Thursday, October 10, 2013

Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 at Php 3,999: Quad-core ng Bayan Unboxing

Cherry Mobile recently launched Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 to the public at SM North The Block last Saturday, September 21, 2013.  Cherry Mobile dubbed this unit as "Quad-core ng Bayan," as it aims to replace its predecessor, the "Dual-core ng Bayan" Flare success last year.  One might think, based on the specifications of Flare 2.0, that it is most likely the same, except for the fact that it is using a quad-core processor now and in stock Android JellyBean 4.1.  Before we run on some aspects, let us check the specifications of this unit.

Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 Specifications:

  • 1.2 GHz Qualcomm 8225Q Quad-core Processor
  • Adreno 203 GPU
  • 512 MB RAM
  • 4GB Internal Storage, expandable via microSD Card
  • Dual SIM in Dual Standby
  • 5.0 - megapixel rear-facing camera with Dual LED flash and autofocus
  • VGA front-facing camera
  • 4.0-inch capacitive touchscreen
  • 3G, WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi Hotspot
  • Android Jelly Bean 4.1
  • Rated 1,500 mAh Battery
  • Suggested Retail Price:  Php3,999
Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 Official Box



Thursday, September 5, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Set to Launch on September 25th

Samsung officially announced yesterday at the IFA Conference in Berlin the latest entry to the phablet family, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.  This will be launched on September 25th.  It flaunts its 5.7-inch Super AMOLED Display and its signature S Pen stylus

The new Note 3 will be replace with a stunning rear casing opting for faux-leather finish complete with stitching.  The resolution display is 1920 x 1080 and accompanied by a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera, 32 or 64 GB of storage with microSD card support, and an enormous 3,200 mAh battery.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3
This carry the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean along with Samsung's TouchWiz UI. The existing features like Multi Window have been improved, which now lets you pull up two instances of the same app at the same time. Information can then be transferred from one window to the next. Samsung also introduced My Magazine, which the company made in collaboration with Flipboard.  The improved S Pen brings with it a number of new software features, including Air Command, which pulls up a radial menu for quick access to built-in stylus-friendly apps like Actions Memos, S Note, Scrapbook, and S Finder. Air Command can be accessed from anywhere in the operating system by simply hovering the S Pen just above the screen and pressing the button on the stylus.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be available in jet black, classic white, and blush pink, and will launch in more than 140 countries on September 25th and worldwide availability is scheduled for October.

Credits:  IGN 

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Google KILLED Key Lime Pie in Replacement of KitKat

Hours ago in New Delhi, India, Google announced that the next Android mobile O.S. (operating system) version 4.4 will be named KitKat, after the famous chocolate of Nestle.

"We now have over 1 billion Android activations and hope this guy in front of the building keeps that momentum going," Pichai tweeted as well as posted an image of a giant Android mascotbuilt like KitKat chocolate.


KitKat Android
This was leaked from the LG-build Nexus 5 handset, which most likely, will carry the first Android system.  The Head of the Android Division of Google also reiterated that, “Android is the operating system that powers over 1 billion smartphones and tablets. Since these devices make our lives so sweet, each Android version is named after a dessert: Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, and Jelly Bean. As everybody finds it difficult to stay away from chocolate we decided to name the next version of Android after one of our favorite chocolate treats, Kitkat®!”

The Story Behind
A Google spokesperson said that, 'KitKat has been a favorite chocolate among the engineering team for some time, so for the K release, we asked Nestle if they’d be willing to lend the iconic bar to its name. We also worked with them to create a limited edition Android KitKat bar coming soon to a supermarket aisle near you,' 

John Lagerling, director of Android global partnerships, also explained about the naming convention of Android KitKat:  ‘We realised that very few people actually know the taste of a key lime pie. One of the snacks that we keep in our kitchen for late-night coding are KitKats. And someone said: 'Hey, why don't we call the release KitKat?’ 

‘We didn't even know which company controlled the name, and we thought that [the choice] would be difficult. But then we thought well why not, and we decided to reach out to the Nestle folks.’ 


Nestle apparently okayed the use of its brand name within 24-hours of receiving Google’s enquiry about using it. 

Nestle is fine with the said agreement since it will also boost up their sales in return.  It was an honor for them to be part of a prestigious company like Google.

Photo Credits:  The Times of India

Friday, July 19, 2013

Cherry Mobile Razor: Cheapest Quad-Core on a Dragontrail Glass?!


YES! YES! YES! You heard that one right!  This piece of gadget was released a while ago, July 19 and the event was called or dubbed as the #RazorRush.  This was released on their concept store at SM North EDSA, the same with the other handsets on-sale like, Cherry Mobile Burst, Titan TV, Spark, Blaze and the like.  But before you rush to your seats later, you may want to know something about this phone, first of - the BATTERY IS NON-REMOVABLE and is rated at 1,750mAh only for a quad-core.  Another thing, if you are into big screens already, this one is not for you since it is only 4.5'in in display.

But what's good about this, you can brag that you have a DRAGONTRAIL SCREEN already, meaning it is scratch resistant, the cheapest in the market so far.  And another good point is the RAM capacity which boast 1Gb already, as compared to their past handsets like Cherry Mobile Thunder 2.0, which has 512Mb RAM only.

Physically thin at 7.7mm only.  Pretty good huh?!  Though we haven't tested the interface yet, we are bound to know in the next few days.  For those who purchased already, feel free to share here.  And we will be updating this phone from time to time for some updates.


Cherry Mobile Razor Specifications:

  • 1.2 GHz quad-core processor 
  • PowerVR SGX544 GPU
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 4 GB internal storage, expandable via microSD Card
  • 4.5-inch qHD IPS display (540 x 960, 245ppi)
  • 8.0-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus
  • 2.0-megapixel front-facing camera
  • Bluetooth, WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, GPS/aGPS, 3G, HSPA+
  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
  • 1750 mAh non-removeable battery
  • Suggested Retail Price: Php 6,499
UPDATE:  
  • It's using a MEDIATEK processor

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Cherry Mobile Omega HD: Beyond Expectations - Out on April!

Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 and Cherry Mobile Omega HD
Cherry Mobile Omega HD was one of the anticipated phone last Monday as it was press released that the phone would be due to release on Monday.  It is set to be released on April with no specific dates yet.  Omega HD was far off the specs of the first released Cherry Mobile Omega months ago.  And a lot of people now are excited to get hold of this device.  Cherry Mobile Omega HD is priced at Php 7,999 only.  With all of the new and exciting features of this device, like the bragged Dragon Trail Glass, which according to some, more advance with the Gorilla Glass of the other brands in the market, and with the high specifications on the way, we can say so far that this is a powerful phone to own.  Not to spoil the moment guys but this is NOT a quad-core phone as expected.  Omega HD is only running on a Dual-core chip.  So here are the specifics of the said phone below.


Cherry Mobile Omega HD specifications:


  • Android 4.1.1 Jellybean
  • 1GHz Dual-core MediaTEK CPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB Internal Storage 
  • Expandable up to 32GB via microSD
  • 5-inch IPS Capacitive Touchscreen - 1280×720 resolution (HD)
  • Scratch-resistant Dragon Trail Glass Technology
  • 12.0-Megapixels rear-facing camera with BSI and LED Flash
  • Can record video 720p at 30 fps
  • 2.0-Megapixels front-facing camera with BSI
  • Wi-Fi b/g/n
  • WiFi Hotspot
  • GPS
  • 3G
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Battery Capacity:  2,100 mAh battery
  • Comes in Black or White
  • Suggested Retail Price:  Php 7,999

Physical Appearance and Screen Quality:  Higher Notch than the First One
Cherry Mobile Omega HD Back View
Cherry Mobile Omega HD has a 5-inch screen which makes it more of a phablet feel than your typical mobile phone - very good for multimedia viewing like YouTube and the like.  Omega HD has a glossy finish which is very common to phones nowadays especially to Samsung units.  It has a very solid feel but despite of that, it has a lighter weight as compared to the first Cherry Mobile Omega that was released months ago.  Aside from the physical development of this device, the scree quality was also upgraded from the first generation Omega, making this an HD capable display at 1280x780 pixels.  The screens background black was really an improvement as well.  It is more defined in this device.

CM Omega HD Quality Background


Tougher Smartphone:  Dragon Trail Glass Technology

Most of the people from the event was quite amazed because Cherry Mobile came-up with the testing area for this feature.  So it is like "Scratch the Omega HD all-you-want!".  It mainly promotes screen durability from the normal wear and tear once you place it on your pockets with coins, keys and other metal stuffs that you normally go with your phone.  There are some people who are claiming that this is a better than the Gorilla Glass Technology by other phones.  Well as for the actual show, we can see that this is really tough enough!

Swiss Knife?! Why would you do that to your phone?! =)
Ballpens and Coins:  The usual sniper in one's pocket together with the phone


Camera and Video Functions:  Pretty Amazing for Low Light Situations

Cherry Mobile Omega HD camera was really a plus factor on this product.  Having a 12.0-Megapixel Rear Camera with BSI and LED Flash rolled into one was really THE THING!  This goes out to the camera porn in you.  For those who are not familiar with BSI or the Back Illuminated Sensor, this improves the quality of the picture or video in terms of low light conditions.  Well the pioneer of this kind of feature was Sony wayback 2009.  Then HTC Evo 4G came and this one also became a selling point of Apple iPhone 4.

Video recording was also amazing for a phone with this price since it can give you 30 frames per second all throughout at 720p quality.


Benchmarks:  Needs to be Improved

So far, Omega HD gave us a very promising benchmark, though it can still be improved further before the release this coming April.  They are still having some adjustments on this part so let us not give violent reactions so far.  The AnTuTu Benchmark 3.2.1 gave us only 4497 which is quite low as compare to Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0's 10790.

AnTuTu Benchmark

While on the other hand, the Quadrant Standard gave us 2720, which is lower than HTC One X and Asus Transformer Prime.

Quadrant Standard
Let us just cross our fingers for this one this coming April.


Gameplay:  Smooth so far

Cherry Mobile Omega HD so far has a good interface especially for the never ending Temple Run 2.  No lags were encountered but overall we cannot still give a full impression on this one not until we have the actual marketed phone on our hands.  So watch out for that!



Overall Verdict:  Promising One and Worth a Try

Cherry Mobile Omega HD has the makings of a perfect phone.  Except for some who are expecting that this would be a quad-core one.  With all of the features stated and the interface so far, we can say that it is worth your money.  We just have to watch out for review first before buying since the benchmarks so far is quite an average, but of course, we cannot still judge from here on.  I know for a fact that they will still make changes and further improvements on this phone before they release it in the market on April 2013.

So just hang there and I will give you some more when April comes!


Photo Credits:  Cherry Mobile

Monday, March 18, 2013

Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0: Quad-Core Phone on the Budget

Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0
Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 has been launched today.  Despite of the anticipated Cherry Mobile Omega HD release today.  It was said to us that the Omega HD failed to arrive in the Philippines today.  So as a consolation, I am now presenting the Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0!!!  Quad-core phone that cost you below 10,000 pesos.  This Flame 2.0 has projected promising specifications so far and I will be posting the first hand information on this unit.  This Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 is priced at 6,999 pesos.  This will be available this coming April so watch out for that!  This is an ultimate phone for those who want to enjoy a quad-core in a much lower price.  Right on the budget.  We all know that the cheapest quad-core in the market would cost you roughly 18,000 pesos, but before you set you expectations high, let take a sneak peak of this unit first.

Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 Specifications:

  • Android 4.1 Jellybean
  • 1.2 GHz Quad-core Snapdragon Processor
  • 4.5-inch qHD Capacitive Touch Panel
  • Expandable microSD up to 32GB
  • Dual Sim/Dual Standby Feature
  • ROM: 4GB
  • RAM: 1GB
  • GSM/GPRS/EDGE
  • wi-fi b/g/n capable
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • 5.0-Megapixel with Flash (VGA Front)
  • 3G capable
  • 5 point multitouch panel
  • GPS capable
  • Battery Capacity:  1,600 mAh
  • Suggested Retail Price:  Php 6,999
Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 Specs
Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 Suggested Retail Price

Striking Feature:  Picture-in-Picture Function

This is one of the unique feature function of this quad-core phone.  Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 has this Picture-in-Picture Function, wherein you can take pictures simultaneously using both the front and rear camera.  Nice huh?!  This is a good function for camera whores out there.  

Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 Picture-in-Picture Mode
The picture quality is definitely good.  What is more interesting is the new imaging feature.  Will this new imaging feature makes this gadget a hit to the consumers?  Let us see in the next few days and weeks.

New Imaging Function of Flame 2.0

I will be posting a more detailed review of this Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 in the next few days - benchmarks, gaming experience and possible lags will be posted within the week.  Hope to follow and visit me here anytime!


Update: 

AnTuTu Benchmark

Here is the AnTuTu Benchmark of the Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0.  It exceeded HTC One X in way.  See for yourself on the picture below.
Flame 2.0 Benchmark
Cherry Mobile Flame 2.0 AnTuTu Benchmark
It exceeded my expectations also as per performance but as per the battery capacity, this could be the downfall.  You might want to invest on powerbanks or bring your charger with you most of the time.  Let us see if the people will have the same feedback with this phone once it becomes available in the market.


Sunday, March 17, 2013

Cherry Mobile Flare: Ultimate phone but.. ALWAYS Out-of-Stock!?!

Cherry Mobile Flare
Cherry Mobile Flare has been a crowd favorite eversince its first major release last November 2012.  It is said to be a hit even for the masses since it is a Big-Bang-for-the-Buck.  Despite of its raging issues with its battery capacity.  It is still loved by many.  I am not only a blogger but I am also a gadget lover, so in search for this precious find, I tried looking for stocks of this best buy unit.  I tried looking for this phone from the far North of Metro Manila all the way down to the Southern part, and I just found out that of the almost 20 kiosk or concept stores of Cherry Mobile, only 3 of them has a stock.  But here is the worst part of the story, it was OVERPRICED!!!  Come to think of it, if you are a simple student or an average employee who just saved up 4,000 pesos for several weeks or months, and there you are stuck in the middle of nowhere and having heard the sales person telling you that the price of Cherry Mobile Flare is already 4,699 pesos, some stores would give you 4,499 pesos.  I also saw a mobile shop in a mall that priced this unit for 5,299 pesos.  WHAT IS THAT?! I thought that the price is 3,999 pesos...  There goes the supply and demand thing!  I knew that this would happen.  Since it was a big hit, definitely the businessmen behind this would barely increase their prices.  It is okay to increase given that you get some additional stuffs like back covers, jelly case, or microSD maybe, but for the majority of them, it was just a BASIC package.


CM Flare:  Out-of-Stock OR Faced-out?!

Lets face it!  Cherry Mobile Flare was the Goddess of Dual-core Android phones despite of its minor flaws.  But majority of the consumers now are having a big question mark on their faces.  Is Cherry Mobile Flare still available or faced-out already?!  Up to this very moment, Cherry Mobile is not releasing any formal announcement about it but some who are desperate enough to have one would just plunge to the overpriced phone retail.  

Flare is really a good buy, but how would we get one if we can't buy one?!  I still hope that they would still release or continue this unit despite the "battery" issue.  Kudos Cherry Mobile for a job well done and for bringing this powerful phones to the masses.


Photo Credits:  Cherry Mobile Phils.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Cherry Mobile Omega HD Confirmed Launching on March 18

Cherry Mobile Omega HD will be unveiled this coming Monday, March 18, 2013.  With this much anticipation from the Cherry Mobile fans, they have yet released some of the possible specs for this said smartphone.  An upgrade from the former Cherry Mobile Omega that is running from an Android Jellybean 4.1.  This Omega HD will be expected to do the same.  The Cherry Omega HD is an India phone rebrand.  It is the XOLO A1000 from India running in an Android Jellybean 4.1 also like the Cherry Mobile Omega.  The XOLO A1000 is priced at roughly Rs 14,000 which is around Php 10,500.  Just to feed your curiousity, here are the possible technical specifications of the Cherry Mobile Omega HD.

Cherry Mobile Omega HD
Cherry Mobile Omega HD Specifications:

  • 1 GHz MediaTek MT6577 Processor
  • Android 4.1 Jellybean
  • Dual-core (and not the anticipated Quad-core)
  • 1 GB of RAM
  • 5-inch screen display
  • 8.0-Megapixel Rear Camera
  • 1.2-Megapixel Front Camera
  • 2,100 mAh battery capacity
  • 720p display High Definition
  • backside illuminated sensors for improved low light performance of the camera
  • Possible Price:  Roughly Php 7,000 - Php 8,000 (knowing that Cherry Mobile won't release a Php 10,000 smartphone so far)
Current Update:  The Cherry Omega HD is not yet here in the Philippines as of presstime.  Instead, I will just personally inform you here if it is already release physically. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Cherry Mobile Titan TV Review: All in One Phablet

Cherry Mobile Titan TV with SRP
Cherry Mobile Titan TV is one of the most anticipated mobile TV phablet.  This one is considered as a "phablet" or phone tablet because of its enormous 6-inch capacitive screen.  After its successful release last month.  I had the privilege to own and use one for almost a week.  Cherry Mobile Titan TV is the second installment of the first Cherry Mobile Titan without the TV on it.  Being priced at 6,999 pesos in the market, let us now check the full review of this if it is worth a try to own one.  Here are the specifications of the Titan TV:

Cherry Mobile Titan TV Specifications
  • 6-inch WVGA (800x480) capacitive display
  • 155ppi with 5-point multi-touch feature
  • 1GHz dual-core MT6577 processor
  • Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
  • Dual Sim / Dual Standby
  • PowerVR SGX531 GPU
  • 1GB of RAM
  • 4GB of internal storage
  • 8.0-Megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash
  • 720p HD video recording
  • 2.0-Megapixel VGA front camera
  • Gesture Mode Function
  • microSD support up to 32Gb
  • microUSB ver. 2.0
  • 3.5-mm audio jack
  • Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
  • WiFi Hotspot
  • GPS with A-GPS support
  • Bluetooth ver 4.0
  • FM Radio
  • Mobile TV with detachable antenna
  • Dual Speakers
  • Dual Mic with Noise Cancellation feature
  • GPRS/EDGE GSM 900/1800 (Dual Band)
  • 3G/HSDPA capable (UMTS 2100)
  • Accelerometer / Light Sensor / Proximity Sensor
  • 2,500 mAh battery
  • Dimensions:  166 mm x 91 mm x 10.5 mm
  • Weight:  200g
  • Color:  Black and White
  • Suggested Retail Price:  Php 6,999

Physical Feel & Screen Quality:  Solid and Clear Resolution

Cherry Mobile Titan TV
Cherry Mobile Titan TV has the same sturdy feel as the first released Titan.  CM Titan TV is a China rebranded phone.  This is a Karbonn A30 / VSun i1 unit in China.  The front face of the phone contains the usual capacitive buttons in front.  The micro USB slot is located at the bottom of the phone, power lock / button on the right side of the it, the 3.5-mm audio jack / detachable antenna port and on the left side is the volume rocker.  Cherry Mobile Titan TV is an all black finish both front and back.  On the back part or back plate, you can see the Titan TV logo in the middle and the Cherry Mobile logo on the bottom part.  You can also see the 2 speakers on the bottom of the Cherry Mobile logo.

Cherry Mobile Titan TV
Cherry Mobile Titan TV comes with a free flip cover, same as the first one, but this time, it is not attached in the housing totally - you have to do it on your own.  The cover comes with the double sided tape.  You have to stick this one on the back housing itself, therefore it is irreversible.  Well it is up to you if you really want to stick this one or you have a better alternative for this, just in case you don't want to ruin the back cover itself.
Cherry Mobile Titan TV FREE Flip Cover or Casing
Cherry Mobile Titan TV Double Sided Tape of the Flip Cover
Cherry Mobile Titan TV Unit with the Casing
Titan TV also comes with a stylus that is later on used as an antenna for your TV viewing pleasure.  I will discuss this as we go along the review.

The only notable thing minor problem that I encountered is the sensitivity of the 4 capacitive buttons below the screen.  It takes several seconds before it respond, and you have to put some effort or a couple of milliseconds before it responds.  Cherry Mobile Titan has a faster response compare to Titan TV.  But overall, everything is responsive, this will only be an issue for those who are used to the capacitive buttons that responds fast like Samsung or HTC with capacitive below.


Software Performance

Cherry Mobile Titan TV was was checked using AnTuTu Benchmark 3.1.1.  The benchmark result showed a rating of 7,022.  This makes this device at par with LG Optimus 2x which is priced at roughly Php 12,000.  Such a good deal given that this phone is only 6,999 pesos only - you get to save 5,000 pesos from that.  Not bad at all!
Cherry Mobile Titan TV AnTuTu Benchmark 3.1.1 Result
Cherry Mobile Titan TV Ranking Among the other Smartphones in the Market


Multimedia Performance:  All-in-One Entertainment and MORE!

Cherry Mobile Titan TV is a superb device since it is the screen is big enough for the movie buff in me.  The movie played flawlessly without lags at all and the sounds are really loud.  Titan TV has 2 speakers at the back that really means a lot for multimedia enthusiast like me.  You may want to download good apps at the Google Store for this one like PowerAmp for better sound performance.


The good side of this phone is having an on-the-go TV without your traditional pullover antenna on the side, because it has a detachable antenna that can turn as a stylus also.  This antenna can be attached at the 3.5-mm audio jack above.  Another good side for this one, TV clarity is superb with the antenna (I thought that I am connected on a cable TV) but even without the antenna itself, you can already watch it clearly.  Another plus for this device is that you can take a snapshot or a screenshot of a scene in TV while you are watching.  Sounds nice huh?!  Then you can share it through several social networking sites afterwards.

This is how the stylus is transformed into an antenna that can be used for TV viewing. 
Titan TV Stylus that is transformed into antenna - This is the 3.5-mm jack side
You have to pull the other side to expose the antenna
This is how it looks like if you put the stylus/antenna in the 3.4-mm audio jack


Quick Boot Options:  A PLUS!

Titan TV has this unique quick boot option that you can switch if you want to skip the whole, long booting process.  This is not fairly present in your Cherry Mobile Flare.  You can do this through the settings menu under the Accessibility the bottom part of that one you can see Quick Boot.  If you are an on-the-go person you can use this fairly.
The Quick Boot Option that is present only in Titan TV

Camera and Video Quality:  Good for an 8.0-Megapixel

Titan TV has an 8.0-Megapixel rear camera and a 2.0-Megapixal VGA front camera.  Picture quality was good enough and the camera is able to handle low light situations since it has a LED flash at the back of it.  Macro shots are very good using the camera of this phone.  It can give good details of the subject, just like the picture below.
Macro Shot taken from Titan TV
Another camera feature that is quite notable on Titan TV is the HDR Mode (High Dynamic Range) that is normally seen in Adobe Photoshop CS5 and CS6.  It also have adjustments as to what resolution you like - 8MP, 5MP or 3MP.  It also has a panoramic mode that can be used for landscape photography.

Titan TV HDR (High Dynamic Range) Mode for Camera
As for the video, it has a 720p quality with 3GP file format.  

The front camera was functioning very well especially when used for video calling like Skype.  I tested this one since some of the models of Cherry Mobile are having problems with the front camera in terms of video calling usage.


Internet Experience:  FAST loading!

The internet browser that comes with Titan TV is the Opera Mini for Android.  And as expected, the browsing experience, loading experience is really fast.  Even the application download using the Google Play Store was really fast enough.  You have a full access of the Play store and are free to choose whatever apps you like.


Gaming Experience:  Superb and NO lags at all!

Cherry Mobile Titan TV gaming experience was superb since it has a 6-inch screen.  I can say that I was satisfied with the outcome.  I have tested this with the usual basic games like Temple Run 2, and the accelerometer is very responsive as I take turns.
Temple Run 2 Sample
As for heavy graphic games, I tested Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, NBA 2K13 and Heroes of Order and Chaos, which is an online game.  The games loaded pretty fast especially for the online game and I experienced no lags at all during the game.  Another plus was the audio quality since you have 2 speakers at the back, you really have a good gaming experience rolled into one.
Heroes of Order and Chaos on Titan TV
Take note that I have used a Class 10 MicroSD card for this one and my internet connection, based on speedtest.com is 0.85 Mbps Download and 0.53 Mbps Upload.


Battery Life:  Making the most of it

Cherry Mobile Titan TV battery capacity is the same as the first released Cherry Mobile Titan, rated at 2,500 mAh.  For light and moderate use, basic telephony, checking of facebook and twitter from time to time and some sound tripping on my way home, it took me roughly 2.5 days usage.  While for heavy usage, this includes heavy graphic gaming, internet and TV / movie viewing, it took roughly 20-22 hours of usage for me.  I have a friend also that have the same unit and he just used it for SMS and the battery lasted for 6 days.  This unit has a good battery capacity just as long as you take care of the charging time - in short, don't overcharge it as much as possible.

The only thing that I found notable was the back of the phone was quite hot.  But not as hot as the Cherry Mobile Titan.


Verdict:  WORTH YOUR MONEY!

Cherry Mobile Titan TV was reviewed based in the performance in parallel to its price as well.  So far so good and I can personally recommend this phone especially if you have the 6,999 peso budget.  This unit is already comparable to the other smartphones priced 15,000 pesos up.  You get what you  pay for in this unit and more and you can have a phone and tablet in one.  An all-in-one entertainment gadget.  Lags were not encountered and no problem with the interface in general, so this one is a bang for the buck.  



Saturday, March 9, 2013

Cherry Mobile Blaze Updated to Jellybean 4.1

CM Blaze Jellybean
Cherry Mobile Blaze Jellybean 4.1 Update
After the Cherry Mobile Flare's software update comes the first of its kind - Cherry Mobile Blaze Jellybean 4.1 Update!  Sounds nice huh?! With its announcement last month, it became a hot item for owning a unit upgraded to the latest Android software.  Just when some thought that this would not happen at all.  The only bad side - you have to send you Blaze to the Cherry Mobile Service Centers.  Waiting time would depend on the workload of that center.  Make sure that you find a service center that are found in the "jungle", so that you will have it updated faster.  Take note that there is NO OTA (Over the Air) SOFTWARE UPDATE.

But before updating your Cherry Mobile Blaze, you have to take note of the following:
  • You should backup your phone (Cherry Mobile Service Centers will not be responsible for any data loss during the update)
  • You need to bring your proof of purchase or Official Receipt for you to avail of this update
  • Your unit must NOT be rooted or opened in any other way.  Always remember that once you root your device, your warranty will be NULL and VOID.  Not unless you can reset you phone and return it to its factory state.
So what are you waiting now?! Check this to your nearest Cherry Mobile Service Centers to enjoy this free upgrade.  Take note, after a month release, almost 60-70% of their service centers gives this upgrade service.  For reference of the branches, you may want to check the Official Cherry Mobile site.

I will be posting an in-depth review of this unit within the week.  So watch out for that!


Friday, March 8, 2013

Cherry Mobile Thunder Review: Is it worth the wait?

CM Thunder
Cherry Mobile Thunder Posting from their Official Website
Cherry Mobile Thunder was released almost a month ago.  The date of release was last February 9, 2013.  At first I thought that it will be exclusive forever to Lazada, but I was wrong.  It was launched in Lazada for the first week and was later released on their Official Kiosk and Concept Stores.  It was priced at 4,999 pesos in Lazada and several stores around the Metro when I was conducting some survey.  
Cherry Mobile Thunder Lazada Ad
During that time, I was still fetching for some information if this was really worth the wait.  I was really dragged to this device because it looks like an iPhone5 to me, the length of the phone itself.  I found several stocks mostly in SM malls and as expected some are also displaying boxes alone (out of stock already according to them).  Cherry Mobile Thunder's price for me is still a steal for the fact that it is a Dual Core, Dual-Sim and an Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  So I decided to grab one and enjoy it for two weeks to check if everything will turn out good and smooth.

I assume that this is a rebranded phone from other country, just like the Cherry Mobile Flare and Cherry Mobile Titan.  As usual, they just replaced the back cover and put the brand there.  So let us check the specifications of Cherry Mobile Thunder first before we discuss each of the elements in detail.

Cherry Mobile Thunder
  • 1GHz Dual-core Processor
  • 512MB RAM
  • 4GB Internal Storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD
  • 4.5-inch FWVGA Capacitive Touch Screen
  • 5.0 Megapixel rear-facing camera
  • VGA front-facing camera
  • Dual SIM, Dual Standby
  • WiFi 
  • WiFi Hotspot
  • 3G, GPS
  • Bluetooth
  • Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Dimensions:  36mm x 65mm x 9.9mm
  • 1800 mAh Battery
  • Suggested Retail Price:  Php 4,999

Physical Feel and Quality Display of the Cherry Mobile Thunder
CM Thunder
Cherry Mobile Thunder Market Display
You can observe that this Cherry Mobile Thunder has a smooth and glossy finish, thereby prone to fingerprints.  It doesn't have a plastic feel, and it has a solid body when you grip it.  One can have an impression that this device in worth more than its price.  This is much thinner than the Cherry Mobile Flare but it has a bigger screen.  It has a 4.5 inch FWVGA Capacitive Touch Screen as compared to the Flare's 4.0-inch Capacitive Touch Screen.  This is much better in terms of gaming experience since "the bigger the screen the better" thing goes with the gamers.  This is a better experience than the Flare.  Though I observed that the screen turns darker as you tilt it on a certain angle (Remember! This is not an IPS screen).

Cherry Mobile Thunder Screen Quality with the Capacitive Buttons
All of the capacitive buttons below are very responsive.  But the only negative thing that I observed was the backlight of these buttons, the light was quite dim as compared to other branded phones like Samsung.  It is a very minor issue for me since I don't care at all.  This is just a disclaimer for some people who are bright freaks.
Cherry Mobile Thunder Back 
Cherry Mobile Thunder is 90% black finish with some silver or chrome buttons.  On the side of this, you can see the volume rocker and the power button/lock and at the top, you can see the 3.5-mm headphone jack thogether with the microUSB port.  This device is much thinner than Cherry Mobile Flare.  You can see the actual thickness below:

Cherry Mobile Thunder Side View

Software Performance

Cherry Mobile Thunder was checked using AnTuTu Benchmark 3.1.1.  The benchmark result showed a rating of 6,805.  This makes this device at par with LG Optimus 2x which is priced at roughly Php 12,000.  Such a good deal given that this phone is only 4,999 pesos only - almost double the price.  Not bad at all!
Cherry Mobile Thunder AnTuTu Benchark 3.1.1 Result - Rated at 6805

Basic Daily Usage

I used this phone for two weeks and tried (most of the time) having most of the apps running on the background to check whether or not lagging would occur.  I also maximized the use of the live wallpapers to test if it will lower down the process.  Basic telephone functions, SMS, social networking and reading e-books from time to time were very smooth.  But when you open big, heavy graphic games together with this function, you will need to manage your applications in the process because you will experience slight lag.  But this was not really that significant because it just happened once or twice the whole two weeks.


Camera:  Very Decent BUT NOT for Low-light

Thunder has a big camera at the back but it lacks one thing -- LED FLASH.  It gave me decent pictures eventhough it has only 5.0-Megapixels to brag.  One thing that bothers me is the absence of the LED flash.  The picture quality is quite noisy or grainy if you will use it during the night or during low-light conditions.  The front camera is also good enough for Skype-ing and will give you a decent result.
Cherry Mobile Thunder Sample Picture
Video was also tested and it was okay overall.  Not lapses in between frames and took 720p HD video in a very smooth way.


Movie and Music Experience

I enjoyed watching movies on this device since it has a bigger screen compared to Flare.  I watched YouTube videos without lags (this will depend on the speed also of your internet).  The audio speaker is loud enough to be heard but if you like a better player to control your music experience better, I suggest that you find a decent application for this one from Google Play store since the stock player is very basic to start with.


Gaming Experience

I know many of the readers here are looking for this review.  I have good news for you!  My gaming experience was awesome for this cheap device.  For the price this low, I was able to play heavy graphic games like NBA2K13, Dead Zone, and GTA (make sure that you have a good microSD too.  I was using a class 10 microSD for this device).  Lags were not experienced at all.  Disclaimer:  No other apps were opened during this test.  As for the basic games like Scrabble, Temple Run 2 and Fruit Ninja - everything was smooth sailing, with several apps on the background.
Temple Run 2 with some background apps running

Battery Life:  Just your average Joe

Cherry Mobile Thunder has a battery capacity of 1800 mAh which is quite an upgrade from the Flare's 1450 mAh capacity.  Moderate to heavy use of this phone, without gaming, just basic plus browsing, lasted the whole day.  Light to moderate use - no internet usage - basic phone functions, lasted roughly 2 to 2.5 days.  But this is the hard part, heavy - gaming and movie mode - usage just lasted roughly 4-6 hours.  The longest for me was 6.5 hours on the past two weeks of usage.  So if you are a heavy user, make sure that you bring your charger with you all the time or likewise buy a spare battery or a powerbank for this one.


Final Verdict:  A BIG BANG FOR THE BUCK!

Cherry Mobile Thunder was a very nice deal with all the features for the price of 4,999 pesos only.  It can be compared to higher brands that will cost you roughly double.  You get everything you need in this awesome device with an Ice Cream Sandwich version already.  A very good deal!  All my expectations were covered for two weeks of usage.  I am a satisfied customer given the amount that I have paid for this device.  You get what you pay for... AND MORE.

photo credits:  cherry mobile, lazada, symbianize, SM cyberzone