We’re now back after the Mobile World Congress that took place a couple weeks ago. Sadly, we didn’t see too many devices launched at the fair but, if you’re still looking for a great device for under $100, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find your next budget phone!
Top 5 Chinese Smartphones for Under $100
1. Cubot R11
Let’s begin with the latest phone to hit the shelves, we’re talking about the Cubot R11. The handset launched at the MWC 2018 comes with a 5.5-inch display sporting an 18:9 aspect ratio and HD+ resolution. The R11 is powered by a MediaTek MT6580 along with 2 GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable).
Cubot’s R11 also sports a 8MP rear camera, a 5MP selfie shooter, it packs a 2800mAh capacity battery and runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.
2. China Mobile A3S
Another new super affordable device – at around $65 – that was launched just last month is the China Mobile A3S. The smartphone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (also expandable).
The A3S comes with a smaller 5.2-inch display with HD resolution and a 5MP OmniVision OV5670 selfie snapper with F/2.0 aperture above it, meanwhile on the back we find an 8MP image sensor. The smartphone is fueled by a 2800mAh battery and features Android 7.0 Nougat OTB.
3. Xiaomi Redmi 4X
Next we have the never dying Xiaomi Redmi 4X which is still a great bang for the buck even a year after its release. The smartphone is also an excellent option for those looking for a smaller device as it features a 5-inch display and impressive specs for the price, going from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 CPU to the 2GB (or 3GB/4GB) of RAM and 16GB (or 32GB/64GB) of internal storage (expandable).
Camera wise, we find a 13MP rear shooter with F/2.0 aperture and a 5MP selfie snapper. The smartphone comes with a massive-for-the-size 4100mAh capacity battery, it does feature 4G LTE connectivity and in its Global version also supports band 20.
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4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A
If you prefer something bigger from Xiaomi but aren’t willing to spend more than $100 then the 5.5-inch Xiaomi Redmi Note 5A is pretty much still a must buy in this price segment. Xiaomi’s handset comes with a good performing and efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 CPU clocked at 1.4hz, coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable).
Other specs include a 13MP rear camera with F/2.2 aperture and PDAF, meanwhile at the front we find a 5MP F/2.0 shooter. The Redmi Note 5A packs a 3080mAh capacity battery, runs MIUI V9 based on Android 7.0 Nougat and supports lots of 4G LTE networks all over the globe.
5. LeEco Cool1
Last but not least, the LeEco Cool 1 is back on the list as it is an incredibly powerful phone that you can find at just a couple extra bucks over our $100 limit. The LeEco Cool1 does indeed come with a great performing Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
The handset sports a 5.5-inch display and even boasts a dual rear camera setup with a main 13MP Sony IMX258 with F/2.0 aperture that can shoot 4K videos, meanwhile at the front we find an 8MP selfie snapper.
The LeEco Cool1 is fueled by a large 4060mAh capacity battery and it supports various 4G networks, but band 20 isn’t among them. Beware though, only get the phone if you’re willing to manually update it yourself.
Top 5 Chinese Smartphones for Under $100
With the LeEco Cool1 we conclude our monthly rendezvous. Let us know in the comments below if you’re going to buy any of the phones listed in the article or if you’d have suggested other options. Looking forward to reading your feedback!
MT6580 phones? No. Just no.