Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt: Maximizing your Benchmarks

How was your Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt experience so far?  We saw a lot of people coming from SM North EDSA and Robinsons Manila.  And the first 50 buyers gets a powerbank as a freebie.  While the people are having a hard time now in owning this Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Quad-core tablet, I have tried to flash the ROM of this tablet to check if this will further improve from the original AnTuTu benchmark that I have posted last night.

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt stock benchmark from AnTuTu

You can see that it is only rated 5,378 AnTuTu benchmark.  But can we still maximize this one to get a better performance from this new hot device in the market.  So since there was a suggestion from one of the readers a while ago, I have decided to flash the ROM using some tools for this device that we have.  I have used the Quadrant Standard and AnTuTu for benchmarking this.  So we have this results now:

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Flashed ROM in AnTuTu Benchmark

I got an AnTuTu result of 11,053 as compared to the 5,378 that I got from the unflashed ROM.  This was a double from the original so that is a good result so far.  And the result of the Quadrant Standard is 2,918, though I haven't checked the unflashed ROM for the Quadrant Standard (I suggest you can have this one checked before flashing your ROM to see the difference), I believe that this is a good result so far.

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Flashed ROM in Quadrant Standard

picture credits:  unbox

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Review: Quad-Core Tablet Right on the Budget

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bold Ad

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt is one of the most awaited Android tablet in the market.  Why is that so?  It would be one of the first, if not, Quad-core processor in the market with the latest Android version, Jellybean 4.1 as the OS and is priced at a whooping 3,999 pesos only.  Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt will be officially out in the market tomorrow.  Cherry Mobile, just like the Flare Day wayback November, now will launch the Fusion Mania Day tomorrow starting 12:00 Noon.  What is best about this release is that they are giving surprise gift - this is a powerbank freebie to the first 50 buyers, but of course, we can expect a long line and long wait just like the Flare Day.  But before you go there tomorrow as early as 7:00AM, you better check first this review so that you know what to expect with the big bang to the buck tablet of Cherry Mobile.

Well just to let you know that the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt is a prototype of the Ainol Novo 7 Venus II.  They just replaced the back cover but everything looks the same as the original.  So yes, it is just rebranded from the Ainol Novo 7 series.  Just check the reputation of the Ainol Tablets as well.

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Specs:

• 1GHz A9 Quadcore Processor
• 1GB RAM
• Vivante GC1000+ GPU
• 8GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 32Gb
• 7-inch HD IPS Capacitive Touchscreen
• WiFi b/g/n
• Supports external 3G dongle
• 5-point multitouch display
• 2.0 Megapixel rear-facing camera
• 0.3 Megapixel VGA front-facing camera
• mini HDMI slot
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• 4,000mAh Battery
• 186.2mm x 126.9mm x 10.8mm
• 320 grams
• Comes in black or white
• Suggested Retail Price: Php3,999

Physical Feel of the Fusion Bolt

Front Face of the Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt

The Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt doesn't feel cheap at all when you get hold of it.  You would not even think that this device is only 3,999 pesos.  It has a solid feel and doesn't feel plastic at all and you can even think that this device is roughly 8,000-10,000 pesos.  Why did I say this so, because the screen is so good, brightness is really good due mainly to its IPS screen (IPS - it means that even if you are viewing the screen on an extreme angle, you get to still have the brilliant screen detail, and not only a mere light).    Secondly, the back cover of this Fusion Bolt has a feel of the Asus Google Nexus 7, which is more of a rubberized finish.

The IPS screen is really impressive and at par with the Asus Google Nexus 7 since it has a resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels with are quite competitive given the price of this tablet.  The colors, crisp and quality are highly commendable and able to edge up with other branded tablets in the market.

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Front Face Standing

The Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt has all the needed ports on the sides like microSD slot, micro USB slot, mini HDMI slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and the power slot for the power cable.  And you can check on the top  side part of this device the power button and/or power lock and the volume rocker.

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt Side

Performance Check:  Don't set TOO MUCH expectations

AnTuTu Benchmark of the Fusion Bolt based from Cherry Mobile Site

According to the official Cherry Mobile website, the benchmark that they gained is 11,932 which is quite to be tolerable given the specs of this tablet but from what other benchmark test that was conducted this was the results taken:

Another AnTuTu Benchmark test

Of which we can say that this 5,378 benchmark is quite disappointing for a Quad-core tablet and with a Jellybean 4.1. platform.  The low score could be due to the RAM and GPU of the Fusion Bolt.  The unit uses a 1GHz A9 Quadcore Processor Actions Semiconductor ATM 7029 of which are quite new to the ears of the gadget freaks.  You cannot compare this quad-core to you typical Samsung S III expections or other quad-core brands in the market.  It is more of the cheaper version of quad-core so do set your expectations that much.  The RAM is also running only on 716MB and not the full 1Gb as expected.

Gaming Experience

Temple Run 2 on a Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt is a great deal for you typical games like Temple Run 2, it doesn't have lags and don't have a problem with the gyroscope just like the Cherry Mobile Flare problem before.  You just have to set the games into the medium settings because as what was stated a while ago, the GPU and RAM is not enough for this.  At times you can experience slow graphics especially if you use this on High Settings mode. And if you are able to run heavy graphical game like Dead Zone or NBA 2K13, I think you will be experiencing lags and some slow graphics performance.

Heavy Graphic Game

Battery Performance and Camera

The Fusion Bolt has a great battery with 4,000 mAh capacity.  It will give you enough time to do everything from browsing, social networking, gaming, music tripping and picture moments with your friends.  Roughly this will give you 6-11 hours in the making in a day in heavy usage.

If you are after the high quality camera, well this is not for you since the back camera is only 2 Megapixels, but it is already tolerable for your typical picture.  It doesn't have a flash but will give you a good one so far.  As to the front camera, don't expect too much since it is only 0.3 Megapixel, bearable enough for a Skype Video call.  If you are a high standard camera whore, you have to think twice on this part.

Overall Verdict

Cherry Mobile Fusion Bolt can be further improved.  It is also a very promising gadget.  But given the price of only 3,999 pesos, this is worth it already.  REMINDER GUYS:  This tablet cannot accommodate your SIM card so it doesn't have the call and text feature using your cellphone networks.  Physicality is very good but the software can be optimized further for better gaming experience.  The only bad side is the marketing side of Cherry Mobile, saying that it is 4x the speed, therefore the expectations of the consumers are so high, giving it an edge over the other branded quad-cores in the market.  If it is just simple task performance like social networking and the like, we can say that it is fast enough but not as fast as your typical Samsung Quad-core, but hey!  It is only 3,999 pesos!


picture credits:  Cherry Mobile, Unbox.ph