Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 Unveiled, Priced at P3,999

Cherry Mobile’s strategy is to continuously introduce new handsets.  I can only assume that this strategy works as Cherry Mobile is one of the leaders in the mobile scene in the Philippines.  Cherry Mobile combines good set of hardware specs with ultra competitive pricing and if the number of devices is any indication, Cherry Mobile must be doing good.

One of the bestsellers of Cherry Mobile is the Flare.  At the time of its release, the P3,999 price tag of the Cherry Mobile Flare was hard to ignore, especially since it carried a 1.2GHz dual-core CPU, an IPS 4-inch display and 5-megapixel rear camera and it ran Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.  Cherry Mobile wants to ride on the popularity of the original version with the announcement of the Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0.  Will the trick work this time around?  Gauging form the available Android handsets in the market today, it appears that Cherry Mobile will have a hard time duplicating the sales of the original Flare.

In any case, the Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 now has a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU while the original Flare only featured a dual-core processor.  But that is about the only update the Flare 2.0 has over the original Flare.  The new Flare 2.0 still has the same display resolution, which is 480×800, the same 512 RAM and the same 4GB internal storage.  The battery is in fact smaller since it’s now only 1550mAh whereas the original had 1600mAh.  The only other change is in design as the finish of the Flare 2.0 is now glossy and it is reportedly thinner than the original.  Pricing for the Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 is still at P3,999.

Here are the main specs of the Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0

Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 Specs and Price

• 4-inch WVGA IPS display (480 x 800 resolution, 233ppi)
• 1.2GHz quad core Qualcomm MSM8225Q processor
• Adreno 203 GPU
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB internal storage
• 3G/HSPA
• WiFi, Bluetooth
• Micro USB port
• GPS with A-GPS
• FM Radio
• 1,550mAh battery
• Dual-SIM, dual standby
• Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
• Price: Php3,999

The Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0 might be running a 1.2GHz quad-core CPU now but with the same 512MB RAM, it could have a hard time running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.  The original version ran Ice Cream Sandwich but Jelly Bean is different.  Of course, only a full hands-on review will verify if this is indeed the case.

What do you think about the Cherry Mobile Flare 2.0?  Will you be buying one?