UMi X2
UMi entered the market with the X1 at the same time as JiaYu and the G3, and actually became the phone of choice for many jilted JiaYu G3 fans. The X2 promises to be an even better phone, but will it manage to overshadow the JiaYu G4?
Umi X2 Specification
What if I said the UMi X2 is basically the same phone (on paper) as the Oppo Find 5 but at a much lower (no lower than that) price point? Well in essence it is as it is rumored to feature a quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 13 mega-pixel rear camera, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS and 5-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Of course UMi have gone for the MT6589 quad-core chip in the X2 and the rear camera isn’t going to be the flashy Sony unit of the Oppo, but for the price it all looks astonishingly good!
UMi X2 Launch and price
Like the G4, Umi are waiting on Mediatek to get up to speed with the MT6589 so expect an April launch. Rumors suggest pricing is going to be as low as 1499 Yuan ($240) so get your pre-orders in early!
UMi X2 conclusion
Although Umi have decided to stray away from their unique design of the X1 and are verging on Samsung Galaxy Note clone with the X2, this phone is likely to be a superstar once launched!
Xiaomi M3
Xiaomi still haven’t made the M2 available in stores, and they company are suffering from sell outs and stock shortages due to high demand, but this hasn’t stopped the Xiaomi M3 rumors!
Xiaomi M3 specification
The M3 specification is still being decided and won’t be confirmed for sometime, but what we have heard is that the new phone will receive a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 CPU marking the companies first use of a non Qualcomm chip!
Further rumors suggest a 4.5-display, LTE support, Android 4.2 Jelly Bean and between 2-2.5GB RAM!
Xiaomi M3 Launch and price
Don’t expect the Xiaomi M3 anytime soon as it will likely launch in October 2013! However the good news is that it will probably go on sale for 1999 Yuan ($320) just as the M1 and M2 have before it.
Xiaomi M3 conclusion
I can’t wait to see the real phone and spec, but I’m not entirely excited about having to win a lottery to buy one. Let’s hope we see a few Xiaomi stores open up in the next few months.
ZTE Grand S
The Nubia (hehe) Z5 is a China only launch, but for the rest of the world you can look forward to the ZTE Grand S, which is actually a similar phone only thinner and cheaper!!
ZTE Grand S specification
If you know the Oppo Find 5 and Nubia Z5 specification the hardware in the Grand S will be of no surprise, what is surprising though is that this phablet is rumored to measure in at just 6.9mm thick!
ZTE Grand S launch and price
The Grand S will be launched at CES in January and will likely go on sale not long after. Rumored Chinese retail pricing suggest the Grand S will cost just 2799 Yuan ($450) which is quite a bit cheaper than the Z5 and the Oppo Find 5!
ZTE Grand S conclusion
I’m really interested in what ZTE have planned for the Grand S. If it turns out to have the same Sony Exymor Pro camera as the Oppo I might even be swayed to buy one instead!
More great 2013 Chinese phones on the next page!
Andi, what is your favorite? Oppo, Nubia?
Oppo then the Grand S
Why the Huawei ascend mate is not in your list ? Waiting for this phone 🙂
It’s too huge 😉
xiaomi mi-2 it’s good than every thing
very best in every thing also in repair when some mistake happen he repair self
i’m not waiting any of this phones… 5″+ is really TOO much for phone.
you should name this article “Top of phablets and Xiaomi M3” 🙂
Maybe I should do a write up of phones smaller than 5-inch for 2013?
Hi Andy,
Great work!
Can you please suggest me some latest and good 4 to 4.5 inches phones? It will be very nice since I am unable to find any good phone in 4 to 4.5 inches range.
Thanks,
Sachin
It seems that lots of phones are expected to come up in April. So will that be the perfect time to buy a quad core? 🙂
+1
What do you think Andi? Anyway, I’m waiting at least after CES 2013 & MWC + 2-3 weeks. But that’s before April 13… not sure if good timing then.
BTW, great summary of Chinese smartphones situation, keep on and Happy New Year!
I want an Oppo, but the way things keep going another phone will be out by the time it launches….. 😉
No newmann n2?
Couldn’t fit them all in sorry 🙂 The Newman does look awesome though!
Andy, check your sources. Official G4 specifictations are available for some time. It will have 4,7 720p OGS screen. http://bbs.ejiayu.com/thread-368465-1-1.html
thank for detailed info of upcoming quad core .. my favourates are umi x2 , jiayu g4 , and neo 003 . and even dual core jiayu g2s .
Knowing jiayu strange timeline I think you can already add the G4 to the 2014 list as well
I dont have a problem with phones running MTK processors but I would like to see MTK phones sporting 2gb RAM which seems to be the 2013 norm.
If you could explain what those 2gb of ram would be for, maybe I would agree with you.
I doubt that Jiayu G4 will be 5″ Full HD. (I have the G3 andI like it , for sure would consider a 1920×1080 phone from Jiayu). You can check Jiayu official forum they speak about G4,G5 and G6 as comming in 2013 (official not speculations). Unfortunatelly using Google translate at least it does not look like any of these models will be full HD so no new Jiayu for me in 2013.
Are there any plans to models for Windows Phone 8?
I doubt.You expect a “cheap” phone when the OS licence alone is $90 ?
I was a Microsoft suporters back on Windows Mobile times, but noy anymore. Windows Phone is a CLOSED OS more closed tan Apple’s one.Remember on The Windows Phone 7 they did not even implement a file system (not user accessible one) and did not support SD cards? They were forced to do a little bit more lately but an OS which does not allow side loading of apps (I don’t speak about beiing open source here, just allow the same level of user control like the old WIn Mobile) has no chance of success in my eyes.Same fate for Windows RT which will soon be remembered by some as the second Zune.
I think any serious manufacturer especially the ones which goes for value prices would be stupid to even consider Windows Phone.
By the way Windows Phone 8 does not support Full HD so don’t expect a 5″ full HD from anybody. Wait for Windows Phone 9 for this. (happy waiting…).
Nice list, but can you add a table for easier comparison?
I don’t see why not. I’ll work on it later.
Please do so. I need help comparing tablets.
Will do once I have some time.
I’m waiting on Huawei’s Ascend Mate. 6.1″ and record breaking processor is just too alluring.
But in all honestly, I’m going to take a hard look and EVERY device that ships with a 5″ 1080p screen for under 3000RMB.
Now if we can just get these manufactures from faking videos and claiming “they are the first to ship” (Goophone!) and focus on ACTUALLY shipping, then we’ll all be happy campers.
Opps. no editing possible on posted comments…
My current thinking is:
(1) Huawei Ascend Mate (hate the name though 😉
(2) Oppo Find 5
(3) ZTE Grand S
In that order, subject to actual availability.
I’m not a fan of the Mate, but I agree with the Oppo and Grand S 🙂
+1 waiting for the “mate”
+1 “going to take a hard look and EVERY device that ships with a 5″ 1080p screen for under 3000RMB”
You know, 3000 RMB is quite a good money for me and gets pretty near the price the Note 2 will have in a few months (I guess it’ll be cheaper when the 1st round 5″ FullHD beasts come out). Last but not least is Lenovo K5 and so on…
I definitely will wait, other things I want to know is what will happen with Samsung Tizen releases, Ubuntu for phones real-life requirements and other manuf.’s: RIM’s Z10, Sony’s next 5″… the market is on fire! =:U
For me, it has to be a DUAL SIM phone ! 😛
Did you check out the new TCL Y900? Looks awesome!
So where are the rest of the top 10?
OK I see. Next page. Not very visibible
Andi, trying to place a pre-order for UMI X2, but don’t have any links with the price you are suggesting here. Could you guide us the correct website with the correct price, please? It would be quite useful.
It’s not been released yet how are you planning to order it?
Thank you Andi for the good coverage of the most prospective China’s smartphones in 2013. I am awaiting eagerly these cool handsets to reach the South East Asia marketplaces at good bargain prices, under excellent specs & functionalities, hopefully at the soonest within the Q1 (at the latest, in early Q2) 🙂 i’m TERRIBLY SICK of no good choices at present, being cornered with the blackmailing prices of iExtortU device and the repeatedly Samesong, again… 😀
Happy New Year Andi, and to all GizChina frequent readers too 🙂
I wish GizChina flourishes through 2013 and after…
ReformedSheep
Thanks for the kind words! Happy New Year to you too!
Andi, please don’t forget to give info about Miracast when you will describe any MT6589 smartphone, The Miracast is the most important thing and also the Active Dual Sim function for the MT6589 chipset.
Miracast is available starting with Android 4.2, so is important also the version of Android.
At this rate, we’ll be using 7-inch superphablets in a couple years. This is ridiculous — are people actually asking for phones so big that you can’t even use them properly with one hand unless you’re an NBA player?
The only phone in this batch that is practical, and hence I’m most excited about, is the Xiaomi Mi3 phone (4.5″ is about the maximum screen size you can comfortably use with one hand).
Hi,
Thank you for the nice information. 5 inch is very big imo.
Can you also tell about any upcoming phones having 4 inch screen.
Cheers!
guys, I’m sick of changin the battery ogf my phone. please list phone with more than 3500mah capacity!!
my phone battery last only 6 hours, it’s really annoying. i’m going to downgrate to dual core