Top 10 Chinese smartphones under $100!


Chinese smartphones have gotten really cheap over the years, now you can even get an handset that is not ‘trash’ for less than $100. This is why we made a top 10 Chinese smartphones under $100!

The only minimum requirement we applied is the OS, they all ship with Android 6.0 Marshmallow! Also, it’s worth noting that this list is in no particular order.

Top 10 Chinese smartphones under $100!

#1 HomTom HT20

HT20_04

The HT20 is the first on our list as it blends specs and price in the best way possible, albeit the design is not that amazing (it’s 12.9mm thick). The HomTom HT20 comes with a 4.7″ HD IPS screen, a Mediatek MT6737 CPU, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable) and it’s powered by a 3500mAh battery.

Other than that, it also features a fingerprint scanner, 4G LTE and IP68 waterproof rating.

#2 Oukitel U7 Plus

Oukitel U7 Plus

The Oukitel U7 Plus came out in July of this year and it sports a 5.5″ HD display, a MediaTek MT6737 CPU, 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal memory (pretty much a constant). Also here there’s a fingerprint scanner and 4G LTE connectivity.

The battery of the Oukitel U7 Plus has a capacity of 2500mAh and it’s removable.

#3 Ulefone Paris

ulefone paris gold

The Ulefone Paris is the older device in here but it still deserves a spot in this list. This one features a 5.0-inch HD IPS display and the usual MediaTek MT6753; 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in memory (expandable), 4G LTE and a 2200mAh.

The camera has a resolution of 13MP with an aperture of f/1.8. There’s no fingerprint scanner.

#4 Doogee X5 Max Pro

Doogee Max Pro

The Doogee X5 Max Pro is a very interesting phone, although it sports a 5.0″ HD display, it still manages to pack a 4000mAh battery. That comes at the cost of thinness, the Doogee X5 Max Pro is indeed 9.9mm thick, not too bad all things considered.

The hardware inside is average: MediaTek MT6737 CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. The Doogee X5 Max Pro also features a fingerprint scanner and a 5MP rear camera.

#5 Cubot Manito

cubot-manito-2

The Cubot Manito is the newest phone on this list as it only launched last week. The handset comes with a 5.0-inch HD IPS screen, a MediaTek MT6737, 3GB of RAM, 16GB of ROM. There’s also 4G LTE connectivity and a 13MP rear shooter with f/2.0 aperture. There’s no fingerprint scanner and the battery has a capacity of 2300mAh.

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#6 THL T9 Pro

THL T9 Pro

The THL T9 Pro sports a 5.5-inch HD screen and it’s made entirely of plastic, under the hood we find a MediaTek MT6737 CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory (expandable). There’s also a fingerprint scanner and 4G LTE network compatibility. It’s fueled by a 3000mAh capacity battery.

#7 Bluboo Maya

MAYA

Here’s another phone with 5.5 HD screen, the Bluboo Maya. The device stands out for it’s nice design and choice of materials (aluminum and plastic). It comes with a MediaTek MT6580 CPU clocked at 1.3Ghz, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

There’s no fingerprint scanner or 4G LTE, so that’s kind of a bummer. The battery has a capacity of 3000mAh and it’s removable.

#8 HomTom HT17 Pro

Homtom HT17 Pro

Similarly to the Bluboo Maya, the HomTom HT17 Pro sports a 5.5″ IPS screen with HD resolution. It’s powered by a MediaTek MT6737, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal memory and it supports 4G LTE. The Bluboo Maya manages to also add a fingerprint scanner on the back, just below a Sony 8MP.

The battery is removable and should be enough to fuel you through the day with its 3000mAh capacity.

#9 iNew U5F

iNew U5F

The iNew U5F is probably the cheapest phone in this list and you already get that from the screen, a 5.0-inch with 480*854 resolution. Other hardware includes a MediaTek MT6735P processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

The 3000mAh removable battery and 4G LTE connectivity are perhaps its biggest selling points. There’s no fingerprint scanner.

#10 Leagoo M5

Leagoo M5

In contrast to the previous phone, the Leagoo M5 features a 5.0″ HD display with 2.5D curved glass and Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It packs a MediaTek MT6735P CPU, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in memory. There’s a fingerprint scanner and the battery has a capacity of 2300mAh (removable). Sadly, the smartphone doesn’t support 4G LTE networks.

Over To You

What are your thoughts on our top 10 smartphones under $100 list? Are there any other phones you think we should have listed? Let us know in the comments section below.

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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88 Comments

  1. .
    October 6, 2016

    No umi? Gizchina is about to lose their main sponsor

  2. Jh1
    October 6, 2016

    It’s nice to see decent phones being produced for under $100 now, but the real bargains at the moment are in the $90-130 dollar range. The xiaomi mi4, mi4c, redmi 3, redmi note 3 pro, meizu m2, m3, m2 note and m3 note, and le eco le1 can all be found for under $130 at the moment, and offer far more for your money. I’m sure I’m missing a few other options, but those are the ones that spring to mind. I know most don’t ship with Android 6.0, and as such don’t meet the article requirements, but I’d rather have the higher hardware specs than the latest Android.

    • Ricardo Alonso
      October 6, 2016

      + Nubia Z7 Max! Excellent phone

      • Jh1
        October 6, 2016

        I knew I was missing some good ones. That is a very nice phone for $115

  3. debianxfce
    October 6, 2016

    Put 10 usd more and you get Xiaomi mi4c. Much faster, fullhd screen and other features. Best features/price phone.

    • Lazar Prodanovic
      October 7, 2016

      16GB storage & without SD card which makes it not so much of a best deal.

    • October 7, 2016

      I agree, but some phones on the list cost as low as $70. Then it would be $40 more and some people aren’t willing to spend “that much”.

  4. Guest
    October 6, 2016

    No umi? Gizchina is about to lose their main sponsor

  5. Jh1
    October 6, 2016

    It’s nice to see decent phones being produced for under $100 now, but the real bargains at the moment are in the $90-130 dollar range. The xiaomi mi4, mi4c, redmi 3, redmi note 3 pro, meizu m2, m3, m2 note and m3 note, and le eco le1 can all be found for under $130 at the moment, and offer far more for your money. I’m sure I’m missing a few other options, but those are the ones that spring to mind. I know most don’t ship with Android 6.0, and as such don’t meet the article requirements, but I’d rather have the higher hardware specs than the latest Android.

    • Ricardo A.
      October 6, 2016

      + Nubia Z7 Max! Excellent phone

    • Jh1
      October 6, 2016

      I knew I was missing some good ones. That is a very nice phone for $115

  6. Guest
    October 6, 2016

    Put 10 usd more and you get Xiaomi mi4c. Much faster, fullhd screen and other features. Best features/price phone.

    • Lazar Prodanovic
      October 7, 2016

      16GB storage & without SD card which makes it not so much of a best deal.

    • Pierre
      October 7, 2016

      I agree, but some phones on the list cost as low as $70. Then it would be $40 more and some people aren’t willing to spend “that much”.

  7. October 7, 2016

    Ulefone Paris its old now i think…Oukitel K7000, MOREFINE MAX1, NUU X4 its more ok…

    • October 7, 2016

      Yeah, they’re good phones for under $100, but at the beginning I mentioned all devices must be running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Those you mentioned run Android 5.1, except the Oukitel K7000 which I didn’t include for the smaller 2000mAh battery, somebody would have complained about that as well. 😀
      Thanks for your feedback, though!

      • Sally
        October 15, 2016

        I bought Uhans A101 for 49.99 with the battery 2450 and 4G and on Android 6.0

        • Adriano
          October 18, 2016

          I ordered A101 in the old version too. Now I choose the smartphone to the wife. I watch tops. Incidentally saw news that Uhans is going to improve A101 2GB. If it is not much dearer than A101 of the old version. That I will order it in red color.

  8. October 7, 2016

    Out of all of these phones the only ones worht considering are the U7 Plus, HT20 and Manito.

  9. Cosmin
    October 7, 2016

    Ulefone Paris its old now i think…Oukitel K7000, MOREFINE MAX1, NUU X4 its more ok…UMi?

    • Pierre
      October 7, 2016

      Yeah, they’re good phones for under $100, but at the beginning I mentioned all devices must be running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Those you mentioned run Android 5.1, except the Oukitel K7000 which I didn’t include for the smaller 2000mAh battery, somebody would have complained about that as well. 😀
      Thanks for your feedback, though!

    • Guest
      October 15, 2016

      I bought Uhans A101 for 49.99 with the battery 2450 and 4G and on Android 6.0

    • Guest
      October 18, 2016

      I ordered A101 in the old version too. Now I choose the smartphone to the wife. I watch tops. Incidentally saw news that Uhans is going to improve A101 2GB. If it is not much dearer than A101 of the old version. That I will order it in red color.

  10. MitsosDaBest
    October 7, 2016

    Only Oukitel and Cubot are somewhat good brands from all these… The rest brands are very bad.

  11. Aristotelis Tz
    October 7, 2016

    What about infocus m560 FHD, mtk 6753, 2 gb ram 16 gb ram, 2 sim , dedicated micro sd slot no china apps , 13 mp camera etc…. Forgot it runs 5.1 android AND COSTS 80 – 90 euro!

  12. Steven Fox
    October 7, 2016

    Out of all of these phones the only ones worht considering are the U7 Plus, HT20 and Manito.

  13. MitsosDaBest
    October 7, 2016

    Only Oukitel and Cubot are somewhat good brands from all these… The rest brands are very bad (even Doogee).

  14. Aristotelis Tz
    October 7, 2016

    What about infocus m560 FHD, mtk 6753, 2 gb ram 16 gb ram, 2 sim , dedicated micro sd slot no china apps , 13 mp camera etc…. Forgot it runs 5.1 android AND COSTS 80 – 90 euro!

  15. ADELAROCHE
    October 8, 2016

    blackview r6 is a good choice too.but they have not yet revealed the price.

  16. ADELAROCHE
    October 8, 2016

    blackview r6 is a good choice too.but they have not yet revealed the price.

  17. Filex
    October 8, 2016

    hi people, am a budget shoper torn between 3 budget devices, cubot x16s vs doogee y300. the y300, for $100 sits on my budget while the x16 is 40$ more, that’s my local dealers prices, which should I pick, also the elephone trunk also seems like a good choice. my needs are, good battery, mild photography and gaming, basically I just want an upgrade from a doogee x5 with 1GB/8GB, mt 6580.

  18. Filex
    October 9, 2016

    hi people, am a budget shoper torn between 3 budget devices, cubot x16s vs doogee y300. the y300, for $100 sits on my budget while the x16 is 40$ more, that’s my local dealers prices, which should I pick, also the elephone trunk also seems like a good choice. my needs are, good battery, mild photography and gaming, basically I just want an upgrade from a doogee x5 with 1GB/8GB, mt 6580.

  19. Girolamo
    October 9, 2016

    Also if is the older, I think that ulefone Paris is still the best!

  20. Vispen74
    October 9, 2016

    Blackview A8 Max, with it’s good LTE connectivity.

  21. Girolamo
    October 9, 2016

    Also if is the older, I think that ulefone Paris is still the best!

  22. Giovanni
    October 9, 2016

    HomTom HT20! 3500mAh battery and IP68 waterproof rating. THE BEST!

  23. Vispen74
    October 9, 2016

    Blackview A8 Max, with it’s good LTE connectivity.

  24. Homer S.
    October 9, 2016

    Doogee X5 Max Pro looks so nice and has decent specs!

  25. YasBoi
    October 9, 2016

    I think it is awesome that they made this list, these are always useful for people who are planning to get a new smartphone 🙂

  26. Ethan
    October 9, 2016

    We need more articles like this, reviewing and rating the best options for the optimal budget

  27. Darius T.
    October 9, 2016

    I am sure this will help lots of people to decide which phone to get

  28. TheJenny
    October 9, 2016

    I’ve seen more phones for that price, but these look nice too!

  29. Giovanni
    October 9, 2016

    HomTom HT20! 3500mAh battery and IP68 waterproof rating. THE BEST!

  30. Jimmy D.
    October 9, 2016

    Doogee X5 Max Pro looks so nice and has decent specs!

  31. YasBoi
    October 9, 2016

    I think it is awesome that they made this list, these are always useful for people who are planning to get a new smartphone 🙂

  32. Ethan
    October 10, 2016

    We need more articles like this, reviewing and rating the best options for the optimal budget

  33. Darius T.
    October 10, 2016

    I am sure this will help lots of people to decide which phone to get

  34. TheJenny
    October 10, 2016

    I’ve seen more phones for that price, but these look nice too!

  35. Massimo G
    October 10, 2016

    Very good.. but in my opinion some brand missing for the Top 10…. maybe Top 20 is better to have a full overview!

  36. Alfred
    October 10, 2016

    The Cubot Manito is the phone that intrigues me more, between all this models.

  37. Massimo G
    October 10, 2016

    Very good.. but in my opinion some brand missing for the Top 10…. maybe Top 20 is better to have a full overview!

  38. Dany
    October 10, 2016

    HomTom HT20, but I have not find a link less of 100 $….. 🙁

  39. Alfred
    October 10, 2016

    The Cubot Manito is the phone that intrigues me more, between all this models.

  40. Dany
    October 10, 2016

    HomTom HT20, but I have not find a link less of 100 $….. 🙁

  41. Gaspar
    October 10, 2016

    I don’t see the Elephone models. Maybe then, the people will end by saying that this website is paid by Elephone

  42. Gaspar
    October 10, 2016

    I don’t see the Elephone models. Maybe then, the people will end by saying that this website is paid by Elephone

  43. globiboby
    October 12, 2016

    Xiaolajiao/red pepper – is a another good cheap brand.
    Just bought their Note 3 pro 3GB ram 32 GB storage at 799,- yuan

  44. Guest
    October 12, 2016

    Xiaolajiao/red pepper – is a another good cheap brand.
    Just bought their Note 3 pro 3GB ram 32 GB storage at 799,- yuan

  45. Takeshan
    October 14, 2016

    You don’t include ZTE Zmax pro, not sure if sold in China but it’s still Chinese phone.

    Please also make best $200 list next time, especially after Honor 6x comes up.

  46. Takeshan
    October 14, 2016

    You don’t include ZTE Zmax pro, not sure if sold in China but it’s still Chinese phone.

    Please also make best $200 list next time, especially after Honor 6x comes up.

  47. Tur Bro
    October 15, 2016

    I would like a top of 5 smartphones to $60. On what place of umi london and uhans a101?

    • Ignesio
      October 15, 2016

      I think your uhans among cheap smartphones now takes a leading position. 4G, Android 6.0, chipset more or less modern, heap of frills of OTG, removable battery, charging quite good. To add 2 GB of random access memory… and fire. But the Chinese warehouses with the stamped modules with 1 GB will unload so far… we will long suffer.

      • XXX
        December 12, 2016

        But it is a problem not only Uhans. By the way, as you also asked, they have produced “especially for you” the new model A101S 2GB RAM))) Now at what will carp?

  48. Guest
    October 15, 2016

    I would like a top of 5 smartphones to $60. On what place of umi london and uhans a101?

    • Guest
      October 15, 2016

      I think your uhans among cheap smartphones now takes a leading position. 4G, Android 6.0, chipset more or less modern, heap of frills of OTG, removable battery, charging quite good. To add 2 GB of random access memory… and fire. But the Chinese warehouses with the stamped modules with 1 GB will unload so far… we will long suffer.

    • Guest
      December 12, 2016

      But it is a problem not only Uhans. By the way, as you also asked, they have produced “especially for you” the new model A101S 2GB RAM))) Now at what will carp?

  49. Mike_456
    October 18, 2016

    Blackview A8 Max should be included in the list.

    • Dante
      October 31, 2016

      Ohooooooo how much i waited for sht employees from companies . Your Profile is only full of comments praising blackview + Generic “western” name Stop Deceiving Customers

  50. Jerry
    October 18, 2016

    Why I didn’t see the Blackivew? They also have a lot of good products, such as A8 Max. Why not appear in the news?

    • Dante
      October 31, 2016

      Same as the one below fake comment

  51. Mike Johnson
    October 19, 2016

    Blackview A8 Max should be included in the list.

    • Dante
      October 31, 2016

      Ohooooooo how much i waited for sht employees from companies . Your Profile is only full of comments praising blackview + Generic “western” name Stop Deceiving Customers

  52. Guest
    October 19, 2016

    Why I didn’t see the Blackivew? They also have a lot of good products, such as A8 Max. Why not appear in the news?

    • Dante
      October 31, 2016

      Same as the one below fake comment

  53. eliHd452
    October 27, 2016

    I just got leagoo m5 for £53 to the UK its an okay phone, its a bit heavy, camera is rubbish, fingerprint it slow but the screen is nice and good enough phone. Am gonna use it for mp3 player and a spare phone when am travelling

  54. eliHd452
    October 27, 2016

    I just got leagoo m5 for £53 to the UK its an okay phone, its a bit heavy, camera is rubbish, fingerprint it slow but the screen is nice and good enough phone. Am gonna use it for mp3 player and a spare phone when am travelling

  55. Petr2303
    November 15, 2016

    I have leagoo m5. Was tired to fight against the battery. Guys, there is Uhans A101S. What you will tell?

    • Seva
      December 15, 2016

      Hi, I use several weeks Uhans. It is pleasant to me. there lasts battery for all day. The screen is excellent, the camera the fact that it is necessary. You can buy it, won’t regret.

  56. Guest
    November 15, 2016

    I have leagoo m5. Was tired to fight against the battery. Guys, there is Uhans A101S. What you will tell?

    • Guest
      December 15, 2016

      Hi, I use several weeks Uhans. It is pleasant to me. there lasts battery for all day. The screen is excellent, the camera the fact that it is necessary. You can buy it, won’t regret.

  57. kitsaras
    December 23, 2017

    In my opinion. The budget killer phone, is Leagoo Kiicaa Power, one of the cheapest, and most preferable cell phones

  58. Guest
    December 23, 2017

    In my opinion. The budget killer phone, is Leagoo Kiicaa Power, one of the cheapest, and most preferable cell phones