13 best smartphones under 20,000 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.

There is a certain amount that a person is willing to pay for a smartphone. For some it is 100 thousand rubles, for someone – 20 thousand rubles, and for someone in general it is only 10 thousand rubles. In this article we will talk about those devices that will suit the second category of people. At a cost of 20 thousand “wooden” ones, you can expect a powerful processor, large memory capacity and a high-resolution display from the device. But what else will please such devices? Let's find this out.

Rating of the best smartphones up to 20,000 rubles

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
The best smartphones under 20,000 rubles: price-quality	1	Xiaomi Mi 8 SE 4 / 64GB	RUB 19,590
	2	Huawei P20 Lite
	3	Honor 9 4 / 64GB	RUB 17 690
	4	LG Q6 M700AN	RUB 12,990
	5	Meizu 15 Lite 4 / 32GB	RUB 13,890
The best smartphones under 20,000 rubles with a large display and a good battery	1	Samsung Galaxy A8 + SM-A730F / DS	18 140 rub.
	2	Xiaomi Mi Max 3 4 / 64GB	RUB 16,890
	3	ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite ZC600KL 4 / 64GB	RUB 17 889
The best smartphones under 20,000 rubles with high performance	1	Xiaomi Mi 6X 6 / 128GB	RUB 16,980
	2	Huawei Mate 10 Lite 64GB	RUB 19 490
	3	Meizu Pro 7 64GB	RUB 14,309
The best compact smartphones under 20,000 rubles	1	Apple iPhone SE 32GB	RUB 17,150
	2	Samsung Galaxy S7 32GB	RUB 23 890

The best smartphones under 20,000 rubles: price-quality

Xiaomi Mi 8 SE 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.9

An excellent bezel-less smartphone sold for reasonable money. At the top of the display used here is the so-called 'bangs', which houses the front camera and several sensors. From a distance, this device may seem similar to iPhone X, but up close the differences are clearly visible. The Chinese manufacturer decided to stand out also due to brighter colors.

The display located here was created using technology AMOLED. This allows you to hope for long battery life and close to ideal color reproduction. The diagonal of the screen is 5.88 inches, and the resolution is 2244×1080 pixels. The 18.5: 9 aspect ratio allows you to comfortably use two applications at the same time. The screen can also be praised for its high brightness, thanks to which sunlight does not cause any inconvenience. Above the display is a gorgeous front camera with a resolution of up to 20 megapixels. The Chinese company even managed to implement a 3D facial scanning system with its help. In short, the developers have repeated the features of iPhone X, using less expensive hardware for this.

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 710 is used as a processor. This is an eight-core chipset, the maximum clock speed of which reaches 2.2 GHz. The games use the graphics accelerator Adreno 616. Also under the body of the gadget are 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. For data transmission, the LTE-A and Wi-Fi 802.11ac standards are used. To connect a wireless headset, Bluetooth 5.0 is used. But NFC is absent here, traditionally for products Xiaomi.

The back of the device houses a dual camera setup, complemented by an LED flash. The optical part is supplemented with f / 1.9 and f / 2.0 apertures. After passing them, the light hits the matrices with a resolution of 12 and 5 megapixels. The user will definitely appreciate the portrait mode of photography, when the background is beautifully blurred. The presence of optical stabilization, which saves in low light conditions, is also encouraging. By the way, such a camera can also shoot high-quality video – its resolution will be 3840×2160 pixels (unless you lower this parameter to save memory).

Perhaps it is extremely difficult to find fault with such a smartphone. It has the latest version of the operating system. Its battery supports fast charging technology. If necessary, you can install a pair of SIM cards here. The Chinese manufacturer did not forget about the fingerprint scanner. However, this is still not ideal. The gadget does not have a memory card slot. And this is important, because 4K video weighs a lot – regular shooting will consume the built-in memory extremely quickly.

Advantages

• There is a fingerprint sensor and face scanning;
• Capacious battery with fast charging support;
• Decent amount of memory;
• A powerful processor is used;
• Excellent dual camera with optical stabilization;
• Very good front camera
• Built-in high-speed wireless modules;
• Installed AMOLED – high resolution display;
• Latest version Android.

disadvantages

• There is no NFC;
• No memory card slot;
• No 3.5mm audio jack.

Huawei P20 Lite

Rating: 4.8

Another smartphone in our ranking, supplemented with a bang. Please note that here its width is minimized. At the same time, there was a place in the cutout for the conversational dynamics, and the front camera, and a pair of sensors. By the way, the front-facing camera is also very advanced here. The resolution of its matrix is ​​16 megapixels, and light enters it through an f / 2.0 aperture. The result will delight any selfie lover! If we talk about the display, then its diagonal is 5.84 inches. Resolution – 2280×1080 pixels. Simple calculations show that the pixel density reaches 432 PPI. It seems that this parameter will suit absolutely every buyer. By the way, the screen here is covered with a fifth generation Gorilla Glass protective glass.

Looking at the rear panel, you can see two lenses and an LED flash. However, you need to understand that in this case the second module is auxiliary, since it contains only a two-megapixel matrix. The apertures of both lenses are not too wide open – only up to f / 2.2. The resolution of the main sensor is 16 megapixels, which will be enough for many users. If you want to shoot video, then the picture will be recorded with a resolution Full HD and a rate of 30 frames / s.

A smartphone is by no means cheap, so it must have a powerful processor at its disposal. The choice of the Chinese fell on their own HiSilicon Kirin 659. This is an eight-core solution that performs well in heavy applications and games. Half of the cores are clocked at 2.36 GHz, and half at 1.7 GHz. The product also has 4 GB of RAM. As for the built-in storage, its volume may be different – smartphones sold in Russia offer 64 GB. This volume can be increased by using the microSD slot. However, for this you will have to abandon the second SIM-card.

The Chinese company Huawei makes huge money designing and selling telecommunications equipment. In this regard, do not be surprised to find high-speed wireless modules here. The smartphone works in both LTE networks and Wi-Fi 802.11ac networks. To connect a wireless headset, use Bluetooth 4.2 with aptX HD support. By the way, the manufacturer has not deprived his creation of the traditional audio jack, so a wired connection is possible without any adapter. Also, the device can be used as a bank card using an NFC chip.

In a word, Huawei offers a device close to ideal, operating under Android 8.0. The Chinese even managed to achieve a small weight – here it does not exceed 145 g. I want to find fault with the device, but among the reasons for this are all sorts of trifles like the lack of search in the 'Contacts' application.

Advantages

• The latest version of the operating system;
• Very light weight;
• Large, high-resolution display;
• Good rear camera
• Great front camera
• Implemented support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and LTE networks;
• There is an NFC chip;
• A powerful processor is used;
• There is a fingerprint scanner;
• Large amount of memory.

disadvantages

• The screen is created using IPS technology.

Honor 9 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.7

Another smartphone, the cost of which does not exceed 20 thousand rubles. At least, if you do not look for the version, the amount of built-in storage is 128 GB. The option we have considered has half the amount of permanent memory, but this is enough for most buyers. And we must not forget that there is a slot for microSD, which recognizes drives up to 256 GB.

This smartphone has a familiar look, there is no cutout for the IPS-display used here. The screen diagonal reaches 5.15 inches, and its resolution is 1920×1080 pixels. Individual pixels cannot be distinguished even by a person with sharp eyesight – he will definitely need at least a magnifying glass. It should be noted that there is a protective glass with a 2.5D effect. This means that its edges protrude above the bezel, which makes the smartphone more memorable. However, such glass is fragile – cracks quickly appear at its edges. If you want to keep your smartphone in perfect condition, you will have to use a case, or try never to drop it.

The operating system handles what is happening on the screen Android 7.0. It is possible that it will be updated to the G8 in the near future. Well, the operation of the operating system itself and all applications is provided by the eight-core Kirin 960 processor. This is a top solution, half of the cores of which operate at a clock frequency of 2.4 GHz. The other half of the cores are slightly weaker – their clock speed can reach 1.8 GHz. The chipset includes the Mali-G71 MP8 graphics accelerator, which copes with the launch of heavy games without any problems. The processor is assisted by 4GB of RAM.

Many people buy Honor 9 for his camera. It includes two lenses. Under the first one is a 20-megapixel sensor, which receives an image through an f / 2.2 aperture. The second lens has a longer focal length, as a result of which the owner of the smartphone can use 2x optical zoom. Under this optics is a 12 megapixel sensor. When taking photos at night, the dual LED flash helps. Video shooting is also available here, when the picture is recorded in 4K resolution.

There is also a front-facing camera, but the manufacturer thought about it to a lesser extent. This is evidenced by at least its 8-megapixel resolution. There is also a fingerprint scanner on the front of the device. It was noticed that this is the best location for such a sensor – it is very convenient to use it, no matter how long a person's fingers are.

Otherwise, this is a typical mid-budget creation of the company Huawei. It uses high-speed wireless modules, thanks to which Internet surfing is only a pleasure. The manufacturer did not forget to introduce an NFC chip. It not only allows you to pay for purchases in the store, but also speeds up synchronization with Bluetooth – devices. Some buyers will also be glad that the 3.5 mm audio jack has not disappeared from here. There is also a USB Type-C port on the case.

It remains to add that the autonomous operation of the smartphone Honor 9 is provided by a lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 3200 mAh. It is surprising that with this parameter, the weight of the gadget does not exceed 155 g.

Advantages

• Excellent rear camera with optical zoom
• Decent front camera
• Built-in powerful eight-core processor;
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• Capacious battery with Huawei SuperCharge technology support;
• A decent amount of memory is used;
• There are high-speed wireless modules;
• NFC and infrared transmitter are not forgotten;
• The display has a high resolution;
• Relatively light weight.

disadvantages

• The screen is created using IPS technology;
• Slippery body and fragile protective glass;
• The rear camera lacks optical stabilization.

LG Q6 M700AN

Rating: 4.7

At one time, the company LG was one of the first to present a smartphone, the display corners of which are elegantly rounded. Perhaps this is the design element that the owners of LG Q6 like the most. Otherwise, this is a typical inexpensive smartphone. The buyer is somewhat surprised by the lack of a fingerprint scanner. It seems that he should be present in every modern smartphone, the cost of which is 16 thousand rubles.

The IPS display installed here has a diagonal of 5.5 inches. Its resolution is 2160×1080 pixels. As you already understood, it uses an aspect ratio of 18: 9, which is very convenient for working with two applications at the same time. That is, you can write on such a screen in the messenger without stopping from watching a video on YouTube. With an aspect ratio of 16: 9, you can do this too, but you will not achieve this comfort.

There is a front-facing camera above the display. It is clearly borrowed from even cheaper smartphones – the five-megapixel resolution is enough only for organizing video calls, while when taking a selfie, insufficient detail will be noticeable. As for the main camera, it has a 13-megapixel sensor. You shouldn't expect miracles from it either – in many respects the camera is inferior to the modules built into the models discussed above. However, they are more expensive.

At least the FM radio speaks about the status of the device – it is rarely present in top smartphones. You can start the radio only after connecting the wired headphones. Ordinary MP3 music can be played both through the built-in speakers and by transferring it to Bluetooth headphones. I am glad that the smartphone received an NFC chip, which significantly speeds up synchronization with some headsets, action cameras and other similar devices. Other supported wireless technologies include Wi-Fi 802.11n and LTE-A of the sixth category.

An eight-core Snapdragon 435 is used as a processor. This is a mid-budget solution operating at a clock speed of 1.4 GHz. The device also includes 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. Somewhere under the back cover there is a 3000 mAh battery. It upsets the fact that to charge it, you need to use an obsolete micro-USB connector.

Advantages

• The viewing angle of the front camera reaches 100 degrees;
• The built-in is not the weakest processor;
• Data transmission over LTE networks is possible;
• There is an FM radio;
• There is an NFC chip;
• Decent rear camera
• High resolution display;
• Weight does not exceed 149 g.

disadvantages

• No fingerprint scanner
• Low resolution front camera;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi;
• The screen was created using IPS technology.

Meizu 15 Lite 4 / 32GB

Rating: 4.6

Released by forces Meizu, the smartphone has very narrow side frames. Due to this, the device turned out to be very compact. So you can't tell right away that its front panel has a display with a diagonal of 5.46 inches. Many people will be able to reach with their thumb to any point on the screen, which is good news. The display resolution is 1920×1080 pixels. This is more than enough for comfortable viewing of videos and films. The screen was created using IPS technology, so the user is waiting for maximum viewing angles and normal color rendering. It's a pity that such a display cannot be called energy efficient. The battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh, at best, is enough for a day of battery life. But this is not particularly important, because there is support for fast charging technology.

As befits any Chinese smartphone, Meizu 15 Lite allows you to use two SIM cards. LTE networks are used to transmit and receive data. But the Wi-Fi module is not the fastest built in here – it supports the 802.11n standard as much as possible. The number of wireless modules present here also includes Bluetooth 4.2. NFC, alas, is absent – it is impossible to replace a bank card with this smartphone. But it can be used as a remote control, there is an infrared transmitter at the top of the gadget.

Under the body of the device is an eight-core Snapdragon 626 processor. This is a mid-budget chipset, half of the cores of which can operate at a clock speed of 2.2 GHz. Somewhere not far from it there are 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. The volume of the latter may seem small, so a microSD card slot is useful.

If we talk about the cameras installed here, then it's quite difficult to find fault with their capabilities. On the back of the device is a lens that includes an f / 1.9 aperture. The matrix of this camera has a resolution of 12 megapixels. With the help of Meizu 15 Lite, you can shoot video with the resolution Full HD – this is quite enough for many buyers of relatively inexpensive gadgets.

Surprisingly, the front camera is almost as good as the main camera. And in terms of resolution, it even surpasses it – it uses a 20-megapixel sensor. However, the front camera is less bright, as evidenced by the f / 2.0 aperture. Nevertheless, the user will definitely not feel much difference.

In a word, the company Meizu has created an excellent device, the cost of which varies from 17 to 20 thousand rubles. I am glad that the Chinese have not forgotten about the fingerprint scanner – this component will protect personal data in case of loss of the smartphone. But they were not worthy of adding water protection.

Advantages

• Weight is only 145g;
• The display has a high resolution;
• Decent rear camera
• Good front-end;
• There is support for 4G networks;
• A powerful enough processor is built in;
• Decent amount of RAM;
• There is a fingerprint scanner and face scan;
• Low cost.

disadvantages

• The screen is created using IPS technology;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi;
• There is no NFC;
• Not the most onboard storage.

The best smartphones under 20,000 rubles with a large display and a good battery

Samsung Galaxy A8 + SM-A730F / DS

Rating: 4.9

As you know, the products of the South Korean company Samsung have a certain margin. This is either a markup for a brand, or for durability, or for a breadth of functionality – it does not matter, with similar characteristics, a South Korean product will cost more. This is clearly visible on the Galaxy A8 +. The device formally should not have appeared in our rating, since almost 25 thousand rubles are asked for it in Russian stores. Fortunately, there are sales and a price war, which make it much cheaper to buy the device.

The South Korean manufacturer tried, if not to rid his creation of the side frames, then at least to greatly reduce their width. At the same time, the screen used here does not have a cutout – in the area above it there was a place for the camera, sensors, and the spoken speaker. The display was created using technologies AMOLED, which indicates its high energy efficiency. At the same time, it turned out to be quite bright, and therefore there will be no problems using a smartphone under any circumstances. The screen resolution is 2220×1080 pixels, and the aspect ratio of 18.5: 9 allows you to comfortably work with two applications at the same time. Only a 6-inch diagonal can confuse someone – the device itself is painfully large because of it. After that, it turned out to be heavy – its weight is 191 g. Such a device will definitely not suit girls with miniature palms!

To process a picture with the above resolution, a powerful processor is required, and a smartphone is not deprived of it. An eight-core Exynos 7885 is integrated here. Two cores of this chipset operate at a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz, and the rest – at 1.6 GHz. In games, Mali-G71 is activated, most often allowing you not to lower the level of graphics. Still under the body of the gadget are 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of permanent memory. If you agree to accept the lack of a second SIM card, then you can install a microSD card.

This smartphone has received a full-fledged water resistance, which is quite rare in this price segment. It also has a fingerprint scanner, which is also good news. Internet connection is carried out via LTE networks, or via Wi-Fi 802.11ac. If you want to use a wireless headset, then the module Bluetooth 5.0 will not be superfluous. There is also NFC here, which helps in paying for purchases at the checkout. But the camera should please the buyer even more. It consists of one lens, but the resolution of the matrix hiding under it has been brought to 16 megapixels. Significantly, light enters through an f / 1.7 aperture. That is, it is widely disclosed. It is a pity that this smartphone shoots video only in resolution Full HD. It is interesting that the front camera turned out to be less aperture, but it already consists of two matrices – their resolution is 16 and 8 megapixels. When taking selfies, this camera design allows you to beautifully blur the background – you will definitely love it!

Advantages

• There is an FM radio;
• Very good front camera
• There is water protection according to the IP68 standard;
• Decent rear camera
• Capacious battery with support for fast charging technology;
• Fingerprint sensor is not forgotten;
• There is support for LTE and Wi-Fi 802.11ac;
• Built-in NFC and ANT + chips;
• Large amount of RAM;
• There is a powerful processor;
• Excellent AMOLED – display.

disadvantages

• The amount of permanent memory could be larger;
• The apparatus turned out to be heavy;
• High price;
• Slippery body.

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.8

Another representative of our rating with very narrow side frames. There is also no notch here, so that nothing distracts from what is happening on the screen. It should be noted that the smartphone has received such a name for a reason. The fact is that it has the maximum dimensions. The diagonal of its IPS-display is brought to an impressive 6.9 inches. It turns out that we have practically a tablet! It is convenient to watch videos on such a screen and it is even more comfortable to read books. The display resolution is 2160×1080 pixels, which can be considered an acceptable parameter, nothing more. There are 350 pixels for every inch of this screen. Pay attention to the aspect ratio of 18: 9 – it is ideal for working with two applications at the same time.

I am glad that inside the smartphone there was a place for the eight-core Snapdragon 636 processor. Its capacity was enough even to implement unlocking by scanning a face. However, for the presence of such a function, we must thank the 8-megapixel front camera. It is a pity that this camera has only one lens in its composition – you will not be able to beautifully blur the background.

The device received 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. Perhaps this is the optimal volume, which will be sufficient for most buyers. If the built-in storage is full, you can replace the second SIM card with a microSD card – the maximum operating system Android 8.1 recognizes a 256 GB drive. There is a dual camera on the back of the gadget. Matrices with a resolution of 12 and 5 megapixels are hidden under its lenses. Their capabilities are quite enough for 4K video shooting, which is good news. By the way, if you lower the resolution to 720p, then you can increase the frequency to 120 fps. Therefore, high-speed video recording is available here! It remains to add that the main lens has an aperture of f / 1.9, which makes it quite fast. But not too much, some competitors are able to boast of a wider aperture.

This smartphone has a lot of communication tools. For example, there is a Wi-Fi module that supports the high-speed 802.11ac standard. You can also receive and transmit data via 4G networks. Connecting a wireless headset or speaker is carried out via Bluetooth 5.0. Also, this smartphone allows you to control household appliances using the infrared port. It's nice that the manufacturer hasn't forgotten about the FM radio – it will definitely come in handy for someone.

If you do not like heavy smartphones, then Xiaomi Mi Max 3 with all its advantages will definitely not suit you. The fact is that its weight reaches 221 g. This is due not only to its large size, but also to the battery, the capacity of which reaches 5500 mAh. Of course, the battery supports fast charging technology – this process will not take all night. The device also includes a fingerprint scanner, which should be looked for on the back panel. There is also a USB Type-C connector, the wire into which is inserted exclusively from the first time.

Advantages

• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• FM radio is not forgotten;
• A capacious battery is used;
• Large amount of memory;
• Extremely powerful processor;
• There is support for Wi-Fi 802.11ac and LTE;
• Good rear camera
• Very good front camera;
• The latest version of the operating system is installed.

disadvantages

• The display resolution with such a diagonal could be higher;
• There is no NFC;
• Very heavy weight;
• The screen was created using IPS technology;
• Dimensions will not suit everyone;
• Not always adequate operation of the touch keys under the screen.

ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite ZC600KL 4 / 64GB

Rating: 4.7

The Taiwanese company ASUS continues to produce excellent mid-budget smartphones. Its devices have balanced characteristics, a pleasant appearance and a relatively low price tag. ASUS ZenFone 5 Lite is a good example of this. With its specifications, it certainly does not strike the imagination. However, the operating system Android 7.1 is stable here, which is what many people need the most.

The smartphone is dual-SIM. In this case, the device has a separate slot for a memory card. Whether it will come in handy is a big question, because the device includes 64 GB of permanent memory. Also, the product received 4 GB of RAM, which is enough for the simultaneous operation of a large number of applications. By the way, the front panel of the smartphone houses a 6-inch IPS display with an aspect ratio of 18: 9. On such a screen, it is quite comfortable to simultaneously sit on a social network and watch YouTube. The screen resolution is 2160×1080 pixels, which is the optimal parameter for such a diagonal.

Above the display, you can see the dual camera. It turns out that the product is endowed with four lenses, because the rear camera is also dual! With the help of the front camera, 20-megapixel images are obtained. Interestingly, there is also an LED flash that can help in the dark.

As for the rear camera, 16-megapixel images are created with it. Problems can arise in low light conditions. If the flash can handle the illumination of a person, then you can not think about taking pictures of nature – the aperture, opened only up to f / 2.2, affects. Low aperture affects even in the daytime – you will regularly receive blurry pictures. The video is written here only in resolution Full HD. The lack of support for 4K is due to an insufficiently powerful processor – an eight-core Snapdragon 430 is installed here, the clock speed of which does not exceed 1.4 GHz. However, there is a version with Snapdragon 630. There is also an FM radio under the body of the smartphone that got into our rating. To activate it, you need to connect wired headphones. I am glad that a 3.5mm audio jack is intended for this purpose. By the way, micro-USB is used to connect the charger, which now can be safely considered disadvantages.

The smartphone is not devoid of a fingerprint scanner. There is also a capacious battery with support for ASUS BoostMaster fast charging technologies. It should be noted that there is an NFC chip that allows you to pay for purchases with your smartphone. High-speed wireless modules have not been forgotten by the Taiwanese manufacturer either. In short, how can a buyer complain about something?

Advantages

• Capacious battery with fast charging support;
• Good front-facing camera with flash
• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• NFC chip is not forgotten;
• Powerful enough processor;
• Large amount of memory;
• The microSD slot is separate;
• There is an FM radio;
• Built-in high-speed wireless modules.

disadvantages

• Micro-USB connector is used;
• Sizes may seem oversized;
• Installed IPS-display;
• The rear camera still leaves a lot to be desired.

The best smartphones under 20,000 rubles with high performance

Xiaomi Mi 6X 6 / 128GB

Rating: 4.9

Top smartphone from the company Xiaomi. This is one of the few representatives of our rating that operates under Android 8.1. On its bezel there is room for a 6-inch display with an aspect ratio of 18: 9. On such a screen, it is convenient to work with two applications at the same time – for example, sit in a messenger and watch a movie. The resolution, which is 2160×1080 pixels, does not cause any problems in this regard. The display here is covered with a protective Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which is also good news. Although the Chinese manufacturer could be generous for the fifth generation.

Somewhere under the metal body of the device is an eight-core Snapdragon 660 processor. This is not a top-end, but a very powerful chipset. Its capabilities are enough for any heavy application. In games, the graphics accelerator Adreno 512 begins to work. The gadget also includes 64 GB of permanent and 6 GB of RAM. It's strange that the device lacks a microSD card slot. This is very sad, especially given that the camera built in here can shoot 4K video. This is why we recommend looking towards the more expensive version, which is endowed with twice the amount of onboard storage.

Any customer will immediately notice that there are two lenses on the back. Under them are matrices with a resolution of 12 and 20 megapixels. The aperture in both cases is f / 1.8. In short, the rear camera is very fast. Its capabilities should suit any buyer. The problem is only in the built-in memory, which tends to end during long-term video recording.

There are no complaints about the front camera either. It uses a 20-megapixel sensor, light that enters through an f / 1.8 aperture. Such a camera helps in organizing high-quality video communication, and it also contributes to getting chic 'selfies'. By the way, personal information can be protected here by scanning a fingerprint – if you lose your smartphone, the person who found it simply cannot unlock the device.

To access the Internet, LTE networks and Wi-Fi 802.11ac can be used here. Also, the product includes a module Bluetooth 5.0. An infrared port is used to control TV and audio equipment. Someone needs an FM radio. But the lack of a 3.5 mm audio jack is not encouraging – you will have to use an adapter to connect wired headphones.

It remains to add that the autonomous operation of the device is provided by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3010 mAh. There is support for Quick Charge 3.0 technology, so charging takes relatively short time. A smartphone with such a battery weighs 166 g.

Please note that this smartphone is technically a complete copy of Xiaomi Mi A2. The only difference is the presence of a proprietary shell here.

Advantages

• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• Large amount of memory;
• A powerful processor is used;
• There is support for high-speed wireless standards;
• FM radio is not forgotten;
• Good rear camera with 2x optical zoom
• Decent front camera
• The latest version of the operating system is installed.

disadvantages

• There is no 3.5mm audio jack;
• The display is based on IPS technology;
• No NFC chip.

Huawei Mate 10 Lite 64GB

Rating: 4.8

A real hit, impressive in both its characteristics and cost. You can immediately pay attention to the fact that the device turned out to be quite high. This is due to the presence of a display here, the aspect ratio of which is 18: 9. This parameter is gradually becoming a standard – many companies want it to be convenient to use two applications simultaneously on their smartphones. But this solution has a drawback: while watching a video or movie, you will see black bars on the sides. You will see them even at night, as an IPS panel is used here, which includes a separate backlit layer. The resolution of the 5.9-inch display is 2160×1080 pixels. This is the optimal parameter at which pixelization can be distinguished only under a magnifying glass or microscope.

Selfie lovers will definitely appreciate the smartphone. The fact is that there is a 13-megapixel front camera with a fairly wide viewing angle. Well, on the back of the device there are two lenses, under which there are matrices with a resolution of 16 and 2 megapixels. This camera does a relatively good job of blurring the background. However, not ideal – sometimes the auxiliary sensor lacks resolution. You can transfer a photo or video to a social network via LTE networks. There is also a Wi-Fi module, albeit not ultra-fast (it supports the 802.11n standard as much as possible). Some disappointment is caused by the lack of an NFC chip, which is why the smartphone will not replace a bank card.

As a processor, the manufacturer used its own Kirin 659 – an eight-core chipset, complemented by a Mali-T830 MP2 graphics accelerator. The product also has 64 GB of permanent and 4 GB of RAM. The Chinese have not forgotten about the microSD card slot, however, it is combined with a place for a second SIM card.

Almost all smartphones included in our rating have a sufficiently capacious battery. Huawei The Mate 10 Lite is no exception. It also has a fingerprint scanner, which serves to protect personal information. You can find fault with the micro-USB connector – as you know, the wire is often connected to it the third time. But the manufacturer did not begin to reduce the thickness of the device by eliminating the 3.5 mm audio jack.

Advantages

• There is a fingerprint sensor;
• Large amount of memory is used;
• Rich equipment including a case and headphones;
• There is support for 4G networks;
• High resolution display;
• Decent rear camera
• Good front camera
• Bluetooth has aptX support.

disadvantages

• There is no NFC;
• The screen is created using IPS technology;
• Not the fastest Wi-Fi;
• The processor could still be more powerful.

Meizu Pro 7 64GB

Rating: 4.7

Recently, smartphone manufacturers have been trying to get rid of the keys under the display entirely. But some people like this kind of operating system management. In this regard, our rating could not fail to get Meizu Pro 7. Under its screen, which occupies 71% of the front surface, there are two touch keys and one physical key. The latter has a built-in fingerprint scanner, as is implemented in mid-budget smartphones from Samsung. The Chinese manufacturer also tried to reduce the width of the side frames as much as possible. As a result, the 5.2-inch LCD appears to be much smaller. The perception is affected by the fact that the user can reach with his thumb to any point on the screen, even to the upper right corner. Meizu is definitely one of the most compact smartphones among those that are endowed with very powerful components. By the way, the display installed here was created using technology AMOLED. This contributes to long battery life. Also, such a display is capable of boasting colorful color reproduction.

The gadget is powered by an eight-core processor MediaTek Helio P25. It consists of two clusters with clock speeds of 2600 and 1600 MHz. This will be sufficient for most tasks. In the games, the Mali-T880 MP2 video accelerator will be used, which also cannot be called in any way weak. The device also includes 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of permanent memory. It is impossible to expand the volume of the latter – there is no slot for a microSD card.

A modern smartphone must provide high-speed Internet access. In this regard, there are no complaints about Meizu Pro 7. It supports both LTE networks and the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard. Also included in the number of wireless modules Bluetooth 4.2. If your headset is wired, then there will be no problems – the manufacturer did not abandon the 3.5 mm audio jack. There is also a USB Type-C port on the case.

Many people rate a smartphone by its cameras. If we talk about the back module, then it is double. It was created by Sony, the world leader in this field. Both matrices are 12-megapixel, with one of them being monochrome. This design of the module should contribute to obtaining the clearest possible images. Unfortunately, the camera cannot be called a fast camera – it uses an f / 2.0 aperture. The video is recorded in resolution Full HD and with a frequency of 30 frames / s. If you lower the resolution to 720p, you can quadruple the frequency.

The smartphone has a 16-megapixel front camera. However, it will be used extremely rarely. The point is that the product has received an additional OLED display located on the rear panel. It can be used as a viewfinder, taking selfies with the main camera. The 1.9-inch screen has a resolution of 536×240 pixels.

Advantages

• Excellent AMOLED – display;
• Compact dimensions;
• There is an auxiliary screen;
• Fingerprint scanner is not forgotten;
• Nice rear camera being dual;
• Decent front camera
• Built-in powerful processor;
• Decent amount of memory;
• There is support for high-speed wireless networks; Pris
• There is a separate audio chip.

disadvantages

• No memory card slot;
• Slippery body;
• Not the longest battery life.

The best compact smartphones under 20,000 rubles

Apple iPhone SE 32GB

Rating: 4.9

Many fans of the products Apple will be surprised, but it is iPhone SE that is the company's best-selling smartphone. Whatever one may say, but people are reluctant to save up a very large amount or take out a loan for a flagship. Instead, they go to the store to buy iPhone SE for 18-21 thousand rubles. This device got into our rating not only due to its popularity. We decided that the article should contain at least one device that operates under control iOS. Also, this model is the most compact, and its weight does not exceed 113 g.

The smartphone is available in four colors. The amount of memory may also differ. We recommend that you pay attention to the version, which includes 32 GB of permanent memory. This volume is enough even for numerous photos taken with the built-in 12-megapixel camera. Many users are quite satisfied with the quality of the resulting photos. Few people rightly notice that f / 2.2 is not enough for normal shooting in the dark. And the lack of optical stabilization makes itself felt. Interestingly, the camera can shoot 4K video, albeit only at 30 fps. But you won't be able to shoot for a long time – the limited amount of permanent memory affects.

Let's dilute the list of advantages with several disadvantages. For some unknown reason, the company Apple has endowed its creation with the simplest front camera, the resolution of which is only 1.2 megapixels. Even with a video call, such a camera will not please you, and it's better to forget about selfies. One SIM card slot can also upset an unprepared customer. But in fact, this is common for smartphones Apple. And you can't insert a memory card here, which has also long become a tradition for Apple devices. You can find fault with the amount of RAM, which is 2 GB – it is felt that the latest version of the operating system is not enough.

Fortunately, this is where the list of major disadvantages ends. The rest of the smartphone only pleases. For example, it can transmit and receive data over LTE networks – the download speed should suit every customer. The device also supports the Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard. Allows the device to use payment technology Apple Pay. It is powered by a processor Apple A9. This is only a dual-core chipset, but its power is enough to process a picture with a resolution of 1136×640 pixels. It remains to add that the 4-inch display used here was created using IPS technology.

Advantages

• Compact size and light weight;
• Not the worst rear camera;
• Elegant and recognizable design;
• The screen has a fairly high pixel density;
• 4K video shooting available; Support
• high-speed wireless networks;
• There is a fingerprint scanner.

disadvantages

• Disgusting front camera;
• Low memory;
• The screen is created using IPS technology;
• The smartphone is fragile;
• The new version iOS doesn't work very well here.

Samsung Galaxy S7 32GB

Rating: 4.8

This South Korean flagship was released in spring 2016. It would seem that over the past time it should have become terribly out of date. But in reality this did not happen. Moreover, the price for it dropped to 21-22 thousand rubles, as a result of which the purchase became even more optimal. For relatively little money, you get a great device with a 5.1-inch display made with technology AMOLED. Importantly, the South Koreans have introduced a special technology here, thanks to which the screen displays the time, date and some other information in a constant mode. The display resolution is 2560×1440 pixels. There are 576 pixels for every inch of area – this is unlikely to be enough for someone! There are no side bezels here – instead, the edges of the screen are elegantly curved. There is a physical key under the display, which is also used to scan a fingerprint. Well, above the screen is the front camera lens. Perhaps nothing special can be said about her. She shoots pretty well, albeit only with a 5-megapixel resolution. Creating masterpieces is definitely not about her. However, a few years ago, a rare manufacturer tried to integrate the ideal front-end into his creation.

If we talk about the rear camera, then at the time of the official announcement it was top-end. Alas, much has changed since that time. Now the 12-megapixel resolution won't surprise anyone. However, it cannot be said that the camera shoots badly. No, it just doesn't provide anything out of the ordinary. I am glad that the manufacturer has equipped his creation with an aperture of f / 1.7. Together with optical stabilization, this allows you to get good pictures even in low light conditions. Also, the camera is capable of boasting 4K video recording, albeit only at 30 frames / s. It is proposed to save the resulting video either to the built-in memory (32 GB) or to a microSD card (drives up to 256 GB are determined). The only pity is that the memory card slot is combined with a place for a second SIM card.

The smartphone is IP68 waterproof. It is also supplemented with a heart rate sensor. To access the Internet, LTE-A modules of the ninth category and Wi-Fi 802.11ac are used. An ANT + module used to synchronize with medical and sports sensors may be useful to someone. The product also received an NFC chip that allows you to replace a bank card with a smartphone.

The operation of all of the above components is provided by the eight-core Exynos 8890 processor. At one time it was a top-end chipset. And now its capacity is quite enough to run any heavy application. In games, the Mali-T880 MP12 is activated – an impressive graphics accelerator.

It should be noted that this device turned out to be relatively small and light. But not every person likes the so-called 'shovels'. We can say that this is one of the most compact and lightweight devices among those that gain more than 134 thousand points in AnTuTu. The buyer can be pleased not only by the processor power, but also by the fast charging of the lithium polymer battery. You can only find fault with the connectors. If the device should be praised for the presence of a 3.5 mm audio jack, then micro-USB is gradually beginning to seem like an outdated element. Not everyone will like the glass case, which is quite slippery.

Advantages

• There is dust and moisture protection;
• Weight does not exceed 152 g;
• Built-in powerful processor;
• There is a fingerprint scanner and a heart rate sensor;
• Excellent AMOLED – curved edge screen
• High speed wireless networks are supported;
• Sufficiently large amount of RAM;
• There are ANT + and NFC modules;
• Decent rear camera.

disadvantages

• Slippery glass body;
• The battery capacity could be higher;
• Micro-USB connector is used;
• Little permanent memory.

Conclusion

This is the list of the best smartphones, the cost of which almost reaches or slightly exceeds 20 thousand rubles. Almost any of the reviewed devices is recommended for purchase. These models are unlikely to disappoint you. But do not forget that these are by no means flagships, so even such smartphones have certain drawbacks that you have to put up with.

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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.