Budget friendly Cherry Mobile Flare S review

Cherry Mobile sends out new devices just in time for the Holidays season, one of which is the new Cherry Mobile Flare S with the budget conscious in mind. The new device in the Flare series packs a mid-range specification with a price of a lower-end device, that is without a doubt one of the most and if I’m not mistaken, the best selling android device that Cherry Mobile has to offer in the market this season.

To give you an overview of what I was saying, the new CM Flare S packs a Quad Core MediaTek processor clocked at 1.3 GHz and not only that, this new device comes with 1GB of RAM which sets a new benchmark for entry-level devices. Graphics processing is handled by a Mali-400 MP2 GPU with a playing field of 4-inch IPS display.

Cherry Mobile Flare S device Specifications

1.3GHz Quad-core MTK 6582 Processor

Mali-400 MP2 Graphics processor

1 GB RAM

4 GB on-board storage (1.6xGB user memory available)

Up to 32GB memory expansion with microSD card

4-inch IPS Display

8 Megapixel main camera, VGA front *

Dual SIM, Dual Standby (GSM, 3G)

WiFi, WiFi Hotspot

Bluetooth

FM Radio

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

1,400 mAh Battery

Comes with free jelly case and screen protector

Price: 4,499.00 Php

From the specs itself, the CM Flare S packs components that sparks some flares here and there on the most part but not quite. Though the fact that this device comes with a Quad Core CPU and a new 1GB of RAM, we could expect a higher test scores in the AnTuTu benchmark but failed to deliver on other components especially with the camera (which I am going to talk about later). But at the price of 4,499.00 tax inclusive, it’s already a great deal if you are not inclined with the imaging department.

Hardware and Aesthetics

On the outside, the device looks stunning, it’s quite a surprise that Cherry Mobile delivers a low-end device just as good as the Flare S. That soft rubbery type of hard plastic which blinds in well with the display gives users and owners a sense of quality and premium feel. There are 2 physical keys around the device, the power button on the right and the volume rocker on the left, these buttons are easy and highly responsive when pressed. All ports on the top, with the regular 3.5mm audio port and the USB data/charging port.

Processing Power

The new CM Flare S is undoubtedly a contender to match with other mid-end devices which fairly having the same specs. Packing a 1.3GHz Quad Core processor and coupled with 1GB of RAM, it scored as high as 16000 in AnTuTu benchmark which is evident when using the device. From flicking the display and with UI animations, using the CM Flare S lives with the fluidity and smoothness of Android 4.2 with no lag or whatsoever which using the device, even when live wallpapers are used which are commonly a bottle neck for low powered and even high-end Android devices.

We have tried running and opening multiple apps during this review and the device keeps on going, unless of course when the battery needs to replenish. The device can run perfectly fine with Graphic intensive games and with my cousin at hand who mostly installed games which I have installed on my other high-end device, the Flare S wins his heart.

Up Keep

Though the CPU is designed to consume less power, other components requires power too and when all of them are in use, it would significantly lower you battery or perhaps empty them in no time. As other reviews suggests, Flare line of devices failed greatly with its low capacity battery and it seem Cherry Mobile still doesn’t improved in this department, With only 1,400 mAh battery, in normal use (that is, texting, a few short calls and open/closing few apps) would take a day before the battery drains, Using the device extensively especially running highly extensive graphics apps would drain the battery a few more times faster and with a low capacity battery, expect to bring your charger wherever you go just to be ready for the mishaps.

Low Quality Camera

One of the biggest let down of this device is its camera, though the box and its image information itself says its from a “8 megapixel” camera, the image says otherwise. One of the things to consider on a smartphones these days is its camera and yet Cherry Mobile failed to deliver that expectation from an 8 megapixel shooter. It doesn’t even have an Auto Focus feature which I think is a must for point and shoot camera phones. If you’d ask me the quality of the photos taken from the device, it’s more like shooting from an early 2000 phone cams which only had a VGA camera’s in them.

Shooting on a well lit and a cloudy outside shows a noticeable amount of noises around the image, and that poor quality would become worst once you get inside dimmed and dark places, the cam goes from below average to a second to unusable in dark rooms. The built-in flash does nothing to augment that either. To achieve a desirable images from dark areas, one needs to have an external light source and not just your average light source, it should be strong enough to take good shoots.

I remember my good old college days when the Finnish phone manufacturer sold a separate camera accessory for its first generation colored phones, the photo quality of CM Flare S closely resembles that.

The Verdict //

At the price below 5,000 Php. the CM Flare S is good enough for consumers with low budget but requires significant processing power, the device shouldn’t disappoint you. With a Quad Core CPU, 1GB of RAM, Mali-400 MP2 GPU it’s fairly enough to get into the competition, Cherry Mobile definitely scores in this area, but be sure to watch out your activities as it could drain your battery significantly with only 1400 mAh capacity and lastly which I believe to be a deal breaker is the camera, its low quality photos and shoots would certainly disappoint even an average user.

All in all, if you need something to thinker and to play with, this budget phone is for you which only cost 4,499 Php and that’s with free jelly case and screen guard already.