With the cooler days comes a batch of new fresh phones, in this particular list, we bring you the best ones you can currently get from China for under $200, which is probably where Chinese handsets makes the most sense, allowing you to get the higher price to performance ratio. Are you looking for your next phone? then keep reading!
Top 5 Chinese Smartphones for Under $200
1. Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro
Are you one of the few people who don’t hate the notch? Then ditch the Redmi Note 5 and get the extra display estate of Redmi Note 6 Pro. The handset packs a slightly larger 6.26-inch screen with 1080 x 2246px resolution, it’s powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 CPU of the predecessor paired with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage.
Also in the camera department we find the exact same setup, at least on the back with a main 12MP shooter and a secondary 5MP. Meanwhile at the front we now have an extra sharp 20MP selfie snapper accompanied by a 2MP sensor to add a nice bokeh effect.
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 6 Pro is fueled by a 4000mAh battery and supports a good variety of 4G LTE networks around the globe (except for NA).
2. Lenovo Z5
Coming with the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 of the Redmi Note series but coupled with a whopping 6GB of RAM, the Lenovo Z5 also earns a spot on the list. The massive amount of RAM – for a mid-ranger is then paired with 64GB of storage that is also expandable.
The display on the Z5 is 6.2-inch with an 19:9 aspect ratio, FHD+ resolution and a notch in which we find an 8MP selfie snapper. Meanwhile on the back we have a main 16MP shooter paired with a 8MP secondary to snap photos with a shallow depth of field effect.
Finally, the Lenovo Z5 comes with a 3300mAh capacity battery with support for 15W fast charge and runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box.
3. Xiaomi Mi A2
Last month we had the Mi A2 Lite on the list, this time its bigger brother – the Mi A2 – takes its place as prices drop. Xiaomi’s Android One phone comes with a relatively powerful Snapdragon 660 CPU, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (sadly not expandable).
It packs an averagely sized 5.99-inch display sporting FHD+ resolution along with an 18:9 aspect ratio.
Cameras on this mid-ranger killer include a main 12MP on the back with f/1.75 aperture and a secondary 20MP shooter with the same large lens; on the front we instead have a 20MP selfie snapper.
The Xiaomi Mi A2 packs a 3010mAh capacity battery and as we previously mentioned, runs stock Android 8.0 Oreo.
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4. Huawei Honor 8C
If you’re a fan of the Huawei brand and you want a phone of theirs no matter what, the recently launched Honor 8C might be a good option for you.
Huawei’s handset comes with a large 6.26-inch HD+ display and is powered by the power efficient Snapdragon 632 along with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD).
On the back of the phone we find a 13MP image sensor paired with an f/1.8 aperture lens and a 2MP secondary shooter, while selfies will be taken care of by an 8MP snapper.
The Huawei Honor 8C packs a large 4000mAh battery and runs Huawei’s OS based on Android 8.0 Oreo.
4. Nokia X5
Finally, if you want to help bringing back the Nokia brand to its former glory, check out one of their latest budget phones for under $200, the Nokia X5. The handset boasts a powerful MediaTek Helio P60 CPU along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
Cameras include a main 13MP sensor with F/2.0 aperture and a secondary 5MP to create photos with bokeh effect. On the front we instead find an 8MP snapper with F/2.2 aperture.
The Nokia X5 comes with a 3050mAh capacity battery and runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box.
Honorable Mentions
Nubia Z17 Lite
Albeit not too recent, the Nubia Z17 lite is definitely a great option now that it can be gotten for around $160, even more so for those who aren’t fully into the new 18:9 ratio display devices. The Z17 Lite does indeed come with a 5.5-inch FullHD display while being powered by a good Qualcomm Snapdragon 653 CPU paired with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage.
The smartphone does then pack a 13MP main rear shooter along with a secondary 13MP image sensor to create photos with a shallow depth of field effect; meanwhile at the front we have a 16MP shooter for high res selfies.
The Nubia Z17 Lite is fueled by a 3200mAh battery and comes with Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. If you’re willing to fiddle with ROMs though, you can install something like LineageOS which brings Android Oreo (Unofficial).
Top 5 Chinese Smartphones for Under $200
With the Nubia Z17 Lite we conclude our monthly rendezvous for the month of November If you’ve found your next mid-ranger comment below, otherwise let us know which smartphone under $200 you’d have liked to see on the list.
