TOP for your money: five productive low-cost smartphones under $200

Realme over the years of its existence has already got its hands on the release of smartphones that offer excellent value for money, and Realme C21Y is another confirmation of this. His price tag is very modest, but this does not mean that the phone is suitable mainly for calls and only for children and the elderly. On the contrary, thanks to a good “stuffing”, the model will become a reliable “workhorse” and will consistently perform all everyday tasks. It is based on the Unisoc Tiger T610 processor, and this, perhaps, at first glance, may repel a potential buyer. The chip of the little-known Chinese company Unisoc (formerly Spreadtrum) is designed for low-cost devices, but is not as popular as Qualcomm and MediaTek solutions. Nevertheless, the devil is not as bad as he is painted: the processor is quite fast, applications run quickly, the interface does not slow down. Moreover, you can play games at your leisure at medium settings without any problems.

Realme also threw additional forces to the aid of the Unisoc Tiger T610. This is 4 GB of RAM (and such a volume is not often seen in devices at this price) and 64 GB of ROM. The amount of storage can be expanded using a microSD card, but the memory itself is far from fast - eMMC 5.1. However, for an inexpensive phone, this is rather the norm, not a drawback. In addition, the Realme R Edition shell is used - something like an analogue of Android Go without unnecessary settings, so as not to additionally burden the system.

The smartphone looks like a typical entry-level representative: a plastic case, a regular fingerprint scanner at the back, a teardrop notch and a large “chin” under the screen. The display itself is quite large - IPS with a diagonal of 6.5 inches with a modest resolution of 1600x720 pixels. Therefore, you can’t call the handset compact: the dimensions are 164.5x76x9.1 mm, and the weight is 200 g. But Realme definitely deserves praise for the design: the textured back panel has an X-shaped pattern that visually divides the back into four parts. It turned out both nice and practical, since the lid is not easily soiled and does not slip in your hand. True, the location of the speaker at the back was not a very good solution - if the phone is, for example, on the couch with the screen up, then you can easily miss an incoming call.

The cameras are fully consistent with the cost of the device - no more, no less. The front camera here is 5-megapixel, and the main one consists of three sensors with a resolution of 13 MP, 2 MP (black and white module) and 2 MP (for macro photography). In good lighting, the pictures are good, but at night the quality is lame. Everything else is smooth: the slot can accommodate both two SIM cards and a memory card without sacrificing anything, there is a 3.5 mm headphone jack and NFC, but only for the Russian market. The battery is quite capacious - 5000 mAh, so one charge is enough for a couple of days of battery life. Charging uses an outdated microUSB port.

Well, not in vain, after all, Xiaomi smartphones and its sub-brand Redmi are swept off the shelves like hot cakes - they offer good functionality for a nice price. And the successor to Redmi 9 is no exception. This is the same "people's device" that stands out in a crowd of similar gadgets in the low-cost segment. It looks quite solid: a body that is pleasant to the touch, a massive block of the main camera, a large 6.5-inch IPS display, and a front camera that is now fashionable embedded in the screen. The manufacturer decided to "stuff" it to the fullest. Here are stereo speakers, which are a rarity in the world of entry-level models, and an infrared port, and even a screen with a refresh rate increased to 90 Hz. Moreover, there is AdaptiveSync technology, which automatically changes the frequency depending on the content - 45 Hz (still screen), 60 Hz (streaming video) or 90 Hz (scrolling and games). And this is also more common in more expensive smartphones.

Xiaomi has never skimped on battery capacity – a 5000 mAh battery is installed here, one charge of which should last up to 30 hours of talk time, 14 hours of video playback and 158 hours of music listening. In general, for the whole day of intensive use of energy is definitely enough. It also supports 18W fast charging.

All in all, this is a well-balanced smartphone to fulfill the daily needs of the user. Inside, a MediaTek Helio G88 processor is installed, working in conjunction with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. It is powerful enough to ensure smooth operation, and toys will be comfortable to play. Everything you need is at hand: a fingerprint scanner located in the on / off button on the side, a slot for two SIM cards and microSD up to 512 GB, a 3.5 mm audio jack and NFC, the availability of which depends on the market for which the phone is intended.

The manufacturer also focuses on the camera, and it is not surprising, because this is the first model in the series with a 50-megapixel sensor. It is complemented by an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth sensor. Of course, we are not talking about a high-quality camera phone, but with good lighting, you get good pictures for social networks or just for yourself. For selfies, there is an 8-megapixel front camera.

The Chinese manufacturer of mobile technology Tecno adheres to the principle of producing low-cost devices with advanced features. Of course, Tecno Camon 17P does not pretend to be a flagship killer, and even that would be strange, given its price tag, but you are guaranteed a confident “middle price” at a nice price. And the fact that the Tecno brand is not as popular as, for example, Xiaomi and Samsung, is only beneficial for buyers - they do not overpay for it. The smartphone is quite large, as it is equipped with a 6.8-inch IPS display, plus the size is increased by small bezels around the display. But, in general, the model looks decent, primarily due to the interesting colors of the case and the matte surface of the back panel, which does not collect fingerprints and does not slip in the hand.

The smartphone will be a real find for fans of social networks like TikTok and Instagram, as the manufacturer has done a good job on cameras. The 16-megapixel front-facing camera is hidden in a round cutout right in the screen, and the rear camera consists of four modules: a 64 MP sensor that takes on the main load, a 2 MP macro lens, a 2 MP depth sensor for bokeh effect and an additional lens with AI. Flashes deserve special attention - four in the back and two in front, and the latter is not so common in gadgets. As a result, you get not only a juicy picture with high level of detail and color reproduction in good light, but also good photos and videos in the evening thanks to the night mode. In addition, there are video templates in the settings that turn everyday moments into a cinematic video, a 2K slow motion mode, as well as beautification that removes circles under the eyes, adds radiance to the skin and hides imperfections.

As for the “stuffing”, here the MediaTek Helio G85 processor is at the head, which is positioned as a gaming one. And he does a really good job not only with the usual processes, but also with games. Moreover, HyperEngine game optimization engines for high performance and AI technologies are provided that reallocate resources to ensure maximum energy efficiency. The amount of memory is sufficient - 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage, which can be expanded using a microSD card. Fortunately, a separate slot is intended for the latter, so you don’t have to sacrifice a second SIM card. The HiOS proprietary shell completes the picture, which in most cases resembles pure Android. Overall, the interface is smooth and pleasant.

Responsible for autonomy is a 5000 mAh battery, one charge of which should be enough for a day, or even two with normal use. Comes with an 18W charger. Also, for more convenient use, they added a fingerprint scanner located on the side, NFC for contactless payments (depending on the market) and a 3.5 mm jack for lovers of wired headphones.

The Poco brand successfully continues the legacy of its parent company Xiaomi, adding affordable handsets with an impressive range of features. And the Poco M3 Pro is exactly in this series - the phone is clearly aiming for the title of one of the best low-cost models of 2021. It seems that there is a lot of merit in this MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor, which takes the performance of an inexpensive device to a new level. This is confirmed by the AnTuTu benchmark, in which the smartphone scored over 300 thousand points, and this is a very decent result for this segment. Applications run quickly, the interface is smooth, the hardware allows you to play even at the highest graphics settings, although for a more comfortable process it is still better to choose medium settings. At the same time, there are no problems with autonomy either - both Xiaomi and Poco have always made sure that users do not have to frequently charge the battery. There is a 5000 mAh battery installed here, the capacity of which should be enough for a couple of days without recharging. Plus, it supports 18W fast charging.

The screen of the gadget also deserves praise. This is a 6.5-inch IPS panel with a resolution of 2400x1080 pixels and an image refresh rate increased to 90 Hz. According to the content you are watching, the display automatically adjusts the frequency from 30 to 90 Hz, so as not to waste battery life. In addition, the screen is equipped with two sensors that detect the level of ambient light in 360 degrees and precisely adjust the brightness of the display, thus reducing eye strain.

The fingerprint scanner is located on the side, and for the 8-megapixel front camera there is a cutout right in the screen. The main camera combines three modules, but only a 48 MP sensor is of interest here. The other two are additional 2-megapixel macro and depth lenses, which are added more for quantity than quality. This camera does not have enough stars from the sky - the resulting photos and videos are fully consistent with the price tag of the smartphone. But there are other strengths like the NFC chip and infrared port for controlling equipment. Of course, we did not forget about the 3.5 mm audio jack - unlike the flagships, low-cost and mid-low-cost devices do not refuse it yet. Perhaps only a hybrid slot can spoil the impression, which makes you choose between a second SIM card and a microSD memory card.

Vivo's low-cost Y range is popular with fans of the brand, and for good reason. Perhaps its strong point is design, because it is appearance that is the first and one of the main factors by which we choose a new gadget for ourselves. It seems that there is nothing bright and catchy in it, but it catches. The colors are measured and calm, the rear panel cover is not too easily soiled, the main camera is made in the form of a familiar rectangular block, a small logo on the back is, in general, the very thing for lovers of minimalism. Taking into account the fact that the screen is quite large (6.58 inches), you can't exactly call the phone compact. But at the same time, it is relatively light (188 g) and quite thin - the thickness of the case is only 8.38 mm. For those who are willing to sacrifice thickness for safety, a transparent silicone case has been added to the kit.

In general, apart from the design, the smartphone does not have any outstanding features, but this is not a reason for low ratings. On the contrary, it is a confident representative of the mid-low-cost level, which is equipped with everything necessary for stable operation and convenient use. It was based on the Snapdragon 662 processor, which allows you to watch videos, browse through social networks, and launch your favorite toy in your free time, even if not at high settings - after all, this is not a special model for gamers. At the same time, Multi-Turbo 4.0 mode gives games priority when allocating CPU resources to reduce lag and lag. 4 GB of RAM is a necessary minimum for such devices, but the storage capacity can be expanded using microSD, and cards up to 1 TB are supported, and the slot itself is triple, not hybrid. A capacious 5000 mAh battery provides up to one and a half to two days of battery life and supports 18 W fast charging.

The IPS display has a resolution of 2408x1080 pixels and transmits the picture well even in bright sunlight. The fingerprint scanner built into the power button on the side is pretty accurate and fast. There is NFC for making contactless payment for purchases and a 3.5 mm jack for connecting wired headphones. Don't expect much from cameras. In addition to the 8-megapixel front camera, there are three more sensors on the back. True, only a 48 MP sensor is the main one, and it is complemented by a macro lens and a sensor for blurring the background with a resolution of 2 MP. There is electronic image stabilization technology, night mode and various filters that allow you to maximize the picture as much as possible.

To sum up, Vivo turned out to be a balanced smartphone with a nice design and a low price tag, albeit without pronounced advantages, but without serious drawbacks.