Is it worth it to buy an inexpensive and not too productive smartphone to change it to another after a year? Or is it better to overpay for quality and buy one of the best mobile phones in its class? If you are looking for a high-quality, powerful device, the capabilities of which will be relevant for at least another 2-3 years, we will offer a dozen suitable options.
Introducing the best smartphones up to 30,000 rubles in 2018. All of them earned the title of “customer choice” on Yandex.Market for their powerful processor, excellent screen and a ton of features.
See also smartphones up to 5000; up to 10000; up to 15000; up to 20,000; up to 25,000 rubles.
10. Sony Xperia XZ1
It costs, on average, 28,490 rubles.
- smartphone with Android 8.0
- 4.6 ″ screen, resolution 1280 × 720
- 19 MP camera, autofocus, F / 2
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 2700 mAh battery
- weight of 143 g, WxHxT 65x129x9.30 mm
Sony is a veteran of the era of smartphones. Her devices have been at the top of smartphone tops for many years. And one of the company's best smartphones is the 5.2-inch Xperia XZ1 - the “super-middle” version of the flagship Xperia XZ Premium.
The signature Loop Surface design includes a metal body with sharp corners, no rounding, and a Gorilla Glass 5 front panel. The XZ1 display supports HDR (High Dynamic Range) to enhance color and contrast.
Thanks to moisture protection according to IP65 / 68, the smartphone will withstand immersion in fresh water. It also features a fingerprint scanner integrated into the side power button.
The device has a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 mobile platform. The amount of RAM and ROM is 4 and 64 GB, respectively.
The main 19 MP camera with f / 2 aperture of the Sony Xperia XZ1 is one of the best in its price category. The pictures are very bright, detailed, with a minimum of “noise”. The autofocus shooting mode is perhaps the most impressive since it allows you to take 10 photos per second while focusing on a moving subject. You can shoot up to 10 seconds, just hold the button down and then select which frames you want to save. Or even make a short video clip of them.
And users can use the ultra-slow shooting mode with 960 frames per second.
Another feature of the gadget is the 3D scanning function. You can scan things like people's heads or inanimate objects with the camera. And then share these scans on the Internet, set them as live wallpapers, or even order them for 3D printing.
Pros:
- There is an NFC chip.
- It is possible to expand the file storage.
- There is a quick charge.
- There is the latest USB Type-C charging connector.
- Excellent sound from stereo speakers.
- There is a headphone jack.
Minuses:
- The small battery capacity is 2700 mAh.
- Poor equipment - no cover, no headphones.
9. Honor 9
The maximum version will cost 24,020 rubles.
- smartphone with Android 7.0
- dual SIM support
- 5.15 ″ screen, resolution 1920 × 1080
- 20/12 MP dual camera, autofocus, F / 2.2
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 3200 mAh battery
- weight 155 g, WxHxT 70.90 × 147.30 × 7.45 mm
One of the most beautiful participants in the ranking of smartphones up to 30,000 rubles in 2018. He is especially good in the blue case. Both sides of the 5.15-inch phone are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, and the “back”, created from 15 layers of glass, shimmers beautifully in the light.
The Honor 9 has a main SIM slot, plus a hybrid slot that can be used either to insert a second SIM card or microSD card.
Huawei's Kirin 960 processor provides more than enough power for the smooth use of Android, and supports 4 to 6 GB of RAM. On board there is also from 64 to 128 GB of memory - enough space so that most people do not worry about transferring photos and music to a microSD-card.
Another advantage of Honor 9 is the presence of a dual rear camera 20/12 MP. Their only drawback is the lack of OIS (optical image stabilization). However, in daylight and in low light, the photos are bright, contrasting and with natural color reproduction.
Pros:
- Beautiful design.
- Fast, buggy work.
- 3200 mAh high capacity battery. Under average load, the smartphone will work during the day.
- Good camera performance even with high contrast shots.
- There is a slot for expanding memory.
- There is an NFC chip.
Minuses:
- The glass back panel makes the gadget slide off flat surfaces.
- The EMUI shell will be a disappointment for some users who are used to the standard look of the Android OS.
- There is a USB-C connector, but it only implements version 2.0 interface.
8. ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL
It is offered for 23 750 rubles in the top configuration.
- smartphone with Android 7.1
- dual SIM support
- 5.5 ″ screen, resolution 1920 × 1080
- dual camera 12/8 MP, autofocus, F / 1.8
- 64 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 3300 mAh battery
- weight 165 g, WxHxT 75.20 × 155.40 × 7.50 mm
Among the main advantages of this unit, users note an excellent 5.5-inch screen and excellent quality photos taken with a rear 12/8 MP camera. The camera has many useful features such as 4K video recording and Super Slow Motion mode at 120 frames per second
We can say that many other smartphones have all of this. However, not everyone has headphones, a Type-C USB cable and a bumper in the kit.
Another advantage of ZenFone 4 is that in the maximum configuration it uses 6 GB of RAM. 4 GB is available as standard. Of course, this is not the only 6 GB smartphone on board, but it is one of the most affordable. The amount of internal memory is 64 GB.
The Snapdragon 660 processor is still good, although it belongs to the mid-price and not the flagship category. In games there are no problems with average settings.
3300 mAh batteries are enough for a day and a half of intensive work.
Pros:
- There is a 3.5 mm audio jack.
- You can increase the amount of data storage by 2 TB.
- There is an NFC.
- There is a quick charge and USB Type-C.
- Loud and clear sound from two speakers.
Minuses:
- Although the glass design is one of the best parts of this mobile phone, it is very prone to “collecting” fingerprints or stains. Therefore, you definitely need a protective case.
7. HTC U Ultra
The average cost is 30,000 in the best version.
- smartphone with Android 7.0
- dual SIM support
- screen 5.7 ″, resolution 2560 × 1440
- second screen: 2.05 ″, 160 × 1040
- 12 MP camera, laser autofocus, F / 1.8
- 128 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 3000 mAh battery
- weight of 170 g, WxHxT 79.79 × 162.41 × 7.99 mm
The back glass panel of this sleek 5.7-inch phone is gorgeous and minimalist. And on the front of the phone, in addition to the main display, there is also an additional 2-inch display. It works when the main display is on and off. And it is needed to display notifications of the Sense Companion application, display events from the calendar, quick access to contacts, the music player and for other not very valuable functions.
Top performance is provided by the Snapdragon 821 chip, 4 GB of RAM and from 64 to 128 GB of flash memory plus an SD card slot.
The 12-megapixel UltraPixel 2 sensor with f / 1.8 aperture has optical image stabilization and allows you to take photos that are magnificent in quality and color reproduction. The HTC camera interface is very convenient and provides quick access to other modes, including the full manual “Pro” mode. However, in low light, the quality of shooting is reduced, and this is a problem that many smartphones of the middle and even premium segment can not cope with.
One of the unique features of U Ultra is the presence of the Sensor Hub, which is necessary to track the user's physical activity. Useful for fitness apps.
Pros:
- Fantastic performance.
- Big screen.
- There is a slot for expanding memory.
- There is an NFC.
- There is a quick charge and USB Type-C.
- You can save photos in RAW format, which easily and effectively corrects the exposure.
Minuses:
- Camera specifications at the 2016 level.
- No headphone jack.
- The battery is small for such a large screen - 3000 mAh.
- The case is not waterproof.
- Too large for most hands.
6. Xiaomi Mi6
The top is offered for 29 570 rubles.
- smartphone with Android 7.1
- dual SIM support
- 5.15 ″ screen, resolution 1920 × 1080
- 12/12 MP dual camera, autofocus
- 128 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 3350 mAh battery
- weight of 168 g, WxHxT 70.50 × 145.20 × 7.50 mm
A small but weighty 5.15-inch Mi 6 is among the smartphones equipped with a powerful Snapdragon 835 processor.
A large amount of flash memory - from 128 to 64 GB and RAM - from 4 to 6 GB ensures that users do not have to worry about where to store their favorite books, photos and videos.
This gadget is offered in four color options and one of them is a special black version, with a ceramic rather than a glass case.
The sensors of the main camera 12/12 MP have different focal lengths. They allow you to take pictures with bokeh effect and double optical zoom. There are a lot of operating modes in the camera settings, including portrait and manual. Mi6 fights noise well in low light conditions; however, it is inferior to many other smartphones in terms of exposure and color reproduction.
Pros:
- There is an NFC.
- There is a quick charge and USB Type-C.
- Great performance.
Minuses:
- There is no slot for expanding memory.
- No headphone jack.
5. LG G6
You can buy for 25,490 rubles.
- smartphone with Android 7.0
- dual SIM support
- screen 5.7 ″, resolution 2880 × 1440
- 13/13 MP dual camera, autofocus
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS
- 4 GB RAM
- 3300 mAh battery
- weight of 163 g, WxHxT 71.90 × 148.90 × 7.90 mm
Another 5.7 inch smartphone up to 30,000 rubles in 2018 in our selection. Unlike the HTC U Ultra, it does not have a second screen, but there is an “Always-on Display” function, the display supports the HDR10 standard and is protected by Gorilla Glass 5.
This gadget seems durable and well-assembled, and has a nice contrast between the deliberately flat front surface and the more ergonomic curved back.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor, which is equipped with the LG G6, is supplemented with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of ROM and a slot for expanding memory up to 2 TB.
The wide-angle main camera of the device is dual. Both modules are 13-megapixel, one of them has optical stabilization, and the second - wide-angle (f / 2.4, 125 °) - does not. Therefore, a wide-angle camera works worse in low light. G6 is among the top 10 smartphones of 2018.
Pros:
- Attractive design and excellent build quality.
- High performance.
- Great shots in low light.
- Interesting wide-angle camera features.
- There is an NFC. NFC tags are also included with the smartphone.
- There is quick charge and a USB Type-C connector.
Minuses:
- A very fragile glass back cover - a reckoning for its beauty.
- A mediocre front 5 MP camera, there are overexposed sections and there is not enough dynamic range width.
4. Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
The average cost is 25,990 rubles.
- smartphone with Android 8.0
- 4.6 ″ screen, resolution 1280 × 720
- 19 MP camera, autofocus, F / 2
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 2700 mAh battery
- weight of 143 g, WxHxT 65x129x9.30 mm
A small (4.6-inch screen), but powerful and elegant device is equipped with a high-performance Snapdragon 835 chip. This platform can easily pull all modern games and "heavy" applications.
The amount of internal storage in the XZ1 Compact is 32 GB. Not a lot, but it is fixable by installing a microSD-card up to 256 GB. The amount of RAM is 4 GB.
Sony has long supplied hardware for cameras from other manufacturers, but when it came to photographs from its own cameras ... the less it was said, the better. This has finally changed in the XZ1 lineup. Sony has made notable improvements in its image processing algorithms, as a result of which photos taken with the 19 MP XZ1 Compact camera look much better than previous Sony smartphones. Super-slow motion 960 frames per second is also supported.
Pros:
- The smartphone lies comfortably in a small palm.
- Clear, rich and loud sound from stereo speakers.
- There is an NFC.
- There is wireless charging and a USB Type-C connector.
- The battery lasts for a day and a half.
Minuses:
- In low light conditions, photos and videos come out mediocre, with "noise."
- The device heats up under heavy load.
3. Xiaomi Mi Note 3
You can buy for 21,200 rubles in the maximum version.
- smartphone with Android 7.1
- dual SIM support
- 5.5 ″ screen, resolution 1920 × 1080
- 12/12 MP dual camera, autofocus, F / 1.8
- 128 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 3500 mAh battery
- weight of 163 g, WxHxT 73.95 × 152.60 × 7.60 mm
With each new device, Xiaomi proves that it is not in vain that it is one of the most popular brands in the smartphone market.
One of the brand's most popular models is the 5.5-inch Mi Note 3 with curved edges on all four sides, and comes in three color options: blue, cyan and black. As for the amount of memory, the smartphone also has three options: with 6 and 128 GB, with 6 and 64 GB and 4 and 64 GB of RAM and ROM, respectively. We recommend choosing the first option, because there is no slot for a memory card.
Mi Note 3 is a convenient phone for all users, but it is not the flagship of the company. This model is not equipped with the currently most powerful Snapdragon 660 processor, operating at a frequency of 2.2 GHz. This allowed to reduce the price of a smartphone compared to the top versions.
Other specifications include NFC, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 3,500 mAh battery.
The dual main camera of the device has a 12 MP wide-angle lens with f / 1.8 aperture and a second 12-megapixel lens with f / 2.6 aperture, in combination with a dual LED flash. Key features include 10x digital zoom, 2x optical zoom, four-axis OIS and phase detection autofocus.
Pros:
- There is an NFC chip.
- There is a quick charge.
- There is the latest USB Type-C connector.
Minuses:
- Xiaomi left the Mi Note 3 infrared port - it is still popular, although not as before, but the 3.5 mm headphone jack is gone.
2. Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
Sold, on average, for 30,190 rubles in the older configuration.
- smartphone with Android 7.1
- dual SIM support
- 5.99 ″ screen, resolution 2160 × 1080
- 12 MP camera, autofocus, F / 2
- 64 GB memory, without memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 6 GB RAM
- 3400 mAh battery
- weight of 185 g, WxHxT 75.50 × 151.80 × 7.70 mm
If you dream of a large, frameless smartphone for a reasonable price, then pay attention to Mi Mix 2. Having an attractive “appearance”, this 5.99-inch device from “Xiaomi” also has excellent characteristics. It is offered in versions with 6 and 128 GB of memory and 6 and 64 GB of memory, has a Snapdragon 835 chip and a 3400 mAh battery.
The pride of the smartphone is the ceramic case - it looks great in the hand, although it collects fingerprints. Also, due to the choice of material, the phone is quite slippery, so it is better to hide it in a case to minimize the risk of falling.
Mi Mix 2 has one 12-megapixel rear camera with dual LED flash. It does not have the best aperture possible - f / 2, but thanks to four-axis optical image stabilization (OIS) and autofocus with phase detection, the camera makes excellent image quality. It is not as good as the iPhone 8 Plus or Galaxy S8, but among phones of the same price, Mi Mix 2 is one of the leaders in the quality of shooting photos and videos.
Pros:
- Great design.
- There is an NFC.
- There is a quick charge.
- There is a USB Type-C.
Minuses:
- No 3.5mm headphone jack.
- There is no complete water protection, only IP54 splash protection.
- There is no slot for expanding memory.
1. Samsung Galaxy A8 + SM-A730F / DS
The cost, on average, is 29,500 rubles.
- Android smartphone
- dual SIM support
- 6 ″ screen, resolution 2220 × 1080
- 16 MP camera, autofocus, F / 1.7
- 32 GB memory, memory card slot
- 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, GLONASS
- 4 GB RAM
- 3500 mAh battery
- weight of 191 g, WxHxT 75.70 × 159.90 × 8.30 mm
Among smartphones up to 30,000 rubles in the 2018 ranking, the Galaxy A8 + SM-A730F / DS model stands out for its ideal price-performance ratio.
One of the advantages of the device is a very large 6-inch screen with an AMOLED matrix and an unusual aspect ratio of 18.5: 9.There are options that allow you to fully customize the capabilities of the screen for yourself - from brightness to a blue light filter and font size.
The A8 + has a 3,500 mAh battery. Thanks to the quick charge function, the phone charges in about 1 hour 20 minutes.
The nimble Exynos 7885 processor handles all the apps and games that you just install. In Russia, a model with 32 GB of internal storage and 4 GB of RAM is offered. If this is not enough for you, look for a version with 6 and 64 GB on foreign Internet sites.
A combination of two selfie camera modules - 16 and 8 MP - allows you to blur the background in the pictures and use beauty.
The 16 MP main camera has an f / 1.7 aperture. The quality of pictures in the daytime - by five points out of five. In poor lighting - on a solid three.
Pros:
- There is an NFC.
- There is a slot for expanding memory.
- There is Always On Display feature.
- Comfortable shell.
- There is a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
- There is a USB Type-C connector.
Minuses:
- Uncomfortable in a small palm.
- On the sides of the device you can see the frames, which is disadvantageously distinguishes it from the top Samsung smartphones.
- Not very loud sound in the headphones.
To summarize: choosing the best smartphone up to 30,000 rubles
If for some reason you didn’t like our favorite - Samsung Galaxy A8 + SM-A730F / DS, and want to buy a gorgeous looking device with a modern processor, then we recommend Sony Xperia XZ1, Xiaomi Mi Mix 2, HTC U Ultra or Honor 9.
ASUS ZenFone 4 ZE554KL and Xiaomi Mi Note 3 will appeal to those who do not pursue an extra-large screen size, preferring to get all the functions of a good smartphone - from an NFC chip and an excellent camera to fast charging at an affordable price.
The little Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact and Xiaomi Mi6 are simply created for elegant female pens and will be a great gift to your girlfriend or relative.
Want a big, solid camera with a wide-angle camera? Recommended LG G6.
