When choosing a flagship smartphone, there are usually no problems: there are not so many top models. But when it comes to the mid-range and budget segments, the task becomes much more complicated. First, competition in these segments is very high. And secondly, such models have many compromise solutions, which help to achieve an affordable price. And it is important to decide what compromises you are willing to make.
Today, we're going to take a look at the most interesting smartphones with a price not exceeding UAH 15,000. We have chosen UAH 10,000 as a conditional lower limit. The choice will take into account certain basic requirements for modern smartphones, which should not be neglected if you want to work comfortably with the device. At the very least, it should have a resolution of at least FullHD or FullHD+, at least 6 GB of RAM (although 8 GB is preferable), and NFC.
Moto Edge 50 Neo
One of the most interesting smartphones in terms of features and price in this price category is the Motorola Moto Edge 50 Neo, which has already been reviewed by Mezha. Unlike other current models of the Edge line, it has a flat screen without rounded edges, which many people like better. This is a 6.4-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2670×1200 and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. This price category is dominated by MediaTek processors, in this case it is the 4 nm Dimensity 7300 with Mali-G615 MC2 graphics.
The RAM is 8 GB, the storage is 256 GB, and there is no memory card slot. The smartphone has a fairly good set of cameras: 50 megapixel main camera with optical stabilization and phase detection, 10 MP telephoto with 3x optical stabilization and phase detection, and a 13 MP ultra-wide-angle camera, also with autofocus. The battery has a capacity of 4310 mAh. This is not the best indicator, because the standard in this category is 5000 mAh. The case is IP68 and MIL-STD-810H protected, and the back cover is made of artificial leather. The smartphone runs on almost pure Android, with 5 years of OS updates promised.
Samsung Galaxy A35
Samsung's A-line of smartphones is quite interesting in the mid-range segment. Samsung Galaxy A35 falls into our current price category. It features a 6.6-inch SiperAMOLED display with FullHD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It and the back cover are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. The frame is made of plastic. The case is protected against dust and water according to the IP67 standard.
The performance is provided by Samsung's proprietary 5 nm Exynos 1380 processor with a maximum frequency of 2.4 GHz and a Mali-G68 MP5 graphics accelerator. The amount of RAM is 8 GB, and the built-in storage is 256 GB. It is possible to expand with a MicroSD card, but you will have to give up the second SIM card. The rear camera includes three modules: a 50 MP main shooter with optical stabilization and phase detection, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle shooter without autofocus, and a 5 MP macro. The battery capacity is 5000 mAh and supports 25W fast charging. Out of the box, it runs on Android 14 with One UI 6.1, with 4 major updates promised.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G
Xiaomi smartphones are very popular in the mid-range and budget categories. The new Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G is one of the most interesting ones considering the price range. It has an AMOLED display with a resolution of 2712×1220, a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and support for HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The processor is a 4-nanometer Mediatek Dimensity 7300 Ultra with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz and Mali-G615 MC2 graphics. As with the previous models, the amount of RAM and internal memory is 8 and 256 GB, respectively. There is no memory card slot.
The triple rear camera has a 200-megapixel main module with optical stabilization and phase detection autofocus, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with a 120˚ viewing angle, and an inefficient 2 MP macro camera. The battery capacity is almost the usual 5110 mAh, there is support for 45W fast charging, and a suitable power supply is included. The case is protected against dust and water according to the IP68 standard. The frame is made of metal, the back cover is made of plastic or artificial leather.
realme 12 Pro
Continuing the topic of Chinese smartphone manufacturers, it is worth mentioning realme. The 14th line is already relevant now. But, as is sometimes the case, older models are still on sale and have more interesting features for the price. In particular, the realme 12 Pro smartphone. It has an interesting design: a faux leather back cover with a vertical gold stripe and a large round camera in the middle. But unlike previous models, it has only IP65 protection against dust and water splashes.
The smartphone is equipped with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2412x1080 and a frequency of 120 Hz. Inside is a 4 nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor with a clock speed of 2.2 GHz and an Adreno 710 graphics accelerator. There is also 8 and 256 GB of memory, no expansion is provided. The rear camera is quite interesting. The main module is 50 megapixels with OIS and phase detection, 32 MP telephoto, also with OIS and autofocus and 2x zoom. As well as an ultra-wide-angle 8 MP camera with a viewing angle of 112˚. The battery has a capacity of 5000 mAh and supports fast charging with a power of 67 W. The smartphone runs on Android 14 with Realme UI 5.0.
OnePlus Nord 3 5G
In terms of performance, the OnePlus Nord 3 5G smartphone is a bit more interesting compared to previous models. It is equipped with a 4nm Mediatek Dimensity 9000 processor with a frequency of 3.02 GHz and Mali-G710 MC10 graphics. It is complemented by 8 GB of RAM. But the version that falls into the desired price range is equipped with only 128 GB of storage, which already seems too small. And there is no memory card slot. There is a 256 GB version, but it's a bit more expensive.
The smartphone has a 6.74-inch 120 Hz Fluid AMOLED display with a resolution of 2772×1240 with HDR10+ support. The rear camera has a 50-megapixel main module with optical stabilization and phase detection autofocus, as well as an ultra-wide-angle 8 MP module with a viewing angle of 112˚. There is also a third 2-megapixel macro module, but it is of little use. The smartphone is powered by a 5000 mAh battery, there is support for fast charging with a capacity of 80 W, and a power supply is included. The case is protected against dust and splashes according to the IP54 standard.
Samsung Galaxy M35
Those looking for a smartphone with a larger battery may be interested in the Samsung Galaxy M35. In general, the Samsung Galaxy M line has always been interesting for its relatively affordable price and large batteries. The smartphone has a 6000 mAh battery and supports 25W charging. Unfortunately, there is no power supply in the box. It seems that the trend of removing the power supply from the package will soon reach not only the mid-range but also the budget segment.
The smartphone uses a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display with FullHD+ resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. The performance is driven by a 2.4 GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 1380 processor with Mali-G68 MP5 graphics accelerator. The amount of RAM is 6 GB, and the storage is 128 GB. A hybrid tray is used, and a MicroSD card can be installed instead of a second SIM card. The rear camera has three modules: a 50-megapixel main camera with phase detection and OIS, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera with a 123˚ viewing angle, and a 5-megapixel macro. The front camera has a resolution of 13 megapixels. The body is plastic, there is no protection against dust and water.
POCO F5
The most interesting in terms of performance in today's selection is the POCO F5 smartphone. It's not much more powerful than the OnePlus Nord 3 5G, but when it comes to gaming, Qualcomm processors with Adreno graphics usually perform better. The smartphone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 with a frequency of 2.91 GHz and an Adreno 725 graphics accelerator. The amount of RAM is 12 GB, the storage is 256 GB, and it uses a fairly fast (for mid-range smartphones) UFS 3.1 memory. There is no memory card slot.
POCO F5 features a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with Full HD+ resolution (2400x1080 pixels) and 120Hz refresh rate. The camera set includes a 64-megapixel main camera with phase detection autofocus and optical stabilization, an 8MP 120˚ ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The battery has a capacity of 5000 mAh and supports 67W fast charging. The case is protected according to the IP53 standard.
Blackview BV8100
Shockproof smartphones are not the most popular category, but they are also worth mentioning. The Blackview BV8100 is one of the most interesting in the selected price range in terms of features and capabilities. It has a reinforced body with rubber inserts and is not afraid of falls from a height of 1.2 meters. The case is protected according to IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H standards. Among other useful features, the smartphone has a dual LED flashlight on the top edge.
The smartphone has a 6.5-inch IPS screen with FullHD+ resolution, refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Inside is a 2.2 GHz octa-core Mediatek Helio G99 processor with Mali-G57 MC2 graphics, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of internal memory. The tray is hybrid, you can insert a MicroSD instead of a second SIM. The rear camera has a 50-megapixel main module with phase detection autofocus without OIS and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle 120˚. The smartphone has a large 8000 mAh battery with 45W fast charging.
Moto G85
The vast majority of smartphones on the list above have a price close to the upper end of today's range. So let's add a couple of more affordable models. Moto G85 has a curved 6.7-inch pOLED display with a resolution of 2400x1080 and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The back cover can be made of artificial leather or plastic, depending on the color. There is no full protection against dust and water. Moto G85 has only a water-repellent coating.
The Snapdragon 6s Gen 3 processor is responsible for performance, along with 8 GB of RAM. Internal storage is 256 GB, expandable up to 1 TB via memory cards. There are two cameras on the back of the smartphone. The main one is 50-megapixel with optical stabilization and phase detection autofocus. There is also an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle camera with autofocus and a viewing angle of 118˚. The battery with a capacity of 5000 mAh is responsible for the autonomy, the smartphone supports 30W charging. The smartphone runs on almost pure Android 14. There is no information on the duration of update support.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro
And another more affordable model is the no longer new but quite popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro smartphone. It has a 6.67-inch AMOLED screen with FullHD+ resolution and a 120 Hz refresh rate. Inside is an octa-core Mediatek Helio G99 Ultra processor with a frequency of 2.2 GHz and Mali-G57 MC2 graphics. The memory capacity is similar to most of the models on the list: 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of internal storage, the tray is hybrid, so you can install a MicroSD.
The rear camera is triple. The main camera has 200 megapixels with f/1.7 aperture, optical stabilization and multi-directional PDAF, an 8 MP ultra-wide-angle module and a 2 MP macro camera. The battery has a capacity of 5000 mAh and supports 67W fast charging. The case is protected against dust and splashes according to the IP54 standard.
The best smartphones under 15,000 UAH: conclusions
With a budget of 10,000 to 15,000 UAH, you can buy a good smartphone without any critical restrictions or compromises. Nowadays, most models in this range have AMOLED screens with high refresh rates, very good camera sets, and protection against at least dust and water splashes. Although there are also models with full IP68 protection. Most smartphones in this price category have MediaTek chips inside, although you can also find Qualcomm at the mid-range and mid-budget level. The 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage seem to have already become the standard for this category, which is good news.