We’re just a couple of weeks into 2017 yet the year is already high in anticipation for new smartphones especially from big brands. However, we can’t just forget the devices that were launched in 2016. So for this compilation, we’re going to take a look back at the hot smartphones for this price range.
Note: List is arranged alphabetically. Phones included are those that can be purchased locally through official or online stores.
Apple iPhone 7 / iPhone 7 Plus
Apple made a bang in 2016 with the release of two new iPhones – the 7 and 7 Plus. The latter was the most popular choice due to its dual rear camera setup. The iPhone 7 starts at Php37,990 and the larger and more equipped iPhone 7 Plus starts at Php44,990
ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe
ASUS wanted to play ball with the big boys last year with the launch of the premium Zenfone 3 Deluxe. It’s not to be scoffed at though with its 5.7-inch AMOLED display, 23MP shooter, Snapdragon 820 chipset and 6GB of RAM. It’s priced at Php34,995.
Google Pixel / Pixel XL
Google dropped the Nexus last year in favor of their own Pixel smartphones. The handsets are almost identical with each other and they mainly differ in size and battery capacity. It is powered by a Snapdragon 821 CPU, 4GB RAM, 12.3MP camera, and the latest Android version available. It’s not officially available in the Philippines but it is listed on Widget City for Php40,500 (listing here) with the bigger Pixel XL goes for Php48,500 (listing here).
Huawei Mate 8
There’s always a market for 6-inchers and one of those catering to that demographic is the Huawei Mate 8. Although the Mate 9 is already out, the Mate 8 still packs a punch with its Kirin 950 octa-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and 4,000mAh battery. It was priced at Php32,990 during launch.
LG V20
LG took the V10 and the flagship G5, took it’s strengths and combined them in a new smartphone called the V20. It’s a multimedia-heavy user’s ideal smartphone thanks to the 5.7 QHD display, Snapdragon 820 CPU, dual rear camera setup (16MP + 8MP), and 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC. It’s also one of the first phones to run Android 7.0 Nougat out of the box. The LG V20 is priced Php35,990.
Motorola Moto Z
Motorola returned to the Philippines with new smartphones and leading the pack is the Moto Z. It is equipped with features found in flagship smartphones like a 5.5-inch display with QHD resolution, Snapdragon 820 CPU, and 4GB RAM. What sets it apart from the competition is its modular accessories. The Moto Z is priced at Php33,999.
Samsung Galaxy S7 / Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung might have disappointed a lot of consumers with the Galaxy Note7, good thing they have released the flagship Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge which stepped up and fill that void. It might be a year old soon but its features are not to be taken for granted such as the 5.5-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, Exynos 8890 CPU, 4GB RAM, 12MP Dual Pixel camera, and IP68-rated body. The Galaxy S7 retails for Php31,990 while the bigger and sexier S7 Edge goes for Php35,990.
Sony Xperia XZ
Sony retired its Z lineup and introduced the X-Series with the Xperia XZ leading the pack. It may be a bit toned down compared to other flagships due to the 3GB RAM but it has a Snapdragon 820 CPU, 23MP camera, and an IP68-rated body. It’s pricey though at Php37,990.
Xiaomi Mi Mix
Xiaomi is yet to return in the Philippines but some of their impressive phones have made their way here through online sellers. One of them is the Mi Mix, a powerful smartphone with features not found in most flagships. For one it has an impressive 91.3% screen-to-body ratio for the 6.4-inch display, ceramic acoustic system, and ultrasonic proximity sensor. It is powered by a Snapdragon 821 CPU, up to 6GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage. It is available at Widget City for Php37,600 (see listing here).
And that sums it up. If we missed anything, let us know in the comments below. We’ll be back with another compilation at a lower price range, so stay tuned.