Starmobile Diamond Initial Review and Hands-on: Good specs, looks great!

Starmobile Diamond Initial Review and Hands-on: Good specs, looks great!

We go hands-on with the Starmobile Diamond
We go hands-on with the Starmobile Diamond

Initial Review: Starmobile Diamond

Priced at Php9,990, a lot of people are wondering what the Starmobile Diamond has to offer considering an almost similar specced device sells for Php2,000 less. This was on our mind when we were given a chance to play around with the Starmobile Diamond last week at the Starmobile HQ. We had a little over 15 minutes with the Diamond and we’d like to report on our initial findings and maybe a quick comparison based on our experience with both phones. Read on!

Starmobile Diamond Spec Sheet

  • 1GHz Dual-core MTK6577H Processor
  • Enhanced SGXS31 GPU
  • 1GB RAM
  • 4GB Internal Storage, expandable up to 32GB via microSD Card
  • 5.0-inches IPS Capacitive Touchscreen with HD Resolution (720×1280)
  • Dragontrail Glass (Scratch Resistant)
  • 12.0-megapixels rear-facing camera with LED Flash and BSI
  • 3.0-megapixels front-facing camera with BSI
  • WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS with A-GPS Support
  • Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
  • 2,000mAh Battery
  • Comes with free 8GB microSD Card

Matte finish, comfortable in the hand

One thing we loved about the Starmobile Diamond is the over-all chassis design and build. Instead of glossy plastic they went with hard plastic with a matte finish which is similar to the highly successful Starmobile Astra. Another nice detail is the curved edges and sides. This makes it more comfortable in the hand since it doesn’t bite into your flesh.

What the back of the Starmobile Diamond looks like
What the back of the Starmobile Diamond looks like

There are two more aesthetic elements worth noting. First, the Starmobile Diamond is very thin. We don’t have exact measurements but it’s definitely close to the thinness of the Starmobile Flirt. Other than that we’re also digging the ceramic-like band on the sides. It makes the phone look so much cooler, hehe.

Very thin device. I don't have exact measurements but it feels as thin as the Flirt.
Very thin device. I don’t have exact measurements but it feels as thin as the Flirt.

In short, when it comes to the looks department, the Starmobile Diamond does not disappoint.

Software Check: Android Jelly Bean

We didn’t encounter any issues with the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean experience on the Starmobile Diamond. It was smooth and fast, definitely much better than a lot of other smartphones from international brands in this price range. The reason behind this is again is the software optimization, Jelly Bean’s Project Butter, and the combination of a dual-core processor and 1GB RAM.

Even graphics intensive games/apps run pretty well
Even graphics intensive games/apps run pretty well

The specs are also powerful enough to back-up the 12-megapixel shooter (with BSI, LED flash, and autofocus). There was only a slight lag on the UI of the camera which was a very pleasant surprise.

Sooo…. how is it compared to the competition?

Woot.
Woot.

Objectively the Starmobile Diamond has a better front-facing camera (3MP vs 2MP) compared to the Cherry Mobile Omega HD. It also has a nice 8GB microSD card freebie included in the package. Personally (this is subjective though) we also prefer the look and feel of the Diamond compared to the Omega HD. However the real question is if these “advantages” can justify the Php2,000 higher price tag. If you’re the type that just wants the least minimal cash out then there’s no convincing you here. However if you’re the type that doesn’t mind paying extra for upgrades and good after sales service*, then the Starmobile Diamond might be the smartphone for you.

We’ll try to secure a review unit and do a more comprehensive take on this device after Holy Week.

*PS: We experienced this ourselves. Brother broke his Starmobile Astra battery. Went to the Pasig service center. They replaced the battery within a few minutes of testing. Friend had a hanging issue with Starmobile Bright. They brought it to Pasig service center and it was fixed in half an hour.

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