7 best smartphones under 3000 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.

Modern smartphones are not only multifunctional devices capable of performing the functions of a communicator, audio-video player, navigator and entertainment center. Individual brands and whole series are status items that emphasize the owner's high financial position. However, the mass consumer still tends to get the maximum functionality for the minimum money. Today's rating review, compiled by experts, is dedicated to the best inexpensive smartphones, the cost of which does not exceed 3,000 rubles.

All reviewed models are equipped with a capacitive screen with multi-touch support, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a GPS satellite navigation module, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless communication modules, two SIM card slots with alternating operation,

Rating of the best smartphones under 3000 rubles

Nomination	a place	Name of product	price
Rating of the best smartphones under 3000 rubles	1	VERTEX Impress Luck	RUB 3,190
	2	BQ BQ – 4585 Fox View	RUB 3,790
	3	Digma HIT Q500 3G	RUB 3,340
	4	BQ BQ – 4072 Strike Mini	RUB 3,090
	5	Fly life compact	RUB 3,438
	6	Archos 40 Neon	RUB 2,910
	7	MAXVI MS401	RUB 2,910

VERTEX Impress Luck

Rating: 4.8

Let's start with the smartphone of the local Russian brand VERTEX, the holders of which, unlike many other 'umbrella' brands, closely monitor the quality and do not let the Chinese manufacturers go down.

The smartphone is made in a classic case made of high-quality plastic with a soft touch back panel. Available in two colors – deep graphite and soft gold.

The 5-inch screen is equipped with an IPS matrix with realistic color reproduction. Image size – 854×480, pixel density – 196 ppi. Control from the panel by means of touch buttons.

The telephony of the device covers the standards GSM 900, 1800, 1900, 3G. In addition to the 'usual' Wi-Fi module, the smartphone is also equipped with Wi-Fi Direct function. There is one micro USB interface for wired connection.

The features of the electronic filling of this model are as follows. Processor – 4-core MediaTek MT6580, clocked at 1.3 GHz. Video chip – Mali-400 MP2. RAM-memory capacity – 1 GB, built-in – 8 GB. There is a separate slot for external memory up to 32 GB. A 2200 mAh battery is installed.

The media capabilities of the device include a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. The rear camera is complemented by an LED flash, which in a different mode acts as a flashlight.

Additional functions: voice control and dialing, airplane mode, proximity sensor. Operating system – Android 7.0 Nougat.

Advantages

• IPS matrix with high-quality color reproduction;
• the ability to remove preinstalled programs;
• high performance;
• powerful electronics;

disadvantages

• complaints about the discrepancy between the actual characteristics of the cameras and the declared ones.

BQ BQ – 4585 Fox View

Rating: 4.7

The second number in our rating of the best smartphones under 3,000 rubles is the model of another local Russian brand BQ Mobile, which belongs to the Novaya Liniya company. It is a prominent brand that was ranked among the top five in 2018.

Like the previous model, this smartphone is made in a classic case made of good plastic, controlled from the panel by touch buttons. The screen is also with an IPS matrix. The diagonal is slightly smaller than that of the above-described VERTEX device – 4.5 inches, but the resolution is the same – 854×480, PPI – 218. The dimensions of the smartphone are 67×135.2×8.8 mm, weight – 132 g.

The electronics of the device has the following key components. Processor – Spreadtrum SC7731 (4 cores) at 1.3 GHz. The rest completely repeats the previous model: video module – Mali-400 MP2, RAM – 1 GB, built-in – 8 GB, there is a slot for external flash cards up to 32 GB. In terms of battery capacity, this model is significantly inferior to VERTEX – only 1500 mAh.

In terms of photo and video shooting, the characteristics of this unit are much better than those of the previous one. The rear camera has a resolution of 8 megapixels, the front one is 5 megapixels. There is an LED flash that works when needed in flashlight mode.

The coverage of telephony standards here is similar to the above model – GSM 900, 1800, 1900, 3G. There is a voice dialing. Operating system version – Android 7.0.

Advantages

• relatively powerful cameras;
• 'rich' image colors;
• stable uninterrupted work;
• IPS matrix;

disadvantages

• weak autonomy.

Digma HIT Q500 3G

Rating: 4.7

The rating continues to be a smartphone of the Digma trademark, which belongs to Nippon Klick Corporation. Despite the fact that the brand is 'partisan' (the company's head office is located in Hong Kong, the official website lists the contacts of the office in London), and there are even assumptions about its Russian origin, inexpensive Digma electronics have proven themselves very well.

Like the two previous models, this smartphone is made in a plastic case of the classic type with touch buttons on the panel, covers cellular standards from GSM 900 to 1900 plus 3G, supports voice dialing and control. Dimensions of the device – 73x144x10 mm, weight – 146 g. Available body colors – gold, red, gray, black.

The first important difference from the two models described above is the matrix. In this case it is TN, and here the model loses significantly. The resolution is exactly the same – 854×480, pixel density – 196, screen diagonal – 5 inches.

The situation with the cameras of this model is completely similar to that of the VERTEX Impress Luck, that is, not the most outstanding one. Rear – 5 megapixels, front – 2 megapixels, LED flash that turns into a flashlight in the appropriate mode.

The characteristics of the electronics of this smartphone completely repeat the previous model: processor – 4-core Spreadtrum SC7731 1.3 GHz, RAM memory – 1 GB, built-in – 8 GB, there is a 32 GB external micro sim slot. As for the autonomy, here Digma HIT Q500 3G is stronger than BQ – 4585 Fox View, only slightly falls short of VERTEX Impress Luck – the capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 2100 mAh. Charged via micro-USB socket.

In addition to standard and mandatory wireless modules, this model also contains a very useful function of direct connection via Wi-Fi bypassing the router – Wi-Fi Direct. Operating system – Android 7.0.

Advantages

• Screen size;
• autonomy;
• choice of colors;
• performance;

disadvantages

• weak cameras;
• TN matrix.

BQ BQ – 4072 Strike Mini

Rating: 4.6

Experts decided to place another brand device BQ in the rating of the best smartphones up to 3,000 rubles due to some of its features, which are preferred by a significant part of the target audience.

A number of characteristics of this model completely repeat the solutions described above: a classic body, touch buttons on the panel, rear and front cameras – 5 and 2 megapixels, respectively, LED flashlight, coverage of cellular standards – GSM from 900 to 1900 plus 3G, processor – Spreadtrum SC7731 (4 cores), video module – Mali-400 MP2, RAM and built-in – 1 and 8 GB, respectively, support for external flash cards up to 32 GB, support for voice dialing and control, charging via micro-USB, operating system – Android 7.0.

Now let's talk about the moments in which this model differs significantly from all of the above. The most noticeable are the sizes and proportions. The dimensions of the smartphone are 66×126.8×11.5 mm, the weight is 128 g. The screen diagonal is 4 inches. Such parameters determine not the most common aspect ratio – 5: 3, but for many, this form factor is suitable from the point of view of ease of use with one hand. TN-matrix resolution – 800×480, pixel density – 233 per inch.

As for the battery capacity, this model is weaker than all the previous ones – 1300 mAh, and even the compact size of the smartphone does not help in this case – many users note a rather fast discharge.

Another noticeable distinctive feature is the metal back cover of the smartphone with a brushed effect. Body colors in assortment – pink, blue, gray and black.

Advantages

• compactness;
• sufficiently high performance;
• ease of use;

disadvantages

• weak autonomy;
• TN matrix.

Fly life compact

Rating: 4.5

The next position in the ranking of the best budget smartphones from the famous Fly brand. The brand belongs to the British-Russian joint venture Meridian Group Ltd, and the phones themselves are manufactured at the facilities of partner companies – Lenovo, Toshiba, Mitsubishi, ASUS and others.

General characteristics, in which this model is completely similar to most of the above, are as follows: classic plastic case, touch control buttons, coverage of cellular standards – from GSM 900 to 1900 and 3G, processor – 4-core Spreadtrum SC7731 at 1.2 GHz, video chip – Mali-400 MP2, RAM and built-in memory – 1 and 8 GB, respectively, support for micro sim memory cards up to 32 GB, voice dialing and control, charging via micro-USB, operating system version – Android 7.0.

The dimensions of the smartphone are 66.3x141x9.4 mm, the weight is 155 g. The 4.95-inch screen is equipped with a TN-matrix with a resolution of 960×480, 217 pixels per inch. The aspect ratio, like the previous model, is not quite standard – 18: 9.

Possibilities of photo and video shooting in this case are as follows. The rear and front cameras are 5 and 0.3 megapixels, respectively. The rear camera is complemented by an LED flashlight, it can shoot video with a resolution of up to 1280×720 at a frame rate of up to 30 per second. The multimedia capabilities of the smartphone are extended by the A2DP profile, which transmits stereo sound over Bluetooth to the selected receiving device.

Autonomous operation is provided by a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 1900 mAh. According to the manufacturer, this capacity in the context of this configuration is sufficient for 7 hours of talk time or 40 hours of listening to music or 120 hours of standby time.

Advantages

• well-known and proven brand;
• good optimization, giving high performance and autonomy;
• high-quality rear camera with correct light sensitivity and fast auto-correction;

disadvantages

• many pre-installed applications of questionable usefulness;
• very weak front camera.

Archos 40 Neon

Rating: 4.5

Next in our rating of the best smartphones up to 3,000 rubles is an interesting device of the French brand Archos, known in many countries for its inexpensive and at the same time high-quality electronics. The manufacturing company was founded back in 1988.

The smartphone is made in a classic plastic case measuring 63.6×124.5×9.9 mm with touch control buttons. The device weighs 101 g. The diagonal of the screen is 4 inches, the detailing of the TFT matrix is ​​854×480, the pixel density is 245 per inch.

The coverage of telephony standards in this model is similar to all of the above – from GSM 900 to 1900 and 3G. However, there is an important difference in adapting to SIM cards. So, if the above models only support micro SIM, then Archos 40 Neon has one of the two slots adapted for a regular mini SIM. The smartphone supports Wi-Fi Direct technology.

The resolution of the rear and front cameras is 5 and 2 megapixels, respectively. The rear camera is complemented by an LED flashlight. The limit of video detail is 1280×720.

This model, as well as six others in our review, uses a Spreadtrum SC7731 processor with four cores and 1.3 GHz frequency. Video chip – Mali-400 MP2. RAM and built-in memory – 512 MB and 8 GB, respectively. There is a slot for external memory up to 32 GB. Using the proprietary function Archos Fusion Drive, external and internal memory can be combined into a single array and subsequently not wonder where exactly the next application will be installed.

The characteristics of smartphone autonomy are as follows. The capacity of the lithium-ion battery is 1300 mAh. The manufacturer claims that this is enough for 5.8 hours of talk time or 130 hours of standby. Charging via micro-USB.

The manufacturer also emphasizes the extremely safe level of electromagnetic radiation corresponding to the SAR level of 0.34. But to be honest, this can hardly be considered a strong advantage, since almost all modern smartphones that legally enter the market have a SAR of less than 1, which means complete safety.

The operating system for this model is Android 5.1 Lollipop.

Advantages

• protective film included;
• the ability to combine built-in and flash memory into one array;
• extremely low SAR level;

disadvantages

• faulty matrix;
• weak autonomy;

MAXVI MS401

Rating: 4.4

And the rating is completed by a smartphone from a young, but energetic and promising manufacturer of 'dummies' MAXVI. Model MS401 is the only smartphone in the range, other model lines are push-button mobile phones.

In many ways, this model repeats the characteristics of almost all the solutions described above: classic plastic case, screen diagonal – 4 inches, telephony standards – from GSM 900 to 1900 and 3G (SIM cards of different types – regular and micro SIM), Wi-Fi Direct support, processor – 4-core Spreadtrum SC7731 at 1.2 GHz, video chip – Mali-400 MP2, RAM and built-in memory – 1 and 8 GB, respectively, a slot for external memory up to 32 GB, voice dialing and control.

The dimensions of the device are 64.5×123.8×10.3 mm, the weight is 101 g. The detailing of the TFT matrix is ​​800×480 with a pixel density of 233 per inch and aspect ratios of 5: 3. The front 5-megapixel camera is complemented by an LED flashlight, has an autofocus function, and shoots at resolutions up to 1280×720. Front camera – 1.9 megapixels.

A 1350 mAh lithium-ion battery is responsible for autonomy. According to the manufacturer, this capacity for this device should be enough for 5 hours of telephone communication or 160 hours of standby. Rechargeable via micro-USB.

The preinstalled operating system in this model is Android 7.0.

Advantages

• sufficiently high performance;
• different types of SIM cards;
• stability;

disadvantages

• weak autonomy;
• faulty matrix.

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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.