The best thing about the modern smartphone is that it takes away all the other gadgets we used to lug around and brings them into one. Messages, calls, photos, content consumption, notes, you name it! Well, multiple types of devices have been released within the past decade that mesh to a certain demographic or lifestyle. This holds especially true for devices that aren’t flagships and can’t just be the best of everything. We’ve listed down the 2022 best camera phones in the Philippines for under Php 20K to give recognition to companies that placed significant attention on photography within the midrange segment.

Disclaimer: We’re only limiting this to phones we’ve already tested and reviewed on the site. Also, all camera photo samples can be found in the reviews linked within the descriptions.

Best Camera Phones In the Philippines 2022 (Under Php 20k)

• TECNO Camon 19 Pro 4G
• HONOR X9
• vivo V25e
• POCO X4 GT
• vivo T1 5G

TECNO Camon 19 Pro 4G

Starting off this 2022 best camera phone system in the Philippines list for under PHP 20K is the TECNO Camon 19 Pro 4G. It carries a 64-megapixel f/1.6 ISOCELL GWB main camera with PDAF and OIS, 50-megapixel portrait camera f/1.9 with 2x optical zoom, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor to cap off the setup.

The special Samsung-developed S5KGWB sensor is quite impressive, alongside the RGBW array and Glass+Plastic lens design for clearer images. We were stunned by the main camera’s performance in almost all conditions, including those where the light was a little bit lacking. Details and color shone through brilliantly while switching focus from subject to subject (or foreground to background) was stellar as well. Two little nitpicks we had are the extremely vivid colors with AI modes on, as well as the portrait mode’s lack of good autofocus when close up to the subject.

You can get the TECNO Camon 19 Pro 4G for PHP 13,490.

HONOR X9

The next on this list comes from market startup HONOR, splitting away from its past roots. The HONOR X9 is the biggest sibling amongst the midrange trio recently released by the company.

Its camera specifications are listed as the following: 64-megapixel f/1.9 main camera with PDAF, 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor, and 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera. We stated in our review that the HONOR X-series all performed admirably in ideal lighting conditions, but the X9 shone through the darkness when times got tough. Everything was depicted with accurate color representation, fair detail, and all the makings of a content creator’s point-and-shoot tool. Camera performance was also snappy, which means you can capture the most important moments even if they’re fleeting.

You can get the HONOR X9 for PHP 14,990.

vivo V25e

Third on the list is the “Night Portrait Master” vivo V25e. Its camera specifications are the following: 64-megapixel F/1.9 main camera with OIS, 2-megapixel f/2.4 depth sensor, and a 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera.

We don’t need to get into much detail on this once, since we’ve comprehensively dubbed it a “Social Media Weapon” for its optical prowess. To put it simply, all shots are crisp, full of color and detail, even in low-light conditions. Noise is even kept to a minimum thanks to some software wizardry. It’s an amazing shooter for the price and we can’t say much more than what we’ve already mentioned before, even in our review. The main issue that could be a dealbreaker here is the lack of an ultrawide sensor, which some may consider even more important than a stellar main sensor. If so, then the other options on this list may be the one for you instead.

You can get the vivo V25e for PHP 17,999.

POCO X4 GT

Next up is a representative from POCO, the X4 GT. It’s more well-known for being an absolute overall monster at its price range, and it hasn’t necessarily sacrificed anything else at its expense. Don’t underestimate its setup though: a 64-megapixel f/1.75 ISOCELL GW1 main camera with PDAF, 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

The POCO X4 GT shares the same camera system as its predecessor, the X3 GT. We believe a famous line applies here: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!” Images taken with this smartphone present good detail and passable color reproduction, which is better than other “all-around” midrange devices. Although, we noticed some rare weird shifts in contrast and also the presence of noise in low-light shooting; particularly with the ultrawide sensor.

You can get the POCO X4 GT for a starting price of PHP 18,990.

vivo T1 5G

Last but not the least, we have the vivo T1 5G. This is the second vivo product on this list and it was mainly marketed for gamers, acting as the company’s all-around device much like the aforementioned X4 GT. This is admittedly one of (if not the overall) our favorite midrange devices released during 2022. Its camera specifications are listed as the following: 64-megapixel f/1.8 main camera with PDAF, 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2-megapixel f/2.4 macro camera.

Expectedly, the vivo T1 5G performs admirably in ideal lighting conditions, but details begin to disappear a bit as the light source disappears. However, it’s a gradual loss in detail and not a complete disappearance like with other phones. As such, the creator can easily tinker with the settings to still eke out a decent photo in subpar conditions. It’s also perfect for capturing 4K video, something that most of the smartphones in this list aren’t capable of. Videos are also stable due to stabilization that isn’t expected at all within the price point.

You can get the vivo T1 5G for PHP 16,999.

In a competitive mid-range market in the Philippines for 2022, some phones may have the best camera performance–but compromise on everything else. Others, meanwhile, only feature decent photography but still deliver in the other aspects. Which one do YOU prefer? Let us know!