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14 compromises with Chinese smartphones to watch out for

By Chris P.

Updated: Jul 20, 2015, 8:09 AM

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14 compromises with Chinese smartphones to watch out for

With the majority of spots on the Top 10 ranklist of smartphone vendors now occupied by China-based companies, it's fair to say that the times are changing. And while most of these makers operate mainly outside of premium Western markets, they're making inroads by offering tempting hardware for half the price demanded by mainstream manufacturers.

But is all that specs flexing just a facade? Thankfully, no, but there's still a massive market for white box, unbranded, or just low quality handsets from China, and almost without exception, they involve significant compromises. Sure, these may seem warranted given the price tag, but you'd do well to remember that these are local companies in the business of making money, not losing it. This isn't to say that great deals aren't out there, but rather an opportunity for us to pass on years worth of experience playing with dozens upon dozens of Chinese devices from all strata.

Here's what to consider/look out for if you're thinking of buying a cheap Chinese handset:

$90

$210

$120 off (57%)

Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.

Buy at Mint Mobile

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Chris Panayotov is a former mobile tech reviewer of phones, tablets and wearables at PhoneArena. However, his contribution to PhoneArena content includes not just reviews, but all kinds of regular and experimental features, such as news stories, buying guides, and an exclusive column on the most notable phones out of Asia.