Unboxing the Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0

The Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 was launched together with the Cherry Mobile Apollo (click to read our review). It was kinda overshadowed a bit since the Apollo generated the most buzz with it’s 12.0-megapixel BSI camera at an affordable price. However the Burst 2.0 still offers quite a big bang for your buck. At Php4,699 you get a quad-core smartphone (512MB RAM though) that has a 4.5-inch screen AND a whopping 2,000mAh battery. Not bad given the price!

Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 Spec Sheet

• 1.2GHz Quad-core Processor
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB Internal Storage, expandable via microSD Card
• 4.5-inch FWVGA Capacitive Touch Screen
• 5.0-megapixels primary camera
• VGA secondary camera
• WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, 3G, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS/aGPS
• Dual SIM, Dual Standby
• Android Jelly Bean 4.2
• 2,000mAh

We currently have a review unit with us courtesy of the good people from Cherry Mobile. We’ll put it through the paces in the next few days and come up with the full review next week but for now we’d like to share with you our initial impressions.

Unboxing and Packaging

The Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 came in a big dark orange carton box. Usual product hero shot up front with a huge logo of “QUAD-core” plastered at the top. At the back we have the technical specifications. What we find surprising though was that Cherry Mobile didn’t bother highlighting the fact that this has a 2,000mAh battery. It’s not even listed in the specs nor does it have a violator at the box.

Anyway, unboxing was straightforward. We removed the tape, pulled out the compartment, and found the device wrapped in plastic. Underneath it was your usual compliment of accessories: earphones, micro USB to USB cable, wall charger, and manuals/certificates.

Would have preferred a freebie like a screen protector or a case but we realized that Cherry Mobile isn’t in to bundling since they want to keep costs as low as possible.

Hardware: Quite Different

Moving on to the hardware, the Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 isn’t your usual sub Php5,000 smartphone. First it has a 4.5-inch display. Most devices in this category sport 3.5-4 inch screens making the 4.5-inch display of the Burst 2.0 quite generous. Next if you turn it around you’ll notice a dual-band design. Majority of the back plate is made from some smooth matte finish that’s almost rubbery. At the top though there’s the usual glossy piano black plastic. The contrast and combination of both materials actually makes the phone look and feel much better.

The Burst 2.0 also has a very pronounced curved shape back. The weight seems to be focused more on the lower end which kinda gives it a sturdy feel when you have it in hand. All the usual ports and buttons are on the sides including the micro USB port, volume rocker, audio jack, and power lock.

The quality of the display is FWVGA which isn’t the sharpest or best display around for a 4.5-inch screen. It’s already okay though given the price tag but hopefully we see the day that phones get HD displays minimum at this price range already (nothing wrong with dreaming hehe).

Software: Faster, Better, Stronger

For performance, the Burst 2.0 will not disappoint. It’s superior to the dual-core devices in this price range and we felt it when we started playing a few games. It’s not at par with the quad-core + 1GB RAM devices but the experience is comparable just as long as you don’t run multiple apps all at the same time. The key to enjoying the Burst 2.0 is to dedicate time using the Task Manager once or twice a day.

Full Review Coming Soon

Over-all the Burst 2.0 promises good value for money at Php4,699. The main differentiators include the quad-core processor, the 4.5-inch screen, and the impressive 2,000mAh battery. Please do watch out for our full review about this budget quad-core smartphone from Cherry Mobile soon!