Hard Bargain: Should you buy a cheap smartphone from China?

Reach into your pocket right now and pull out your phone. What is it? We can almost guarantee it's an iPhone or Samsung.

No, we're not spying on you. It's actually a pretty safe guess when you know 70 per cent of Australians have an Apple or Samsung smartphone.

The OPPO R9: Should you buy one? Photo: Supplied

While you've probably never thought otherwise, could there be a cheaper yet more powerful option out there?

In our last episode of Hard Bargain for 2016, we're diving into the world of cheap alternatives such as OPPO, Huawei and Xiaomi – brands you've probably never heard of but that are making a serious splash in Asia.

​What do tech reviewers make of them? How do you get your hands on one? And is it true the Chinese government could use them to listen to your calls?

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Source: Hard Bargain: Should you buy a cheap smartphone from China?