We go hands-on with Cloudfone’s Special Edition smartphone

A few days ago we told you about Cloudfone’s strategic partnership with Disney and other content partners. The partnership gives Cloudfone access to Disney’s biggest IPs for the purposes of marketing their devices, and the local outfit has not wasted time doing so. The Cloudfone Special Edition smartphone is the first result of their partnership, and while it’s tempting to say that the bundle is just being propped up by the marketing push, in truth the core device is compelling on its own.

Cloudfone Special Edition

• Intel Atom X3 quad-core processor
• 2GB of RAM
• 5-inch HD display, 2.5D curved panels, Gorilla Glass protection, 1280 x 720 resolution
• 16GB of storage, expandable via microSD
• 8-megapixel rear camera with flash
• 2-megapixel front camera
• Dual SIM
• 3G
• WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS
• Android 5.1 Lollipop
• 1900mAh battery

Initial impressions: heavy, hefty and premium, despite its budget price tag

The Cloudfone Special Edition device comes in three distinct flavors, though the core device stays the same. Depending on your choice of bundle, you’re getting either a Star Wars, Marvel or Disney-themed device with your purchase (which are differentiated through the different carton sleeves that come with the box when you buy it) along with accessories that fit the theme.

The Cloudfone Special Edition device is essentially the same phone as the company’s Excite 2 externally, though the Excite 2 has half the RAM and storage and obviously don’t come with the Disney Bundle. The phone is quite the looker, sporting an exquisite metal frame that’s chamfered all around. The phone also has 2.5D glass on top of the 5-inch IPS HD panel with Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

One you pick it up, you’ll be taken aback by how hefty it feels. Unlike other “special edition” devices, a lot of care has been put into the design of the core unit. It feels very, very premium despite the price tag, and can be used easily one-handed without too much trouble.

Moving to the other parts of the phone, you’ll see the volume and power button on the right side of the device, while the 3.5mm jack and the USB port is located on the bottom. Turning the phone over you’ll see the 8-megapixel rear camera with two LED flash beside it. The speaker grille is on the bottom right. The back cover is removable, and has a brushed metal feel to it, though once you peel it off the device you’ll clearly see that it’s made out of plastic. Once you take off the cover, you’ll see the non-removable battery, along with the dual SIM slot and the microSD slot.

The phone is powered by Intel’s new 1.0GHz quad-core Sofia X3 64-bit processor, paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. The new budget processor is capable enough, though we don’t have enough experience with the SoC to give you a complete assesment of its performance. On cursory use, the processor was good enough to browse Android 5.1 Lollipop without any trouble. Since it’s a budget processor we’re expecting it to perform as such. Cloudfone also includes a couple of Disney-specific apps and wallpapers in the package, as well as exclusive Disney-themed back cover and headphones that depends on the bundle that you get. Cloudfone will also be selling Disney and Star Wars related merchandise like USB thumbdrives as well.

That’s it for our first hands-on of the Cloudfone Special Edition smartphone. It should be going on sale now in stores for Php 4,999. We’re getting a review unit later on to spend more time with the budget bundle.