It’s actually with great joy that we share with you guys this list of Top 10 Budget smartphones under Php5,000! We’re happy because the quality of the products offered at this price range have improved significantly in the last few months. We’re now seeing a lot of dual-core and even quad-core devices in this category whereas last year we only saw single core devices with crappy displays!
As expected Cherry Mobile dominates this particular list. They really do have a lot of very affordable offerings so don’t be surprised to find a bunch of them in our list below.
IMPORTANT: This list IS NOT ARRANGED IN ANY ORDER. This list is also based only on the gadgets we’ve heard of in the last few months. There are probably other good budget-friendly devices out there that aren’t here so feel free to suggest by leaving a comment below.
Cherry Mobile Life (Php2,999)
While we haven’t actually reviewed it yet, the Cherry Mobile Life deserves to be on this list if only based on the perceived value for money visa vie the spec sheet. For Php2,999 you get a dual-core smartphone that can connect to HSPA+, has expandable storage, and even has a WVGA 4.0-inch display. It is absolutely mind-blowing to see phones with these specs with a Php2,999 price tag! Click here to read our initial feature on the Cherry Mobile Life.
Gionee Pioneer P2 (php4,490)
The Gionee Pioneer P2 has very similar specifications with the Cherry Mobile Life. It’s pricer though at Php4,490 but it does offer some significant upgrades. The most important one is that they bumped up the battery from 1,500mAh (CM Life) to 1,700mAh (Pioneer P2). To add more value for your money they also threw in a free silicon case (not bad looking at all) and a screen protector. Click here to read our unboxing of the Gionee Pioneer P2.
MyPhone Agua Rain 3G (Php2,988) and 2G (Php1,988)
The MyPhone Agua 3G also has a dual-core processor and comes pre-installed with TARA, MyPhone’s anti-theft technology. Spec per spec the MyPhone Agua 3G definitely pales in comparison to the Cherry Mobile Life but it still is good enough to enter our top 10 list. If you’re a fan of MyPhone and you’re looking for a budget-friendly device either for yourself or as a gift, this is what you should be looking it.
If you really just want a dirt-cheap smartphone you can opt for the MyPhone Agua 2G. Sells for just Php1,988 but as the name implies, can only connect to 2G. At least it has WiFi though, hehe.
Click here for our feature on the MyPhone Agua Rain 3G and 2G.
Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 (Php4,699)
The Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 runs on a quad-core processor and 512MB RAM. Not bad for Php4,699 but the best thing about it is that it has a whopping 2,000mAh battery. At least you won’t run out of juice in the middle of the day! We currently have a unit in the Unbox HQ and we should be posting our unboxing article VERY SOON. Watch out for it!
Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 (Php3,999)
Next up we have the new and improved Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0. Priced at just Php3,999, the second generation Flare has a major upgrade — it runs on a quad-core processor. That’s a lot of power packed in such a wallet-friendly device! Just make sure you invest in a power bank though since we’re assuming battery life won’t be that good since it just has 1,500mAh. Click here for our unboxing of the Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0.
CloudFone Excite 450Q (Php4,999)
The CloudFone Excite 450q houses a 4.5” IPS FWVGA touchscreen, 5 MP rear camera with LED Flash (and a front camera as well), 4 GB ROM and 512 MB RAM. The device runs on the latest version of Android, Jelly Bean, supports expandable memory which lets users get up to 32 GB through a microSD card slot, and just like all CloudFone smartphones, allows dual SIM and dual standby. What really sets it apart is that it runs on a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon quad core processor and all of this is only for Php 4,999!
Lenovo A360i (Php4,499)
If you’re not too keen on local brands, you might want to check out the Lenovo A360i. In terms of specs it’s a bit lower compared to what the others are offering but at least you can sleep soundly knowing that Lenovo has a lot of service centers that can fix your phone should there be any major problems. Click here for our feature on the Lenovo A360i.
Cloudfone Excite 402D (Php3,999)
The Cloudfone Excite 402D was released earlier this year and was poised to challenge the first generation Cherry Mobile Flare. It had the same specifications and even the same price tag, hehe. Click here for our review of the Cloudfone Excite 402D.
Cherry Mobile Flare 2x (Php4,449)
Among all the smartphones in this list, this is the one that probably offers the most value for money. Priced at Php4,449, the Cherry Mobile Flare 2x gives you a quad-core smartphone experience with no compromises because it’s supported by 1GB RAM and not just 512MB like with the other devices. It also has an 8MP shooter. Click here for our feature on the Cherry Mobile Flare 2X.
And that wraps up our list!
If you have any suggestions please do leave it at the comments section below. We’d love to hear from you on what you think are the best budget smartphones under Php5,000!
