In today’s digital age, having a smartphone is important even for our parents and grandparents. Just like us, our parents also want and need smartphones to communicate and use for entertainment.
Most of the parents and grandparents I know often use their mobile phones just for communications, but some use it on social media and playing mobile games like us. So here are our top recommended phones for them categorized as basic phones, as well as entry-level and midrange smartphones.
Basic/featured Phones
Nokia 106
Given that many parents, particularly grandparents, lack smartphone literacy, so we included a conventional keypad phone. The Nokia 106 keypad phone is a dependable and simple-to-use communication device in a world where smartphones are numerous in features.
Since it is made by Nokia, expect a longer battery life because its 1000mAh battery can provide up to 15.7 hours of talk time or 21 days of standby time from a single charge. Nokia 106 also features a 1.8-inch display that is just right for a keypad phone.
This phone also has 4MB internal storage that can store up to 2,000 contacts and 500 SMS messages. It also includes some common features like dual SIM slot, MP3 player, wireless FM radio, and microSD card slot. We know Nokia for their durable phones so we can be sure of this.
Nokia 106 – Lazada link
The Nokia 106 is available for only PHP 1,049 in the Nokia Mobile store on Lazada.
Nokia 8210 4G
Next is the more advanced Nokia 8210 4G which offers better connectivity as the name suggests. This phone is pricier than the previous basic phone but this phone already features a VGA camera, bigger display, bigger battery capacity, and more.
The Nokia 8210 4G is good for parents who have bad eyesight because it has a 2.8-inch display. It has a larger 1,450mAh battery capacity that can provide hours of call time and weeks of standby time. You can store more contacts and messages in this phone since it has a large 128MB of storage.
Its 4G connectivity helps to have a better call quality, besides, you can also browse the internet with its built-in Opera mini browser.
Nokia 8210 4G – Lazada link
If you want to buy this Nokia 8210 4G for your parents, you can avail of this on the Nokia Mobile Flagship store and Lazada for only PHP 2,290.
Entry-level Smartphones
OPPO A18
Starting with the recently released budget phone of OPPO Philippines, the OPPO A18 is made for long-term use. OPPO claims that it went through many tests to make sure this phone can withstand all challenges in regular daily usage so it is perfect for our parents.
The OPPO A18 comes with a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset with 4GB RAM and 128GB of storage that delivers good performance that is just right for the tasks of our parents. It also has a large 5,000mAh battery capacity, so it won’t run out of battery for long.
They can also capture some decent photos and videos with this phone as it features an 8MP main shooter along with a 2MP depth sensor lens and a 5MP selfie camera.
OPPO A18 – Shopee link | Lazada link
This OPPO A18 is available in all OPPO authorized seller as well as on their Shopee and Lazada stores for only PHP 5,999.
POCO C65
Next is the POCO C65, which has similar specifications to OPPO A18. This phone is the latest one that I have reviewed and I was very surprised by its good performance and crisp image quality. I included this phone in the list because, for me, it is one of the best budget smartphones that features good overall features.
The POCO C65 also features MediaTek Helio G85 chipset with up to 8GB RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The memory configuration I tested is the 6GB/128GB variant and it is very smooth. How about the 8GB/256GB variant, right? So it’s also good for common tasks that parents or grandparents do.
The phone also boasts its 50MP triple AI camera setup that really provides great image quality. You can check our review to see our sample photos and videos.
POCO C65 – Shopee link | Lazada link
You can now buy the POCO C65 in the POCO Official Global store on Shopee and Lazada for only PHP 5,499 for the 6GB/128GB variant and PHP 6,499 for the 8GB/256GB variant.
itel S23+
If you want them to have a premium-like smartphone but your budget is small, this itel S23+ is what I recommend. You wouldn’t think that its price is only under PHP 10k because of its premium design, curved screen, and AMOLED display.
It actually has a 6.78-inch Curved AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution which is rare in the entry-level category. Its performance is also good because it has a UNISOC T616 chipset, 8GB RAM, and 256GB storage. This itel S23+ has the longest battery life among the phones I have reviewed at this price point.
You can also get decent photos in this phone because it has a 50MP main shooter and 0.08MP depth sensor at the back while 32MP for the selfie camera. We also have sample photos of this phone in our review so check it out.
itel S23+ – Shopee link | Lazada link
If you choose this itel S23+, you can buy it at itel’s official store on Shopee and Lazada for only PHP 7,499.
Midrange Smartphones
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite
If you want a midrange phone that is powerful and will be used for the long term, let’s start with the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite. This phone offers powerful performance, a great camera system, and fast-charging technology.
This phone is indeed 5G-ready because it has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset paired with 8GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB UFS2.2 storage. Just as I mentioned above, it also has fast charging because it supports 67W SUPERVOOC charging.
As for the camera, it is equipped with a 108MP main shooter, a 2MP depth sensor, a 2MP macro lens, and a 16MP selfie shooter. For sure, parents will enjoy capturing moments with this phone for its superb image quality.
OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite – Shopee link | Lazada link
The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite is available in the official store of OnePlus on Shopee and Lazada for only PHP 14,990.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G
Another good midrange smartphone today is the Infinix ZERO 30 5G which has flagship killer features. This phone fits parents who need a powerful performing phone for their gaming hobby and multitasking.
The Infinix ZERO 30 5G highlights the Dimensity 8020 5G chipset that is paired with a huge 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. This device is also equipped with a large 5,000mAh that supports 68W Super Charge technology that can charge the device to 80% in just 30 minutes.
There are also parents today who like to make videos or others doing vlogs as well and this phone is perfect for them because it features a 108MP main shooter, 13MP ultra-wide lens, and 50MP selfie camera.
Besides those, this phone also boasts a flagship-level display as it has a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with FHD+ resolution and 144Hz refresh rate. Its display is also bright because its max brightness is up to 950nits. You can also be sure that its screen is durable because it has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
Infinix ZERO 30 5G – Shopee link | Lazada link
You can buy the Infinix ZERO 30 5G from all Infinix authorized sellers nationwide and in their Shopee and Lazada stores for only PHP 15,999.
POCO F5 Pro
This next phone is quite an overkill for most parents and grandparents but if you have a budget and you want them to have a powerhouse smartphone, then why not?
For me, this POCO F5 Pro is the best midrange smartphone today because its specs are so good and it can be considered premium. I included this phone because I also know some parents willing to spend above PHP 20k for a smartphone. After all, they say the specs and features are good and it is sure to be used long term.
The POCO F5 Pro features a large 6.67-inch AMOLED display that has QHD+ resolution, 68B colors, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It is also very bright and clear even outdoors because it supports up to 1400nits max brightness.
Parents will use this phone without any hiccups since it is powered with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset that we saw on some flagship smartphones. POCO F5 Pro also has 12GB RAM and up to 512GB internal storage.
Expect a prominent image quality in this phone as it features a 64MP main shooter, 8MP ultra-wide lens, 2MP macro lens, and 16MP selfie shooter. Its camera can shoot up to 8K@24fps video and has great optical image stabilization.
POCO F5 Pro – Shopee link | Lazada link
If you want to buy this POCO F5 Pro for your parents, this phone is currently available on POCO’s official store on Shopee and Lazada with a price ranging from PHP 25,990 to PHP 30,990.
Conclusion
The phones we included are the ones we think are suitable for parents. You can choose any of them based on your budget. But before buying, you should first find out how they will use it, if they are the type of parents who love social media, or if they just want a phone for communication. Some of the smartphones above like the POCO F5 Pro are overkill for most parents, and it all depends on your budget if you want to spend almost PHP 30K for a smartphone. We have not included flagship smartphones here because for sure if you can afford them, you know better how to choose a smartphone.
If you have questions or suggestions, just drop them in the comment section!
