Philippines
Smartphones cheaper on normal days over sale days, says study
Study by iPrice group
Online shopping has been a hit among Filipino consumers. Monthly online sales days like 11.11 and 12.12 drive people to e-commerce sites in hopes of the best deals.
The practice includes trying to score on different smartphones at the most affordable rates. These also include the usual discounts and freebies.
However, a study conducted by iPrice group, an e-commerce aggregator with a database of over 7 million products and 8 million sellers across Southeast Asia, reveals a different story.
Smartphones cheaper on normal days
The study collected price data of smartphones from July 16 to December 31, 2021.
It revealed that from August to December, the cheapest median smartphone price falls on a normal day instead of a sales day, as seen in the table below.
| Month | Smartphone median price on Sales Day | Smartphone median price on a Non-Sales Day |
| August | PhP 18, 694.22 on 8.8 | PhP 18, 311.75 (August 3) |
| September | PhP 20, 212.80 on 9.9 | PhP 18, 298.42 (September 25) |
| October | PhP 20, 450.18 on 10.10 | PhP 19, 085.91 (October 26) |
| November | PhP 18, 345.59 on 11.11 | PhP 17, 207.41 (December 17) |
| December | PhP 17, 640.64 on 12.12 | PhP 17, 478.11 (December 16) |
Prices marked up before sale days
Another interesting tidbit the study revealed is that prices were marked up in the days leading to the actual sale day.
For instance, prices started increasing by September 30, 2021 until it reached a median price of PhP 22,100 on October 2, 2021.
It drops by 8 percent — down to PhP 20,500 during the 10.10 sale, but the median price was 15 percent lower on September 25, 2021 at PhP 18,300.
Similar patterns were observed during the buildups to the 11.11 and 12.12 sales across e-commerce platforms.
December still best month to buy smartphones
According to the average of all median prices, December is still the best month to buy a smartphone.
If shoppers are interested to buy a smartphone during a sales day, then 12.12 would be the most ideal date as the median price is lower.
Aside from that, most Filipino workers have already received their 13th month pay by that period.
As has been the case, the month of December has always been filled with clearance and holiday sales as it is definitely one of the most exciting months in Philippine culture and tradition.
Smartphone prices in PH among highest
Lastly, as iPrice also observed the median prices of smartphones in other Southeast Asian countries, it was discovered that the Philippines had the second highest median price at PhP 19,100, just below Singapore’s PhP 23,400 equivalent.
Indonesia had the cheapest median price for smartphones at PhP 13,000, followed by Thailand (PhP 15,400) and Malaysia (PhP 15,500).
This is quite a bummer given that the Philippines also has one of the lowest wages among the Southeast Asian countries, so scoring the best deals on online purchases and buying smart are definitely musts.
Xiaomi has officially launched the REDMI Note 17 Series in the Philippines, introducing four smartphones led by the new REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G. The lineup focuses on durability, battery life, and long-term performance.
Battery beasts
The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G features Xiaomi’s largest-ever smartphone battery at 10,000mAh. It supports 100W HyperCharge and 27W reverse charging. The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G has an 8,340mAh battery with 67W HyperCharge. Meanwhile, the REDMI Note 17 5G and REDMI Note 17 pack 7,700mAh batteries with 45W charging.
All four models use Xiaomi’s REDMI Titan Battery System with silicon-carbon battery technology. Xiaomi says the batteries can retain at least 80 percent of their original capacity after 1,600 charge cycles. That is equivalent to around six years of typical use.
The lineup also receives up to six years of security updates. The Pro Max gets a six-year like-new software experience.
Durability is another major focus. The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G and REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G are the first smartphones to receive TÜV SÜD 5-star Titan Durability Certification. The certification covers drop resistance, water resistance, and battery performance.
Both Pro models feature IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings. They also passed a 2-meter, 72-hour water-resistance test and support Underwater Mode. The phones have been tested for drops of up to three meters onto granite surfaces. Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 provides additional protection.
Refreshed design
The series also gets a refreshed design. Xiaomi redesigned the camera module and gave the phones flat displays, rounded corners, and dual-finish back panels.
The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G comes in Cloud Blush, Purple, and Black. The Cloud Blush variant features a photochromic back that changes from white to a pink-orange tone under UV light.
For displays, the Pro models have 6.83-inch panels with 1.5K resolution and up to 3,500 nits peak brightness. They also support a 3200Hz instantaneous touch sampling rate.
The REDMI Note 17 5G and REDMI Note 17 have larger 6.99-inch displays.
The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G runs on the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 Mobile Platform. It supports up to 24GB of RAM through Memory Extension.
The Pro Max and Pro 5G also get additional AI features. The entire series supports Google Gemini and Circle to Search with Google.
For photography, the Pro Max offers enhanced portrait processing, dual-video recording, and 4K 30fps video.
Both Pro models also get Professional Video mode, Live Moment, AI Glare Removal, AI Erase Pro, and AI Beautify.
Price and availability
The REDMI Note 17 Pro Max 5G starts at PHP 28,999 for the 8GB+256GB configuration. The 12GB+256GB Shopee-exclusive variant costs PHP 30,999. The 16GB+512GB model costs PHP 32,999.
The REDMI Note 17 Pro 5G starts at PHP 20,999 for 6GB+128GB. The REDMI Note 17 5G starts at PHP 15,999, while the standard REDMI Note 17 starts at PHP 13,999.
These prices are part of an early-bird promotion running from September 15 to October 1, 2026. Buyers can also receive a REDMI Watch 6 Active or REDMI Buds 8 Lite as a freebie.
Xiaomi is also offering trials for Google One, YouTube Premium, and Spotify Premium, subject to eligibility.
The REDMI Note 17 Series officially launches in the Philippines on September 15 through participating Xiaomi channels. These include Lazada, Shopee, and the Official Xiaomi Store.
Entertainment
PH to celebrate 1st ever National Cinema Day; movies start at less than $2
Watch a movie on September 12 for a fraction of the cost
The Philippines will be celebrating its first ever National Cinema Day on September 12. On this day, movie tickets will go for as low as PhP 100 (US$ 1.60) at regular 2D cinemas.
The campaign aims to make moviegoing more accessible to audiences. This includes families, friends, students, and cinephiles in general.
Such initiative has been a staple in other countries, like the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and more. The same concept applies, with movie tickets going on sale for a lot less.
What’s great about the celebration is that all movies scheduled for exhibition on September 12, whether local or international, shall get the special admission price.
Advanced tickets sales have already begun. Customers can purchase through participating box offices, official websites, mobile apps, and authorized platforms.
Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis and remain subject to theater capacity. Prices vary for other viewing formats like Director’s Club or IMAX, for instance.
The campaign is organized by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP), along with industry and government partners.
The initiative is supported by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), and the Metro Manila Film Festival through the MMDA.
Participating cinemas include Ayala Malls Cinemas, SM Cinemas, Robinsons Movieworld, CityMall Cinema, Megaworld Cinemas, and more.
Apple has officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone. It uses a passport-style design that opens into a larger display while retaining a more conventional smartphone experience when folded.
Price and availability
The iPhone Duo starts at PhP 159,990 in the Philippines for the 256GB model as listed on the Apple website.
Here’s the full local pricing:
- 256GB — PhP 159,990
- 512GB — PhP 175,990
- 1TB — PhP 207,990
- 2TB — PhP 254,990
The iPhone Duo comes in Star White and Night Sky.
Actual availability in the Philippines has yet to be officially announced.
A foldable design with two displays
The iPhone Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display when folded and expands to a 7.6-inch main display when opened. Both orientations use the same aspect ratio, allowing iOS to transition between them seamlessly.
The rear chassis uses Ceramic Shield, while the front display gets Ceramic Shield 2. The device is also IP68-rated for dust and water resistance.
Its hinge uses carbon fiber supports and magnets that produce an audible click when the phone is folded.
A20 Pro brings flagship performance
The iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro, the same chip found in the iPhone 18 Pro series. Apple says the chip delivers 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro.
It also comes with the new C2 cellular modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster uploads. Like other foldables, the Duo can be used in different configurations, including tent mode and a partially folded book-like position.
48-megapixel camera system
The iPhone Duo gets a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera alongside a 12-megapixel 2x telephoto camera.
For selfies and video calls, it has a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. The inner display also uses an under-screen camera for a cleaner look.
Battery life goes beyond a day
The iPhone Duo offers up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display and up to 44 hours using the outer display.
Charging is also quick. Apple says a 20-minute charge can replenish half the battery, while a five-minute charge can provide up to five hours of video playback.
For the complete specifications and first-look details, check out our main iPhone Duo launch coverage.
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