Smartphones have become essential in our daily lives. We use our smartphones to stay connected with our family and friends, most especially during the pandemic. Did you know that you can purchase various affordable smartphones without the guilt of spending too much?
Phone manufacturers have increased, and now, there are many smartphones to choose from, which can be overwhelming especially if you are not a techy person. Purchasing a brand new smartphone can hurt your pockets—worry no further, as we are here to guide you in selecting the best budget smartphone (below Php 5,000 to Php 16,000!) with our top 10 list and buying guide fact-checked by IT Specialist JC Rogelio.
The products we introduce below were carefully curated by the mybest team, from the best-sellers of E-commerce sites like Lazada, and using the points mentioned in our detailed and thoroughly researched buying guide.
Disclaimer: These products are recommendations made by our team at mybest Philippines. Our expert, JC Rogelio, is not affiliated with, nor is he endorsing any of the brands we mention below.
From ₱11,990
Screen Size | 6.5 in |
---|---|
Display | 720 x 1600 |
Storage | 128GB |
Processor | Snapdragon 665 |
RAM | 4/8GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 48MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 16MP |
Battery Life | 20 hours |
From ₱13,990
Screen Size | 6.5 in |
---|---|
Display | 1080 x 2340 |
Storage | 128GB |
Processor | Exynos 9611 SoC |
RAM | 6/8GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 64MP, 12MP, 5MP and 5MP sensors |
Camera Quality (Front) | 32MP |
Battery Life | 26 hours |
From ₱13,990
Screen Size | 6.4in |
---|---|
Display | 1080 x 2310 |
Storage | 128GB |
Processor | Kirin 810 Kirin 710 |
RAM | 8GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 48MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP sensor |
Camera Quality (Front) | 16MP |
Battery Life | 13 hours |
From ₱15,990
Screen Size | 6.5 in |
---|---|
Display | 1080 x 2400 |
Storage | 128GB |
Processor | Octa Core 2.3GHz, 1.7GHz |
RAM | 8GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 48.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 5.0 MP + 5.0 MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 32MP |
Battery Life | 15 hours |
From ₱5,990
Screen Size | 6.3 in |
---|---|
Display | 1600 x 720 |
Storage | 64GB |
Processor | Mediatek MT6762R |
RAM | 4GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 13MP + 5MP + 2MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 8MP |
Battery Life | 32 hours (video playback) |
From ₱9,999
Screen Size | 6.47 in |
---|---|
Display | 1560 x 720 |
Storage | 128GB |
Processor | MT6765 |
RAM | 4GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 13MP+2MP+2MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 8MP |
Battery Life | 9 hours gameplay, 137.09h music |
From ₱7,730.56
Screen Size | 6.53 in |
---|---|
Display | 2340 x 1080 |
Storage | 64GB, 128GB |
Processor | Mediatek Helio G85 |
RAM | 4GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 48MP + 8MP +2MP +2MP sensor |
Camera Quality (Front) | 13MP |
Battery Life | 14 hours (gaming) |
From ₱7,990
Screen Size1600x720 | 6.5 in |
---|---|
Display | 1600 x 720 |
Storage | 64GB, 128GB |
Processor | MediaTek Helio G80 |
RAM | 4GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 48MP + 8MP + 2MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 18MP |
Battery Life | 7 hours |
From ₱3,099
Screen Size | 5.71 in |
---|---|
Display | 720 x 1520 Pixels |
Storage | 16GB |
Processor | 1.4GHz Quad-Core Processor |
RAM | 2GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 13MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 8MP |
Battery Life | 15 hours |
From ₱2,990
Screen Size | 5.45 in |
---|---|
Display | 480 x 960 |
Storage | 16GB |
Processor | Quad Core 1.3GHz Processor |
RAM | 1GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 5MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 5MP |
Battery Life | 8 hours |
To give you a rundown, here are our top 3 picks for the best affordable smartphones you can buy online:
Check out the table below to further compare the characteristics of these three affordable smartphones as well as the other seven that made it to our list.
Image | 1 ![]() Oppo | 2 Samsung | 3 ![]() Huawei | 4 ![]() Samsung | 5 ![]() Huawei | 6 Vivo | 7 ![]() Xiaomi | 8 Realme | 9 ![]() MyPhone | 10 ![]() Nokia |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | A9 2020 | Samsung Galaxy M31 | Huawei Nova 7i | Samsung Galaxy A51 | Huawei Y6P | Vivo Y30 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 | Realme 6i | MyPhone myWX1 Plus | Nokia C1 |
Features | All the Features You Want in a Phone | Budget Smartphone That Exceeds Expectations | Create Memories Through Capturing Memories | Need More Space? This Is the One for You! | Power That Lasts More Than a Day | Easy on the Eyes and the Pocket | A Great Deal You Can't Pass Up | Big Screen for a Small Price | Local Budget Smartphone for Your Online Classes | One Message and Call Away |
Price Starts at | ₱11,990 | ₱13,990 | ₱13,990 | ₱15,990 | ₱5,990 | ₱9,999 | ₱7,730.56 | ₱7,990 | ₱3,099 | ₱2,990 |
Screen Size | 6.5 in | 6.5 in | 6.4in | 6.5 in | 6.3 in | 6.47 in | 6.53 in | 6.5 in | 5.71 in | 5.45 in |
Display | 720 x 1600 | 1080 x 2340 | 1080 x 2310 | 1080 x 2400 | 1600 x 720 | 1560 x 720 | 2340 x 1080 | 1600 x 720 | 720 x 1520 Pixels | 480 x 960 |
Storage | 128GB | 128GB | 128GB | 128GB | 64GB | 128GB | 64GB, 128GB | 64GB, 128GB | 16GB | 16GB |
Processor | Snapdragon 665 | Exynos 9611 SoC | Kirin 810 Kirin 710 | Octa Core 2.3GHz, 1.7GHz | Mediatek MT6762R | MT6765 | Mediatek Helio G85 | MediaTek Helio G80 | 1.4GHz Quad-Core Processor | Quad Core 1.3GHz Processor |
RAM | 4/8GB | 6/8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB | 2GB | 1GB |
Camera Quality (Back) | 48MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP | 64MP, 12MP, 5MP and 5MP sensors | 48MP, 8MP, 2MP, 2MP sensor | 48.0 MP + 12.0 MP + 5.0 MP + 5.0 MP | 13MP + 5MP + 2MP | 13MP+2MP+2MP | 48MP + 8MP +2MP +2MP sensor | 48MP + 8MP + 2MP | 13MP | 5MP |
Camera Quality (Front) | 16MP | 32MP | 16MP | 32MP | 8MP | 8MP | 13MP | 18MP | 8MP | 5MP |
Battery Life | 20 hours | 26 hours | 13 hours | 15 hours | 32 hours (video playback) | 9 hours gameplay, 137.09h music | 14 hours (gaming) | 7 hours | 15 hours | 8 hours |
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Let's be honest, when it comes to technology, a higher price tag usually means better performance and specs. However, this might not stand true in this day and age of smartphones.
Obviously, the main selling point of affordable smartphones is their price, but since more and more companies nowadays are coming out with flagship-level smartphones at a much lower price point, you can now get high-quality smartphones without sacrificing the quality.
Below are some links to brand-specific smartphones that may also fit your budget.
Here are some key points to consider:
The screen size highly depends on the purpose of your smartphone. If you are using the phone for just texting and calling, you can purchase a smartphone with smaller screen size. However, if you are using this phone to watch videos, play games, and/or utilize multiwindow mode, you can choose to buy a phone with a bigger screen size.
The screen size of the smartphone is measured diagonally. So, if a phone is 5.5 inches, that pertains to its diagonal measurement. The most common smartphone screen size is 5.5 inches, so you can use this for messages, phone calls, watching videos, and playing games.
Just like TV screens, smartphone screens have continuously evolved and have become more high-definition. Low-resolution screens make videos and games appear blurry and grainy. That is why it is essential to check the resolution if it distorts the images or not.
The lowest screen resolution you should settle for is 1280 x 720. Anything below that is considered low-definition. Some high-end smartphones come with QHD screens and have resolutions as high as 2560 x 1440.
Another thing to consider is pixels per inch or PPI. PPI refers to how sharp the image is when it is zoomed. Even though you have HD screens, some pictures or texts appear blurry if you have a low PPI. Take note that PPi is not as important when you are just using your phone for emails and texts.
The storage determines how many applications you can install on your smartphone and the amount of media you can save. Again, this highly depends on the use of your smartphone. If your phone is entirely for just messages, emails, and calls, you can settle for low storage phones.
You can choose the 16GB storage if you are not keen on downloading multiple applications and taking lots of pictures and videos. But if you wish to download more applications, 32GB is much better. Most budget phones come with a microSD card slot, which you can utilize to expand your storage.
The performance highly depends on your phone’s Random Access Memory (RAM) and processor. Basically, the processor is in charge of the functions of your smartphone. A good processor ensures that your smartphone performs smoothly.
Of course, budget smartphones have different processors than high-end ones. It is essential to do your research on various processors each phone offers. As for RAM, it is responsible for the phone’s memory, which holds data for applications.
Not to be confused with storage, RAM enables the phone to run multiple apps at once. Smartphones solely for texting and calling, you can settle for 3 to 4 gigabytes of RAM. Other than that, you can select phones with at least 6 to 8 gigabytes of RAM.
You bring your smartphone with you wherever you go, so the battery life must be capable of lasting for at least 6 hours, while other phones can last at least 8 to 10 hours on a full charge. If you are always on-the-go, it is better to purchase a phone that can last the whole day.
It is essential to check battery tests online to ensure that the battery life is sufficient for your day-to-day activities. Also, check if your phone has a power-saving mode so that you can optimize your battery life in case of emergencies.
The quality of the camera is measured by megapixels (MP), which refers to the resolution. Some users do not pay attention to camera quality, especially if they do not like taking pictures. Fortunately, some budget smartphones offer good quality camera resolution for those who like taking pictures.
Remember that the front and back cameras have different resolutions. The front camera used for selfies and video calls has a lower resolution compared to the back. Take note that the higher MP, the better camera resolution.
Also, higher MP takes up more space for each photo or video. Manufacturers also sometimes use various software to make the images or videos more vivid or more bright. Since you cannot test the camera before purchasing, you can check out reviews on the camera resolution online.
Make the most out of your phone with these phone accessories. If you want to enjoy listening to music or even watch movies on a bigger screen, these products are just what you need.
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
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