With their Granite smartphone going on sale for just Php1,699, Cherry Mobile has also announced a new smartphone, the Flare S3 Octa.
The Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Octa is a refreshed version of the original Flare S3 only this time it sports a better display resolution and powered by an octa-core CPU.
Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Octa specs:
5-inch HD IPS display, 294ppi
1.4GHz MediaTek MTK6592m octa-core CPU
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 32GB via microSD
13 megapixel rear camera
5 megapixel front camera
Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby
3G HSPA+
WiFi
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS
USB OTG
Android 4.4 KitKat
The Cherry Mobile Flare S3 Octa will go on sale for one day only on February 28, 2015 for Php4,499. It will be available in SM City North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM Southmall, SM City Calamba, SM City Dasmarinas, Robinsons Place Manila, Market! Market!, Ayala Center Cebu, Ayala Centrio CDO, GMall Davao.
Smartphones with octa-core processor are getting cheaper by the day, and the new Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL is no exception to that rule. But is it worth the asking price, or are you better off getting cheaper alternatives in the market?
Design and Construction
The Infinix Pure XL isn’t exactly what we consider as a top notch contender when it comes to design, but it’s good to note that it’s not too shabby either. A metallic silver accent and a strip of glossy black lining that runs along the side and top panels break what would otherwise be a monotonous black slab of plastic and glass.
The front of the handset is almost all screen with a little room on the top and bottom portions for the earpiece, front camera and sensors, as well as three capacitive buttons respectively.
The power button and the volume rocker are inconspicuously placed on each sides of the Inifinix Pure XL and blends nicely with the faux brushed metal finish of its side panel. These buttons are generous in size and provides a nice tactile feedback when pressed.
At the top, you’ll find the last two external components, namely the 3.5mm audio jack and Micro-USB cable for data transfer and charging.
Gripping the phone isn’t a chore even if you’re only doing it using one hand thanks to the Infinix Pure XL’s slightly curved back panel which has a smooth and non-glossy finish. Underneath the removable back cover are the two SIM card slots (Regular size for the main SIM, and Micro-SIM on the secondary), a Micro-SD card slot and the battery compartment.
The only other two note-worthy components in this section is the handset’s 13MP rear shooter, the accompanying flash unit, and a tiny oval hole for the speaker which seems to hinder the Infinix Pure XL’s ability to produce high quality sound (more on this later).
Display and Multimedia
Like most of the octa-core handsets in this price range, the CM Infinix Pure XL is equipped with a 720p display which is 5.5-inch in size. We didn’t find a lot of faults with the phone’s display; the viewing angles were respectable, the overall display quality is great, and the outdoor legibility is also pretty decent.
This makes the device a suitable companion for watching movies on the go, but if you’re planning to do, we highly suggest that you use an earphone with it as the sound output is not only weak, but also slightly distorted.
We often find ourselves cupping the back of the device in order to listen to the sound coming out of its built-in speaker. And that is with the volume settings cranked to the max, just imagine what it would be like if you turned down the volume even for a bit.
OS, UI and Apps
If you’ve used one of the more recent handsets from Cherry Mobile, then you probably have an idea on what to expect from the Infinix Pure XL in terms of software. Occupying a good portion of the handset’s 8GB internal storage is Android KitKat version 4.4.2, as well as the usual set of bloatware and third-party apps that Cherry Mobile loves to include on most, if not all of their devices.
Luckily most of these apps can be uninstalled if needed, which allows users to free up some space on the phone’s built-in storage and make room for apps that they really need.
For the most part, the OS feels very similar to vanilla Android. The same can be said for native apps like Messaging, Dialer and Contacts which received little to no customizations from Cherry Mobile.
Camera
The pictures and video clips that we got from the Infinix Pure XL’s rear camera were actually pretty decent thanks to the Sony-made 13MP sensor. The byproduct of the sensor has decent details and sharpness, as well as good overall color reproduction.
Though not as capable compared to its rear camera, the front-mounted snapper of the Infinix Pure XL is also good enough for video calling, as well as web-friendly selfies. It doesn’t have a front-facing flash unit unlike other handsets, so it’s best to take your selfies in well-lit environment.
Performance and Benchmark
With so many encounters with similarly-configured smartphones under our belt, we pretty much have a rough idea of how the Infinix Pure XL will perform in both in real-world use, as well as synthetic benchmarks.
True enough, the scores on our usual benchmark tests and overall performance we got from this device is somewhat similar to the ones we got from other MT6592-powered handsets that we reviewed in the past.
As expected, the processor did well in handling menial tasks without too much effort, and also fared fairly well under moderate workload. The Mali 400MP GPU proved to be an able companion as it aided the MT6592 during 3D gaming and allowed us to play our usual set of titles with little to no hiccups.
If there’s one aspect of the Infinix Pure XL that sets it apart from other similarly-spec’d handsets out there, it’ll have to be its battery life. On a single full charge, the smartphone’s 2600mAh battery pack lasted 10 minutes shy of 8 hours during our usual battery test which involves looping a 720p video using MX Player until the battery almost go bone-dry. The brightness of the handset’s display was set to 50% using the same media player, as well as the volume which was set to 0%.
Conclusion
In a saturated market where almost every week a new, similarly-configured handset is being unveiled and rivals are constantly breathing down your neck, companies like Cherry Mobile cannot rest on its laurels and would have to come up with a competitively-priced device without too much compromise to match or set the tone for their competition.
Cherry Mobile Infinix Pure XL specs:
5.5-inch HD IPS display, 267ppi
1.4GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor
Mali 400MP2 GPU
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
microSD card support
Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby (1x Regular + 1x Micro-SIM)
13 megapixel rear camera w/ LED flash
2 megapixel front camera
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
Android 4.4 KitKat
2,600mAh battery
The Cherry Mobile Pulse is the company’s most affordable octa-core Android smartphone that features a 5-inch IPS HD display, Dragontrail glass, dual-SIM capabilities, Android 4.4 KitKat, and a sub-Php7k price tag. Find out what we think of this device by reading our full review below.
Design and Construction
Smartphones with affordable prices usually end up with a build and design that is generic and boring. Cherry Mobile tries to break away from that norm when it comes to the Pulse. Although we can still say that it is a simple-looking device, it still has something that makes it eye-catching – the relatively thin body, the peculiar rear, metallic physical buttons, and the illuminated circle Home button inspired by the Meizu MX 3.
On the front is the 5-inch display with HD resolution. Situated above it are the earpiece and 5 megapixel front camera while down below are the three capacitive buttons and the microphone. Found on the left side is the volume rocker and on the right is the power/lock button. Found right on the top corner are the headset jack and microUSB port.
Flip it on its back and you’ll see the large 13 megapixel camera, LED flash, and the speaker at the bottom.
On hand, the Pulse feels thin and light for its size. It has an edgy feel to it too which makes it easier for the user to handle even though it is fairly large device.
Display and Multimedia
The Pulse is equipped with a 5-inch IPS display with HD resolution or equal to 294ppi. It also features Dragontrail Glass which is proven to resist heavy scratches. We tried scratching it with sharp metallic objects like keys and screwdrivers and as expected it didn’t leave any marks.
The Pulse is also good for multimedia thanks to the large display with IPS. Viewing angles and color saturation are good so watching movies on it should be satisfying. The speakers on the other hand needs some improvement. Although sounds coming from it is clear and audible, it’s not as loud as we like it to be. The speaker is also placed on a location where it can be easily muffled by your hands.
Camera
Although the Pulse sports a 13 megapixel camera, the quality of the photos is a bit underwhelming as the colors often appear washed out and lacks punch. Details are good though but we wished that the manufacturers have focused on color quality and accuracy as well and not just on pixel count.
As a plus, the camera comes with a few neat features like Panorama, HDR, Face beauty mode, Life Photo mode, and Motion Track mode.
Cherry Mobile Pulse sample video (1080p, 30 fps, .3GP):
OS, UI and Apps
The Pulse comes with Android 4.4.2 KitKat out of the box and supports OTA updates. Cherry Mobile tweaked the UI a bit but still close to a stock Android. It comes with CM’s own apps like Cherry Fun Club, Cherry Play, and a couple of games from the Pinoy App Shop.
Other pre-installed apps are there as well like Opera Mini, NQ Mobile Security, TouchPal X, Gameloft, and EFXpress. Unfortunately, most of these apps cannot be uninstalled which is quite a disadvantage if you want to free some internal storage.
Speaking of storage, the Pulse can only provide you with 5.92GB of usable storage out of the 8GB which is really limited. Fortunately, it can accommodate microSD cards up to 64GB and supports the Move to SD card feature.
Performance and Benchmarks
Powering the Pulse is a MediaTek MTK6592 octa-core processor, Mali-450 MP GPU, and a gig of RAM. So far we’re very much satisfied with its performance – UI animations are smooth and snappy and the apps launch fast. It can also run 3D games without any noticeable lags, however, the phone’s backside, particularly the part under the camera, gets really warm when playing.
Another thing we noticed about the Pulse is that the proximity sensor doesn’t always work when you’re in call. The next thing you know your face is already making unintended presses and messes your conversation with the person on the other line. Hopefully this is just a software problem that can be addressed with an update.
The Pulse comes with a 2,000mAh battery which is the baseline capacity for smartphones with this kind of configuration. That amount of juice should be enough to last 9 to 10 hours of light to moderate usage. Just don’t expect it to last that long though if you like playing games or heavy on mobile data.
We put it through our standard battery benchand the result is 5.26 hours worth of video playback (at 50% brightness and 0% volume) which is below average.
Conclusion
The Cherry Mobile Pulse is the company’s most affordable offering at Php6,499. Normally we’d see a smartphone with mediocre configuration for that kind of price, but not with the Pulse. For under Php7k, you can now get a dual-SIM smartphone with a good build, a crisp and tough display, and kind of performance that is both good for work and play.
Cherry Mobile Pulse specs:
5-inch HD IPS display, 294ppi
Dragontrail Glass
MediaTek MTK6592 1.7GHz octa-core CPU
Mali-450 MP GPU
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSD
13 megapixel rear camera with LED flash
5 megapixel front camera
Dual-SIM/dual standby
HSPA+
WiFi b/g/n
Bluetooth
GPS, A-GPS
2,000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
What we liked:
* Good build
* Good display quality
* Tough Dragontrail glass
* Good performance
* Dual-SIM
* Move apps to SD card feature
* Affordable price
What we didn’t like:
* Underwhelming camera
* Buggy proximity sensor
* Small usable internal storage
* Most pre-installed apps cannot be uninstalled
* Below average battery
Local brands Cherry Mobile and MyPhone have been in a few face-offs recently especially when it came to their budget-friendly offerings. It’s not over yet though as both companies have also released their latest flagships this month. Both sporting octa-core CPUs and the word Infinity in their names. Let the specs showdown begin!
Summary of advantages:
Cherry Mobile Omega Infinity
* Larger display
* Larger internal storage
* Larger rear and front cameras
* Miracast
* Larger battery capacity
MyPhone Infinity
* Smaller body
* Denser display
* USB OTG
* More affordable price
What would it be then? Go big with the Cherry Mobile Omega Infinity for an additional Php2K, or save a few bucks and settle with the MyPhone Infinity?
You can also read our quick review of the Omega Infinity here.
Cherry Mobile has announced one of the new members of its Omega lineup of smartphones with a 5.5-inch display, aluminum finish, and octa-core CPU – the Omega Infinity.
Cherry Mobile Omega Infinity specs:
5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 401ppi
1.7GHz octa-core CPU
2GB RAM
32GB internal storage
18 megapixel rear camera w/ LED flash
8 megapixel front-camera
WiFi b/g/n
Bluetooth
HSPA+
GPS
Miracast
2,900mAh battery
Android 4.2 Jellybean
The Cherry Mobile Omega Infinity has a price tag of Php14,999 and comes with a free Pyxis Bluetooth speaker valued at Php1,499.
