Philippines

Best Budget Smartphones below P15,000 (May 2017 Edition)

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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 February list.

Here they are in no particular order:

Honor 6x

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

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.

REVIEW: OPPO F1s

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

Redmi 4 Prime

Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime (PhP 8,700)

Xiaomi’s best-ever entry-level smartphone first came to mind when forming this list. The Redmi 4 Prime has everything: a responsive fingerprint scanner, sturdy metal body, a battery that lasts days, and surprisingly good camera, making it so complete for such a low price.

REVIEW: Xiaomi Redmi 4 Prime

Vivo Y53

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.

REVIEW: Vivo Y53

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Automotive

The Changan Eado Plus officially lands in the Philippines

Its aggressive launch pricing challenges the compact sedan status quo.

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Inchcape Philippines is officially shaking up the compact sedan segment.

The Changan Eado Plus has arrived on local shores, and it’s gunning for the top spot in your driveway.

Available in two trims — Luxe and Lite — the Eado Plus offers the Filipino driver a car that looks like a million bucks without the massive price tag.

Modern aesthetic inside and out

On the outside, the Eado Plus makes a bold statement with its prominent three-dimensional grille and streamlined body lines.

This polished, premium look relies on LED lighting to command a strong presence on the road. Inside, a meticulously curated cabin handles the daily grind with ease.

The Luxe variant carries a massive 10-inch touchscreen equipped with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Meanwhile, the Lite variant keeps you connected with a 7-inch display.

To beat the local climate, Changan included a PM2.5 air filter to keep the cabin air clean, alongside a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster that puts all your vital driving data front and center.

Performance and safety without compromise

Under the hood, a 1.5L Bluecore gasoline engine powers both variants. This engine works with a 7-speed wet-type dual-clutch transmission (WDCT) to deliver a stable, responsive ride.

For those who want more control, the Luxe variant offers selectable Eco and Normal driving modes to match your mood or the traffic conditions.

Safety remains a top priority, as the Eado Plus houses a comprehensive suite of protection. Beyond the standard Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), the car packs in practical features like rear parking sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and ISOFIX tethers for families.

Pricing, availability

To celebrate the launch, Changan offers the Eado Plus with aggressive introductory pricing through April 30, 2026.

During this period, the 1.5 Luxe DCT costs only PhP 749,999, while the 1.5 Lite DCT goes for just PhP 699,000. These rates offer a significant discount from the standard prices of PhP 799,999 and PhP 750,000, respectively.

Drivers can choose from four colors: White, Black, Andean Gray, and Titanium Silver Gray (via special order).

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Deals

PLDT Home, Samsung team up for exclusive entertainment deals

Enjoy discounts on Samsung TVs, more with your Home Fibr plan

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PLDT Home and Samsung have partnered to bring exclusive entertainment deals, making it easier for Filipinos to enjoy premium viewing experiences at home.

New customers who sign up for PLDT Home Fiber Plan 1299 and above can enjoy up to 15% off on select Samsung TVs. Special deals on sound devices are also available.

In addition, subscribers can receive stackable vouchers worth up to PhP 2,000, redeemable through PLDT MyHome.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

  • Plan 1299: 5% discount on all TVs, sound devices, monitors
  • Plans 1399, 1599, 1699, 1799, 2099: 10% discount on all TVs
  • Plans 2499, 2699, 3199, 7999: 15% discount on all TVs

Meanwhile, existing PLDT Home subscribers who upgrade their plans can also enjoy even more rewards. This includes stackable vouchers worth up to PhP 3,000, on top of Samsung entertainment discounts.

To redeem the Samsung vouchers, simply register or log in via PLDT MyHome. Vouchers can then be used to purchase Samsung Vision AI TVs through the dedicated Samsung online store link.

Whether it’s K-drama, movies, sports, or gaming, customers can upgrade their entertainment setups with Samsung electronics for less.

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Finance

Maya waives withdrawal, InstaPay transfer fees for Middle East remittances

Until April 10, for families relying on remittances from loved ones in the region

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Maya Savings

Maya is extending support to Filipino families receiving remittances from loved ones working in the Middle East. This is through rebates for withdrawal and InstaPay transfer fees until April 10 as developments continue to unfold across parts of the West Asian region.

From March 23 until April 10, Maya users who receive remittances from select Middle Eastern countries can unlock a set of transaction rebates. This is designed to help them access and use the funds more easily.

Select countries include: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan.

The region remains one of the Philippines’ most important remittance corridors. There are an estimated 2.4 million Filipinos residing in the region, based from Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) data.

These overseas-based citizens contribute over US$ 6.4 billion in remittances in 2025 alone, based on preliminary Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data.

Eligible Maya users who activate Maya XP will receive the following rebates:

  • ATM withdrawals: PhP 18 credited back per transaction
  • InstaPay transfers: PhP 15 credited back per transaction

In addition, eligible users may also enjoy cashback on mobile load purchases. The discount ranges from 1% to 3%, depending on their Maya XP level.

After receiving a qualifying remittance, eligible users will receive an invitation to activate
Maya XP. The invite will pop up within one to three days.

Eligible users can activate their Maya XP directly within the Maya app by accessing the Maya XP  section in the Wallet Dashboard or Profile page and completing the quick “Get started” process, including providing the required consent.

Once activated, users can immediately begin enjoying rebates on eligible transactions.

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