Content

1. Current rating option
2. Premium
3. Middle-
4. Economy
5. Conclusion

Current rating option

Бестселлер – a model with outstanding performance (it could be the price, not just the technical characteristics). Models marked with the word “Bestseller” are worth paying close attention to.

Player… Notable solutions, typical representatives of their class. These are mass-produced products that generate the main sales in certain segments.

Applicant… Phones in this category have not grown to the player’s class, but have a number of attractive features (for example, cost, but it can also become a negative factor, and then the player turns into a contender), they may lack many functions that have become standard for a particular class. As a rule, the “Contender” category includes devices from second and third tier manufacturers or overpriced phones from large manufacturers.

Technology for technology’s sake… Niche products, interesting for their technical solutions, but not intended for a wide audience. Based on the possibilities, the device is interesting, but its size and speed of operation negate its advantages and make it niche.

Not for all… Niche solutions, which are usually distinguished by an extraordinary design or the presence of unique, but unnecessary opportunities. Designed for a narrow group of buyers who buy original things for self-expression.

Mediocre product… This category includes devices that are initially aimed at everyone and no one. Phones that lack distinctive features, making them one of the many on the market.

Outsider… Phones that, contrary to common sense, enter the market and do not attract consumers even to a small extent. Dead products not made for any sales.

Also, all models are divided into 4 price segments, the main technical characteristics indicated by the manufacturer are listed. If any smartphone seemed interesting, then a little more detail is written about it. The price indicated in the description is the lowest I found in the official retail. Offers on the “gray” market, all their pros and cons are at your discretion. From time to time, devices may appear that are already available for purchase, but have not yet been presented in official retail.

Segment / Price	From	Before
Premium	45 001 rub.
Medium +	30 001 rub.	45 000 rub.
Middle-	11 001 rub.	30 000 rub.
Economy		11 000 rub.

Premium

iPhone 12 Pro Max

• Rating: bestseller
• Price: from 109 rubles

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Apple A14 Bionic (5nm), Hexa-core (2 × 3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4 × 1.8 GHz Icestorm), Apple GPU graphics (4 cores)
• Operating system: iOS 14.1
• Memory: 6 GB / 128/256/512 GB, no memory card slot
• Screen: 6.7 inches, Super Retina XDR OLED, 2778 x 1284 dots, 19.5 by 9 aspect ratio, 458 ppi, HDR10, 800 nits typical, 1200 nits peak, Dolby Vision, wide color gamut, True- tone, ceramic safety glass
• Battery: Li-Ion 3687 mAh, fast charging 20 W, 50% in 30 minutes, wireless charging 15 W
• Main camera:
  • 12 MP, f / 1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.7μm, dual pixel PDAF, IBIS
  • 12 MP, f / 2.0, 52mm (tele), 1 / 3.4 ″, 1.0μm, PDAF, OIS, 2.5x optical zoom
  • 12 MP, f / 2.4, 120 °, 13mm (ultra wide angle), 1 / 3.6 ″
  • TOF 3D LiDAR scanner (depth)
  • Video recording 4K @ 24/30 / 60fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120 / 240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps)
• Front camera: 12 MP, f / 2.2, 23mm (wide-angle), 1 / 3.6 ″ + SL 3D (depth / biometric sensor)
• SIM card: 1 Nano-SIM + eSIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, NFC, USB Lightning, USB 2.0
• Sensors: Face ID, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer
• Other: Apple Pay, IP68 protection, no 3.5 mm jack
• Materials: glass and steel frame
• Dimensions: 160.8 x 78.1 x 7.4 mm, weight 228 g

We’ve had more than one article out there explaining why iPhones should be avoided and never bought. Keep in mind, however, that Mobile-Review.com is a site that gives you the fuel to think about. And if some other resource says that the medal has two sides, then we will add that, in addition to the sides, the medal also has an edge. So I’ll try to find 10 reasons why you should buy an iPhone 12 Pro Max or mini.

1. DisplayMate praised the screens of the new iPhones, giving them the highest rating. All sorts of illiterate sites rushed to publish releases that the iPhone generally has the best screen, but this is not so. DisplayMate is said to be the best screen among iPhones, and links are provided for comparison to other smartphones. For example, the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has an even better screen – both the accuracy is higher, and the brightness is better, etc. However, it doesn’t matter that Samsung has 0.5 JNCD color accuracy and 1600 nits peak brightness, while iPhone has 0.9 JNCD and 1200 nits. These are little things that only a technique or an overly picky, perverted eye, sharpened for searching, will reveal. The iPhone has a very good screen! And if you do not like Samsung, then you should take the iPhone!
2. Powerful chipset! 5 nm! Apple Bionic! As great as Samsung is in memory and display, so is Apple in chipsets. Bionic is made to rip and toss. In the new generation, Apple has focused not so much on power (because it is already in abundance and it is not clear what to do if we are talking about smartphones and not about laptops), but rather on energy efficiency and battery life. Interestingly, this desire played a cruel joke with Apple and in most games the iPhone is discharged in just 3 hours. However, Call of Duty has been optimized and now discharges 15% per hour, which gives the standard 6 hours of play.

3. The best cameras. In cameras, Apple has notably improved itself, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max bypasses all current Samsungs in the DxOMark rating, second only to Xiaomi and Huawei. But here, by the way, everything is for an amateur. For example, although Xiaomi is better, I don’t like shooting them, I love Huawei and Samsung more. The iPhone, on the other hand, takes balanced Instagram shots that you want to share. What else do you need?
4. iOS 14. Android has long overtaken iOS in the number of features and benefits, but Apple is still the design power. Android widgets are still scary and take up a ton of space, but look at how Apple has implemented them perfectly. This also includes the smoothness of the interface and other magic, after which it begins to seem that iOS is really better than Android.
5. Dolby Vision HDR video recording. This item is for those who have an appropriate monitor or TV to enjoy their iPhone recordings later. If you took out an iPhone on credit, and at home you have an old shabby, bad-smelling TV, then feel free to skip the point! For Instagram, this option is useless. If you’re a blogger, you can buy the iPhone 12 Pro Max, as YouTube supports HDR video uploading. You will delight subscribers!

For the continuation of the points go to the section for the iPhone 12 mini.

iPhone 12 mini

• Rating: bestseller
• Price: from 69 rubles

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Apple A14 Bionic (5nm), Hexa-core (2 × 3.1 GHz Firestorm + 4 × 1.8 GHz Icestorm), Apple GPU graphics (4-core)
• Operating system: iOS 14.1
• Memory: 4 GB / 64/128/256 GB, no memory card slot
• Screen: 5.4 inches, Super Retina XDR OLED, 2340 x 1080 dots, 19.5 by 9 aspect ratio, 476 ppi, HDR10, 625 nits typical, 1200 nits peak, Dolby Vision, wide color gamut, True- tone, ceramic safety glass
• Battery: Li-Ion 2227 mAh, fast charging 20 W, 50% in 30 minutes, wireless charging 12 W
• Main camera:
  • 12 MP, f / 1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.4μm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
  • 12 MP, f / 2.4, 120 °, 13mm (ultra wide angle), 1 / 3.6 ″
  • Video recording 4K @ 24/30 / 60fps, 1080p @ 30/60/120 / 240fps, 10-bit HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps)
• Front camera: 12 MP, f / 2.2, 23mm (wide-angle), 1 / 3.6 ″ + SL 3D (depth / biometric sensor)
• SIM card: 1 Nano-SIM + eSIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, NFC, USB Lightning, USB 2.0
• Sensors: Face ID, accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer
• Other: Apple Pay, IP68 protection, no 3.5 mm jack
• Materials: glass and steel frame
• Dimensions: 131.5 x 64.2 x 7.4 mm, weight 135 g

6. Unique design. Manufacturers are gradually copying matte covers, but it is difficult to do so, so even Samsung has released only one smartphone with this effect. You may or may not like the design of the iPhone 12, but you have to admit that its looks are unique and easily recognizable!
7. Compact dimensions without loss of performance. Android manufacturers like to release models with a smaller diagonal and worse characteristics than those of their older brothers. Apple has released a line where all smartphones have almost identical hardware. iPhone mini is the most powerful compact smartphone ever. Have you dreamed about it? Get it! Here yesterday in the review Xiaomi Mi 10T complained in the comments about the spade. Here! Buy an iPhone!
8. There are eSIM and 5G! When you go on a trip, you can enjoy all the joys of a new generation of communication. * Although I’m not sure here, in Russia 5G does not work even in laboratory conditions, and travel abroad is still prohibited, and it is not possible to check whether it will work there.
9. The art of conspicuous consumption. After the next fall in the ruble and the pandemic, either credit-takers or wealthy people can afford an iPhone. At the same time, buying an iPhone will not look as vulgar as installing a golden toilet at home. You can just say that you are used to iOS and you see no reason to waste time to change your habits, because there are more important and interesting things to do than bother with choosing a smartphone.
10. I just want an iPhone 12 Pro Max, Pro, 12, or mini. Sometimes it happens! This is a great gift for the New Year. As practice shows, even inveterate Android fans rejoice like children if they are presented with an iPhone.

Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro 5G / Mi 10T 5G

• Rating: player
• Price: 49 990/44 990 rubles

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 (7 nm +), Octa-core (1 × 2.84 GHz Kryo 585 & 3 × 2.42 GHz Kryo 585 & 4 × 1.80 GHz Kryo 585), Adreno 650 graphics
• Operating system: Android 10, shell MIUI 12
• Memory: 8 GB / 128/256 GB UFS 3.1 (Mi 10T – 6 GB / 128 GB)
• Screen: 6,67 inches, IPS LCD, 2400 by 1080 pixels, aspect ratio 20 by 9, dot density 395 ppi, 144 Hz, HDR10 +, peak brightness 650 nits, Gorilla Glass 5
• Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, fast charging 33 W, Power Delivery 3.0
• Main camera:
  • 108 MP, f / 1.7, 26mm (wide), 1 / 1.33 ″, 0.8μm, PDAF, OIS (Mi 10T – 64 MP, f / 1.9, 26mm (wide), 1 / 1.73 ″, 0.8μm, PDAF)
  • 13 MP, f / 2.4, 123 ° (ultra wide angle), 1.12μm
  • 5 MP, f / 2.4, (macro), autofocus
  • Video recording 8K @ 30fps, 4K @ 30 / 60fps, 1080p @ 30/60 / 120fps; gyro-EIS (Mi 10T – + 960fps mode)
• Front camera:
  • 20 MP, f / 2.2, 27mm (wide), 1 / 3.4 ″, 0.8μm
  • Video recording 1080p @ 30fps, 720p @ 120fps
• SIM card: 2 Nano-SIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, dual band A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NFC, infrared, USB Type-C 2.0
• Sensors: Fingerprint scanner (side), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, lighting, compass, barometer
• Other: no 3.5 mm jack (adapter included), no radio, no water protection, no memory card slot
• Materials: Gorilla Glass 5 and aluminum frame
• Dimensions: 165.1 x 76.4 x 9.3mm, Weight 218g (Mi 10T – 216g)

Best Xiaomi smartphones of 2020 I melted when the Mi 10T Pro was sent to me. I will expand my delight point by point:

• Cool design. Aluminum frame, frosted glass back, pleasant to the touch and to the eye.
• Cool camera block design! I decided to highlight it separately, but look at how cool they slapped the 108 MP module! The camera block stands out, but it’s like the Galaxy S20, not a wall like the Galaxy Note, that is, it doesn’t cling to clothes. Although, of course, the block is still large, and even in a case the smartphone cannot lie flat on the table.
• No Ads! What? Absolutely not? Absolutely not! Everything is disabled!
• Very good IPS LCD screen with high color gamut and brightness! Also the frequency is 144 Hz. Playing and walking around the menus is a real pleasure.
• Great battery life and super fast charging.
• Great cameras and creative photography features. You can shoot 4K 60 fps video (8K is also possible, only you don’t need it).
• There is an infrared port to steer the TV!
• You can take the Mi 10T, lose a little as a camera, but get 960 fps shooting and a discount of 5 thousand rubles.
• At the start of sales, they give a lot of gifts: Mi Smart Band 5, Mi True Wireless Earphones 2 Basic and Mi 65W Fast Charger, within six months from the date of purchase, customers can count on one free display repair, and they will give any subscriptions as a gift !

Some say it’s expensive. The price has indeed increased by 100 euros when compared to the Mi 9T Pro. But there are reasons for that. First, you’ve already heard that 5G components are more expensive. For Russia, 5G is irrelevant, so it turns out that we are still overpaying for air. Secondly, Mi 9T Pro was a clone of Redmi K20, and here is a completely unique model, and this is an additional cost.

Thirdly, the module is 108 MP. Expensive photo module from Samsung. Fourth, more memory is already at the start. The 9T Pro started with 6/64 GB, while here it is 8/256 GB.

Reasons not to buy? You don’t like Xiaomi or no money.

Middle-

Honor 10X Lite

• Rating: challenger
• Price: 16 990 rubles

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Kirin 710 (14 nm), Octa-core (4 × 2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4 × 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53), Mali-G51 MP4
• Operating system: Android 10, Magic 3.1 shell (with Huawei services instead of Google)
• Memory: 4 GB / 128 GB, separate microSD slot up to 512 GB
• Screen: 6.67 inches, IPS LCD, 2400 x 1080 pixels, aspect ratio 20 by 9, pixel density 393 ppi
• Battery: 5 mAh, fast charging 000W
• Main camera:
  • 48 MP (f / 1.8 aperture)
  • 8 MP (120 ° wide-angle lens, f / 2.4 aperture)
  • 2 MP (depth-of-field lens, f / 2.4 aperture)
  • 2 MP (macro lens, f / 2.4 aperture)
  • 4K @ 30fps video recording, 1080p @ 30fps
• Front camera: 8 MP, f / 2.0 aperture
• SIM card: 2 Nano-SIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.1, BLE support, SBC, AAC, NFC, GPS, AGPS, GLONASS, BeiDou , Type-C, USB 2.0
• Sensors: fingerprint scanner (side), accelerometer, light sensor, proximity, compass
• Other: there is a 3.5 mm jack, there is an FM radio (you need headphones for work), there is NFC
• Materials: plastic
• Dimensions: 165.65 x 76.88 x 9.26 mm, weight 206 g

Honor is a complex product. The same 10X Lite is a rehash of a year ago. At the same time, the price is as if for the first time on the market. On the other hand, I used Honor and I can’t say that I suffered a lot without Google services. The only thing I don’t like is the lack of a payment service. Huawei Pay supports a small number of banks, so the manufacturer recommends the third-party Wallet app. But I somehow do not trust “third-party” applications. I trust Google Pay and Samsung Pay, I also put a card on the Xiaomi fitness bracelet. Well, I still trust Microsoft, but somehow I don’t trust Wallet.

Otherwise, in general, a great smartphone with a good design, especially if you buy at a discount. So I highly recommend keeping an eye on the stock and buying at a bargain price.

Nokia 3.4

• Rating: an ordinary product
• Price: 12 990 rubles

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Snapdragon 460 (11nm), Octa-core (4 × 1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4 × 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53), Adreno 610 graphics
• Operating System: Android 10
• Memory: 3 GB / 64 GB, separate microSD slot up to 512 GB, Google Drive
• Screen: 6.39 inches, IPS LCD, HD +, brightness 400 nits and NTSC (typ.) 70%.
• Battery: 4000 mAh, 10W charging mode
• Main camera:
  • 13 MP wide angle
  • 2 MP depth sensor
  • 5 MP wide-angle, LED flash
  • Video recording 1080p @ 30fps
• Front camera: 8 MP
• SIM card: 2 Nano-SIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS / AGPS + GLONASS + BDS + Galileo, USB Type-C 2.0
• Sensors: Fingerprint Scanner (Rear), Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Proximity, Lighting
• Other: there is an FM radio, there is a 3.5 mm jack
• Materials: plastic
• Dimensions: 161 x 76 x 8.7 mm, weight 180 g

Why is the Honor 10X Lite a contender, you may ask, and the Nokia 3.4 a run-of-the-mill product? The thing is, there is wide distribution and marketing behind Honor, which helps Honor smartphones not to get lost on the shelves. Nokia (especially in the lower price segments) seems to have decided to completely move towards B2B sales.

On the other hand, if you want a nice calm design and pure Android, which will definitely receive updates for the next couple of years, then you should choose Nokia!

Xiaomi Poco M3

• Rating–
• Price: 150 dollars (11 333 rubles)

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 (11 nm), Octa-core (4 × 2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4 × 1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver), Adreno 610 graphics
• Operating system: Android 10, shell MIUI 12
• Memory: 4 GB / 64/128 GB, separate slot for microSD
• Screen: 6.53 inches, IPS LCD, 2340 by 1080 pixels, aspect ratio 19,5 by 9, pixel density 395 ppi, brightness 400 nits, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Battery: Li-Po 6000 mAh, charging 18 W
• Main camera:
  • 48 MP, f / 1.8, (wide), 1 / 2.0 ″, 0.8μm, PDAF
  • 2 MP, f / 2.4, (macro)
  • 2 MP, f / 2.4, (depth)
  • Video recording 1080p @ 30fps
• Front camera: 8 MP, f / 2.1, (wide-angle), 1 / 4.0 ″, 1.12μm
• SIM card: 2 Nano-SIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, IrDA, USB Type-C 2.0
• Sensors: Fingerprint scanner (side), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass
• Other: there is a 3.5 mm jack, no NFC, but, most likely, they will make a version for Russia
• Materials: Gorilla Glass 3, plastic back and frame
• Dimensions: 162.3 x 77.3 x 9.6 mm, weight 198 g

Poco M3 is not for sale in Russia, but I think it’s important to keep our readers informed! The Snapdragon 662 is slightly more powerful than the Snapdragon 460 by about 11%. The cameras of the smartphone are, in general, standard, although the 48 MP module is always nice. The 6 mAh battery stands out in the smartphone. With the current hardware and OS version, such a volume allows us to hope that the smartphone will live for a couple of days.

Infrared port, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 are pleasing. And outwardly, the smartphone is good. Let me remind you that now Poco is not a flagship killer, but smartphones for a comfortable life.

Economy

Motorola E7 +

• Rating: player
• Price: 9 990 rubles

TECH SPECS:

• Processor: Snapdragon 460 (11nm), Octa-core (4 × 1.8 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4 × 1.8 GHz Cortex-A53), Adreno 610 graphics
• Operating System: Android 10
• Memory: 4GB / 64GB, microSDXC combo slot
• Screen: 6.5 inches, IPS LCD, 1600 by 720 pixels, aspect ratio 20 by 9, pixel density 270 ppi
• Battery: Li-Po 5000 mAh, charging 10 W
• Main camera:
  • 48 MP, f / 1.7, 26mm (wide), 1 / 2.0 ″, 0.8μm, PDAF
  • 2 MP, (depth)
  • Full HD video recording
• Front camera: 8 MP, f / 2.2, 26mm (wide-angle), 1 / 4 ″, 1.12μm
• SIM card: 2 Nano-SIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 5.0, A2DP, LE, A-GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, microUSB 2.0
• Sensors: Fingerprint Reader (Rear), Accelerometer, Proximity, Compass
• Other: no NFC, there is a 3.5 mm jack, there is an FM radio
• Materials: plastic
• Dimensions: 165.2 x 75.7 x 9.2 mm, weight 200 g

Look at the price and specifications of the E7 +, and then the Honor 10X or Nokia 3.4, and you will immediately understand why this smartphone is in the status of a player! Motorola has released perhaps its most powerful budget solution. Screen, camera, chipset, battery – all of the smartphones are of a higher class.

And don’t look at the Snapdragon 465 condescendingly. This chipset has replaced the Snapdragon 665.

Motorola is also on the side of the fact that the smartphone has a clean shell without hints of advertising or unnecessary applications. At the same time, there are branded widgets. One of the downsides of pure Android is that you have to download absolutely everything! And finding a free weather app without ads is a tricky task, so if you don’t want to bother but need pure Android – Motorla E7 + is for you.

The E7 + review will be released next week.

Conclusion

November is a wonderful month, albeit not rich in new items. Xiaomi and Apple have decorated it with their devices. As usual, I urge you to share in the comments which smartphones you bought for yourself or are going to buy for the New Year.

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