The best Chinese flagship smartphone in 2022 - Xiaomi, Huawei, OnePlus or Vivo?

If you place all the devices we have chosen on the table with the display up, then you will not notice much difference between them. Only HUAWEI stands out, but only due to the curved sides of the screen, which we will talk about separately. OnePlus and Realme differ in the location of the front camera lens - it is in the corner, not in the center of the display. All this makes it clear that you need to compare the back panel, not the front.

If you turn the devices upside down, then the camera block begins to catch your eye. Everywhere it is made in one way or another in a unique way. However, to give preference to someone is almost impossible. For example, we liked the choice of the same HUAWEI - this manufacturer provided the lens of the main module with a shiny edging. It is curious that four models use a special anti-reflective coating, so that fingerprints do not spoil the appearance. Only the Vivo X60 Pro has a metal back panel that shimmers beautifully in the sunlight.

Xiaomi 11T Pro can be slightly upgraded for the fact that the device exists in three color options.This is in addition to the different amount of RAM and permanent memory! But it is impossible not to admit that the device turned out to be quite weighty. However, only the already mentioned Vivo and HUAWEI are light.

If a Chinese manufacturer is going to sell a phone for a lot of money, then they usually look towards installing an AMOLED display. Such a screen is created on the basis of organic light emitting diodes. This means that it does not require a separate backlight layer. Therefore, we can expect high energy efficiency, especially if the display shows a picture with an abundance of black colors. And you can count on a very high contrast ratio. As you guessed, absolutely all the devices we have chosen can boast an AMOLED screen.

Please note that smartphones have different screen aspect ratios. OnePlus, Realme and Xiaomi turned out to be a little more elongated. Practice shows that it is on their display that it is most comfortable to watch feature films. And you already know the main drawback of the HUAWEI phone: its screen has curved sides.They make the device a little less convenient to use, and also increase the likelihood of cracks when dropped on a hard surface. That is why the model we have chosen is not the best choice for a person who drops his smartphone from time to time.

The rest of the special differences should not be looked for. All screens boast a 120Hz refresh rate, which gamers will love a lot. And in four cases out of five, the display is endowed with a fingerprint scanner. And only Xiaomi has traditionally introduced the most important security element into the side power button.

Since we are talking about flagship phones, you might get the impression that they all received an exclusively top-end chipset. However, our comparison shows that some manufacturers still prefer to save money. There is no doubt that the crisis in the semiconductor market makes them do this. And HUAWEI opted for the aging Snapdragon 778G due to US sanctions. This processor has an Adreno 642L graphics accelerator, which does not squeeze out the prescribed 120 fps in every game. Two more Chinese smartphones also have certain restrictions. And only Xiaomi and OnePlus can boast the maximum power provided by the Snapdragon 888.

So, OnePlus vs Xiaomi, who gives the best result? If we talk about synthetic tests, then you are waiting for about the same numbers. There are no special differences in real operation - the speed of the operating system is at the highest level. Xiaomi has some superiority, but only in the version with more RAM.

If we talk about connectors, recently expensive smartphones have ceased to be equipped with a 3.5 mm audio output. By this, their manufacturers are pushing them to buy a Bluetooth headset. Alas, none of the devices we are considering have such a nest. Wired headphones can only be connected using an adapter that is inserted into the USB Type-C connector. I am glad that this port is high-speed - you will not spend a lot of time transferring videos to a computer. Also, this connector is used to charge the battery.

As for wireless modules, smartphones have a place for almost everything you could wish for. Only ANT+, which is used to receive a signal from sports sensors, is missing. Xiaomi is traditionally distinguished by the presence of an infrared port, which is mainly used to control the TV. All five devices received an NFC chip. However, for HUAWEI it works with certain limitations. If you are going to pay for purchases in a store, then it is better to consider buying one of its competitors. And this device also suffers from the lack of a 5G modem.

Finally, we note a slightly older version of Bluetooth from the Vivo X60 Pro. We do not recommend this. This flaw is so minor that we won't even lower our rating for it.

The cameras built into these smartphones are the hardest to evaluate. In almost all cases, a set of three modules awaits you - only HUAWEI endowed its creation with four lenses and the same number of matrices. And this company also cooperates with Hasselblad, which has a positive effect on the quality of the final images. The main module uses a 50-megapixel Sony matrix, the physical size of which is only slightly less than half an inch. The only thing that confuses me is the aperture, which is opened only up to f/2.2. At night, this will create certain problems.

Realme has a wider aperture. But the physical size of the matrix turned out to be not so large, and the 64-megapixel resolution can cause digital noise. Therefore: fifty-fifty. In fact, this can be said for other devices as well. However, Vivo stands out a bit. First, it has the largest matrix. Secondly, the main module has optical stabilization.

Xiaomi has the highest resolution of the matrix. But in fact, this camera shoots even a little worse than competitors. And don't expect to save pictures in true resolution - the output is only 12-megapixel frames. And this smartphone is not able to offer an optical zoom or macro camera.

Above, we have already mentioned the presence of an AMOLED screen in all smartphones. This alone has a positive effect on the duration of work from a full charge. And two devices received a bonus in the form of Snapdragon 888, which also has high energy efficiency. Xiaomi vs OnePlus, which one is ready to last longer? The comparison shows that the first apparatus. Mainly due to the battery capacity increased to 5000 mAh.

Equally important in our time is charging time.In this regard, again, Xiaomi surprises. She endowed her creation with support for a 120-watt AC adapter! Moreover, the smartphone is equipped with just such a charger. And the worst indicator in this regard is Vivo X60 Pro. The fact is that it only supports a 33-watt network adapter. However, even he completely fills the battery with energy in just an hour, which will be sufficient for most readers of our site.

If you are going to buy a smartphone for gaming, then we recommend looking towards Realme. And it's not even that the device received a top-end processor. It’s just that the device also has an appropriate mode in which additional functions become available, and taking screenshots and videos is greatly simplified. Stereo speakers should also please during games. However, all the models we have chosen are equipped with them, and their sound quality is approximately equal.

The Vivo X60 Pro also has a special ultra-gaming mode. But otherwise, the familiar Android 11 is used here along with the proprietary Funtouch interface of the same version. Xiaomi is perhaps a little less interesting. There are very few additional functions, and not everyone likes the proprietary shell of this company. As for OnePlus, the manufacturer of this smartphone has focused on the camera.

You could easily guess which device will receive the lowest score. It is, of course, HUAWEI. The fact is that there is no access to Google services. The AppGallery online store is still not able to boast an unusually large number of applications and games.And some programs stubbornly want to show Google maps, which by definition cannot be here. In a word, sad. The rest of the firmware is not satisfactory.

This material is being written at a difficult time for Russia, when price tags change literally every day. That is why we do not recommend seriously paying attention to the table below. However, it is still able to show how much the cost of Chinese flagships differs relative to each other.

The most affordable in our selection is a device sold under the Realme brand. This is explained by the fact that the parent company is still trying to popularize it without making a special margin. In Xiaomi, this path has long been gone, so the smartphone of this manufacturer is on the opposite side - they ask for it almost the most. And this is the case when the overpayment does not make much sense. Oddly enough, Realme is almost in no way inferior to its competitor. And in terms of camera, it even surpasses it, providing a little more opportunities! However, there is an even less worthy candidate for your money - this is OnePlus 9.

So, the solemn moment has come. We have to give the palm to someone. However, first we will mention the outsider. They, in our opinion, is HUAWEI. Like it or not, but the lack of Google services spoils everything.Because of this, the buyer of this flagship will from time to time face certain inconveniences.

Buying Realme GT NEO2 seems to be the best choice. This is a rare case when a smartphone has incorporated many advantages, but it also turned out to be slightly cheaper than its competitors. However, if you expect a better camera from the device, then it makes sense to look for the Vivo X60 Pro. This flagship shoots well in the dark, and is equipped with an optical stabilizer.