Top Android smartphones for half the price of the iPhone 15 - almost the same specifications up to 18,000
Last time, we looked at Android smartphones at the price of the younger Apple iPhone 15. It was not difficult, because the price of the younger flagships allows you to determine the top characteristics. Today's task is to prove that you can get almost the same capabilities on Android for half the price of the iPhone 15.
Actually, choosing such smartphones is not too difficult either. The category up to UAH 18,000 (or a little more) includes super popular models with millions of users. Their characteristics are almost not inferior, and sometimes exceed the parameters of the iPhone 15.
Again, let's ignore the differences between Android and iOS and focus on the characteristics, capabilities, as well as scores in tests and ratings. But first, let's see what characteristics the top contenders have to compete with.
Characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of the Apple iPhone 15
Screen
The screen of the iPhone 15 cannot be called bad by any means, but it is still probably its weakest point. The first thing that comes to mind is the refresh rate of only 60 Hz. In the world of Android, this is almost obscene: even the budget ones have 90 Hz, while the mid-range smartphones discussed in this top have 120 Hz, while not compromising on other characteristics.
Another detail is a rather large cutout. Yes, Apple made an almost genius move to disguise it when they turned it into a fun Dynamic Island feature, but it didn't really go anywhere. Android smartphones have long made do with a small cutout for the camera.
iPhone 15 screen specifications: Super Retina XDR OLED, 6.1”, 1179 x 2556, 460 PPI, 60 Hz, peak brightness 2000 nits.
Battery
Thanks to the mutual optimization of hardware and software, the iPhone works for quite a long time, but in the Android environment, 3349 mAh batteries remain only in the ultra-budget segment - the usual capacity is 4000-5000 mAh, closer to the last value. 15W charging is also almost obscene for Android.
Processor
The Apple A16 Bionic chip (6 cores, 3460 MHz) is one of the best at the moment, but in tests it is on par with the top Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (8 cores, 3200 MHz), winning in some tests and losing in others . The results of the A16 are 1451082 in AnTuTu 10 and 2628 / 6905 in Geekbench 6. It should be added that thanks to the optimization, the applications and the iOS interface work smoothly and lightning fast.
Cell
Cameras 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm and 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ are also difficult to call record-breaking. But again, thanks to optimization, the iPhone 15 is one of the best camera phones, it ranks a high 13th place in the DxoMark rating This is almost the only clear advantage of the iPhone.
The Samsung Galaxy S22 is a direct competitor at only half the price
Yes, the younger Samsung flagship of 2023 cannot be purchased for half the price of the iPhone 15 (as well as last year's iPhone 14), but last year's Galaxy S22 is quite affordable. It is important that this is a phone of the same class, a direct competitor - and it costs twice as much. But let's move on to the characteristics.
The screen size of the S22 is the same as the iPhone 15 - 6.1", the resolution and pixel density are also almost the same, 2340x1080 and 422 PPI. But 120 Hz vs. 60 Hz... Apple, you need to do something about it. Samsung's maximum brightness is claimed lower - 1300 nits.
The obvious weak point of the Samsung Galaxy S22 is the Exynos 2200 processor (8 cores, with a maximum frequency of 2.8 GHz), which only a lazy person could do. The processor is significantly weaker than the A16 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 – it scores 919392 in AnTuTu 10 and 1597 / 3673 in Geekbench 6.
It is also the only smartphone in the top with a battery capacity close to that of the iPhone 15 – only 3700 mAh. It charges at 25W – quite low for Android, but 40% faster than the iPhone 15.
Google Pixel 7 is another iconic competitor
This smartphone is also important, it represents the conceptual embodiment of Google's competitive ecosystem. As with Samasung, this year's Pixel 8 is significantly more expensive, but we're talking about half the price of the iPhone 15.
The weakest point of Pixel 7 is again the processor. The Tensor G2 (8 cores, 2850 MHz) scores even worse than the Exynos 2200: 810387 in AnTuTu 10 and 1439 / 38293 in Geekbench 6.
The best feature is the camera. The nominal characteristics almost repeat the parameters of the iPhone 15: the main camera 50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm, 1/1.31", 1.2µm with laser autofocus and stabilization and an ultra-wide-angle lens of 12 MP, f/2.2, 114˚, 1/2.9" , 1.25 µm. The camera ranks a high 19th in DxoMark. As with the iPhone, the last merit in obtaining high-quality photos lies in software optimization, in particular, the Pixel Camera application.
The screen with a diagonal of 6.3 inches has a resolution of 1080 x 2400 and a density of 416 PPI. Its refresh rate is only up to 90 Hz, but even this is more than in the iPhone 15.
The 4355 mAh battery is charged with a power of 20 W. It should be noted that the Pixel 7 supports Wi-Fi 6e.
Xiaomi Redmi K60 Pro is the best power
I would like to start the review of Chinese smartphones for half the price of the iPhone 15 with the Redmi K60 Pro. It costs a little more than half the price of Apple's competitor, but it offers the best features.
The screen with a diagonal of 6.67" has really flagship parameters: the resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels gives a high density of 526 PPI, the refresh rate is 120 Hz.
A big advantage is the flagship Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is usually installed in top smartphones of 2022-2023. It performs on par with the A16 Bionic with 1528518 in AnTuTu 10 and 1995 / 5309 in Geekbench 6.
The camera has a 54MP Sony IMX800 main module, f/1.9, 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro.
The 5000 mAh battery is quickly charged by a 120 W device - the iPhone 15 is not even close.
OnePlus Ace 2 is one of the hits of 2023
OnePlus Ace 2
The OnePlus Ace 2 smartphone is equipped with a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, which is only slightly behind the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Apple A16 Bionic: 1278435 in AnTuTu 10 and 1784 / 4610 in Geekbench 6.
The display with a diagonal of 6.74” has a resolution of 1240 x 2772 with a density of 451 PPI and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. Cameras – 50MP Sony IMX890, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP macro.
The battery of the smartphone is also 5000 mAh, it is charged with a power of 100 W.
Realme GT 2 Pro - two 50 MP cameras
Realme GT 2 Pro
The smartphone from Realme received a 6.7" screen with a resolution of 3216x1440, a density of 526 PPI, a peak brightness of 1400 nits and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor isn't top-of-the-line, but it outperforms both the Exynos 2200 and the Tensor G2 with 1165489 in AnTuTu 10 and 1671 / 4007 in Geekbench 6.
Realme GT 2 Pro has as many as two 50 MP cameras: the main one with a Sony IMX766 sensor, f/1.8, 24mm, 1/1.56", 1.0µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS and an ultra-wide-angle Samsung ISOCELL JN1 f/2.2, 15mm, 150˚, 1/2.76", 0.64µm, as well as 3 MP macro.
The GT 2 Pro battery with a capacity of 5000 mAh is charged with a power of up to 65 W.
It can be seen that half the price Android smartphones are better than the iPhone 15 in several important characteristics. These are screen refresh rate, battery capacity, charging speed. Their performance is mostly at the same level. The high rating of the iPhone 15 camera and convenience for iOS users are rather subjective advantages that are completely destroyed by twice the price.
But at the same time, commitment to iPhone, iOS and Apple devices cannot be called a bad choice - the company has created a really attractive, convenient, reliable and popular ecosystem. The final choice comes down to subjective moments and everyone makes it themselves.
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