Mobile gaming is booming in the Philippines, with more and more gamers enjoying their favorite titles on their smartphones. Whether it’s PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, Call of Duty Mobile, or Genshin Impact, there’s a game for everyone on the go.
However, not all phones are created equal when it comes to gaming performance. You need a phone that can handle the graphics, the speed, and the battery drain of these demanding games. And you don’t want to break the bank either.
So how do you find the best affordable Android phone for gaming in 2024? We’ll compare and review some of the best budget phones for gaming in the Philippines and share our personal experience and tips on using them for gaming, as we are avid mobile gamers ourselves. Let’s get started!
Read More: Our recommended gaming phone if budget is not an issue
Top Affordable Gaming Phone Options (under PHP 16,000)
There are plenty of phones that claim to be gaming phones, but not all of them live up to the hype. Some are too expensive, some are too slow, and some are too fragile. We’ve done the research and testing for you and narrowed down the list to six of the best budget gaming phone options in the Philippines, all under PHP 16,000.
These phones have the right balance of performance, features, and price and can handle most popular games without issues. Here they are, in no particular order:
POCO X5 5G
Price: PHP 16,999
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The POCO X5 5G offers high-quality phones at a low cost, and we are very satisfied with it. It boasts a powerful Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G, 6GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. This lets the phone run 5G and high-end games smoothly, without lag or stutter. The device also has a liquid cooling system that keeps it cool and fast.
The display of the POCO X5 5G is one of the best in this category, as it has a 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD display with a 120Hz refresh rate, which results in smooth and responsive gaming. It also has a peak brightness of 1200 nits, which makes the colors and contrast more vivid and realistic.
The battery of the POCO X5 5G is also pretty impressive for its price. It has a huge 5000mAh capacity that can power through hours of gaming. And when it runs low, you can just plug in the 33W fast charger and get it back to full in no time.
The POCO X5 5G is a great choice for gamers who want a fast and reliable phone that can handle 5G connectivity and high-end games. It also has a decent camera setup and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. The only drawback is the lack of wireless charging.
- Display: 6.67-inch FHD+ LCD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G
- Memory: 6GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
Read our full review of the POCO X5 5G
Pros:
- Fast and reliable 5G connectivity and performance
- Smooth and responsive display with a high refresh rate
- Large battery capacity and decent camera setup
Cons:
- Lack of wireless charging
- Average design and build quality
Tecno Pova 5
Price: PHP 8,990
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The gaming phone market has a new player – Tecno Pova 5, and it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. A MediaTek Helio G99 processor powers it, which is specially designed for gaming. Plus, it has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, which lets you play any game you want without worrying about running out of space or memory.
The display of the Tecno Pova 5 is also decent, as it has a 6.78-inch IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth and responsive gaming.
The battery of the Tecno Pova 5 has a 6000mAh capacity and 45W fast charging support. The phone can last for hours of gaming and other tasks on a single charge and can be recharged quickly when needed.
The massive 5000mAh battery and fast processor make the Tecno Pova 5 a great gaming partner. The camera is also good enough for casual snaps and selfies. However, the low-resolution screen doesn’t look very sharp or vibrant, and it’s quite heavy and bulky, which makes it hard to hold for long periods.
- Display: 6.78-inch IPS LCD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G99
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
Read our full review of the Tecno Pova 5
Pros:
- Huge battery capacity and power marathon mode
- Gaming-specific processor
- Large and smooth display and a decent dual-camera setup
Cons:
- Low screen resolution and lack of AMOLED screen
- Bulky design and weight
- Average camera quality
Infinix Note 30
Price: PHP 8,499
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The Infinix Note 30 is another gaming phone from a relatively new brand, and it has some impressive features for the price. It is a beast, thanks to its MediaTek Helio G99 processor that delivers fast and smooth gaming performance. It also has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage to store and run as many games as you want.
The display of the Infinix Note 30 is impressive, as it has a 6.78-inch IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. It has a peak brightness of 540 nits, showing every detail of your games and videos.
The battery is also large, with a 5200mAh capacity and 45W fast charging support. You can play games and do other things for hours without worrying about running out of juice. And when you need to charge it, it only takes a few minutes to get it back to full, thanks to its 33W fast charger.
The Infinix Note 30 is a great option for gamers who want a premium and immersive gaming experience on a budget. It also has a good triple-camera setup, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a dual speaker system. The only drawbacks are the lack of 5G connectivity and wireless charging.
- Display: 6.78-inch IPS LCD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Helio G99
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
Read our full review of the Infinix Note 30
Pros:
- Premium and immersive display with a high refresh rate
- Gaming-optimized processor
- Large battery capacity and fast charging speed
- Good triple-camera setup and dual speaker system
Cons:
- Lack of 5G connectivity and wireless charging
- Average design and build quality
- Hefty size and weight
Redmi Note 12 Pro
Price: PHP 16,990
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The Redmi Note 12 Pro continues the tradition of offering high-performance phones at low prices. It runs on MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor, a solid mid-range chipset that supports 5G networks and most games. The 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is also plenty enough for your gaming needs.
The Redmi phone will blow you away with its 6.67-inch AMOLED panel. It’s got a 120Hz refresh rate that makes gaming smooth and responsive. The display also has HDR10+ and a peak brightness of 900 nits that bring out the colors and contrast of games.
The battery of the Redmi Note 12 Pro is also good, as it has a 5000mAh capacity and 67W fast charging support. You’ll love it as it can keep gaming for hours without interruptions.
The smartphone is a great alternative if you’re looking to have a good gaming experience without breaking the bank. It has a 5G-ready processor that delivers all fronts. And it has a convenient side-mounted fingerprint scanner that unlocks the phone in an instant. The only drawback is the lack of wireless and reverse wireless charging.
- Display: 6.67-inch AMOLED
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 1080
- Memory: 6GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
Read our full review of the Redmi Note 12
Pros:
- Well-rounded and reliable 5G connectivity and performance
- Smooth and vivid display with a high refresh rate
- Good battery capacity and fast charging speed
- Good triple-camera setup
Cons:
- Lack of wireless and reverse wireless charging
- Average design and build quality
Samsung Galaxy A34 5G
Price: PHP 17,990
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The Samsung Galaxy A34 is one of the newest members of the Samsung Galaxy A series, and it offers a decent gaming performance for the price. The phone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 1080 processor, a decent mid-range chipset that can run most games smoothly. Additionally, the 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is enough to play most games without issues.
The 6.6-inch Super AMOLED panel is impressive, given that the A34 is a budget phone. It’s one of the few affordable devices with a 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass 5.
The battery of the Samsung Galaxy A34 has a 5000mAh capacity and 25W fast charging support. The charging may be too slow compared with other devices, but you can always use the power saving mode to lower the power usage of the phone and eliminate charging during games.
The Samsung Galaxy A34 is a decent option for gamers who want a Samsung phone that can play most games without any lag. It also has a nice triple-camera setup that can take good photos and an in-display fingerprint scanner that unlocks the phone easily. The only drawbacks are the lack of a headphone jack and wireless charging.
- Display: 6.6-inch Super AMOLED
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 1080
- Memory: 6GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
Read our review of the Samsung Galaxy A34
Pros:
- Decent gaming performance and smoothness
- Sharp and colorful display with a high refresh rate
- Good triple-camera setup and in-display fingerprint scanner
- Samsung brand and software
Cons:
- Lack of headphone jack and wireless charging
- Notch design and plastic back
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
Price: PHP 14,990
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The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is the cheapest phone from the OnePlus Nord series, and it offers a good gaming performance for the price. It has a Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G processor that can run 5G networks and most games smoothly. The 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is also enough to store and play all your favorite games.
The display is good, as it has a 6.72-inch IPS LCD panel with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth and responsive gaming. The display also has a peak brightness of 680 nits that shows the colors and contrast of games more clearly.
The battery of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is also good, as it has a 5000mAh capacity and 67W fast charging support. You can game for hours on a single charge, and when you need to charge it, it only takes 30 minutes to reach 80%.
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite gives you great gaming performance for a low price. The device has a good triple-camera setup, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, and a headphone jack. The only drawback is the lack of wireless charging.
- Display: 6.72-inch IPS LCD
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Processor: Qualcomm SM6375 Snapdragon 695 5G
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 128GB
Check out our review of the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
Pros:
- Good 5G connectivity and performance
- Sharp and smooth display with a high refresh rate
- Good battery capacity and fast charging speed
- Good triple-camera setup and headphone jack
Cons:
- Lack of wireless charging
- Average design and build quality
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Gaming Phone
Choosing the best affordable Android phone for gaming is not as simple as picking the cheapest or the most powerful one. Many factors affect the gaming performance and experience of a phone, and you need to consider them carefully before making a decision. Here are some of them:
Read More: The Android phone for gaming we recommend the most!
Processor
The processor, or the CPU, is the brain of the phone, and it determines how fast and smooth the phone can run games and other tasks. Generally, the higher the processor’s clock speed and the number of cores, the better the performance. However, not all processors are equal, and some are more optimized for gaming than others.
RAM
RAM, or Random Access Memory, is the memory that the phone uses to store and access data temporarily. It affects the multitasking and performance of the phone, as it allows the phone to run multiple apps and games at the same time without slowing down or crashing. Generally, the more RAM the phone has, the better the performance.
Display
The display, or the screen, is the part of the phone you interact with the most, and it affects the gaming experience and enjoyment of the phone. Generally, the bigger, brighter, and sharper the display, the better the experience.
Battery life
The battery life, or endurance, is the amount of time the phone can run on a single charge, and it affects the gaming convenience and enjoyment of the phone. Generally, the bigger the battery capacity, the longer the battery life.
Conclusion
Choosing the best affordable Android phone for gaming in 2024 is not an easy task, as there are many factors to consider and many options to choose from. However, with some research and comparison, you can find the phone that suits your needs and preferences and enjoy your gaming experience without spending too much.
We hope this article has helped you in your decision-making process, and we wish you happy gaming!