Are you looking for a new smartphone under a PHP 40k price tag released in the first quarter of 2025? We gathered all the best options for you to check out and help you decide what’s the best pick for you.
What’s New in Mid-Range Phones Released in Q1 2025?
There are a lot of new phones released in the first quarter of the year that come with new and great features, especially in this price range.
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One of the features that is implemented now is durability; most of the phones nowadays are waterproof and have drop resistance. Other phones boast powerful performance, while some highlight their camera and underwater photography capabilities.
Another trend being implemented on smartphones today, in all price categories, is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is present in all devices in our list.
But, what is the best smartphone you should buy among those new releases? Here is our list of the top 10 smartphones under PHP 40,000 in Q1 of 2025 — in no particular order.
Top 10 Smartphones Under PHP 40K Released in Q1 2025:
1. realme 14 Pro+ 5G
First in our list is the realme 14 Pro+ 5G which we recently reviewed. This phone features a 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage, a 6,000mAh battery, 80W SUPERVOOC charging, and runs the latest realme UI 6.0 based on Android 15, so you are ensured of a seamless performance. Though, take not that it also comes with pre-installed bloatware apps out of the box that you can manually uninstall.
In addition, the realme 14 Pro+ 5G has a large 6.83-inch OLED display with 1.5K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, 240Hz touch sampling rate, in-display fingerprint scanner, and up to 1,200 nits max brightness.
You can also get great image quality with this phone since it features a 50MP main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 50MP telephoto lens with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, and a 32MP selfie camera. This phone has IP69, IP68, and IP66 dust & water resistance that allows us to shoot underwater with the help of its Underwater Photography mode.
This phone stands out because of its well-balanced features and reasonable pricing. If you are a casual user or a content creator, I can recommend this phone to you. You may check our full review article if you want to know more details.
The realme 14 Pro+ 5G is now available for only PHP 27,999 in all physical stores of realme Philippines and on their TikTok Shop.
Pros
- Great camera system
- Powerful performance
- Big battery capacity
- Faster charging
Cons
- 1,200 nits max brightness
- Bloatware
2. POCO F7 Pro
Second is the POCO F7 Pro, which is one of our list that features impressive performance. This phone highlights the 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, 12GB RAM, up to 512GB storage, a large 6,000mAh battery capacity, 90W fast charging support, and runs the latest HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15 out of the box. We have no idea of its software whether it is well-optimized, but based on its spec sheet, its performance can give us more than enough.
The POCO F7 Pro also features a high-quality 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 2K resolution, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 120Hz refresh rate, 3,200 nits max brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
Though it has a 50MP main camera with OIS that delivers crisp photos and videos, maybe its 8MP ultra-wide lens is the disadvantage here, since that megapixel count surely gives us lower image quality. Besides, it has a 20MP selfie shooter that seems decent, we saw some sample photos from our media friends.
The POCO F7 Pro stands out with its powerful performance and great display, making it great for those who do heavy multitasking and gaming.
You can now buy the POCO F7 Pro in Xiaomi’s flagship store on Shopee with a price starting at PHP 27,999. It is available in a 12GB/256GB variant that costs PHP 27,999, while PHP 29,999 for the 12GB/512GB variant.
Pros
- Powerful performance
- Great display
- Decent main camera
- Fast charging support
- Pricing
Cons
- 8MP ultra-wide lens
3. OPPO Reno13 5G
One of my favorite new releases is the OPPO Reno13 5G, which I also reviewed. I do prefer slim and lightweight smartphones since they are easier to hold and more pocketable.
The OPPO Reno13 5G also offers impressive performance compared to its predecessors since it is powered by the powerful 4nm Dimensity 8350 chipset, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage, 5,600mAh battery, and 80W SUPERVOOC charging. It also runs ColorOS 15 based on Android 15 with some bloatware out of the box. However, due to its slim design, it heats up more quickly when doing heavy tasks or when gaming, take note of that.
Moreover, it also has a 6.59-inch Flexible AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, up to 1,200 nits max brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection. It also has IP69, IP68, and IP66 dust and water resistance ratings, which means you can also use it for underwater photography.
Speaking of photography, this phone has a 50MP main camera with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide lens, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 50MP selfie shooter. Honestly, compared to the previous phones in our list, its image quality is just decent. But as for the selfie camera, I love its video quality, making it good for livestreaming or vlogging.
The OPPO Reno13 5G is a great choice for those casual users that doesn’t need a very high-quality camera, but want sleek premium design, a splendid display, impressive performance and optimized software.
Though this phone is on the pricier side since it is priced at PHP 34,999, you can still include this phone in your choice. It is better if you try a demo unit and explore it before buying. It is available in all authorized resellers of OPPO nationwide as well as online on their official stores on Shopee and Lazada.
Pros
- Slim design
- Powerful performance
- IP ratings
- 50MP selfie shooter
Cons
- Heating up quickly
- 8MP ultra-wide lens
- Pricing
4. HUAWEI nova 13 Pro
The fourth in our list is the HUAWEI nova 13 Pro, which boasts spectacular camera features that let users achieve their perfect memories. We can do all our tasks seamlessly on this phone since it is powered by the Kirin 8000 octa-core processor paired with 12GB RAM and 512GB internal storage.
It is also equipped with a 5,000mAh battery capacity that supports 100W HUAWEI SuperCharge Turbo. Besides, it runs on the EMUI 14.2 operating system out of the box.
The HUAWEI nova 13 Pro also features a large 6.76-inch OLED display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 300Hz touch sampling rate.
Additionally, it has a 50MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto lens with OIS, an 8MP ultra-wide macro lens, and a 60MP + 8MP selfie camera. Its rear camera setup has AI image stabilization and 10x digital zoom capability. Besides, you can also edit your facial expressions after capturing the photo with the AI Best Expressions feature.
Using a HUAWEI phone nowadays still requires workarounds since they still do not have Google Mobile Services; that’s why you need to think carefully when buying this phone. The nova 13 still has appreciable features like camera, display, battery, and charging.
Pros
- Good cameras
- 100W fast charging
- Decent display
Cons
- No native Google services
- Pricing
5. Samsung Galaxy A56 5G
If you are a Samsung fan, the brand’s latest midrange phone, released earlier this year, is the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, which offers awesome intelligence with the help of AI.
We had tried to explore it during a media preview recently, and it gives one of the best AI experiences since most of the AI features we first saw on the Galaxy S25 series are in here, like Circle to Search, Object Eraser, and more.
The Galaxy A56 5G is powered by the 4nm Exynos 1580 chipset and paired with 8GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage. This device has a 5,000mAh battery capacity and supports 45W fast charging technology. It also runs One UI 7.0 based on Android 15 out of the box.
As for the display, it has a large 6.7-inch SuperAMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, 1,900 nits max brightness, 120Hz refresh rate, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection.
You can also get decent image quality in this phone since it has a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, a 5MP macro lens, and a 12MP selfie camera.
If you are looking for a premium experience with compelling AI features, robust build quality, and longevity, I can recommend the Samsung Galaxy A56 5G. This phone is the best choice if you are a Samsung fan and only have this amount of budget.
Pros
- Good pricing
- High-quality display
- Long software support
Cons
- 8GB RAM (12GB is better)
- Exynos chipset (Disadvantage for others)
6. vivo V50 5G
Next is the vivo V50 5G, which also offers premium image quality. This phone provides great value for money since it has a 4nm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, up to 12GB RAM, up to 512GB internal storage, and runs Funtouch OS 15 based on Android 15.
This model has a large 6,000mAh battery capacity and supports 90W wired fast charging. Its display is a big 6.77-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, up to 4,500 nits max brightness, and Diamond Shield glass protection. Besides, this phone also has an IP69 & IP68 dust and water resistance rating.
The vivo V50 5G has an upgraded camera system consisting of a 50MP main camera with OIS, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a 50MP selfie shooter. Its main camera and selfie camera are engineered with ZEISS, so expect top-notch photos, high-quality videos, and DSLR-level stabilization.
This phone is also a great option because it has decent features and reasonable pricing. It is perfect for those who want good cameras, decent performance, big battery capacity, and stylish design. Though it also has its drawbacks, particularly with the telephoto lens.
Pros
- Good camera system
- Decent performance
- Large battery capacity
- Fast charging support
Cons
- No telephoto lens
7. POCO F7 Ultra
If you want to maximize your PHP 40k budget, the POCO F7 Ultra is the best choice since it has overall good features, which can somewhat translate to “flagship-killer”. Why?
The POCO F7 Ultra is powered by the latest 3nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship chipset with Adreno 830 GPU and accompanied by the VisionBoost D7 chipset. It also has up to 16GB RAM and up to 512GB UFS 4.1 internal storage, 5,300mAh battery capacity, 120W wired HyperCharge, and 50W wireless HyperCharge. Besides, this phone also runs HyperOS 2 based on Android 15.
This new POCO F7 features a top-notch 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, up to 3,200 nits max brightness, and POCO shield glass protection.
POCO also boasts its device’s camera system, which consists of a 50MP Light Fusion 800 main camera with OIS, a 50MP floating telephoto lens with OIS, a 32MP ultra-wide lens, and a 32MP selfie camera.
Its rear camera setup can shoot up to 8K@24fps and 4K@60fps, which we usually saw in the flagship category.
Based on its specifications, it is the best option on our list due to its flagship-level features. Though I haven’t tried this phone in person yet, I can recommend it to you if this phone is what you want to buy. You can also check reviews from other tech reviewers.
The POCO F7 Ultra is priced at PHP 36,999 for the 12GB/256GB variant, and PHP 39,999 for the 16GB/512GB variant. You can buy this phone in POCO Official Global store on Lazada.
Pros
- Flagship chipset
- Top-notch Display
- Exceptional camera system
- Wireless charging.
Cons
8. iPhone 16e
In case you want to try iOS, Apple also releases an iPhone below PHP 40K price, the iPhone 16e. Well, a lot of people hated Apple for this device because of the pricing and the removal of useful features like MagSafe.
The new Apple iPhone 16e features the latest 3nm Apple A18 chip that is paired with 8GB RAM and up to 512GB internal storage. For software, it supports iOS 18.4 and supports several iOS upgrades for years.
Its display is a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED panel with 1170 x 2532 pixel resolution, HDR10, up to 1,200 nits max brightness, and ceramic shield glass protection. Take note that this smartphone only supports a 60Hz screen refresh rate.
The iPhone 16e only has a 48MP main camera with OIS for the rear setup, while a 12MP selfie camera is at the front. It is sad that it only has one camera at the back since most of the phones nowadays also have an 8MP ultra-wide lens.
I think, the iPhone 16e is the least in our list since it lacks so many standard features of a smartphone nowadays. The lack of an ultra-wide lens, MagSafe, high refresh rate, and more makes it the most overpriced smartphone of this quarter. But if you’re okay with those lacking features, you can try the iPhone 16e, or I suggest buying previous models instead, like the iPhone 15.
Pros
- iOS device
- Good software support
- Powerful performance
Cons
- Pricing
- No MagSafe
- Single rear camera
- 60Hz refresh rate
9. Nothing Phone (3a) Pro
One of the unique smartphones in our list is the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. Just like other Nothing Phones, it arrived with the Glyph interface, which is useful for some users.
The Nothing Phone (3a) Pro features the 4nm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 octa-core chipset with Adreno 710 GPU. The only memory configuration available locally is the 12GB/256GB variant. It also has a 5,000mAh battery capacity with 50W fast charging support.
In addition, the device runs the Nothing OS 3.1 based on Android 15 out of the box, and will receive up to 3 major Android upgrades.
The Phone (3a) Pro also comes with a large 6.77-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, up to 3,000 nits max brightness, and Panda Glass protection.
This device also has a good triple rear camera setup, including the 50MP main shooter with OIS & EIS, a 50MP periscope telephoto lens with OIS, and an 8MP ultra-wide lens. At the front, there’s the 50MP selfie shooter.
I can recommend this phone if you are looking for a smartphone that will give you a unique experience. Its specifications are not the best, but decent. Like other smartphones from Nothing, you are assured that you will get great support from the brand, especially in software. This Nothing Phone (3a) Pro is worth trying, based on other tech reviewers.
Pros
- Unique design
- AMOLED display
- Good camera system
Cons
Availability
10. OnePlus 13R
Last but not least in our list is the OnePlus 13R, which also offers outstanding value in this price category. The OnePlus 13R is powered by the 4nm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 octa-core chipset with Adreno 750 GPU, 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB UFS 4.0 internal storage, a large 6,000mAh battery capacity, and 80W SUPERVOOC charging.
For software, this device runs OxygenOS 15.0 based on Android 15 out of the box. It also boasts OnePlus AI, which offers smarter features like Intelligent Search, where you can search your files or notes, and others.
The OnePlus 13R has a large 6.78-inch LTPO 4.1 AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, up to 4,500 nits max brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protection.
Additionally, you can also get high-quality photos and videos in this device because it boasts a 50MP Sony LYT-700 main camera with OIS, a 50MP S5KJN5 telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom and Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), an 8MP ultra-wide lens with EIS, and a 16MP selfie shooter with EIS.
Even though this OnePlus 13R is not very hyped, it provides good value for money. Although in its pricing, you can get a better offer like the POCO F7 Ultra. It is up to you if you want to buy this phone among other phones on our list.
For pricing and availability, the OnePlus is available online and offline through Digital Walker for only PHP 38,990, although as of writing, it is listed for only PHP 35,990, which is a great deal.
Pros
- Immersive display
- Decent camera system
- Massive battery
Cons
- Should use a higher chipset
Conclusion
Most of the smartphones released in Q1 2025 under PHP 40k are a great deal, while other devices seem to be overpriced, especially with a lower camera, display, and chipset. If you ask me what my top 3 in our lists, I would pick the POCO F7 Ultra for having a flagship killer specs, vivo V50 5G for its great value for money, and realme 14 Pro+ 5G for owning well-balanced features. I can also recommend the Nothing Phone (3a) Pro if you want a new experience on an Android phone, and the OPPO Reno13 5G if you want a very slim and lightweight but powerful device.
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