Like midrange phones, budget phones are becoming competitive with a better set of features than their predecessors, along with competitive pricing, we’re almost done with the first half of 2025, and we have a few picks for top budget phones that we believe is worth your hard-earned money.
Unlike our previous list, this one focuses not just on performance, but with everything it has to offer. That includes things like big batteries, high IP ratings, fast charging speeds, long software support, and decent cameras. That being said, let’s get on with our list:
Top Budget Phones for 2025 (First Half)
- Samsung Galaxy A06 5G
- vivo Y29
- Infinix HOT 50 Pro+
- realme C75
- TECNO POVA 7
Samsung Galaxy A06 5G – Php 6,990 (4GB/128GB)
A Samsung phone is something you’d least expect to see in this list, but there are a couple of good reasons for the Galaxy A06 5G. With its updated price, it is the most affordable 5G phone with a Dimensity 6300 processor that’s commonly found on midrange phones, and Samsung promises four Android updates. Those two features make the Galaxy A06 a solid pick for a budget phone–especially if you prefer Samsung.
vivo Y29 – Php 8,999 (8GB/128GB)
If you’re after battery endurance, the Y29 is our recommended pick, as its 6500mAh battery and FunTouch’s excellent power management gave us over 30 hours of battery life in our benchmark tests. That translates to 2 days of battery life with moderate use–and possibly as long as 3 days if you’re a light user. You also get loud stereo speakers and a 120hz display to make the Y29 a budget phone that’s built for endurance.
Infinix HOT 50 Pro+ – Php 8,999 (8GB/256GB)
If you’re after an ultraslim device, the HOT 50 Pro+ is your best budget option with a thickness of only 6.8mm–all while keeping a 5000mAh battery that’s usually found in its rivals that are thicker. You get a Helio G100 processor and a 120hz curved AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass protection, with the latter making the HOT 50 Pro+ also the most affordable phone to offer a premium display.
realme C75 – Php 8,999 (8GB/128GB)
If you’re after a phone that you can comfortably use under the rain, the realme C75 has the highest IP rating on any budget phone at IP69. With such a high IP rating, you can even use the C75 in the pool (up to 1.5m) to take underwater photos and videos. Other than that, it comes with a large 6000mAh battery that supports 45w charging, making the C75 a phone that’s reliable regardless of (most) weather conditions.
TECNO POVA 7 – Php 6,999 (8GB/128GB)
Saving the best for last, the POVA 7 has the best price-to-specs ratio among all budget phones in this list. With a starting price of under Php 7k for the 8GB/128GB variant, the POVA 7 combines a Helio G100 processor with a massive 7000mAh battery that supports 45w charging. That’s a great set of specs for a budget phone, and it also looks stylish too with a subtle mecha design that has a premium frosted finish.
That rounds up our top picks for budget phones as of the first half of 2025. Which ill you most likely purchase
