There’s a lot of buzz right now about local brands bringing in LTE devices at affordable prices. Cherry Mobile fired the first salvo with the Cherry Mobile W900 LTE. The device sports a Qualcomm dual-core processor, can connect to LTE, and sells for Php11,499. However if you ask us the price difference between this device and offerings of global brands is negligible. This prompted us to come out with a new list of Top 10 LTE smartphones under Php20,000 for the last quarter of the year. Hopefully this will help you pick a good phone to buy moving into December!
Just like before the devices below are not arranged in any order. The listed prices are based on the prices we saw on online shops and sellers like Kimstore and Widget City.
Sony Xperia SP (Php13,000)
This smartphone holds the distinction of holding the title of “Unbox.ph Best Midrange Smartphone” so far for 2013. It sports a fantastic aluminum chassis which makes it immediately stand out. While it only runs on a dual-core processor, it uses one of Qualcomm’s best and it can easily surpass the performance of the quad-core processors of MediaTek. To cap it all off it has very good battery life since it has a 2,370mAh pack. Definitely worth every peso. Click here to read our full review of the Sony Xperia SP.
LG Optimus G (Php15,180)
In terms of raw power per peso the LG Optimus G is probably one of the best deals you can get right now for an LTE handset. It’s priced affordable at just Php15,180 and it already offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, and a gorgeous 4.7-inch True HD IPS Display. Battery life also isn’t too shabby as it’s powered by a 2,100mAh pack. Click here to read our feature on the LG Optimus G.
Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (Php16,200)
The Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 probably has the best ratio of quality screen size versus price, hehe. This humongous phablet is really more like a mini-tablet than a smartphone. It’s perfect for people who love watching movies while on the go, reading eBooks, and browsing the web. Click here to read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3.
BlackBerry Z10 (Php15,200)
When the BlackBerry Z10 debuted it had a price tag of over Php30,000. Now though you can get it for half the price already at Php15,200. If you’re a BlackBerry die-hard fan then you should probably go for this one. It’s the cheapest LTE BlackBerry smartphone available in the market. Click here to read our review of the BlackBerry Z10.
Nokia Lumia 920 (Php14,800)
The Nokia Lumia 920 is the best value-for-money LTE Windows Phone in the market. While there are cheaper options like the Lumia 820 and Lumia 625, the Lumia 920 packs a very good camera and it already has the Amber update. We swear by the quality of the Lumia 920 since we used it as our daily driver for the most part of 2012. Click here to read our review of the Nokia Lumia 920.
Sony Xperia ZR (Php18,700)
The Sony Xperia ZR is the best bang for your buck if you’re looking for a waterproof smartphone. It’s compact, runs on a Qualcomm quad-core processor, has LTE connectivity, and can be used underwater. If you’re the type that frequents the beach or does watersports this is arguably your best bet. Click here for our full review of the Sony Xperia ZR.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE (Php19,780)
Now this caught us by surprise. Apparently the recent launch of the Galaxy Note 3 pushed down the prices of the previous generation Galaxy Notes! The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE model now sells for under Php20,000! Crazy! This is a really fantastic device that is definitely worth every centavo of that price tag. It also has a bevy of accessories available already like battery packs and cases. Click here to read our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
Sony Xperia V (Php12,800)
One of the very first LTE smartphones to hit the market here in the Philippines definitely still deserves to be in the list. Not only does it have LTE connectivity, the Xperia V is also water-resistant. Click here to read our feature on the Sony Xperia V.
Cherry Mobile W900LTE (Php11,499)
We definitely have to include this device on the list since it’s historically the first announced local branded smartphone to support LTE. 🙂
Sony Xperia ZL (Php17,400)
The Sony Xperia ZL came out together with the venerable Xperia Z. What’s different between the two? The ZL is is slightly thicker, not water resistant, and it cannot record 1080p video. Other than that they’re practically the same. If you don’t need the water resistance then this might make more sense since it’s a lot cheaper at just Php17,400.
Honorable Mentions
Other than the devices we listed above there are also several other LTE-enabled smartphones under Php20,000 worth considering. There’s the Nokia Lumia 625 (Php10,700), Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE (Php16,980), and the HTC One Mini (Php19,980). You might wanna check them out as well.
Did we miss anything? Comment below!
And that wraps up our Top 10 picks for LTE smartphones under Php20,000 for Q4 2013. We’ll edit this list if there are new devices that get announced in the next three months. There’s a lot of rumors going around that local manufacturers are gearing up for major announcements in November and this might include their LTE offerings. We’re definitely excited for that one!
Here are our other Top 10 Lists:
