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Don't think you can buy a cheap phone with good camera? Let us prove you wrong! There are many budget camera phones these days that can easily outperform many midrange digital cameras. In this article, we’ve made a list of the best phones under 20k in the Philippines! To help you with your choice, we’ve also curated a helpful buying guide to give you an idea of other factors you need to look for before clicking that buy button.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
In this section, we will discuss the basic features your phone camera should have. They must allow you to adjust the way the lens takes a shot to ensure you have full control of the resulting image. This also contributes to how your phone can take fun videos for your online content.
At first glance, a photo’s quality is determined by its pixel rate, also known as the image size. A pixel is the smallest unit that makes up an image. Think of it as rows and columns of very tiny squares that contain a single color. When put side by side, they form a full picture.
A camera that can take a higher number of pixels can produce a clearer and crisper-looking photo. Look for phones that have around 12 to 108 MP cameras. These camera lenses have recently become widely available in budget-friendly models, so you will have many options to choose from. Note that only the main rear camera has this capacity, as other lenses usually have lower MPs.
Gone are the days when a single camera is enough for a phone. Now, manufacturers try to fit in as many lenses as they can. Three up to five lenses have become the norm.
This includes the main camera that provides the overall image. Others offer an ultra-wide-angle lens for a wider scene capture, while an added depth lens gives greater emphasis on the distance of the objects from the camera. This creates a more complex and detailed photo. Periscope cameras have also entered the smartphone hardware, allowing phones to capture magnified views of objects.
Are you new to photography? Practice your skills with a budget camera phone before investing in higher-end equipment. One way to do this is by playing around with your camera’s settings. Its ISO, white balance, manual and automatic focus, and shutter speed are the common ones to look for.
Videos require slightly different set-ups compared to photos. Getting a phone with a pre-installed image stabilizer allows you to capture steady videos without the need for an external gimbal.
This eliminates the minor movements of the phone, so the video taken comes out smoother. When it comes to the quality, look for a phone that can capture 4K video at 30 to 60 frames per second.
Lighting is everything when taking photos and videos. When you’re shooting at night, however, you won’t have much to work with. Make sure your camera phone is ready with a built-in night mode. This automatically modifies your settings, such as the HDR and shutter speed, to work with the low lighting and help see your photo’s subject better.
A great camera comes hand in hand with a large display and a high resolution. This enables you to easily edit your captured photos and videos. Most phones in the market start at a 6-inch display and can go up as high as 6.8 inches. Aside from display size, going for a display with at least 90hz refresh rate can also make your editing experience and overall phone use smoother.
Make sure you get one that is comfortable to hold with one hand. This prevents you from accidentally dropping it on the ground. Getting the right size for your hands is also ideal for taking selfies.
Your phone's RAM is the memory it takes up when it runs multiple apps at once. This can vary depending on which app you want to use. An 8-GB RAM is large enough for running high-powered apps, usually for editing or processing files. Since this cannot be expanded, getting one that's of greater capacity will be worth the investment.
Photos and videos take up larger file sizes as compared to other documents. This means you need to have a lot of storage space should you want to store them directly on your phone. A phone with 128 GB capacity should suffice if you want to stick to your budget.
You can also prefer to look for phones with a memory card slot. This allows you to expand your memory without paying a hefty price for a bigger model. This also allows you to quickly move your files to a tablet or laptop for editing.
For Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro's ultra-affordable price, you are getting a super-powered 108 MP main camera that can compete with even top-of-the-line models. This midrange camera phone also has a 33W fast charging capability, so you no longer need to wait for that much to get a full charge.
It runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G processor, letting you get all your editing done without any hiccups. The snappy processor is then paired with the phone's 6.67 inches FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display, allowing you to breeze through its UI.
A new name in the mobile phone industry in the country, Tecno offers affordable devices with jam-packed features. The Camon 18 Premier is one of their top-of-the-line models, offering an awesome 64 MP rear camera that works for all environments.
Users of this product, however, say that the highlight of this phone is the 12 MP stabilized gimbal camera that can surely trump other mid-level offerings from other brands. This specific camera hardware allows you to shoot stable videos without relying on software, making it one of the best budget camera phones out there.
Infinix might be relatively new in the country's smartphone market, but its Zero X PRO proves that it can take the photography game to a whole new level. With its 108 MP primary camera, you can easily take photos with excellent details, rich contrast, and respectable brightness. It can even capture excellent night sky and city lights photos at night due to its f1.79 aperture.
Another camera sensor that makes this Android phone appealing for its price tag is its 8 MP periscope camera. This camera grants you the capability to zoom in up to 60x, which can help take close-up shots of the moon and other celestial objects.
When you're shooting outdoors, you have to be ready for all types of weather. With the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G, you don't have to stop even when it starts to rain. The phone is rated IP67, which means it is dust-proof and can withstand being submerged under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.
The 48 MP main rear camera has OIS or optical image stabilization. This captures a smooth shot even while the camera is moving. It also works with low lighting as the camera adjusts to take in more light for a crisp image. On the other hand, the 8 MP ultra-wide camera opens to a 123-degree angle, giving a better perspective in each photo.
Do you have a habit of taking a thousand selfies just to get the right one? Try out this budget phone from Vivo that has Selfie Video Eye Autofocus and 4K front camera resolution. This technology spots your eyes and follows its motion to smoothly adjust the focus. This is the perfect tool for content creators and vloggers to captivate your online audiences.
Another great bonus of this phone is the Dual Selfie Spotlight. Low lighting can easily discolor the images as the lenses try to let more light in. With this add-on, your phone provides more light so that your night selfies can become bright and colorful. It's like having your own personal ring light for every occasion!
Planning a surprise for your friends? Capture both your and their reactions by utilizing Oppo's dual-view video. This budget camera phone simultaneously records both the rear and front camera views so you can look back and watch all the angles later. This phone also boasts of an AI mixed portrait technology that blends the subject and background together for a professional-looking shot.
Turning on the Portrait Beautification Video mode allows this phone to remove any blemishes on your selfie video. This mode can even brighten your eyes, which helps you take footages that are perfect for social media sites.
OnePlus Nord 2 5G runs on the fluid OxygenOS UI, allowing you to take next-level photos without experiencing any horrendous lags and delays. This phone sports a 50MP Sony IMX766 primary sensor, which is capable of absorbing tons of light for colorful images, enhanced sharpness, and smooth low-light photography.
This sensor is even paired with flagship quality Optical Image Stabilization that prevents blurry photos and videos. One bonus feature of this midrange phone is the AI Photo Enhancement, which allows its software to recognize shooting scenes like pets, portraits, and nightscapes and apply the necessary enhancements to the images' color, contrast, and definition.
Taking photos all day could be tiring for both the model and the photographer. Get yourself a camera phone that's light and easy to hold. The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE measures 6.55 inches and only weighs 158 grams. This works well if you plan to take lots of selfies or want to keep your phone in your pocket or purse.
The front camera of this phone has three useful modes. These include a night mode that works for low-light scenes, a timed burst for taking multiple shots, and an AI beautification for automatic edits. It also runs on a great Android 12 system for the latest feature and security updates.
Savor every moment of your exciting adventures by taking high-definition slo-mo shots. As the camera is capable of getting 960 frames per second, your videos will come out looking flawless. The Huawei Nova 9 also has an 8 MP wide-angle lens, a 2 MP macro lens, and a 2 MP bokeh lens.
This offering from Huawei also runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 4G chipset for smooth photo and video editing. The fast processor of this phone is then paired with a 6.57 inches P3 color display that supports HDR10 and a 120hz refresh rate.
For most phones, long use of the cameras can easily drain out the battery. That is not a problem with the Realme 8, thanks to its 30W Dart Charge technology. Just plug in your phone, and in 65 minutes, its 5000 mAh battery pack will be fully charged and ready to go.
The 6.4-inch super AMOLED display has a 90.7% screen-to-body ratio, so you get a fuller picture without the bothersome bezels. Its primary shooter is a Sony 64 MP quad-camera, which can capture clear and stunning photos. With a designated B&W lens, you can create stylish vintage-looking shots without using any filters.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by the mybest team.
The best budget camera phone you can pick for vlogging right now is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 Pro. Despite its low price tag, its accompanying 108 MP rear and 16 MP front cameras can surely help you take detailed photos and videos without any issues. If you prefer more stable footage, your next best option would be the Tecno Camon 18 Premier due to its 12 MP stabilized gimbal camera.
If you are looking for a budget Samsung phone with a great set of cameras, you will never go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy A33 5G. Even though this device is somehow more expensive than others, Samsung's proprietary software allows it to process photos and videos with enhanced colors and details. This phone is even guaranteed to receive software and security updates for up to four years.
Many phones today utilize 48, 64, or even 108 MP cameras. However, phones with a 12 MP camera sensor can still capture high-quality photos and videos and look great in 2022. They may be even better than phones with high MP cameras. After all, some flagship phones from Apple and Google still rock 12 MP camera sensors as part of their headlining hardware.
Looking to build your collection of cameras? Check out the articles below to see other affordable cameras you can get online. Instant and disposable cameras have made a comeback in recent years for capturing stylish and vintage-looking images. If you are after more professional-level videos, you can opt for vlog or 360 cameras that will fit your lifestyle.
Author: Roxanne A.
Re-Editor: Christian Autor
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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