)

Practical Guide to Buying Mobile Phones (Smartphones)

The Best Smartphones Under 5K in the Philippines for 2023

Don’t settle for second-rate technology this year – start your search with our guide to finding great quality smartphones in the Philippines under 5K!

Looking for quality but affordable smartphones in the Philippines? This guide will help you navigate the market and find a great phone for under 5K PHP. Learn about the features and specs that go into making a top-notch budget phone, discover the best brands to shop for, and explore our pick of the best smartphones currently available in the Philippines for under 5K PHP.

We’ve handpicked the best devices for you to consider.

We’ve selected the top-performing smartphones on the market today for shoppers looking for a great device on a budget. Each of these smartphones comes with killer specs and carefully chosen features to ensure you get high-quality technology without breaking the bank. From advanced camera systems and waterproofing to sleek designs and superfast processing, you’ll find the perfect phone for your needs and budget in our selection of under 5K models.

Redmi A1

https://www.gadgetmaya.com/product/redmi-a1/

Realme C30s

https://www.gadgetmaya.com/product/realme-c30s/

Infinix Smart 6 HD

https://www.gadgetmaya.com/product/infinix-smart-6-hd/

Tecno Pop 6 Pro

https://www.gadgetmaya.com/product/tecno-pop-6-pro/

If you know of a smartphone that can be added to the list, leave us a comment, and we will check on it.

The Best 5k Budget Phone in the Philippines

With the latest advancements in mobile phones, we now have many choices. However, not all of them are worthwhile investments. Many Filipinos are looking for less expensive options for getting a nice phone.

Although practically everything is increasing in price these days, you can still find phones with outstanding performance and high-quality features for under ₱5,000. However, finding a good mobile phone with the right combination of performance and price can be difficult with so many options on the market.

Before we dive into the phones, let’s first discuss the expectations, specs, and tips for choosing the best 5k budget phone in the Philippines.

Phone 5k budget expectations

A P5,000 smartphone belongs to the most affordable category of smartphones. While you can count on smooth performance for basic phone tasks, you should not expect the phone to have the best of everything. 

Expect a 5k budget phone to make decent calls and texts. Accessing and posting on social media like Facebook should also be smooth. There may also be added features like a multi-lens camera, dual-sim capability, and fingerprint sensor.  

On the inferior side, budget phones may not have the best screen resolution and camera quality. The speed may not be the fastest, too. Finally, memory storage may not be much compared to higher-priced phones.     

5k budget phone specs 2022

Most 5k budget phone specs in 2022 include the following:

  • Dual-sim capabilities
  • Screen resolution of 720 x 1600 pixels or lower
  • 4,ooo-6,000 mAh battery
  • 13MP or lower rear camera
  • 8MP or lower selfie camera
  • 2 or 3G RAM and 32 or 64G expandable storage

How to choose the best android phone under 5k

Budget phones are not necessarily poor in quality. However, some specifications are lower than their more expensive counterparts, so manufacturers can drop and justify their prices. With a mix and match of features, you can choose the best android phone under 5k by considering your priorities. For example, ask yourself if you prefer a better camera quality over longer battery life. Do you want one with bigger storage or with better speed? Do you like a budget phone with added sensors?

The following tips can also help you choose the best budget phone under 5k:  

  • Choose a trusted brand with reliable after-sales customer service.
  • Find a phone with dual-sim capability that allows you to have a backup network if one is out of coverage area or experiencing network issues. It also lets you have separate personal and work numbers.
  • Find a budget phone with a micro-SD slot to expand internal storage capabilities.
  • For a phone with a screen of 6 inches or smaller, go for a battery capacity of at least 3,500mAh. For phones with bigger screens, find one with a battery capacity of 4,500mAh. 
  • Do not expect to have the current version of Android, but do not settle for anything older than Android 10 for compatibility and security reasons.  
  • Choose a budget phone with a higher RAM and storage.
  • Find one with a micro-SD slot for expandable storage.
  • Prefer a more durable phone over a cheap-built one. For instance, pick a model with strengthened glass, like Gorilla glass 3 or better.   
  • Compare overall features like screen resolution, camera quality, storage, battery life, and other added specs.

Back to Table of contents

Best 5k mobile phones in the Philippines

So, if you’re shopping for a new smartphone, here are some of the best smartphones under ₱5,000 in the Philippines.

At this point in time, these are all Android phones under 5k.

Samsung Galaxy A02

Samsung A02 - 5k budget phone

The Samsung Galaxy A02 is an affordable smartphone with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, dual back cameras of 13MP + 2MP, and a single 5MP selfie camera.

It features a MediaTek MT6739W processor, 3GB of RAM, Android 10 OS, and OneUI software. In addition, 4G LTE connectivity and 32GB of extendable storage are also included.

The device is powered by a big 5,000mAh battery that supports a 5V/1.55A charging rate.

Price: ₱4,990.00

Xiaomi Redmi 9C

Xiaomi Redmi 9C 1

The Xiaomi Redmi 9C has a 6.53-inch HD+ display, triple back cameras of 13MP + 2MP + 2MP, and a notch-mounted 5MP selfie camera.

It has a MediaTek Helio G35 processor, 2GB of RAM, an Android 10 operating system, and MIUI 12 software. In addition, a fingerprint scanner is included on the back of the phone, facial recognition, dual-SIM 4G LTE connectivity, and 32GB of expandable storage.

The device is powered by a 5,000mAh battery that charges at a rate of 10W.

Price: ₱4,990.00

realme C11 2021

realme C11 2021 2

The realme C11 2021 is a budget smartphone with a 6.5-inch HD+ display, an 8-megapixel back camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera.

It has a 2GB RAM Unisoc SC9863 processor, Android 11 OS, and realme UI 2.0 software. Face Unlock, 4G LTE connectivity, and 32GB of expandable storage are all included.

The device is powered by a big 5,000mAh battery that supports a 10W charging rate via a micro-USB 2.0 interface.

Price: ₱4,990.00

Infinix Hot 10 Play

Infinix Hot 10 Play 3

The Infinix Hot 10 Play is an affordable smartphone with a 6.82-inch HD+ display, dual rear cameras with 13MP + AI Lens, and a single 8MP selfie camera.

It features a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner, 4G LTE connectivity, up to 64GB of expandable storage. It runs on MediaTek Helio G35 CPU with 2GB or 4GB of RAM and Android 10 (GO Edition) OS.

The device is powered by a 6,000mAh battery that charges at a 10W pace.

Price: ₱4,290.00 (2GB RAM) and ₱4,990.00 (4GB RAM)

Nokia C20

Nokia C20 4

The Nokia C20 features a 6.52-inch HD+ display, a 5-megapixel back camera, and a 5-megapixel front camera. An LED flash is included with both cameras.

It’s powered by a Unisoc SC9863A with 2GB of RAM and runs Android 11 (Go Edition). In addition, 4G LTE connectivity, Face Unlock technology, and 32GB of expandable storage are also included. It also has a replaceable 3,000mAh battery that charges at a 5W pace.

Price: ₱4,690.00



Not sure which one to buy? Here is a comparative table of their specifications.

ModelSamsung A02Xiaomi Redmi 9Crealme C11 2021Infinix Hot 10 PlayNokia C20
Size6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2
(~81.9% screen-to-body ratio)
6.53 inches, 102.9 cm2
(~81.1% screen-to-body ratio)
6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2
(~81.3% screen-to-body ratio)
6.82 inches, 110.5 cm2
(~82.4% screen-to-body ratio)
6.52 inches, 102.6 cm2
(~77.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution720 x 1600 pixels720 x 1600 pixels720 x 1600 pixels720 x 1640 pixels720 x 1600 pixels
OSAndroid 10 (upgradable to  Android 11), One UI 3.1Android 10, MIUI 12Android 11,
Realme Go UI
Android 10 (Go edition),
XOS 7
Android 11
(Go edition)
ChipsetMediatek MT6739W (28 nm)MediaTek MT6765G Helio G35 (12 nm)Unisoc SC9863A (28nm)MediaTek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm)Unisoc SC9863A (28nm)
Rear Camera13 MP, f/1.9, (wide), AF
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
LED flash
1080p@30fps
13 MP, f/2.2, 28mm (wide), 1.0µm, PDAF
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
LED flash, HDR
1080p@30fps
8 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF
LED flash, HDR, panorama
1080p@30fps
13 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/3.1″, 1.12µm, AF QVGA
Quad-LED flash, panorama, HDR
1080p@30fps
5 MP
LED flash, HDR
720p@30fps
Front Camera5 MP, f/2.05 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1.12µm
HDR
1080p@30fps
5 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
HDR, panorama
1080p@30fps
8 MP, f/2.0, (wide)
LED flash
1080p@30fps
5 MP
LED flash
720p
Loudspeaker
3.55mm jack
USBmicroUSB 2.0microUSB 2.0, USB On-The-GomicroUSB 2.0, USB On-The-GomicroUSB 2.0, USB On-The-GomicroUSB 2.0
SensorsAccelerometer
Virtual proximity sensing
Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximityAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compassAccelerometer, proximity
BatteryLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 5000 mAh, non-removable
Li-Po 6000 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3000 mAh, removable

Back to Table of contents

Leave a Comment