Cherry Mobile’s own Cubix brand is here once again to offer another affordable yet feature-packed Android smartphone. The Cubix Cube 2 brings a 5.7-inch 1080p IPS display to the table with One Glass Solution and Octa-core power for under Php 5k.
The Cube 2 is made with a combination of metal and plastic — with the sides composed of the former while the rest of the device comprised with the latter. We first thought that it has a glass back panel but it turned out to be made with polycarbonate, and the significant amount of smudge is just hard to wipe off. Nevertheless, the device feels solid on hand.
The Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) display looks great during our short encounter. Even at 5.7-inch, clarity still holds at 384ppi. The IPS and OGS solution significantly gives the panel a boost with color reproduction and viewing stability.
We weren’t able to properly test the 13-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel front-facing shooter yet, but with the short time we’ve spent on it the available indoor lighting performed adequately. Nothing special with the sensors here. Interestingly, there’s a pin connector at the back for wireless charging but you’ll need an additional case for that.
The major concern with the smartphone is its OS version. With most local smartphones now on Android Lollipop out of the box, the Cube 2 ships with Android 4.4 KitKat. An update to 5.0 is promised but with no exact time frame as of the moment. Another disappointment is the lack of microSD card slot for memory expansion.
While the software and memory might be a deal breaker for some, the device’s built-in NFC and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac are something any sub-P5k smartphone doesn’t have.
For Php 4,990, you’ll get a 1080p IPS display, 1.7GHz octa-core processor, 13MP and 8MP cameras, plus a whole suite of connectivity option. With the pricing, it’s not a bad package with a big catch.
Cherry Mobile Cubix Cube 2 specifications:
1.7GHz Octa-core processor
5.7-inch Full HD IPS OGS display (1920 x 1080 pixels)
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
13-megapixel rear camera
8-megapixel front-facing camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth
NFC
Dual-SIM / Dual-standby (Micro-SIM)
3500 Li-Po battery
Android 4.4 KitKat
156mm x 79mm x 8mm
170g
The Cubix Cube 2 will be sold online only through Lazada starting November 6 at 12NN.
A new budget smartphone from SKK Mobile is coming and its price tag could attract attention from potential buyers.
The SKK Aura Lite has a quad-core processor, 5-inch qHD IPS display and 4GB internal storage that is expandable up to 64GB. Onboard as well are 5-megapixel and 2-megapixel cameras, FM Radio, GPS, 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. A 2,500mAh battery provides juice while Android 4.4 KitKat runs on the device.
There’s no mention of specific SoC and RAM, but we’ll update as soon as we get more details. SKK will sell the smartphone for Php 2,599.
Ekotek gave its tablet line a new member with better specifications plus 3G-capabilities. Can the Ekotab Encore 3G uplift the Ekotab family? Read our quick review and find out.
Design and Construction
The Encore 3G has great resemblance with its predecessor, the Encore 2. It is a rectangular tablet with a plain front and minimal back design.
The front is dominated by the 7-inch display, placed above it are the earpiece, front-facing camera and the proximity sensor hiding somewhere in the black bezel. Sitting quietly at the bottom is the microphone. Speaking of the bezel, the tablet has plenty of it but it allows you to grip the device properly without touching the screen.
Its right side has the volume rocker and power/lock button. Moving to the back reveals the main camera, loudspeaker, and Ekotek logo along with some other markings. The top part can be removed to give access to the SIM card and microSD slots.
Ekotek did a good job in giving the Encore 3G a clean design and good build. On the downside, the white rear panel seem to attract dirt and smudges easily but you can simply wipe it clean.
Display
It still sports a 7” display with a resolution of 1024 × 600 pixels but now with an IPS panel, a step forward compared to the predecessor’s sub-par TFT screen which is notorious for having horrible viewing angles. The issue with improper scaling of the UI is still present. The icons are vertically stretched but not totally ugly.
For a cheap tablet, colors are of average quality with just right amount of punch. The whites on the other hand, has a gray tint even at maximum brightness. Sunlight legibility is mediocre due to the weak brightness of the display. Try to find a shade if you want to use this outdoors.
OS, Apps, and UI
Like any budget device in the local market today, a two year old version of the Android KitKat powers the tablet. While Android 4.4 is able to run smoothly, it would be nice to see the latest version on-board since Ekotek has no customization over the interface.
There’s nothing new to say in this segment. Again, since this is Android, so you’ll be able to customize the UI and make it smoother with the use of simple and straightforward launchers available in the Google Play Store.
Camera and Multimedia
Equipped with an improved 5-megapixel shooter, image quality is average at best in both stills and videos.
With sufficient light, output from the rear camera has respectable quality. Indoor shots were a bit murky. It records 1080p videos but in 3GP format. The 2-megapixel front camera would suffice for video calling but not selfie worthy.
Check out these samples for your own judgement:
Sample video:
A 1080p video might be an overkill for its screen resolution but it played fine with the default video player or even with MX Player and VLC. Sadly, the loudspeaker is not loud enough so a good pair of headphones is recommended.
Call Quality and Connectivity
As its name suggests, this tablet has a cellular radio on-board as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It can take two mini SIM cards at the same time but only one can use 3G. It supports SMS, MMS, voice calls, and native video calling.
The earpiece, however, sound very soft and a bit tinny. If you plan to place a call, you may want to use an earphone. Besides, we all know that placing a 7-incher against our face during calls doesn’t look savvy.
Benchmark and Battery Life
With its modest quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, a decent performance can be expected from the device but only for light tasks. Casual gaming is fine on the Encore 3G. We played PBA Philippine Slam with no hiccups during game-play. Multi-tasking can be done with little lag and there are no major issues with overall usage.
Of course, we did our benchmarking and here are the socres:
Using the PC Mark battery test, we were able to get 3 hours and 43 minutes from its rather small 2,500mAh cell. We noticed that the battery holds up for days when on standby which is nice!
Conclusion
In the end, we can say the Encore 3G was able to surpass its predecessor with a better camera, improved display, higher RAM and let’s not forget the additional 3G connectivity. With an asking price of Php4,799, it’s not bad as a secondary tablet if you’re in a really tight budget but if you’re after good cellular features, you’re better off getting a smartphone instead.
Ekotek Ekotab Encore 3G specifications:
1.3GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT8382 Cortex-A7
Mali-400 MP
7-inch IPS LCD 1024 x 600 pixels, (160ppi)
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage, expandable up to ??GB microSD
5-megapixel rear camera
2-megapixel front camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth
HSPA+
Dual-sim / Dual-standby
2500mAh Li-Polymer battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Ekotek gave its tablet line a new member with better specifications plus 3G-capabilities. Can the Ekotab Encore 3G uplift the Ekotab family? Read our quick review and find out.
Design and Construction
The Encore 3G has great resemblance with its predecessor, the Encore 2. It is a rectangular tablet with a plain front and minimal back design.
The front is dominated by the 7-inch display, placed above it are the earpiece, front-facing camera and the proximity sensor hiding somewhere in the black bezel. Sitting quietly at the bottom is the microphone. Speaking of the bezel, the tablet has plenty of it but it allows you to grip the device properly without touching the screen.
Its right side has the volume rocker and power/lock button. Moving to the back reveals the main camera, loudspeaker, and Ekotek logo along with some other markings. The top part can be removed to give access to the SIM card and microSD slots.
Ekotek did a good job in giving the Encore 3G a clean design and good build. On the downside, the white rear panel seem to attract dirt and smudges easily but you can simply wipe it clean.
Display
It still sports a 7” display with a resolution of 1024 × 600 pixels but now with an IPS panel, a step forward compared to the predecessor’s sub-par TFT screen which is notorious for having horrible viewing angles. The issue with improper scaling of the UI is still present. The icons are vertically stretched but not totally ugly.
For a cheap tablet, colors are of average quality with just right amount of punch. The whites on the other hand, has a gray tint even at maximum brightness. Sunlight legibility is mediocre due to the weak brightness of the display. Try to find a shade if you want to use this outdoors.
OS, Apps, and UI
Like any budget device in the local market today, a two year old version of the Android KitKat powers the tablet. While Android 4.4 is able to run smoothly, it would be nice to see the latest version on-board since Ekotek has no customization over the interface.
There’s nothing new to say in this segment. Again, since this is Android, so you’ll be able to customize the UI and make it smoother with the use of simple and straightforward launchers available in the Google Play Store.
Camera and Multimedia
Equipped with an improved 5-megapixel shooter, image quality is average at best in both stills and videos.
With sufficient light, output from the rear camera has respectable quality. Indoor shots were a bit murky. It records 1080p videos but in 3GP format. The 2-megapixel front camera would suffice for video calling but not selfie worthy.
Check out these samples for your own judgement:
Sample video:
A 1080p video might be an overkill for its screen resolution but it played fine with the default video player or even with MX Player and VLC. Sadly, the loudspeaker is not loud enough so a good pair of headphones is recommended.
Call Quality and Connectivity
As its name suggests, this tablet has a cellular radio on-board as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It can take two mini SIM cards at the same time but only one can use 3G. It supports SMS, MMS, voice calls, and native video calling.
The earpiece, however, sound very soft and a bit tinny. If you plan to place a call, you may want to use an earphone. Besides, we all know that placing a 7-incher against our face during calls doesn’t look savvy.
Benchmark and Battery Life
With its modest quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, a decent performance can be expected from the device but only for light tasks. Casual gaming is fine on the Encore 3G. We played PBA Philippine Slam with no hiccups during game-play. Multi-tasking can be done with little lag and there are no major issues with overall usage.
Of course, we did our benchmarking and here are the socres:
Using the PC Mark battery test, we were able to get 3 hours and 43 minutes from its rather small 2,500mAh cell. We noticed that the battery holds up for days when on standby which is nice!
Conclusion
In the end, we can say the Encore 3G was able to surpass its predecessor with a better camera, improved display, higher RAM and let’s not forget the additional 3G connectivity. With an asking price of Php4,799, it’s not bad as a secondary tablet if you’re in a really tight budget but if you’re after good cellular features, you’re better off getting a smartphone instead.
Ekotek Ekotab Encore 3G specifications:
1.3GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT8382 Cortex-A7
Mali-400 MP
7-inch IPS LCD 1024 x 600 pixels, (160ppi)
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage, expandable up to ??GB microSD
5-megapixel rear camera
2-megapixel front camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth
HSPA+
Dual-sim / Dual-standby
2500mAh Li-Polymer battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Ekotek gave its tablet line a new member with better specifications plus 3G-capabilities. Can the Ekotab Encore 3G uplift the Ekotab family? Read our quick review and find out.
Design and Construction
The Encore 3G has great resemblance with its predecessor, the Encore 2. It is a rectangular tablet with a plain front and minimal back design.
The front is dominated by the 7-inch display, placed above it are the earpiece, front-facing camera and the proximity sensor hiding somewhere in the black bezel. Sitting quietly at the bottom is the microphone. Speaking of the bezel, the tablet has plenty of it but it allows you to grip the device properly without touching the screen.
Its right side has the volume rocker and power/lock button. Moving to the back reveals the main camera, loudspeaker, and Ekotek logo along with some other markings. The top part can be removed to give access to the SIM card and microSD slots.
Ekotek did a good job in giving the Encore 3G a clean design and good build. On the downside, the white rear panel seem to attract dirt and smudges easily but you can simply wipe it clean.
Display
It still sports a 7” display with a resolution of 1024 × 600 pixels but now with an IPS panel, a step forward compared to the predecessor’s sub-par TFT screen which is notorious for having horrible viewing angles. The issue with improper scaling of the UI is still present. The icons are vertically stretched but not totally ugly.
For a cheap tablet, colors are of average quality with just right amount of punch. The whites on the other hand, has a gray tint even at maximum brightness. Sunlight legibility is mediocre due to the weak brightness of the display. Try to find a shade if you want to use this outdoors.
OS, Apps, and UI
Like any budget device in the local market today, a two year old version of the Android KitKat powers the tablet. While Android 4.4 is able to run smoothly, it would be nice to see the latest version on-board since Ekotek has no customization over the interface.
There’s nothing new to say in this segment. Again, since this is Android, so you’ll be able to customize the UI and make it smoother with the use of simple and straightforward launchers available in the Google Play Store.
Camera and Multimedia
Equipped with an improved 5-megapixel shooter, image quality is average at best in both stills and videos.
With sufficient light, output from the rear camera has respectable quality. Indoor shots were a bit murky. It records 1080p videos but in 3GP format. The 2-megapixel front camera would suffice for video calling but not selfie worthy.
Check out these samples for your own judgement:
Sample video:
A 1080p video might be an overkill for its screen resolution but it played fine with the default video player or even with MX Player and VLC. Sadly, the loudspeaker is not loud enough so a good pair of headphones is recommended.
Call Quality and Connectivity
As its name suggests, this tablet has a cellular radio on-board as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It can take two mini SIM cards at the same time but only one can use 3G. It supports SMS, MMS, voice calls, and native video calling.
The earpiece, however, sound very soft and a bit tinny. If you plan to place a call, you may want to use an earphone. Besides, we all know that placing a 7-incher against our face during calls doesn’t look savvy.
Benchmark and Battery Life
With its modest quad-core CPU and 1GB of RAM, a decent performance can be expected from the device but only for light tasks. Casual gaming is fine on the Encore 3G. We played PBA Philippine Slam with no hiccups during game-play. Multi-tasking can be done with little lag and there are no major issues with overall usage.
Of course, we did our benchmarking and here are the socres:
Using the PC Mark battery test, we were able to get 3 hours and 43 minutes from its rather small 2,500mAh cell. We noticed that the battery holds up for days when on standby which is nice!
Conclusion
In the end, we can say the Encore 3G was able to surpass its predecessor with a better camera, improved display, higher RAM and let’s not forget the additional 3G connectivity. With an asking price of Php4,799, it’s not bad as a secondary tablet if you’re in a really tight budget but if you’re after good cellular features, you’re better off getting a smartphone instead.
Ekotek Ekotab Encore 3G specifications:
1.3GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT8382 Cortex-A7
Mali-400 MP
7-inch IPS LCD 1024 x 600 pixels, (160ppi)
1GB RAM
8GB internal storage, expandable up to ??GB microSD
5-megapixel rear camera
2-megapixel front camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth
HSPA+
Dual-sim / Dual-standby
2500mAh Li-Polymer battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
