Most Affordable Smartphones in PH for Shooting 4K Videos

We’ve just given you the Top Smartphones in PH for Shooting 4K Videos and although they are chock full of helpful features and beefy hardware, most are steeply-priced and would not fit the budget of all interested users. This is why we compile some of the most affordable smartphones here in the Philippines for shooting Ultra High Definition videos.

To be able to find the best deals for these phones, the list is a mixture of regular and discounted prices from official stores to online retailers. The devices are arranged in descending order. 

8. Motorola Nexus 6

Carrying a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, the Motorola Nexus 6 can record 4K videos at 30fps. Its splash-resistant feature makes it rugged, and will also come in handy while shooting in light rain. A 32GB variant is available online for around Php16,800.

Motorola Nexus 6 specs:
5.9-inch QHD display @ 2560 x 1440 resolution, 493ppi
Gorilla Glass 3
2.7Ghz Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor
Adreno 420 GPU
32/64GB internal storage
13MP rear camera with f/2.0 lens and dual LED ring flash
4K video recording at 30fps
2MP front camera
LTE
Bluetooth 4.1
NFC
Dual front-facing speakers
82.98 x 159.26 x 10.06mm
184 grams
3220mAh battery (with Turbo Charger)
Android Lollipop
Colors: Midnight Blue and Cloud White

7. OnePlus One

Just like the Nexus 6, the OnePlus One has a 13-megapixel camera attached to its body and is equipped with an f/2.0 aperture. It captures UHD video at 3840 x 2160 resolution through its CMOS image sensor and is backed up by twin LED flashes when things get dark.  The One is available in the gray market for Php16,450.

OnePlus One specs:
5.5-inch full HD 1920 x 1080 LTPS LCD, 401ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 MSM8974AC quad-core CPU
3GB RAM
16GB, 64GB internal memory
13 megapixel f/2.0 rear camera w/ dual LED flash
4K video recording @ 30fps
5 megapixel front camera
4G LTE
HSPA+
WiFi 802,11 a/b/g/n/ac
NFC
Bluetooth 4.1 w/ A2DP
GPS, A-GPS
3,100mAh battery
CyanogenMod 11S (based on Android 4.4 KitKat)
152.9 x 75.9 x 8.9mm
162g

6. LG G3

Meant to have smoother movement while shooting 4K video, The LG G3’s 13MP rear camera boasts optical image stabilization (OIS) that has a physical mechanism which counteracts unwanted handling shakes. Additionally, aiding the camera is a laser autofocus that effectively works even in low-lit scenarios. You can buy one online for a discounted price of Php16,300.

LG G3 (D855) specs:
5.5-inch QHD IPS display @ 2560×1440 pixels, 538 ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.5GHz quad-core processor
Adreno 330 578MHz Graphics
2GB DDR3 RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSD card
13MP rear camera with F2.4 aperture
4K video recording @ 30fps
OIS, laser autofocus, and dual LED flash
2.1MP front camera
4G LTE
NFC
WiFi 802.11ac, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Miracast
Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX support
GPS w/ A-GPS support
Wireless Charging support
1-watt Speaker with Boost AMP technology
3000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm
149g

5. Sony Xperia Z2

Carrying the company’s signature 20.7-megapixel rear snapper, the Xperia Z2’s camera not only shoots 4K clips, it also has HDR feature for recording videos to give you better dynamic range when the situation demands for it. In addition, its Exmor RS sensor produces impressive image quality and makes it possible to capture fast-moving subjects easier. You can snag one online for Php16,300 without its partnered dock.

Sony Xperia Z2 specs:
5.2-inch Triluminous display @ 1080×1920 pixels, 424ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz quad-core processor
Adreno 330 Graphics
3GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD
LTE 100Mbps (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20)
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
ANT+ wireless technology
NFC
MHL, DLNA
GPS with aGPS support
20.7MP rear camera, f/2.0, 1/2.3-type Exmor RS
4K video recording, HDR video
IP58 Certified
Li-Ion 3,200mAh battery
Android 4.4 Kitkat
163 grams (weight)
146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2mm (dimensions)

4. LG G Flex 2

The G Flex 2 is another entry from the South Korean company and with it comes a nifty feature while shooting videos. It has continuous autofocus like other devices in our previous related article that keeps your subject sharp even when it’s moving. At Php16,000, it’s pretty affordable considering that it could shoot up to 3820 x 2160 resolution videos.

LG G Flex 2 specs:
5.5-inch P-OLED display @ 1920×1080 pixels
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 2.0GHz 64bit octa-core processor
Quad-core ARM Cortex A57 2.0GHz and quad-core ARM Cortex A53 1.5GHz
Adreno 430 Graphics
2GB or 3GB LPDDR4 1600MHz RAM
16GB or 32GB internal storage
Up to 128GB via microSD card
13MP rear camera with OIS, laser autofocus
4K video recording @ 30fps
LTE, HSPA+
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, dual band, DLNA
Bluetooth 4.1
NFC
GPS with aGPS support, GLONASS
Stereo FM tuner
3,000mAh Li-Polymer battery
Andoroid 5.0.1 Lollipop

3. Samsung Galaxy Alpha

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha flaunts a 12-megapixel camera with a focal length of 31mm for a 35mm equivalent and an aperture size opening as wide as f/2.2. Just like other contenders in this list, it has HDR for video recording and minimizes shakes using digital image stabilization (DIS). It can be yours for as low as Php15,480.

Samsung Galaxy Alpha specs:
4.7-inch Super-AMOLED HD display, 312ppi
1.8GHz Exynos 5 Octa-Core CPU
Mali-T628 GPU
2GB RAM
Non-expandable 32GB internal storage
12 megapixel BSI rear camera w/ LED flash
4K video recording @ 30fps
2.1 megapixel front camera
Single SIM
LTE Cat 6
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, MIMO (2×2)
Bluetooth 4.0 LE / ANT+
NFC
1,860mAh battery
Android 4.4 KitKat
132.4 x 65.6 x 6.7mm
115g

2. Meizu MX4

Meizu, for its MX4, used Sony’s Exmor RS IMX220 stacked sensor in the optics department. It has no fancy bells and whistles like the others, but is poised to produce detailed images with vibrant hues. You can use this phone to shoot 4K videos for Php14,990 (16GB) and Php16,990 (32GB).

Meizu MX4 specs:
5.36-inch Full HD IPS display @ 1920 x 1152 resolution, 418ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Aircraft-grade aluminum frame
MediaTek MT6595 processor (quad-core 2.2GHz Cortex-A17 and quad-core 1.7GHz Cortex-A7)
PowerVR G6200 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB, 32GB, 64GB internal storage
20.7MP rear camera with Sony IMX 220 Exmor RS BSI sensor, f/2.2 aperture, dual-tone LED flash
4K video recording @ 30fps
2.1MP front camera
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, GLONASS, Wi-Fi
3G, LTE
147 grams
3100mAh battery
Android 4.4 KitKat with Flyme 4.0
Colors: Gray, Gold, and White

1. Motorola Moto X (2nd Generation)

Topping our list is Motorola’s 2nd-gen Moto X with its 13MP rear camera and f/2.25 aperture. The camera sensor measures 1/3.06 inches and implements digital image stabilization instead of the more effective OIS. Although that may be the case, it could record UHD videos while having a special budget-friendly price.

It is officially priced here in the Philippines for Php16,990, but the company just recently gave it a huge Valentine’s discount bringing it’s SRP down to Php10,990 for 16GB.

Moto X (2014) specs:
5.2-inch AMOLED display @ 1920 x 1080, 423ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor
Adreno 330 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB/32GB internal storage
13MP rear camera with f/2.25 lens and ring flash
4K video recording @ 30fps w/ DIS
2MP front camera
Full HD video recording
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, hotspot
HSPA+, 4G LTE
GPS, GLONASS
NFC
2,300mAh battery w/ Quick Charge 2.0
Android 4.4 KitKat

That wraps up our list for budget-friendly smartphones with 4K video recording capabilities. Have something to add? Feel free to contribute via the comments section below.