For today’s The Inbox we go a little more non-technical and answer a question from one of our loyal readers, Kiel. This is a pretty interesting question and we really put a lot of thought into this because Kiel is actually looking for a gift for his mom. The budget is 7k and the priorities include having a 5-inch display, a good camera, and a fast processor that can handle multi-tasking. Check out Kiel’s complete message below:

Good evening po Unbox PH, hingi po ako sana ng advice regarding sa smartphone na bibilhin ko po para po pangregalo sa nanay ko. Hanap niya po kasi ay: 5″ screen; good camera for outdoor trips and indoor low light shots; good battery that can last throughout the day; and a fast processor for multitasking. Ang budget ko po ay nasa 7k. Isa po ako sa mambabasa ng iyong website. Maraming salamat po -Kiel D.

Here’s our answer:

Kiel, bitin yung 7k for the best option we can recommend you. Ultimately our main recommendation will cost Php1,500 more which is the Meizu M1 Note. That’s the only device that can deliver EVERYTHING in your list. It also comes in the favorite color of your mom (blue or red).

Meizu M1 Note

The Meizu M1 Note puts check marks on all of your main asks. It has a powerful processor that can deliver great performance and multi-tasking. It has a big screen for watching videos and gaming. It has a pretty decent camera, especially if you think of the price range it’s at. Lastly it comes in a variety of colors including pink and blue. There are only two potential issues: it’s above your budget at Php8,500 and we’re not sure if Novo 7 Tech, the local distributor, still has a lot of stock available.

You can read our full review of the Meizu M1 Note here.

Now let’s say you can’t really go beyond Php7,000 for your budget, you can opt to go for the Xiaomi Redmi 2. However you can’t have everything that you were asking for in your requirements.

Xiaomi Redmi 2

The Redmi 2 is definitely within your budget as it retails for just Php5,990 (Php1,000 less than your 7k). It has a pretty good camera and battery life. However it only has a 4.7-inch screen and while it’s powerful for single app usage, it can’t deliver super buttery smooth multi-tasking.

Click here to read our full review of the Redmi 2.

Other than these two phones, you might also want to check out the following:

Lenovo A7000
Huawei Honor 4X
Alcatel Flash Plus
ASUS Zenfone 2 CL

Hope we were able to help you out Kiel! Good luck with your purchase and please do send your Mom our warm regards and a belated Mother’s Day greeting!

-Team Unbox

PS: To our other readers, please fill free to give Kiel advice as well on what device he should get his mom by sharing your recommendation on the comments section below.