The Philippines was recently recognized as the fastest-growing smartphone market in ASEAN, but it’s not like we come out of the womb holding an iPhone or Android phone. We all have to start from somewhere, so if you’re looking for an affordable budget Android phone, the Starmobile Play Five is something that may catch your fancy. At just Php1,799, it’s not going to break the bank, and it runs Marshmallow 6.0, which is a fairly recent version of Android. Its 4 inch FWVGA screen makes it more pocketable than the most smartphones, so new users should be able to quickly adjust to the size.
As far as performance goes, the Spreadtrum 7731C SoC isn’t going to be blasting through any benchmarks. You’re getting a 1.2GHz quad core ARM Cortex A-7 processor and Mali 400 GPU, which should be enough for most casual games. 512MB of RAM will limit the Play Five’s multi-tasking abilities, and there’s only 4GB of internal storage. Thankfully, you can still expand that via microSD, with up 32GB cards being supported.
You get all the necessary connectivity options, of course. There’s support for up to 3G/HSPA+ connectivity, as well as WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. You also get a 5mp/2mp rear and front camera setup, both of which are fixed-focus. Finally, there’s a 1,500mAh battery to keep you going.
The Starmobile Five Play isn’t going to go against the top smartphones, but it’s great as a serviceable entry-level smartphone, perhaps as your kids’ first phone, or for your grandparents who have yet to switch over from their dumbphones. Certainly great as a stocking stuffer this Christmas.
Starmobile Play Five Specs
- 4″ FWVGA (854 x 480 resolution, 245ppi) screen
- Spreadtrum 7731C SoC
- 1.2GHz quad core ARM Cortex A-7 processor
- Mali 400 GPU
- Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB internal storage, expandable via microSD (up to 32GB)
- 5mp rear camera (fixed-focus, LED flash)
- 2mp front camera (fixed-focus)
- 3.75G/HSPA+
- WiFi
- Bluetooth 4.0
- GPS with A-GPS
- Sensors: Gravity, Accelerometer
- 1,500mAh battery
- Price: Php1,799
