TOP 10 GOOD BUDGET CHINA PHONES JAN 2013

With all the buzz surrounding the imminent launch of the quad core high end Chinese phones, I would like to go the opposite direction and highlight some budget phones worth looking at. The advantages of this list is that most phones would have been on the market for some time and people would have bought and reviewed it. The phones I will be looking at must have certain attributes to be in this top 10 list. These requirements will ensure the phones run Android 4.0.4 ICS smoothly. These attributes are:

1) Screen size must be minimum of 4.0 inches
2) Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and higher
3) Below USD $170
4) Minimum of 512mb
5) Dual core processor or higher
6) Minimum of FWVGA 854x480 pixels resolution
7) FREE SHIPPING

So let's get to it. These phones would make great gifts or even be your standby phone or phone for students. Phone are from Fastcardtech.

1) Star B94M MTK6577 Dual Core 1G RAM 4.5 Inch QHD Screen Android Phone
This is the successor to the very popular Star B92M aka HDC Galaxy S3 EX. Comes with Jelly Bean, QHD screen 1gb RAM. Spec sheet says resistive screen but that is wrong. The spec sheet also says 5 point touch screen so it has capacitive touch screen. The B92m is already capacitive screen equipped.
Price: $165

2) Sophone 5i- MTK6577 Dual Core 1.2Ghz 4.0 inch FWVGA Screen Android 4.0.4 Phone

This iphone5 clone is a very new arrival at Fastcardtech. The specs are all very good and the phone has Android 4.0.4 with an iPhone theme launcher. IPS screen, slim body, Antutu score of 7000 and low price puts this phone on the top of the list. RAM is 512mb. Price: $135

3) NEWSMY NX- MT6577 Dual Core 1.0Ghz 512MB Ram 4.0 inch QHD Android 4.0.4 Phone

The maker of the top selling Newnam N1 and now the Newman N2, this phone is ideal is a very good deal for the price. The specs are similar to the much higher price clone phones. Newman does support it's product with ROM updates. Price: $125

4) HDC Galaxy S3 S9380 MTK6577 1G Ram 4.7 inch FWVGA  Android 4.1.1 Phone

Although this phone only has a FWVGA screen, it has 1gb RAM and Jelly Bean with large 4.7 inch screen. Note that the MTK6577 processor will run this screen resolution with maximum smoothness. 1GB Ram and Jelly Bean will make you think the processor is faster than it really is. Camera is really 5mp. Price: $159

5) HDC G9300 Smart Phone Android 4.1 MTK6577 Dual Core 2G ROM 3G GPS 4.7 Inch 8.0MP Camera

Similar to the phone above but with a QHD screen, this phone is a good buy for just a little more. Price: $169

6) HDC Galaxy i9300 S3 Plus Android 4.0 MTK6577 3G Dual sim 8MP Camera

This S3 clone has 512mb RAM running ICS and one of the hottest sellers in Sept/October 2012. This phone is a very fast phone due to it's FWVGA screen and DDR3 RAM. Fastest phone in it's category. For $10-20 more you get a more updated phone above. That's why this phone is at no. 6.  Price: $149

7) 5I Smart Phone Android 4.0 MTK6577 Dual Core 3G GPS 4.0 Inch 8.0MP Camera
This phone appears to be an OEM version of the iphone5 clone at position no.2. It runs android ICS without the iPhone theme. Some of you would like to have real android in an iPhone housing. The MTK6577 processor will drive this phone smoothly. Very attractive price. I may buy one. Price :$132

8) HDC Galaxy Note 2 GT H7100 MTK6577 Dual Core 5.4 Inch QHD Screen Android 4.1.1 PhoneThis is the most current and cheapest Galaxy Note 2 Clone. Comes with jelly bean, 1gb RAM and QHD screen. 2 versions available. Price 1gb RAM: $165, Price 512mb RAM: $155



9) Small Chili Qualcomm MSM8225 Dual-core 1G Mhz ICS 4.0 3G Dual SIM 4.0" WVGA IPSAlthough this has a smaller screen it uses the Qualcomm S3 series processor which takes less power. Screen is FWVGA which is still very good for a 4 inch IPS screen. Very affordable phone. Price: $145

10) NEO NO2-M- MTK6577 1G Ram 3G Dual sim 4.5 inch QHD Screen Android 4.0.4 Phone

Although Neo re-released this with IPS screen this older version still has a very good and bright screen. I don't feel it is worth the extra $14 plus the shipping which probably come up to $34. This phone is highly recommended by me. I paid $175 for this but now the price has been revised. Price: $155

If any of you readers feel that I may have missed out any phone, please let me know and I will add it in.