These days, one does not have to spend a huge amount of money to get a very capable smartphone. At the sweet spot of just Php10,000 or less, there are dozens of really good handsets to be had. Check out below what we think best suits this price range.
There are actually so many handsets to choose from. Our criteria was a combination of good material design, hardware performance, battery life, feature-set, brand trust, software and UI. We’ll focus a little less on the hardware and look at other factors to consider when making the purchase recommendations.
Here is our 6 recommended smartphones to buy for less than Php10,000. They are not ranked in any particular order.
Zenfone 2 ZE551ML. The new Zenfone 2 draw its inspiration from the success of its predecessor, the Zenfone 5. With a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display, powerful Intel Atom quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and support for dual SIM LTE, the Zenfone 2 has become the gold standard in affordable yet powerful handsets. The base model of the ZE551ML variant comes with 16GB storage and 3,000mAh battery for Php9,995 (see listing here). If you have the extra dough, the higher variant has whopping 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage and faster 2.3GHz quad-core processor but that would already set you back Php14,995 (see listing here). [See full review here.]
Huawei Honor 4X. Huawei’s Honor series has been one of the most interesting for combining really good hardware at a very affordable price. The Honor 4X is powered by Huawei’s own octa-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM. It comes with a 5.5-inch HD IPS display, 13-megapixel camera, 3,000mAh battery and supports dual-SIM LTE for just Php8,990 (see listing here). [See first impressions here.]
Lenovo K3 Note. With a hardware specification almost the same as the Zenfone 2, the K3 Note offers a slightly lower price tag of Php8,599. That comes with a 5.5-inch full HD IPS display, an octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM, dual-SIM and LTE support with 3,000mAh battery. Take note though that this handset is not yet officially released and only available from gray market sellers. [See full review here.]
Lenovo A7000. Lenovo seems to be saturating the sub-Php10k price pint with really good handsets. Their latest A7000 model which is priced at Php7,490 (see listing here) and has almost same specs except for the Dolby ATMOS sound technology. Since the K3 Note is not officially released yet (only gray market units), we’re more inclined to recommend this over the other . [See full review here.]
Meizu M1 Note. Announced in the first quarter of this year, the M1 Note from Meizu was so in demand that retail stores have gone ahead and increased the selling price from Php7,990 to Php8,600. Still, with a 5.5-inch full HD display, octa-core processor and 2GB of RAM, people still bought the Meizu M1 Note at the slightly higher price. That, plus the fact that Meizu obviously took its design inspiration from the iPhone 5C. We’re not sure but that might have added to its charm among consumers. [See full review here.]
Alcatel Flash Plus. Perhaps the most noisy entrant this year is from Alcatel. They introduced the Flash Plus this May with very good specs but an amazing price point — Php6,490 (see listing here). With that, you get a 5.5-inch HD IPS display, an octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM, dual-LTE support and a huge 3,500mAh battery. Lazada reported sold all 2,000 units of the Flash Plus in less than 10 minutes online. The Flash Plus has definitely shaken the smartphone market in this price segment. [See full review here.]
Honorable mention. If Xiaomi is still selling the Mi3, it would have topped our list of recommended smartphone. We think it’s the gold standard for a beautiful yet powerful smartphone around the Php10k range. Granted the SRP is pegged at Php10,599, there are still a lot of almost-new units being sold over at OLX for just around Php8k. W ehope though that once Xiaomi has rolled out their physical stores in the Philippines, they will make the Mi3 and RedMi Note available as well.
The smartphones market has definitely become very competitive this year. There are many new players, both local and international. The growth has been staggering and we’re seeing new and better models almost every quarter.
Filipino consumers are very price-sensitive and it is still anyone’s ball game. Asus Philippines jumped from 12th place to 6th place in just a year. Over 1 million smartphones were sold every month in 2014. We think 2015 is the biggest year for most phone brands. Just ask Cherry Mobile who took the top spot in the local smartphone market last year.
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kim na bitter says:
so ayun naiinggit lang ako sa mga phone nyo thanks
Liessa says:
i got my Firefly Mobile Aurii Envy last july. in terms of gaming experience. I can play HD games and quality is pretty good too. I’ve drop it 3x about 4feet. and still all parts are intact and screen has no damage. Only the metal casing on side has damage.
shin datuin says:
The best parin ang alcatel flash plus :) 1 year na cp ko pero ayus prin performance pati ang battery. Kaya always out of stock kasi super ganda na phone. Pinaka sulit na smartphone.. mgnda ang cam. Battery performance. At sa games kahit anong hd na laro hindi mag lag
Adrienne says:
Planning to purchase starmobile knight elite, octacore 2gb ram. 13mp front 5mp back cam. Yun na pinakabest phone sa 6.5k na budget ko. Any suggestion guys?? Thanks you
confused says:
Since nka zenfone 2 na yun kapatid ko, ano bang magandang kunin sa huawei, lenovo, alcatel at meizu??? Maganda ba yung Lenovo a7000???
juan tamad says:
Superb ;)
Byron says:
Above all these smart phones, may I know which has the best camera both front and rear? Thanks guys, I am so confused which one to buy. I want a phone that has a good camera, elegant design and can be use for gaming. Thanks everyone!
Pinky Cabrera says:
naaliw ako..but according to your comments here..the best are the Huawei Alcatel and Asus..am I right? thank you.
Joe says:
Meizu m2 note ftw
maria says:
Hi just wanna ask ano po bang magandang smartphone, un mura lang sana for my mom. She’s almost a senior citizen sana un madaling gamitin. Importante lang un internet connection, 3G or data (un pede gamitin un load sa internet, hindi po kasi ako familiar) para makapag fb daw sya. thank u po
Matt_Ev says:
The Zenfone 2 should not be on the list! I’ve owned both the zenfone 5 and zenfone 2. Both of which have had problems with the 2nd sim slot. Both also has terrible screen quality compared with other brands with same full hd displays.. Suffice to say, the Zenfone 2 will be my last Asus phone.
NYX says:
Beach please, bili ka ng bili pero dami mong reklamo noh.
ZenFone 2 have lollipop, 400ppi, intel, duh tlgang d pangforever battery nyan bobita
Samsung 6 edge 9hrs lng tagal zenfone 6hrs.Wag ka magexpect masyado ha kitang budget nga eh.
Bili ka powerbank urat.
../.. all asus haters
AOFP says:
The real game Changer is Alcatel po.
Hindi si zf5 or late models
Kaya tinapat ni flare(local brands) x kay aofp
1gb advantage lang flareX weak batt.
Kaya most local brands naapektuhan sa pricing ni alcatel 6490 pesos sa tindi ng specs pang 9k+
Disadvantage: lewa os lang
www.kusina101.com says:
huawei p8 lite is also good.
Rey pinyoko says:
Samsung galaxy j5, available in stores just this Friday (i work at SM) is only for P9,9990.
I suggest this site does a review if its worth the price and whether it could compete with other phones. :-)
Rey pinyoko says:
Sorry, Its P9,990.
JBWKZ says:
Basahin niyo nmn yung specs sa Cherry mobile flare X. at sa halagang yan na maganda ang specs , san kayu makakabili?
Kz Hard says:
maraming defects ang cherry mobile. yung q3 ko dati may defect agad battery pinalitan ko, yung flare ng kaibigan ko battery din probs pinapalitan nya. worst yung cubix cube 2 ng kapatid ko. non removable. bigla namatay , may probs pala battery, inantay namin more than a month bago maayos. nung bumalik na ok na battery nya except sira naman yung sim nya walang signal. sinubukan namin sa ibang phone may signal. pag balik sa cubix wala. d na namin binalik kakasawa mag antay ng isang buwan sobra may sira naman pagka balik.
Fanboy ng Cherry Mobile si JBWKZ says:
Sirain naman.
Tristan says:
Hello guys, sa top 6 po na nakalist,sulit po ba yung Lenovo K3 note? gusto ko po malaman kung maganda ba performance nung lenovo k3 note. Thanks po sa magrereply.
4x says:
only honor 4x
subok na talaga long lasting battery life and great camera great overall performance
Omi says:
Sana may list din of the best smartphones with sub-5inch screen
Omi says:
I hope there’s a list for the best smartphones with sub-5inch screens.
dgrachee says:
i thought these list is for phones under 10K? 14K na yung zenfone 2.
jr mante says:
zenfone 2 ze551ml 2GB RAM/ 1.8GHz FHD = P9,995
zenfone 2 ze500cl 2GB RAM/ 1.6GHz HD – P7,995
Abe Olandres says:
The Zenfone 2 551ML has a variant which is 1.8GHz and 2GB of RAM, retails for Php9,995.
rams says:
i got the zenfone 2, parang nagsisisi ako 3000mah battery pero ambilis pa din ma drain. la halos pinagkaiba sa zenfone 5. arrgghhh
Jibril says:
There should be a table, specs comparison at the end. Much pleasing, easier to compare.
NotaSheep says:
I believe we need to thank Asus for the affordable flag ship phones :)
Thank you asus! even though i bought the Meizu XD
klky says:
“nagpasimulang magbabaan”, tlga? alcatel pa ha, haha. asus tlga ang game changer dito, ung alcatel tlgang cheap ang pricing nila sa china palang tlgang pamurahan na ng phones dun e.
igniculus says:
mag decide kana red.
red says:
Pati na rin sa alcatel na siya pa nga yata nag pasimulang magbabaan price ng international brand sa pinas. Nabatikos tuloy ng husto ang myphone at starmobile. Asus at huawei ang napipili kong bagong cp.
Josh says:
Interesting how your list has become outdated almost overnight.
In the light of the more recent developments, you might want to include the Firefly Allure 64 a.k.a Ulephone Be Touch and the Cherry Mobile Flare in the list.
Thank you.
jr mante says:
Cherry Mobile and Firefly? when it comes to after sales service and support, you can expect nothing. Just go for ASUS Zenfone 2.
bebebe says:
Cherry mobile hahaha wasak agad yan super sirain di na dapat sinasama yan sa choices sayang lang pera mo buti kung napulot mo lang kaso malamang pianghirapan mo tapos sira din agad. Sige palitan na ng name ang Cherry ng Lemon Mobile kasi puro Lemon naman binebenta nila.
klky says:
saka anung outdated? 2015 release ng lahat ng yan (k3 note ewan lang) ung sinasabi mong cherry mobile flare x, eh odm nyan china ung jiayu s3.. NA LAST YR PA. hays pagka fanboy nga naman tlga mema lang.
PointBreak says:
Let me dissect these 5 smartphones.
Zenfone2 -battery issue
Huawei Honor 4X -paltry 8GB internal storage
Lenovo K3 Note -not officially available in PH
Lenovo A7000 -paltry 8GB internal storage
Meizu M1 Note -no expandable storage
Alcatel Flash Plus -always out of stock
Therefore, I recommend to overhaul the list and include Cherry Mobile Flare X and Firefly Mobile Allure64LTE.
josh says:
OOoppsie, Cherry Mobile Flare X, I mean.
klky says:
siguro kung top 10 to pasok yang CM flare x mo… kaso hinde