Looking to treat someone you know with a low-cost, but well specified Android phone this holiday? Check out these top 10 Chinese phones for under $160.
There are plenty of Android smartphone choices out there even at well below $200. Here are 10 choice we recommend you take a look at.
THL T6 Pro
Starting off with the cheapest octacore phone on the market, we have the THL T6 Pro. The T6 Pro uses the 1.4Ghz MT6792 octacore chip which also cuts down on battery drain.
The 5-inch panel has a respectable resolution of 1280 x 720, and there is a decent 8 mega-pixel camera and Android 4.4 Kitkat with Google Play built in. The THL T6 Pro is also available as the Start H930 with the same specs.
Elephone P3000
Why not start the year off with faster data and secure fingerprint scanner? The Elephant P3000 is one of the most expensive phones on this list, but with LTE as standard it could be a good investment.
To offer LTE and Fingerprint security, Elephone have gone for a quad-core Meditatek set up with just 1GB RAM. Not killer specs but it leaves enough in the budget for a 14 mega-pixel main camera and 3150mAh battery.
Elephone G4
The G4 is almost $60 less than its brother the Elephant P3000, but donβt let that low price put you off. The design is similar to the OnePlus One, but with a more compact 5-inch display. Amazingly, the Elephant G4 still keeps a HD 720p display which isnβt normally seen at this price point.
The rest of the specs include an 8 mega-pixel main camera, Android 4.4 Kitkat, WCDMA 3G and dual-sim.
Ecoo E01
ECOO are a new name in Chinese smartphones yet they have managed to take the market by storm with the launch of their E01. The ECOO E01 has grabbed so much attention as it is one of the most affordable phones you can buy with a FHD display and octacore processor.
ECOO have opted for a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display with a 1.7Ghz octacore Mediatek processor. The main camera is 8 mega-pixel, plus there is dual SIM and a 2450mAh battery.
No.1 Mi4
Gizchina News of the week
The No.1 Mi4 might be near replica of the Xiaomi Mi4, but that does have itβs benefits to budget phone buyers. Instead of a basic plastic or steel chassis the N0.1 has a nice alloy chassis with build in IR blaster and even room for a Micro SD card.
WCDMA, support, quad-core processor, 13 mega-pixel rear camera, 8 mega-pixel front and 5-inch 720p display make up the rest of the highlights.
Cubot S308
So far each of the phones on this list have only had 1GB RAM. That might be enough for some users, but 2GB RAM can really improve performance. The Cubot S308 is one of the most affordable 2GB RAM phones on the market today.
The S308 also has a quad-core processor, 16GB internal memory, 720p HD display and even a 13 mega-pixel main camera.
Doogee DG580
If you are a fan of the look of the OnePlus One, but donβt want the smaller Elephant G4, then the DOOGEE DG850 is one possible option. The phone has a 5.5-inch display, a quad-core processor and Android 4.4 Kitkat.
The 120g phone also has space for a micro SD, dual WCDMA 3G sim cards and a 2500mAh battery.
CoolPad F1
Ok so the CoolPad F1 might be slightly more expensive than our price limit but those few extra dollars are really worth spending as the specs are well above most similar priced phones.
Cooled built F1 to tackle Xiaomi so we are getting high end hardware including a 5-inch 1280 x 720 Gorilla Glass display, octacore 1.7Ghz Mediatek processor and even 2GB RAM. Even the cameras are decent with a 5 mega-pixel up from than 13 mega-pixel F2.0 on the rear.
JiaYu G4C
The JiaYu G4 manages to get in to another of our lists, again it is the JiaYu G4 but this time it is the more affordable G4C model. the JiaYu G4C has the same design and 4.7-inch HD Gorilla Glass display as the G4S, and 13 mega-pixel rear camera, but with a more affordable quad-core processor, and 1GB RAM.
Huawei Honor Play 4X
The Huawei Honor Play 4X is a hot item so a little tricky to find in stock, but if you are fast enough you can get this 5.5-inch phone for only $159.99.
The Honor Play 4X is unique on this list as it is the only phone not to use a Mediatek processor, instead a 1.2Ghz Qualcomm chip has been ushered in with 2GB RAM. That 5.5-inch panel is a HD 720p model and there is even LTE, 13 mega-pixel main camera and 3000mAh battery!
We would love to here if you have any other choices for under $160 for Android phones. Let us know in the comments below.
Inew V3 Plus for 169 USD (with coupon on Coolicool for 159 USD) would make a nice addition to your list π Octacore, 2 GB RAM, Gorilla Glass, 16 MPx Sony sensor…
It’s on the list of under $200 gift ideas.
What’s the coupon?
i just bought it, $10 off coupon for v3 plus: inewv3plus
poor battery
the battery life is improved for 40%,trust me.
Umi C1
i agree,:)
Huawei Honor Play 4X is 249 on pandawill
Huawei Honor Play 4 is 165 on pandawill
i think you are mistaken. tell me where u find it for 160 ? i want to buy for sure
http://www.1949deal.com/huawei-honor-play-4x-msm8916-quad-core-1-2ghz-android-4-4-smartphone-2gb-ram-8gb-rom-5-5-inch-hd-ips-screen-4g-lte-white.html
The 4x was made for international buyers, if i remember right …
but no 850 for the 3G frequencies … so bad ….:(
i was already thinking u saw it there.
1949deal has more often done this trick. Saying they have low price but always with phones out of stock.
first i was waiting for the jiayu g2f and they said waiting for phone to come (so “out of stock”) and the amazing price of 80 dollar, in the end waited almost a year and the final price (in stock) was much much higher.
The Honor 4x is 1299 CNY ,no way you find it at 160$, the 4 Play is the cheaper one.
The DG580 seems like a poor choice, the DG850 and even DG350 would be a better buy and then the DG550 gets close enough to 150$ sometimes.
$159.99 for the 4X http://www.1949deal.com/huawei-honor-play-4x-msm8916-quad-core-1-2ghz-android-4-4-smartphone-2gb-ram-8gb-rom-5-5-inch-hd-ips-screen-4g-lte-white.html
Andi: Too bad it is “out of stock”…
I found this cheap Lenovo at aliexpress… the 3G frequencies are 850/2100 .. that is very very rare for a Lenovo … is it a fake?
if not it is a real nice low cost phone …
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-Quality-Huawei-Ascend-P6-plus-phone-MTK6592-OCTA-CORE-5-supper-IPS-1920-1080-2GB/2051284224.html
These are all fake, this exact phone also comes with Huwaei, Lenovo, Coolpad and Jiayu rear convers! When checking them you can see the specs, dimmensions, battery, screenshots and ROM are all identical! I just bought one for a friend as they wanted a cheap phone, but I bought it from the only seller I could find who had 100% feedback for this particular handset. The Jiayu is easier to spot as a fake due to the typo on the rear cover.
I do a lot of work with Lenovo mobile. I actually have the actual A8 Spec Sheet on my computer so I notice quite a few differences between this and the actual A8 (Golden Warrior):
Price – The real Lenovo retails for between $160-200.
Display – The real A8 is only 720p, this one claims to be 1080, which I highly doubt it is.
Rom – The real A8 only comes in 16gb, this one has 4gb.
Frequencies – Most Lenovo’s come with either 900/2100 or their flagships will usually have multiple. It is very rare to see 850/2100 in a Lenovo.
Camera – Real has 13/5, this one has 13/3.
Back Cover – Lenovo’s logo is almost always written across the back of the phone not going down.
Wifi – Real A8 supports B/G/N, this one has just B/G.
Thx a lot for ur help.
Can u help me : i search a 3G 850/2100, dual sim, micro sd and good brand around 200$.
I like the Kingzone k1 with its metal body or the N3 with its LTE.. but it s a chinese no famous brand….
Kingzone K1 is an excellent phone. I use one for work and I have never had a problem with it. It is one of the best phone builds I have ever come across and it supports wireless charging.
What size phone are you looking for? What brands do you prefer?
Thx for ur help.
The size can be between 4.7 to 5.5…single sim is ok, microsd is very appeciated too…
the most important is the 3G 850/2100 and the good brand.. i mean good build construction, metal or not, and no bugs in a standard use.
i dt need nothg for games or special things.
Lenovo , TCL, Huawei , ZTE works very rarely with this frequencies…
I bought the ZTE z7 mini, very happy with it, but i search now somthg cheaper, like 200$ or less.
Kingzone K1 or N3 look good ones, but unfamous brand are always a risk …
No problem always glad to help someone looking to get away from the bigger name brands who overcharge.
The following phones should fit your needs, check them out and read some reviews if you they are not for you let me know I have some more:
THL T11
THL 4000
ZOPO ZP1000
InFocus M512 (This is Foxconn’s own brand, they are one of the largest OEM’s in the world making everything from the Iphone to the PS4).
Huawei G730
TCL Idol X
If you live in North American or have delivery from Amazon there is the Moto G and Blu Phones which are always an option. Blu has a partnership with Gionee to sell their phones with a Blu logo. Gionee is one of the largest manufacturers in China and have excellent quality.
Thx for ur help abt my research
I have almost always a problem abt the phones u propose to me…
i am maybe a too difficult “client”
THL phones have a very bad reputation abt fragile plastic that broken at the 1st drop …
ZOPO have a big problem abt impossibility to recognize SIM after some months, a french forum is full of people sending back their mobiles abt “sim not inside” problem ..
HUAWEI and TCL, great brands, dt work with 3g 850/2100 frequencies.. like the zopo1000 …. π
I must check the Infocus that i didnt know …
Lately i thought abt the XIAOMI note 4G .. great brand, cheap phone … but all plastic .. and it s small brother the 1S has full of bugs … what is ur opinion abt it ?
thx again for ur help and ur next good propositions…
Maybe after all the Kingzone is the best choice … if YES, N3 or K1 ?
All the phones I listed have the 850/2100 frequencies listed in their specs. I have owned multiple THL phones (Monkey King is my favorite phone of all time) and have never had any issues when them, including dropping them other than a few minor scratches.
My opinion about Xiaomi is they are one of the best smartphone makers in the world. I own the Mi4 and have owned the Mi3 and Redmi 1s in the past and all of them were excellent build quality. MIUI is one of the few skins of Android that I actually prefer to stock android.
I love my Kingzone K1 (work phone) it has the look and feel of a phone that should have cost twice as much. The N3 was just released but from what I have heard about it the quality is the same as the K1.
I searched the phones that u talked abt and i found only 900/2100 3G frequencies…
Tell me if i dt understand somthg
http://www.tinydeal.com/fr/zopo-zp1000-50-ips-hd-mtk6592-8-core-android-422-3g-phone-p-122977.html
http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_ascend_g730-6290.php
I follow ur advice abt the THL brand …
Which one will u recommend me among these phones in the order the best to the worst at ur opinion ?
THL 4400
THL 5000
kingzone K1
Kingzone N3
Xiaomi Note 4G
thx dor ur time…
The websites I used all had those listed as 850/2100. I used Merimobiles, Coolicool and Antelife. Sometimes there are two different models of a phone, one for Asian markets and one for International. For instance the TCL Idol X (or Alcatel in some markets) has one model that is 900/2100 and one that is 850/1900/2100.
Of the phones you listed I would say the best is the Xiaomi. But that really depends on whether or not you like MIUI, I would suggest watching some videos of MIUI in action to see if you like it. After that I would say K1, because I use that phone for work and the build/quality is amazing.
THX A LOT.
I THINK I GO FOR THE KINGZONE…
LAST QUESTION : U HAVE THE K1S OR K1 ?
IS THE DIFFERENCE IMPORTANT ?
Inew V3 Plus for 169 USD (with coupon on Coolicool for 159 USD) would make a nice addition to your list π Octacore, 2 GB RAM, Gorilla Glass, 16 MPx Sony sensor…
It’s on the list of under $200 gift ideas.
What’s the coupon?
poor battery
i just bought it, $10 off coupon for v3 plus: inewv3plus
the battery life is improved for 40%,trust me.
Umi C1
i agree,:)
Huawei Honor Play 4X is 249 on pandawill
Huawei Honor Play 4 is 165 on pandawill
i think you are mistaken. tell me where u find it for 160 ? i want to buy for sure
http://www.1949deal.com/huawei-honor-play-4x-msm8916-quad-core-1-2ghz-android-4-4-smartphone-2gb-ram-8gb-rom-5-5-inch-hd-ips-screen-4g-lte-white.html
The 4x was made for international buyers, if i remember right …
but no 850 for the 3G frequencies … so bad ….:(
i was already thinking u saw it there.
1949deal has more often done this trick. Saying they have low price but always with phones out of stock.
first i was waiting for the jiayu g2f and they said waiting for phone to come (so “out of stock”) and the amazing price of 80 dollar, in the end waited almost a year and the final price (in stock) was much much higher.
The Honor 4x is 1299 CNY ,no way you find it at 160$, the 4 Play is the cheaper one.
The DG580 seems like a poor choice, the DG850 and even DG350 would be a better buy and then the DG550 gets close enough to 150$ sometimes.
$159.99 for the 4X http://www.1949deal.com/huawei-honor-play-4x-msm8916-quad-core-1-2ghz-android-4-4-smartphone-2gb-ram-8gb-rom-5-5-inch-hd-ips-screen-4g-lte-white.html
Andi: Too bad it is “out of stock”…
I found this cheap Lenovo at aliexpress… the 3G frequencies are 850/2100 .. that is very very rare for a Lenovo … is it a fake?
if not it is a real nice low cost phone …
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/High-Quality-Huawei-Ascend-P6-plus-phone-MTK6592-OCTA-CORE-5-supper-IPS-1920-1080-2GB/2051284224.html
These are all fake, this exact phone also comes with Huwaei, Lenovo, Coolpad and Jiayu rear convers! When checking them you can see the specs, dimmensions, battery, screenshots and ROM are all identical! I just bought one for a friend as they wanted a cheap phone, but I bought it from the only seller I could find who had 100% feedback for this particular handset. The Jiayu is easier to spot as a fake due to the typo on the rear cover.
I do a lot of work with Lenovo mobile. I actually have the actual A8 Spec Sheet on my computer so I notice quite a few differences between this and the actual A8 (Golden Warrior):
Price – The real Lenovo retails for between $160-200.
Display – The real A8 is only 720p, this one claims to be 1080, which I highly doubt it is.
Rom – The real A8 only comes in 16gb, this one has 4gb.
Frequencies – Most Lenovo’s come with either 900/2100 or their flagships will usually have multiple. It is very rare to see 850/2100 in a Lenovo.
Camera – Real has 13/5, this one has 13/3.
Back Cover – Lenovo’s logo is almost always written across the back of the phone not going down.
Wifi – Real A8 supports B/G/N, this one has just B/G.
Thx a lot for ur help.
Can u help me : i search a 3G 850/2100, dual sim, micro sd and good brand around 200$.
I like the Kingzone k1 with its metal body or the N3 with its LTE.. but it s a chinese no famous brand….
Kingzone K1 is an excellent phone. I use one for work and I have never had a problem with it. It is one of the best phone builds I have ever come across and it supports wireless charging.
What size phone are you looking for? What brands do you prefer?
Thx for ur help.
The size can be between 4.7 to 5.5…single sim is ok, microsd is very appeciated too…
the most important is the 3G 850/2100 and the good brand.. i mean good build construction, metal or not, and no bugs in a standard use.
i dt need nothg for games or special things.
Lenovo , TCL, Huawei , ZTE works very rarely with this frequencies…
I bought the ZTE z7 mini, very happy with it, but i search now somthg cheaper, like 200$ or less.
Kingzone K1 or N3 look good ones, but unfamous brand are always a risk …
No problem always glad to help someone looking to get away from the bigger name brands who overcharge.
The following phones should fit your needs, check them out and read some reviews if you they are not for you let me know I have some more:
THL T11
THL 4000
ZOPO ZP1000
InFocus M512 (This is Foxconn’s own brand, they are one of the largest OEM’s in the world making everything from the Iphone to the PS4).
Huawei G730
TCL Idol X
If you live in North American or have delivery from Amazon there is the Moto G and Blu Phones which are always an option. Blu has a partnership with Gionee to sell their phones with a Blu logo. Gionee is one of the largest manufacturers in China and have excellent quality.
Thx for ur help abt my research
I have almost always a problem abt the phones u propose to me…
i am maybe a too difficult “client”
THL phones have a very bad reputation abt fragile plastic that broken at the 1st drop …
ZOPO have a big problem abt impossibility to recognize SIM after some months, a french forum is full of people sending back their mobiles abt “sim not inside” problem ..
HUAWEI and TCL, great brands, dt work with 3g 850/2100 frequencies.. like the zopo1000 …. π
I must check the Infocus that i didnt know …
Lately i thought abt the XIAOMI note 4G .. great brand, cheap phone … but all plastic .. and it s small brother the 1S has full of bugs … what is ur opinion abt it ?
thx again for ur help and ur next good propositions…
Maybe after all the Kingzone is the best choice … if YES, N3 or K1 ?
All the phones I listed have the 850/2100 frequencies listed in their specs. I have owned multiple THL phones (Monkey King is my favorite phone of all time) and have never had any issues when them, including dropping them other than a few minor scratches.
My opinion about Xiaomi is they are one of the best smartphone makers in the world. I own the Mi4 and have owned the Mi3 and Redmi 1s in the past and all of them were excellent build quality. MIUI is one of the few skins of Android that I actually prefer to stock android.
I love my Kingzone K1 (work phone) it has the look and feel of a phone that should have cost twice as much. The N3 was just released but from what I have heard about it the quality is the same as the K1.
I searched the phones that u talked abt and i found only 900/2100 3G frequencies…
Tell me if i dt understand somthg
http://www.tinydeal.com/fr/zopo-zp1000-50-ips-hd-mtk6592-8-core-android-422-3g-phone-p-122977.html
http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_ascend_g730-6290.php
I follow ur advice abt the THL brand …
Which one will u recommend me among these phones in the order the best to the worst at ur opinion ?
THL 4400
THL 5000
kingzone K1
Kingzone N3
Xiaomi Note 4G
thx dor ur time…
The websites I used all had those listed as 850/2100. I used Merimobiles, Coolicool and Antelife. Sometimes there are two different models of a phone, one for Asian markets and one for International. For instance the TCL Idol X (or Alcatel in some markets) has one model that is 900/2100 and one that is 850/1900/2100.
Of the phones you listed I would say the best is the Xiaomi. But that really depends on whether or not you like MIUI, I would suggest watching some videos of MIUI in action to see if you like it. After that I would say K1, because I use that phone for work and the build/quality is amazing.
THX A LOT.
I THINK I GO FOR THE KINGZONE…
LAST QUESTION : U HAVE THE K1S OR K1 ?
IS THE DIFFERENCE IMPORTANT ?
what about the blackview crown (octa-core 1,7Ghz 2GB RAM 16GB ROM + PU leater case…) ?
I looked into that one, seems the camera has focusing issues and is slow, plus it has a very small battery.
Infocus M512.
Quad core Qualcomm processor (so no GPS problems), 720p display and FDD-LTE for around 160$.
I can’t figure out how come it didn’t make it to the list.
There is about a dozen phones that could have made the list in addition to the ones here. When you cut it down to 10 some don’t make the cut. Doesn’t mean they aren’t good phones just means the author didn’t pick them. The following phones can all be found for less than $160:
Asus Zenphone 5 – $149
UMI C1 – $149
THL 4000 – $149
Huwaei Honor 3c – $150
Xiaomi Redmi 1s – $150
Blackview Crown – $160
THL L969 – $150
All of them are good phones it’s tough sometimes to narrow it down to just 10. As for GPS most MTK phones are a lot better with GPS than they used to be. There have been numerous updates/ by Mediatek as well as fixes from the community to fix the issues.
The phones you listed are better than the 80 (or 90) % of the ones listed in the post π
the only phone in this list that has an acceptable camera, stable GPS and quality control, is the Coolpad F1. It costs more than 160$ everywhere.
I would add the RedMI 1S and the ZTE V5 redbull v9180
Both of them kill every phone in this list in quality, reliability, GPS, and camera. And most important, last more than a year without breaking down. Specs and screen size won’t matter if the phone dies after a few months of careful use. Reliability and production quality control are factor no. 1 when parts are 7000 km and a month away
I have never had one but Huwaei is known to have very good quality and has service centers all around the globe. I have used a few THL phones and all of them were excellent quality that lasted more than a year. The THL Monkey King is still one of my favorite phones I have ever used, the camera’s on that phone (dual 13mp) where better than most flagships today.
what about the blackview crown (octa-core 1,7Ghz 2GB RAM 16GB ROM + PU leater case…) ?
I looked into that one, seems the camera has focusing issues and is slow, plus it has a very small battery.
Infocus M512.
Quad core Qualcomm processor (so no GPS problems), 720p display and FDD-LTE for around 160$.
I can’t figure out how come it didn’t make it to the list.
There is about a dozen phones that could have made the list in addition to the ones here. When you cut it down to 10 some don’t make the cut. Doesn’t mean they aren’t good phones just means the author didn’t pick them. The following phones can all be found for less than $160:
Asus Zenphone 5 – $149
UMI C1 – $149
THL 4000 – $149
Huwaei Honor 3c – $150
Xiaomi Redmi 1s – $150
Blackview Crown – $160
THL L969 – $150
All of them are good phones it’s tough sometimes to narrow it down to just 10. As for GPS most MTK phones are a lot better with GPS than they used to be. There have been numerous updates/ by Mediatek as well as fixes from the community to fix the issues.
The phones you listed are better than the 80 (or 90) % of the ones listed in the post π
the only phone in this list that has an acceptable camera, stable GPS and quality control, is the Coolpad F1. It costs more than 160$ everywhere.
I would add the RedMI 1S and the ZTE V5 redbull v9180
Both of them kill every phone in this list in quality, reliability, GPS, and camera. And most important, last more than a year without breaking down. Specs and screen size won’t matter if the phone dies after a few months of careful use. Reliability and production quality control are factor no. 1 when parts are 7000 km and a month away
I have never had one but Huwaei is known to have very good quality and has service centers all around the globe. I have used a few THL phones and all of them were excellent quality that lasted more than a year. The THL Monkey King is still one of my favorite phones I have ever used, the camera’s on that phone (dual 13mp) where better than most flagships today.
Believe me guys, if you are planning to gift these to someone, gift them to your enemies, they will have blast, a literal one.
Believe me guys, if you are planning to gift these to someone, gift them to your enemies, they will have blast, a literal one.
Inew V3 Plus Smartphone 2G RAM Octa Core for $151.30 with coupon PLUSKC and gifts 1. Extra screen protector 2. Flipcase with window 3. Earphones from gearbest is a very good deal π
Inew V3 Plus Smartphone 2G RAM Octa Core for $151.30 with coupon PLUSKC and gifts 1. Extra screen protector 2. Flipcase with window 3. Earphones from gearbest is a very good deal π
What about elephone g6….i think it is good enough to get into the list…
What about elephone g6….i think it is good enough to get into the list…
The jiayu g4c has not been available for months and cannot be found anywhere, which is a shame because i would like one for my daughter; what other sub 5″ phone has a 3000mah battery? Listing the Honor play 4x is misleading since it is “out of stock”, meaning whatever list price they put the actual price is much much higher.
The jiayu g4c has not been available for months and cannot be found anywhere, which is a shame because i would like one for my daughter; what other sub 5″ phone has a 3000mah battery? Listing the Honor play 4x is misleading since it is “out of stock”, meaning whatever list price they put the actual price is much much higher.
Is the Jaiyu G4S a good phone ? What is the best sub $250 phone for build quality and general use. I aint no gamer. I just want decent connectivity to 3g, a good battery and most important sturdy build that will last a year………… or two
No ! buy a cubot x 6
Is the Jaiyu G4S a good phone ? What is the best sub $250 phone for build quality and general use. I aint no gamer. I just want decent connectivity to 3g, a good battery and most important sturdy build that will last a year………… or two
No ! buy a cubot x 6