With a plethora of brands and models out there, we are blessed to have an endless number of smartphones to choose from, each catering to a specific budget. Should you have a difficult time deciding which phone best suits your needs, we have you covered. Last time, we gave you a list of smartphones in the 10k to 15k range, and dual camera smartphones priced under 20k. This time, we give to you six of our top smartphone picks, all priced at under Php 10,000, and have decent mid-range level specs.
Do note that our list includes phones released this year and are readily available in the market. If you have other smartphones with the same price range in mind, do let us know.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 octa-core processor
- Qualcomm Adreno 506 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 5.5-inch FHD display, 1920 x 1080 resolution
- 32GB expandable storage, via microSD
- 13-megapixel rear camera
- 5-megapixel front camera
- Fingerprint scanner
- 4100mAh battery
- Price: Php 8,800 (via Widget City)
A mid-range spec phone with an entry-level phone price? Yup, Xiaomi is an expert when it comes to that, and their Rednote 4X does not fail to impress, with its Snapdragon 625 processor, a 5.5-inch full HD display, and a generous 4100Mah battery, along with an integrated fingerprint scanner and 3GB of RAM. We don’t know how Xiaomi does it, but their phones do stand out of the crowd.
Read: Xiaomi Announces the Redmi Note 4X Hatsune Miku Limited Edition Smartphone
Vivo V5 Lite
- 1.5GHz MediaTek 6750 octa-core processor
- Mali T860 GPU
- 3GB of RAM
- 5.5-Inch HD IPS Display; 1280×720 Resolution
- 32GB of expandable storage
- 13-megapixel rear camera, PDAF, LED Flash
- 16-megapixel front camera f/2.0 aperture
- Dual SIM
- 3G, LTE
- WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow, FunTouch UI
- 3000mAh Battery
- Price: P9,990 (via Vivo Philippines)
Marketed as a budget version of their highly regarded V5, the V5 Lite does not scrimp on its specs: it boasts of a great 16-megapixel f/2.0 front camera, along with 3GB RAM and an Octa-core Mediatek processor to power it up. Add to the fact that it shares practically the same design with the V5, and you got one looker of a phone.
Read: Vivo V5 Lite Unboxing, Initial Review: Affordable Selfie Phone
Nokia 5
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor
- 2GB of RAM
- 5.2-inch IPS LCD display, Corning Gorilla Glass protection, 1280 x 720 resolution
- 16GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD
- 13-megapixel rear camera, PDAF, 1.12um sensor size, f/2.0 aperture, dual tone LED flash
- 8-megapixel front camera, AF, 1.12um sensor size, f/2.0 aperture, 84-degree wide angle
- Dual SIM
- 3G, LTE
- WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC
- GPS, A-GPS
- Fingerprint sensor
- 3000mAh battery
- Android 7.1.1 Nougat
- Price: P9,990 (via Lazada)
Don’t be deceived that the Nokia 5 is just equipped with a Snapdragon 430 processor. It is worthy of the Nokia name thanks to its solid unibody aluminum build, and its impressive optics for both front and rear cameras. That 1.12um sensor size is sure to produce stunning photos.
Read: Nokia 3 And 5 Hands-on, Quick Review: Worthy Of The Name
Huawei Gr3 2017
- HiSilicon Kirin 655 octa-core processor
- ARM Mali-T830 MP2 GPU
- 3GB RAM
- 5.2-inch FHD IPS display, 1920 x 1080 resolution, 2.5D glass
- 16GB expandable storage, up to 128GB via microSD
- 12-megapixel rear camera, BSI, phase detection AF, LED flash
- 8-megapixel front camera
- Dual SIM, 3G, LTE
- WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, NFC
- Fingerprint scanner
- 3000mAh battery
- Android 7.0 Nougat (EMUI 5.0)
- Price: Php 8,990 (via Lazada)
Huawei may not be focused on producing entry level phones these days, but that does not stop them in producing budget phones with value for money. With the GR3 2017, you get a Kirin 655 processor, and 3GB RAM–the same hardware found on its more expensive sibling, the GR5 2017 (which is also a winner in the mid-range phone department). While it sports a plastic body, we do think that it resembles the Google Pixel, to an extent.
Read: Huawei GR3 2017 Review: A Budget Phone That Covers All The Basics
OPPO A39
- 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6750 octa-core processor
- 3GB of RAM
- Mali-T860 MP2 GPU
- 5.2-inch HD IPS TFT display; 1280×720 resolution, 2.5D Arc Glass, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
- 32GB of storage; expandable up to 256GB via MicroSD card
- 13-megapixel rear camera, LED flash, f/2.0 aperture
- 5-megapixel front camera, f/2.4
- 3G, LTE
- Dual SIM
- WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
- Android 5.1 Lollipop, Color OS 3.0
- 2900mAh battery
- Price: Php 9,990 (via Lazada)
Quietly released in the Philippines at the end of 2016, we do think that the A39 is a mini version of the F1s–design-wise and specs-wise. Compare the two side-by-side, and you barely can see any difference, save for the absence of a fingerprint scanner on the A39. Though you have to compromise on the LCD display (the A39 uses a TFT display instead) and the front camera, the A39 is still worth looking at given its price.
Read: OPPO A39 Review: Caught in a Tight Spot
In case you missed it, here are our other top Q3 2017 Smartphone picks:
Dual-Camera Smartphones You Can Buy Under Php 10K (Q3 2017)
Best Smartphones in the Php 10K to Php 15K Range (Q3 2017)
5 Dual Camera Smartphones You Can Buy For Under 20k (Q3 2017)