Buyer’s guide: Best smartphones to buy in Q1 2025
Shopping for a phone can be a challenge. Ideally, you want one that fulfills as many of your needs as possible and fits your budget at the same time. Thankfully, the first quarter of 2025 has been rather eventful for the phone industry, so you won’t have any issues with regards to choice.
And to help you, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best phones of 2025 so far. We’ve once again categorized our picks based on price to make it easier for you.
Without further ado, here’s our list:
Under P10,000
Realme C75
We get it: not everyone is willing to spend tens of thousands of pesos on a new phone. And that’s fine. The market is flooded with dozens of budget-friendly models that are capable enough for most day-to-day functions. Sure, they come with a lot of compromises, but value-wise, they’re hard to beat.
Perhaps the best example of that is the Realme C75, an entry level phone that boasts premium durability. It features a reinforced structure and an IP69 rating — the highest level of dust and water protection in the Ingress Protection rating system — allowing it to withstand drops and high water pressure environments. Performance-wise, it’s not the best, though it can handle basic day-to-day tasks just fine. At the end of the day, the focus is on ruggedness and protection, not performance speed or power.
The Realme C75 starts at P8,999.
Alternative:
Samsung Galaxy A06 5G
If ruggedness isn’t as important to you, the Samsung Galaxy A06 is a good alternative. It does away with the protective certifications of the C75 in favor of a more balanced phone experience, as well as 5G connectivity. Camera is decent; performance is okay; and battery life is about adequate for the price. You essentially get what you pay for here.
The Samsung Galaxy A06 5G retails for P7,990.
P10,000-P15,000
Honor X8c
Need a fairly attractive phone to show off to your friends? The Honor X8c is a good choice. Its main distinguishing characteristic is its vegan leather, checkerboard back panel that comes in a trademark green colorway. We’ve never seen anything like it before, and it’s definitely attractive.
Beyond aesthetics though, the X8c is also fairly strong. Its 120Hz screen can also get plenty bright, while its 108MP main camera performs well in different lighting environments.
But, as with most other phones, it’s not without a few drawbacks. Both the performance and audio output, for example, can be better. It also doesn’t support 5G connection.
Then again, as a package, we think the X8c does about enough to make its P13,999 asking price worth it, especially if you’re after a more vibrant and youthful-looking phone.
P15,000-P20,000
Honor X9c 5G
If you have a few more thousand to spare, the Honor X9c is arguably a better choice over the X8c. Not only is it better-specced but it’s also a lot tougher, with it supposedly capable of withstanding drops of up to two meters.
You can expect to enjoy good, consistent performance here for everyday tasks and gaming. The cameras are not too shabby as well. But the phone’s main selling point is its durability. It’s built to take beatings and extreme temperatures, making it the perfect companion for an outdoor adventure.
The Honor X9c 5G starts at P16,999.
Alternative:
Oppo A5 Pro 5G
The Oppo A5 Pro 5G is similarly built to last, featuring an IP69 rating for water and dust resistance, along with military-grade shock protection. However, outside of durability, the phone is not as strong as others in this price category, including the Honor X9c. It retails for P15,999.
P20,000 to P30,000
Realme 14 Pro+ 5G
We’re now treading flagship killer territory, and no phone this quarter fits that description more than the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G. This midrange release ticks all the boxes without breaking the bank. It has an impressive 6.83-inch, 1.5K OLED display, a great-performing triple-rear camera system, and a sizable 6,000mAh battery. The Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset also delivers strong performance in both gaming and multitasking.
On top of these, the phone also has military-grade shock resistance and an IP69 rating — the same as the Realme C75 — which should allow it to survive accidental drops and quick dips in the pool.
Still, it’s not perfect. The speakers could be better. You also get loads of bloatware out of the box. But because of how good the whole package is, these relatively small issues can easily be overlooked.
If you’re after a balanced experience with a couple flagship features, you can’t go wrong with the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G. It retails for P27,999.
Alternatives:
Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G
The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ 5G similarly packs great specs at an affordable price. Between it and the Realme 14 Pro+ 5G, it’s almost a toss up as to which is better. So if the latter’s price is too steep for you, then the former is your next best option, with a starting price of only P22,999.
Vivo V50
If photography is your priority, skip the last two phones and go with the Vivo V50. On paper, the phone’s two 50MP lenses seem somewhat ordinary. In practice, however, they’re anything but. And that’s largely thanks to the image processing software Vivo co-developed with Zeiss, which gives photos that extra oomph it needs to shine.
The Vivo V50 starts at P27,999.
P30,000 to P40,000
iPhone 16e
Yes, you read that right; you can get an iPhone for less than P40,000. Last February, Apple released the iPhone 16e, which is essentially a stripped-down version of the annual iPhone release. And it’s a pretty solid phone. It packs a single 48MP rear camera; a 6.1‑inch OLED screen with a standard 60Hz refresh rate, wireless charging support, and an A18 chip that delivers good, reliable performance.
At P39,999, it’s by no means cheap. You can get a bunch of more capable phones at a lower cost. But, again, this is an iPhone — the most basic one at that. And when you get an iPhone, you’re paying for the unique experiences the hardware itself and the iOS software provides.
If you want an iPhone that doesn’t cost as much as the standard iPhone 16 model, the iPhone 16e should be a no-brainer. On the other hand, if value-for-money is more important to you, read on further for some Android alternatives.
Alternative:
Poco F7 Ultra
In terms of raw performance power, the Poco F7 Ultra is one of the best options in this price category. After all, it’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, which is currently the best Android chipset in the market. That’s the same chipset under the hood of some powerhouse flagships like the Samsung Galaxy S25, the Xiaomi 15, and the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro.
The Poco F7 Ultra starts at P37,000.
OnePlus 13R
The OnePlus 13R brings a similar experience to the Poco F7 Ultra. It has a sharp display; its cameras deliver excellent image quality; and its processor is speedy enough to handle gaming and multitasking very well.
The one advantage it has over the Poco F7 Ultra is its battery’s resilience. The OnePlus 13R’s 6,000mAh cell can easily last more than a day on heavy usage.
It starts at P38,990.
P40,000 to P50,000
Xiaomi 15
Size doesn’t always equate to more power. The Xiaomi 15 is proof of that. This compact 6.3-inch flagship is ultra-fast, with it housing the previously mentioned Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. What’s more, it’s designed with photography in mind, featuring a triple-rear camera system, co-engineered by German lens specialist Leica, that impresses in different shooting situations. It also has a sturdy build, a long-lasting battery, and a bright AMOLED display.
The only thing that might stop us from giving this an instant recommendation is the HyperOS software, which comes with a lot of quirks, ads, and bloat. While that alone shouldn’t be too much of a dealbreaker, we still think you have to factor it in your purchasing decision, especially in this price category.
If you want flagship power in a more compact and pocketable form factor, the Xiaomi 15 is your best option. It starts at P46,000.
P50,000 and up
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
If size is important to you and you have the cash to spare, you can’t go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. This ultra-premium flagship is one of, if not, the best Android phone in the market today. It has a huge 6.9 AMOLED panel with thin bezels and a peak brightness of 2,600 nits; an impressive quadruple-rear camera system, highlighted by a 200MP primary lens; a speedy Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset; and a 5,000mAh battery that supports magnetic wireless charging. Not to mention, the added flexibility that S Pen support brings, enabling you to jot down notes or doodle on-the-fly.
All these features come at a very steep price tag though. With a starting price of P84,990, this phone is a huge investment. And that’s the one reason we’d ask you to think twice before making the decision to get this phone.
Alternative:
Samsung Galaxy S25
You can of course opt for the more affordable base S25 model, but its display is significantly smaller. It also doesn’t have S Pen support. The Samsung Galaxy S25 starts at P51,990.
ROG Phone 9 Pro
If you play a lot of games on your phone, you might want to consider the ROG Phone 9 Pro. What makes it unique compared to others on this list is how it combines strong performance with a long-lasting battery and a buttery smooth display that goes up to 185Hz refresh rate to create the ultimate mobile gaming experience money can buy.
– Rappler.com