The Xiaomi Redmi 9 is quite affordable, considering the specs that it comes with. For P7,490, you already get a full HD screen with 1080 x 2340 resolution, which offers an immersive experience for people who love playing games and watching movies.

We were thrilled to discover that it has infrared sensors that can serve as a universal remote control for TVs, media players, and even air conditioners.

It’s also great that Xiaomi Redmi 9 has two options for the storage, which are 32 GB and 64 GB. We recommend getting the 64 GB storage with 4 GB RAM because a higher RAM means more multitasking performance.

What’s impressive with this phone is that it has a big battery capacity at 5000 mAh. It allows users to go about their day without having to worry about quickly running out of battery.

It has a multi-camera system at the back, one with 13 MP f/2.2 aperture for standard wide and another with 8 MP f/2.2 for ultrawide. 

However, we found that it does not operate well in low-light situations, which is a shame. Its front camera also does not have an LED light.

Xiaomi Redmi 9 does not support 5G, which might turn off some serial streamers. Despite this, many users have noted that even at 4G, they can still stream videos and play games without lagging.

We were also not impressed that the battery is not removable and the phone isn’t water-resistant. But given the friendly price tag, we think that this phone comes pretty packed with good enough features to satisfy the average user.

Xiaomi has been killing it with their releases lately. According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), it was ranked at number 24 among the 50 most innovative companies in the world back in 2020.

Now, their POCO M4 Pro is a bit more expensive at P12,800 compared to the Xiaomi Redmi 9. But we think that it’s still reasonably priced since it offers much better features for a budget smartphone, which we’ll get into in a bit.

We’re glad that the POCO M4 Pro supports 5G and has a dual sim slot. No need to buy a separate phone for your business or work stuff, you can just utilize the dual sim feature on this phone.

Another edge of this phone compared to the first one on our list is that it has stereo speakers, which is nice to have if you enjoy blasting music on your phone. This model also supports fast charging that is ideal for people on the go.

The AMOLED display makes it perfect for gamers because the graphics are crisp and sharp. Many users have noted that it makes the gaming experience more enjoyable. 

The battery life for this device also lasts up to 25 hours, which benefits literally any type of user.

Something to keep in mind is that the POCO M4 Pro is not water-resistant so we do not recommend it for outdoor activities that involve water. If you have your eyes set on this phone, though, you may just need to buy a reliable waterproof case to store this in.

While the camera quality of this phone is good if you have natural light, photos turn out pixelated in low light. It also doesn’t have an ultra wide camera lens, which some users find essential.

The VIVO Y20s G is a conversation-starter with gamers who are looking for an affordable smartphone for their hobby.

This phone also comes with ultra game mode, which allows you to silence incoming notifications, chat while gaming, and be in bot mode which allows you to run the game in the background while doing nothing.

It has a Helio G80 processor that is packed with power. The 5000mAh battery allows you to play longer; while its fast charging system adds convenience for heavy users.

Besides the gaming perks of this phone, many users have noted that they enjoy the side-mounted fingerprint scanner. It allows them to unlock the phone without having to use both hands.

Another great feature of this phone is the sleek design. This is especially important to people who don’t like bulky and chunky phones. The screen size is 6.51 inches, which is the perfect size for Asian hands — it’s not too big and not too small.

This phone doesn’t have 5G capacities, but we honestly don’t think it’s a big deal breaker given that 4G streaming is still pretty fast. A good thing about this phone is it has a dual sim slot, which is a great option to have if you have a separate work number.

We’re quite worried about its durability because it does not have gorilla glass protection, which makes the screen scratch-resistant and durable. We recommend getting a tempered glass protector if you are planning on purchasing the VIVO Y20s G.

Here we are with our third entry from Xiaomi — the Redmi Note 10 Pro. We were impressed that this phone has both facial and fingerprint recognition because most of the budget smartphones in our list only support fingerprint scanning.

With a great battery life of 5000 mAh, it also comes with a fast charging system which is perfect for heavy users, whether it’s for hobbies or business. If you’re not excessively using the phone, some users noted that it can last up to two full days.

For the gamers out there who are looking for the perfect screen resolution, you should definitely check out the Redmi Note 10 Pro. The 1080 x 2400 display resolution elevates your gaming experience without feeling overwhelmed.

Gorilla glass protection is a great feature to have, especially for people who do everything on their phone. It ensures the durability of the screen which can be pricey to be replaced.

One of its unique specs is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, which is known to help you use multiple applications without the fear of lagging. This is a pretty common problem for cheaper smartphones – which, thankfully, the Redmi Note 10 Pro has evaded.

If you’re looking for a phone that supports 5G and has a wireless charging option, this might not be for you. But if you can look past the hefty price tag, you might want to give the Redmi Note 10 Pro a shot. 

Even though Infinix Note 12 was just released last year, it has already gathered some impressive reviews from its users. One of the notable comments from them is that they enjoy playing mobile games with this phone.

The full AMOLED screen allows the graphics to be more vivid and to render faster while consuming less power. This makes this phone ideal for watching videos and playing games while on the go.

One of the biggest highlights of the Infinix Note 12 is the MediaTek Helio G88 processor, which is highly recommended for gaming. Users noted that they rarely experience lag when using multiple applications.

Much like the other phones on this list, the Infinix Note 12 has a fingerprint sensor that makes unlocking your phone much easier. Many users have also noted that the phone is lightweight, making it easy to take anywhere you want.

Similar to the other phones on this list, the battery capacity for this phone is generous at 5000 wAh while supporting 33W of fast charging. The Infinix Note 12 also does not support both 5G and wireless charging.

We hope that Infinix improves the quality of their cameras for both rear and front. It would be a great feature for users to enjoy capturing different moments in life.