, and the best part is that it features blazing-fast 120W wired charging. How cool is that?
Oppo"s Find X series always presents a flagship with an "experimental twist". In the case of the Find X5 Pro, it"s a ceramic or eco leather back, showing all these other flagships with glass backs how it"s done. But that"s in no way the only thing that the Find X5 Pro has going for it. This is a pretty-looking, super-performing smartphone with a very decent camera system, a beautiful LTPO2 120Hz OLED screen, and a bunch of software features.
ColorOS, on top of Android 12, is chock-full of little enhancements that make the user experience quite fun with this phone. It also has an international version that comes with Google services, so it"s most surely worth a look, though, it"s not super-easy to obtain.
The Redmi series consists of Xiaomi"s mid-range and budget-friendly phones. A step below their flagship Mi phones, the Redmis still have powerful hardware and good cameras at super easy-to-swallow prices. The Redmi Note 11 Pro has pretty decent specs and a 120Hz AMOLED screen.
While we haven"t gotten ahold of it yet, you can check out our review of the Redmi Note 9 and Redmi Note 9 Pro phones to get a general feel for what you will get with this here jewel. This phone still isn"t available in most western markets, but you can always go for the very similar Redmi Note 10 Pro which is.
Foldable phones are pretty much the pinnacle of technological achievement in the smartphone space right now. That is not to say that they are good enough to warrant their sky-high pricing, no. But they are certainly a marvel to admire from afar.
Such is the case of the Huawei Mate Xs2, which costs an arm and a leg, while it is crippled by the lack of Google services on the phone. Well, at least to westerners — Huawei is still doing well in China.
The Huawei Mate Xs2, just like the OG Mate X, ditches the inward fold idea of the Galaxy Z Fold and goes with an outward fold instead. That way when the foldable display is closed, the device looks much more like a regular smartphone, rather than a weird tall phone with big bezels.
Poco is Xiaomi"s off-shoot brand that focuses on budget phones. Of their current portfolio, the Poco X3 NFC sits squarely in the middle — it offers an upper midrange processor and a 6.67-inch 120Hz LCD screen. The X3 Pro is the global variant of the device and is easily obtained for a very good price. The software onboard is Xiaomi"s MIUI, slightly modified to fit the Poco brand.
One of the newest Poco phones, the F3, strives to be a true flagship killer. The Poco F3 is the best phone the company currently offers - it has a flagship caliber Snapdragon 870 processor and a gorgeous, 6.68-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with an FHD+ resolution. As for memory, it has either 6 or 8GB of RAM and 128 or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage. This phone is sold globally by Poco, and its price makes it a lot more appealing than some of its competition. In Europe, the Poco F3 can be found for as low as €300, depending on the storage version you choose.
So there you have it, the best Chinese smartphones you can currently get. Even smaller brands like Realme and Poco have caught up to the competition, and large manufacturers in the face of Xiaomi and Oppo are breathing down Samsung"s neck. There are plenty of excellent Android phones on this list, and most of them truly emphasise what a flagship smartphone should be.
Buying from China often gets a bad rap: we’ve all got stories of times we’ve bought something online and received something entirely different in its place or, worse, the item doesn’t arrive at all. But don’t tar Chinese tech with the same brush: Chinese phones now top all our major smartphone charts.
While Huawei without Google services is no longer the attractive proposition it once was, many other Chinese brands have stepped up to fill its place. From Xiaomi to OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Vivo and others, these phones typically offer incredible value for money, with the premium build quality and feature set you’d expect from the top Android phones, but at a price point much lower.
An outstanding follow-up to 2020’s best mid-range phone, with great performance, 5G, OnePlus’s signature Oxygen OS user experience, and a near-flagship main camera. What’s not to love?
What the OnePlus Nord 2 really demonstrates is the company’s ability to prioritise the features that users are looking for right now and wrapping them up in an attractive package with a compelling price point.
The Xiaomi 12 is a compelling flagship smartphone. Its compact form factor will appeal to those who don’t want a huge handset and, overall, the design looks and feels great.
You also get some high-end specs, such as the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, an AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, and speedy 67W charging. It’s also got a solid main camera, along with a good ultra-wide shooter, but few buyers will be excited by a telemacro lens.
The OnePlus 10 Pro offers up one of the best displays on the market right now, delivers great top-tier performance, exceptional battery life, a slick user experience and a standout – albeit somewhat divisive – design.
The phone’s biggest weakness is, as ever, its camera, which like so many OnePlus flagships before it, will likely require numerous post-launch patches to bring it in line with competitors.
The ZTE Axon 30 Ultra is a stunning proposition and offers buckets of value. It’s a genuinely exciting flagship smartphone in practically every department: it’s lightweight, feels great in the hand, the 144Hz 6.67in AMOLED display is detailed and crisp, the Snapdragon 888 allows it to perform like a gaming phone and, well, that camera setup is incredible.
There are plenty of creative shooting modes available to make the most of the system, and it caters to videographers with 8K@30fps video recording too.
The results are comparable to those taken on ultra-premium smartphones like the Galaxy S21 Ultra and iPhone 12 Pro, but with one key difference – it’s hundreds of pounds/dollars cheaper.
The software could do with a visual tweak here and there and there’s no wireless charging, but those are minor complaints in what is an otherwise phenomenal flagship.
But the 165Hz refresh rate still isn’t adaptive – combined with a smaller battery capacity, battery life is noticeably worse than last year. While the software is great for gaming, it’s slightly lacking for everyday use.
The Red Magic 7 is still an excellent phone for mobile gaming, especially at its mid-range starting price. But the better selfie camera, larger battery and much faster charging on the 7 Pro could be worth waiting for.
The Poco X4 Pro 5G is a huge upgrade over its predecessor in terms of features and design, with a premium look and feel despite the plastic body. The 120Hz AMOLED display is bright, vibrant and buttery-smooth, with one of the smallest camera cutouts we’ve seen.
While the refresh rate isn’t adaptive like premium alternatives, the phone can still comfortably last more than a day with average use, and when it does need a top up there’s 67W fast wired charging (with the necessary charger supplied in the box).
The internals are mid-range, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 695 leading the show, but performance is very decent for the money. A tempting option for the cost-conscious.
Highlights here start with the stunning screen offering AMOLED technology and a 120Hz refresh rate, and continue with an excellent set of cameras. The headline is a 108Mp whopper which is backed up by a reasonable ultra-wide and a surprisingly decent telemacro.
There are smaller delights too such as the inclusion of a headphone jack, Arc fingerprint scanner, stereo speakers and even an IR blaster. Battery life is also strong (Xiaomi includes a 33W charger in the box), and core specs are decent with a Snapdragon 732G ensuring smooth performance.
Not only is it among the first phones in the world to offer a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, it’s the first example of Realme pushing past Full HD+ resolution (while also showcasing advanced LTPO 2.0 tech) in order to deliver a more premium experience to users. It also ushers in improved long-term software support, further improving the company’s existing value-for-money proposition.
The company hasn’t stopped there, however, with green credentials that include integrating biopolymer into the phone’s design, the move to near plastic-free packaging (21.7% down to just 0.3%) and the fact that, in terms of sustainability, the GT 2 Pro is also the world’s first TCO 9.0-certified phone.
The Realme GT 2 Pro pushes the envelope, but not necessarily in the ways you might expect, and while the camera could be better and typical top-tier flagship features (like water resistance and wireless charging) are still missing, this phone is a promising sign of what’s to come.
The Honor 50 is the first phone to launch globally since the company split from former owner Huawei – and as a result it’s also the first Honor phone in years to run Google software.
Setting the software aside, it’s the beautiful curved OLED display that really excels by mid-range standards, made better by being squeezed into a phone that’s only 175g and 7.8mm thick. That makes this one of the best choices around if you want a big, beautiful display without a bulky phone.
Today it’s easier than ever to get hold of Chinese phones in the UK, with many of the big names now officially retailing here. This means you no longer need to rely on Chinese stockists such as
Geekbuying to import Chinese phones – though you will very often still find cheaper prices when you do. (Do keep in mind that when importing phones from China to the UK you are liable for import duty at 20% of the value on the shipping paperwork.)
Chinese phones are now regularly offered on contract by the UK’s major mobile operators, but sometimes when buying a Chinese phone you will need to get a SIM-free model and then pair it with a
Lower down the smartphone food chain there are countless other Chinese brands you’ll likely not have heard of, for example UMIDIGI and Bluboo, Ulefone and Elefone, Oukitel and Meizu. On paper the specifications of their phones impress, but you’ll often find corners are cut in the specifications to keep down prices – they might swap in lower-power MediaTek processors and large but lower-resolution displays, for example, while NFC, wireless charging and waterproofing are rare.
On the plus side, Chinese phones pretty much always support dual-SIM (dual-standby), and often will provide this in addition to expandable storage. As they strive to mimic the market leaders, design and build quality of Chinese phones tend to be very high.
Given everyone tends to stare at their phones on public transport, you’ve probably noticed the same brands appearing time and time again: Apple, Samsung, Nokia and maybe the odd Sony.
But Chinese smartphones are growing in popularity in the UK. Brands like Huawei and OnePlus have almost become household names, but there are plenty of others to choose from: Xiaomi, Realme, ZTE, Vivo, Oppo, Meizu and more.
These brands shouldn’t be overlooked. Chinese smartphones tend to be cheaper, and you can certainly buy without compromising on quality. Below you’ll find the case for and against buying a Chinese handset, as well as the best Chinese smartphones you can buy today.
Our favourite mid-range offering from a Chinese brand, relative newcomers Honor impressed us mightily with the Honor 70, a stylish-looking phone with a brilliant display and competitive performance and battery life. Previously selling at an average of £460 on Amazon, a brilliant deal sees the phone available for just £380 - its best price ever on the site.
The main selling point of Chinese phones remains the incredible value for money you can get by ditching the Apples, Samsungs and Sonys of this world. There are a whole host of reasons for this: low labour costs, local manufacturing and no brick-and-mortar stores mean that costs naturally come down. There’s also the total lack of marketing: when was the last time you saw an advert for a Xiaomi handset on TV?
Crucially, the reduction in cost doesn’t necessarily mean an inferior product. Chinese phones often use the latest and greatest tech, and sometimes debut new features too. The first under-screen fingerprint scanner was on a Vivo handset, and ZTE was the first company to include an in-screen selfie camera.
First up, while early Chinese smartphones could present a language barrier with poor translations at first, that’s really no longer an issue. You can select “English” when setting the phone up, and everything tends to go smoothly. You may find there are some unusual apps you have no interest in, but these can mostly be deleted or ignored, so it’s really a non issue.
A more pressing concern is insurance and repairability. Given many Chinese manufacturers have no physical presence in Europe, you’ll likely have a long wait for repairs should the worst happen, if they’ll repair them at all. Note also that if you can’t buy the phone you want in the UK, you may be looking at 20% import duty, wiping out any savings you made by buying a Chinese phone in the first place.
Another potential issue is long-term support. When you buy an Apple iPhone or a marquee Samsung handset, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good 3+ years of Android updates and security patches. That isn’t always the case with Chinese phones, although flagship models should enjoy the standard two-year lifespan you’d expect at the least.
Finally, the generally cheaper price does raise questions about the unethical sourcing of components and potentially iffy working conditions on the factory line. But, bluntly, unless you’re willing to pay over the odds for a Fairphone 3, then good luck dodging that particular ethical minefield.
In 2018, the Trump administration filed an executive order banning US companies from working with Huawei. As that includes Google, Huawei phones are now reduced to using the open-source version of Android which not only means weaker security, but no first-party Google apps including Maps, Gmail or YouTube.
If the situation changes, it’s a safe bet that a few Huawei handsets will reappear in the list below. But at the time of writing, the company’s handsets are best avoided no matter how tempting they appear on paper.
While not the biggest advancement over its predecessor, the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is still an exceptional handset with an unbeatable balance between price and features. Powered by one of the latest Mediatek chipsets, the Dimensity 1300 and backed by either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, the Nord 2T outstripped the majority of its rivals in our benchmarks, only falling short of the iPhone SE 3 (2022).
The AMOLED display with its smooth 90Hz refresh rate makes scrolling and jumping between apps a breeze and while there’s still no official IP rating, Gorilla Glass 5 covers both the front and back, reinforcing the sturdiness of the phone and lending the overall feel a sense of luxury.
Add in a solid camera array and impressive battery life, and you’re left with an outstanding all-rounder of a phone. Rather than a huge leap forward, the OnePlus Nord 2T 5G is more of a fine-tuning, but it’s a successful one – this is the best Chinese phone you can buy for the price.
Key specs – Processor: 3GHz Mediatek Dimensity 1300; Screen: 6.43in, AMOLED, 90Hz; Camera: 50MP, 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (monochrome); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 12; 5G? Yes
It’s pretty astounding the calibre of phone you can get for around £100 these days, and none of the Chinese offerings epitomise this quite as much as the Realme C31. In line with other Realme handsets, the C31 is a stunning handset, with gentle curves and an elegantly raised camera module. Corners have been cut with the use of micro-USB for charging, but overall, the design feels more substantial than its price would suggest.
Battery life is substantial, lasting roughly 15 hours, and the camera array produces surprisingly decent images in well-lit conditions. If you’re working with a budget and don’t want to compromise on key areas, the Realme C31 should be your next port of call.
Key specs – Processor: 1.8GHz Unisoc Tiger T612; Screen: 6.5in, IPS, 60Hz; Camera: 13MP, 2MP (macro); Storage: 64GB; Operating system: Android 11; 5G? No
When the flagship market starts to feel like the consumer is a pendulum, swinging dutifully between Apple’s latest iPhone and Samsung’s newest Galaxy model, Chinese brands like Oppo can be relied on to bring impressive and affordable alternatives to the table. The Find X5 is one such device, with its muscular Snapdragon 888 processor delivering powerful performance that stands up to other flagship devices.
The gorgeous AMOLED screen offers exceptional colour accuracy and refreshes at a buttery smooth rate of 120Hz. For face unlocking, the selfie camera lights up, making it easier to use in low-light conditions.
With a battery life of over 23 hours, the Find X5 is easily an all-day phone, and will likely push you into a second day with moderate use. When you hit empty, the provided 80W fast charger will juice it back to 100% in just 40 minutes. All told, the Find X5 is an astounding bargain at this price, establishing a real challenge to the big-name brands.
Key specs – Processor: Octa-core 2.84GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G; Screen: 6.55in, AMOLED, 120Hz; Camera: 50MP, 50MP (ultra-wide), 13MP (zoom); Storage: 256GB; Operating system: Android 12; 5G? Yes
While plenty of the more affordable handsets are starting to dress up in slick, flagship-style designs, none of the mid-range Chinese phones on offer quite match the level of class offered by the Honor 70. Tiny side bezels give plenty of prominence to the vibrant OLED display, while the glass back panel feels silky smooth to the touch and glints pleasingly when it catches the light.
Looks aren’t everything, of course, so the Honor 70 backs up its elegant build with competitive performance and strong battery life that lasted over 21 hours in our tests. Even better is the 66W fast charger included in the box, which will take the battery to 80% in around 30 minutes, and on to full within 45 minutes. Throw in a camera array that captures sharp, well-exposed shots in decent lighting, and the Honor 70 is the best all-round Chinese phone in the mid-range market.
Key specs – Processor: 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus; Screen: 6.67in, OLED, 120Hz; Camera: 54MP, 50MP (ultrawide), 2MP (depth); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 12; 5G? Yes
If you’ve got a hard budget of £300, there’s no better Chinese phone for your money than the Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G. The 120Hz AMOLED screen is one of the best we’ve seen in this price bracket, with Gorilla Glass 5 protection and an IP53 waterproof rating.
The Snapdragon 695 5G processor delivers decent performance, sitting shoulder to shoulder with comparable models. At roughly 18 hours, the battery life falls behind the Olympian efforts of the OnePlus Nord CE 2, but it should still see you through a day of moderate usage.
On the camera front, you’ve got a decent 108MP main shooter that produces detailed and balanced images, paired with the backup lenses – in this case, an 8MP ultra-wide and a 2MP macro. The Xiaomi Poco X4 Pro 5G a terrific phone for the price, and easily the best Chinese option under £300.
Key specs – Processor: 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G; Screen: 6.67in, AMOLED, 120Hz; Camera: 108MP, 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (macro); Storage: 256GB; Operating system: Android 11; 5G? Yes
Its cousin above, the Poco X4 Pro 5G, still holds on to the title of the best option under £300, but if you can stretch your budget a little further, the newer Poco F4 offers the most bang for your buck of any Chinese phone right now. Building on the success of the Poco F3, the F4 brings Dolby Vision to the table, for better quality streaming, as well as a bumped-up 64MP main camera and speedy 67W fast charging that is capable of filling the battery from empty in around 38 minutes.
Performance doesn’t see quite as much of an advancement as the features list, but it remains in line with similarly priced models, and even gives a couple of more expensive phones a run for their money. The smooth 120Hz AMOLED display is also as gorgeous as ever, and the improved main camera delivers vibrant, detailed images – though the secondary lenses are nothing to brag about.
Key specs – Processor: 3.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 870; Screen: 6.67in, AMOLED, 120Hz; Camera: 64MP, 8MP (ultrawide), 2MP (macro); Storage: 128GB, 256GB; Operating system: Android 12; 5G? Yes
Vivo launched a pair of new smartphones -- one slab, one foldable -- last week that are so far exclusive only to the mainland China market. While everyone"s attention has been drawn to the foldable device, the more conventional slab, named the Vivo X Note, has a couple of interesting features that set it apart from the sea of slab phones on the market.
The first is its size: with a 7-inch display, the Vivo X Note is the first phone from a major brand to break that six-point-something-inch barrier in over three years. The last phone I can think of that went this big was 2018"s Huawei Mate 20X. The second interesting factor is that the X Note runs on OriginOS, Vivo"s China-only software that, while still an Android skin, looks drastically different from most other versions of Android. It makes Vivo"s global software, FunTouchOS, look understated and plain.
About this hands-on:This article was written after testing a Vivo X Note on loan from Trinity Electronics, a third-party importer in Hong Kong not affiliated with Vivo. Neither Vivo nor Trinity Electronics had any input in this article.
The first thing to note about the Vivo X Note is that it is a big phone, but it also isn"t really that big. What I mean is that, if you"re one of those people who find even standard non-Ultra Android flagships like a OnePlus 9 or Galaxy S22 Plus too big, then the X Note will feel absurdly gigantic to you. But I am someone who has been used to Ultra and Pro Max phones, and my first reaction when I grabbed hold of the Vivo X Note was "Oh, that"s it? This doesn"t feel that big."
Sure, the X Note is noticeably taller and very slightlywider (by 2-3mm) than the iPhone 13 Pro Max and Galaxy S22 Ultra, but the X Note is a bit lighter and doesn"t have the iPhone"s sharp sides or the pointy corners of the Galaxy. I find the Vivo X Note to feel more comfortable in the hand than either of those devices.
Other than the size, the Vivo X Note is a very standard Android flagship phone, and if you"ve seen Vivo"s previous devices the craftsmanship will feel familiar. The X Note comes with either a black frosted glass back (the model I tested) or vegan leather back in blue or grey. What I find odd was that even my glass back model has texture on the left and right side that resembles stitchings you"d find on leather goods. It"s subtle; I don"t mind.
I am a fan of the new circular camera module, as I"ve always liked how circular modules look (I think the OnePlus 7T looked better than most OnePlus devices, and the Huawei Mate 30 Pro gets my vote for all-time best looking back). The camera hardware is almost identical to the system seen in the Vivo X70 Pro Plus, which is very good news in my opinion because the X70 Pro Plus"s camera system is really, really good. There are, as far as I can tell, only two noticeable differences in the cameras: the X Note"s 2x telephoto zoom lens has a smaller image sensor than the X70 Pro Plus" counterpart, and the X Note"s ultra-wide lens does not get that miniature gimbal stabilization system. Every other feature, from the Zeiss T-coating lenses to the V1 imaging chip handling image processing, is still here in the X Note.
Other than that, everything is identical to the Vivo X70 Pro Plus -- so you get haptics that are pretty good but a step below what OPPO/Xiaomi/Samsung/Google offer in their flagships; the WQHD+ OLED display is sharp and vibrant, but it"s still only an LTPO 1.0 panel. There"s IP68 water and dust resistance, and wireless charging up to 50W. An 80W charging brick comes with the package.
Remember years ago when Android skins, particularly those from Asian brands, had wildly different looks and feature sets that deviated significantly from stock Android? Those days were, in my opinion, both fun and frustrating. I remember every phone having a different navigation system (LG used on-screen buttons, Samsung used physical capacitive buttons but with the back button in the wrong place, Meizu had a quite clever all-in-one button that was both home and back, etc); I remember Vivo putting the shortcut toggle page in a swipe-up menu that sprouted from the bottom of the display; and I remember Samsung"s TouchWiz icons looking very garish. In the last couple of years, perhaps due to western consumers/reviewers" critiques and demands, every Android skin began behaving similarly and closer to how Google envisioned things. This made for much better Android skins -- I no longer care about using a third-party launcher when it was a must download for me back in 2016 -- but it has also brought about a uniformity that feels a bit boring.
Vivo"s OriginOS sort of brings those wild days back. It is an Android skin with app icons of varying shapes and sizes (that look similar to iOS 15), interactive widgets directly on the homescreen, a cacophony mishmash of colors, and dragged-out animations. As I said, the software is perhaps a bit too unpredictable for me to use as a daily driver, but it"s eye-catching, ingenious in parts, and definitely a breath of fresh air.
The above pictures show what the OriginOS homescreen looks like. There is no app tray -- all apps sit on the homescreen. A swipe up from the dock brings up a list of "Nano Kits," (in the second screenshot below) which is what Vivo calls interactive widgets.
These interactive widgets are mostly for Vivo"s own native apps, but some of them, like the interactive music player widget, work for Spotify. I am a fan of how some of these interactive widgets work. For example, the weather widget (in the third screenshot above) is scrollable -- I can swipe horizontally to check the weather later in the day. The recorder widget (in the second screenshot below) can begin recording audio with just a tap of the record button on the homescreen. You don"t have to jump into the recorder app itself to begin recording (though this makes me wonder if accidental recordings will be quite common). Every widget, even some app icons, has subtle animations that move on the homescreen independently. The clock widget, for example, has moving clock hands. The calendar app will change the day and date at midnight.
The lockscreen (first screenshot above) looks really different from any Android phone I"ve seen, with the fingerprint scanner icon in a colorful circle, surrounded by apps that you can quickly launch by dragging into the fingerprint scanner. So if I drag the step counter widget into the fingerprint scanner, the phone will unlock and launch directly to the Vivo Health app that"s been tracking my steps.
The notification shade is still triggered by a swipe down and behaves mostly the same, but the shortcut toggles have been moved to an iOS Control Center-like pane that requires a swipe from the upper right corner (fourth screenshot above).
There"s a persistent icon in the homescreen named "Mood Cube" (first three screenshots below) that allows quick change of homescreen aesthetics, from color scheme to size and shape of icons.
The translator widget is particularly impressive. If I grab a screenshot with text that"s not in the phone"s default language and then tap on the translator widget, the translator will automatically scan that screenshot and convert the text to the phone"s default language. Below, you can see it translated XDA to Chinese (the translation is mostly correct too). Right now, the translator supports English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Spanish, French, and Italian.
You can also customize one side swipe to launch an app or a widget (with the other side-swipe remaining as a "back" gesture). For example, you can set it so a right swipe from the side of the display opens AliPay or WeChat Pay (two ubiquitous payment apps everyone in China use).
And for those wondering: the Vivo X Note does not ship with Google apps but they can be installed from Vivo"s app store or a trusted source like APK Mirror. The Google Mobile Services framework is already part of the software.
OriginOS is very unique and can be useful for those who love having shortcut gestures. But ultimately, I prefer having an app tray and a homescreen that"s slightly less cluttered.
As I said, the Vivo X Note"s camera hardware is mostly identical to the Vivo X70 Pro Plus, so it"s a very strong camera system with excellent HDR. However, I am noticing some color inconsistency when comparing shots across all four of the X Note"s cameras. Perhaps Vivo hasn"t had time to fine-tune the cameras here for OriginOS as well as it has for my global version of X70 Pro Plus (running FunTouchOS).
The change in color temperature between the main and ultra-wide camera is a problem right now, but I"m confident Vivo can fix this seeing as how these are the same camera hardware as the Vivo X70 Pro Plus, and that phone had no such problems.
Since the Vivo X Note isn"t on sale outside of China, this article is more about checking a different type of phone out of curiosity"s sake than an actual buyer"s guide. While the Vivo X Note is relatively affordable at 5,999 yuan (~$942) in China, the price will certainly be marked up to well over four digits for those who want to import.
If you really want a large screen phone, or if you"ve been a fan of Vivo"s cameras as of late, the Vivo X Note may be worth considering an import, but I think OriginOS will be too quirky for most western user"s taste. Perhaps wait for the Vivo X80 series, which will release internationally and thus run on FunTouchOS. I will say this: I don"t mind if the next Ultra/Max phones get up to 7-inch in screen size too, as apps like TikTok and Instagram look ever so slightly better on a larger canvas, but Samsung and Apple will have to shave those sharp edges and hard corners to make their phones easier to hold.
To help you find the best Chinese smartphones for your money, we analyzed more than 23 options from a wide variety of different brands and then scored them according to their performance in several key areas. We ranked each phone based on its performance, camera quality, build quality, and battery power. Then, we narrowed our choices to the top 10 smartphones and presented them in this buying guide. We recommend finding a Chinese smartphone that works on your regional network and one that provides a good combination of the above features and functionalities. We preferred smartphones with good display quality, long-lasting batteries, and ultra-responsive processors.
With these factors in mind, we selected the OnePlus 8 Pro as the best Chinese smartphone. Keep reading to learn more about this powerful phone and the other best smartphone top picks we selected.
WHY WE LIKE IT: This Chinese smartphone provides a stunning 120Hz display with bright colors and added durability, making it perfect for anyone who loves to stream movies or play games on their phone. It also features a snappy internal process and blazing-fast 5G network speeds.
This Chinese manufacturer has taken the OnePlus line to the next level with the OnePlus 8 Pro. This is one of the most high-end smartphones, and it improves upon tons of the most amazing features from the previous generation. The OnePlus 8 Pro also adds brand new functionality and options, as well. We were most impressed with the OnePlus 8 Pro’s display, which features beautiful QHD+ resolution (3168 x 1440 pixels), a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR10+ support for extra-colorful picture quality. Plus, you’ll get 5G connectivity options on this brilliant smartphone, enabling you to stream your favorite movies and shows from anywhere you get cell service.
This Chinese smartphone is dedicated to reliable, snappy performance, as well. With its Snapdragon 865 processor, you’ll get quick response times and smooth overall operation, even when you’re playing games or using resource-heavy business applications. The OnePlus 8 Pro also designed incredibly well and should feel great in your hands. It offers a premium finish and IP68 water and dust resistance, which is a first for the OnePlus flagship series lineup, making it a great option if you’re in the market for the best waterproof phones. You’ll also get excellent wireless power capabilities with the OnePlus 8 Pro. It gets charged up quickly from wireless chargers and can even act as a wireless charging feature for your other mobile devices when you need it.
WHY WE LIKE IT: This powerful Chinese smartphone offers a large 4200 mAh capacity battery with incredibly long-lasting power for all-day use. You’ll also get snappy performance with a high-tech Kirin 980 processor and a stunning OLED display with a 3120 x 1400 pixel resolution, which is better than you’ll find on many flagship series phones.
If you’re looking for a premium Chinese smartphone experience, then look no further than the Huawei Mate 20. It’s built with premium quality inside and out. The best feature, though, is its incredible battery life. The battery offers an impressive 4200 mAh capacity of power, and the Mate 20 can last at least a day and a half before you’ll need to recharge it. You can even get two days of use out of the Mate 20 if you’re careful with only using the basics. You’ll also get a fast 40W charging cable included in your purchase, which fully charges the battery in minimal time. The Huawei Mate also includes a wireless charging feature for even more flexibility.
The Huawei Mate 20 features dual SIM technology, as well, so you can separate business from personal use, or maintain two separate contact lists if that’s important to you. It’s also extra responsive and powerful with its Kirin 980 chipset. This octa-core processor makes everything on the phone run incredibly smooth. This includes creating a friendly user experience in the user interface, even though it can be a little complicated at times due to the lack of refinement you often find in alternatives like Samsung and iPhone. However, the Mate 20 doesn’t lag or stutter thanks to the phone’s snappy Kirin 980 processor. The Mate 20 also features an impressively premium design. It’s got a metal frame and stunning OLED display with curved glass, all of which work together to create a beautiful looking phone. It’s a great option for anyone looking for one of the best phones for business.
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you want added durability for your Chinese smartphone, then you can’t go wrong with this option and its rubberized edges, MIL-STD-810G certification,shatter-resistant display. It also gives you powerful performance with its Helio P90 chipset and impressively long-lasting 5500 mAh battery.
The Ulefone Armor 7e brings added durability and ruggedness to the Chinese smartphone category. If you work a tough job and tend to damage your phones a lot, then this is a great choice for you. The Armor 7e features pretty much anything you could ever want when it comes to durability. At first glance, you’ll notice the outer casing with four long sites and rubberized plastic covering the edges and corners. With this tough build quality, the Armor 7e will be able to survive tall drops and even hits with ease. The display is also extra touch, with an oleophobic coating and built-in screen protector on the Gorilla Glass 5 display. You’ll also be pleased to know that the Armor 7e meets MIL-STD-810G specifications and features an IP69K rating. These ratings mean it can be used in the field or on a worksite without worries of getting ruined, even from high-pressure sprays of water. Even more, the Ulefone Armor 7e is built with waterproof glue, which keeps water out even more effectively. It’s safe to say that this is one of the most durable Chinese smartphones your money can buy today.
The Ulefone Armor 7e rugged smartphone also features a powerful Helio P90 chipset, which powers the phone to the point where you will experience minimal lag or stuttering. This level of performance makes the Armor 7e a good competitor against even the most premium Chinese smartphones. It’s also designed incredibly well, with a large 6.3-inch display and FHD+ resolution. It looks good in most situations but could use a little more brightness and color. You might worry about battery life with all of these premium features, but you can rest assured that the Armor 7e will last you a long time. Its battery is rated at 5500 mAh and will last you for hours on end before you need to charge it again. The battery also features a wireless charging feature, which is a nice touch. For even more durable options, check out our best rugged smartphones buying guide.
WHY WE LIKE IT: This premium flagship phone offers the best when it comes to design, display, and camera quality. With a next-gen camera array on both the front and back of the phone, you’ll be able to take the best selfie photos and video with ease.
We have a lot of praise for the Huawei P30 Pro Chinese smartphone. It’s built well with an incredibly appealing design and form factor. This level of quality and attention to detail is apparent inside and out, and it’s apparent as soon as you hold the phone in your hands for the first time. The Mate P30 Pro features a sleek design aesthetic that includes a metal frame, glass back, and extra-large display. The display’s image quality is what really makes the phone shine. It’s a curved, infinity design with minimal bezels and full HD resolution. If we’re being honest, the resolution is a little disappointing, but you’ll still get amazing picture quality with sharp details and vivid colors. The display even features HDR, or high dynamic range, color support for a more immersive experience.
We were also really impressed by the Huawei P30 Pro’s camera setup. It features a rear-camera array with three different lenses and a Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor. On the main camera, you’ll get a high resolution of 40 megapixels of resolution, as well as a stellar 32-megapixel selfie camera on the front. The Mate P30 Pro snaps excellent photos and video recordings, so if you’re a mobile photographer, you’ll be extra pleased with this device. The camera also includes tons of different software enhancements like optical image stabilization (OIS) to make sure you get a clear, detailed picture or video, every time. It’s a great option for anyone in search of the best phones for vlogging and prefer a chinese model.
WHY WE LIKE IT: With a large 5260 mAh battery and a large, high-resolution display, you’ll get a solid mid-range option with this Chinese smartphone. The display is the phone’s best feature, with bright and vivid color reproduction, along with a responsive in-display fingerprint sensor and HDR10 support.
The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 entry-level phone offers solid mid-range performance and functionalities. It doesn’t quite hold up to the most expensive or premium options, but it does well overall and is more affordable than those flagship phones, as well. One area in which this large-screen Chinese smartphone excels, though, is when it comes to battery life and camera quality. The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 was the first smartphone to offer a 108-megapixel camera sensor, and still produces better image and video quality than many of the newest flagship phones available on the smartphone market today. We were very impressed by the Note 10’s stellar camera performance. It can take amazing shots, both still images and video, in a variety of different lighting scenarios, including low light situations. If you’re looking for an excellent camera, this is the Chinese smartphone that will work best for you.
We were also really impressed by the Mi Note 10’s truly-powerful battery life. With a large, 5260 mAh battery, you’ll get all-day battery life and often even multi-day battery performance. Of course, as with all batteries, performance can be lessened when you run the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 on the brightest display settings and while using resource-heavy applications all day long. The Mi Note 10’s display is also something to be applauded. It’s brighter and more colorful than its affordable price point suggests. And while it only offers a 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution, the display still outperforms many of the other options of the smartphone market, making it one of the best large screen phones on the list. You’ll also get cutting edge charging functionality with the included 30W fast charger, which gives you a full charge in the matter of an hour or two.
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you need a lot of internal storage to store pictures, movies, and app data, then you’ll love this Chinese smartphone. With 256GB of base storage and the option to expand up to 2TB with a microSD card, this phone has all of your storage needs covered.
The ZTE Axon 10 Pro is a good mid-range Chinese smartphone that offers reliable processing power with its impressive Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 chipset. This processor, paired with the phone’s 8GB of RAM, makes quick work of mobile games and processor-heavy applications. Everything runs smoothly on the Axon 10 Pro, even the user interface, which is a little clunky in some areas. We were impressed by the phone’s overall performance, and you’ll be sure to get a reliable user experience if you buy this option.
Where the ZTE Axon 10 Pro really shines is in its storage options. For starters, the smartphone offers a large base internal storage of 256GB. This is impressive enough on its own, but it gets even better when you find out the Axon 10 Pro also has a microSD card slot with support for up to 2TB of additional storage. If you like to use your smartphone as a portable music and movie player, then the Axon 10 Pro is your best bet. And while the ZTE Axon 10 Pro doesn’t feature the most exciting design in the world, it still has a beautiful AMOLED screen with a 2340 x 1080 pixel resolution and responsive in-display fingerprint sensor. You’ll also get a wireless charging feature for an added versatility bonus. For 5G capabilities, check out our best 5G phones buying guide.
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you use your phone for photography purposes, then you can’t go wrong with this powerful Chinese smartphone. With excellent low light performance, impressive camera software, and large megapixel sensors, you’ll be able to take your photography to the next level with this option.
The Huawei P20 Pro catches its stride when it comes to its onboard camera array and everything that comes with it. The phone features an impressive triple camera setup with 40MP, 20MP, and 8MP lenses, each with a different purpose that enhances your overall image quality. The camera also features a really great night mode for low light photography. We were even more impressed by the Huawei P20 Pro’s camera software enhancements, the best of which includes an AI algorithm to sharpen the overall detail of your images.
When it comes to design and performance, the P20 Pro sports Huawei’s beautiful design mindset. The phone looks sharp, with rounded corners, a metal frame, and a gorgeous OLED display. Unfortunately, the OLED display is where the design suffers the most. It’s not as sharp as other Huawei phones, but it still looks good under most circumstances. The P20 Pro also features a plucky Kirin 970 CPU and a big 4000 mAH battery, the combination of which can give you a whopping two-day battery life with average use. No need for the best portable charger with this device!
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you’re on a budget and looking for the best budget Chinese smartphone, then this is the choice for you. With a snappy Kirin 970 chipset and tons of expandable storage, you’ll get both performance and flexibility on this entry-level phone.
The Honor View 10 Chinese smartphone takes performance to the next level when compared to its affordability. This affordable phone offers a snappy Kirin 970 processor, which gives you flagship performance without the added price tag. While the user interface feels a little heavy at times, it’s overall very responsive and easy to use. The Honor View 10 also sports an appealing design, from its back cover to the bright and colorful IPS display on the front. The screen size measures in at just under six inches, as well, making this one of the best small Chinese smartphones your money can buy.
Perhaps the best design quality here with this budget phone is the Honor View 10’s overall storage functionality. The phone comes with 128GB of built-in storage out of the box, but it can also be expanded to include much more space with the inclusion of the microSD card slot. The camera on the Honor View 10 is acceptable, but it lacks the polish and software enhancements that you’ll find in more premium handsets. All in all, though, you’re getting excellent value and quality here for such an affordable phone. It’s a good option if you’re in the market for the best phones for kids.
WHY WE LIKE IT: If you love devices with large, bright displays with slim bezels and no notch, then you’ll love this Chinese smartphone. Plus, with its fast Snapdragon processor and impressive camera array, then this smartphone gives you plenty of premium functionality.
The Vivo X50 Pro is a Chinese smartphone that excels in the display quality department. This is a large, 6.56-inch beautiful AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution, at 2376 x 1080 pixels. The display also features an impressive 90Hz refresh rate, which makes action movies and mobile games extra smooth. However, the best part of this display is the fact that it stretches nearly all the way across the phone for an infinity display effect. There are virtually zero bezels and you’ll also notice that there is no notch for the front-facing camera. Instead, you’ll get a unique punch-hole design that keeps the camera out of the way. The effect is truly stunning, which is why the Vivo X50 Pro phone has the best display in this category.
The Vivo X50 Pro also earns high marks when it comes to performance. Sure, it doesn’t offer the latest and greatest CPU, but the included Snapdragon 765G processor offers plenty of power for all of your needs. The Vivo’s user interface can feel a little clunky at times, and it has too much pre-installed bloatware – but it offers an overall reliable and smooth user experience. The Vivo X50 Pro really shines with its camera, though. It features an incredibly innovative gimbal camera system that stabilizes your photos and videos much better than the standard optical image stabilization tech can. The results are sharp, detailed pictures in any situation. Great if you’re looking for one of the best selfie camera phones.
WHY WE LIKE IT: With a unique design, powerful processor, and the fastest charging technology, this Chinese smartphone is extra versatile for the broader customer base. You’ll also get an amazing camera with next-gen AI enhancements and AR capabilities.
At first glance, you’ll notice just how unique the Honor View 20 truly is. It features a similar shape and form factor to many flagship Chinese phones available today, but there are a few things that stand out. The first is the phone’s radical color design on the backplate. It looks different and unique, and it surely will turn some heads. Next, you’ll get a unique punch-hole design on the display for the front-facing camera. This gives you even more display real estate, which is a nice plus. In our opinion, these additional design features elevate the overall user experience. You’ll also get an extra-responsive Kirin 980 processor with the Honor View 20. This makes the UI and mobile applications feel snappy and smooth. Unfortunately, you’ll miss out on some more advanced design aspects here, like 5G connectivity and wireless charging capabilities.
The Honor View 20 also provides impressive overall camera performance. While it doesn’t feature the multi-lens approach that is so common on new Chinese smartphones, you’ll still get a powerful 48-megapixel camera on the rear camera setup and a solid 25-megapixel sensor on the front-facing selfie camera. We were impressed by both the rear and front cameras, which snap really clear and detailed shots. This is mostly due to the AI Ultra Clarity enhancement, which uses Artificial Image Stabilization (AIS) and four-in-one superpixel tech to create crisper results. The Honor View 20’s camera is also capable of excellent low-light photography, making it one of the best low light camera phones on our list.
In terms of specs, we ranked the best Chinese smartphones in many of the same ways we did with the rest of our smartphone buying guides. First and foremost, we started by looking at each phone’s overall performance and reliability. We only included phones in our guide if they were able to function smoothly throughout the day with most applications and workflows. We awarded bonus points to phones that provided extra-powerful processors for things like gaming or business applications. In this area of our analysis, we also preferred phones with user interfaces that were simple and easy to learn. If this is your first Chinese smartphone, you might be surprised with a brand new UI that you’ve never seen before, but this shouldn’t be a downside to the Chinese phone you purchase.
Next, we looked at form factor and design aesthetic. This includes ranking phones based on their display quality and additional amazing features like biometric security and camera quality. We preferred phones with a premium build quality, with extra-tough displays and metal frames for protection against drops. We also ranked phones with high-resolution screen quality higher than other options. When it came to the camera setup, we looked for phones with multi-lens arrays, high-megapixel sensors, and intuitive software overlays and enhancements to make your photos really pop.
Finally, we considered each phone’s battery life and durability. We preferred phones with large batteries as they last the longest before needing a recharge, even when playing mobile games or using 5G network speeds. We ranked phones highest if they could provide all-day battery life. We also preferred phones with specific durability features like IP68 water and dust resistance or Gorilla Glass 5 for the displays.
Before you purchase a Chinese smartphone, you’ll definitely need to consider whether or not it will work in your specific region. Chinese phones are of course optimized for Chinese networks, and they may not offer the internal antenna bands necessary to work on the wireless networks in your area. You may need to do some extra digging to find network compatibility, but it will be worth it, in the end, to ensure you get a phone that works with your wireless carrier. For the most part, Chinese phones that work in the USA are usually compatible with GSM technology, which means they’ll only work on the AT&T or T-Mobile networks.
Like all smartphones, you should also consider how well your Chinese smartphone performs under a variety of different circumstances. This performance is mostly reliant on the phone’s internal processor, or chipset. Overall performance can also depend on the phone’s user interface and whether or not it contains bloatware, which are the default apps the phone manufacturer installs on the device out of the box. These apps may not serve any purpose to you and can bog down your phone’s performance.
If you like taking pictures and shooting video on the go, then you’ll definitely want to consider your smartphone’s overall camera quality. The best Chinese camera smartphone usually features a multi-lens camera setup, which includes different lenses for different situations. Look for ultra-wide angle lenses, standard lenses, and telephoto lenses for the best picture quality. Also, consider how much resolution you’ll get when filming. Most flagship Chinese smartphones can record up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, and some can even record in 8K resolution, but that’s fairly uncommon to see at this point.
In order to get the most out of your new Chinese smartphone, you’ll want to purchase an option that has a large battery in order to get all-day performance. Phones that feature bigger battery ratings, measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), are much more likely to last you a much longer time. However, things like extra-bright displays and 5G network connectivity can drain your battery faster than usual, so if you’re planning on using those amazing features, we recommend looking for the phone with the biggest battery you can get.
China"s mobile phone industry or cell phone industry has high growth rate, raising its share on the global mobile phone market. During 2007, 600 million mobile phones were made in China which accounted for over 25 percent of the global production.mobile phone subscribers.
In 1987, wireless telephone communication in the modern sense started by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of China, using TACS technology. A nationwide network was completed in the following year.
In 1994, the fixed telephone company (China Telecom) and two mobile phone telephone companies (China Mobile and China Unicom) were spun off from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
China Unicom (Chinese: 中国联通) continues the old China Unicom"s GSM service, absorbed the old China Netcom"s network of fixed telephones in the north of the Yangtze River in China, and started 3G service using W-CDMA technology.
China Telecom (Chinese: 中国电信) continues PHS service of the old China Netcom and China Telecom, continues the old China Telecom"s network of fixed telephones in the south of the Yangtze River, and began 3G service using CDMA2000 technology.
Wireless communication is regulated by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The mobile phone industry in China has grown to become a large industry, including research of new technology, manufacturing of mobile phones and building of communications networks, contributed by the domestic companies and also foreign companies, such as:
In 2007, the domestic sales of mobile phone in china were 190 million, increased by 74 percent as compared with 2007. The impetus mainly came from the rapid growth of new mobile phone users and old customers" upgrading demands. Of 190 million mobile phones, 140 million were made through formal channels, while the rest were made through informal channels such as smuggling, counterfeiting and renovating.
The export volume of China"s mobile phones added up to a record high of 385 million in 2006, increased by 69.3 percent as compared with 2005. In 2007, this figure reached 483 million, increased by 125.45 percent as compared with 2006. As far as 2006, the export volume had reached US$31.214 billion, increased by 52.47 percent as compared with 2005. The export volume of 2007 was 35.6 billion dollars, increased by 114.01 percent as compared with 2006.
Since 2011 smartphones, especially running the open source Android operating system, have become increasingly popular in the Chinese mobile market. By 2016 smart-phones have become the dominant seller in the Chinese market. This is due to the Android system providing the possibility for factories to produce smartphones with increasing ease, which in turn has allowed prices to decrease even to below RMB 1,000 Yuan. These cheap smartphones are also exported to every corner of the world thanks to Chinese internet sales platforms such as aliexpresss.com and DHGate.com, and overseas online sales platforms such as eBay.com and Amazon.com.
China"s mobile phone market is dominated by products with price under 2000 RMB yuan (about 300 dollars). Products at this price have accounted for 60 percent