Here are your options for phones under 20K!
Have a little more cash to spend on a phone? Want to upgrade to a mid-range phone instead of settling for a budget device? This list is for you. But before we dive into your choices for this category, take note that the same caveat from our previous list applies here as well: COVID-19 has seriously messed up the release schedules for many brands, so there are slim pickings for this category.
Redmi Note 9S – Php 10,490 (6GB/64GB)
The newest entry in this list, the Redmi Note 9S is the latest offering from Xiaomi’s budget brand, Redmi. And just like any other Redmi phone offered in the past few, it’s big on specs and small on price, which means you’re getting the absolute most out of your money.
Despite being a hair over Php 10K, the Redmi Note 9S packs a glass body, a powerful Snapdragon 720G processor, and quad-cameras. All of that for Php 10,490 – that’s really not a bad deal. Click here to check it out on Lazada.
READ: Redmi Note 9S Unboxing, Quick Review: Budget Mid-range Powerhouse?
Huawei Y9S – Php 12,990
Huawei has a knack for building really beautiful mid-range phones that could easily pass off as flagships, and the Y9S is no exception to that rule. The beautifully crafted exterior of the Y9S makes it one of the prettiest mid-range devices on offer today, thanks to the Breathing Crystal Colorway.
As far as innards go, the Y9S is thoroughly mid-range, though that Kirin 710F processor is getting a little long in the tooth. It’s mostly a photography-focused phone, thanks to Huawei’s AI photography features and its 48-megapixel camera, though the phone is also capable of some mid-range gaming as well. Click here to buy it on Lazada.
READ: Huawei Y9s Unboxing, Quick Review: Starting The Year Right
Huawei Nova 7i – Php 13,990
If you’re looking for a truly powerful mid-ranger that can do a lot of things well, then Huawei’s Nova 7i might just be it.
The phone has a really powerful Kirin 810 processor, takes really fantastic photos via its quad-camera module, and has probably THE fastest wired charging solution for any mid-range phone in the market today at 40W.
You will have to deal with the loss of Google Play though much like Huawei’s other offerings, and the phone annoyingly uses Huawei’s proprietary NM card storage expansion. Those aren’t gigantic deal-breakers though, more of things you need to be aware of, and for the price, the Nova 7i is a really great buy. Click here to buy it from Lazada.
READ: Huawei Nova 7i Review: At Long Last
Samsung Galaxy A51 – Php 16,990
Samsung’s mid-range offerings have been continuously updated by the Korean company to carry better hardware and externals, and the A51 is no exception. The A51 is basically a smaller A71 meant for smaller hands and budgets, though it’s a little more than most mid-rangers offered in the Philippines.
The A51’s externals are certainly eye-catching, and the display is typical Samsung – bright, vibrant, and beautiful. The photos were taken by the phone also look great, though the processor is a bit of a letdown, considering the price. Still, if you want to get a Samsung-made phone and don’t mind the slower chipset, then you should drop money on the Galaxy A51. Click here to buy it on Lazada.
READ: Samsung Galaxy A51 Hands On, Quick Review: A71 Alternative?
OPPO Reno3 – Php 18,990
OPPO’s Reno3 series has been relegated to mid-range duties by the Chinese company, and of the two Reno-branded phones released the Reno3 is by far the better buy compared to its more expensive brother.
Just like the other phones in this list, the Reno3 has an eye-catching exterior and modern design, though the material of choice here is plastic, and not glass.
The display looks great, the quad-cameras perform really well and the processor package delivers enough performance for everyday use with a bit of gaming thrown in. The battery isn’t bad but isn’t phenomenal either.
Overall the Reno3 sits at the upper limit of our Php 20K cutoff and offers a lot of premium features for its price.
