Bang for the buck is the name of the game

It’s amazing just how low the prices for octa-core phones have gotten. last year we started out with devices that were already reasonably priced at Php 11K, this year we’re getting
octa-core smartphones that start at just Php 3,999! It’s amazing how many affordable options people have nowadays, and today we’re going to be rounding up five octa-core smartphones
that are all under the Php 5K price barrier. Let’s begin:

Cloudfone 501o

• Cloudfone Excite 501o specs
• 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 5-inch qHD IPS display, 960 x 540 resolution
• 8GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
• 8-megapixel rear camera with flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• Dual-SIM
• 3G
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, USB OTG
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2,250mAh battery

The Cloudfone 501o was a fairly delightful surprise when it was (quietly) announced during the holidays last year. Of the five devices we’re rounding up, the Cloudfone 501o is the most
powerful one, as it uses a higher clocked 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor compared to the 1.4GHz octa-core processors of the other devices featured in the article. While it
barely slips under the sub 5K category, priced at Php 4,999 it’s still a pretty good buy, especially if you’re looking for a smartphone that has more grunt than the other devices
featured in the list.

Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure

• 1.4GHz MediaTek 6592M octa-core processor
• Mali450-MP2 GPU
• 1GB of RAM
• 5-inch HD IPS display, 720 x 1280 resolution
• 8-megapixel rear camera with BSI and flash
• 2-megapixel front facing camera
• Dual-SIM (micro SIM)
• 3G
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB OTG
• 2100mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat

The Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure is the first of three devices that the local brand offers that gets featured in this list. The Infinix Pure was teased during the holidays last year, and only got an official street price a few weeks ago. Priced at Php 4,499, it’s priced at the same price point as the Flare S3 Octa. While the pricing may be a bit confusing at first, the Infinix Pure has a slightly different form factor as the Flare S3 Octa, and a higher battery capacity, plus a few other diffferences that we’ll go into below.

Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Octa

• MediaTek MTK 6592m Octa-Core 1.4GHz Processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 5-inch HD IPS OGS display, 1280 x 720 resolution
• 8GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
• 13-megapixel rear camera
• 5-megapixel front camera
• Dual-SIM
• 3G, HSPA+
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
• 1800mAh battery
• Android 4.4 KitKat

The Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Octa is an updated version of Cherry Mobile’s Flare S3 from last year. Like we said in the previous entry, the Flare S3 Octa has the same price point as the Infinix Pure, though there are some distinct differences between the two. Form factor is one, battery capacity is another. The camera of the Flare S3 Octa is better than the Infinix Pure (13-megapixel BSI versus 8-megapixel) and the IPS panel is better as well (OGS). Ultimately it’ll be up to you to figure out which one is more important to your needs.

SKK Mobile Lynx

• 1.4GHz octa-core Processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 5-inch HD IPS Display, 1280×720 resolution
• 8GB of storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
• 13-megapixel rear camera with flash
• 5-megapixel front camera
• Dual-SIM
• 3G
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2500mAh battery

SKK Mobile’s octa-core Lynx is the newest member of the sub-5K octa-core party, as the local brand has priced the device at just Php 3,999. It has seemingly superior specs compared to all of Cherry Mobile’s offerings, though there’s a catch – SKK Mobile’s Php 3,999 pricing is just for the brand’s two day sale, so we’re not sure yet what their official SRP will be. But even if does go over 4K, as long as the official price doesn’t go over 5K, the Lynx is still a good buy nonetheless.

Cherry Mobile ME Vibe

• 1.4GHz MediaTek MT6592M octa-core processor
• Mali 450-MP4
• 1GB of RAM
• 5-inch qHD IPS display, 540 x 960 resolution
• 8GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32GB
• 13-megapixel rear camera with AF and LED flash
• 2-megapixel front camera
• Dual-SIM
• 3G
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
• 1800mAh
• Android 4.4 KitKat

The last entry to this list is also the most affordable octa-core smartphone from Cherry Mobile. While the ME Vibe may just have entry level specs compared to the other devices, it’s still a good device for penny pinchers looking for a device that’s heavy on performance and light on the pocket. The ME Vibe’s Php 3,999 price tag make it ideal for first time Android users looking for a fairly powerful device.

How about you? What’s your sub-5K octa-core pick? Let us know in the comments below.