GIZGUIDE Gift Guide 2021: Top smartphones in the Philippines

It's the Christmas season, the time to give appreciation to our loved ones and even to ourselves by giving gifts. One of the most useful that you could give are smartphones.

GIZGUIDE holiday smartphone recommendation

To help you with your buying decision this holiday, team GIZGUIDE curated a list of smartphones that you should check out that are officially available in the Philippines. The list includes bang-for-the-buck budget smartphones, capable mid-rangers, and premium ones.

Let's begin.

GIZGUIDE Gift Guide 2021: Top smartphones in the Philippines

HOT 10 PLAY

1. Infinix HOT 10 PLAY - At PHP 4,999, the Infinix HOT 10 PLAY is the first and most affordable on our list. It's a device boasting a large 6.82-inch HD+ notch display, 12nm Helio G35 octa-core processor, 4G RAM, 64GB expandable storage, 6,000mAh battery capacity, 13MP + AI dual-cam, 8MP selfie cam, rear fingerprint sensor, dual-band WiFi, 4G LTE, and more. Irresistible right?

TECNO POVA 2

2. TECNO POVA 2 - At PHP 7,990, the TECNO POVA 2 is the handset with the largest display at 6.9-inch with FHD+ resolution (punch-hole type) and the biggest battery capacity at 7,000mAh with USB-C 18W Dual IC Flash Charge tech. It is powered by the 12nm MediaTek Helio G85 chip paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB expandable storage. For cameras, it uses a 48MP quad-cam + Quad Flash.

Aqua S10 Pro

3. Cherry Mobile Aqua S10 Pro - For just PHP 7,999, the Cherry Mobile Aqua S10 Pro is equipped with nearly unbeatable specs and good actual performance.

As a quick recap, this is a gorgeous-looking phone with a 3D curved back design in a Black colorway, 6.67-inch FHD+ resolution with a top-center punch-hole to house a 16MP snapper, 6GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.1 expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with USB-C 30W wired charging and 10W wireless charging.

For cameras, it is using the 48MP Samsung GM1 sensor with PDAF + 5MP ultra-wide-angle camera + 2MP 4cm macro, and another 2MP camera for depth sensing. It runs with the clean version of Android 11 OS out of the box.

You can watch our Facebook live video about this handset here.

NOTE 11S

4. Infinix NOTE 11S - At PHP 9,990, the Infinix NOTE 11S is a killer. It is a handset boasting a 6.95-inch 120Hz 1080p+ display with a punch-hole for the 16MP selfie cam with Dual Flash, 12nm MTK Helio G96 gaming-focused processor, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.2 expandable storage, and 5,000mAh battery with USB-C 33W Super Charge. The handset also has a strong 50MP main camera with an f/1.6 bright aperture, side-mounted fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, DTS audio, Linear Motoro, and Graphite blocks cooling.

It loads with Android 11 OS with the improved XOS 10 skin.

realme 8 5G

5. realme 8 5G - Starting at PHP 10,990, for the 4GB RAM variant and PHP 11,990 for the 8GB RAM edition, the realme 8 5G is the most affordable 5G-ready smartphone that we can safely recommend.

The handset is boasting a 6.5-inch 90Hz FHD+ display, 2.0GHz 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 octa-core processor, 128GB UFS 2.1 expandable storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with USB-C 18W Quick Charge. It is also using a high-quality 48MP main camera at the back and a 16MP f/2.1 selfie shooter. This runs with Android 11 OS with realme UI 2.0 skin.

POCO X3 GT

6. POCO X3 GT - At Starting at PHP 15,990, the POCO X3 GT is one of the bang-for-the-buck smartphones under PHP 20K. It is a device boasting a large 6.6-inch Gorilla Glass Victus protected screen (the highest today) with a 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, and an FHD+ display. Inside, it is powered by MediaTek's really good 6nm Dimensity 1100 octa-core chip with Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, 5,000mAh battery capacity, USB-C 67W Turbo Charging, 64MP triple-cam, stereo speakers, and many more.

realme GT Master Edition

7. realme GT Master Edition - Starting at PHP 18,990, the realme GT Master Edition is one of the most stylish-looking and capable smartphones at this price point. It has a version with a gorgeous leather-like texture (Voyager Grey), 6.43-inch AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch sampling rate, and FHD+ resolution, 6nm Snapdragon 778G chip, 8GB RAM, up to 256GB UFS 2.1 internal storage, and a 4,500mAh battery capacity with USB-C 65W SuperDart Charge. It also has a 64MP triple-cam, 32MP selfie cam, stereo speakers, Hi-Res Audio, and many more.

OPPO Reno6 Z 5G

8. OPPO Reno6 Z 5G - At PHP 19,999, the OPPO Reno6 Z 5G is a must-consider device if content creation is in your mind. This device is equipped with a stylish body, 6.4-inch Gorilla Glass 5 protected AMOLED screen with FHD+ resolution, 2.4GHz 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 800U octa-core processor, 8GB LPDDR4X RAM, 128GB UFS 2.1 expandable storage, and  4,310mAh battery with USB-C 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 tech.

As you will notice, the specs are not that strong for the price. But, it has refined camera hardware consisting of 64MP f/1.79 main shooter + 8MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle + 2MP macro and a 32MP selfie camera. It also has plenty of software tricks that make your mobile photography and videography experience better.

OnePlua Nord 2

9. OnePlus Nord 2 - Starting at PHP 21,990 at Digital Walker, the OnePlus Nord 2 is one of our favorite phones this year. It is a mid-ranger that could pass as a high-end smartphone due to its 6.43-inch Gorilla Glass 5 protected Fluid AMOLED 90Hz FHD+ screen, 3.0GHz 6nm Custom MediaTek Dimensity 1200-AI octa-core processor, up to 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, up to 256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage.

Moreover, it has a flagship-grade 50MP f/1.8 Sony IMX776 main camera with OIS + 8MP f/2.25 119-degree ultra-wide-angle with EIS + 2MP f/2.5 mono cameras and a 32MP f/2.45 selfie camera.

Huawei nova 9

10. Huawei nova 9 - At PHP 23,999, the Huawei nova 9 is one of the strongest camera-focused smartphones for the price. It uses a large 6.57-inch 3D curved OLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch, and FHD+ resolution. Inside, it is using the 4G version of the 6nm Snapdragon 778 chip paired with 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage, and a 4,300mAh battery capacity with USB-C 66W SuperCharge.

The highlight of the device is its flagship-worthy 50MP f/1.9 RYYB primary camera with 1/1.56-inch sensor size, f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, CAF, and AIS. This allows users of this device to take impressive images even in the dark. For selfies, it uses a large 32MP snapper. Both the back and front cameras can take 4K videos.

Xiaomi 11T Pro

11. Xiaomi 11T Pro - Starting at PHP 27,990, the Xiaomi 11T Pro is arguably the best you can buy for the price. The handset is boasting a 6.67-inch flat Gorilla Glass Victus protected AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh, 480Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+, and FHD+ resolution. Inside, it is powered by the flagship 2.84GHz 5nm Snapdragon 888 octa-core processor paired with up to 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, up to 256GB UFS 3.1 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery capacity with the super-fast 120W HyperCharge.

For cameras, it is using a 108MP triple-cam and 16MP selfie cam. This also has stereo speakers and an IR Blaster remote control.

vivo X70

12. vivo X70 - At PHP 34,999, the vivo X70 is my secondary smartphone for a reason. It is a superb camera phone.

Anyway, the device is boasting a 6.56-inch SCHOTT Xensation Up protected E5 AMOLED with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, and FHD+ resolution. Inside it is using the 3.0GHz 6nm Custom MediaTek Dimensity 1200 octa-core processor with 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, 256GB UFS 3.1, and 4,400mAh battery capacity with USB-C 44W fast charging.

For cameras, it has a 40MP f/1.89 w/ laser AF, OIS + 12MP f/2.2 ultra-wide-angle + 12MP f/1.98 portrait + ZEISS T* anti-reflective coating + Color temperature sensor + Xenon flash. It also has a 32MP f/2.45 selfie camera.

This device also has plenty of ZEISS-tuned camera software tricks for portraits that could enhance your photography experience.

Galaxy S21 Ultra

13. Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra - Starting at PHP 66,990, the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the top device from the South Korean tech firm. It uses a 6.8-inch AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate + QHD+ resolution, 5nm Exynos 2100 chip, up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, up to 512GB UFS 3.1 storage, and a 5,000mAh battery with USB-C 25W wired charge and 15W wireless charging.

For cameras, this smartphone is equipped with a 108MP + 12MP + 10MP + 10MP configuration at the back and a 40MP selfie shooter. It also has stereo speakers and Hi-Res audio as well.

Note: If you want a high-end foldable Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is also quite nice.

Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2

14. Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 - Starting at PHP 39,995, the Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2 is a must check if gaming is your priority.

It uses a 6.92-inch AMOLED screen with a 144Hz refresh rate, 720Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+, Pixelworks i6 AI tunning, and FHD+ 2460 x 1080 resolution at 388 ppi.

Under the hood, it is powered by the 2.84GHz 5nm Snapdragon 888 octa-core processor paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5 RAM, up to 512GB UFS 3.1 internal storage, and a massive 5,500mAh battery capacity with up to 90W Turbo Power Charging. It also has plenty of cooling technologies, Virtual Octa-Trigger (Quad Ultrasonic Shoulder keys, Dual Capacitance keys input, Dual Force Touch sensor), Customizable RGB lighting, -magnet stereo speaker, dual Smart PA, 48kHz/16-bit HiFi, Dolby Atmos, Dirac HD Sound, and 4x microphones with noise reduction.

iPhone 13 Pro

15. Apple iPhone 13 Pro - Starting at PHP 63,990, this is the best overall smartphone in the country today. It has a near-perfect combination of size, specs, cameras, and really good software.

This device uses a 6.1-inch 2.5D curved Ceramic Shield protected Super Retina XDR OLED screen with 120Hz ProMotion, HDR, and FHD+ 2532 x 1170 resolution at 457 ppi, 3.23GHz 5nm Apple A15 Bionic hexa-core processor, Apple 5-core GPU, up to 1TB internal storage, and 3,095mAh battery (can last longer than most 5,000mAh phones, legit) with lighting 20W fast charging + 15W MagSafe and Qi wireless charging. 

For cameras, it uses a 12MP f/1.5 main shooter with sensor-shift OIS + 12MP f/1.8 120 degree ultra-wide-angle + 12MP f/2.8 3x telephoto + LiDar Scanner + True Tone flash with Slow Sync. 

In our experience, this is the best smartphone for taking videos today. For photos, Apple's 12MP shooter on the iPhone 13 Pro can put to shame a lot of 108MP camera phones.

It also has stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos, Haptic Touch, and more.

Note: The iPhone 13 Pro Max is an equally amazing pick if you prefer a bigger phone, you have huge hands, and you can handle its weight.

Our trusted seller of the iPhone 13 phones is Beyond the Box.

That's it. This is our list of the top smartphones that you should check after getting your "Aguinaldos" this season.

Do you agree with us?