Which Chinese Phone? (Less than $400)

RubenM on 28/09/2019 - 12:21
Last edited 28/09/2019 - 23:03 by 1 other user

I'm after the following:

As cheap as possible (definitely less than $400)
Has to have USB C
Water resistant (maybe, but looks like that's unlikely from the comments)
OLED or status LED
NFC
B28
Really good camera (point and shoot)
Fingerprint scanner that's not on the back
Big battery
Reasonable performance
No curved screen

Now, it might be hard to get everything on the list, but please suggest away. I was thinking maybe Umidigi F1 play or wait for the F2, or see if I can get a Realme X2, though there's no review on the camera yet.

• 

  Kangal on 28/09/2019 - 13:45

  +4

  As soon as you said "water resistant" that disqualified like +97% of all Chinese Phones.

  The only thing left are the Huawei P/Mate Pro phones. The OnePlus 7 Pro gets an honorable mention but technically it doesn't have an Ingress Protection reading.

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  Iangh on 28/09/2019 - 14:04

  +2

  This is where I go to for ideas and places to buy, https://www.kimovil.com/en/. You can chose to search for "rugged smartphone" but no option for water resistance.

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  Cheeper on 28/09/2019 - 22:41

  +2

  How likely are you to drop it in water? Might make your selection a bit easier if you pass on that.

  • 

    jdee87 on 30/09/2019 - 22:41

    The truth in this comment tho :D

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  CodeXD on 28/09/2019 - 22:43

  +2

  2nd hand Samsung S7 fits all those criteria.

  • 

    RubenM on 28/09/2019 - 23:05

    Thanks, but sorry one thing that I didn't mention initially because I thought it was a given, is USB C.

    • 

      Kangal on 29/09/2019 - 11:33

      Used S8…?

      • 

        RubenM on 29/09/2019 - 18:30

        Curved screen and I drop my phone daily.

        • 

          Kangal on 30/09/2019 - 21:37

          @RubenM: LG V30 or Sony XZ1 for $400.

          I know for a fact that no phone in the world exists where it has a front fingerprint scanner, and a flat display, and water resistance, and a big battery. I think you should get something well-known, it makes it easier to troubleshoot problems and hunting for accessories.

          You can still get a used Samsung S8, and use a thick case which eliminates the curved-side access.

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  RubenM on 28/09/2019 - 23:02

  Sorry, yes but all of these things have to be satisfied, other than the price and the camera, oh and USB C.

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  yummypinacolada on 01/10/2019 - 04:12

  I would stay away from most of Chinese brands unless its the one that is known worldwide and well reviewed by lots of tech reviewer like Huawei, Oppo(Realme) or Xiaomi. Most chinese phone are great on the spec sheet but terrible in real life(lagging, overheating, lots of software bugs, etc). Also beware that lots of Chinese phone doesn't have B28.

  Also at $400 price point there's no such thing such as "really good camera". Even though most of the time it will be good enough(comparable with flagship) when in daylight, but lowlight photography, image stabilization, and auto focus will be a huge difference with $1000+ phone.

  • 

    Brianqpr on 01/10/2019 - 09:44

    My $400 Huawei takes better photos than my wife's iphone 8. She's always complaining about this!

    • 

      yummypinacolada on 02/10/2019 - 04:28

      +1

      What do you mean by better photos? Does it look nicer or more true to real world? iPhone usually go for more natural looks, where as Samsung and Huawei always over sharpen things. So it really depends on your preference.

      I don't say that $400 phone can't take a good photos, but your $400 Huawei phone won't be as good as other $1000++ Huawei phone. Its hard when you compare Huawei with iPhone as they go for different approach in photography and different people might have different taste.

      The only midrange phone that don't sacrifice on camera is Pixel 3a, but then again its still cost more than $400.

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  crentist on 02/10/2019 - 01:30

  xiaomi 9t/redmi k20?
  dont know the difference between these phones, and their pro models.
  but the pro models at least seem pretty great

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  RubenM on 03/10/2019 - 07:54

  What do you guys think of the Huawei P20 Pro?