These days, Php 10,000 can get you a value-packed device with features Filipinos usually look for in a phone. 2023 is a good year for budget smartphones, as brands pushed the boundaries on what consumers can expect at under Php 10,000. With all the contenders for this segment, here are the best budget phones you can buy in the Philippines for 2023:

Best Budget Phones in the Philippines 2023

• itel S23+
• TECNO POVA 5
• vivo Y27
• Infinix NOTE 30 5G
• Redmi Note 12 4G

 

itel S23+

Many were wondering if itel would deliver on its promise of an affordable phone with a curved AMOLED display, and they pulled it off very well with the S23+. It is the most gorgeous budget phone we’ve ever seen in recent memory, and its features are appropriate for a 2023 budget phone. We’re amazed at how itel did it, and the S23+ is a sign of good things to come from the brand.

• Unisoc T616 Processor
• 8GB RAM
• 256GB Storage
• 6.78-inch Curved AMOLED Display, Full HD+ Resolution
• 32-megapixel selfie camera
• 50-megapixel main camera
• QVGA depth camera
• 5000mAh Battery
• 18w Charging
• Android 13
• Php 7,499

 

TECNO POVA 5

TECNO has made its POVA series a formidable budget gaming phone this year, and the POVA 5 lands on our list as the most affordable budget phone that you can run heavy games thanks to its Helio G99 processor. The POVA 5 also has the looks too: while not as sleek and sexy as the itel S23+, the mecha-inspired back panel reminds you that it is a legit budget gaming phone.

• Helio G99 Processor
• 8GB RAM
• Up to 256GB Storage
• 6.78-inch 120hz IPS Display, Full HD+ Resolution
• 8-megapixel selfie camera
• 50-megapixel main camera
• QVGA depth sensor
• 6000mAh Battery
• 45w Wired Charging
• Android 13, HiOS 13
• Php 8,499 (8GB/128GB) / Php 8,999 (8GB/256GB)

 

vivo Y27

vivo has improved its budget phone offerings for 2023 with the Y27. For under Php 9,000, the Y27 can go head-to-head with its rivals thanks to all the features vivo has added. Two of the Y27’s best features would be its 50-megapixel main camera that takes good photos for a budget phone and vivo’s 44w FlashCharge solution.

• Helio G85 Processor
• 6GB RAM
• 128GB Storage
• 6.64-inch IPS Display, Full HD+ Resolution
• 8-megapixel selfie camera
• 50-megapixel main camera
• 2-megapixel depth sensor
• 5000mAh Battery
• 44w Wired Charging
• Android 13, FunTouchOS 13
• Php 8,999

 

Infinix NOTE 30 5G

Infinix is consistent with the incredible price-to-performance ratio of its phones, and the NOTE 30 5G is a winner in the budget segment for being a balanced 5G-ready phone. The Dimensity 6080 processor that the NOTE 30 5G uses is miles better than other budget 5G phones, and you get one of the best-sounding stereo speakers in its segment thanks to JBL’s audio tuning.

• Dimensity 6080 Processor
• 8GB RAM
• Up to 256GB Storage
• 6.78-inch 120hz IPS Display, Full HD+ Resolution
• 16-megapixel selfie camera
• 108-megapixel main camera
• 2-megapixel macro camera
• QVGA depth sensor
• 5000mAh Battery
• 45w Wired Charging
• Android 13, XOS 13
• Php 9,499 (8GB/128GB) / Php 9,999 (8GB/256GB)

 

Redmi Note 12 4G

AMOLED displays are almost always better than IPS panels, and the Redmi 12 4G is part of our best budget phones for 2023 because it has the most feature-packed display. The Redmi 12 4G uses the same 120hz AMOLED display found on last year’s Xiaomi 11T series, and it’s impressive how Xiaomi was able to put a flagship-caliber display on a budget phone.

• Snapdragon 685 Processor
• Up to 8GB RAM
• Up to 256GB Storage
• 6.67-inch 120hz AMOLED Display, Full HD+ Resolution
• 13-megapixel selfie camera
• 50-megapixel main camera
• 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera
• 2-megapixel macro camera
• 5000mAh Battery
• 33w Wired Charging
• Android 13, MIUI 14
• Php 8,999 (6GB/128GB) / Php 9,999 (8GB/128GB) / Php 10,999 (8GB/256GB)

 

That rounds up our picks for the best budget phones in the Philippines for 2023. Do you agree with our picks?