10 Best Affordable Smartphones in the Philippines 2022 | Buying Guide Reviewed by IT Specialist

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:

1. Get the right screen size.
2. Pay attention to the display: get at least 1280 x 720 resolution.
3. Go for at least 16GB of storage.
4. Determine the processor and ram for your phone’s performance.
5. Opt for at least 6 hours of battery life to suit your daily requirements.
6. Decide on the camera's quality.

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 a smaller screen size. However, if you are using this phone to watch videos, play games, and/or utilize multiwindow mode, it might be better to buy a phone with a bigger display.

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, and this measurement is decent enough for sending messages, making phone calls, watching videos, browsing the internet, 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 phones with a low storage capacity.

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, 64GB or more 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 the MP, the better the 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.

To give you a run down, here are our top 5 picks for the best affordable phones you can buy online:

1. Best overall: Huawei Nova 8i
2. Best for gaming: Realme Narzo 50A
3. Best for taking selfies: Oppo Reno 6
4. Best battery life: Nokia G21
5. Best value for money: Redmi Note 11

Check out the table below to further compare the characteristics of these five affordable phones as well as the other five that made it to our list.

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.

Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.

The Redmi Note 10 Pro has the best camera among mid-range budget phones. This model has a quad camera with a 108MP wide-angle main camera, an 8MP ultrawide lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. With these specs plus a 16MP front camera, the Redmi Note 10 Pro is one of the best camera phones under Php 15,000.

Aside from this particular model, there are other Redmi smartphones that also have great camera quality. The Redmi Note 11, for instance, has a 50MP rear camera and a 13MP front camera. Another brand that is widely popular for its camera is Oppo. If you like taking selfies, then Oppo might be a better fit for you considering most of their phones have front cameras with at least 13MP.

While the battery health of any phone is bound to degenerate over time, there are still practices that you can do to minimize its negative effects. This includes allowing the setting wherein the phone will automatically shut down after inactivity for 3 minutes or less, changing the phone's brightness setting to automatic, and turning off the Wi-Fi when not in use. 

Other than those, you can also make it a habit to close apps that are not in use, especially those that require lots of power to run. Moreover, always keeping your phone's battery between 30 to 80 percent can help promote its longevity. Finally, you can also turn on "power-saving mode" in case you really need to conserve your remaining battery life.

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.

Author: Khrisanta Rea

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.