It isn’t as if SKK Mobile hasn’t been promoting the V2 already, but holy crap, it has a heart rate monitor? Seriously?

Heart rate sensors aren’t anything new on smartphones. It’s just that I never expected a phone from a budget brand to come with one is all. The SKK Mobile V2 comes with some pretty interesting details too. The power/lock button appears to be situated at the back along with the volume rocker, just like the LG G2. Hmmmmm…

However, it kind of looks different from the first time that SKK Mobile V2. You may recall when they teased it looking like an iPhone. What gives?

Things are really getting interesting over at SKK Mobile. First they teased an iPhone-looking V2. Then they came out with an Oppo N1 lookalike. Now it’s a V2 that looks like the LG G2! I wonder what they’ll come up with next ~.~!

The post SKK Mobile V2 to Arrive This September With Heart Rate Sensor (Holy Crap, Seriously?!) appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Another tablet from Cherry Mobile’s Alpha Series launch that I’m interested in is the Alpha Play. The Cherry Mobile Alpha Play may not come with the origami flip cover keyboard accessory that its bigger brother, the Alpha Morph comes with, but it does have a few advantages of its own, which I discovered in my hands on time with it.

The most obvious advantage of the Cherry Mobile Alpha Play is that it has a more manageable size. At 8 inches, the screen is still large enough that you can be reasonably productive, but it’s also small enough that it can be handled with just one hand.

I’d say I have pretty large hands, but the Alpha Play is light enough that you don’t really have to wrap your fingers all the way around to the other side just to be able to manage it properly. That’s Alexei Rivera of the Technoclast hand modeling the Alpha Play for me and you’ll see that he’s just holding it from one of the bezels.

So why not just get a regular 8 inch Android tablet? Well for one thing, the Alpha Play runs full Windows, but another is that it’s got an array of ports the average student or young professional will definitely find indispensable.

Unfortunately, it does have its downsides too. I can live with the smaller screen size compared to the Alpha Morph. In fact, I prefer it. However, it also comes with just half the RAM and storage versus the Morph. Multitasking and loading applications on just 1GB RAM doesn’t sound like an ideal experience, and neither does living on a paltry amount of storage.

Of course, when I tried it out, it was still pretty smooth and responsive despite the limited RAM. Only time will tell if that would still be the case after running it for a few weeks or so.

Regardless, the Cherry Mobile Alpha Play is still a pretty good deal considering this is a Windows tablet we’re talking about. No stunted Android productivity apps. You can install all of your full-fledged PC software, pair it with a wireless keyboard and mouse and do the exact same things you can do on a desktop or laptop PC! Of course, you won’t be able to install that much because of the limited storage.

Cherry Mobile Alpha Play Specs

• 8″ IPS LCD with HD resolution
• 1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735D processor
• Intel HD Graphics
• Windows 8.1
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage
• MicroSD support up to 64GB
• 5-megapixel BSI main camera
• 2-megapixel front camera
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 3500mAh battery
• Price: Php7,999

The post Cherry Mobile Alpha Play Hands-On! Get a Windows Tablet for Php7,999! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

As great the Windows Phone experience is, you’d be surprised at just how snappy it can run on relatively low specs. The recently launched Cherry Mobile Alpha Luxe demonstrated exactly that. The all new Windows phone from Cherry Mobile features a 5 inch HD IPS display and runs on a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 MSM8212 quad core processor and 1GB RAM. Yet navigating through the UI and executing apps is a breeze.

The phone itself is quite understated. It features a glossy patterned finish that attracts fingerprints like nothing else.

Guess who else is using the same OEM, although this one features a pleather finish.

The Alpha Luxe achieves a slim-looking profile that’s enhanced by the silver strip that runs along the edges. Here on the left side of the device, you’ll find the volume rocker.

On the right is the power/lock button.

On top are the 3.5mm headset jack and the micro USB port.

There aren’t any hardware controls on the bottom, although there’s a small notch for prying off the battery cover over on the corner.

Despite its Php4,999 price tag, performance definitely didn’t feel like it belonged in the sub-Php5k price point. I was able to bring home a review unit so watch out for that a few weeks from now

The post Cherry Mobile Alpha Luxe: Flagship Windows Phone Experience Without the Flagship Price appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Of the four devices Cherry Mobile revealed last week, the Alpha Style is the most affordable. It generated a lot of noise from the crowd in attendance when they announced the price too: Php2,999. Php2,999 is reasonably good for an Android handset that doesn’t have any licensing fees for the OS to worry about. But for a Windows phone? That’s a crazy good price!

So what are you getting for your Php3k? The Cherry Mobile Alpha Style features a 4 inch WVGA IPS screen that’s a little on the small side, but adequate enough for most Pinoys. Underneath the hood is a 1.2GHz Snapdragon 200 MSM8212 quad core processor along with 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage. As for imaging, you’re getting a 5mp shooter in the back and a VGA camera on the front.

You’re basically getting the same specs as the Flare 2.0, except this one runs Windows Phone 8.1! Not bad for Php2,999 and certainly a great entry-level device if you’re looking to try out the world of Windows Phone!

The post Cherry Mobile Alpha Style: The Most Affordable Windows Phone in the World at Php2,999! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

The Alcatel One Touch Hero was officially relaunched in the Philippines today, sporting a massive 6 inch Full HD IPS screen, 1.5GHz quad core processor, and 2GB RAM and 16GB of internal storage.

While the One Touch Hero certainly looks the part of a 2014 smartphone, the processor isn’t quite up to par. It’s a 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T quad core processor that feels a bit sluggish paired with the One Touch Hero’s comparatively gorgeous 6 inch Full HD IPS display. The 2GB RAM certainly helps, and so does the 16GB ROM, but overall, the performance feels lacking.

Of course, if this was just a spec war, the One Touch Hero would be decent but unremarkable. However, the Hero has a few more tricks up its sleeve than decent specs.

The One Touch Hero’s main trick is its stylus-enabled features. Of course, the Hero will let you navigate through the phone using the stylus and there’s the typical handwriting recognition feature that’s typical of any stylus-enabled phone these days. But it also has a math formula recognition feature that should appeal to many students who are still accustomed to writing their equations using a pen and paper.

In addition, the Alcatel One Touch Hero comes bundled with a magnetic smart cover. The flip cover adds very little bulk since it actually only protects the screen. It attaches magnetically via a strong magnet at the back. There’s also a magnet on the cover itself that keeps it closed and is used to wake up or lock the screen as well.

Of course, that’s par the course for any smart cover, but the One Touch Hero’s smart cover one-ups the competition by displaying notifications on the cover itself! You’ll even see an equalizer visualization when you’re playing music!

Despite its sheer size, the One Touch Hero is surprisingly lightweight and has a very small footprint in the hand. So it really doesn’t feel all that different from using a 5.5 inch phone from one of the budget brands. It’s available for an SRP of Php15,999. It’s pretty affordable considering this is an international brand we’re talking about. However, I expect the Alcatel One Touch Hero to face some stiff competition from the typically cheaper locally-branded smartphones.

Alcatel One Touch Hero Specs

• 6″ Full HD IPS display (1080 x 1920 resolution, 367ppi)
• 1.5GHz MediaTek MT6589T quad core processor
• PowerVR SGX544 GPU
• Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB ROM
• 13mp rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash
• 2mp fixed focus front camera
• 3.75G/HSPA+
• WiFi b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.0
• GPS with A-GPS
• 3,400mAh battery
• Dimensions: 158.5 x 80.6 x 8.5mm
• Price: Php15,999

The post Alcatel One Touch Hero Hands-On: A Stylus-Enabled Massive Mother of a Phone appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

There was a time when dual core phones were all the rage. These days though, not so much. At least, not if you’re looking for a top of the line smartphone. However, if all you need is a decent backup phone or something you can give your kid as their first smartphone, today’s inexpensive dual core phones like the SKK Mobile Orion that might tickle your fancy.

So just how inexpensive is the Orion? It will only leave a Php2,699-sized dent in your wallet. Pretty good price for a smartphone, but just what are you getting? Find out in my full review of the SKK Mobile Orion.

What’s in the Box?

The SKK Mobile Orion comes with a standard set of accessories:

• handset
• headset with in-line mic
• micro USB transfer cable
• 1,650mAh battery
• 650mA wall charger
• warranty card
• user guide

These are the kind of accessories you would expect from any standard smartphone retail package. The headset is the earbud type and it’s pretty weak. The charger also has a disappointingly low output, but then again, it only has to charge a 1,650mAh battery.

Build Quality and Design

While the SKK Mobile Orion is your typical entry-level smartphone, it does have a few unique design features. But first, let check out all the angles.

Aside from the usual earpiece, front camera, and capacitive navigation keys, the Orion appears to have front-facing loudspeakers, a la HTC Boomsound. More on that later in the Entertainment section.

Also, if you look a little closer, the microphone pinhole for making calls is situated right below the capacitive Menu button.

On the left is the micro USB port.

On the right are the power/lock button and volume rocker.

Up top is the 3.5mm headset jack.

At the bottom is a small notch on the corner to aid in removing the battery cover.

The back features unusual use of texture and design to create a quilted look that’s even weirder than Samsung’s pleather. Of course, it’s still plastic.

Near the top, you’ll find the camera and LED flash, while toward the middle is the SKK Mobile branding.

Toward the bottom is the loudspeaker. Notice the quilted look and texture of the plastic back cover.

Here’s a look at the Orion with the back cover removed. You get access to the two SIM slots and the micro SD card slot. Toward the bottom is the loudspeaker in all its naked glory.

The Screen

For a sub-Php3k phone, it’s a little surprising to see the Orion sporting a 4 inch IPS display, yet here it is. SKK Mobile’s wallpaper isn’t the best way to get a good feel for just how good the display is, but you can change that anyway.

Here, you can see the typically good color representation and viewing angles of the IPS panel.

The gap between the actual display and the outer surface of the glass is a little deep though. This sort of thing is an eyesore on midrange to high end smartphones.

The Chipset

The SKK Mobile Orion is driven by a 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6572 dual core processor coupled with a Mali 400 GPU. The processor is about as basic as it gets, although the GPU is fairly decent. I ran the Orion through the Antutu Benchmark app, as well as the Vellamo Multicore and Metal (Single Core) tests. Here are the results.

Software and UI

The Orion runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Considering that many of today’s Android smartphones are launching with KitKat 4.4 out of the box, it’s disappointing that the Orion comes with a version of Android that’s 2 generations back. Let’s not forget that Android L has already been announced and is due to be released to the public anytime soon. Still, it’s a fairly stock UI. There won’t be any surprises to Android users.

Telephony and Wireless Connectivity

Like most locally-branded smartphones, the SKK Mobile Orion is a dual SIM phone that lets you use two SIM cards at a time, allowing you to receive texts and messages from two different lines to the same phone. As a communications device, the Orion is pretty capable. However, it’s hampered because of its size when it comes to reading and composing text messages. It’s really hard to text in portrait mode, and typing in landscape mode is less than desirable.

Calling on the Orion is pretty comfortable though. You’re not holding a slab against the side of your head the way it is with most phablets with 5 inch screens and up. Audio was reasonably loud coming from the earpiece, and if that’s not loud enough for you, you can always switch to the loudspeaker. Those front-facing loudspeakers I showed you weren’t actually loudspeakers, just speaker holes cut into the front as a design feature. But they certainly did help with distributing the sound better to the front.

The only problem with smaller phones in general is that the microphone is situated further from your mouth. That means your voice won’t be picked up as clearly during calls. It’s a small issue, but there’ll be a few people who’ll notice.

Imaging

Entertainment

The diminutive size of the Orion’s screen limits the multimedia experience somewhat. Who wants to watch 2 hour movies on a smallish screen after all? Of course, it helps that the Orion features an IPS panel, so images and video may be small, but the quality is good.

As for audio, you’ll probably want to stick to using a headset, preferably an aftermarket one since the stock headset that comes with the Orion is pretty bad. Those front-facing loudspeakers? They’re not actually speakers — just a design feature. While they help bring the sound from the rear loudspeaker to the front somewhat, it still sounds like the sound is coming from a tin can.

Gaming

The MT6572 SoC may not be all that powerful, but the Mali 400 GPU it comes with is at least halfway decent. I tested it on a couple of 3D games and was satisfied for the most part.

The first game I tested the Orion on was the new Spider-man Unlimited game from Gameloft. The developers are the same folks who brought you the Modern Combat and Asphalt series. The graphics were cartoony and well-rendered. The low resolution did result in some jagged looking scenes, but the game was smooth and responsive for the most part.

The other game I tested was Dead Trigger 2. Although I like to dial up the graphics all the way to “High”, I didn’t bother on the Orion. On a small screen, “Low” graphics settings were enough, and you can appreciate the lighting and particle effects just fine. Besides, gameplay was mostly smooth, but you could feel that it would start becoming unplayable if the graphics were dialed up.

Battery Life

The SKK Mobile Orion packs a 1,650mAh battery. The standard for 4 inch phones is usually around 1,500mAh, so I’m fairly happy. Besides, the chipset is much more power-efficient than my original Flare used to be and should last a work day on light usage. You’ll want to turn off “vibrate” on notifications, not to mention haptic feedback since that can quickly drain the battery on smaller capacity phones like the Orion.

So Should You Buy the SKK Mobile Orion?

The SKK Mobile Orion may be diminutive in size, but it’s handy, serviceable, and can run most apps that you would want to run. It’s not the best gaming phone, but it can handle its own. Believe it or not, the benchmark results are pretty close to what the Samsung Galaxy S2 achieved back when it was the best Android flagship available in the market.

At Php2,699, you’re getting a decent backup phone or something you can give to your children who has yet to own a smartphone. The low price point makes it almost disposable, which is a good thing on commutes or any other situation where you might find yourself in a less-than-desirable neighborhood. In case something happens, I’d rather lose an SKK Mobile Orion than a Php20-30k+ flagship phone.

SKK Mobile Orion Specs

• 4″ WVGA IPS display (480 x 800 resolution, 233ppi)
• 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6572 dual core processor
• Mali 400 GPU
• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
• 512MB RAM (481MB accessible)
• 4GB internal storage (1.48GB user accessible)
• 3.75G/HSPA+
• WiFi b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.0
• GPS with A-GPS
• 1,650mAh battery
• Price: Php2,699

The post SKK Mobile Orion Review: The Little Bugger That Could appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Earlier in the month, Cherry Mobile launched their Alpha Series, powered by Windows. Yesterday, they launched the first official Cherry Mobile Alpha Series TV commercial on Umagang Kay Ganda and Unang Hirit. Were you guys able to catch it? If not, take a look.

As a TV commercial, it’s tastefully done — exaggerating the capabilities of the Windows and Windows Phone platform (as all TV commercials do for whatever they’re pushing). That line at the end was a little cheesy, but it should be familiar to Kim Chiu fans.

Of course, the TV commercial is just second fiddle to the Cherry Mobile Alpha Series itself. This is the first time we’re seeing Windows and Windows Phone become this affordable. The Alpha Morph, Alpha Play, Alpha Luxe and Alpha Style all retail at extremely attractive price points while rocking some fairly respectable specs.

The post Cherry Mobile Alpha Series TV Commercial Airs on Umagang Kay Ganda and Unang Hirit! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Smart vs the Competition

When your telco rolls out more than a thousand LTE sites, your download speeds are going to see a boost. That’s exactly what I experienced at Smart’s press briefing about the status of their 4G infrastructure.

While LTE has been around for a while now, deployment in the Philippines has been relatively slow, at least, compared to our Asian Pacific neighbors. That’s why it’s good news for Smart subscribers that the  telco will be deploying 1,400 new LTE sites comprised of both FD-LTE and TD-LTE installations.

A majority of the 400 mobile LTE sites will be deployed in the Metro Manila area while 1,000 TD-LTE sites will be rolled out to support fixed usbscribers to Smart’s fixed wireless services.

Not too recently at the 10th Asian Carriers Conference, Smart activated its LTE-A network in Mactan Island, Cebu. During this event, people were able to record consistent speeds of 100Mbps with the new technology. Prior to that, an LTE-A site also went live in Mandaluyong back in August.

Anyway, I was lucky enough to win a Smart LTE Pocket WiFi at the event. Having been a Globe Prepaid subscriber for the longest time, I’m about fed up with my own pocket WiFi’s inability to achieve 10Mbps+ speeds on my Globe Prepaid LTE SIM. So I’m taking this opportunity to cross over into the dark side and do something I promised myself I would never do: maintain more than one SIM.

The post Smart LTE Gets Beefed Up With 1,400 New LTE Sites appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

As successful as Xiaomi’s Mi In-Ear Headset has been internationally, OnePlus, another phone manufacturer isn’t about to let it hog the spotlight. The company has just recently announced their own sub-Php1k headset, the OnePlus Silver Bullet, a premium-looker that has plans of going head to head with the Xiaomi In-Ear Headset.

Both aim for delivering great sound and looking good while doing it, but the OnePlus Silver Bullet has its own distinct look. While the Mi In-Ear Headset, aka Pistons have a classy yet masculine look to them, the Silver Bullet is sleek and futuristic.

Unfortunately, the OnePlus Silver Bullet will only become available through 16 launch countries, which doesn’t include us. This is unlike Xiaomi’s Pistons, which have already reached a worldwide audience and can easily be bought through Lazada at this point. Hopefully, it will arrive here as well. The Xiaomi In-Ear Headset is good, but you can never be spoiled for too much choice. The Silver Bullet is priced at $15, but there’s no news when it will reach here.

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The post OnePlus Silver Bullet Headset is Priced to do Battle with the Mi In-Ear Headset appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Are you a prepaid Smart subscriber? Yes? Text FREE to 9999 and get 30MB of data! Why? I have no idea but it’s for real and it’s happening right now! Oh, and you can do it everyday until November 30, 2014! That’s a whole 2 months of Smart free internet!

Basically, you’re going to have to register everyday, and of course, there are limits to what you can do with it. Thankfully, it’s not so bad. You can’t stream/download/watch movies through sites like YouTube, and you can’t use any VoIP or messaging apps like Vibr and WeChat.

However, everything else is fair game. You can browse your favorite websites, check out updates from your social media accounts, check and compose emails, and my wife’s favorite, shop online! Seriously, if you don’t have a Smart prepaid SIM yet, get one now just for this promo!

The post Smart Free Internet: Text FREE to 9999 and Get 30MB Data! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Fans of local phone brands are no strangers to Micromax. After all, the Indian phone brand sources many of its phones from the same OEMs as our local brands. So their latest smartphone should certainly be of interest to some of you out there knowing that there’s a good chance we might see a locally-branded version here. Why? Because the Micromax Canvas 4 Plus, as it’s called, just so happens to sport an AMOLED display!

The actual display has a resolution of 720 x 1280, so it’s far from being a game changer. However, AMOLED is known for its exaggerated colors and a lot of times, a punchy screen is more likely to impress than an IPS screen with more natural color reproduction. Of course, that’s just my opinion and IPS has a lot of fans as well.

The rest of the specs are pretty decent. It’s driven by a 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor and comes with 1GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. You also get the typical 13mp rear shooter and a 5mp front shooter for your imaging needs. Finally, the Micromax Canvas 4 Plus is powered by a 2,000mAh battery, which should at least deliver average battery life.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that this might end up being imported by one of our local brands. Still, that AMOLED display is a pretty interesting feature that might attract some buyers if they do decide to bring it over.

Micromax Canvas 4 Plus Specs

• 5″ HD AMOLED display (720 x 1280 resolution, 294ppi)
• 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage
• 13 mega-pixel rear camera
• 5 mega-pixel front camera
• 2000mAh battery

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The post Micromax Canvas 4 Plus Launches with AMOLED Display and Octa Core CPU! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

I recently got my hands on the Gionee Elife E7 Mini, a mid- to high-end smartphone with an interesting feature that will put other smartphones to shame! After all, how many will bend over backwards for you to take the perfect shot?

Of course, the Elife E7 Mini isn’t the first to feature a rotatable camera. However, so far, this has been the smallest phone I’ve seen yet to have such a feature. The first was a 6 inch monster while the other wasn’t exactly mini at 5 inches.

With its 4.7 inch screen, the Elife E7 Mini is the most pocketable of today’s current gen smartphones with rotatable cameras. And it certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s got an octa-core CPU under the hood either. I’m definitely looking forward to playing around with the E7 Mini and its camera for at least the next month, so look out for the full review soon!

The post Gionee Elife E7 Mini: A Camera Phone That Bends Over Backwards for You!! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

It’s that time of year when a number of consumer electronics companies go on sale in anticipation of the Christmas season. Gionee Philippines isn’t any different, slashing the price off many of their most popular handsets while bundling some freebies to go along with them too! Want to know what you can get from the Gionee Early Christmas Sale? Check out what they have to offer below!

The Gionee Elife S5.5 is easily the best deal as you’re getting Php2k slashed off the original price, not to mention a feature phone in the Gionee S96 as well. In case you missed it, that’s the world’s slimmes phone being paired with the world’s slimmest Java phone!

Gionee Elife S5.5

Next up is the Gionee Elife E7 Mini, which features a rotatable camera. Gionee’s giving you a set of Edifier X100 speakers, which is a 2.1 speaker setup that would go great with your PC. While the E7 Mini’s specs are actually inferior to the Elife S5.5, the former managed to score a whopping 33,000+ in Antutu!

Gionee Elife E7 Mini

The other two phones are for the budget-minded. You can get a Php1k discount on the 5.5 inch Gionee Gpad G3 whereas getting the 4 inch Pioneer P2S will net you a Php700 discount.

The sale runs up until October 25 so make sure not to miss out on these deals and get your pre-Christmas shopping done!

The post Gionee Philippines Celebrates Christmas Early With a Sale! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Editor’s Note: Hi guys, I’d like to welcome Jonathan Putan, MobileTechPinoy’s newest contributor. This blog has been sorely lacking in App reviews and How-to articles, and Jonathan will hopefully fill that void

Looking for a great horror game that will keep you from dozing off? Zombie Roadkill 3D is a satisfying shooter! If your type of game is blasting away creepy zombies with powerful weapons such us grenades and machine guns, and running them over with a monster-sized truck, this game is definitely for you.

You can play the game on either Story Mode or Endless Mode. Story mode has 7 levels with 10 missions each. You start off with the basic level of equipment and vehicle which you can later upgrade using cash (in-game credits) collected from finishing each mission. Who wouldn’t want to upgrade their machines when faced with spine-chilling zombies?

What makes this game exciting as compared to other boring shooting games is that the missions will alternate between shooting zombies and driving your vehicle to crush them. I personally prefer driving because I like the feeling of seeing them die helplessly against my heavy wheels!

Blast them off with your grenade launcher!

It’s payback time! Crush those creepy zombies!

On some missions you will need to face off with a giant zombie, which you should prepare for by upgrading your arsenal!

Once you finish level 1 on Story mode, you will then be able to play Endless mode! Equipped with your upgraded guns, you will now face more zombies from a 360-degree viewpoint!

Don’t worry if you can’t collect game credits as much as this game comes with a roulette wheel bonus mini game. Just spin the wheel and you can claim in-game credits or cool gear to use against those pesky undead beings.

Though the graphics are not on par with the expensive consoles available nowadays, this game will still certainly warp you out of reality and immerse you into a great android gaming experience. Oh, did I already mention that this game is for free?

The post Zombie Roadkill 3D: Either Shoot the Undead or Run Them Over! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Gionee has been carving out a name for itself for crafting premium smartphones with innovative features. The Elife S5.5 managed to sandwich relatively high end specs between a layer of Gorilla Glass 3 on both sides while achieving a thickness of only 5.5mm. On the other hand, the Gionee Elife E7 Mini might not nearly be as thin, but it features a rotatable camera to go along with a chipset that’s capable of breaking the 30,000 mark in Antutu!

I managed to get my hands on a review unit the other day, and while the full review won’t be out for another few weeks, I’d like to share some of my first impressions of the device.

First, is that the body is slightly longer than you would expect because of the rotatable camera. Sure, you eliminate the need of a front camera, but the rotating assembly itself occupies a sizable chunk of the body.

Second, the screen is gorgeous. It’s not Super AMOLED, but the color calibration tries to mimic it. Either that, or Amigo OS just looks damn good on this screen. For the record, it’s actually an IGZO screen by Sharp.

Third is its score in Antutu. Antutu 5 has been much more forgiving and phones have typically scored higher in Antutu 5 than they did in the previous version of this popular benchmarking app. Still, to achieve more than 30,000 in Antutu in a quick test is impressive.

Well, that’s all for now. It’s best to make a complete judgement after I’ve spent more time with the phone. Still, the Gionee Elife E7 Mini is shaping up to be a pretty interesting phone, especially for all the selfietographers out there

The post Gionee Elife E7 Mini First Impressions appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Some of you may recall the original Cherry Mobile Cruize, a single core phablet that was meant to be an even more affordable option than the Cherry Mobile Titan already was. Well, now it finally has a successor in the form of the Cherry Mobile Cruize 2, and it’s still as basic as ever.

The Cherry Mobile Cruize 2 features a ho-hum 5 inch FWVGA display and runs on a 1.2GHz quad core processor. That processor isn’t from a familiar name though. No, it’s not from MediaTek, Qualcomm or even Broadcom. Actually, it’s from Spreadtrum, a much less heralded Chinese chip-maker. Don’t fret though. Some of the recognizable names that use their chipsets include Samsung and Lenovo.

The rest of the specs are rather unimpressive. You’re getting just 512MB RAM (oh noes!), 4GB internal storage, an 8mp rear camera and a VGA front camera. There’s also HSPA+ support, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. At least it manages to run Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box!

The specs may be far from groundbreaking, however the price will certainly be attractive to anyone looking for an extremely affordable phablet for less than Php4k. Actually, the Cherry Mobile Cruize 2 manages to retail for just Php3,499!

Interested? You’ll want to head on over to Cherry Angel then, who is the source of this pic. Their store is located in 168 Mall, Divisoria.

The post Cherry Mobile Cruize 2 Makes an Appearance appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Some of you may be familiar with the Chinese brand iFive, known for their budget-minded tablets that rock reasonably good specs at affordable prices. Well, they recently announced and released the iFive Mini 4, and it needs no words to describe it. I mean, just take a look at it!

See? No words! Okay, just kidding. The iFive Mini 4 is obviously “inspired” by the iPad Mini, especially with its 7.9 inch Retina IPS display and the thin bezels on either side of the device. The Rockchip SoC may not inspire, but it should still be capable of delivering enough processing power to drive the Retina screen.

The iFive Mini 4 has just been newly released so you can only get it through international sellers. Hopefully Novo7 Tech or any one of our local importers gets their hands on this tablet and make it available to the Philippine market. As for the price, $190 should translate to about Php8.3k after straight conversion and possibly Php10.8k after import dues.

iFive Mini 4 Specs

• 7.9″ Retina IPS display (1,536 x 2,048 resolution, 324ppi)
• 1.8GHz Rockchip RK3288 Cortex-A17 quad core processor
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB internal storage, expandable via micro SD
• 8mp rear-facing camera
• 2mp front camera
• WiFi b/g/n
• 5,000mAh battery
• Price: $190

The post iFive Mini 4 Needs No Words appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

While Oppo wasn’t the first to bring rotating cameras to mass market cellphones, they were the first to bring it to the modern mass market Android smartphone in the form of the Oppo N1. Now, it seems that they’re bringing an even more innovative camera to their upcoming Oppo N3: a fold away camera!

Okay, so it doesn’t look exactly like it folds away. In my opinion, it probably pops out and swivels. It’s a pretty neat feature although it does look a little fragile. Imagine dropping the Oppo N3 and it lands camera-first. Ouch.

The post Forget Rotating Camera, The Oppo N3 Has a Fold Away Camera! appeared first on MobileTechPinoy.

Gaming phablets should come at a premium, but the SKK Mobile Platinum Advance is equipped with gaming-friendly specs at a price that won’t break your budget. It features a large 5.5 inch qHD IPS screen, 1.7GHz MT6592 octa-core processor, and 16GB of storage. All for a wallet-friendly Php8,999 price tag.

So why is it great for games when the screen’s resolution is sub-par for its size? Well, the lower the resolution, the lighter the load on the SoC, particularly on the GPU. That means the SKK Mobile Platinum Advance can really push frame rates for a smoother overall gaming experience. Of course, games would look better on at least an HD screen, but if it’s smoother frame rates you’re looking for, the qHD display is an acceptable compromise.

In addition, you’re getting a 13mp autofocus camera, 5mp front camera, a 2,800mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box. That 2,800mAh battery is a little worrisome considering the size of the screen and the fact that the rest of the specs are great for gaming. However, the low resolution should hopefully help keep the load low on the battery.

SKK Mobile Platinum Advance Specs

• 5.5″ qHD IPS display (540 x 960 resolution, 200ppi)
• 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6592 octa-core processor
• Mali 450 MP4 GPU
• Android 4.4 KitKat
• 1GB RAM
• 16GB ROM, expandable via micro SD up to 64GB
• 13mp rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash
• 5mp front camera
• 3.75G/HSPA+
• WiFi b/g/n
• Bluetooth 4.0
• GPS with A-GPS
• 2,800mAh battery
• Price: Php8,999

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Everyone loves a bang for buck phone and with its Php2,999 price tag, I think it’s safe to say that the SKK Mobile Prime is a bang for buck phone. It’s no heavy-hitter, but it sports a serviceable 5 inch FWVGA IPS display, 1.2GHz dual core processor, 512MB RAM and 4GB of internal storage.

The rest of the specs are pretty ho-hum: 5mp rear camera to go with a 2mp front camera, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, and of course, basic wireless connectivity options like WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS.

Unfortunately, the recently released promo graphic above doesn’t state if it has 3G connectivity or what the battery capacity will be. Still, it’s a fairly decent smartphone for the money at Php2,999. Hopefully, it does have 3G as that’s a deal-breaker for most folks.

SKK Mobile Prime Specs

• 5″ FWVGA IPS display (480 x 854 resolution, 196ppi)
• 1.2GHz dual core processor
• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
• 512MB RAM
• 4GB ROM
• 5mp rear-facing camera with LED flash
• 2mp front camera
• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• GPS
• Price: Php2,999

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