Philippines
Best Budget Smartphones below P15,000 (August 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 this entire year, there have been a few surprisingly good entry-level handsets coming out lately, as well. So good, in fact, that we had to reassess our entire list.
Here they are in no particular order:
Huawei GR3 2017 / Honor 8 Lite (PhP 8,990)
As much as we enjoyed having Huawei’s GR5 2017 (also known as the Honor 6X) on this list, we couldn’t help but replace it with its more affordable sibling, the GR3 2017 (confusingly called the Honor 8 Lite in some regions). You can never go wrong with a midrange chipset and premium-looking body in a sub-PhP 10,000 handset.
OPPO A57 (PhP 11,990)
Now that OPPO’s F series belongs in the midrange category of our lists (the recently launched F3 is valued above PhP 15,000), it’s up to the A57 to be the gateway into the Chinese company’s portfolio. Armed with an efficient Snapdragon 435 processor, selfie-centric front camera, and speedy fingerprint scanner, the A57 is OPPO’s best budget bet.
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 5,990)
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 6,000.
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Automotive
BYD Atto 2 launches with EV, plug-in hybrid options
A full EV variant and two DM-i hybrid options, all built around the same Blade Battery platform
BYD Cars Philippines just launched the Atto 2 at the Trinoma Activity Center in Quezon City. It’s the newest addition to the brand’s New Energy Vehicle lineup here.
You get a choice between a full battery electric vehicle and BYD’s Super DM-i plug-in hybrid system. The DM-i splits further into Premium and Dynamic variants.
On range, the EV variant is rated for up to 380 km on a full charge. The DM-i variants run up to 45 km on electric power alone. Combined range goes up to 1,340 km, based on an efficiency run BYD Cars Philippines conducted with the Automobile Association of the Philippines.
BYD notes those combined-range numbers aren’t guaranteed. They’ll shift depending on driving habits, traffic, road and weather conditions, vehicle load, and battery condition.
Every Atto 2 variant runs on BYD’s Blade Battery. It’s the same platform the brand leans on for durability and thermal stability across its lineup.
All three variants share the same core safety features and SUV styling. The DM-i Premium stands out as the only variant with DiPilot ADAS on board, alongside a fuller set of comfort and convenience features.
Tech-wise, the EV gets a 12.8-inch touchscreen. The DM-i models come with a 10.1-inch display. Both support smartphone connectivity.
The EV variant also gets Vehicle-to-Load capability. It lets you plug appliances or equipment directly into the car and use it as a power source, whether that’s for a road trip, a weekend outdoors, or backup power when you need it.
Price, availability
From July 28 to August 31, 2026, all Atto 2 variants come with launch offers and financing promos through BPI. Once that period ends, official pricing starting September 1 looks like this:
- BYD Atto 2 EV: PhP 1,338,000
- BYD Atto 2 DM-i Premium: PhP 1,258,000
- BYD Atto 2 DM-i Dynamic: PhP 1,048,000
Every unit comes with an 8-year warranty on the Drive Unit, a 6-year or 160,000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty, and an 8-year or 160,000 km warranty on the Blade Battery.
Color options include Breeze Green, exclusive to the EV; Cosmos Black, exclusive to the DM-i; along with Harbour Grey, Midnight Blue, and Ski White across the lineup.
The Atto 2 launch also kicks off the BYD Tech Tour, running at the Trinoma Activity Center from July 28 to August 2.
Automotive
BYD adds the facelifted Seal 5 DM-i to its hybrid sedan lineup
More electric range, more everyday practicality, same Blade Battery backbone
BYD Cars Philippines is growing its electrified sedan family with the facelifted Seal 5 DM-i, now available in Essential and Dynamic variants.
It follows up on the original Seal 5’s 2024 launch, and this time BYD is leaning on its 5th generation Super DM-i tech to make plug-in hybrid ownership more approachable for everyday buyers, not just early adopters.
The variants are built around two different Blade Battery sizes. The Essential runs a 7.42 kWh battery good for up to 55 km of electric-only range, while the Dynamic steps up to an 18.3 kWh battery for up to 115 km.
In both cases, the idea is that most daily commutes can run entirely on electric power, with the hybrid system kicking in once you go beyond that.
BYD also ran a combined-range efficiency test with the Automobile Association Philippines and came away with a figure of up to 2,181 km.
That’s BYD’s number from a controlled test, so treat it as a ceiling rather than what you’ll see day to day. Real-world range depends on how you drive, traffic, road conditions, and how loaded the car is.
Inside, the cabin gets an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.1-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus automatic climate control with rear vents and several USB ports.
Trunk space sits at 522 liters, and that opens up to 1,295 liters with the rear seats folded down, which should cover most errand runs or small business hauls.
On safety, the Seal 5 DM-i comes with cruise control, tire pressure monitoring, rear parking sensors, Vehicle Dynamic Control, Hill Hold Control, Automatic Vehicle Hold, and multiple airbags.
Price, availability
Introductory pricing runs from July 28 to August 31, 2026. After that, official SRP lands at PhP 948,000 for the Essential and PhP 1,048,000 for the Dynamic.
Both variants carry an 8-year Drive Unit warranty, a 6-year or 160,000 km bumper-to-bumper warranty, and 8 years or 160,000 km of coverage on the Blade Battery.
Color options are Deep Sea Blue, Cosmos Black, Atlantis Grey, and Harbour Grey. BPI is also offering financing for individual buyers and businesses looking to bring hybrid or electric vehicles into their fleets.
The Seal 5 DM-i launch opens the BYD Tech Tour, running at the Trinoma Activity Center from July 28 to August 2.
The newly-launched Samsung Galaxy Z8 series is now available via Smart Postpaid and Smart Infinity. Pre-orders for Samsung’s latest foldables are available from July 22 to August 13.
Pre-ordering will allow customers to get exclusive storage upgrades, trade-in savings, and flexible payment options. Plus, they can get three months of complimentary Samsung Care+.
Moreover, customers can maximize their devices with Smart’s All-New Postpaid Plans+, which come with UNLI App Bundles, UNLI 5G for 12 months (in select areas), Open-Access Data, and high priority on the Smart network.
With Smart Postpaid Plans+ 1999, subscribers can get the following devices through straight payment or 24-month, zero-interest installment using participating credit cards (Metrobank, Security Bank, BPI, UnionBank, HSBC, and RCBC):
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra (512GB): PhP P101,600 or PhP 5,021/month
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 (512GB): PhP 91,100 or PhP 4,500/month
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 (512GB): PhP 65,100 or PhP 3,217/month
Customers can pre-order the latest Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series via smart.com.ph/galaxypreorder or at the nearest Smart Store.
In addition, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Series is also available through Infinity Plan 5000 and Infinity Plan 8000.
These packages come with unlimited data, calls, and texts, roaming-ready connectivity, and exclusive Infinity privileges.
Through the Samsung Trade-In Program, customers can also reserve their preferred Galaxy Z8 Series device and complete their trade-in at participating stores once the devices officially launch.
Eligible smartphones can be traded in for up to PhP 14,000 off.
New Samsung Galaxy Watches also available
Lastly, Smart Postpaid and Smart Infinity are offering the new Samsung Galaxy Watch9 and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra2.
Compatible smartwatch users can also add on Smart Device Link, which enables their smartwatch and phone to share one mobile number and plan inclusions.
First-time subscribers can enjoy the service free for six months, when they activate until September 30.
With the Smart Postpaid Plans, subscribers can save up to 20% compared with the suggested retail price when they bundle a Samsung Galaxy Watch with their new Samsung Galaxy Z8 Series device.
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