Budget Phones under Php4,000 in the Philippines
Performance-wise, mid-range and flagship devices are the way to go, but what about budget Android phones that fall within or below the Php4,000 price range? While there may not be much competition in that category, the good news is that there are affordable brands that can come to the rescue. On our website, we often feature phones that fall into this price range, and there are certainly some standouts below that might pique your interest. Take a look at the specs and compare them — some phones have flashier features than others, which may or may not be useful to you. However, it’s highly recommended that you peruse feedback and reviews of these phones before making a buying decision. Doing so is just a search away and can provide valuable insights.
Best Phones Under 4,000 Pesos in 2023
Nokia C12
Price (as of April 2023): ₱3,990 – ₱4,590
Specs:
- 6.3 inches HD+ IPS display
- Unisoc SC9863A1 (28nm)
- 3GB with 2GB virtual memory
- Android 12 (Go edition)
- Main Camera: 8 MP
- Front Camera: 5MP front-facing camera
- 64GB internal storage
- Battery: 3000 mAh
- 4G LTE connectivity
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Face Unlock
- Available in Charcoal Color
The Nokia C12 is a budget-friendly smartphone that sells for around 4,000 Philippine pesos. As a Nokia device, it boasts the trademark durability that the brand is known for. According to Nokia, they have tested the device for durability, ensuring that it can withstand everyday use.
Despite being a lightweight Android Go Edition, the Nokia C12 is still capable of handling daily smartphone tasks. However, it may not be suitable for power users who require more advanced features. With 3GB of RAM and an additional 2GB of virtual memory, it still provides decent performance for its price range.
One of the standout features of the Nokia C12 is its camera, which is capable of shooting in portrait mode and has a night mode as well. While the camera’s performance is still an unknown quantity, it has the potential to deliver impressive results for a smartphone in its price range.
Overall, the Nokia C12 looks like it can offer great value for its price and is a reliable device for everyday use. It seems like a solid choice for those on a budget who still want a quality smartphone.
Note: The ₱3,990 price of the Nokia C12 was posted during its sales period and may change at any time.
TECNO Spark Go 2023
Price (as of February 2023): ₱3,499 / ₱3,699
Specs:
- 6.56-inch HD+ IPS display
- MediaTek Helio A22 (12nm) chipset
- 3GB or 4GB RAM variant
- Android 12 OS with HiOS 12 skin
- Main Camera: 13MP + QVGA dual rear camera setup
- Front Camera: 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash
- 32GB or 64GB internal storage
- 5,000mAh battery
- Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner
- 4G LTE connectivity
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Dual SIM
- Expandable storage up to 256GB via microSD ( via dedicated slot)
- Available in Endless Black, Nebula Purple, and Uyuni Blue colors.
We were immediately intrigued by the TECNO Spark Go 2023, a budget-friendly smartphone that truly impressed us, at least on paper. It offers features that are typically found on higher-end devices, such as a 120Hz touch sampling rate that ensures a smooth and responsive touchscreen experience. What’s even more notable is that this feature is rarely seen in phones in this price category.
The device also boasts an IPX2 water resistance rating. While IPX2 water resistance is a nice touch for a budget phone, it may not provide complete protection against water damage in all situations.
It’s always a good idea to research a product before making a purchase, especially when it comes to electronics. Reading feedback and searching for reviews from other users can help you gain a better understanding of how well the device performs in real-world use. If you’re interested in the TECNO Spark Go 2023, the TECNO official store on Lazada is a great starting point, as it offers a range of user reviews that can provide valuable insights.
Cherry Mobile Aqua S9
Price (as of December 2020): ₱3,999.00
Specs:
- Display: 6.52″ HD+ (1600 x 720 px), 2.5D curved IPS LCD
- Processor: Octa Core 1.6GHz Unisoc SC9863A
- RAM: 4GB
- Internal Storage: 64GB, expandable via MicroSD
- Camera-Main: 13MP, 5MP depth sensor, 2MP AI and 2MP Mono
- Camera-Selfie: 8 MP
- OS: Android 10.0
- Dual Sim
- 4G LTE
- Battery Capacity: 5000 mAh (fixed)
- Available Colors: Black, Fusion Sky, Flare Red, Aqua Blue, Jade Green
Cherry Mobile launched the Aqua S9 at the tail end of 2020 and it’s nothing short of impressive for the price. Sure the resolution is still at Full HD+ but the display size now comes at a massive 6.52-inch and a bit of a gentle curve around the edges. The phone is equipped with 1.6Ghz Octa Core Unisoc formerly known as Spreadtrum processor. We do like the fact that there is now a 4GB RAM at this price point so performance shouldn’t be that compromised. Cameras should also stand out among the bunch of affordable phones with a quad set-up along the rear. Quite a decent battery as well with 5000mAh to keep the lights on. Overall, a great budget phone from Cherry Mobile and should be available this month at kiosks and retailers.
Nokia C10
Price (as of June 2021): ₱3,990.00
Specs:
- Display: 6.52″ HD+ (1600 x 720 px), with Panda Glass, IPS LCD
- Processor: Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
- RAM: 2GB
- Internal Storage: 16GB, expandable via MicroSD
- Camera-Main (Single): 5 MP, f/2.2 aperture
- Camera-Selfie (Single): 5 MP
- OS: Android 11 (Go Edition)
- Dual Sim
- 3G HSPA+
- Battery Capacity: 3000 mAh
- Available Colors: Gray, Light Purple
No other phone brand can invoke a fuzzy sense of nostalgia like Nokia. These days, however, the Finnish company is mainly committed to their entry-level and midrange devices like the Nokia C10. The dual-sim device is a 6.52″ phone with an HD+ display and Panda Glass protection. The C10 is outfitted with a modest of features such Quad-core processor with a 2GB of RAM, therefore this is going to be too limited for many users. It also comes with a single 5MP main camera with fixed focus and a 5MP selfie shooter. In terms of color choices, you can pick between gray or purple back plates.
Samsung Galaxy A01 Core
Price (as of August 2020): ₱3,990.00
Specs:
- Display: 5.3″ HD (720 x 1480 px) PLS LCD
- Processor: Quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53
- RAM: 1GB
- Internal Storage: 16GB, expandable via MicroSD
- Camera-Main: 8 MP, f/2.2
- Camera-Selfie: 5 MP, f/2.4
- OS: Android 10 (Go Edition)
- Dual Sim
- 4G LTE
- Battery Capacity: 3000 mAh (fixed)
- Available Colors: Blue, Red, and Black
Samsung’s entry for this price category has a basic set of features that is powered by a lightweight version of Android. The design looks a bit dated with big bezels on top and bottom, well at least there is no in-your-face notch. There is also 16 GB of storage but at least it is still expandable. Meanwhile, the RAM is a measly 1GB, typical for an Android Go edition device anyway. This very affordable A-series comes with a single 8MP main camera and a 5MP lens for the front. There is no fingerprint sensor so unlocking is done the old-fashioned way.
myPhone myXI1 Pro
Price (as of November 2019): ₱3,999.00
Specs:
- Display: 5.99″ 18:9, 720P, IPS
- Processor: 1.6GHz Octa-core
- RAM: 3GB
- Internal Storage: 32GB, expandable via MicroSD
- Camera-Rear: 13MP Sony Sensor, (Dual Rear Camera)
- Camera-Front: 5MP with Face Beauty software
- OS: Android 9 Pie
- Dual Sim
- 4G LTE
- Battery Capacity: 3500mAh
- Additional Features:
IR Blaster
Fingerprint Scanner
Compatible with myPhone Digital TV Dongle - Available Colors:
Meteor Red
Galactic Blue
Blue Sky
MyPhone brings faster connectivity in this price range with 4G LTE capability of myXI1 Pro. There is also ample enough storage with 32GB onboard but still expandable for more extra space for files. The 3GB of RAM is quite good enough for a such an affordable device. However, it looks a bit dated with big bezels but it is still a good value overall.
Cherry Mobile Flare S8
Price (as of September 2019): ₱3,999.00
Specs:
- Display: 6.26” HD+ Trueview, Dewdrop Notch
- Processor: MediaTek Helio P23
- RAM: 3GB
- Internal Storage: 32GB, expandable via MicroSD
- Camera-Rear: 13-megapixel with 2-megapixel depth sensor
- Camera-Front: 13MP
- OS: Android 9 Pie
- Dual Sim
- 3G LTE
- Battery Capacity: 2800mAh
Cherry Mobile has stepped up their game with the Flare S8. First off, the design looks modern and it belongs in 2019 with a dewdrop notch and a tall HD+ display. What will pique your interest is what’s under the hood because of the set of specs that you’ll get for a 4K phone. Doing the grunt work is a MediaTek Helio P23 and when paired with 3GB RAM / 32 GB internal storage, it makes for a good value proposition overall.
Alcatel 1
Price (as of March 2019): ₱3,990.00
Specs:
- Display: 5-inch display of 960×480 pixel resolution (18:9 aspect ratio)
- Processor: Quad-Core, with MediaTek MT6739 chipset
- RAM: 1GB
- Internal Storage: 8GB
- Camera-Rear: 5MP
- Camera-Front: 2MP
- OS: Android 8.0 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Dual Sim
- Battery Capacity: 2000mAh
This is a 5-inch entry-level phone with Android Go Edition– and it means this phone is going to run on the bare minimum. MediaTek MT6739 is its chipset of choice which has a Quad-core, 1500 MHz processor. A tandem of 1GB of RAM and 8GB of memory is not unusual in this Android Go phone. Its cameras are a 5MP shooter on the back and a 2MP selfie camera positioned at the front. Battery is rated at 2000 mAh and available in blue, gold, and black. This is available at Memoexpress stores for Php3,990.
MyPhone MyNX1
Specs:
- Display: 6.18-inch, FWVGA+, 19:9 aspect ratio, IPS
- Processor: 1.3GHz Quad-Core
- RAM: 1GB
- Internal Storage: 8GB
- Camera-Rear: 8MP Autofocus
- Camera-Front: 5MP
- Sensors: Fingerprint Scanner, Fingerprint Scanner, Proximity and Ambient Light
- OS: Android 8.0 Oreo (Go Edition)
- USB OTG compatible
- Dual Sim
- Battery Capacity: 2950mAh
At first glance, many would probably scoff at the specs of MyNX1 and who can blame them? It certainly looks like MyPhone is jumping the ‘notch’ bandwagon for their low-tier device. This phone is all about style and that trendy form factor. And that’s just about it. Certainly, it has that modern look going for it, but you may want to consider first its spec sheet if you demand something more. First off, the 6-inch screen has only FWVGA resolution. It is a bit of wise advice to keep expectations at bay as the 8GB ROM paired with 1GB RAM is not going to be enough these days. There is the lightweight Android Oreo Go edition that will make things tolerable considering what is given.
Cherry Mobile Flare P3
Specs:
- Display: 5.5-inch 18:9 TrueView display
- Processor: 1.3GHz Quad-Core, MediaTek MT6580 chipset
- RAM: 1GB
- Internal Storage: 8GB
- Camera-Rear: 13MP BSI
- Camera-Front: 5MP
- Sensors: Fingerprint Scanner, Fingerprint Scanner, Proximity, and Ambient Light
- OS: Android 8.0 Oreo (Go Edition)
- Battery Capacity: 2400mAh
For a ₱3,799.00 phone, the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 has quite attractive features for a budget device. First off, the trendy 18:9 aspect ratio is an ergonomic, tall dimension for a big-screened display. Then, there is the fingerprint scanner which is still uncommon for such an entry-level device at this point.
There are, of course, some caveats to consider but being a low-cost device, it understandably comes with the territory. To bring down the cost, there are only 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage on board. Then there is an entry-level MediaTek MT6580 chipset, which is nothing to write home about. A lightweight Android Oreo (Go Edition) will be running the show while the integral ‘lite’ versions of popular apps should at least provide a decent enough performance for basic and undemanding smartphone users out there.
Nokia 1
Specs:
- Display: 4.5-inch, 480 x 854 pixels
- Processor: Quad-core 1.1 GHz Cortex-A53, Mediatek MT6737M Chipset
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 5 MP
- Camera – Front: 2MP
- Battery: 2150 mAh capacity, removable
- Android Version: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition)
- Network: LTE, 3G HSPA
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Proximity sensor
In terms of specs, the Nokia 1 may seem underwhelming compared to what the competition has to offer in this price range. It is actually running on an optimized version of Android known as the Go edition that utilizes a lightweight operating system. There is also built-in apps that are specifically tailored to low specced devices like the Nokia 1. As such, the user experience should be smooth enough in spite of the limitations of the hardware.
Xiaomi Redmi 4A
Specs:
- Display: 5.0 inch, HD 720x 1280 pixels, IPS
- Processor: 1.4GHz Quad-Core, Snapdragon 425 Chipset
- Internal Memory: 16GB
- RAM: 2GB
- Camera – Rear: 13 MP
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 3,120mAh capacity
- Android Version: Originally on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, can be updated to Android Nougat
- Network: LTE, 3G HSPA
- Sensors: Light sensor, Gyro, Proximity sensor
Just so you know, as of this writing this phone is more than a year old already. Still, you will be hard-pressed to find the bang-for-the-buck device at the moment with the same specs and price. For baseline performance, 2GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage should suffice, lesser could bring a usability issue if you install power and memory-hungry apps. Luckily the Redmi 4A is still relevant in 2018 with decent enough performance for the price. You can get this at Lazada PH store (our site is not an affiliate, by the way), and seems the majority are satisfied, though there is some legitimate concern based on the feedback from customers of the shopping site.
Update June 21, 2018: The deal is no longer available at the said online store. Instead, if you are looking for the best bang-for-the-buck smartphone, it is easy to recommend its successor- the Xiaomi Redmi 5A which is around Php 4,170.00 as of this writing.
MyPhone myA10 (Dual Main Camera)
Specs:
- Display: 5.5 inch, HD 720x 1280 pixels, IPS
- Processor: 1.3GHz Quad-Core
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: Dual Camera (8MP, autofocus Sony Sensor and 2MP)
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 3,500mAh capacity
- Android Version: 7.0 Nougat
- Dual Sim: Yes
- LTE: No, 3G HSPA+
- Sensors: Light sensor, Proximity sensor
You can buy it at your nearest authorized retail outlet nationwide
Cherry Mobile Flare J5
Specs:
- Display: 5.5 inch, HD 720x 1280 pixels, IPS
- Processor: 1.3GHz Mediatek MT6580 Chipset
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 8MP, autofocus
- Camera – Front: 2MP
- Battery: 4,500mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 6.0 Marshmallow
- Dual Sim: Yes, Dual Standby
- LTE: No, 3G HSPA+
- Sensors: Light sensor, Proximity sensor
Check it out at Cherry Mobile concept stores, kiosks, and authorized retailers nationwide
MyPhone my93 DTV
Specs
- Display: 5.5 inch, HD 720x 1280 pixels, IPS
- Processor: Quad-core 1.3 GHz
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 13MP, autofocus
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 2800mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 6.0 Marshmallow
- Dual Sim: Yes
- LTE: No, GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- Sensors: Light sensor, Proximity sensor
Check it out at myPhone retailers and kiosks
Cherry Mobile Flare S4 Max
Specs
- Display: 5.5 inch, HD 720x 1280 pixels, IPS
- Processor: Mediatek 6580 Quad-core 1.3 GHz
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 13MP, autofocus
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 4200mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 5.1.1 Lollipop
- Dual Sim: Yes (Micro-SIM, Dual Standby)
- LTE: No, GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- Sensors: Light sensor, Proximity sensor, and G-sensor
Cherry Mobile Flare J3 (with Fingerprint Scanner)
Specs
- Display: 5.0 inch HD 720 x 1280 (294 ppi) IPS
- Processor: MediaTek MT6580 Chipset, 1.3GHz Quad Core
- Cortex-A7 CPU
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 8MP
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 1900mAh Li-ion Battery, Removable
- Android Version: 6.0 Marshmallow
- Dual Sim: Yes (Micro and Nano SIM)
- LTE: No, 3G HSPA+
Available at Cherry Mobile Concept Stores
Cherry Mobile Touch XL 2
Specs
- Display: 6.0 inch HD 720 x 1280 (245 ppi) IPS
- Processor: MediaTek MT6580 Chipset, 1.3GHz Quad Core Cortex-A7 CPU
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 8MP
- Camera – Front: 2MP
- Battery: 3000mAh Li-ion Battery, Removable
- Android Version: 6.0 Marshmallow
- Dual Sim: Yes (Micro SIM)
- LTE: No, 3G HSPA
- FM Radio: Yes
LG K4
Specs
- Display: 4.5 inch, FWVGA 480 x 854 pixels (218 ppi), IPS
- Processor: Mediatek MT6735M Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53
- Internal Memory: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 5MP, f/2.8, autofocus
- Camera – Front: 2MP
- Battery: 1940 mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 5.1.1 Lollipop
- Dual Sim: Yes (Micro-SIM, Dual Standby)
- LTE: Yes
- FM Radio: Yes
Available at Lazada Ph, cmkcellphones and authorized retailers nationwide
Samsung Galaxy J1 Mini 2016
Specs
- Display: 4.0 inch, 480 x 800 pixels (233 ppi), IPS
- Processor: Spreadtrum SC8830 Quad-core 1.2 GHz
- Internal Storage: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 5MP, f/2.8, autofocus
- Camera – Front: VGA
- Battery: 1500 mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 5.1 Lollipop
- Dual Sim: Yes (Micro SIM, Dual Standby)
- LTE: No, HSPA
- FM Radio: Yes
Available at Lazada Ph, cmkcellphones and authorized retailers nationwide
SKK Hyper X Blade
Specs
- Display: 5.0 inch, HD, 720 x 1280 pixels (294 ppi), IPS, 2.5D Arc Glass
- Processor: 1.3GHz Quad Core Processor
- Internal Storage: 16GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 13MP, autofocus
- Camera – Front: 5.0MP
- Battery: 2700 mAh capacity, Non-Removable
- Android Version: 5.1 Lollipop
- Dual Sim: Yes (Micro SIM, Dual Standby)
- LTE: No, 3G HSPA+
- FM Radio: Yes
Cherry Mobile Flare S4
Specs
- Display: 5.0 inch, HD 720 x 1280 pixels (294 ppi), IPS
- Processor: Mediatek MT6753 Octa-core 1.3 GHz 64-bit Cortex-A53
- Internal Storage: 16GB
- RAM: 2GB
- Camera – Rear: 13MP with BSI , autofocus
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 2,200mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 5.1 Lollipop
- Dual Sim: Yes
- LTE: Yes
- FM Radio: Yes
Available at Cherry Mobile Kiosks and Concept Stores
Acer Liquid Z525
Specs
- Display: 5.0 inch, HD 720 x 1280 pixels (294 ppi), IPS
- Processor: Mediatek MT6580 Quad-core 1.3 GHz
- Internal Storage: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Camera – Rear: 8MP with, autofocus
- Camera – Front: 5MP
- Battery: 2,000mAh capacity, Removable
- Android Version: 6.0 Mashmallow
- Dual Sim: Yes
- LTE: No, (3G)
Available at Acer Stores and Authorized Retailers (*Based on cmkcellphone price)
Fantastic Php4,000 Android phones in the Philippines and where to find them
We based our list on these websites as our references. Go ahead and do your gadget hunting yourself via these links— well because there are quite many awesome phone deals out there to discover.
Sources / Credits to:
- Lazada PH – Find, compare and read feedback on their hottest selling budget phones.
- cmkcellphones– most of their devices have a warranty and are slightly cheaper too. You can also use this website to compare the current prices of phones.
Facebook Pages– if you are on FB, might as well check or follow these pages for their latest offerings and deals. Here are the official social media pages of:
- | MyPhone | Cherry Mobile | MemoXpress |
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