My entry level smartphone recommendations include a phone with an HD display, a quad-core offering and even one with a amazingly large battery, all for under Php8,000. Still, each choice represents a compromise. A budget of over Php10,000 to Php20,000 offers some interesting choices, but the reality is that many of the Android offerings available in the market are looking less interesting, with the newer 2013 mid-level Android handsets not yet in the market. I do not expect to this situation to change soon though.
The prices posted are those covered by an official manufacturers warranty.
1. Nokia Lumia 620 (Php10,990) - Amazingly good value for money smartphone
There are two good reasons for selecting the Nokia Lumia 620. If you prefer a Windows Phone over Android, it is the cheapest current Windows Phone device in the marker. The other good reason is that this phone comes with a Qualcomm Krait processor and Adreno 305 graphics, which is a step-up from the lower end Qualcomm and Mediatek chipsets you find in lower end units.
Quick specifications:
- Windows Phone 8
- 3.8-inch ClearBlack WVGA (480 x 800) display
- 8 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot
- 512 MB RAM
- 1 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait Snapdragon processor
- 5 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 0.3 MP front camera
- HSPA
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 1300 mAh battery
2. Lenovo P770 (Php11,490) - A big battery can keep a mediocre offering viable
The main draw of the Lenovo P770 is the battery. It comes with a large 3500 mAh battery. This is not as large as the battery on the lower cost Cloudfone Thrill 430x. The Lenovo P770 does offer more RAM and a more powerful chipset than the Thrill. It also comes with Android 4.1, Jelly Bean, out of the box. Basically, it offers just enough to stay on this list. Quick specifications:
- Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
- 4.5-inch qHD (540 x 960) display
- 4 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot
- 1 GB RAM
- 1 GHz dual core MediaTek processor
- 5 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 0.3 MP front camera
- HSPA
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 3500 mAh battery
3. Lenovo K860 (Php16,690) - Almost a Galaxy S III under the skin
The Lenovo K860 has dropped in price last month. We liked it at the old price, and are much happier with it a its new price.
The main draw of the Lenovo K860 is the 5-inch HD (720 x 1280 ) display. This phone which looked a tad large when it was launched last year, has become the standard size for the flagship Android phone in 2013. This phone has aged well.
Inside, well it is pretty much a Samsung Galaxy S III, with a Exynos 4412 Quad chipset and Mali-400MP graphics. What you do not get with this package is the excellent 8 MP camera in the Samsung Galaxy S III, which is one of the best, if not the best mobile phone cameras. Still, given the much lower price of the Lenovo K860, the lower grade camera is a acceptable compromise.
The main draw of the Lenovo K860 is the 5-inch HD (720 x 1280 ) display. This phone which looked a tad large when it was launched last year, has become the standard size for the flagship Android phone in 2013. This phone has aged well.
Inside, well it is pretty much a Samsung Galaxy S III, with a Exynos 4412 Quad chipset and Mali-400MP graphics. What you do not get with this package is the excellent 8 MP camera in the Samsung Galaxy S III, which is one of the best, if not the best mobile phone cameras. Still, given the much lower price of the Lenovo K860, the lower grade camera is a acceptable compromise.
Quick specifications:
- Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
- 5-inch HD (720 x 1280) display
- 8 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot
- 1 GB RAM
- 1.4 GHz quad core Samsung Exynos 4 processor
- 8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 2 MP front camera
- HSPA
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 2250 mAh battery
4. Nokia Lumia 820 (Php18,350) - Windows Phone with LTE onboard.
This Windows Phone 8 device is a mix of the old and the new. The 4.3-inch WVGA (480 x 800) AMOLED display was cutting edge in 2010. The AMOLED technology on a Windows Phone interface is still stunningly beautiful today. Still, WVGA is a bit on the low end of the scale these days for Php18,900.
Inside, though the hardware is top class. The dual core 1.5 GHz Qualcomm Krait with SoC LTE chip was the cutting edge of smartphone technology in 2012, and it is the best chipset you can expect to find in a mid-level phone today.
Quick specifications:
- Windows Phone 8
- 4.3-inch WVGA (480 x 800) display
- 8 GB internal storage expandable via a MicroSD card slot
- 1 GB RAM
- 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm Krait processor
- 8 MP autofocus primary camera with LED Flash
- 0.3 MP front camera
- LTE/HSPA
- WiFi
- Bluetooth
- A-GPS
- 1650 mAh battery
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