So here’s the thing.
My Samsung Galaxy A73 5G is dying.
It’s slowly and dramatically dying on me.
It’s been with me for a while now and I can feel it.
The signs are there.
The battery drains faster.
Apps take a bit longer to load.
And now I have green lines on the screen.
Nothing major.
Nothing that makes me want to throw it against the wall.
Yet.
But I know what’s coming.
Why a Good Phone Matters to Me
Let me explain why this is a big deal for me. I’m not just some casual phone user who checks Facebook and sends text messages. No. My phone is my lifeline. It’s my work tool. It’s my creative studio. It’s basically my entire life in a 6.7-inch rectangle.
Here’s what I use my phone for everyday:
- Work: I’m a freelance writer and blogger running 6 different blogs (7 if you count my AcidRadius Spotify page). I need to be able to write, edit, upload photos, and manage multiple websites from my phone when I’m not at my computer.
- Video content creation: I shoot videos for my blogs and social media. I need a decent camera that can handle 1080p or 4K without looking like garbage.
- Music recording: Yeah, I record music demos on my phone. Not the final versions obviously, but I need clean audio recording capabilities. I bought that Maono Wave T1 Mini mic specifically to work with my phone.
- Photography: Blog photos, product reviews, family photos of my 5-year-old son… I need a camera that works.
- Social media management: Running multiple accounts for all my blogs means I’m constantly uploading, scheduling, and responding to comments.
So yeah. When my phone dies, I’m kinda screwed.
What Made the Samsung A73 5G Great (When It Worked)
Samsung Galaxy A73 5G Specifications
| Spec | Details |
| Display | 6.7″ Super AMOLED Plus, 120Hz, 1080×2400 pixels |
| Processor | Snapdragon 778G 5G (6 nm) |
| RAM | 6GB or 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB or 256GB (expandable via microSD) |
| Main Camera | 108MP (wide) + 12MP (ultrawide) + 5MP (macro) + 5MP (depth) |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh with 25W charging |
| OS | Android 12, up to 4 major upgrades |
| Water Resistance | IP67 |
| Weight | 181g |
| Price | About 600 EUR when released (April 2022) |
When this phone was new, it was amazing. That 108MP camera? Beautiful. The 120Hz display? Smooth as butter. 5000mAh battery? Lasted all day easy.
But here’s the thing… it’s been more than 3 years. And phones these days don’t age well.
The battery’s not holding charge like it used to. Sometimes it won’t even charge at all!
The camera’s still good but I’ve noticed some weird green lines appearing on the screen sometimes.
Performance has slowed down.
And I’m starting to worry.
The Problem: I Need Something Cheaper
Here’s my dilemma. The A73 5G was expensive when it launched.
And while it was worth it at the time, I can’t afford that kind of money again.
Not right now.
I need something cheaper.
But here’s the catch… I still need it to be GOOD.
I can’t go too cheap and end up with a phone that can’t handle video recording or freezes when I’m trying to upload a blog post. That’s not gonna work.
So what are my options?
The Tecno Spark Situation
Okay so here’s a funny story.
My son and I bought a Tecno Spark Go 2 for my wife as a Christmas present. We thought we were being smart.
It was cheap but it looked decent and the product reviews weren’t terrible.
But… she’s been complaining about its performance ever since she got it.
Based on the tech specs, I can see why.
Tecno Spark Go 2 Specs
| Spec | Details |
| Display | 6.67″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 720×1600 pixels |
| Processor | Unisoc T7250 (12 nm) |
| RAM | 3GB or 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB |
| Main Camera | 13MP (wide) |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh with 15W charging |
| OS | Android 15, HIOS 15 |
| Price | About Php 4000 |
It’s… okay. For basic stuff.
Calls, texts, Instagram, Facebook.
But anything more demanding?
Forget it.
The Unisoc T7250 processor is just not powerful enough.
The 720p display looks kinda washed out.
And that 15W charging?
Painfully slow.
But you know what?
I’m willing to give Tecno a chance.
Why? Because they just released the Tecno Spark Go 3 and I’m curious what that’s like. Maybe they fixed some of the issues? Maybe it’s better optimized?
Tecno Spark Go 3 Specs
| Spec | Details |
| Display | 6.74″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 720×1600 pixels |
| Processor | Unisoc T7250 (12 nm) |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB or 128GB |
| Main Camera | 13MP |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh (Li-Po) with 15W charging |
| OS | Android 15, HIOS 15 |
| Price | Php 7,000 (approximate) |
Honestly?
It’s basically the same phone as the Spark Go 2 but slightly bigger and with a teardrop notch instead of dual speakers.
Some users are already complaining that it’s a downgrade. But hey, it’s still cheap.
And here’s my plan: maybe I buy a Samsung Galaxy A07 and swap it with her Tecno Spark Go 2.
She gets the better phone, I get to test the Tecno to see if it works for my basic needs.
Samsung Galaxy A07 4G Specs
| Spec | Details |
| Display | 6.7″ PLS LCD, 90Hz, 720×1600 pixels |
| Processor | Mediatek Helio G99 (6 nm) |
| RAM | 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB |
| Storage | 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB (UFS 2.2) |
| Main Camera | 50MP (wide) + 2MP (depth) |
| Selfie Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 5000mAh with 25W charging |
| OS | Android 15, up to 6 major upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Price | Around Php 7K |
Now THIS is interesting. The A07 is cheap but it’s got that Helio G99 processor which is actually pretty decent for the price. 25W charging is respectable. And Samsung promises 6 years of major Android upgrades which is… wow.
That’s better support than my current A73 5G.
Plus it’s a Samsung so I already know the ecosystem, the interface and how everything works.
The downside? 720p display.
That’s gonna be rough coming from a 1080p Super AMOLED screen.
But for Php7K?
That’s hard to argue with.
Other Budget Options: Xiaomi, Redmi, Realme
Okay so beyond Tecno and the low-end Samsung options, what else is out there in the budget category?
Three brands keep coming up: Xiaomi, Redmi (which is Xiaomi’s sub-brand), and Realme.
I know nothing about these phones. Like… literally nothing. So I did some research.
Xiaomi/Redmi Options Under 10,000 (Around $120-150 USD)
Based on what I found, here are some solid options:
Popular Budget Redmi Phones (2026):
What makes these interesting:
- Most come with 5G support even at budget prices
- Large batteries (5000mAh seems standard)
- High refresh rate displays (90Hz or 120Hz)
- Decent cameras for the price range
- MIUI software on top of Android (which some people love, others hate because of ads)
The Redmi phones seem to focus on performance for the price. You get decent processors (usually MediaTek chips), good RAM options, and fast charging. The trade-off is that MIUI can feel bloated with pre-installed apps and occasional ads.
Realme Options Under 10,000
Realme is another brand I keep seeing recommended:
Popular Budget Realme Phones:
- Realme C61
- Realme Note 60
- Realme Narzo 80 Lite 4G
What makes Realme stand out:
- They focus on making budget phones LOOK expensive
- Good build quality for the price
- Large displays (6.7″ seems to be standard)
- 108MP cameras on some models (though quality varies)
- Long battery life
- IP54 rating on many models (dust and splash resistant)
Realme phones seem to prioritize design and battery life. They’re trying to give you a premium feel without the premium price. The C-series is their ultra-budget line, while the Narzo series focuses on battery endurance.
Xiaomi/Redmi vs Realme: The Difference
From what I can tell:
- Redmi = Better performance and specs for the money
- Realme = Better design and battery life
Redmi phones will generally be faster and handle multitasking better. Realme phones will look nicer and last longer on a single charge.
For my needs (video recording, music recording, blog work), I’d probably lean toward Redmi for the better processor. But if I just needed a reliable daily driver? Realme might be the smarter choice.
Pros and Cons of Leaving Samsung for Tecno/Xiaomi/Realme
PROS:
- Much cheaper: We’re talking Php7K to 10K instead of 20K to 30K
- Better value per peso: You get a LOT of features for the price
- Big batteries: 5000mAh is standard across all these brands
- High refresh rates: Even budget phones now have 90Hz or 120Hz screens
- Expandable storage: Most support microSD cards
- Decent cameras: 50MP-108MP main cameras are common
CONS:
- Build quality concerns: Plastic backs, cheaper materials
- Software bloat: MIUI and HIOS come with pre-installed apps and ads
- Lower resolutions: Most budget phones are 720p, not 1080p
- Slower processors: Budget chips can’t match mid-range Snapdragons
- Unknown longevity: Will these phones last 2-3 years?
- Less consistent updates: Samsung and Google are better at software support
- Resale value: These phones lose value FAST
The biggest concern for me?
Software. I’m used to Samsung’s One UI. It’s clean. It’s smooth. It works.
Going to MIUI or HIOS means learning a new interface, dealing with pre-installed bloatware, and potentially seeing ads in my system apps.
That’s annoying.
But is it annoying enough to justify paying 3-4x more for a Samsung? I don’t know yet.
I Also Need a Tablet
Oh and one more thing.
I also need a new tablet.
Why?
Because working with videos and creating documents on a 6.7″ phone screen is painful.
I need a bigger screen for serious work. Something where I can edit videos properly, write longer blog posts comfortably, and actually see what I’m doing when I’m editing photos.
Budget tablets I’m looking at:
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A9/A9+
- Xiaomi Redmi Pad
- Realme Pad (if they still make them)
- Tecno MegaPad
But that’s a whole other research project I need to do.
So… What Am I Going to Do?
Honestly? I don’t know yet.
Part of me wants to just get another Samsung. Stick with what I know. Get a mid-range A-series phone and call it a day. The A35 or A55 are solid options if I can find them on sale.
But another part of me is curious about these budget brands. Tecno, Xiaomi, Redmi, Realme… they’re all offering SO MUCH for SO LITTLE money. And yeah, there are compromises. But maybe those compromises are worth it?
Here’s what I’m thinking:
- Test the Tecno Spark Go 2 that my wife has to see if I can tolerate the performance
- Buy a Samsung A07 to swap with her
- Research more Redmi and Realme options in the $150-200 range
- Maybe wait for sales or deals before pulling the trigger
- Accept that I might need to compromise on screen quality and software experience
The most important thing? I need this phone to:
- Handle video recording (1080p minimum)
- Work with my Maono Wave T1 Mini mic for audio recording
- Run multiple apps without freezing
- Last all day on battery
- Have a decent camera for blog photos
If a phone can do those things for under Php10,000? I’ll take it.
Even if it means dealing with some bloatware and a 720p screen.
Because at the end of the day, I’d rather have a functional budget phone than a broken flagship.
Want one of these phones? Get it here:
Samsung Galaxy A07:
Tecno Spark Go 2:
Tecno Spark Go 3:
It won’t cost you extra to buy it and I get a nice little commission which helps me keep this website going. Thank you!
So yeah. That’s where I’m at.
My Samsung A73 5G is slowly giving up on me. Time to find a replacement. But which one?
I’ll let you know what I decide.
Probably after my phone completely dies and I’m forced to make a panic purchase at 2 AM while crying into my keyboard.
That sounds about right.
Wish me luck.
