Although 2020 was a tough year in many aspects, it taught us the importance of a reliable gadget. We’re reliant on our phones now more than ever — for answering work calls and sending files, online classes, and, yes, for playing games and watching shows in our downtime. We absolutely need the perfect smartphone fit for our every need. And if you don’t have the cash to splurge on the latest one, that’s okay. There are plenty of other smartphones in the sea — affordable and with awesome specs to boot. Check out the best budget smartphone releases of 2020.
vivo Y20i (P7,499)
The vivo Y20i is available in Dawn White and Nebula Blue, both colors displayed in a perfectly polished 2.5D body that shines in the light. You get what you paid for and more with this smartphone and its surprisingly budget price. Its tough battery lets you watch almost 16 hours of online HD movie streaming and play 11 hours of games. The camera, although equipped with just a 13MP rear, does the job of capturing photos and videos with clarity. This smartphone is also designed for gamers since it’s packed with the vivo Multi-Turbo 3.0 that lets you play smoothly, and an Ultra Game Mode that blocks messages and makes sure you focus on the game.
SPECS
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM
- Display: 6.51-inch, HD+
- Processor: SDM460
- Operating system: Funtouch OS 10.5
- Rear camera: 13MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- Battery: 5000mAh
Get yours from vivo Philippines’ official stores in Lazada and Shopee.
realme Narzo 20 (P7,990)
realme Narzo 20 has impressive specs considering its price. Its Helio G85 processor backed with a 6,000mAh battery can almost tide you through an entire night of binge-watching your faves (imagine less time for charging!). The triple camera lets you capture high-resolution photos; you can go wide with the 119-degree ultra-wide lens or zoom in with the 4cm macro lens. It’s available in Silver Sword and Blue Blade colorways.
SPECS
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM
- Display: 6.5-inches Fullscreen
- Processor: Helio G85 Gaming Processor, Octa-core, Up to 2.0GHz
- Operating system: realme UI 2.0, based on Android 11
- Rear camera: 48MP AI Triple Camera
- Front camera: 8MP Wide-angle Camera
- Battery: 6000mAh Mega Battery, 18W Quick Charge
Get yours from realme’s official Lazada store.
Huawei Y8p (P8,999)
Sleek, glossy, and handy, the Huawei Y8p is another 2020 smartphone release at an awesome price point. The 3D curved edges are made for a comfortable grip and the OLED Dewdrop Display makes your videos vivid. It also has AI triple cameras that capture crisp, quality 48MP photos. The super-wide-angle and night mode are impressive and make for a great time experimenting for night shots of the city. It’s available in two colorways: Breathing Crystal and Midnight Black.
SPECS
- Memory: 6 GB RAM + 128 GB ROM
- Display: 6.3 inches FHD +, OLED, 16.7 million colors
- Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 710F, Octa-core Processor
- Operating system: EMUI 10.1 (Based on Android 10)
- Rear camera: 48 MP (f/1.8 aperture) + 8 MP (Ultra Wide Angle Lens, f/2.4 aperture) + 2 MP (f/2.4 aperture)
- Front camera: 16 MP (f/2.0 aperture)
- Battery: 4,000 mAh
Find out more about the Huawei Y8p here. Get it from Huawei’s flagship store in Lazada.
Huawei Y7a (P8,999)
Every smartphone produced is intended to help you be on top of the game whether you’re an employee, a student, or simply a professional couch potato. Huawei Y7a is a smartphone that can definitely keep up with your life’s daily demands. It’s got everything you need: a clear 6.67 FHD+ screen display, a battery that won’t drain easily, huge storage space for your files, and on top of all that, a quad-camera that delivers 48MP crisp images. For a phone that’s under P10,000, it surely packs quite a punch.
SPECS
- Memory: 4GB RAM + 128GB ROM
- Display: 6.67-inch FHD+, 16.7 million colors
- Processor: HUAWEI Kirin 710A, Octa-core Processor
- Operating system: EMUI 10.1 (Based on Android 10)
- Rear camera: 48 MP (f/1.8 aperture) + 8 MP (120° Ultra-Wide Angle Lens, f/2.4 aperture) + 2 MP (Depth Lens, f/2.4 aperture) + 2 MP (Macro Lens, f/2.4 aperture)
- Front camera: 8 MP, f/2.0 aperture
- Battery: 5,000 mAh, HUAWEI SuperCharge
The Huawei Y7a is available in Crush Green, Blush Gold, and Midnight Black. Purchase yours via the official Huawei website or through Huawei’s flagship stores in Lazada or Shopee.
Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC (P10,990)
Although the Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC is a little on the heavier side (it weighs 215 g), it’s forgivable given its specs. Its Snapdragon processor makes it a powerful gaming mobile and the 6.67-inch screen immerses you into virtual reality. The 64MP AI quad-cam is also a great feature but Xiaomi still has to improve on it. Overall this is a budget smartphone that can answer your every need from entertainment to work.
SPECS
- Memory: 6GB RAM + 64GB/128GB ROM
- Display: 6.67-inch DotDisplay
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G
- Operating system: MIUI 12 for POCO, based on Android 10 POCO Launcher 2.0
- Rear camera: 64MP AI Quad Camera
- Front camera: 20MP AI selfie camera
- Battery: 5160mAh, supports 33W fast charge
You can get yours from Xiaomi’s flagship store in Shopee.
Infinix Zero 8 (P12,990)
The Infinix Zero 8 has an eye-catching 64MP quad-camera displayed in a diamond-shaped arrangement. It’s a blatant reminder that gone are the days where we were so impressed with single cameras on phones. The cameras introduce the “world’s first Ultra Night and Ultra-Wide Angle.” And if you’re into vlogging or simply taking bomb selfies, the amazing 48MP front cam will do your pretty face justice. You can also trust that the Zero 8 won’t lag in your hands since the Helio G90T processor makes everything run smoothly. Performance-wise, it’s one of the best 2020 releases and if you compare its price, it gets even better.
SPECS
- Memory: 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM
- Display: 6.85 inches
- Processor: Helio G90T, Octa-core
- Operating system: Android 10
- Rear camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2M + 2M
- Front camera: 48MP + 8MP
- Battery: 4500mAh, 33W Super Charge Supported
Learn more about the Infinix Zero 8 here. You can get yours via Infinix’s official flagship stores in Lazada and Shopee.
vivo V19 Neo (P13,999)
The V19 Neo‘s 6.44-inch Super AMOLED display screen makes it a perfect gadget for gamers. Not only will your favorite mobile games appear even more vivid, but the V19 Neo’s Multi Turbo feature also ensures your game runs smoothly without lags and the Ultra Game Mode blocks messages so you can fully concentrate on winning that round. It also has an Off-screen Autoplay feature that lets your game run in the background even if you lock your screen.
For avid mobile photographers, the V19 Neo proves even handier than lugging around a heavy DSLR. It has a 48MP rear quad-camera and a 32MP front camera that’s simply the best at taking selfies. Check out the smartphone’s other features here.
SPECS
- Memory: 8GB + 128GB
- Display: 6.44-inch FHD+, Super AMOLED
- Processor: Qual-comm Snapdragon 675 AIE octa-core processor
- Operating System: Funtouch OS 10 (Based on Android 10)
- Rear camera: 48MP + 8MP + 2MP + 2MP
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 4500mAh, Fast Charging
Purchase yours from vivoglobal.ph or through vivo’s official flagship stores in Lazada and Shopee.
vivo V20 SE (P13,999)
vivo has been wowing everyone with its budget smartphone releases this year. The vivo V20 SE is another handset that packs a punch but is easy on the pocket. The 6.44-inch AMOLED FHD display lets you watch your favorite series in HD peace. If you’re into gaming, it means an even more immersive experience, the 8GB RAM and Snapdragon processor won’t let you down either. Its slim body and lightweight design are made to fit comfortably in your hand. The specs for the price, not to mention the 48MP camera, is totally worth it.
SPECS
- Memory: 8GB RAM + 128GB ROM
- Display: 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665
- Operating system: Funtouch OS 11 (Based on Android 11)
- Rear camera: 48MP AF + 8MP AF (wide-angle/macro) + 2MP FF (bokeh)
- Front camera: 32MP
- Battery: 4100mAh, supports 33W fast charge
You can get yours from vivoglobal.ph or from vivo Philippines’ official stores in Lazada and Shopee.
Which 2020 smartphone release was your favorite?
