Smartphones are no longer the preserve of European and American designers. Indeed, Chinese brands are vying with each other in ingenuity to impose their reputation in this field. Huawei, OnePlus, Xiaomi and Oppo are developing a variety of high-performance models. Check out our comparison guide to get an idea and find yours.
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Our selection
"With 8GB of RAM and a Kirin 980 processor, the Huawei P30 Pro has everything to please. The Aurora Blue model boasts a cutting-edge design…"
"The Poco X3 NFC packs an octa-core Snapdragon 732G SoC and a Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU coupled with 6GB of RAM. It also has a…"
"This smartphone is among the best models of the moment. With wireless charging, it stands out for its elegance, its 6.78-inch screen and its performance,…"
"The Mi Note 10 Lite can detect two SIM cards that are both 4 FF format nano-SIM. Among other things, it includes a 5,260 mAh…"
With 8GB of RAM and a Kirin 980 processor, the Huawei P30 Pro has everything to please. The Aurora Blue model boasts a cutting-edge design reminiscent of the colors of an aurora borealis that is sure to win you over.
402 £ on Amazon
The Poco X3 NFC packs an octa-core Snapdragon 732G SoC and a Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU coupled with 6GB of RAM. It also has a 5160 mAh battery as well as a quad rear camera.
151 £ on DartyThe Poco X3 NFC has everything to please. Sold at a very aggressive price, it nevertheless has a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This allows you to take full advantage of the potential of the 6.67-inch screen. This Chinese smartphone is also equipped with a quad camera of 64, 13, 2 and 2 MP respectively. The front camera, meanwhile, has a 20MP sensor.
In order to enjoy the Poco X3 NFC longer, you will have a battery capacity of 5,160 mAh. Thanks to NFC technology, make mobile payments without contact. The MIUI 12 interface blends perfectly with the Android 10 operating system. Belonging to the Xiaomi group (like Redmi by the way!), the Pocophone brand is establishing itself as the new reference in the entry-level segment.
This smartphone is among the best models of the moment. With wireless charging, it stands out for its elegance, its 6.78-inch screen and its performance, including for gaming.
573 £ on RakutenThe OnePlus 8 Pro has all the arguments to be a serious candidate for the title of the best Chinese smartphone of the year. And that will probably be the case if Huawei remains banned from Google services. Now compatible with the 5G network, it forsakes the pop-up camera of the previous model in favor of a punch located at the top left of the 6.78-inch AMOLED screen. Powerful, this Chinese smartphone is powered by a Snapdragon 865 SoC.
You can charge it quickly at 30W in wired mode. In addition, the OnePlus 8 Pro supports wireless charging. Certified IP68 waterproof, this smartphone has 12 GB of RAM and a design that only die-hard Apple fans would call a dud. You will appreciate its high performance, especially for gaming. Finally, the OxygenOS 10 overlay enhances the Android 10 system for a better user experience.
The Mi Note 10 Lite can detect two SIM cards that are both 4 FF format nano-SIM. Among other things, it includes a 5,260 mAh battery and a 6.47" curved AMOLED 3D display.
286 £ on AmazonThe Mi Note 10 Lite is one of the recent creations of the Xiaomi brand. It can detect two SIM cards simultaneously in Dual SIM stand-by mode, which means that when one of the SIMs receives a call, the other one automatically deactivates. However, the activation or deactivation of the chips can be done manually in the settings of your smartphone. The format of the chips is 4FF or Nano-SIM.
A 5,260 mAh Lithium-ion battery powers the device for optimal battery life. The smartphone also has a voltage of 30V allowing the Mi Note 10 Lite to charge quickly and gain hours of use. An Android 10.0 MIUI 11 operating system combined with a Snapdragon 730 G 2 x 2.2 GHz / 6 x 1.8 GHz processor offers unparalleled smoothness to this smartphone.
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The best Chinese smartphone in 2021
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Huawei P30 Pro Blue aurora
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Poco X3 NFC
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Chinese smartphone - OnePlus 8 Pro
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Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Lite
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With 8GB of RAM and a Kirin 980 processor, the Huawei P30 Pro has everything to please. The Aurora Blue model boasts a cutting-edge design reminiscent of the colors of an aurora borealis that is sure to win you over.
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The Poco X3 NFC packs an octa-core Snapdragon 732G SoC and a Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU coupled with 6GB of RAM. It also has a 5160 mAh battery as well as a quad rear camera.
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This smartphone is among the best models of the moment. With wireless charging, it stands out for its elegance, its 6.78-inch screen and its performance, including for gaming.
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The Mi Note 10 Lite can detect two SIM cards that are both 4 FF format nano-SIM. Among other things, it includes a 5,260 mAh battery and a 6.47" curved AMOLED 3D display.
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Operating system
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Android 9.0
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Android 10
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Android 10
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Android 10.0
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Screen size
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6.47"
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6.67"
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6.78"
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6.47"
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Processor
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HiSilicon Kirin 980 Octo-Core
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G
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Qualcomm Snapdragon 865
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Snapdragon 730G 2 x 2.2 GHz / 6 x 1.8 GHz
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Battery
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4,200 mAh
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5,160 mAh
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4,510 mAh
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5,260 mAh/30 W
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Internal storage
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128 GB
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64 GB
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256 GB
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64 GB
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The larger the screen, the greater the demand on the battery. To have a good autonomy, we advise you to choose a Chinese smartphone equipped with a battery with a minimum capacity of 3500 mAh. Some models offer the possibility of fast charging. Thus, the charging time is considerably reduced.
The vast majority of Chinese smartphones embark the Android system. Prefer a more recent version that will offer you more features while being more compatible with your various other devices. The same goes for software overlays (MIUI for Xiaomi, Emotion UI for Huawei...).
Installing applications, taking photos or videos, storing audio files... In short, you will need enough internal memory. In this sense, we strongly advise you to opt for a Chinese smartphone integrating at least 64 GB of internal storage. The presence of a memory card slot would be a real plus in case you want to increase the capacity of your smartphone.
Video viewing enthusiasts will be delighted to have a large screen
available on their Chinese smartphone. In addition, if you are more into selfies or taking photos/videos, choose a model that embeds quality photo sensors. If you are specifically looking for a Chinese smartphone to surf the Internet, RAM should be your main concern.
These days, finding a screen smaller than 6 inches is a miracle. But big screen doesn't necessarily mean comfortable to use, since a 6.67-inch screen requires you to handle it with two hands. On the other hand, a bigger screen means more details and information displayed, so better readability. Note that a 1440 x 3040 px slab will be preferable to 1080 x 1620 px.
"One in ten cell phones is stolen in a year: the attackers are usually without a mobile." - From Laurent Ruquier
When you use it frequently, you tend to juggle from one application to another and forget to close them. You should know that they will always consume resources, which will quickly decrease your battery charge. For better performance, it is recommended that you close all recently used applications one by one.
Usually active by default, the autosynchronization option allows you to update your applications automatically. For example, as soon as you are connected to the Internet, the e-mail box will retrieve all your new messages. To disable it, drag the status bar of your Chinese smartphone and then click on the "synchronization" icon. Select all the apps you want to deactivate.
The Chinese smartphone, like any model running Android, is often slowed down when the storage memory is saturated. Thus, it is recommended to regularly empty the cache (temporary files that help applications to run faster) of the phone. Go to the "device maintenance" menu and click on "storage" to perform this task.
The update offers the possibility to fix bugs, but also to add features to your Chinese smartphone. In addition, it ensures better performance while avoiding the risk of overheating. Go to "settings" and then press "software update" if you want to update the Android operating system. As for the applications, go directly to the PlayStore and check if there are any updates available.
It's mostly the applications that take up space in the storage space of your Chinese smartphone. Sort out the ones you won't be using anymore and uninstall them immediately. To do this, find the icon of the application in question. Press it for a few seconds. At the top of the screen, 2 options will appear: uninstall and delete. Click on "uninstall".
Chinese smartphones have very quickly conquered the market. Today, 3 of the 5 biggest smartphone sellers in the world are Chinese! Huawei and Xiaomi are on the podium (2nd and 3rd) behind South Korea's Samsung, while Oppo is firmly anchored in 5th place.
This craze for Chinese smartphones is mainly due to the performance/price ratio. Indeed, brands from the Middle Kingdom benefit from unbeatable production costs while catching up with Apple, Google and Samsung. Chinese smartphones also offer breathtaking photos, as evidenced by the 108MP sensor on the Xiaomi Mi 10.
More recently, Chinese brands are also positioning themselves on the 5G smartphone market, always offering very competitive prices. In general, the high-end models of Huawei, Xiaomi, Vivo or Oppo have nothing to envy to those of the major American or Korean brands such as Apple and Samsung.
However, you will have to pay attention to the mobile frequency. In some cases, Chinese smartphones transmit on different bands from those used in the UK and Europe. As a result, they do not necessarily receive 4G or 5G. However, this problem arises on models dedicated to the Chinese market itself. Chinese smartphones for export work well on bands I (2100 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz), 20 (700 MHz) and 28 (800 MHz) which are common in the UK.
Despite the presence of LG, Samsung remains the leader in Korean smartphones. Once challenged by Apple, the brand has become the undisputed leader of the global market. It is known for the very high quality of its devices. Everyone knows the Samsung Galaxy range, the reference in terms of smartphone.
Samsung is also at the forefront of technology when it comes to foldable smartphones, which will certainly be the new trend in the years to come. Other historical giants like LG follow Samsung even if they can't always match its know-how.
Anyway, Korean smartphones are known for their almost impeccable qualities on all ranges. They are a safe bet for you to invest in. On the other hand, you will have to prepare some important expenses especially if you go for the top of the range. For example, you won't find a new Galaxy S20 Ultra for less than 1,000 euros.
Going for a Chinese smartphone is a wise choice. It will save you a lot of money. You wouldn't have to worry too much about the quality, as the major Chinese brands are now capable of offering high quality mobile phones.
You will have to make sure that you choose the right brand and model to avoid coming across an underperforming smartphone. You should also make sure you choose a model designed for the European market, ideally in the UK, to avoid problems with compatible bands and languages of use.
Avoid charging your Chinese smartphone overnight
Some Chinese smartphones offer long battery life that can last all day. As a result, users are used to charging them overnight. However, it is important to understand that the battery life is shortened when you charge it to 100%. Ideally, charge the battery to 75% and then in small increments throughout the day.
Take advantage of the MIUI overlay to record phone conversations
Only
Xiaomi's MIUI software overlay can perform such an operation. Simply enable call recording by accessing the settings. In addition, you can also download an application that serves as a dictaphone in the PlayStore. The recording must be started before each call (put on speaker).
Improve the autonomy of your Chinese smartphone
Some
simple tricks will help you improve the battery life of your Chinese phone considerably. In addition to disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use, you can also do the same with 3G to let only 2G work. It is possible to gain battery life by reducing the brightness of the screen.
Unlock your Chinese smartphone differently
Forget
the eternal 4-digit code! From now on, you can stand out by unlocking your Chinese smartphone in a more original way. You can choose between facial recognition, fingerprint or dots to connect. Access this option easily in "settings", "security" then "screen lock".
Display your personal information or customized data on the screen saver
Practical in case of
possible loss of the Chinese smartphone, you have the opportunity to display your contact information on the screensaver. To change the information, go to "settings", "security" then "owner info". Choose "owner details" before writing your text.
The best Chinese smartphone depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide for the best products available.
MIUI literally means "MI User Interface". A software overlay from Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi, it is based primarily on the Android operating system from the international firm Google.
Yes, all Chinese smartphones sold in the UK are unlocked in order to adapt the language and the network to those of France.
You'll be able to access Google Play Store just fine via your Chinese smartphone unless you own a latest generation model from Huawei and Xiaomi and live in the US.
Yes! You'll just need to activate the data connection and then share that connection. Search for it on your TV and connect.
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