Holiday shopping spree is among us again and we’re here to help you decide on purchasing your new smartphone. From the budget offering to the most powerful and expensive device, we’ve got you covered. We collated the devices based on their pricing for easier reading. Let’s begin!
Under Php10,000
We’ll start off with the Moto E (2nd Gen), which is currently priced at Php 4,999. It’s a well-built device from Motorola and could be perfect for those looking for a compact smartphone with its 4.5” qHD display and has a decent battery life. The Lazada exclusive Alcatel Flash 2 has a slightly 5” HD display and bigger RAM and you can have it for Php 5,990 with free flip cover, screen protector, and SIM card. If you are particular with software versions, you can opt for an Android One smartphone from Cherry Mobile, the One G1. Its promised fresh updates directly from Google is already a good selling point making it one of the few Android 6.0 Marshmallow devices in the market and it’s just priced at Php 5,999 w/ free 8GB microSD.
If you want a budget smartphone with fast autofocus feature, well the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser is one of your options. It has two variants in the country, the ZE500KL and ZE550KL. The difference between the two is their screen sizes, 5-inch vs 5.5-inch but they are closely priced at Php 7,295 and Php 7,995 respectively. The Lenovo A7000 Plus, another Lazada exclusive, is also a good buy at Php 7,999 with its Dolby Atmos audio enhancement plus its crisp 5.5” 1080p display.
Another Php 7,999 device with a 1080p display is the Cherry Mobile Flare S4 Plus but is has a bigger 3GB of RAM for your multi-tasking needs. Before we jump off to the next price range, the Xiaomi Mi 4i is a steal with its midrange Snapdragon 615 chipset but carries a Php 9,799 price tag. It’s also worth mentioning that all of these handsets are LTE-capable so you can have the best browsing speeds available, if you have good reception.
Php10,000 – Php19,999
At this range, we can get a more feature-packed smartphone. First in line is the ZenFone 2 Selfie with its 13-megapixel front camera with dual tone LED flash, thus making it the ideal selfie smartphone. Another selfie-centric device on the list is the Sony Xperia C5 Ultra. We cannot deny the beauty of the device thanks to its extremely thin bezel, but the steep Php 17,990 pricing might be a deal breaker for some.
With the Lenovo Vibe P1, you can now own a smartphone with a fingerprint scanner for just 14,999. It also boasts a long-lasting 5000mAh battery. The ZUK Z1, on the other hand, almost has an identical look with the P1 but with a 2014 flagship internals like a Snapdragon 800 chipset, 3GB RAM and 64GB storage. It also has a fingerprint scanner and its SRP is amazingly affordable at Php 15,299.
If you want a sexy smartphone, you might want to consider the Huawei G8. It’s priced at 17,990 but you’re getting a sleek 7.5mm thin smartphone with the attractiveness of Huawei’s design language. Lastly, the elusive OnePlus 2 is the best Php 19,990 in the local grey market although price may vary. It’s pretty much like 30k flagship smartphone but significantly cheaper.
Php20,000 – Php29,999
Moving up to more expensive smartphones, the OPPO R7 Plus is pretty solid at 21,990 with a large 4100mAh battery paired with their own VOOC Flash Charging technology — battery juice shouldn’t be a problem with it. The Samsung Galaxy A8 phablet at Php24,990 is a good option for having a large 5.7” display and is really thin at 5.9mm.
If you prefer a smaller smartphone with beastly internals, the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact can offer that for Php 29,990. It’s flagship Snapdragon 801 chipset ensures powerful performance in a pocket-friendly package. Also, the Samsung Galaxy S6 got a price cut to Php 29,990 for the 32GB variant. Let’s not forget the Google Nexus 6P from Huawei with all the pure Android goodness is also coming to the local market for Php 29,990.
30,000 and above
If you want the best of the best, these are the smartphones you should consider. The LG G4 with its fantastic 16-megapixel camera with OIS, f/1.8, and manual mode is available for Php 31,990 and Php 32,990 for the genuine leather variant. The Huawei Mate S powered by a home-baked Kirin 935 Octa-core chipset is for sale at Php 31,995.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge is also cheaper now at 34,990 and the curved edge display is really unique with the Edge series of the Korean-company. There’s also a larger version dubbed as the Galaxy S6 Edge+ starting at Php 39,990. The flagship Sony Xperia Z5 is being sold for Php 35,990 with a 23-megapixel shooter that has been receiving praises as the best smartphone camera to date. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 with the useful S-Pen for note taking, sketching or just doodling is for purchased at Php 36,990 (32GB).
The recently launched LG V10 has a secondary display, manual video mode, and everything you’d expect in a powerhouse Android smartphone. It can also support up to 2TB microSD and it’s a bit steep at Php 37,990. And finally, the list will not be complete without the latest smartphones from Apple. The iPhone 6s starts at Php 37,990 while the iPhone 6s Plus is at Php 43,990.
Well, there you have it folks. These are the smartphones you can check into if you’re planning on having one. If you have suggestions, feel free to share them in the comment section below.
Note: We’re still expecting the new Lumias and the BlackBerry Priv to be launched locally, we’ll update the list once we get hold of the official pricing.
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