It’s that time of the month again! The top 5 best Chinese phones for under $200 are here with better specs and lower prices. So, let’s go ahead and see what you can now get in what’s probably the most interesting price range for Chinese smartphones!
Best Chinese Phones for Under $200
1. Redmi Note 8T
The new and upgraded Redmi Note 8T replaces the “old” Redmi Note 8 as the handset now features a pretty handy NFC module. All the rest says the same, as does price, this means we have a large 6.3-inch display of Full HD+ resolution with an aspect ratio of 19.5:9 and FHD+ resolution, for less than $200.
Powering Xiaomi’s mid-ranger we find the good Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 coupled with up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable via microSD.
The Redmi Note 8 packs a 48MP main rear camera for extra sharp photos when the subject is well lit, while in darker scenarios the pixels are combined into larger 1.6um ones for better quality. We then have an 8MP secondary with ultra wide lens, a third 2MP sensor for macro shots and a fourth 2MP depth sensor. Meanwhile at the front, we find a 13MP selfie snapper.
Finally, the smartphone packs a large 4000mAh capacity battery typical of the series and runs MIUI based on Android 9 Pie.
2. Realme 5
Oppo’s Realme sub-brand is finally bringing some competition to Xiaomi in the mid-range category with the Realme 5, which is basically a Redmi Note 8 alternative. The two smartphones are indeed very similar as far as design and primary specs are concerned, with both packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 CPU and four rear cameras.
The Realme 5 packs a bigger 6.5-inch screen though with HD+ resolution (720 x 1600) and a 20:9 display aspect ratio.
Moving onto the camera department we find a primary 12MP shooter with f/1.8 aperture, a secondary 8MP sensor with ultra wide angle lens, a 2MP macro lens and a 2MP depth sensor.
The Realme 5 then packs a large 5000mAh capacity battery, which along with the large display makes this one of the best devices for content consumption.
3. Realme 5 Pro
If you want to step up your game, another great option from Oppo is the Realme 5 Pro. The smartphone does indeed pack a more powerful Snapdragon 712 CPU coupled with 4GB of RAM (also available with 6GB) and 64GB of internal storage (expandable).
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The Realme 5 Pro then features a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with a 16MP selfie snapper hidden in the notch at the top. Meanwhile on the back we find four rear cameras with a primary 48MP sensor, a secondary 8MP ultra wide shooter, a camera with telephoto lens and a macro lens.
Finally, the smartphone is fueled by a large 4035mAh battery, supports 20W VOOC fast charging and runs ColorOS 6.0 based on Android 9 Pie.
Best Chinese Phones for Under $200
4. Honor 9X
As its priced below the $200 threshold, the Honor 9X has become a very appealing device in this price range. The handset does indeed pack a powerful Huawei HiSilicon KIRIN 810 CPU, along with a minimum 4GB of RAM and 64GB of UFS 2.1 internal storage (expandable).
The smartphone then feature a 6.59-inch Full HD+ display, a flagship grade 48MP Sony IMX582 Exmor RS image sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. While at the front we find a 16MP selfie snapper with a popup mechanism.
Finally, the Honor 9X comes with a large 4000mAh capacity battery and runs EMUI 9.1 based on Android 9 Pie.
5. Meizu Note 9
We conclude the list with the not too new yet very interesting Meizu Note 9. The handset does indeed feature a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 along with 4GB/6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of internal storage, all for less than $200.
Meizu’s phone then packs a 6.2-inch display with Full HD+ resolution and an 18.5:9 aspect ratio. Meanwhile cameras include a 48MP main paired with a 5MP secondary on the back and a 20MP selfie snapper in the notch at the front.
Finally the handset comes with a large 4000mAh battery supporting 18W fast charging and runs Flyme 7.2 based on Android 9 Pie out of the box.
Best Chinese Phones for Under $200
Honorable mention:
Lenovo Z5s 6/64 ~$150
Lenovo Z6 Youth Edition 6/64 ~$190
The sub $200 bracket offers some great devices at the moment. All the above are solid options. The RN8 pro, Realme X2 and Lenovo z6 are also available for under $200 at the moment and would be my top 3 choices for the price.
No fast charging for the Redmi 8T? Real bummer!
Your dad was a bummer too