Digital Phone Buying Guide: From Budget to Flagship

This digital buying guide, a segment of the weekly hardware news program 'war on Silicon,' offers an extensive overview of smartphones currently available in the market. It provides recommendations and comparisons for models across price ranges from 10 to over 100 million tomans, advising against delayed purchases.

Key Points Summary

• Introduction to the Buying Guide

  This buying guide, part of a weekly hardware news program, covers phone purchases across price points from 10 to over 100 million tomans, encouraging prompt buying decisions due to market instability.

• Budget Phones (Up to 10 Million Tomans)

  While many phones exist under 10 million tomans, few are genuinely worth purchasing due to age, inherent problems, or superior competitors. Xiaomi holds an advantage in the mid-range and budget segments by offering better specifications at lower prices.

• Xiaomi Redmi A5 (Budget Recommendation)

  The Redmi A5, priced at 7.5 million tomans, is a new phone with a commendable design despite its HD screen (720x1644K resolution) and low-end chipset, making it an acceptable choice for its price.

• Xiaomi Redmi 14C (Budget Recommendation)

  The Redmi 14C, costing around 10 million tomans, features a MediaTek Helio G81 processor, 4GB RAM, a 120Hz IPS LCD, a 50MP main camera, a 5160mAh battery, and runs Android 14, although its design might not universally appeal.

• Advice on Older Budget Models

  Opting for older models in the lower price ranges is generally not advised, as their market prices do not decrease enough to justify their diminished value.

• Mid-Range Phones (10 to 25 Million Tomans)

  This price segment presents several compelling smartphone options for consumers.

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 14s (Mid-Range - Not Recommended)

  The Redmi Note 14s, available for 16-17 million tomans, is not recommended despite its popularity due to its very weak Helio G99 processor.

• Samsung Galaxy A26 (Mid-Range Recommendation)

  The Galaxy A26, approximately 17.5 million tomans, is a superior choice offering a 120Hz screen, good camera, reliable battery, Android 15, and an impressive promise of up to 6 years of software updates.

• Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro (Mid-Range - Not Recommended)

  The Redmi Note 14 Pro, priced at 20 million tomans, is not recommended due to its inadequate MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra chipset.

• Poco I7 (Mid-Range Recommendation)

  The Poco I7, costing 22 million tomans, provides a much better Dimensity 7300 (4nm) chip, 8GB/12GB RAM, a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, an enhanced camera, and a 5100mAh battery, running Android 14/Hyper OS.

• Premium Mid-Range Phones (Up to 40 Million Tomans)

  This category offers strong choices for users prioritizing performance and features.

• Samsung Galaxy A55 (Premium Mid-Range Recommendation)

  The Galaxy A55, around 30 million tomans, offers better price-performance than the Galaxy A36 (26M) and A56 (33M), particularly in terms of its chipset.

• Poco X7 Pro (Premium Mid-Range Recommendation for Performance)

  The Poco X7 Pro, available for 30 million tomans, is highly valued for its powerful DRAM 8400 chip, 8GB RAM, good screen, and large 6000mAh battery, making it excellent for gaming and multitasking despite its camera performance being less competitive than Samsung models.

• High-End Phones (Up to 65.5 Million Tomans)

  Limited but distinct recommendations are available in this higher price bracket.

• Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro (High-End - Not Recommended)

  The Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro are not recommended due to being overpriced and ordinary, a stark contrast to the historical value of older Xiaomi T series phones.

• Apple iPhone 16 (High-End Recommendation)

  The iPhone 16, priced at 65 million tomans, is significantly superior to the iPhone 14 (61 million) due to its newer specifications and improved features.

• Flagship Phones (Up to 100 Million Tomans)

  This segment showcases top-tier devices from leading manufacturers.

• Apple iPhone 16 (Flagship Recommendation)

  The iPhone 16, currently around 88 million tomans, is an excellent choice for individuals seeking a new and updated flagship smartphone.

• Samsung S25 Ultra (Flagship Recommendation)

  The S25 Ultra, Samsung's latest flagship priced at 100 million tomans, stands out as an all-rounder that excels in its category and provides a comprehensive feature set.

• Ultra-Premium Phones (Above 100 Million Tomans)

  This highest price tier features very few, exceedingly expensive options.

• Samsung S25 Edge (Ultra-Premium - Not Recommended)

  The Samsung S25 Edge, priced around 114 million tomans, is considered not worth its high cost.

• High-End Apple iPhones (Ultra-Premium)

  Models like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, estimated at 140-145 million, exist but generally do not necessitate specific buying advice given their top-of-the-line status.

• Exclusion of Honor and OnePlus Brands

  Honor and OnePlus phones are typically omitted from recommendations due to their high prices relative to specifications, poor price-performance, and significant challenges regarding parts availability and repair costs in the local market, with Honor phones often excelling in one area but lacking in others.

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