Chinese flagship phones are great value for money, but they won't stay cheaper for much longer – here's why
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Forget the skepticism and quality concerns, Chinese flagships are blazing past the competition – but their prices are rising, too. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. Made in China: three words that are as ubiquitous as they are controversial. Pick up anything mass-produced these days – be it clothing, toys, or technology products – and there's a good chance you’ll find this phrase emblazoned on a label or plastic underside.
![[Xiaomi 14 Ultra]](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uKJ4AzAEDNB69yjxZb44RA-320-80.jpg)
In the smartphone world, devices made by Chinese brands have long been seen as a curiosity – lesser-known phones with impressive specs that are often unavailable in Western markets. However, while it’s still very difficult to get a hold of a Chinese phone in the US, companies like Xiaomi and Oppo have made strides in either entering or returning to local smartphone scenes in the UK, Australia, and mainland Europe.
![[Honor Magic 6 Pro]](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UGdDEBwiXs73SDQQnoT9kV-320-80.jpg)
Oppo, for instance, recently returned to the UK with the Oppo Find X8 Pro, a hugely impressive device that rivals the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro with its dazzling screen and exceptional photography capabilities. Xiaomi, too, offers a wide range of high-end devices; our list of the best Xiaomi phones is currently capped by the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which lives up to its name with a ludicrous quad-camera system centered on a 1-inch sensor.
![[Jamie Richards]](https://vanilla.futurecdn.net/cyclingnews/media/img/missing-image.svg)
At the start of the Chinese smartphone boom, the sources of inspiration for these high-spec devices were obvious. Manufacturers including Huawei and OnePlus were once associated with producing – how to put this? – affectionate renditions of more popular flagships.
