Our Top 10 Smartphones under Php15k for 2013

If you’re on a tight budget on getting your new smartphone and you want the best bang for your buck, then look no more as we’ve got you covered! Here are our top 10 smartphones under Php15k for October 2013.

top smartphones 15000 philippines

Notes:

  • Prices are based on online sellers and SRPs; listed in no particular order.
  • We wanted to keep the list as diverse as possible.

1. Starmobile Knight (±Php11,290)

If you’re looking for the best of Starmobile, then the Knight is your only choice for the moment. It offers a great balance of design, speed & performance.

knight

Starmobile Knight specs:
4.7-inch (1280 x 720, 312ppi) HD LCD
Corning Gorilla Glass
1.2 Ghz MediaTek MT6589 quad-core CPU
1GB of RAM
4GB of internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
18 megapixel AF BSI rear camera w/ dual-LED flash
8 megapixel AF BSI front-facing
dual-SIM
2,000mAh battery
Android 4.2 Jellybean

However, even with the great package, you can always add a little more to the Knight’s price & get something better.

2. Nokia Lumia 920 (±Php14,280 – 15,980)

We have a wide range of cameraphones in this list, but most of them can only take so much beating in image quality, especially in low-light. This is why the 8.7 megapixel PureView packing Nokia Lumia 920 makes it into this list!

nokia lumia 920

Nokia Lumia 920 specs:
4.5-inch 720p display PureMotionHD+ @ 1280×768 pixels
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core, Krait processor
Adreno 225 GPU
1GB RAM
32GB internal storage
LTE
8.7MP rear camera, LED flash
1.3MP front-facing camera
2,000mAh Li-Ion battery
Windows Phone 8

The Nokia Lumia 920 is quite heavy though, and it’s a flagship phone from last year which others may find lacking already.

3. BlackBerry Q5 (±Php13,700)

BlackBerry’s most affordable BB10 smartphone will still make the cut if you’re looking for the best BlackBerry experience & keyboard.

q5_1

BlackBerry Q5 specs:
3.1-inch IPS LCD display @ 720×720 pixels, 328ppi
Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 1.2GHz dual-core
Adreno 305 graphics
2GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD card
5MP autofocus rear camera, LED flash
2MP front-facing camera
BlackBerry OS 10.1
Li-Ion 2,180mAh battery

The thing is, BBM is already out for iOS & Android, and it’s harder to pick BlackBerry more than ever. However, the BBM experience with phones like the Q5 will still remain unparalleled.

4. LG Nexus 4 (±Php13,600 – 13,990)

Coming in white or black, 8GB or 16GB variants, the Nexus 4 is still easily one of the phones I’d recommend to anyone looking for the best Android experience. It has the highest spec configuration in this list with a quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, 2GB RAM & an Adreno 320 GPU; not to mention, it gets the latest version of Android first.

Nexus 4

LG-Google Nexus 4 specs:
4.7” True HD IPS+ display 1280 x 720 @ 318ppi
Gorilla Glass 2 coated display
1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064)
2GB of RAM
Adreno 320 GPU
8/16GB non-expandable internal storage
8MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash
1.3MP front-facing camera
NFC
2100mAh non-removable battery
Android 4.3 Jelly bean (upgradable to KitKat)

However, I’m always quick to ask people who need advice “do you need a good camera?”, cause the Nexus 4 just isn’t that good in this field.

5. Asus FonePad (±Php13,500)

Before you come telling me that this is a 7-inch tablet, well it’s still also a phone – and a pretty well-packed one nonetheless.

fonepad philippines

ASUS FonePad specs:
7-inch WXGA (1280×800) IPS touchscreen display, 216ppi
1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2460 processor
PowerVR SGX540 GPU
1GB RAM
32GB internal storage
MicroSD card slot w/ support for up to 32GB
3.15MP autofocus camera
1.2MP front-facing camera
Non-removable 4270mAh Li-Ion battery
Android Jelly bean

However, a tablet-phone is surely not for everyone. If you’re not that type of person, you can always look at other phones in this list.

6. Samsung Galaxy Grand (±Php12,400 – 12,680)

For this price range, Samsung’s offering a very decent deal too in the form of the Galaxy Grand.

galaxy grand

Samsung Galaxy Grand i9082 specs:
5-inch WVGA LCD screen @ 187ppi
1.2GHz dual-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
Dual SIM
expandable up to 64GB via microSD
8MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash
2MP HD front-facing camera
2100mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 4.1.2 Jelly bean

Everything looks decent for the dual-SIM smartphone except for the 5-inch display with lackluster resolution.

7. Nokia Lumia 625 (±Php12,200)

The second Nokia handset in this list also makes the cut because of a great balance in specs. It also has a huge screen for a Windows Phone, and it packs LTE on-board.

lumia 625

Nokia Lumia 625 specs:
4.7-inch IPS ClearBlack LCD screen, 800×480 @199ppi
1.2GH Snapdragon S4 MSM8930 dual-core processor
Adreno 305 GPU
Expandable 8GB internal storage (up to 64GB)
512MB RAM
5MP rear camera w/ LED flash
VGA front-facing camera
LTE
2000mAh Li-Ion battery
Windows Phone 8 (w/ Amber update)

However, you may want to think hard about this one – especially with the Lumia 625′s 512MB RAM & all.

8. HTC Windows Phone 8X (±Php12,080 – Php13,500)

If Windows Phone 8 & HTC are your endgames, then the HTC Windows Phone 8X is perfect for you. It packs a beautiful design with decent internals – from Beats Audio to that wide-angle front-facing camera.

Conclusion

HTC Windows Phone 8X specs:
4.3-inch S-LCD2 HD display @ 1280×720 pixels, 342ppi
Snapdragon S4 Krait (MSM8960) 1.5GHz dual-core
Adreno 225 GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
8MP autofocus camera w/ flash, 2.1MP secondary camera
1800mAh Li-Po battery
Windows Phone 8

The downside is it’s also a phone which has some age to it already. If you wish to stay updated and a bit more futureproof, then the HTC 8X is easy to disregard.

9. Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z (±Php11,300 – 11,999)

We have to applaud Cherry Mobile for this one; the Cosmos Z is the most affordable phone with a full HD 1080p display!

Cherry Mobile Cosmos Z specs:
5-inch IPS LCD display @ 1080×1920 pixels, 441ppi
Mediatek MT6589 1.5GHz quad-core processor
PowerVR SGX 544MP
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
micro SD up to 32GB
18.2MP BSI rear camera with LED flash
8MP front-facing cameraDual SIM
Li-Ion 2,000mAh battery
Android 4.2.1 Jellybean

CM updates their lineup of phones very often though, so the Cosmos Z might easily see a successor soon. Also, the phone suffers from a low battery capacity, so you may want to think twice too.

10. Sony Xperia SP (±Php13,990 - 15,700)

Sony won’t be too late in the game as it has a very capable performer in its hands. With the Xperia SP, you can access LTE networks without facing much hardware & software compromises.

xperia sp

Sony Xperia SP specs:
4.6-inch HD display @ 720 x 1280, 319ppi
Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon Pro 1.7GHz dual-core processor
Adreno 320 GPU
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD card
LTE
NFC
8MP rear camera, LED flash
VGA front-facing camera
Android 4.1 Jellybean
2370mah Li-Po battery

While seemingly perfect for the mid-range market, reviews have pointed out that it has an underwhelming display.

Well, there you have it and that’s our list for now. We’ll be updating you with more as time goes by, and if you have any other suggestions, feel free to comment down below!

The post Our Top 10 Smartphones under Php15k for 2013 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Our Top 10 Smartphones Under Php20k as of mid-2013

At present, there are a lot of smartphones to choose from and it’s really getting confusing on which one to get. If you are on a tight budget and eyeing on a brand new smartphone, you should check out our rundown of our top 10 smartphones under Php20,000 that are available now.

Notes:

  • Prices are based on online sellers and SRPs; listed in no particular order.
  • We wanted to keep the list as diverse as possible.

1. Samsung Galaxy S3 (Php18,000 – 19,000)

In black, gray, white or blue, with or without LTE, the SGS3 still features very competitive specs such as a fast processor, an amazing 8MP camera and a vibrant Super AMOLED HD display.

However, if you’re not into glossy plastic – you might want to reconsider.

Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300 specs:
4.8-inch Super HD AMOLED screen @ 1280×720 pixels (306ppi)
1.4GHz Samsung Exynos 4 Quad processor
Mali-400MP GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD card
HSPA+ up to 21Mbps
8MP rear camera with LED flash
1080p @ 30fps video recording
1.9MP front-facing camera
720p HD video recording
NFC
Bluetooth 4.0
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n with WiFi Bonding
2,100mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 4.0 ICS with TouchWiz UX
8.6mm thickness, 133gram weight

2. Nokia Lumia 920 (Php17,300 – 17,600)

The Nokia Lumia 920 is the Finnish company’s first Windows Phone to incorporate PureView; it excels in taking low-light photos & it does its best in stabilizing your captures. On top of all that is the smooth and minimalistic OS called Windows Phone 8.

nokia lumia 920

While the handset features beautiful design and solid construction, it is quite hefty – and not everyone might be satisfied with the ecosystem of WP.

Nokia Lumia 920 specs:
4.5-inch 720p display PureMotionHD+ @ 1280×768 pixels
Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1.5GHz dual-core, Krait processor
Adreno 225 GPU
1GB RAM
32GB internal storage
LTE
NFC
8.7MP rear camera, LED flash
1080p video recording @30fps
1.3MP front-facing camera
720p video recording @30fps
2,000mAh Li-Ion battery
Windows Phone 8
Dimension: 130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 mm
Weight: 185g

3. Google Nexus 4 (+- Php16,490)

If you’re looking for the best Google experience on a smartphone, you can stop looking. The Nexus 4 (by LG) is destined to receive stock Android updates first for the following years to come. Not only does it feature the latest Google software, but it also runs on a fast quad-core CPU and 2GB RAM.

nexus4_rear

Unfortunately, glass-backed phones aren’t everybody’s bet, and the 8 megapixel camera on the rear is below average.

Google Nexus 4 specs:
4.7” True HD IPS+ display 1280 x 720 @318ppi
Gorilla Glass 2 coated display
1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro (APQ8064)
2GB of RAM
Adreno 320 GPU
8/16GB non-expandable internal storage
8MP autofocus camera w/ LED flash
1080p video recording @30fps
1.3MP front-facing camera
HSPA+ 42
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
NFC (Android Beam)
2100mAh non-removable battery
Android 4.2 Jelly bean
Dimension: 133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1 mm
Weight: 139g

4. HTC One X (Php15,990 – 16,990)

With a fast quad-core CPU, a stunning 720p HD SuperLCD 3 display and a beautiful polycarbonate body, it makes Sense to include the HTC One X on this list.

If you’re looking for a long-lasting battery however, this one might be a tough pick. Also, if you’re looking for a 4G smartphone from HTC instead – you might want to look at the One SV (Php17,480 – 19,990) with a lot of sacrifices in specs of course.

HTC One X specs:
4.7? Super LCD 2 display, 720×1280 pixels @ 312ppi
1.5GHz quad-core NVidia Tegra 3 processor
1GB RAM
32GB internal storage (26GB usable)
HSPA+ 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
NFC
Bluetooth 4.0
8MP autofocus rear camera, 1080p
1.3MP front-facing camera, 720p
GPS w/ aGPS support
FM Radio Tuner
1800mAh Li-Polymer battery
Android 4.0.3 ICS
134.4 x 68.9 x 8.9mm
130 grams

5. Huawei Ascend Mate (+-Php16,990)

Crazy could be your middle name, and in that case – you might be eyeing on a 6.1-inch smartphone. The Huawei Ascend Mate is well spec’d for that matter as it features a quad-core CPU, 1GB RAM and a beefy 4,050mAh battery.

But then again, a phone with a 6.1-inch display will only cater best to a few people.

Huawei Ascend Mate specs:
6.1-inch IPS LCD 720p display @ 1280×720 pixels, 241ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass
Huawei K3V2 1.5GHz quad-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
HSPA+ 42Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band, WiFi Direct, DLNA, WiFi hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0
8MP camera with LED flash
1080p video recording
1.2MP front-facing camera
FM Stereo tuner
GPS w/ aGPS support
Li-Ion 4050mAh battery
Android 4.1.2 Jellybean
163.5 x 85.7 x 9.9mm (dimensions)

6. Sony Xperia V (Php13,100  - Php18,250)

If you like using 4G while being in wet places (or something close to that), the water-resistant Xperia V could be the one for you. It features decent specs of course, and a high-resolution 13 megapixel camera.

On a side note, there really isn’t anything that spectacular that the Xperia V offers apart from the competition, aside from 4G and water-resistance.

Sony Xperia V LTE specs:
4.3” HD display @ 1280×720 pixels, 342ppi
Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2
1.5GHz dual-core MSM8960 Snapdragon processor
Adreno 225
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
Expandable up to 32GB via Micro-SD
13MP autofocus camera w/ LED Flash
1080p video recording @30fps
VGA Front-facing camera
DC-HSDPA 42Mbps, LTE 100Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band
Bluetooth 4.0
NFC
GPS w/ aGPS support, GLONASS
1750mAh Li-Ion battery
Dustproof (IP5X) and Water resistant (IPX5/7)
Android 4.0 upgradable to Jelly bean
Weight: 120g
Dimension: 129 x 65 x 10.7mm

7. Motorola Razr Maxx (+-Php18,490)

This phone might be a shadow from Motorola’s past as they released a lot of new models already (priced higher than Php20k locally), but the Razr Maxx still makes it to our list. Why? It’s because of the 3,300mAh battery inside that Kevlar chassis.

A dual-core processor, a qHD display and some other outdated hardware specs come with the Razr Maxx, but if that’s all you need and an extremely heavy duty battery – maybe you don’t need to look elsewhere after all.

Motorola RAZR Maxx specs:
4.3-inch Super AMOLED Advanced screen @ 540×960 pixels, 256ppi
TI OMAP4430 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex-A9
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
HSDPA, HSUPA
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, WiFi hotspot
8MP rear autofocus camera, LED flash
1080p video recording @ 30fps
1.3MP front-facing camera
Bluetooth 4.0
Android v2.3.6 Gingerbread out of the box (upgrade to v4.0.4 ICS now available)
Li-Ion 3300mAh battery
130.7 x 68.9 x 8.99mm (dimensions)
145 gram (weight)

8. Nokia 808 PureView (+-Php16,990)

The Nokia 808 PureView doesn’t really pack a lot of good hardware and software features; a single core CPU, 512MB RAM and a 4-inch nHD display all running on the late Symbian. But anyways, it remains unmatched by the competition in one field – the 41 megapixel camera packed with Zeiss, Xenon and more.

Sensor

Nokia PureView 808 specs:
4-inch AMOLED nHD Nokia ClearBlack display w/ Corning Gorilla Glass
1.3GHz ARM 11 processor
Broadcom BCM2763 GPU
512MB RAM
16GB internal storage
Expandable up to 32GB via Micro SD
41MP Carl Zeiss Optics autofocus camera w/ Xenon flash
1080p video recording @30fps
VGA Front-facing camera
HSPA 14.4Mbps
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Wi-Fi Tethering via JoikuSpot app
Bluetooth 3.0
GPS w/ A-GPS support
1400mAH Battery
Dimension: 123.9 x 60.2 x 13.9 mm
Weight: 168g

9. BlackBerry Bold 9900 (+-Php19,900)

If you want the best of BlackBerry without having to spend on BB10, then the Bold 9900 is still perfect for you. It offers decent specs, both touch and type inputs, and of course, BlackBerry services.

On the downside, apps and future-proofing might be a problem for you as BlackBerry has already shifted all their attention to their new OS.

BlackBerry Bold 9900 specs:
2.8-inch capacitive touch screen display @ 640—480, 287 dpi resolution
QWERTY keyboard, optical trackpad
1.2 GHz processor
768 MB RAM
8GB on-board memory,
microSD slot supporting up to 32GB
NFC technology
5MP camera w/ 720p HD video recording
Orientation Sensor (Accelerometer)
Digital Compass (Magnetometer)
Proximity Sensor
GPS with aGPS support
Dual-Band WiFi 802.11 b/g/n @ 2.4 GHz and 802.11 a/n @ 5GHz
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
1230 mAh Li-Ion battery
BlackBerry 7 OS

10. LG Optimus G (+-Php18,990)

Let’s say you want a great LG phone, but you don’t want to get vanilla Android and a sub-par camera; you might want the LG Optimus G, the Nexus 4’s father.

It packs the same premium glass build, a fast quad-core CPU, a vibrant HD display and a 13 megapixel shooter. However, the question still remains – do you want LG’s UI on top of Android, or would you prefer something else?

LG Optimus G (E975) specs:
4.7-inch True HD 720p IPS display @ 1280×768 pixels, 318ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass
Qualcomm APQ8064 Snapdragon S4 Pro 1.5GHz quad-core
Adreno 320 GPU
2GB RAM
32GB internal storage
HSPA+ & LTE 100Mbps
NFC
Bluetooth 4.0 w/ A2DP
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band, WiFi Direct, DLNA
13MP rear camera, LED flash
1080p video recording @ 30fps
1.3MP front-facing camera
720p video recording @ 30fps
GPS w/ AGPS support, GLONASS
TV-out (via MHL A/V link)
Jellybean 4.1.2
2100mah Li-Po battery
131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5mm (dimensions)
145 grams (weight)

That’s about it guys. If you have any more in mind, feel free to drop it in the comments down below. For the meantime, you might also want to check out our previous lists:

The post Our Top 10 Smartphones Under Php20k as of mid-2013 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.