Philippines

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

Published

on

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.

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

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.

REVIEW: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4X

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

[irp posts=”13474″ name=”Best Budget Smartphones below P15,000 (May 2017 Edition)”]

Philippines

Smart Infinity launches PureVoice

AI-powered noise cancellation for calls

Published

on

Smart Infinity has launched PureVoice, an AI-powered service that filters background noise during calls. The service aims to deliver clearer conversations, even in noisy environments.

Launched on November 6, 2026, PureVoice reduces distractions from traffic, crowds, and music. It supports everyday conversations, from important business calls to catching up with family and friends.

PureVoice also works on smartphones without built-in noise cancellation. Users don’t need to install an app or configure additional settings.

Subscribers can simply press 8# during a call to enable or disable the service. Smart Infinity members get first access, with a wider rollout planned for other Smart subscribers.

Smart continues to improve voice calling

PureVoice builds on Smart’s investments in network expansion and modernization.

In 2020, Smart completed its Voice over LTE (VoLTE) rollout. The technology enables high-quality voice calls while allowing subscribers to use mobile data simultaneously.

Smart also introduced Video over LTE (ViLTE). The technology lets subscribers make video calls through their phone’s dialer without third-party applications.

The company also highlighted its performance in quality-of-service tests conducted by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Metro Manila. Smart recorded zero dropped calls in the latest tests, meeting the regulator’s prescribed threshold.

Smart Infinity members can learn more about PureVoice by calling *800.

Continue Reading

Philippines

Lazada kicks off 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year ahead of holiday rush

With up to 90% off deals

Published

on

Lazada Philippines is kicking off its 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year ahead of the holiday shopping rush. The sale runs from 8 PM on November 6 to November 13, 2026.

Shoppers can enjoy up to 90% off LazFlash Deals and additional Lazada vouchers worth up to PHP 3,000. The promotions cover gifts, household essentials, personal technology, fashion, and everyday lifestyle products.

Featured brands include SharkNinja, Jo Malone, CAROTE Global, Tempur, HONOR, Scrub Daddy, Karat World, and FitFlop.

Filipino shoppers become more discerning

The 2026 eCommerce Savvy Shopper Report by Cube, in partnership with Lazada, highlights changing Filipino shopping habits. The report found that 36% of Filipino online shoppers qualify as “Savvy Shoppers.”

This represents the highest proportion among six Southeast Asian markets surveyed. Another 22% of Filipino respondents fall under the “Near-Savvy” category.

The study measures shopping habits across four dimensions: Verification, Value Optimisation, Confidence & Protection, and Digital Fluency. These dimensions examine how consumers evaluate products and sellers, find better deals, and navigate digital shopping tools.

They also consider how shoppers assess safeguards throughout their online purchasing journey. The findings show that Filipinos now consider more than price when shopping online.

Product authenticity, seller credibility, buyer protection, and reliable information also influence their purchasing decisions.

Lazada aims to address these priorities through its shopping features and services. LazMall offers an authenticity guarantee, while AI chatbot LazzieChat helps shoppers make informed purchasing decisions.

Other in-app tools also help consumers navigate their online shopping experience with greater confidence.

Start holiday shopping early with Lazada

Lazada Philippines brings together trusted global brands and promotional offers to help shoppers prepare for the holidays.Consumers can explore gifts, home essentials, and everyday lifestyle products for the season and beyond.

Shoppers can access the 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year through the Lazada Philippines app. The sale runs from 8 PM on November 6 to November 13, 2026.

Continue Reading

Philippines

Smart boosts 5G network in Siargao for World Surf League event

Smart expands 5G coverage across Siargao.

Published

on

Siargao | Smart

Smart Communications is strengthening its 5G network in Siargao ahead of the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour, which is being held at Cloud 9 in General Luna until November 10.

The network enhancements aim to provide faster mobile connectivity for residents, tourists, athletes, media practitioners, and spectators attending the competition.

As the event’s official telecommunications partner, Smart has expanded its existing 5G coverage and capacity in key areas of the island. These include Cloud 9, Siargao Airport, Siargao Seaport, and other strategic locations.

The competition marks the first time the Philippines is hosting a stop on the prestigious WSL Championship Tour, bringing international surfing talent and visitors to the island.

“Siargao is an important tourism destination, and we are committed to supporting its continued growth through reliable connectivity,” said Lloyd R. Manaloto, Smart’s First Vice President and officer-in-charge.

He added that the partnership with WSL provides an opportunity to deliver better digital experiences to athletes, visitors, and local communities.

Beyond the competition, Smart says improved mobile connectivity can help residents and tourists with digital payments, accommodation and transportation bookings, real-time communication, and sharing their travel experiences online. It can also help local businesses facilitate transactions and engage customers.

Smart 5G offers for WSL visitors

Visitors attending the WSL Championship Tour can access select Smart Unli 5G offers, which include unlimited 5G data and non-stop 4G data starting at PHP 90 for three days.

Smart Postpaid subscribers can also take advantage of plans with Smart Device Link, allowing them to share their primary mobile number and plan with a smartwatch for calls, texts, and mobile data even when their iPhone is not nearby.

Smart subscribers who avail of select offers at designated booths and partner stores in Siargao may also receive freebies.

The network improvements are part of Smart’s continued investment in mobile connectivity across the Philippines. The company also highlighted its recognition from Ookla for Best Mobile Latency and Best Mobile Video Experience.

Continue Reading

Trending