For many people, technology such as smartphones is associated exclusively with foreign production, but this rule is not always true. Many domestic companies engaged in the manufacture of modern technological gadgets deliberately hide or do not advertise their Russian origin. They quite rightly believe that many buyers will turn their backs on them if they find out about this fact. The production facilities of these enterprises are mostly located in China, so smartphones created in Russia are almost impossible to distinguish from Chinese counterparts. This applies not only to the appearance, but also to batteries, software, and often even cost.
Today we decided to tell you about Russian smartphones, so that when you come to the store for the next gadget, you will know for sure that this model was created by domestic engineers, and in terms of its performance, the smartphone will not be inferior even to flagship gadgets from world famous manufacturers. Let’s first understand what you should pay attention to when choosing a smartphone, and in the future we will move on to a direct analysis of specific models.
How to choose a Russian-made smartphone?
Absolutely all domestic gadgets run on the Android operating system, because it is by far the most popular in the world. This is a fairly open system, so manufacturers, if necessary, can make quite serious changes to it regarding standard software, functionality, appearance, and so on.
Before buying, you should take the smartphone in your hands and check how comfortable it fits in the palm of your hand. In the past few years, there has been a tendency to increase the diagonal of the display — more and more models with a diagonal of 5 inches and above appear on the shelves, however, using such gadgets is far from always convenient — it is difficult to reach all points of the screen with your fingers. In this regard, it is better to initially make sure that working with this phone will be as comfortable as possible.
The material from which the case is made will directly affect not only the attractive appearance and its safety during the life of the gadget, but also the strength of the device itself. Today, there are three main materials — metal, plastic and glass, tempered in a special way. Metal is the most durable, but it almost always has a rather slippery surface, so the phone can simply jump out of your hands. Tempered glass usually has a special coating that increases friction. A phone with such a case is distinguished by excellent durability, looks attractive, but will cost much more. The simplest material is plastic, which wears out quickly, can crack or even burst.
They also pay attention to the hardware stuffing of the smartphone, first of all, to the processor. This is the brain center of the device, which is responsible for the speed of the gadget, provides quick opening of applications, work with graphic files, stable operation of games. Another point that directly affects the performance of the device is RAM — the more it is, the faster the device itself will work. For the middle price category, this figure will be approximately 1-2 GB, for more expensive models — 3 GB and above (today you can find products equipped with 8 GB of RAM).
In terms of display, not only its diagonal is important, but also a number of parameters that directly affect image quality — brightness, sharpness, number of colors, viewing angles, resolution. The amount of built-in memory allows you to store a certain amount of data in the phone, most modern phones also have a slot for connecting a memory card to make this figure higher. If you plan to take a lot of photos or want to shoot video on your phone, then the quality of the camera will play an important role for you. The total number of pixels today is no longer very important, it is much more important to pay attention to the quality of the image sensor — it will be responsible for the clarity and color reproduction of the image.
When choosing models for inclusion in our rating of the best Russian smartphones of the year, we largely relied on these points, but we took into account user reviews and the ratio of price and quality of models. The most expensive products were not included in our review. We hope that after a careful study of our article, you will be able to choose the best phone for yourself, which will serve you for a long time.
The best models of Russian smartphones in 2022
10. INOI 2 Lite
Our review opens with one of the least expensive models, which, due to its reasonable cost, is widely popular. The smartphone has compact overall dimensions, the case is made of reinforced plastic, painted in black. It has a soft-touch coating, which makes it absolutely non-slip, regardless of operating conditions. The design is quite modest, no decorative elements are provided. The back cover can be removed if necessary, the battery can also be removed independently. Under the cover you can find two slots for SIM cards and one slot for connecting a microSD memory card. On the right side there is a rocker responsible for changing the volume indicators, and there is also a power button. All of them are characterized by a short stroke and a clear response.
The display diagonal is 5 inches, the resolution is not too high — only 480×854 pixels. Viewing angles are not too wide, the brightness also leaves much to be desired — in direct sunlight, the picture fades. The sensor is capable of simultaneously recognizing two touches. The product has a 4-core processor MediaTek MT6580, has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory. The device works quite stably with office and other undemanding applications, but the smartphone is clearly not suitable for high-demand games. The set of communication modules is standard, they all work quite stably and reliably. The battery capacity is 2500 mAh — enough for one day of active use.
Advantages:
- Acceptable cost;
- Good performance;
- Large display diagonal;
- Reliable performance over time.
Flaws:
- You won’t be able to play games with good graphics.
INOI 2 Lite
9. Digma LINX ATOM 3G
Another fairly cheap model that has a very decent appearance and is characterized by high build quality. The case is made of black plastic with a soft-touch coating, it is a monoblock in shape. The overall dimensions of the device are 125×64.6×10.5 mm. The display diagonal is 4 inches with a resolution of 800×400 pixels, it is convenient to use such a small device, moreover, it can easily fit into any pocket. The screen works on the basis of the budget TN matrix — when you look at it directly, the colors and the picture are quite clear and correct, and when you change the viewing angles, the image on the display starts to distort. Directly above the screen is a speaker and a low-quality front camera, below it there are three touch-type buttons — back, home and multitasking. The rear panel is plastic, has a slight corrugation, here is the main camera, the resolution of which is 2 megapixels, next to it is an LED-type flash.
The battery capacity is not very large — only 1200 mAh, next to the battery you can find slots for SIM cards and for a standard memory card. The device is equipped with a Spreadtrum SC7731E quad-core processor with a maximum clock frequency of 1.3 GHz, a Mali-T820 MP1 single-core graphics chip. There is very little RAM — only 512 MB. For simple and undemanding games, such parameters will be quite enough, but for working with graphics or heavy applications, such indicators are clearly not enough. The device operates on the basis of the Android 8.1 Go Edition operating system — the modification is easy and understandable to use, it has everything you need, it responds almost instantly to the commands given.
Advantages:
- Pretty high build quality;
- Low price;
- Stable work;
- Convenient operating system.
Flaws:
- Low battery capacity.
Digma LINX ATOM 3G
8. BQ BQ-5512L Strike Forward
One of the few budget smartphones, especially domestic production, which is equipped with a fingerprint scanner. It is available in several colors — black, purple, gold, gray and red. The case is compact and neat in size, it is convenient to carry it in your pocket. It fits perfectly in the hand, does not slip. The back cover in the bulk is made of metal, which is very pleasant to the touch, there are plastic inserts on top and bottom, under them there are communication antennas. The fingerprint scanner is very reliable, it works almost instantly, and you can store the fingerprints of several people in memory. The back cover can be removed if necessary, under it is a removable battery, slots for SIM cards and memory cards, the maximum amount of which is 128 GB. The lid fits quite tightly to the main body, no gaps are observed, users say the same about backlash and extraneous squeaks. Even with strong pressure, it will not be pressed through.
The front side is protected by a special glass Panda Glass, which perfectly resists scratches, physical stress and mechanical damage. The display diagonal is 5.45 inches, its resolution is 720×1440 pixels, viewing angles are quite wide. The maximum brightness is not too high, the sensor supports up to 5 simultaneous touches. It has a high-quality MediaTek MT6739WW quad-core processor with a frequency of 1.3 GHz, a PowerVR GE8100 graphics module. RAM 2 GB with 16 GB built-in. The performance is quite acceptable, you can play games with average graphics, use various applications, view photos and videos, including feature films. The battery capacity is quite decent — 3200 mAh.
Advantages:
- Pretty modern look;
- Wide-angle display;
- Current software version;
- High product reliability.
Flaws:
- The camera is rather weak;
- Too many preinstalled programs.
BQ BQ-5512L Strike Forward
7. Digma HIT Q500 3G
This smartphone has all the key basic features for a device with a 5-inch display. It runs on the Android platform, there is support for two SIM cards, and the price of this device will be affordable for most users. The model is available in four colors. The case is a bit angular, but this does not affect the comfort of use at all — the corners do not cut into the hands. The display itself is securely protected by a special 2.5D glass, which is not very typical for budget models. On the back side there is a main camera with a flash, which, if necessary, acts as a flashlight, there is a speaker. To install a SIM card or memory card, the back cover will have to be removed. The battery has a capacity of 2100 mAh, it can be removed if necessary — its full charge is enough for full-fledged work during the day. The surface of the back cover is matte, it snaps into place quite securely and does not creak.
Type of display matrix TN with a resolution of 854×480 pixels, supports up to two simultaneous touches, good viewing angles. It has a Spreadtrum sc7731 processor with four cores that operate in the frequency range from 768 to 1.2 GHz. RAM 1 GB, built-in — 8 GB, of which about 5 GB are available, the latter parameter can be increased with a microSD memory card up to 32 GB. There is a radio receiver, many wireless modules — GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 and others. The smartphone is equipped with the Android 7.0 operating system, there is a minimum number of pre-installed applications, the manufacturer added only DIGMA SmartCam. The main camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, front — 2 megapixels.
Advantages:
- Quite a decent screen;
- Applications and web pages load very quickly;
- Holds a charge well
- No extra apps.
Flaws:
- Weak module
Digma HIT Q500 3G
6. BQ BQ-5059 Strike Power
Available in three different colors — gold, silver and black. The design of the model is well thought out, the corners are all rounded, and the body is thin. It fits in the hand very well, all elements of the screen can be reached with ease. The back cover fits very tightly to the case, the battery is non-removable, there are three slots next to it — two for SIM cards and one for a memory card, there is hot-swap support, that is, the device does not have to be turned off to remove or install cards. The central part of the lid is made of stainless steel, the outer coating is ground and coated with special compounds to increase friction. Plastic inserts are provided at the top and bottom so that there are no problems with signal reception. The main camera lens is located in the upper right corner, in close proximity to it is an LED flash. The speaker is slightly shifted to the bottom. The volume level is acceptable — it is enough for watching movies, calls, music.
The frames are wide, but quite acceptable sizes. There are three non-illuminated touch buttons on the bottom, the front camera lens, a speaker and a sensor system are located on top. The assembly is of high quality, there are no backlashes and extraneous squeaks. Diagonal IPS display is 5 inches. The viewing angles are very wide, but the brightness on a sunny day is not enough. This device is based on a Mediatek MT6580 quad-core processor with a Mali-400MP2 graphics chip, its frequency is 1.3 GHz. It has 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of internal memory. The performance indicators are quite decent, with regards to the operation of the interface and the launch of programs, however, there is objectively not enough RAM, which is why it will not be possible to play a demanding game with good graphics. The battery has an excellent capacity — 5000 mAh, so one battery charge will be enough for two days of smartphone operation.
Advantages:
- Pretty balanced device;
- Long battery life;
- Metal back cover;
- The display is made using IPS technology;
- The resolution of the main camera is 13 MP.
Flaws:
- Too many pre-installed programs, not all of which can be removed.
BQ BQ-5059 Strike Power
5. SENSEIT R500
It has a rather thin body, placed in a rubberized shell. There are no hardware keys on the front panel, instead of them there are touch-sensitive ones. The model is also equipped with a special side, which will reliably protect the screen from various kinds of physical influences. An additional level of protection for the display from possible damage is Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The case cannot be disassembled, and the back cover cannot be removed. Only a compartment with two slots is removed, one of which is designed specifically for a SIM card, the second is variable — you can put either a SIM card or a microSD memory card there. The display resolution is not very large and the screen itself is small, but it is quite comfortable to use. In particular, a light sensor is provided, the picture quality is low, you won’t be able to control such a smartphone with gloves.
This smartphone is based on the MediaTek hardware platform, the processor has 4 cores with a frequency of 1.3 GHz, 1 GB of RAM is enough for the normal operation of the operating system and simple applications of this volume. It should be noted that all connectors located on the body of the device are equipped with anti-dust plugs. The camera provides average image quality and low image detail during video recording. The battery capacity is 3000 mAh, which provides about 12 hours of talk time, in standby mode the device can work up to 600 hours.
Advantages:
- Reliably protected from dust and moisture ingress under the body;
- Decent performance;
- long work;
- High quality and durable battery.
Flaws:
- The camera is not very good.
SENSEIT R500
4. BQ BQ-5058 Strike Power Easy
It looks very nice — at first glance it is imperceptible that this model belongs to the budget price category. All corners on the body are rounded. The high quality of the assembly and the materials from which the device is made immediately catches the eye. The central part of the back cover is made of brushed metal. The model is made in black, rose gold, gold and dark gray versions. A fairly thick smartphone — more than 1 cm, largely due to the capacious battery. The battery itself is non-removable, unlike the back cover. Under it are hidden two slots for SIM cards and one for a memory card up to 64 GB. The ends are made of plastic, the front side is covered with special 2.5D glass. The frames are medium in thickness, there are three touch control buttons at the bottom, they have no backlight. The speaker is not too loud, but it will be enough for comfortable watching movies. the main camera does not protrude beyond the body, so there is no chance of scratches on the lens.
The smartphone has an IPS matrix with a diagonal of 5 inches. The resolution is not too high — 854×480 pixels, and the viewing angles are quite wide. The backlight is uniform across the display. Brightness is adjusted exclusively in manual mode. The main element of the gadget is a 4-core processor MediaTek 6580, 1 GB of RAM, built-in 8 GB. The battery capacity is 5000 mAh, it discharges evenly, it will be enough for two days of active use. It will take about 5 hours to fully charge.
Advantages:
- High build quality of the product;
- Attractive appearance;
- The display has an IPS matrix;
- Stable and reliable operation of the product.
Flaws:
- Slightly slippery body.
BQ BQ-5058 Strike Power Easy
3. Yandex.Phone
This is one of the most expensive gadgets in our today’s review of the best Russian smartphones of the year. In general, Yandex has been hatching plans for a long time to create its own mobile device, but they managed to realize them only at the very end of last year. The model is made only in black color, however, a wide choice of multi-colored covers is offered for the phone. The case here on both sides is made of securely tempered glass, the display diagonal is 5.65 inches with a decent resolution of 2160×1080 pixels. There is a fingerprint scanner located on the back of the device. Processor performance for such an expensive smartphone is average — it has an octa-core Snapdragon 630, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory. The slot for two SIM cards is hybrid — one of the slots can be used for microSD memory cards. The main camera here is dual — 16 + 5 megapixels. Front camera 5 megapixels, additionally equipped with a flash.
The operating system is Android 8.1, the battery capacity is 3050 mAh, it supports fast charging technology. There is a built-in voice assistant. There is another very interesting and even unique opportunity — if the phone receives a call from a number that is not in the phone book, then Yandex.Directory searches for the name of the organization that is trying to reach the person.
Advantages:
- Robust housing, resistant to damage;
- Long service life;
- A number of unique features.
Flaws:
Yandex.Phone
2. INOI 5 Pro
In second place in our review of the best Russian smartphones is budget, but very functional products that are well-deservedly popular with users. The smartphone is available in several colors — blue, black, gold and red. The back cover is made of hard plastic. The front side has additional protection in the form of 2.5D glass, there are light and proximity sensors. The case, if necessary, can be disassembled, under the removable cover there is a battery, which can be removed if something happens, two slots for SIM cards and a separate slot for a memory card. Hot swap is not provided here. The assembly is of excellent quality, the phone itself fits comfortably in the hand, and all controls are located as accessible as possible, the back cover is not pressed through. The display diagonal is 5.5 inches, it is made on the basis of an IPS matrix with a resolution of 640×1280 pixels.
The processor function here is performed by a MediaTek MT6739 microchip with four cores, its clock frequency is 1.3 GHz, PowerVR GE8100 graphics accelerator. RAM 1 GB, built-in 8 GB. The phone is quite nimble, able to work with all not too demanding applications. The battery capacity is 2850 mAh — not too much, even for one day it may not be enough, fast charging technology is not supported.
Advantages:
- Good workmanship and assembly;
- Long service life;
- Attractive appearance.
Flaws:
- Low battery capacity.
INOI 5 Pro
1. Highscreen Power Five Max 2
The leader of our rating is generally impossible to distinguish from imported products. The device is produced in two colors — blue and black. The front side is minimalistic, on it, in addition to the display, there is only a front camera and a speaker, no touch buttons and wide frames. There is a dual camera and a fingerprint scanner on the back. The smartphone looks rather strict and conservative. The developers decided not to use the design solutions that the world’s leading mobile phone manufacturers used in their latest models. Physical control buttons — power and volume rocker — are located so that it is convenient to work with both right and left hands. The display diagonal is 5.99 inches, it works on the basis of an IPS matrix, the screen resolution is 2160×1080 pixels.
The smartphone has a Helio P10 processor with 8 cores, it is complemented by a Mali-G71 graphics chip. RAM here is 4 GB with 64 built-in, by installing a memory card, the latter can be expanded up to 128 GB. The key technical feature of this model is the battery, the capacity of which is 5000 mAh. With all tasks, except for the use of top games with the most sophisticated graphics, the smartphone copes just fine.
Advantages:
- Long battery life and fast battery charging;
- Very high quality, loud and clear sound;
- Frameless display;
- Excellent workmanship and assembly;
- Functionality;
- Good performance.
Flaws:
- The price is high, otherwise there are no complaints about the device.
Highscreen Power Five Max 2
In conclusion, a useful video
Well, we have finished considering the characteristics of the best Russian smartphones of the year. We hope that the collected amount of information was enough for you to be able to decide on the most suitable model in 2022. If you still have some questions, you can ask us in the comments. We will try to promptly respond to them and provide you with additional information on any model from our rating.