It’s evident these days that the true battlefield for smartphone manufacturers lies in the war between midrangers, with specs and prices constantly battling it out to take a significant chunk of the segment. After all, not everyone can afford a smartphone that costs over PHP 20k, but the need for a smart device is still there.
Also Read: The Top 5 Best Android Smartphones You Can Get In the Market Today
Thus, the majority of the available market will most definitely look at the midrange offerings to get the best performance for the lowest price, without any budget-related compromises. Today, we’ll look at the five best midrange smartphones under PHP 20K that came out this 2017.
NUMBER FIVE – Nokia 6
- 1.4GHz Octa Core Cortex-A53 Qualcomm Snapdragon 430
- 4GB RAM
- 5.5-inches IPS LCD with 2.5D Arc Glass
- Li-ion 3,000mAh battery
- 64 GB internal storage
- PHP 11,990 SRP
Starting off the list is one of the biggest comebacks in the phone industry, Nokia. For those who weren’t alive during the formative years of cellphones, Nokia once ruled the market with their durable, reliable products. This time, Nokia 6 entered the market in early 2017, and established itself as a brand that can evolve to create quality smartphones. They primarily accomplished this through a low price tag and great specs like good battery life, a fingerprint scanner, fast performance, and a solid camera setup. Hopefully, 2018 will mark a year where they can deliver even more impressive products.
NUMBER FOUR – LG Q6 Plus
- 1.4GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435
- 4GB RAM
- 5.5-inch FHD+ (1080 x 2160 Pixels) IPS LCD Display
- 3,000mAh Battery
- 64 GB internal storage
- PHP 14,990 SRP
Interestingly, the Q6 Plus came at a time when LG struggled with creating breakthroughs via their smartphone division. On that note, the Q6 and Q6 Plus generated some reprieve by receiving praise as a capable midranger. Despite its lack of total flagship features and a fingerprint sensor, one would have a hard time finding another phone with a strong rear camera and Full-Vision display for this price.
Related: Top 5 Smartphones under Php 10K
NUMBER THREE – Sony Xperia XA1
- 2.3GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 + 1.6GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 MediaTek Helio P20
- 3GB RAM
- 5-inch IPS LCD with 2.5D Arc Glass
- Li-ion 2,300mAh battery
- 32 GB internal storage
- PHP 15,990 SRP
Despite normally developing devices that are higher on the price grid, one of Sony’s more affordable smartphones brings the distinct Xperia experience to a larger audience. If you’re looking for a slim, compact phone with the trademark Sony camera, then the Xperia XA1 will be perfect. At just under PHP 16k, you’d be hard-pressed to find photo software like this at the same price point.
NUMBER TWO – Samsung Galaxy J7 Plus
- 2.3GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 + 1.6GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 MediaTek MT6757 (Helio P20)
- 4GB RAM
- 5.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED with 2.5D Arc Glass
- Li-ion 3,000mAh battery
- 32 GB internal storage
- PHP 19,990 SRP
Technically, it was the Galaxy J7 Pro that got the most attention and the most press coverage. However, in our humble opinion, the real star of the Samsung midrangers is the Galaxy J7 Plus. Of course, the centerpiece in this smart device includes the remarkable dual-camera setup for its rear shooter, setting it apart from the competition. In general though, it garners high marks from us thanks to a combination of its 5.5-inch FHD super AMOLED display, all-metal design, and 2.3GHz quadcore processor. It would’ve nabbed the top spot if it weren’t for the relatively high price point, barely putting it under PHP 20k.
NUMBER ONE – Huawei Nova 2i
- 2.36GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 + 1.7GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 HiSilicon Kirin 659
- 4GB RAM
- 5.9-Inches IPS LCD with 18:9 Aspect Ratio & 2.5D Arc Glass
- Li-ion 3,340mAh battery
- 64 GB internal storage
- PHP 14,990 SRP
Huawei came out of nowhere with the Nova 2i, surprising most people who weren’t in the know. To put it plainly, Huawei set a new standard for midrangers, putting in competitive specs (shout out to the Kirin 659 chipset, quad cameras, and 5.9-inch display) for a price that beats most other midrange devices. The biggest selling point here involves the dual 16MP + 2MP rear camera, and 13MP + 2MP front shooter, which would normally be seen in more expensive smartphones.
In summation, the Huawei Nova 2i gets the highest praise among the midrangers because it manages to strike the best balance between low price, and strong midrange specs.
HONORABLE MENTION – Huawei GR5 2017
- 2.1GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 + 1.7GHz Quad Core Cortex-A53 HiSilicon Kirin 655
- 3GB RAM
- 5.5 Inches IPS LCD with 2.5D Arc Glass
- Li-ion 3,340mAh battery
- 32 GB internal storage
- PHP 13,990
Special shoutout goes to the Huawei GR5 2017, which would have earned a spot on the list if its Nova 2i sibling didn’t take the market by storm. Overall, though, this is a cheaper alternative if your budget is even smaller (maximum of PHP 14k). With every purchase of the GR5 2017, buyers get a solid set of specs that, while not as good as the Nova 2i, will still satisfy most needs.