Philippines
Best Budget Smartphones below P15,000 (June 2017 Edition)
Welcome to GadgetMatch’s list of the best smartphones priced below PhP 15,000! Each month, we update our selection with the budget-friendly phones we believe are most deserving of your hard-earned savings.
Even though the spotlight has been on high-end smartphones since Mobile World Congress 2017 (MWC), there have been a few surprisingly good entry-level handsets coming out lately, as well. So good, in fact, that we had to knock out some of our favorites in our May list.
Here they are in no particular order:
Honor 6X / Huawei GR5 2017 / Huawei Mate 9 Lite (PhP 11,990)
No matter what name it goes by in your region, Huawei’s borderline-midrange smartphone ticks all the right boxes in our ever-evolving criteria for what makes a handset great. We fell in love with its premium build and fun dual-camera mode, which are two features previously unheard of at this price point.
REVIEW: Honor 6X (aka Huawei GR5 2017 or Huawei Mate 9 Lite)
OPPO F1s (Updated Variant – PhP 13,990)
While the F3 hasn’t rolled out yet and we’ve yet to review it, the updated F1s with 4GB of memory (up from 3GB) and 64GB of expandable storage (up from 32GB) is our top pick from OPPO. This selfie-centric midranger offers a sleek metal design, one of the fastest fingerprint sensors in the market, and a user interface anyone — even iPhone users — can appreciate.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5 (PhP 9,995)
ASUS has been releasing ZenFone 3 variants like there’s no tomorrow, but the one offering the most value for the price is the 5.5-inch ZenFone 3 Max. It’s the larger version of the original ZenFone 3 Max, and borrows the faster camera of the ZenFone 3 Laser.
REVIEW: ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X (PhP 9,800)
We finally had to take out Xiaomi’s Redmi 4 Prime on this list to make way for the Redmi Note 4X. It’s bigger and more fun to play with; plus, it has all the same features we loved from its smaller sibling, including the large battery, efficient processor, and solid build quality.
Vivo Y53 (PhP 6,990)
When you talk about great value, you must include Vivo’s Y53. Despite having no fingerprint scanner, its processor and build quality are among the things you used to find on phones twice the price of this handset — truly a serious consideration when you can’t spend more than PhP 7,000.
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Apps
Live NBA action on Disney Plus now available in the Philippines
Stream the live action starting November 20th
The NBA will now stream live on Disney+ as well for Filipino fans as part of a multi-year agreement.
This marks an expansion of Disney and ESPN’s global relationship with the NBA, bringing live coverage to the streaming platform for the first time.
ESPN, of course, is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is one of the latter’s major divisions.
Under the agreement, fans in the Philippines will get closer to courtside action with special access to live NBA games. There’s also ESPN’s award-winning documentaries and live broadcasts of NBA Countdown too.
Moreover, fans can tune in to legendary voices Shaquille O’Neal, Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley in real-time with NBA Tip-Off and Inside the NBA.
NBA on Disney+ will officially start on Thursday, November 20 morning (November 19 in the United States) with a double-header featuring these match-ups:
- Houston Rockets at Cleveland Cavaliers (8:00 A.M.)
- New York Knicks at Dallas Mavericks (10:30 A.M.)
Disney+ subscribers will be able to live stream select regular season and playoff games, including marquee events like NBA on Christmas Day, NBA Draft, the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and select Summer League Games.
The agreement also includes one NBA Conference Finals series live. Another Conference Finals series and the NBA Finals will both be available to stream on delay as well.
News
Google Wallet rolls out in the Philippines
Android users can now tap-to-pay and store digital essentials in one app
Google has officially launched Google Wallet in the Philippines. This gives Android users a secure and convenient way to pay in stores, online, and in-app. The service also supports digital items such as loyalty cards, boarding passes, event tickets, and more.
Google Wallet is available for download on the Google Play Store starting today. You can add a participating bank card to Google Wallet, then pay with your Android phone or Wear OS device wherever contactless payments are accepted.
Prep Palacios, Country Manager of Google Philippines, said the launch aligns with the country’s growing digital lifestyle and supports faster, safer transactions.
FinTech Alliance PH chairman Lito Villanueva noted the service strengthens financial inclusion, backed by collaboration between the private sector and government.
BSP Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan emphasized that banks and e-money issuers remain responsible for risk management when working with technology service providers. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said Google Wallet supports the nation’s digitalization agenda.
Features and supported partners
Google Wallet stores digital credentials securely. The app holds your payment cards, and Google Pay completes the transaction. You can also add boarding passes from Philippine Airlines and other carriers, with instant alerts for flight changes. The app supports event and cinema tickets, loyalty cards, vouchers, and digital car keys.
Participating issuers include Visa and Mastercard cardholders from banks such as China Bank, EastWest, RCBC, GoTyme, Maya, UnionBank, Wise, Zed, and GCash. Online payments are supported on platforms like Shopee and select merchants via partner payment service providers.
For transit, users can tap and pay at MRT-3 stations, modern jeepneys in Cebu and Mandaue City, and other terminals that accept Visa or Mastercard. Google Wallet supports digital tickets from Easybook. Beep App integration will follow soon.
Setup and security
To enable tap-to-pay, users can add a card inside the app, agree to terms, and complete verification. Google Wallet uses tokenization and device-specific security codes for every transaction, with screen lock required for access. Lost devices can be secured or erased via Find My Device.
Google Wallet is now available for download through the Google Play Store.
Accessories
JBL unwraps the season with prizes that go beyond powerful sound
Celebrate the holidays with Unwrap the Unexpected promo and an unforgettable Sound Fest!
The holidays always feel louder when music fills the room.
This year, JBL is giving Filipinos a reason to turn the volume even higher with its Unwrap the Unexpected promo, a Christmas celebration that rewards every purchase with the chance to take home surprises that go from everyday essentials to life-changing grand prizes.
A holiday treat with every purchase
From November 1 to December 31, anyone who buys a participating JBL product from authorized stores or official online partners can register their receipt at jblpromo.com.ph.
The process is simple. You make a purchase, upload your proof of payment, and enter your details before the year ends. Each entry becomes your chance to win a lineup of prizes that includes a brand-new Tesla Model 3.
The promo also offers rewards such as a Vespa S125, a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7, and a Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop, along with dozens of other exciting items.
Free pass to the biggest JBL music experience
Every successful registration comes with a free Concert Pass to JBL Sound Fest 2025.
The event happens on December 6 at Parklinks Open Grounds in Pasig City. Registration for the pass is open until December 6 at 10 a.m.
The festival is set to gather some of the most celebrated OPM artists in one night of energy, lights, and crowd-shaking sound.
Rico Blanco, Cup of Joe, HORI7ON, Flow G, and Kat DJ will take the stage, along with other performers ready to deliver a holiday concert that lives up to the JBL name.
Expect a night built around powerful music, vibrant production, and a shared love for sound.
How to join
To participate, purchase any qualified JBL product from participating retailers nationwide and register at jblpromo.com.ph by December 31.
Make sure to claim your Sound Fest pass before December 6 at 10 a.m. Full promo mechanics and registration details are available on jblpromo.com.ph.
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