Flagships aren’t cheap and many people endured so many months of thrifting just to get a taste of latest Apple or Samsung device. But what if we tell you that there are flagships from two to four years ago that’s still capable of keeping up with newer releases today?
That’s right, and it’s astronomically cheaper than an ₱80,000 iPhone 14 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra — and are you even sure that you’ll use all the ‘new’ features?
Advantages of buying an old flagship phone
- You can still enjoy the perks of having a flagship phone and many of these said features can still be found on newer models
- Old flagships have more legacy features than those of their newer counterparts (e.g. memory card, headphone jack, feature-packed OS, and more)
- You can choose from a lot of variants, choices and these ‘old’ flagships still recieves the newest software updates
- Most flagships are either refurbished or in great condition, but you can stumble around brand new ones without box or accessories included, a fair trade-off.
- Cheap
Disadvantages of buying an old flagship phone
- You may encounter dents, scratches, and/or any issues (minor to major) so it’s better to ask for warranty or check the phones closely before buying it.
- Price differs from seller to seller, so do your research to get the best deal, but it may take a while
- The risk of getting scammed is much more higher when buying online so be sure to buy only from a reputable store and/or person, when in doubt, always vouch and keep in touch with the seller/person’s past customers
- Ask for many questions and clarifications first regarding warranty, payment terms, hidden terms and more before purchasing your chosen unit, check online and ask owners of the same unit you are buying to know the state of the smartphone based on real-world usage
Now that you know some of the advantages and disadvantages of buying an old flagship, let’s get down to the list and see what we recommend for you to buy.
LG’s V Series lineup: (V40, V50, V50s V60)
Since leaving the smartphone market a couple of years ago, LG definitely left a huge gap especially for enthusiasts and power users in the country. You can’t blame them though: in an era where more and more flagships are cutting down on features such as headphone jacks, memory card slot, and even SIM card slots — LG’s effort to preserve all of them on their phones is a testament for their dedication to their loyal fanbase, but sadly– after many unjustified vitriol and harsh comments from ‘tech reviewers’ alike, they were forced to shut down their mobile division.
The V40, V50, V50s, and their best phone yet: the V60 are still competitive up to this day, being equipped with 1440p P-OLED displays (V50, V40), top-of-the-line chipsets (SD 845 on V40, 855 on V50 and V50s, 865 on V60), with military grade material and waterproofing/dustproofing and the ability to have an optional dual screen display from V50. So if you’re planning to buy a flagship experience for less, LG phones are still capable up to this day and still recieves consistent updates to date. Honorable mentions: LG G8, G8x, G7 ThinQ, Q92.
LG proves that you should have all the features available at your disposal when you’re paying for top dollar, and the phrase “buying a flagship is an experience” is total bull.
Sony Xperia XZ/1/10 lineup (XZ2, XZ2 Compact, XZ2 Premium, XZ3, Xperia 1, Xperia 10 II)
Nothing looks more “yayamanin” than Sony. Yes, you can have your Apple and/or Samsung flagships, but when you have a Sony, you just have instant credibility, it gives off a “I-know-what-I-have” or you can be mistaken for a creative individual like a photographer, filmmaker or just a flat-out rich person.
But now, you can avail these phones for under ₱10,000 and below for the XZ Series and Xperia 1, and ₱15,000 or ₱20,000 below for the Xperia 10 III, which originally priced at around three times its price today. Most units are from Japan so there’s another sense of class in it (maybe, if you like anime, or Japanese tech in general).
Sharp phones (Aquos R2, Aquos R2 Compact, R3, sense5G, AQUOSwish, Aquos zero5G/zero2)
Yep, that Sharp. That Sharp that sell fridge, washing machines, rice cookers, air conditioning units and other appliances– they also sell smartphones at least in Japan. And even though they aren’t as popular as smartphone manufacturers, they have the experience and innovation on their catalogue since they’re making devices as early as the late 90’s.
These phones are expensive even in Japan standards, but now you can one for under ₱10,000. The only downside of these devices are their small battery capacity, but you’ll get a smooth gaming experience, great camera, high-quality display and audio with Dolby Vision and Atmos support, and a stock Android experience.
So there you have it, all phones that are flagships two to four years ago that still packs quite a punch today, but where you can buy these phones? Some of the most trusted online sellers right now are Millennial’s Gadget, JJ Mobile Phones, MRM GADGET STORE, and more. Search them on Facebook to know about what they’re offering today.
