Experience some of Huawei’s best-selling global units—but not before reading this review

There’s a very good chance that the cellphone in your bag, pocket, or in your hand right is made in China. Since early 2016, China has manufactured about a billion smartphone units, clearly signifying the country’s ability to supply the demand of an ever-growing global smartphone community. This capability has naturally allowed China to venture into the field of native smartphone development. The result: affordable gadgets that can rival more expensive brands in terms of style, specs, capabilities and user enjoyment. The two models highlighted in this article, from Chinese brand Huawei, clearly demonstrate the stigma of “Made in China” is seriously inaccurate.

Huawei GR5: The Handheld with Style & Substance

The first thing you’ll notice about the GR5 is the unit’s slim unibody. It’s not very often that a mid-range level smartphone is clad in metal, but Huwawei didn’t scrimp on giving the GR5 a shell that’s tough, lightweight andstylish. Running on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS, the experience of navigating through this device is supplemented with Huawei’s proprietary Emotion UI 3.1 user interface, which is an OS overlay that makes the Android experience more unique. The 5.5-inch 1080p IPS LCD is fluid when switching through tiles, which is very telling about the installed octacore Snapdragon 616 processor. 2GB of ram ensures there is ample internal speed in this piece of technology for smooth multi-tasking, while also allowing users to effortlessly use their favorite apps glitch-free. Another premium feature is a fingerprint sensor that can be used to lock and unlock the unit for better safety and security. The fingerprint sensor can also be used to activate certain phone functions if the user chooses to configure these. The GR5’s 13MP f/2.0 rear camera with LED flash is also a standout feature, which does particularly well in outdoor shots. Meanwhile, the 5MP f/2.4 shooter is quite a handy tool for awesome selfies. 

All in all, the GR5 is a well-rounded, good-looking machine that gives users top-notch features at an affordable price. 

Huawei Y6 Pro: Long-lasting Battery Life

Sporting a signature “water ripple” design, the Y6 Pro stands out from other units in the same device bracket. Available in sexy silver, gray and gold finishes, the Y6 Pro—despite using plastic in many components—features a metal frame for better protection and aesthetics. The 5-inch screen doesn’t feel small on this unit because your eyes will be too distracted by the clear 720x1280 pixel HD liquid crystal display. Powered by a MediaTek MT6735P SoC with a 64-bit quad-core 1.3GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, the Y6 Pro is capable of running apps without any major slowdowns in usability. With the ability to support dual sim processes, this unit is a heavyweight among similar smartphones in its class. The Y6 Pro’s real standout feature though is its powerful 4,000mAh battery, which ensures that you don’t run out of juice before the day ends. It’s the perfect complement to the Y6 Pro’s 13MP camera because there’s a good chance you’ll be snapping away with this beauty whenever you can. At least you can rest assured that it will have enough power to keep up with your never idle hands.