7 smartphones under PHP 40,000 released in Q1 2026

Time seems to be flying by fast this 2026. In the blink of an eye, we’re in the second quarter of the year already.

With that, we can expect a bunch more phones to be launched this April and the coming months. But before the new phones arrive in the Philippines, let’s take a look at the midrange smartphones launched this Q1 of 2026, specifically those priced under PHP 40,000.

Surprisingly, there were a lot, so if you’re in the market to buy one now, I suggest you read on to see which one you think is best.

For reference, the phones below are listed in a random order, and do not mean one is better than the other. It is listed down by price in ascending order, though.

OPPO Reno15 F (PHP 23,999)

Starting things off, we have one of the two OPPO models on this list – the Reno15 F. It’s the “budget” version of the Reno 15 series, starting at just PHP 23,999 for the 8+128GB variant. This makes it the most affordable smartphone on this list.

It’s also available in 8GB+256GB version for PHP 25,999 and PHP 28,999 for the 12GB+256GB model.

Under the hood, the Reno15F packs a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, which is a relatively older processor. Based on our review, it scored 602,000 on Antutu. It’s then paired with a 7,000mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC wired charging speeds.

The Reno15 F also features a 6.57-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, a triple rear camera system with a 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro along with a 50MP front camera.

For protection, it features an IP66, 68, and 69 rating for dust and water resistance, making it quite rugged for everyday use.

Samsung Galaxy A37 (PHP 25,990)

The newest phones on this list are the new Samsung Galaxy A series models, launched just as March ended. With that, we don’t have benchmark scores just yet.

Starting with the Samsung Galaxy A37 5G, the phone packs an Exynos 1480 chipset, and it is powered by a 5,000mAh battery pack with 45W charging speeds. It also comes with a 6.7” Full HD+ Super AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

For cameras, there’s a 50MP main, 8MP ultrawide, and a 5MP macro lens, as well as a 12MP front camera. It’s rated for IP68 dust and water resistance, and runs on Samsung’s latest One UI 8.5 OS.

In terms of style, it looks very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S26 series we were able to check out earlier this year.

The Samsung Galaxy A37 starts at PHP 25,990 for the 8+128GB variant, and PHP 27,990 for the 8+256GB variant.

Redmi Note 15 Pro+ (PHP 25,999)

Next up is the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. It’s also one of the first phones we reviewed this 2026.

Powered by a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chipset, it is a capable chipset that can run most graphic intensive titles on medium settings. It was able to run an Antutu score of 816,000 on our review. This makes it perfectly paired with the 6.83” 1.5K display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

It only comes with a dual-rear camera though featuring a 200MP main and an 8MP ultrawide along with a 32MP front camera. There is a large 6,500mAh battery and a 100W fast wired charging. From ou

In addition to its rather unique design, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is also very rugged featuring an IP66, 68, 69, and 69K rating for dust and water resistance.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ retails for PHP 25,999 for the 12+256GB variant, and PHP 27,999 for the 12+512GB variant.

POCO X8 Pro Max (PHP 25,999)

The top-spec POCO X8 model also makes it on this list with the X8 Pro Max. While the name might remind you of a different smartphone, the same can be said for the design of the phone. But it’s quite weather-resistant with an IP68 rating for dust and water.

Under the metal, the POCO X8 Pro Max packs a MediaTek Dimensity 9500s chipset which makes it one of the most powerful smartphones on this list. It scored over 3 million on Antutu, making it akin to flagship devices.

As for the battery, it also has one of the biggest – an 8500mAh battery pack with 100W fast wired charging. It also features a 6.83” 1.5K AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and dual-rear cameras featuring a 50MP main, an 8MP ultrawide together with a 20MP front camera.

It might be a bit down on features, but the chipset and battery make up for it. Not to mention the POCO X8 Pro Max retails for PHP 25,999 for the 12+256GB variant, while the 12+512GB variant retails for PHP 27,999.

Samsung Galaxy A57 (PHP 28,990)

Last but not least is the Samsung Galaxy A57. It’s similarly designed to the Galaxy A37, but packs a more capable Exynos 1680 chipset. While it uses a different chipset, the battery and charging speed remain unchanged at 5,000mAh with 45W wired charging.

It uses a different display featuring a 6.7” Full HD+ Super AMOLED+ panel with HDR10+. There’s also a more capable 12MP ultrawide, while the 50MP main and 5MP macro lenses remain the same.

The Galaxy A57 also comes with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Similarly, it runs on One UI 8.5 OS out of the box.

Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy A57 starts at PHP 28,990 for the 128GB variant, PHP 30,990 for the 256GB, and PHP 37,990 for the top spec 512GB model.

vivo V70 (PHP 31,999)

The vivo V series smartphones have jumped in price over the years, with the new V70 now starting at PHP 31,999 for the 8+256GB model, while the 12+512GB variant costs PHP 39,999.

But for those who love taking photos, the V70 comes with Zeiss-tuned cameras, including a 50MP main, 50MP telephoto, and an 8MP ultrawide. There’s also a Zeiss 50MP front camera for selfies.

In terms of performance, it packs a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, which scored over 1.4 million on Antutu. The V70 also packs a long-lasting 6,500 mAh battery with 90W FlashCharge.

The screen is on the smaller side, featuring a 6.59” display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It’s also well protected from the elements, with IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.

Still, if you love taking photos, it’s hard to beat what the vivo V70 can offer.

OPPO Reno15 5G (PHP 36,999)

Moving on to the most expensive phone on this list is the other OPPO smartphone – the Reno 15 5G. It starts at PHP 36,999 for the 12+256GB variant, while the 12+512GB variant retails at PHP 39,999. At that price point, it’s close to some flagship level models already.

Powering the Reno15 5G is a Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 chipset, and it is a very capable chipset with an Antutu score of over 1.4 million. With that, expect it to handle graphic intensive titles without issues. It packs a 6,500 mAh battery and features 80W SuperVOOC fast charging.

As for the display, it comes with a 6.59” AMOLED panel with up to 120Hz refresh rate. The triple rear camera system features a 50MP main, 50MP telephoto, and 8MP ultrawide together with a 50MP front camera.

For protection, it features IP68 and 69 levels of dust and water resistance.

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So that’s about it for all the phones we found interesting this Q1 2026, priced under PHP 40,000. Which one is your favorite, and more importantly, which one would you pick? Share your thoughts in the comments below.