We’re halfway through 2024, and we have witnessed lots of smartphone releases already. With that, let’s look back at some of the best smartphones you can get for just under PHP 10,000.
Note that the smartphones included in this article were officially released in the Philippines from January to June 2024. Pricing details listed here reflect the suggested retail price (SRP) at launch as well as the latest pricing for some items (as of July 22, 2024).
We will also mention the phones’ AnTuTu benchmark score when available to provide a general idea on how these phones perform.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the list.
Table of Contents
POCO M6
Starting off this list is the base model POCO M6 coming in at only PHP 7,599. For the price, it offers decent entry-level specs. It sports a 6.79-inch IPS LCD panel running at 90Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of 550 nits.
Powering this device is a MediaTek Helio G91 Ultra chipset configured with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB of expandable storage. Meanwhile, at the rear, it protrudes a dual camera setup consisting of a 108-megapixel main shooter and a 2-megapixel macro sensor.
Battery is rated at 5030mAh capacity with support for 33W fast charging.
The POCO M6 starts at PHP 7,599 SRP for the base model 6GB+128GB. The price goes up to PHP 8,599 for the larger 8GB+256GB trim.
POCO M6
Price: PHP 7,599 – PHP 8,599 SRP
Lazada
Shopee
POCO M6 Pro
Now, if you demand better specs and features, you may want to also consider the POCO M6 Pro. While it has a suggested retail price of PHP 11,999, sometimes it gets discounted to as low as PHP 8,999.
The Pro model boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and can reach a peak brightness of up to 1300 nits. The phone even gets a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 5 alongside an IP54 dust and splash resistance providing a more durable build.
Under the hood, the POCO M6 Pro is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G99 Ultra that comes with at least 8GB RAM and 256GB storage — also expandable via microSD. In our testing, the phone was able to get 427,772 points in AnTuTu benchmark.
It’s got a triple camera setup at the rear led by a 64-megapixel main sensor with support for optical image stabilization. The other two lenses are an 8-megapixel ultrawide and a 2-megapixel sensor for macro shots.
Battery-wise, the phone packs the usual 5000mAh battery paired with faster 67W wired charging.
Again, the POCO M6 Pro starts at PHP 11,999 SRP but it’s better to keep on the lookout for some random sale that sees the price down as low as PHP 8,999 for the 8GB+256GB config. You can even snag a 12GB+512GB variant for only PHP 10,999 during a sale.
To get more in-depth details about this model, check out both the video review on our YouTube channel and the written review 16 in our website.
POCO M6 Pro
Price: PHP 11,999 SRP (recently spotted at PHP 8,999)
Lazada 15
Shopee 14
TECNO POVA 6
Next on our list screams of a budget gaming phone, the TECNO POVA 6, boasting a mecha design back panel. It’s also equipped with the MediaTek Helio G99 but it’s the “Ultimate” version. Turns out that’s just the same chipset as the regular G99 and even the “G99 Ultra”, since they are all built on a 6-nanometer process, all having the same 2.2GHz max clock speeds.
Don’t be fooled, it may look like having three rear cameras, but only one is an actual camera carrying a 108-megapixel sensor. The other rings only include a so-called ‘light sensor’ and of course, the dual-tone LED flash.
Anyways, the POVA 6’s key highlights include a 120Hz 6.78-inch AMOLED display, and a larger-than-usual 6000mAh battery pack with 70W fast charging. It also gets an IP53 rating for dust and splash resistance.
The TECNO POVA 6 currently sets you back around PHP 9,179 (via Lazada) for the sole variant 8GB+256GB. The phone has an SRP of PHP 11,999.
TECNO POVA 6
Price: PHP 9,179 (via Lazada) | PHP 11,999 SRP
Lazada 20
Shopee 41
TECNO POVA 6 Neo
There’s also the POVA 6 Neo version, which is basically the same device but with a toned-down camera system and display panel. This model opts for a 50-megapixel main shooter instead of a 108-megapixel sensor.
The selfie camera is also reduced to 8-megapixel from 32-megapixel. As for its display, it’s reduced to an IPS LCD panel but with the same size and resolution at 6.78 inches and Full HD+.
The most interesting bit is probably the POVA 6 Neo’s battery, rated at a whopping 7000mAh capacity. However, it’s paired with a slower 33W charging. It comes with two configurations: the 128GB trim priced at around PHP 7,299 and a 256GB option coming at PHP 8,299.
TECNO POVA 6 Neo
Price: PHP 7,299 – PHP 8,299
Lazada 10
Shopee 21
TECNO Camon 30
Now, we have yet another Tecno device, but from a different Series, the standard TECNO Camon 30. Just its POVA siblings, the Camon 30 packs a MediaTek Helio G99-Ultimate chipset. Its display is surely an upgrade though, sporting a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel running at 120Hz refresh rate.
Its camera system gets a slight boost as well with a dual rear setup: a 50-megapixel main and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The front camera gets a higher 50-megapixel shooter with a nifty eye-tracking autofocus feature.
Battery-wise, it packs the usual 5000mAh capacity with 70W fast charging. The Camon 30 is currently priced at PHP 9,199 (via Shopee) for the sole configuration 8GB+256GB.
TECNO Camon 30
Price: PHP 9,199 (via Shopee) | PHP 10,999 SRP
Lazada
Shopee
HONOR X7b
Moving on, we have the HONOR X7b. It may not be as tough as its sibling, the HONOR X9b, but it still gets some decent features. The X7b sports a 6.8-inch IPS LCD panel running at 90Hz refresh rate. This display will do just fine outdoors, reaching up to 850 nits of peak brightness.
The chipset is a bit dated though, the Snapdragon 680, configured with 8GB RAM and 256GB expandable storage. In AnTuTu, the X7b was able to achieve 317,470 points.
The rear protrudes two large camera rings housing triple cameras: a 108-megapixel main shooter, 5-megapixel ultrawide, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor.
Battery is rated at 6000mAh capacity paired with 35W charging rate. The HONOR X7b sets you back PHP 8,999 SRP.
To learn more about this phone, watch our video review below or check out our website for its written review 16.
HONOR X7b
Price: PHP 8,999 SRP
Lazada
Shopee
realme C67
The ‘champ’ series makes it to the list with the realme C67, starting at only PHP 7,999. It packs the overclocked Snapdragon 685 with slight faster clock speed at 2.8GHz as compared to the regular 680’s 2.4GHz. The phone scored 312,826 points in AnTuTu.
The phone sports a 6.72-inch IPS LCD with 90Hz refresh rate and is able to reach 950 nits of peak brightness. For configuration, it features 8GB RAM and up to 256GB storage — expandable up to 2TB via a dedicated microSD slot.
Its 108-megapixel main camera is a bit better than most. It carries a Samsung ISOCELL HM6 camera that supports up to 3x in-sensor zoom for that lossless image quality.
As for the battery, it packs a 5000mAh unit with 33W charging rate. It also gets IP54 rating for protection against dust and some splashes.
The realme C67 retails for PHP 9,999 for the base variant 8GB+128GB.
realme C67 written review | video hands-on review
Price: PHP 9,999 SRP
Lazada
Shopee
Cherry AQUA S11 Pro
Up next is from a local brand Cherry who made a solid comeback with its new AQUA models. Particularly, the Cherry AQUA S11 Pro made it to the list carrying a price tag of PHP 7,999.
At its price point, it delivers a feature set on par with popular brands. It’s got a 6.7-inch AMOLED display running at 120Hz. Under the hood is the MediaTek Helio G99 configured with the usual 8GB RAM and 256GB expandable storage.
It also packs a triple rear camera setup led by a 64-megapixel main. Its battery is fairly standard as well with a 5000mAh unit and support for 33W charging rate.
Coming from a local brand that has also had a hiatus in the smartphone scene in the Philippines, their new AQUA models are surely packing some good hardware. Again, the AQUA S11 Pro is priced at PHP 7,999 for the sole 8GB+256GB variant.
Cherry AQUA S11 Pro
Price: PHP 7,999 SRP
Lazada
Shopee
Infinix NOTE 40
Another Helio G99-powered phone is the vanilla Infinix NOTE 40. Perhaps its main selling point is the capability to charge wirelessly — a feature that’s typically seen on flagship devices. Alongside the 45W wired charging, the NOTE 40 supports 20W wireless charging or the so-called “MagCharge”.
Other highlights include a 120Hz 6.78-inch AMOLED display that can reach up to 1,300 nits of peak brightness. A triple rear camera setup led by a 108-megapixel main shooter, an IP54 rating, and 5000mAh battery.
The Infinix NOTE 40 sets you back only PHP 9,599 that comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage.
Infinix NOTE 40
Price: PHP 9,700 (via Shopee) | PHP 10,599 SRP
Lazada
Shopee
Xiaomi Redmi Note 13
Last but definitely not the least is another Note model, but this time, it’s from Xiaomi 12: the Redmi Note 13. Coming in at only PHP 7,999, this is probably the most feature packed among the bunch for a much affordable price point.
It gets a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and reaches a peak brightness of up to 1800 nits. That’s considerably a better display that than of the vanilla POCO M6 we discussed earlier. The Redmi Note 13 even gets a Gorilla Glass 3 display protection and an IP54 rating for dust and splash resistance.
Powering this device is the Snapdragon 685 combined with up to 8GB RAM and 256GB expandable storage. In AnTuTu, the phone was able to get 339,395 points.
Its cameras aren’t slouch either with a 108-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultrawide, and a 2-megapixel macro.
As for battery, it packs the usual 5000mAh unit with 33W charging rate. Again, the Redmi Note 13 starts at PHP 7,999 for the 6GB+128GB. It also comes with an 8GB+256GB trim that goes for PHP 9,999.
Redmi Note 13 written review 21 | video review
Price: PHP 7,999 – PHP 9,999 SRP
Lazada 29
Shopee 26
That wraps up this list. Are you in the market right now to get a phone under 10K? Which model will you go for? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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