CloudFone Next Lite Unboxing And First Impressions!

CloudFone's Next Lite is the last value handset from the company for their banner year of 2016. As its name suggest, this device is a slightly toned down variant of the highly acclaimed Next.

Meet Next Lite!

Even if this is a device on diet, it maintained most of the things we love coming from the bigger Next. This phone is still packed with a full HD resolution, same processor, storage, battery life, selfie camera, featuers, and OS.

It is just smaller in size with the use of a 5 inch screen, has no Gorilla Glass protection, lower RAM at 3 GB, and doesn't have its famed quick charge tech.

This handset has a slimmer design, sharper pixels per inch on the display, has Sony's well respected IMX258 sensor, and lower in price for just PHP 7,990.

Those are the exciting traits of this device for the price. Let's have a look!

Disclaimer: We borrowed this unit from CloudFone for this honest review.

CloudFone Next Lite Specs

Display: 5 Inch FHD IPS LCD 1920 x 1080 resolution w/ 2.5D curved glass at 441 ppi

CPU: 1.4 GHz 64 Bit Snapdragon 430 octa core processor

GPU: Adreno 505

RAM: 3 GB

ROM: 32 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 128 GB

Back Camera: 13 MP f/2.2 Sony IMX258 sensor w/ PDAF and dual LED flash

Selfie Camera: 8 MP f/2.4 Samsung S5K4H8 sensor w/ BSI, wide angle lens and LED flash

Battery: 3,000 mAh

OS: Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, HSPA+, LTE, Bluetooth 4.1, OTG, GPS, A GPS, dual SIM (hybrid)

Sensors: Accelerometer, light, proximity, orientation, sound, magnetic, gyroscope

Others: Fingerprint sensor, Others: Colors: black, white / silver, gold
Dimensions: 142 x 69.6 x 8.7 mm
Weight: 152 g

Price: PHP 7,999

Unboxing / Accessories

Next Lite packaging and accessories

As usual, CloudFone came up with another good package with the Next Lite. It comes with a 1.54A USB wall charger, flexible long USB to micro USB cables, earphones with microphone, TPU clear case, and SIM ejector tool.

Build Quality / Design

Main camera, dual LED flash, and CloudFone branding visible behind

Coming from the original Next, the Next Lite is smaller but slimmer! It doesn't have a removable metal back cover case anymore, but instead it's now using a more premium type of metal unibody frame. The handset still maintained the curves and sleek antenna band design as well.

The Next Lite sports a slim, curvy, and beautiful looking metal unibody frame!

However, the screen of this handset isn't Gorilla Glass 3 anymore. Fortunately, this device still feels very tough and won't break in an instant in case of hard drops.

Selfie camera, front flash, and 3.5 mm jack on top

Microphone, micro USB port, and speaker grill below

The main camera, dual LED flash, and SIM slot here

Power button and volume rocker located at the right side

Checking the design, this device doesn't feel like a "Lite" variant coming from the bigger Next. In fact, we even liked its paint finish better together with its slimmer design that made it sexier overall. Then there's still the nice to view 2.5D curved screen w/ slim black border bezels. The main camera behind doesn't have that unwanted over-protruded main camera.

This handset is a stunner in terms of design!

Holding this handset is a joy as well. The curves are smooth, but can still provide that great grip and fit in most hands, and it is far from heavy at just 152 grams. It's also small enough for one handed operation, buttons are on standard locations, and all ports are easy to locate.

Initial findings

1. The 5 inch screen has great sunlight legibility, sharp pixel density at 441 ppi, and has 5 points of touch.
2. The metal frame unibody design is slimmer and better now. However, it doesn't have a dedicated micro SD card slot anymore. You may put your micro SD card on the other SIM card slot though.
3. This device retained the 8 MP wide angle selfie camera we love and added the promising 13 MP Sony IMX258 main camera sensor.
4. It doesn't have the speedy Quick Charge 3.0 charging support anymore.
5. OTG support, gyroscope sensor, and LED notification are available.

Camera teaser

Daylight

Close-up 

Selfie test

As of the moment

The CloudFone Next Lite managed to impress us even on first look. It doesn't feel like a "Lite" device due to its premium and slimmer frame, good specs on paper, and promising cameras. So far, this handset has the potential to be a best seller.

For our review: Cloudfone Next Lite Review - Do Not Take This Phone Lightly!