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We’re back with our annual list of the best smartphones below PHP 15K for the second quarter of 2024.
The article focuses on delivering value to readers through a quick summary of specs and what the devices generally offer. A good purchase should cover the bases, which includes a good display, great overall performance, and even better battery life.
If readers are looking for more luxurious features such as a sleek design and camera sensors, we got you covered. This list features phones that offer everything above without breaking the bank.
So, let’s dive right in to find you a steal!
But before we begin, as a disclaimer, the devices listed fell within the set budget at the time of writing. Variables like suggested retail prices (SRP), prolonged sales prices, and ongoing promos could affect the list.
vivo Y100
First on the list is the vivo Y100. This phone features a 6.67-inch FHD+ (2400 by 1080) AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz.
It’s powered by a Snapdragon 685 chipset. It has 8GB of RAM paired with either 128GB or 256GB of UFS 2.2 storage. Users may expand storage up to 1TB via microSD card if they find these lacking.
The Y100 has dual-rear cameras consisting of a 50-megapixel main and 2-megapixel depth sensor. For selfies, users will get an 8-megapixel front camera. The cameras can shoot videos at a resolution of 1080p at 30fps.
However, the highlight of the Y100 is its battery. It packs a 5,000mAh battery with 80W of fast charging support. With its charging brick, it only takes 34.5 minutes to charge from zero to full.
In PC Mark’s Work 3.0 Battery Test, our review unit lasted for a whopping 16 hours and 8 minutes. It provided us with 21 hours and 40 minutes of playback in our video loop test. Additionally, the Y100 offers 7 hours and 19 minutes of gameplay.
We can vouch that this phone is a solid choice if you’re looking for an affordable daily driver. As mentioned in our review, it has a beautiful display, nice audio, and an outstanding battery life for its price.
If readers want to see the vivo Y100 in action, feel free to check out our YouTube video below!
SRP: PHP 12,499 / PHP 13,999
Lazada
Shopee
Infinix NOTE 40 5G
Next, we have the Infinix NOTE 40 5G. It sports a 6.78-inch FHD+ (2436 by 1080) AMOLED panel and a Dimensity 7020 chipset.
The NOTE 40 has 12GB of RAM (with up to 12GB memory extension) and 512GB of internal storage.
For optics, the NOTE 40 is equipped with triple-rear cameras. These consist of a 108-megapixel main, a 2-megapixel shooter, and an unspecified AI sensor. It also comes with a 32-megapixel front camera.
The NOTE 40 takes surprisingly good shots considering its price range, and can shoot up to 2K resolution at 30fps. The phone even has an Ultra-Steady stabilization (locked at 1080p video) mode for recording.
The phone has a 5,000mAh battery, 33W of wired charging, and 15W of wireless charging with Infinix MagCharge. From experience, it offers 13 hours for general use and multitasking and 16 hours with multimedia consumption.
I should mention that the Infinix MagKit comes with the device. This includes an Infinix MagPad and a nice case that supports its wireless charging feature.
The Infinix NOTE 40 5G is a great pickup for users who want a thrifty all-around device. Our favorite features consist of its camera system, battery, and general performance.
You can read more about our findings on the device in this article. We also have a video review we’ll plug with the shopping links below!
HUAWEI nova 12i
The HUAWEI nova 12i has a 6.7-inch FHD+ (2388 by 1080) IPS panel with a refresh rate of 90Hz. Powering this phone is a Snapdragon 680 chipset with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
It features dual-rear cameras consisting of a 108-megapixel main shooter and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. At the front, it offers an 8-megapixel front camera and 1080p video recordings.
The phone runs on a 5,000mAh battery with 40W of wired fast charging. As per our review, the phone is good for 16 hours and 56 minutes of daily use. Upon charging, users are slated to get 62% of battery available within half an hour.
The HUAWEI nova 12i is a minimal beauty with good cameras and a surprisingly great battery life. If you’re a fan of HUAWEI devices, check out our video on the nova 12 series below!
Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G
Moving on, we have the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G. This phone headlines the NOTE 40 series, featuring a 6.78-inch curved FHD+ (2436 by 1080) 120Hz AMOLED display. Plus, the screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
This phone runs on a Dimensity 7020 known for power efficiency. It comes with a configuration of 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. It even offers up to 12GB more extended virtual memory.
The NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G has a triple-rear camera setup. It includes a 108-megapixel main camera with OIS and lossless zoom paired with a 2-megapixel macro and 2-megapixel depth sensor. At the front is a 32-megapixel front camera.
Frankly, it’s fairly good under the photography department. We’ll leave some of our sample shots below for those interested in swiping through.
For battery, this phone packs a modest 4,600mAh with 100W of fast charging and 20W of wireless charging support. It also comes with the Infinix MagKit, inclusive of their MagPad and case that supports its charging features.
For those curious, we’ll leave our battery benchmarks for the Infinix NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G below.
In PC Mark’s Work 3.0 Battery Test, our review unit lasted 10 hours and 58 minutes. As for our standard video loop test, the phone was able to last 19 hours and 42 minutes.
For gaming uptime, the device lasted 5 hours and 27 minutes. The phone charges really fast, needing roughly 30 minutes to reach full power from zero.
Having reviewed the device myself, I can attest that this phone is a steal. It covers essentials for a great price and users can surely make the most out of it
If you want a phone that’s reliable and built to last, this phone is a perfect pickup for 2024. Not to mention, the new NOTE 40 Pro+ 5G Racing Edition just came out for those interested.
Check out my written review if this device ever caught your eye! I’ll leave a link to our video review if some readers would prefer it below.
TECNO CAMON 30 5G
Moving on, we have the base TECNO CAMON 30 5G. The phone has a 6.78-inch FHD+ (2436 by 1080) AMOLED screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It runs on a powerful Helio G99 Ultimate chipset.
For configs, the device has a variant up to 8GB RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. If users need it, the phone is capable of virtual RAM extension up to 12GB.
The CAMON 30 features dual-rear cameras. It has a 50-megapixel main shooter with OIS and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. In addition, users get another 50-megapixel camera at the front in a hole punch.
This device packs a 5,000mAh battery with 70W of wired fast charging technology. Other features include 9-layer VC liquid cooling, dual speakers with Dolby Atmos, and an IR blaster.
The CAMON 30 series provides consistent performance, a premium design, and great photo quality for its users. While this is the vanilla variant of the smartphone line, it’s not far from its premium models.
The TECNO CAMON 30 5G comes in Iceland Basaltic Dark, Uyuni Salt White, and Emerald Lake Green colorways. Shopee also has extra options in Alps Snowy Silver and the phone’s LOEWE Edition.
realme 12 5G
Lastly, we have the realme 12 5G. While this vanilla model of the realme 12 series was the last to come out, it’s certainly not a slouch.
This phone is equipped with a 6.72-inch FHD+ (2400 by 1080) AMOLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. It’s powered by a Dimensity 6100 with configs up to 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage.
The realme 12 shines in the shooting department with its dual-rear cameras. It sports a 108-megapixel main shooter paired with a 2-megapixel portrait camera. For taking selfies, the phone offers an 8-megapixel front camera.
Here are some of our sample shots taken with the realme 12 5G.
For recording, the realme 12 can shoot videos up to 1080p at 30fps. This phone carries a 5,000mAh battery with 45W of SUPERVOOC wired fast charging support.
The realme 12 5G has a good look, decent cameras and chipset, and an even better price point. If you want to read more about this device, we have our written review prepared for your viewing pleasure.
Here’s a video review below for those who want to see it live.
The second quarter of 2024 (April to June 2024) saw a lot of new smartphone releases from various brands, most of which are very competitive in terms of hardware and price. This goes to show that the Php 15,000 price category is among the most highly contested segment and one that most Filipinos allocate for in terms of budgeting for their next smartphone purchase.