11 best smartphones under 15,000 rubles

Review of the best according to the editorial board. On the selection criteria. This material is subjective and does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Our online magazine has repeatedly mentioned that there are certain psychological marks for the smartphone buyer. For example, many are not ready to spend more than 10,000 rubles on such a device. Of course, someone can afford flagships, but this article will focus on devices that cost no more than 15,000 rubles. (or exceeds, but extremely insignificantly). This is another psychological mark, which not every resident of Russia is ready to cross.

Rating of the best smartphones up to 15,000 rubles

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of the best smartphones up to 15,000 rubles	1	Samsung Galaxy A6 + 32GB	RUB 15,990
	2	Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 4 / 64GB	11 087 rub.
	3	Sony Xperia XA1 Plus Dual 32GB	RUB 14,990
	4	Honor 7X 64GB	RUB 13,990
	5	Huawei Nova 2i	RUB 13,200
	6	ASUS ZenFone Max Pro ZB602KL 3 / 32GB	12 640 RUB
	7	Meizu 15 Lite 4 / 32GB	RUB 13,740
	8	Xiaomi Mi Max 2 64GB	RUB 11,130
	9	LG Q6 M700AN	RUB 12,990
	10	Samsung Galaxy J8 (2018) 32GB	RUB 12,990
	11	Nokia 5.1 16GB	11 190 RUB

Samsung Galaxy A6 + 32GB

Rating: 5.0

Smartphones from the South Korean company Samsung differ from many competitors by the presence of AMOLED – screen. This even applies to a relatively inexpensive model like the Galaxy A6 +. The display of this smartphone has an aspect ratio of 18.5: 9. This means that you can keep windows open with two applications at once without making them appear too narrow. The 6-inch screen has a resolution of 2220 x 1080 pixels. A very good parameter, thanks to which photos and videos look gorgeous on such a display – there is no other word for it. Of course, there are devices whose screen is capable of boasting an even higher resolution, but they also cost significantly more – which is why they are not in this rating. By the way, if you didn’t know, the display made using the technology AMOLED has low power consumption. The absence of a separate backlit layer has a positive effect on the display of black colors. Of course, the front panel here is covered with protective glass – the reviews say that it most often copes with its task successfully.

This device operates under control of Android 8.0. There are no buttons below the screen, so the virtual keys at the bottom of the display are used. It is also because of this that the South Koreans have moved the fingerprint scanner to the rear panel. It remains to be glad that there is at least a place for a front camera on the front panel. And which! Its resolution reaches 24 megapixels. Previously, only SLR cameras could boast of such a parameter, and even then not all. However, it must be admitted that the physical dimensions of the matrix are not too high here, so it will be noticeable on the computer that the shooting result is significantly inferior to the photograph taken with the same DSLR. But on the LCD of the smartphone itself, the pictures look impressive – don't worry about that. By the way, the front camera has a fairly wide aperture – it has a value of f / 1.9.

If we talk about the rear camera, then it is double here. The main matrix has a resolution of 16 megapixels, and the light falls on it through an f / 1.7 aperture. Only a 5-megapixel sensor is hidden under the second lens – its main task is to determine the background, which is then intelligently blurred by the system. With the help of such a camera, you can shoot video – at the resolution Full HD it will have a frequency of 30 frames / s. In a word, in terms of the camera, you are unlikely to have any complaints about the smartphone.

Otherwise, this is a typical mid-budget 'South Korean'. The smartphone is powered by an eight-core processor with a clock speed of up to 1.8 GHz. The power of this chipset is enough for absolutely all games, although in some of them you still have to lower the graphics level. This device also includes 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. The manufacturer did not forget about the 3.5 mm audio jack. If you have a wireless headset, then support is more useful to you Bluetooth 4.2. There are also ANT + modules, Wi-Fi 802.11n, LTE-A of the sixth category and even NFC. The latter allows you to use your smartphone to pay for purchases.

It remains to add that the capacity of the battery installed here reaches 3500 mAh. The charger is connected via the micro-USB connector – this is unpleasant, in a new South Korean smartphone I would like to see a more convenient USB Type-C.

Advantages

• There is an FM radio;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• A powerful enough processor is built in;
• Decent amount of memory;
• Excellent AMOLED – screen;
• Nice rear camera being dual;
• Great front-facing camera
• There is support for NFC and ANT +;
• Data transmission over LTE networks is possible;
• The latest version of the operating system is installed.

disadvantages

• Micro-USB port is used;
• Not always sold at an adequate price;
• Sizes may seem oversized;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.9

One of the most popular Chinese smartphones could not fail to get into our rating. This device is available in five colors – in online stores you can even find devices with blue and pink casing. The word “shovel” is quite applicable to this gadget – the fact is that its front panel is decorated with a 6-inch display (and the manufacturer failed to get rid of the side frames). The installed screen has a resolution of 2160×1080 pixels. Therefore, the display has an aspect ratio of 18: 9. Considering that the screen was created using IPS technology, then this will cause some problems for TV series fans. But on the other hand, full-length films look great on such a display – the black bars in this case will turn out to be very small. Also, this display can be actively used to work with two applications simultaneously. The Snapdragon 636 octa-core processor can keep them open without much difficulty.

It is impossible not to notice that the device received the operating system Android 8.1. The fresh version of the 'green robot' is quite enough installed here 4 GB of RAM. For storing music, photos and other media, 64 GB of built-in storage is provided. If this does not seem enough, then the microSD memory card slot will come to the rescue.

The smartphone received a perfectly working fingerprint sensor – a fingerprint is recognized literally in a split second. The device can also scan a face. To do this, he uses a 13-megapixel front camera that can shoot video in resolution Full HD. If the area is dark, the front flash may fire. Well, if we talk about the rear camera, then it consists of two lenses and the same number of matrices, the resolution of which is 12 and 5 megapixels. With this camera, you can take good portraits – in most cases, the system blurs the background correctly, without catching the hair. This camera also writes video in 1080p resolution and at a frequency of 30 frames / s. By the way, the frequency can be increased four times – all you need to do is lower the resolution to 720p. However, the quality will significantly deteriorate in this case, since the built-in chipset is not able to process very high bit rates.

The smartphone is powered by a 4000 mAh lithium polymer battery. Supports Quick Charge 2.0 technology for fast charging. The only pity is that the aging micro-USB connector is used here to connect the network adapter. But you cannot regret the presence of a 3.5 mm mini-jack – connecting headphones to it allows you not only to listen to MP3 music anywhere in the subway, but also to activate the FM radio. By the way, you can transfer sound to a wireless headset by using Bluetooth 5.0. The smartphone also allows you to interact with the TV, even if it does not have Smart TV support – an infrared port is used for this. Also, the smartphone is capable of boasting the ability to transfer data over LTE networks and Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Against this background, only the lack of an NFC chip is upsetting – the company Xiaomi rarely integrates it into its devices.

Perhaps the Chinese manufacturer has a wonderful smartphone. Only large sizes and minor flaws, like the same missing NFC, can confuse a potential buyer. It's nice that you can buy a gadget for 12,000 rubles. This is one of the cheapest smartphones in our ranking.

Advantages

• The latest version of the operating system;
• Five color options;
• Low cost;
• Decent IPS display
• A good dual camera is used;
• Good 13-megapixel front camera;
• FM radio is not forgotten;
• There is support for LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
• There is an IR transmitter;
• Built-in large amount of memory;
• Powerful enough eight-core processor;
• A capacious battery with fast charging support is used;
• There is a fingerprint scanner.

disadvantages

• Large size and heavy weight;
• A micro-USB connector is being used.

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus Dual 32GB

Rating: 4.8

This device got into our rating of the best smartphones up to 15,000 rubles conditionally. The fact is that the Japanese company Sony is not engaged in the production of mid-budget smartphones. Even the Xperia XA1 Plus, which has the lowest price tag, is sold for 15,000-19,000 rubles. You can buy it cheaper only during some kind of sale – for example, on 'Black Friday'. This smartphone has a proprietary design – now only Sony creates smartphones with sufficiently sharp corners. The customer can choose from three body colors – black, sky blue and gold. The front panel of the device houses a 5.5-inch display, created using IPS technology. Oddly enough, the Japanese did not follow the trend, stopping at the standard aspect ratio of 16: 9. This means that you can watch TV shows and videos on YouTube without any problems – annoying black bars will not appear on the screen. The display resolution is 1920×1080 pixels. The image is processed by the operating system Android 7.0.

The processor used here is MediaTek Helio P20. This eight-core chipset can be treated in different ways. However, it should be noted that a rare representative of our rating is able to boast a clock frequency of 2.3 GHz, which runs half of the cores of this processor. The smartphone shows itself perfectly in games – it will be necessary to reduce the level of graphics only in a few projects. Even under the metal case, there are 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. The creators have not forgotten about the slot for external storage up to 256 GB.

The capacity of the lithium-ion battery installed here reaches 3430 mAh. Most importantly, the cable is connected to the USB Type-C connector – very, I must say, convenient. There is also a 3.5mm audio jack, which some other Sony smartphones lack. The fingerprint scanner should please the buyer even more. However, be sure to check its availability before buying! The fact is that only a special version of the device has it, which has 4 GB of RAM.

It is impossible not to mention cameras, because it is from their production that the semiconductor division of Sony earns the most. The Japanese have endowed this model with a 23-megapixel matrix. Of course, one lens can disappoint some. But if a sensor with a physical size of 1 / 2.3 inches is hidden under it, it becomes unimportant! With the help of such a camera, you can create photos that are excellent by the standards of mid-budget smartphones, as well as write videos in resolution Full HD. If we talk about the front camera, then it no longer causes such a feeling of admiration – in fact, it uses a regular 8-megapixel module.

The smartphone cannot be called light – its weight reaches an impressive 189 g. This parameter is clearly influenced not only by the battery, but also by the set of wireless modules, including Bluetooth 4.2, LTE-A of the sixth category, Wi-Fi 802.11ac and even NFC. Only the IR transmitter is missing – the Japanese manufacturer believes that most buyers do not need one. And it's hard to disagree with him – numerous polls confirm this.

Advantages

• Three color options;
• The latest version of the operating system is used;
• Large amount of memory;
• Decent IPS display
• Great rear camera
• Decent front camera
• There is an FM radio;
• There is an NFC chip;
• Supports LTE networks and Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
• A powerful processor is used;
• Built-in USB Type-C connector.

disadvantages

• Large weight;
• The fingerprint scanner is not available in all versions of the smartphone;
• The device is rarely sold at a low price.

Honor 7X 64GB

Rating: 4.8

The company Huawei also could not help releasing its large smartphone. There are several such models in its assortment, and perhaps the most affordable of them is Honor 7X. The device is distributed in at least four color options, and it costs about 15,000 rubles. For this money, the buyer will receive a device running Android 7.0. On its front panel there is an IPS display with a diagonal of 5.93 inches. But do not be afraid, the manufacturer relied on the aspect ratio of 18: 9 – in this regard, the width of the device cannot be called prohibitive. The screen resolution is 2160×1080 pixels, which is the optimal parameter for this price segment.

Above the screen is the front camera lens. The resolution of the sensor hiding inside is 8 megapixels – you hardly expect anything more. If you turn the smartphone over, you can already see two lenses. The main matrix is ​​capable of boasting a 16-megapixel resolution. The auxiliary module is only 2 megapixel, so you shouldn't seriously count on it. And the rear camera is complemented by a dual LED flash.

This smartphone is gaining more than 53 thousand points in AnTuTu. Thanks for such a good result is the eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 659 processor. The four cores of this chipset are capable of operating at a clock frequency of 2.36 GHz, which is enough for many games and absolutely all heavy applications. The clock speed of the other four cores can reach 1.7 GHz, which is also a good result. The gadget also includes 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. There is a fingerprint scanner on the back of the smartphone.

For some reason, the Chinese company limited its creation to the Wi-Fi 802.11n standard. But the lack of an NFC chip may upset someone even more. As for the rest, it is difficult to find fault with wireless modules – both LTE networks and Bluetooth 4.1 are supported here. Autonomous operation of all this stuff is provided by a 3340 mAh battery. The device weighs 165 g.

Advantages

• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• Large amount of memory;
• A powerful processor is used;
• There is an FM radio;
• 4G networks are supported;
• Good rear camera
• Quite good front camera;
• Decent IPS display
• There are four color options.

disadvantages

• Micro-USB connector is used;
• There is no NFC;
• No fast charging support.

Huawei Nova 2i

Rating: 4.8

This smartphone is also known as Huawei Mate 10 Lite. Many people consider it frameless, although in fact the side edges are present here, even if their width is very small. However, with a 5.9-inch screen, this unit doesn't take up much space in the hand. The aspect ratio of 18: 9 also contributes to this – the display is stretched in height, not in width. It should be noted that with this parameter it is comfortable to play and watch full-length films, but there may be problems with videos on YouTube. The screen resolution is 2160×1080 pixels – it's impossible to find fault with the details. The display was created using the technology, as you might guess, IPS. This means that the user will be able to enjoy the maximum viewing angles, but perfect blacks should not be expected.

The operating system handles what is happening on the screen Android 7.0. The processing power is provided by the eight-core HiSilicon Kirin 659 processor. This is a mid-budget solution, complemented by the Mali-T830 MP2 graphics accelerator. With such a chipset, you are unlikely to encounter regular slowdowns in this or that application. Also contributing to their absence is 4 GB of RAM. 64 GB of non-volatile memory is intended for storing photos, music and other media data. If you decide to abandon the second SIM card, you will get the opportunity to install an external storage device. The manufacturer did not forget about the fingerprint scanner, which will ensure the safety of personal data in case of loss of the device.

There is a dual camera on the back of the device. Its main module has a 16-megapixel resolution, with its help, very detailed and bright photos are obtained. The second matrix has a resolution of 2 megapixels – it plays a supporting role, helping the operating system to blur the background. In a word, one should hardly look for a more advanced camera in this price segment. This can be said about the front camera, which has a 13-megapixel resolution.

Perhaps the main advantage of this model is the presence of stereo speakers – oddly enough, not every smartphone is still able to boast of them. And there is also an FM radio that activates when you connect wired headphones to the 3.5mm audio jack. If we talk about MP3 music, then it can be transferred to Bluetooth – a headset. Other wireless standards supported by this gadget include LTE-A of the fourth category and Wi-Fi 802.11n. Unfortunately, a smartphone cannot replace a bank card, since there is no NFC here. Someone else may be upset by the micro-USB connector, the wire into which is inserted from the second or even the third time. It remains to add that the battery used here has a capacity of 3340 mAh, while the smartphone has support for fast charging technology.

Advantages

• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• Rich equipment;
• Capacious battery with fast charging support;
• Large amount of memory;
• Extremely powerful processor;
• There is an FM radio;
• The smartphone has stereo speakers;
• Implemented support for LTE;
• Good rear camera
• Decent front camera
• Decent IPS display.

disadvantages

• Built-in micro-USB connector;
• There is no NFC;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi.

ASUS ZenFone Max Pro ZB602KL 3 / 32GB

Rating: 4.7

Another smartphone in our ranking of the best up to 15,000 rubles, which can be conditionally called frameless. It is supported by the operating system Android 8.1. Such a fresh version of the 'green robot' cannot but rejoice – its functionality is unusually wide. The operating system supports the simultaneous display of two applications – for example, a video player and a messenger. It is very convenient to work in this way – not least due to the aspect ratio of 18: 9.

The diagonal of the screen installed here is 6 inches. However, the use of the smartphone remains comfortable, for which one should thank the not very wide side frames. The screen resolution is 2160×1080 pixels, and it is made using IPS technology. Viewing angles are maximum, just as you can not find fault with the color rendition. You can see the front camera lens above the display. This module does not cause any strong impression – it consists of an f / 2.2 aperture and an 8-megapixel matrix. If you turn the camera over, you can see two lenses. It uses the technology familiar in mid-budget smartphones, when one matrix is ​​the main one, and the second is used to blur the background. Their resolution is 13 and 5 megapixels. The annoying thing is that the aperture is only open up to f / 2.2 – this can cause some problems when shooting in low light conditions. But on the other hand, this camera received the ability to record video in 4K-resolution, albeit only with a frequency of 30 frames / s.

The above feature could not have been realized without a powerful processor. An eight-core Snapdragon 636 is involved here. The clock speed of this chipset reaches 1.8 GHz, which can be considered an excellent parameter. The graphics accelerator Adreno 509 also shows itself very well. The device also includes 32 GB of permanent memory and 3 GB of RAM. The manufacturer has not forgotten the slot for a microSD card, the volume of which is practically unlimited.

Unlike many competitors, the ASUS product has an NFC chip. This means that you can easily register a bank card in a special application, then pay with a smartphone. Also, the Bluetooth 5.0 module should please the buyer, with the help of which the sound is transmitted to the headset or speaker with practically no loss of quality. Internet access is via LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11n.

If this smartphone catches your eye, then you will immediately notice its thickness, which almost reaches 9 mm. This indicates the presence of a serious battery inside. Indeed, its capacity is 5000 mAh. Of course, there is also support for fast charging technology – you don't need to keep the device connected to the network adapter all night. The engineers of the Taiwanese company did not forget about the fingerprint scanner.

Advantages

• Built-in powerful eight-core processor;
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• There is a capacious battery with support for fast charging;
• Decent amount of memory;
• There is support for NFC and LTE networks;
• There is an FM radio;
• Decent front camera
• Decent rear camera being dual;
• Decent IPS display
• The latest version of the operating system is installed.

disadvantages

• Micro-USB connector is used;
• Weight reaches 180g;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi;
• It is better not to use the camera in the dark.

Meizu 15 Lite 4 / 32GB

Rating: 4.7

Not all consumers suspect this, but this model was released in honor of the 15th anniversary of the company Meizu. The manufacturer has tried to supply its creation with excellent components, while not inflating the price tag. However, buy the device for 15,000 rubles. rather difficult – this can be done mainly only during all kinds of sales.

As you can easily see, the device received very narrow side frames. At the same time, the screen cannot be called huge – its diagonal is 5.46 inches. As a result, the device appears to be quite compact. It can be easily used with one hand, which cannot be said about many other modern smartphones. The display was created using IPS technology, so the buyer can enjoy the maximum viewing angles and realistic color reproduction. The screen resolution is 1920×1080 pixels, which is an ideal setting for watching all kinds of videos. However, the standard aspect ratio of 16: 9 will not suit everyone – it is not very convenient to work with it in two applications at once. But the fifth generation Gorilla Glass protective glass will definitely please – breaking or scratching it is not as easy as it seems. However, the case still does not hurt the device.

Usually smartphones in this price segment get an eight-core, but far from the most powerful processor. But for the anniversary smartphone, the company Meizu made an exception to the rule. She equipped her creation with a Snapdragon 626 chipset – half of its eight cores are capable of operating at a clock speed of 2.2 GHz, which is more than enough for most heavy games. Nothing bad can be said about the graphics accelerator Adreno 506. Also, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory are hidden under the metal case. Of course, the buyer also has the ability to install a microSD card.

Operated by Android 7.1 the unit is available in three color options. Each of them is supplemented with a fingerprint sensor. Importantly, it is located in the front – some people are simply uncomfortable reaching with their index finger to the back panel. Well, above the screen is the front camera lens. Somewhere under the lenses is the aperture, opened to f / 2.0. Well, shooting is carried out using a 20-megapixel camera. The result, as it seems, should suit absolutely every buyer Meizu M15 Lite.

Interestingly, the main camera here is not that outstanding. But in fact, even at f / 1.9 aperture and 12-megapixel resolution, it shoots a little better than the front camera. And it's not even the presence of a bright LED flash. This is due to the larger physical dimensions of the matrix, which makes the sensor more sensitive to light.

The USB Type-C connector used here may surprise someone, because until now smartphones costing up to 15,000 rubles received it extremely rarely. The good news is that the Chinese manufacturer did not abandon the 3.5 mm audio jack. As for the wireless modules, among them there are LTE, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11n and an infrared transmitter needed to control home appliances. Alas, NFC is absent here, and it could be useful to many owners of such a smartphone. It remains to add that the battery installed here has a very modest capacity by modern standards – 3000 mAh. But Meizu Super mCharge technology allows you to charge it extremely quickly, so it doesn't look like a big problem.

Advantages

• Weight does not exceed 145 g;
• Decent IPS display with high pixel density
• Solid rear camera;
• Good front camera
• There is support for LTE;
• Built-in powerful processor;
• Large amount of memory;
• A USB Type-C connector is used;
• Fingerprint scanner is not forgotten;
• Three colors to choose from.

disadvantages

• Battery capacity is not very high;
• There is no NFC;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi;
• Rarely found at the right price.

Xiaomi Mi Max 2 64GB

Rating: 4.6

The range of the Chinese company Xiaomi has a separate line of smartphones with a very large display. Its striking representative is Mi Max 2. On the front panel of this giant there is a display with a diagonal of 6.44 inches. The side frames cannot be called narrow, so the device will not fit in every palm. It is also a bit annoying that the resolution of the IPS-screen is only 1920×1080 pixels. With this diagonal, this resulted in a pixel density of 342 PPI. For that kind of money, I would like to get something more. Nevertheless, I don't want to find fault with the display. Moreover, there is a desire to praise the creators for the use of Gorilla Glass 4 protective glass – it is far from immediately covered with scratches.

The operating system is the seventh version Android. It is powered by an eight-core Snapdragon 625 processor. This is a very powerful chipset, the clock speed of half of the cores of which can reach an impressive 2 GHz. In games, the Adreno 506 video accelerator is activated, which allows you to reduce the level of graphics only in rare cases. In AnTuTu, a device with such a processor gives about 63 thousand points. In short, you will hardly find a smartphone with a more powerful chipset for that kind of money! Also present here, which is important, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. The slot for a microSD card has not been forgotten (combined with a place for a second SIM card), the maximum system will determine a 256 GB drive.

Most of all, some buyers are able to please a set of wireless modules. It has full support for LTE-A, which allows you to download data at high speed even on the street. Well, if you have a good router, then you will definitely appreciate the support for the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard. The infrared port allows you to control the TV and some other household appliances. But NFC is not here – you can only regret it.

Other nice features include the presence of a USB Type-C connector. The charger is connected to it only on the first try. By the way, this is required only once every two days, since the battery installed here has a capacity of 5300 mAh (of course, there is support for fast charging technology). The disadvantage of such a battery is the fact that the total weight of the device was 211 g. Girls will definitely find the smartphone too heavy.

If you look at the back panel, you can immediately pay attention to the fingerprint scanner. It works extremely quickly – literally in a split second. Not far from it is the 12-megapixel camera lens. Do not be confused by the resolution – the manufacturer in this case relied on the increased dimensions of the matrix, so you will find very high-quality photos. But only not in the dark, when the aperture begins to affect, opened only to f / 2.2. It's nice that such a camera can shoot 4K video. This will especially delight the owners of the corresponding TV, capable of displaying a picture with such a high resolution. But the front camera is not capable of that. It consists of an f / 2.0 aperture and a 5-megapixel sensor – in short, nothing special awaits you.

Advantages

• There is a USB Type-C connector;
• Supports LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11ac standards;
• The screen has a good protective coating;
• Installed a powerful processor;
• Large amount of memory;
• Good rear camera
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• High battery capacity;
• There is an FM radio.

disadvantages

• Very large dimensions and weight;
• Not the highest resolution for such a diagonal;
• There is no NFC;
• Controversial front camera.

LG Q6 M700AN

Rating: 4.6

Another good smartphone in our rating up to 15,000 rubles. This is yet another device with elegantly rounded display corners. The manufacturer also tried to make the side frames as narrow as possible. Also, there was no place for subscreen buttons. I would like to say that because of this, the fingerprint scanner has moved to the back panel. But this is not so – the South Korean manufacturer decided to get rid of it completely for the sake of economy. Well, above the screen is a wide-angle front camera – its angle of view is 100 degrees. The resolution of this camera is only 5 megapixels, but this will be enough for most users.

Well, what is the display itself? In fact, it is nothing special, especially if you used more expensive devices. The LCD panel is made using IPS technology, so the viewing angles are maximum here. The screen has an aspect ratio of 18: 9 – you can interact with two applications at the same time without any problems. Finally, the display resolution can be called standard – it is 2160×1080 pixels. Such a screen does not surprise with anything special, but it cannot be called bad either. Especially with its 5.5-inch diagonal, which does not make the device in any way bulky.

On the back of the device is the main camera lens. And this is the case when there is practically nothing to tell about the module. The buyer is waiting for a traditional 13-megapixel camera, familiar, including many budget smartphones. To process the picture coming from it, no special computing power is required, so the manufacturer relied on a modest eight-core Snapdragon 435 processor, whose clock speed does not exceed 1.4 GHz. He is assisted by the graphics accelerator Adreno 505, which also lacks stars from the sky. Somewhere in the neighborhood there are 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. If the latter does not seem enough, then you can refuse the second SIM-card using a microSD card.

Otherwise, this is a typical mid-budget smartphone. The compact size and aircraft-grade aluminum allowed the creators to reduce the weight to quite sane 149 g. However, for this they also had to sacrifice the battery capacity – here it does not exceed 3000 mAh. A 3.5 mm audio jack is used to connect headphones. By the way, there is an FM radio here, which at some point will help you pass the time. The smartphone also supports LTE-A of the sixth category, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11n and even NFC. The presence of the last chip is perhaps the most pleasing, because it can be used to pay for purchases in regular stores.

Advantages

• LTE networks are supported;
• There is an FM radio;
• NFC chip is not forgotten;
• Decent IPS display with high pixel density
• Relatively light weight;
• Relatively good rear camera
• The front camera is wide angle;
• Decent amount of memory.

disadvantages

• Not the fastest Wi-Fi;
• Not the most powerful processor;
• No fingerprint scanner;
• The battery capacity could be higher;
• A micro-USB connector is being used.

Samsung Galaxy J8 (2018) 32GB

Rating: 4.5

Another smartphone from Samsung in our rating up to 15,000 rubles. At its core, it is the pinnacle of the J budget lineup at the moment. The device received a widescreen display and rather narrow side frames. At the same time, a smartphone cannot be called a small one. And how could the dimensions be compact if the screen was 6 inches? However, the smartphone cannot be called particularly wide, since its screen is elongated in height, having an aspect ratio of 18.5: 9. Its resolution is 1480×720 pixels. Perhaps, this parameter is the main drawback of the gadget. But you can put up with it, especially when you understand that this display was created using technology AMOLED. This means that the buyer is waiting not only for maximum viewing angles, but also perfect blacks. The screen behaves well under the sun's rays – the picture is clearly visible even on a clear summer day.

The operating system is Android 8.1. This is good news for those looking for a smartphone with a fresh version of the 'green robot'. The operating system works without any problems, although the processor is still not the most powerful built in here – it is the Snapdragon 450, whose clock speed does not exceed 1.8 GHz. This smartphone can also be used to run games, reducing the level of graphics is required only in some of them. We need to thank for this, among other things, the Adreno 506 video accelerator.

South Korean company Samsung rarely builds a decent amount of memory into its inexpensive smartphones. But the fresh Galaxy J8 can be considered an exception to the rule. There are 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. Of course, the built-in storage will gradually become scarce, so it is recommended to get a microSD card. You can download files from the Internet via LTE networks. There is also a traditional Wi-Fi module that supports the 802.11n standard. You don't need more, because you will not be using a device with such a screen to watch 4K videos online. Much more relevant here looks Bluetooth 4.2 – I think that some buyers of the device will definitely connect a wireless headset or speaker to it. There is also support for ANT + technology, through which sports and even medical sensors transmit information. Against this background, it is surprising that the device did not receive an NFC chip – it is possible that someone will refuse to buy this model precisely because of this. As far as wired connectivity is concerned, you'll find a 3.5mm audio jack and an aging micro-USB port on the device.

Of course, one cannot but tell about the camera that this smartphone is endowed with. From a budget line, you usually expect the simplest module that is not capable of any high-quality photography. But here a pretty good dual camera is used, under the lenses of which apertures of f / 1.7 and f / 1.9 are hidden. The matrix resolution is 16 and 5 megapixels. In this case, a double module is used so that the system can recognize the background to blur it in portrait shooting mode. The camera also shows itself worthy when filming. However, she does not know how to shoot in 4K resolution, which will still disappoint some buyers.

There is also a front camera. Its resolution is 16 megapixels, and it consists of only one lens, inside which an aperture of f / 1.9 is used. A pleasant bonus can be considered a flash that illuminates a person's face at night. By the way, there is no face recognition here – a fingerprint scanner located on the back is used to protect personal data. Somewhere inside the device is a 3500 mAh battery.

The budget status of the gadget is indicated by the presence of an FM radio (supplemented, by the way, with RDS). Also, the low cost is hinted at by a plastic case. It remains to add that this unit weighs about 177 g.

Advantages

• The battery has a good capacity;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• FM receiver is not forgotten;
• LTE networks are supported;
• ANT + is useful for someone;
• Very good rear camera being dual;
• Decent front-facing camera with flash
• Decent amount of memory;
• The display was created using technology AMOLED;
• The operating system is installed Android 8.0;
• Four body colors are available.

disadvantages

• Too large size and weight;
• No NFC chip;
• Micro-USB connector used;
• Low resolution on such a large display.

Nokia 5.1 16GB

Rating: 4.4

HMD Global has decided to focus on mid-budget smartphones. And it is right. It would be strange if cheap phones, suitable only for the role of 'dialers', began to be produced under the Nokia brand. A striking representative of this price segment is the Nokia 5.1, which sells for 13,000 – 15,000 rubles. This smartphone runs an almost pure version Android 8.0, the manufacturer has added only a few applications. An eight-core chipset MediaTek Helio P18 has been allocated to help the 'green robot'. This is an excellent processor that, at a clock speed of 2 GHz, shows itself in all its glory, processing data in any heavy application. However, the manufacturer could not do without saving. It is here in the minimum amount of memory by modern standards. And the slot for a microSD card hardly helps – not all modern applications move to an external drive.

The picture is displayed here on a 5.5-inch display. It was created, of course, using IPS technology. The engineers decided to make it widescreen, so the user can comfortably work in two applications at the same time. This is facilitated by a fairly high resolution of 2160×1080 pixels. With such a relatively small diagonal, this resulted in a pixel density of 439 PPI. Want to see individual pixels? We'll have to use at least a powerful magnifier.

In terms of the cameras installed, nothing special can be said about the Nokia 5.1 smartphone. The 'front camera' located above the screen has an 8-megapixel resolution. The photos obtained with its help are approximately comparable to what the main camera in the Nexus 4 was capable of at one time. In a word, the result is not bad, but nothing more. The rear camera, which includes a 16-megapixel sensor, is not too surprising. With its help, you can shoot video in resolution Full HD. And this is an artificial limitation, because the processor is clearly capable of 'digesting' a 4K picture. There is no auxiliary module here, so you should not count on a beautiful blur of the background.

Most of all, the device pleases with a high data transfer rate. Files are downloaded in the shortest possible time even on the street, since LTE networks are supported here. The device also recognizes the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard. This will be especially liked by those who have a router with an external hard drive connected to it, to which movies are downloaded, and in exceptionally high quality. To transmit sound to a wireless headset, Bluetooth is used here 4.2. If you have simple headphones, there is a 3.5mm audio jack for them. I received a smartphone and an NFC chip, which is now most often used to pay for purchases. Someone will need an FM radio – there was no point in eliminating it for the sake of economy.

If you think about it, the device is devoid of any serious drawbacks. There is a fingerprint sensor here – you should look for it on the back panel. The metal body is pleasant to the palm. Perhaps, you can only find fault with the aforementioned memory size. And the battery capacity of 2970 mAh is not amazing.

Advantages

• There is an FM radio;
• The operating system is installed Android 8.0;
• There is an NFC chip;
• Weight does not exceed 153 g;
• Good IPS display with decent pixel density
• Relatively good rear camera
• There is support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and LTE-A;
• Built-in powerful processor;
• There is a fingerprint scanner.

disadvantages

• Only 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of permanent memory;
• Low battery capacity;
• Micro-USB connector is used;
• Protective glass is far from the latest generation.

Conclusion

Now you know which mid-budget smartphones are the best. At least among those sold in our country. In this article, we talked about those devices, the cost of which is approximately 15,000 rubles. If you are interested in cheaper devices, our online magazine will definitely tell you about them.

---

Attention! This rating is subjective and does not constitute an advertisement and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.