Every time someone asks me which smartphone to buy, I realize there’s no universal answer. Some people need a camera, some need a battery that lasts two days, some want a phone that can handle Android 17, and others just need something that won’t break when dropped down the stairs. But there’s one thing that unites all good purchases: the right price. I dug through AliExpress and put together ten smartphones that are currently selling for noticeably less than in Russian retail. From a foldable flagship to an indestructible brick for your dad — each one solves its own problem, and none of them costs astronomical money.
Ten smartphones I’d genuinely recommend — tested with my wallet and nerves
POCO F8 Ultra — Bought It Instead of a Flagship Twice the Price
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for this price — I didn’t believe it myself until I launched Genshin on max settings
There’s a category of smartphones that look like a pricing error on paper. POCO F8 Ultra is exactly one of those. Inside is a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a 6500 mAh battery, and a screen that rivals devices costing a hundred thousand in brightness and smoothness. I got it in January and it’s been my main phone since — I used to carry a Xiaomi 14, but the POCO turned out to be faster and lasts longer on a charge.
What’s especially pleasing is that POCO didn’t skimp on the camera: the main module produces detailed shots even in twilight, and the fast charging fills the battery in less than an hour. The HyperOS shell runs smoothly, with the full set of Google services in place. For under 50k rubles, this is simply the best choice for those who aren’t used to overpaying for a brand name.
Price: 46,800 rubles
Honor Magic V5 — I Finally Tried a Foldable Smartphone
Thinner than my old Pixel when folded — I’m still amazed
Foldable smartphones long seemed like a toy for enthusiasts to me — expensive, fragile, pointless. But Honor Magic V5 changed my mind. It’s one of the thinnest foldable devices on the market: when folded, it’s thinner than many regular smartphones. The inner flexible screen is huge and perfect for working with documents or watching videos, and the 16/512 GB version means you can forget about running out of storage for a long time.
Another thing is that for 85k rubles you get a device that costs significantly more in official Russian retail. The cameras shoot well for their class, Android with the MagicOS shell runs stably, and the device itself feels great in the hand. If you’ve long wanted to try the foldable format but weren’t ready to pay astronomical prices for a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold — here’s your entry into that world.
Price: 85,500 rubles
OPPO Find X9 Ultra — The Camera That Made Me Go for Walks
10x optical zoom — pigeons on the other side of the park are panicking
The main thing here is understanding why you need a smartphone at this price. If the answer is “for the camera” — OPPO Find X9 Ultra closes the question completely. The 10x optical zoom shoots so detailed that the result is hard to distinguish from a dedicated camera. The ultra-wide module gathers light even in twilight, and the Hasselblad partnership isn’t just a sticker: the color reproduction truly differs from competitors for the better.
I’ve been carrying it around for three weeks now and during that time accumulated more great shots than in half a year on my previous phone. I used to open the camera and think “well, it’ll do” — now I genuinely look for things to photograph. The screen is bright, performance is flagship-level, and charging is fast. Yes, 80k is a serious amount, but in Russian stores this device costs even more.
Price: 81,600 rubles
OnePlus Turbo 6V — I Forgot Where My Power Bank Is
Take it off the charger in the morning — still over half left by evening, and that’s no exaggeration
You know that problem when your phone dies by lunchtime and you’re chained to an outlet or power bank all day? I struggled with this for a long time until I tried the OnePlus Turbo 6V with its 9000 mAh battery. That’s not a typo — nine thousand. I bought it in February, and since then I charge it once every day and a half with active use. The power bank moved to a desk drawer.
At the same time, for 20,550 rubles you don’t just get a “battery with a screen.” The screen here is AMOLED, bright and smooth, the processor handles any everyday task, and OxygenOS is one of the most pleasant Android shells, without unnecessary bloat. For those who are tired of carrying a charger and cable everywhere — this is perhaps the most practical solution in its price range.
Price: 20,550 rubles
HONOR 600 — Visible in Sunlight Better Than Many Flagships
The orange color is even more vibrant in person than in photos — my wife asked for the same one
This is exactly why I love digging through new releases: sometimes for reasonable money you find something truly interesting. HONOR 600 is exactly that kind of case. A screen with peak brightness of 8000 nits — you can see everything in summer sunlight without a visor or squinting. The 7000 mAh battery lasts a day and a half to two days, and the main 200 MP camera produces shots with plenty of detail for cropping.
I received it in an orange body last summer and genuinely caught myself reaching for my work iPhone less often. The HONOR doesn’t overheat in the heat, NFC works with Google Pay, and the MagicOS shell isn’t annoying. In practice, this is a serious competitor to devices that cost one and a half times more in retail.
Price: 31,000 rubles
