I get it — brand loyalty runs deep.
I’m a Samsung user (rocking the A73 5G and very happy with it), and my wife’s Samsung Note Plus was a workhorse until it got damaged. I’m looking for something cheaper that still feels like a real phone — good build, long battery life, solid camera, and a UI that doesn’t annoy you every day.
Lately I’ve been asking myself: do we still need to pay Apple or Samsung prices when makers like Xiaomi, Tecno, Infinix, realme and others are making phones that can actually rival them in real-world use?
Short answer: in many cases — yes, cheaper alternatives today are legit. But it depends on what you value.
The Market Reality: Cheap Doesn’t Mean Weak Anymore
Let’s be blunt: the smartphone market in the Philippines is flooded with value options that didn’t exist a decade ago.
Local data show that 2024 smartphone shipments in the Philippines grew to almost 18 million units — driven largely by affordable models from non-traditional brands.
Big shifts happened: Transsion (the company behind Tecno and Infinix) and other Chinese brands grabbed big slices of the market, proving Filipinos are voting with their wallets for value and features.
Translation: manufacturers that used to be “budget-only” learned fast.
They improved materials, processors, cameras, displays, and — maybe most importantly — battery and charging tech. You can now buy a phone with fast charging, a roomy OLED-ish display, and a chipset that will run most apps smoothly, without paying flagship prices.
Reviews from 2024–early 2025 show Xiaomi’s compact flagships and other Chinese phones getting near-flagship camera and performance results at much lower prices.
Where the Big Brands Still Have the Edge
This isn’t to say Apple and Samsung have become irrelevant or obsolete.
They still win on a few big things:
- Software updates and ecosystem — Apple (iOS) and Samsung (One UI + promised Android updates on higher-end models) give longer OS support and smoother integrations with tablets, watches, and services. If you care about long-term updates, that matters.
- Premium fit-and-finish — the feel of glass, polished metal, haptics, and that “premium” experience is still ahead on true flagships.
- Camera consistency — many cheap phones have impressive specs on paper, and great photos sometimes, but Apple and Samsung still edge them out in consistent color processing, video stabilization, and overall reliability — especially in mixed light.
If your priority is the absolute smoothest, most guaranteed experience with updates and resale value, Apple and Samsung still make sense.
Where Chinese Brands are Winning — and Why I’m Tempted
From what I’ve read and tested around (and I’ve been tracking options so I can buy a replacement phone for my wife’s battered Samsung Note), the reasons to seriously consider Xiaomi, Infinix, Tecno, realme, and similar brands are:
- Feature parity on hardware — high-refresh displays, big batteries with super-fast charging, multiple camera sensors, and even flagship-level chipsets have trickled down to midrange phones. Reviews in 2024–2025 show these phones performing very well in daily use.
- Aggressive value-for-money attitude — the Philippines market especially gets very competitive pricing, which means you can often buy more RAM, more storage, or faster charging at the same price where Samsung would offer a downgraded spec. Market reports show brands like Transsion and Xiaomi growing fast because they target value-conscious buyers.
- Improved cameras and software — Xiaomi and a few others have closed the gap on imaging, especially in newer models. They still sometimes need more polishing than Samsung’s top-tier phones, but for day-to-day social media photos and video calls they’re excellent.
- Local availability and options — because these brands are fighting for market share here, you get many choices: small phones, big-screen phones, foldables in some lines, and super-cheap powerhouses for under PHP 10k — meaning you can match needs to budget better.
Trade-offs to Consider Before Switching
If you decide to go Chinese-budget or midrange, be mindful of:
- Software updates & bloatware — some brands are improving update policies, but not all match Samsung or Apple. Expect 2–3 years of major updates on many budget devices, and watch out for preinstalled apps.
- After-sales support & warranty — local service network varies. Samsung has broad service centers; some Chinese brands are building networks quickly, others are still patchy. Check warranty terms and local service centers before you buy.
- Resale value — iPhones and Samsung flagships hold value better. If you upgrade often, consider how much you’ll recover later.
- Long-term reliability — hardware is great now, but durability over 3–5 years is the real test. Read long-term user reports.
Practical Picks to Replace My Wife’s Samsung Note Plus
My wife’s Note Plus was a large, productivity-focused device, and I want/need a cheaper alternative that performs the same way. Although, she might not need as much productivity functions since she mostly uses her phone these days for playing that awful mobile game that’s taking up most of her time. But still, I’ll have to buy her a phone that doesn’t look as battered as her current Note Plus:
- For Near-flagship Performance & Cameras for Less: Xiaomi’s higher midrange/compact flagships and older flagship models (they tend to drop fast in price after a year, I know… I’ve been consisitently checking). Reviews show Xiaomi 14-series phones were strong performers in 2024.
- Best Battery + Value: I recently discovered Infinix and Tecno and they prioritize battery and charging and are priced aggressively in the Philippines market. Very interesting phone designs too….
- The Safe Middle Ground: realme and OPPO often balance software polish with value and have decent regional support. My cousin uses these brands and since he’s more of a techie than I am, I think I’m going to go with his recommendations too.
I’m convinced the gap has narrowed enough that you can get a truly satisfying replacement without paying Samsung/Samsung-flagship money — especially if you prioritize battery, display, and performance over the absolute premium finish and maximum camera consistency.
So, here’s my plan: shortlist 3 phones that match my wife’s Note Plus size and battery needs, check local warranty/service centers, compare on-the-ground prices (not just SRP), and pick the one with the best local support.
This’ll be fun.
