MyPhone A888 Duo Review

Now discounted at Php6,390, the MyPhone A888 Duo is actually a fairly competitive budget Android smartphone worth considering. It was actually launched locally last December and has gained quite a following since then. According to the MyPhone sales representatives during the MyPhone A919i launch, this was actually one of their best sellers. We ended up getting one so that we can do a quick review.

MyPhone A888 Duo Spec Sheet

• 1GHz Mediatek MT6577 Dual core processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage, expandable storage up to 32GB
• 4.5-inch qHD IPS Display, 960 x 540 pixels
• 8.0-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and LED flash
• 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera
• 720p HD video recording
• Dual sim, dual standby
• 3G, Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi Hotspot, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, TV Out
• 1,800 mAh battery
• Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich

Design: Slim, light, and glossy

MyPhone has been following a noticeable design philosophy since they introduced their first line-up of smartphones. We’ve been getting mostly devices that have glossy plastic chassis and are relatively thin and light compared to competitors. Of course we can’t miss the ever-so-familiar Philippine map at the back of the device as well.

Here are some photos:

There is still love/hate reaction when it comes to MyPhone’s Philippine map design at the back. According to some people from MyPhone, it is the first Filipino mobile phone brand and that’s the reason why a map is seen on their phones. Personally, I find it cool. It makes me feel proud than I’m a Filipino. If you like the MyPhone A888 Duo but hate the map, buy a jellycase or a hard case. Like this one:

Display: Not HD but quite competitive

Unlike the MyPhone A919i and A919, the A888 Duo has a 4.5 inch qHD IPS LCD screen with 960 x 540 resolution. It’s not HD but at least the over-all user experience is not sluggish compared to other phones that packed their 5-inch displays with HD but had underpowered processors. Personally we think qHD is the sweet spot for many Android buyers out there.

Performance: Average

We’ve been using this phone for a week now and we can say that it offers a pretty standard/average Android ICS experience. Stutters and lags are unavoidable especially when you have multiple apps open or if you’re playing graphics intensive games. Just so you know, the MyPhone A888 Duo scored 6,366 on the Antutu Benchmark Score Test.

When it comes to gaming you’re better off sticking to casual games like Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, or Candy Crush. Those titles will run smoothly. We tried playing Dead Trigger and there was a noticeable lag haunting us throughout our play.

Camera: Decent!

The 8-megapixel shooter with autofocus and LED flash on the MyPhone A888 Duo was actually surprisingly pleasant! Despite the lack of BSI, it still managed to take respectable photos even in low light. Here are some sample shots:

Battery Life: Enough for the Average User

Having a 1,800 mAh battery on the MyPhone A888 Duo may not have enough juice for heavy users but for an average user this is adequate. With light to moderate use (occasional social networking, browsing, e-mail, and rare gaming), the MyPhone A888 Duo lasted us the whole day. However once we started getting our game groove on over-all battery life plunged drastically.

Verdict: Good smartphone… 6 months ago

The MyPhone A888 was a great buy 6 months ago. However it’s totally different today. Even at the discounted price of Php6,390 it faces stiff competition from the quad-core Cherry Mobile Flame or other Android ICS phones priced below Php5,000.

That’s the problem with technology. There will always be a faster, better, and more improved phone compared to what you have in your hands. You will get outdated. You will get old. Deal with it or else you’ll end up forking out cash on a quarterly basis, hehe.