Our Top 10 Smartphones below Php15k for 2014

Following our top 10 list of smartphones below Php10k, we have another one just for you! This time, we compiled the best smartphones falling under a price tag of Php15,000USD 256INR 21,669EUR 243CNY 1,862, so if you’re looking for your next smartphone and you have this much allocated for your budget, read on!

Notes:

• Prices are based on online prices and SRPs; listed in no particular order.
• We want to keep the list diverse, meaning as much as possible, we want to avoid repetition of brands across the list without good reason.
• This list only includes phones priced between Php10k and Php15k.

1. Xiaomi Mi3 (±Php10,599USD 181INR 15,311EUR 172CNY 1,315)

If you’re looking for a high-end smartphone under a budget, the Xiaomi Mi3 is the killer in this list. It’s got you covered with a full HD display, a Snapdragon 800 CPU and a lot more which we covered in our full review, making this surely one of the best phones in this list.

Xiaomi Mi 3 specs:
5-inch Full HD IPS display, 441ppi
Gorilla Glass 3
2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core CPU
Adreno 330GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
13 megapixel rear camera w/ dual LED flash
2 megapixel front camera
HSPA+, 3G
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, WiFi Direct
NFC
Bluetooth 4.0 w/ A2DP
GPS, AGPS, GLONASS
USB OTG
3,050mAh battery
MIUI v5 (Android 4.4.2 KitKat)
144 x 73.6 x 8.1mm (dimensions)
145 grams (weight)

2. ASUS ZenFone 6 (±Php11,995USD 204INR 17,328EUR 195CNY 1,489)

Asus’ best phone also makes it into this list with the ZenFone 6, the biggest brother in the family. It does a lot of things extremely well as we’ve mentioned in our full review, not to forget the price tag that comes along with it. However, do note that it comes at 6-inches. If you’re up for that size, then the ZenFone 6 is the one for you.

ASUS ZenFone 6 specs:
6-inch IPS display, 1280 x 720 @247ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Intel Atom Z2560 1.6GHz dual-core processor with HyperThreading Technology
PowerVR SGX 544 MP2
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
64GB via microSD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
3G/HSPA+
Bluetooth
13MP BSI rear camera w/ LED flash
1080p video recording @30fps
2MP front-facing camera
Dual-SIM
3300mAh battery
Android 4.3
166.9 x 84.3 x 9.9mm
200g

3. Starmobile Diamond X1 (±Php12,300USD 210INR 17,769EUR 200CNY 1,526)

The Diamond X1 is Starmobile’s octa-core offering with a 6-inch display as well, coming in with 2GB RAM, an 18 megapixel camera, dual SIM slots, and a really thin design. In our review, it’s only the battery life that disappoints, but almost everything is well put together by Starmobile here.

Starmobile Diamond X1 specs:
6-inch IPS LCD display @ 1280×720 pixels, 245ppi
Scratch-resistant coating
MediaTek MT6592 1.7GHz Octa-core processor
Mali 450MP4 GPU
2GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD card
3G/HSPA+
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 3.0
18MP BSI auto focus camera with LED Flash
8MP BSI front-facing camera
Dual-SIM, dual standby
GPS w/ aGPS support
FM Radio tuner
2 x Yamaha 1420 speakers, 1.2watts
Li-Ion 2,400mAh
Android 4.2.2 Jellybean

4. MyPhone Agua Infinity (±Php12,999USD 222INR 18,778EUR 211CNY 1,613)

MyPhone is also in the game with high-end specs such as an octa-core CPU and a 1080p display. It’s priced competitively too, making this Infinity a force to be reckoned with.

MyPhone Infinity specs:
5-inch IPS Full HD (1080 × 1920) display, 441ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 2
1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core CPU
Mali-450MP GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
No microSD card support
16 megapixel rear camera, w/ LED flash
5 megapixel front camera
dual-SIM (micro), dual-standby
HSPA+, 3G
WiFi b/g/n
Bluetooth
GPS
USB OTG
Android 4.2.2 Jellybean
2,350mAh non-removable battery
7.3mm thin
Black and White

5. Nokia Lumia 925 (±Php14,580USD 248INR 21,062EUR 237CNY 1,809)

A Windows Phone device makes it into this list, packing a great camera, a solid design, LTE and a few more tricks up its sleeve. The Nokia Lumia 925 is a great phone from the company, and we have no doubts about it, but if you’re not up for it, Nokia has the more recent Lumia 1320 in the same price range as an alternative.

Nokia Lumia 925 specs:
4.5-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display @ 1280×768 pixels, 332ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 2
Qualcomm Snapdragon Krait 1.5GHz dual-core processor
Adreno 225 GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage
3G, HSPA+, 4G LTE 100Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, dual-band
DLNA
Bluetooth 3.0
8.7MP PureView rea camera, Carl Zeiss optics, dual LED flash
1080p HD video (low-light, image stabilization)
1.3MP front-facing camera, 720p video
FM Radio tuner
GPS w/ aGPS support, GLONASS
Windows Phone 8
Li-ion 2,000mAh, non-removable
129 x 70.6 x 8.5mm (dimension)
139g (weight)

6. Cherry Mobile Omega Infinity (±Php14,999USD 256INR 21,668EUR 243CNY 1,861)

“Some infinities are literally bigger than other infinities.”

Cherry Mobile’s flagship phone isn’t the only ‘Infinity’ in this list, and it’s also the most expensive one, but it’s definitely no slouch as it packs a design that is easy to love, a 1080p display, an octa-core CPU and almost all the specs that we can ask for.

You can check out our full review of the device here.

Cherry Mobile Omega Infinity (X110) specs:
5.5-inch IPS LCD display @ 1920×1080 pixels, 401ppi
Mediatek MT6592 1.7GHz octa-core CPU
Mali 450-MP Graphics
2GB RAM
32GB internal storage
HSPA+
dual-SIM, micro-SIM slot
WiFi b/g/n 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
18-megapixel rear camera w/ LED flash
8-megapixel front-facing camera
GPS with aGPS
Miracast
Li-Ion 2,900mAh battery
Android 4.2 Jellybean

7. LG G2 Mini (±Php12,990USD 221INR 18,765EUR 211CNY 1,612-Php13,990)

LG takes the Mini formula and combines it with their successful G2 and voila! The LG G2 Mini is a really good device packing a balance between everything in the mid-range. It also has those signature rear-keys, not to mention, LTE connectivity! If you’re looking for a really good mid-range device, LG has got you covered in our list.

LG G2 Mini specs:
4.7-inch IPS LCD qHD @ 540 x 960 pixels, 234ppi
Qualcomm MSM8226 Snapdragon 400 1.2GHz quad-core processor
Adreno 305 graphics
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD card
LTE CAT 4 & VoLTE 100Mbps
3G/HSDPA 21Mbps
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
FM Radio tuner
GPS w/ aGPS support, GLONASS
8MP rear camera with LED flash
1.3MP front-facing camera
Android 4.4.2 Kitkat
Li-Ion 2,440mAh battery
129.6 x 66 x 9.8 mm

8. THL T100S (±Php13,499USD 230INR 19,501EUR 219CNY 1,675)

Here’s another octa-core device making it into the list, and it really does pack a punch! We have had a hands-on of the THL T100S, and we liked a lot about it, especially how a lot is offered for the price. Now it’s just up to you if you’re willing to make the deal.

THL T100S specs:
5-inch fHD IPS OGS display @ 1920×1080 pixels, 440ppi
Gorilla Glass 3
1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor
2GB RAM
Mali 450MP GPU
Expandable 32GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD
3G/HSPA+
Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby, Dual-3G
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
FM Radio Tuner
GPS w/ A-GPS
USB On-The-Go support
13MP BSI rear camera, LED flash
1080p video recording @ 30fps
13MP front-facing camera
Li-Ion 2,700mAh battery
Android 4.2.2 Jellybean
144.3 x 70.4 x 8.4mm
145g

9. O+ Air (±Php13,995USD 238INR 20,217EUR 227CNY 1,737)

The O+ Air is all about sexiness, fluidity and power. It doesn’t offer 1080p like some in this list, but it makes up for it in quality. A lot about it works really good, more impressively since it’s all housed in a sleek casing. We have some gripes with it as we tackled in our full review, but that doesn’t keep the Air from being one of our top smartphones.

O+ Air specs:
5-inch LUMI Display @ 720×1280 pixels, 294ppi
Mediatek MT6592 1.7GHz octa-core CPU
Mali 450-MP quad-core Graphics
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD card (8GB Sandisk included)
3G, Quadband GSM
Dual-SIM (regular SIM + micro-SIM slot)
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
FM radio tuner
GPS with aGPS support
13MP rear camera with LED flash
5MP front-facing camera
Li-Ion 2,000mAh battery
Android 4.4 Kitkat

10. Sony Xperia T3 (±Php14,100USD 240INR 20,369EUR 229CNY 1,750)

Sony’s Xperia T3 is just one of the many phones you can get from the company in this price range, but being the most recent off the bunch, we gave it the title. The T3 offers a balance between everything mid-range as well, having LTE and a more than decent blend of specs, but if you happen to have a difficulty getting one below Php15k, you can also check out the Xperia M2 and the T2. You can also find the ex-flagship Xperia Z having waterproofing, a 13 megapixel camera, a 1080p display and all that for below Php15k, but that is only if you’re willing to get an almost-two-year-old phone.

Sony Xperia T3 specification:
5.3″ Triluminos IPS display (1280 x 720 pixels), 277 ppi
1.4 GHz quad-core Qualcomm MSM8928-2 Snapdragon 400
Adreno 305
1GB RAM
8GB internal memory, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
8-megapixel Sony Exmor RS camera w/ LED flash, 1080p@30fps
1.1-megapixel front camera, 720p@30fps
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
GPS w/ A-GPS and GLONASS
Bluetooth v4.0 w/ A2DP
FM radio w/ RDS
NFC
LTE Cat4
Non-removable Li-Ion 2500 mAh
Android 4.4.2 “KitKat”
150.7 x 77 x 7 mm (dimensions)
148g (weight)

Special Mentions

For a few special mentions, Samsung fans can find the Galaxy Grand 2, and if they want lots of camera extras, the Galaxy S4 Zoom is available as well. For those that wish to get a BlackBerry offering, there is the recent Z3 and the past flagships Z10 & Q10, all you can find under Php15k.

And we’re done! What do you think of our list? If we missed anything, you can drop your smartphone suggestions down below for everyone to see. We have a lot more coming soon, and for the meantime, feel free share this with people looking to buy a new smartphone under this specific budget. Just as always, stay tuned for more content!