The first quarter of this year is almost over, and we’ve seen a ton of gadgets the past few months that were released by local brands. If you’re looking for a new smartphone to add to your collection, upgrading to a new device or are a first time smartphone buyer, you may want to take a look at the stuff that we’ve reviewed and talked about in the past three months. The devices below are arranged in no particular order. If you have suggestions or additions to the list, chime in on the comments below.
1. Starmobile Play (Php 2,990)
We really, really like the Starmobile Play. It’s currently our pick for the best smartphone under 3K, thanks to its relatively fast performance, excellent camera and excellent battery life. There’s definitely a lot of value for money with the Play compared to other devices in the market, and definitely deserves to be in this list.
2. Kata i3 (Php 8,499)
While Kata has been in the Philippines for years, it’s only now that the company has begun to actively push their products into the market and become more visible. Their initial push was done with the Kata i3, a 1.3GHz quad-core smartphone that had a 5-inch Super HD LCD display. The Kata i3’s good overall performance and elegant looks makes it a great choice for people looking to upgrade to a more powerful device.
3. Cherry Mobile Omega XL (Php 7,999)
The Cherry Mobile Omega XL is probably the most “sulit” phablet you can find today. This 6-inch monster has a beautiful, IPS OGS display protected by Asahi DragonTrail scratch resistant glass, 1.3GHz quad-core processor, good battery life and surprisingly enough, an above average 13-megapixel camera. For everything you’re getting, Php 7,999 seems like an insanely good deal, which is why we’re recommending it to anyone looking to upgrade to a phablet.
4. MyPhone Agua Cyclone (Php 6,998)
Another great 5-inch smartphone that you may want to check out is the MyPhone Agua Cyclone. While it’s not as flashy as other devices in its category, its 1.3GHz quad-core processor is capable of pumping out roughly the same performance as the Cherry Mobile Omega XL. It’s camera is nothing to scoff at too, capable of producing above average photos from its 8-megapixel camera.
5. Cherry Mobile P1 MINI (Php 799)
You’re probably wondering while a dumbphone got included in this list. Well, this particular dumbphone has the potential to save your smartphone if things go awry, especially if you’re held up inside a jeep. The Cherry Mobile P1 MINI pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth and allows you to send text messages and call your contacts without having to expose your more expensive smartphone. It’s pretty clever actually, and if you commute everyday, you absolutely need to have this on you at all times.
6. Cherry Mobile Rave 2.0 (Php 8,999)
The Cherry Mobile Rave 2.0 holds the distinction of being the company’s first NFC equipped smartphone. But don’t think that the Rave 2.0 is all about gimmicks – take away the NFC, and you’re still left with a great quad-core smartphone that’s already bordering on phablet territory, thanks to its 5.3-inch qHD display. Like the Omega XL, the Rave 2.0’s 13-megapixel camera has above average optics as well, capable of producing good photos with enough light. Oh, and did we mention the Rave 2.0 also come bundled with NFC speakers as well?
7. MyPhone Agua Hail (Php 4,598)
The MyPhone Agua Hail is one of those products that is one feature short of greatness. In the Hail’s case, the missing feature is 3G connectivity. Of course, that doesn’t mean that it’s not a great smartphone – at Php 4,598, it’s a smartphone that’s very hard to ignore, considering the specs. The loss of 3G connectivity may be a problem for some, but to others, it won’t matter, as there are people who rely primarily on WiFi to keep them connected. For those people, the MyPhone Agua Hail may just be the right device for them.
8. Cherry Mobile Flare HD (Php 5,499)
The Flare HD makes it to the list for a couple of reasons. It has an HD display, relatively powerful quad-core processor, 12-megapixel camera, and more importantly, an affordable Php 5,499 price point. Sure, it does have its share of issues, like lackluster battery life, but that’s easily rectified by buying a battery pack (which you need to have anyway). While technically the Flare HD was reviewed back in December, it was officially priced on January, so it (narrowly) makes it to this list.
9. Starmobile Diamond D3 (Php 7,990)
If you liked the image quality of the Starmobile Muse’s front facing camera but don’t have the Php 12,990 for one, don’t despair. The Starmobile Diamond D3’s front facing camera has the same image quality as the one in the Muse, for far less. As far as performance is concerned, the Muse is on par with similarly priced devices in its class, but the main draw here is the excellent front facing 8-megapixel camera. If you’re looking for a great selfie phone but are on a budget, the Diamond D3 may just be for you.
10. Cherry Mobile Fuze (Php 5499)
While we haven’t reviewed the Fuze yet, we’re still putting it in this list simply because it represents excellent value for money, especially looking at the price and the features you get. The Fuze has a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a 5-inch FWVGA display. The best part is that the Fuze has more than enough battery to power it and then some, boasting an absolutely huge 4000mAh battery. Its USB OTG feature allows it to share the battery to other devices and smartphones as well, making it a great device to consider if you’re looking for a secondary smartphone.
