5 Smartphones That Dropped in Price in July 2026 — Buy Now or Wait?

The rise in smartphone prices in 2026 is tied not only to currency exchange rates but also to the global memory shortage: manufacturers are cutting RAM and storage volumes to keep prices in check. But in July, several excellent smartphones have dropped to price levels not seen in months. You need to buy now: after the sale, prices will go back up, and new models will come with less memory at the same price. Here are five models I recommend.

Best models in July 2026

realme 15 — Best Smartphone Under 20,000 Rubles

The realme 15 smartphone currently costs 18,220 rubles, and for that money it beats all competitors in its price range. Inside — MediaTek Dimensity 7300+ on 4nm, a 6.77-inch AMOLED display with a 144 Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 4,500 nits. That’s flagship-level brightness, not budget. A 7,000 mAh battery with 80W charging — charges fast, lasts long. The main camera is a 50 MP Sony IMX882 with OIS — a 1/1.95-inch sensor, great for this price. The front camera is also 50 MP — a rarity at 18 thousand.

An affordable model with balanced specs

The realme 15 stands out precisely because it delivers a flagship display and large battery without compromising on the chipset. If you need a good affordable smartphone for everything (music, video, social media, navigation), I’d recommend this one.

POCO X8 Pro — Affordable and Powerful Smartphone

The POCO X8 Pro smartphone at 21,920 rubles — this is the case where you look at the specs and can’t believe the price. Dimensity 8500-Ultra on 4nm, a 6.59-inch AMOLED display with 1.5K resolution and 3,500 nits brightness, a silicon-carbon 6,500 mAh battery with 100W charging. IP68. The main camera is again the Sony IMX882, f/1.5, 1/1.95-inch sensor. LDAC and LHDC 5.0 codecs for headphones.

Incredible power for this money

The silicon-carbon battery here isn’t just marketing. It degrades slower than a regular lithium-ion one. A smartphone bought now will lose less capacity in two years than a competitor with a standard battery. At 21,920 rubles, this is one of the best options among new smartphones of 2026 in the mid-range segment.

OPPO reno15 — Affordable Camera Phone on Android

The OPPO reno15 smartphone at 28,245 rubles is for those who care most about the camera. It has a triple system: a 50 MP Sony IMX882 main sensor with OIS and dual-axis stabilization, a 50 MP telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS as well, and an 8 MP ultrawide. The 50 MP front camera has autofocus — great for video calls and selfies. Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, 6.59-inch AMOLED display at 120 Hz, 6,500 mAh battery with 80W charging. eSIM support is included.

A full-fledged camera phone under 30 thousand

Among affordable camera phones of 2026, the OPPO reno15 holds a special place precisely because of the telephoto with OIS — that’s a rarity at this price. It shoots steadily even when zoomed in. ColorOS 16 on Android 15, updates will keep coming. If taking photos with your phone matters, this is my pick.

Nothing Phone (3) — The Most Unusual Smartphone of 2026

The Nothing Phone (3) smartphone at 33,733 rubles is the most unusual smartphone on the market right now. The Glyph Matrix on the back is a matrix display that shows notifications, timer, and charging status without unlocking. A transparent body with visible internal components. It looks different from all the Chinese rectangles with identical camera modules.

A smartphone that doesn’t look like all the rest

But design isn’t the only argument. Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, triple 50+50+50 MP camera with 3x periscope, 6.67-inch AMOLED at 120 Hz, 5,150 mAh battery, 15W wireless charging. Nothing OS on Android — no ads, no bloatware. 5 years of Android updates and 7 years of security patches: this smartphone will outlast most competitors in terms of support. It has already received Android 16 and will continue updating through Android 20. By the way, the Nothing Phone (3) comes in 12/256 and 16/512 GB versions (in the context of a memory shortage, that’s an important argument).

OnePlus 15 — Best Android Flagship

The OnePlus 15 smartphone at 43,634 rubles is a flagship that’s hard to say anything bad about. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 6.78-inch AMOLED with a 165 Hz refresh rate, triple 50+50+50 MP camera with 3.5x periscope and OIS, 7,300 mAh battery with 120W charging and 50W wireless. IP66/68/69K — serious water protection. OxygenOS