If there are top 5 or 10 smartphones or tablets recommended by techies for the devices' good performance and strong features, there is also a list of phones on the negative list.

These are handheld devices that experts consider don't buy, which are dominated by phones Made in China.

Here are the 5 phones on their list.

  • Alcatel Authority (Cricket Wireless) - This was released on January 2013, Alcatel's first try at making an Android device. However, CNET was not impressed with the product because of the glacial processor and dated operating system used by the tech firm.

On the plus side, CNET said the Alcatel Authority has a sturdy design and basic Android capabalities and Muve Music downloads. But it is still using Android Gingerbread OS.

At its $249.99 price tag, the Web site said it is a low-end Android for a midrange price, and other carriers have better offers for the same price. It cited the ZTE Engage that offered a newer version of OS and the LG Optimus Regard that has faster performance and 4G data.

  • ZTE Groove (Cricket Wireless) - The Chinese tech firm released this device on November 2012. CNET criticised the phone's low-resolution touch screen which makes viewing difficult at certain angles, plus its cheap toy-like build and poor audio quality.

The phone runs on Android 2.3, but comes with Muve Music and 32GB of expandable memory. The Web site describes the $199.99 phone as an entry-level phone that's too little and too late because on top of being dated and using the Android Gingerbread OS, it suffers from mediocre call and audio quality.

  • ZTE Anthem 4G (MetroPCS) - Released by the other Chinese tech firm in September 2012, the device is slow and has an unattractive thick profile, blue-tinted screen with narrow viewing angle and boring camera.

While the $199.99 phone provides clear call quality and its 4G data comes without a contract, its design is ho-hum, the processor is slow and still runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread OS, that CNET said only desperate Android shoppers would consider buying this model.

  • Huawei Verge (MetroPCS) - Huawei released this handset in October 2012, observed to suffer from inconsistent call quality, frustrating Web browser and bad camera, prompting the reviewer to describe the device as familiar design, but with forgettable performance.

Priced at $49.44, the unit has a user-friendly design and bright display, but variable call quality. Although it promotes simplicity, there are other better basic phones in MetroPCS's line up, CNET said.

  • Pantech Hotshot (Verizon Wireless). Users of this device, released in October 2011, are often frustrated because of its slow processor and unresponsive touch screen that despite the gadget making decent calls it is still considered a mediocre hybrid of a smartphone.

Plus points include its nice large screen, big battery and very reasonable price tag of $99.99, but the trade off is underperformance, CNET recommends phone buyers with only $100 budget to opt for a discounted Galaxy S3 or other last-season phones.

The listing confirms that price of a phone is often linked with quality. It also boosted the belief that Made-in-China phones are generally inferior in quality and performance compared to those made in other countries, even non-western ones.

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