Philippines

Best Premium Smartphones in the Philippines above P30,000

January 2021 Edition

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If you’re looking for the very best high-end smartphones available, you’ve come to the right place! Every month, GadgetMatch updates this list with the finest devices money can buy, no matter how much they cost.

Updated monthly, this list takes every newly launched flagship costing more than PhP 30,000 into consideration, but doesn’t discount the smartphones that continue to make an impact since their launch last year.

Here they are in no particular order:

Mate 40 Pro

Huawei Mate 40 Pro (PhP 55,999)

The Huawei Mate 40 Pro is everything you’ve come to expect from Huawei’s flagship Mate line — fantastic hardware and smart AI. Of course, there is the lingering issue of zero access to Google Mobile Services, but Huawei has done all it can to mitigate this. A change in leadership in the US provides hope but it’s not something we would hang our hats on.

WATCH: Huawei Mate 40 Pro Unboxing and Review

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (PhP 35,990)

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is meant to be a sub-flagship smartphone but its pricing still lands it on our premium category — something we probably need to revisit sooner than later. That said, this is a GadgetMatch favorite. It has all the “necessities” of a flagship smartphone in a plastic, easy-t0-grip build and is just an easy recommendation for people who can’t spend north of PhP 40,000 on a smartphone.

REVIEW: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 (PhP 109,990)

This is about as premium and as cutting edge as it gets. Samsung followed up its Galaxy Z Fold with a much more refined and polished Galaxy Z Fold2. It smoothens the rough edges of the first generation device and the result is what probably is the best foldable on the market right now.

WATCH: Galaxy Z Fold2 Review

iPhone 12 series (starts at PhP 43,990)

Design-wise not much has changed for the iPhones, but that’s not where you should be looking. Not only does the A14 chip deliver the usual performance bump, the cameras are also reportedly better and all these iPhones can now access 5G. It also helps that there’s four of them to choose from so there’s likely an iPhone just for you.

WATCH:
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro Buyer’s Guide
Unboxing iPhone 12 Mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max

ASUS ROG Phone 3 (PhP 54,995)

ASUS  doubled down on everything that made the previous generations of the ROG Phone great and gave us yet another spec-monster. Maxed-out specs, maxed-out mobile gaming. It has more competition in the mobile gaming smartphone space this year, but it’s still firmly ahead of everyone else in the pack.

REVIEW: ASUS ROG Phone 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra (PhP 67,990)

The Snapdragon 865 Plus vs Exynos 990 hullabaloo notwithstanding, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra continues to represent the best that the Galaxy Note line has to offer. The S Pen’s latency has improved and the cameras are a refined version of the S20 Ultra. Galaxy Note loyalists will find that everything they love are still here — improved and refined.

WATCH: Galaxy Note 20 Ultra Review

Huawei P40 Pro+ (PhP 69,990)

The term “feels premium” gets thrown around too much needlessly. This phone has a legitimate claim to that. One touch and you’ll feel right away that you’re holding something luxurious. You can’t say that about every phone. Oh and, definitely go for the white one.

REVIEW: Huawei P40 Pro+

 

OnePlus 8 Pro (PhP 45,990)

OnePlus is now firmly in the premium flagship category. OnePlus phones have traditionally been pretty darn great with a lot of the focus being on just how fast it feels. On the OnePlus 8 series, it addresses a few things that were missing — the addition of wireless charging and an improvement to its long-time “weakpoint”, its cameras.

REVIEW: OnePlus 8 Pro

Huawei P40 Pro (PhP 50,990)

Huawei still has US government and Google problems, but they have come a long way since the ban last year. The company has found ways to bring or at least give you a way to download frequently used apps over to the AppGallery. That, along with their usual top-tier hardware, earns it a spot on this list. You’ll just have to make do with browser versions of certain Google apps for the time being.

REVIEW: Huawei P40 Pro

vivo X50 Pro (PhP 39,999)

A gimbal system on a smartphone camera? Now that sounds new! Not only did vivo make a flagship-grade smartphone with an innovative camera system, they also made sure all the rear cameras are actually useable. Elsewhere on the phone, it performs day-to-day tasks with ease and also supports 5G connectivity.

REVIEW: vivo X50 Pro

Philippines

Globe, Starlink provide free data, messaging for customers affected by Mindanao earthquake

Globe deploys Starlink’s satellite-to-mobile technology for disaster response

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Globe has partnered with Starlink to deploy its satellite-to-mobile service in Mindanao areas affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck on Monday. Provinces affected include South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani.

Deploying the service to support emergency communications and disaster response in the badly hit areas had demo permit approval from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

This deployment marks Globe’s first use of Starlink’s direct-to-cell technology for disaster  and emergency response.

Over 700,000 Globe and TM customers stand to benefit from the deployment, providing them with messaging through WhatsApp and SMS at a time when it is needed most.

Globe will offer the service for free for up to 30 days as critical support to affected communities until the provider’s network is fully restored.

The network provider will reach out directly to customers to provide them with instructions to connect to the satellite service using their existing Globe SIMs and LTE-enabled phones.

The earthquake, one of the strongest in the country in decades, prompted tsunami warnings for several coastal communities in Southern Mindanao. It also caused network disruptions across multiple provinces, as commercial power interruptions impacted telco facilities.

As of posting time, Globe is working closely with local government units and local electric cooperatives to fully restore its services.

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News

realme launches P4 Series 5G, including Power with 10,001mAh battery

realme P4 Power becomes 1st smartphone with 10,001mAh battery

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realme has officially launched the realme P4 Series 5G in the Philippines. This marks the first time consumers in the market can avail of the devices. In the past, realme has offered just models from the C, numbered, and GT Series.

The P4 Series 5G is a new lineup built around long-lasting battery life, along with reliable performance and 5G connectivity. Products under the roster are designed for users who need power throughout the day — and beyond.

The lineup consists of the realme P4 Power 5G, realme P4x, and realme P4 Lite.

The series headliner is the realme P4 Power 5G, which becomes the first smartphone in the country to bring a 10,001mAh battery.

This battery supports 80W Ultra Charging, 27W wired reverse charging, and a TÜV Rheinland 5-Star Battery Rating.

The device is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Ultra and comes with a 144Hz 1.5K HyperGlow 4D Curve+ Display and 50MP Sony IMX882 main camera. It is likewise rated IP66/IP68/IP69 for water and dust resistance.

This variant is offered at a special promo price of just PhP 19,999, exclusively on the realme Official Shopee Store.

Meanwhile, the realme P4x comes with an 8,000mAh Titan Battery, 45W Fast Charging, and reverse charging support. It is available for pre-order via Shopee.

Lastly, the realme P4 Lite has a 7,000mAh Titan Battery. It also has a Military Grade Standard shock resistance (MIL-STD-810H).

The P4 Lite is readily available on TikTok for the 4GB+64GB variant at PhP 4,897 (SRP: PhP 7,499) and on Shopee for the 4GB+128GB variant at PhP 6,136 (SRP: Php 8,999).

The published introductory prices are available until June 10.

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Deals

Win a trip to Shanghai Disney Resort with this Disney+ raffle promo

Subscribe for a chance to win

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Disney+ is giving fans and families more reasons to subscribe to the streaming platform with an exciting raffle promo.

Consumers who subscribe to a Disney+ Annual Plan (Basic or Premium) from June 2 to July 21 will get a chance to win a fully paid trip to Shanghai Disney Resort, which happens to turn 10 years this year.

There will be a total of 15 winners, which can bring along up to three loved ones. Each winner will win these prizes:

  • three days/two nights stay at Shanghai Disneyland Hotel for four
  • Shanghai Disneyland General Admission park tickets for four (for three days)
  • Roundtrip economy class flight tickets between Manila and Shanghai for four

Do note that Visa fees and other incidental travel expenses are excluded. Terms and conditions apply.

Beyond the chance to win in the Shanghai Disney Resort promo, subscribers can also enjoy fan favorite titles such as High Potential and Perfect Crown.

An exciting slate of show are also coming to Disney+ in 2026: the NBA Finals, Lollapalooza, Avatar: Fire & Ash, Hoppers, The Bear (Season 5), and X-Men ’97 (Season 2).

K-drama fans can also look forward to a compelling lineup, including Doctor on the Edge, A Shop for Killers (Season 2), Made in Korea (Season 2), Portraits of Delusion, and The Remarried Empress.

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