In the recent years, we’ve believed that only the flagship and expensive phones on the upper echelons are exclusively equipped with metal and/or glass premium build. Apparently that has changed now as metal and glass have become the vital arsenal of these Android OEMs in the battle for the best mid-range and budget smartphones.
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We’ve come up a list below of top Android phones blessed with premium elements that supposedly belonged to their high-end counterparts at first. Either made of metal and glass or just built from one of the two materials, these phones look and feel premium yet priced and file under in the mid-range category.
2016 Budget and Mid-range Android phones with beautiful and premium design
Huawei GR5 / Honor 5X
The list is not in a particular order but the design of the Huawei GR5 or Honor 5X (USA) makes the device worth mentioning first. It has a metal back with a brushed finish that really stand out. The fingerprint scanner with chamfered edges and accented camera add some refinements. Above all, the GR5 is only priced for P11.9k.
Huawei P9 Lite
Alongside with flagship Huawei P9 and P9 Plus is a smaller P9 Lite with a slightly underpowered hardware. It has an attractive metal design and resembles like its high-end counterpart but only priced for P11.9k.
OnePlus X
Made with 2.5D curved Glass, the OnePlus X catches your attention more than the high-end OnePlus 2. It also priced around P12k like most mid-range Android smartphone in the market.
Samsung Galaxy A3 2016
The entire 2016 Galaxy A series inherited the glass and metal build of last year’s Samsung Galaxy S6. The back and front of the Galaxy A5 2016 are Gorilla Glass 4 certified while the sides are backed by an aluminum frame. The only downside of the Galaxy A3 is a steep price. You could buy one for P12k – 15k.
Huawei G7 Plus
Like the Huawei GR5, the G7 resembles a high-end Huawei device. Much of looks are close to the Huawei Mate 8 and Mate S. It packs more power than the GR5 but for a pricier SRP of P15k and up.
The upcoming Zenfone 3 trio including the Zenfone 3 Deluxe and Zenfone 3 Ultra all have brand new design and improved build compared to the Zenfone 2’s plasticky series. The Zenfone 3 on particular is built with curved glass and supported by a metal frame. Asus maintained the spun-metal finish on the back and announced several bright and chic color variants. The Zenfone 3 is priced starting at P12k with an August release date in the Philippines.
Lenovo Vibe K5 / K5 Plus
Lenovo has started making budget phones with metal elements too. True to the new Lenovo Vibe K5 and K5 Plus; both are sporting metal design and mid-range specs for a much affordable price of P8k and below.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro
The Redmi Note 3 Pro is one of the most popular models of Xiaomi due to the metal body. It is a powerful mid-range with a Snapdragon 652 chipset–all for a P12k price.
- Redmi Note 3 Review
- Redmi Note 3 Pro Review
- Redmi Note 3 Pro vs Lenovo Vibe K4 Note
- Redmi Note 3 vs ZUK Z1
- Redmi Note 3 vs Meizu MX5
- Redmi Note 3 vs iPhone 6s
Lenovo ZUK Z2
The successor to Lenovo’s sub-brand ZUK Z1 is the ZUK Z2. The Z1 has already a glass design and noticeably more appealing than its competition. The ZUK Z2 and ZUK Z2 Pro are already launched showing sleeker glass and metal profile. The ZUK Z2 is expected to be priced for about P14k while the ZUK Z2 Pro for P18k.
Lenovo Vibe S1 Lite
No doubt, Vibe and ZUK share some design elements, which is noticeable on their products. The Lenovo S1 Lite is like the ZUK Z1 with a lesser hardware specs but a really attractive and sleek design at P9k pesos. It is also worth mentioning how ZUK and Lenovo S1 Lite inspired by the Moto design that was acquired by the company.
Samsung Galaxy A5 2016
The Galaxy A5 2016 is the large version of the Galaxy A3. It has a larger battery and wider display. On the other hand, the Galaxy A7 and Galaxy A9 are the XL and XXL of the Galaxy A series. All have the glass and metal frame. The Galaxy A5 2016 is available from P15k-19k pesos here in the Philippines.
- Samsung Galaxy A5 2016 Version Full Review
- Galaxy A5 2016 vs Galaxy A7 2016
- Galaxy A5 2016 vs Galaxy J7 2016
- Galaxy A5, A7, A9 2016 Triple Unboxing
What do you think of this list, do you think these phones deserve on the top list? Let’s know in the comments.
what do you do with those smartphones after your review?
Most are review units, but some are purchased, we will hold a giveaway in this December.
a giveaway this December? how can we join? 🙂