For the latest edition of our quarterly roundup series, today’s spotlight is on the best smartphones under Php 8,000.
This article will jump right into the devices’ base specs with links to the brands’ official stores straight after. But for reference, we’ll only focus on the price range between Php 6,000 to Php 8,000 (Php6k to 8k).
So without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
realme Note 50
Launched in January this year, the realme Note 50 was the brand’s first-ever global release.
This phone sports a 6.74-inch HD+ LCD panel with a smooth refresh rate of 90Hz. For its chipset, it runs on a UNISOC T612 paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
However, the phone has up to 4GB of dynamic or virtual RAM and supports microSD cards up to 2TB.
It’s also packing a dual-rear camera setup consisting of a main 13MP sensor and a monochrome or B&W lens. But in the front, it’s equipped with a 5MP front-facing shooter.
The realme Note 50 is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W of wired charging. Among its other features are 4G connectivity, Bluetooth 5, and an IP54 rating for dust and water resistances.
The realme Note 50 is a solid smartphone in the entry segment. It piques interest with its eccentric yet beautiful two-tone finish, a long-lasting battery life, and a smooth, large display.
If you want to see how the Note 50 fares in-detail, we have a review ready for you right here 110.
Sadly, the device is currently sold out in Shopee for its lowest price of PHP 3,599. However, readers can still get the realme Note 50 today in Lazada for only PHP 3,999 with the link below.
Price: PHP 3,599 – 4,999
Lazada 163
Shopee 89
vivo Y17s
While the vivo Y17s was launched in October 2023, it was only made available in the Philippines last February.
This phone features a 6.56-inch IPS LCD panel with a refresh rate of 60Hz, running on a Helio G85 chipset.
This Y17s is available with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. But to make up for this, the device offers expandable storage via a hybrid microSD card slot.
Additionally, it’s equipped with dual-rear cameras consisting of a 50MP main shooter and 2MP depth sensor. And for the front, the phone is equipped with a 8MP selfie shooter.
The vivo Y17s is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for up to 15W of wired charging. Its other features include 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5, and an IP54 rating for dust and water resistances.
The phone is positioned as a thrifty entry-level pickup, only complemented by specs and features that focus on value-for-money.
Get the vivo Y17s today starting from just PHP 5,129 with links to official stores below!
Price: PHP 5,129 – 5,999
Lazada 44
Shopee 62
TECNO SPARK 20c
Made official last November, the TECNO SPARK 20c was reintroduced to the Philippines with a bigger, affordable storage option.
The device features a 6.6-inch HD+ resolution IPS LCD screen with a refresh rate of 90Hz. The phone runs on a Helio G36 chipset, available with either 4GB or 8GB of RAM.
The SPARK 20c comes with an additional 8GB of extended RAM, and has 128GB of available ROM. For storage, the phone varies with 128GB and 256GB options.
But if end users may find this lacking, the phone supports expandable storage up to 1TB via microSD card support.
Moving on to cameras, the phone features a 50MP main shooter paired with an AI lens. For selfies, the SPARK 20c has an 8MP front camera.
The TECNO SPARK 20c has a 5,000mAh battery with support for 18W of fast charging. Features are inclusive of DTS audio with dual stereo speakers, a fingerprint sensor, and up to 16GB of memory fusion.
The phone has pros that are evident in storage capabilities, decent camera quality, and a user-friendly interface. Take a look at the TECNO SPARK 20c today, starting from PHP 5,149 with links to official stores below!
Price: PHP 5,149 – 6,299
Lazada 28
Shopee 41
ZTE Blade V50 Vita
Released last October, the ZTE Blade V50 Vita only became available to the Philippines in January. This smartphone has a 6.75-inch IPS LCD display with a refresh rate of 90Hz.
A Unisoc T606 chipset powers the phone, paired with a Mali-G57 MP1 GPU. For its configuration, the device comes with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.
However, the phone does come with up to 10GB virtual memory through an extension feature. Additionally, the Blade V50 Vita has a dedicated slot for microSD card support to compensate for the small storage integration.
The phone features a triple-rear camera setup headlined by a 50MP main shooter. Paired with this is a 2MP macro lens and 2MP depth sensor. Up front, we also have a 8MP shooter.
The device runs on a 5,000mAh battery with 18W for wired charging. As for other features, the phone provides end users with Bluetooth 5.2 and 4G connectivity.
The ZTE Blade V50 Vita has strengths in storage, decent performance, and passable camera quality. You can find it available on Lazada and Shopee for PHP 5,499 today with links below.
Price: PHP 5,499
Lazada
Shopee 18
Redmi Note 13 4G (6GB+128GB)
Next up, we have the Redmi Note 13 (4G). This is a solid aspiring mid-range smartphone that offers solid specs and features at an accessible price range.
For display, the phone sports a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display. The Note 13 also has a refresh rate of 120Hz, and is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
It runs on the Snapdragon 685 with clock speeds up to 2.8GHz. This is paired with a configuration of 6GB of RAM with 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage.
The Note 13 features triple-rear cameras, headlined by a 108MP main shooter. Meanwhile, other sensors consist of a 8MP ultrawide shooter and 2MP macro lens.
The phone sports a 16MP selfie shooter up front, and can shoot videos capped at 1080p at 30fps. However, the electronic stabilization feature for handheld recording is only available for the main camera.
And to wrap it up, the device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 33W of charging available. Our producer highly recommends the Redmi Note 13 for a number of things.
First, it delivers an immersive media experience without having to break the bank. Next, photos taken have good clarity with great color reproduction.
And lastly, it delivers so much to end users for a reasonable price point. If this is enough to pique your interest, check out our review on the Redmi Note 13 (4G) here 183.
We also prepared a video for this, so feel free to check it out below!
The Note 13 with 4G is available in Shopee for PHP 7,899. And of course, the link to the site is below!
Price: PHP 7,899
Shopee (6GB + 128GB) 240
Cherry Aqua S11 Pro
Saving the best for last, we have the Cherry Aqua S11 Pro. For what it’s worth, this smartphone from Cherry Philippines is a solid pick with a ton of good specs.
This smartphone sports a 6.7-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. For processing, the phone is powered by a Helio G99 chipset peaking at a clock speed of 2.2GHz.
The phone is available with a configuration of 8GB+8GB of RAM paired with 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Additionally, it has a hybrid slot for its dual nano-SIM that users can sacrifice for microSD card support.
As for cameras, the Aqua S11 Pro features a 64MP main shooter paired with two AI lenses. Meanwhile, the front is equipped with a 16MP selfie shooter.
The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with 33W charging. For other features, the Cherry Aqua S11 Pro has Bluetooth 5.2, dual band Wi-Fi, 4G connectivity, and NFC support.
If you want the most out of PHP 8,000, then this phone just might be what you’re looking for.
It’s got an above-average camera setup, a smooth display with FHD+ resolution, and great performance. The Cherry Aqua S11 Pro is available on Lazada and Shopee for PHP 7,999 with links provided below!
“The vivo Y17s is powered by a 5,000mAh battery with support for up to 15W of wired charging. Its other features include 5G connectivity, Bluetooth 5, and an IP54 rating for dust and water resistances.”
– vivo Y17s uses a Helio G85 chipset that doesn’t support 5G.