Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus Review - The Android Oreo (Go edition) smartphone you need?
Last June, Cherry Mobile launched a trio that features 18:9 TrueView display with Android Oreo (Go edition) operating systems. The Flare P3 Plus is the top-of-the-line of the series.
It is one of the sub-5K smartphones to have the key specifications most of the crowd is looking for. After two weeks of using the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus, here's our full review!
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| Meet the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus! |
It is one of the sub-5K smartphones to have the key specifications most of the crowd is looking for. After two weeks of using the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus, here's our full review!
Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus Specs
Display: 6-inch 2.5D curved IPS TrueView screen w/ 1440 x 720 resolution at 268 ppiCPU: 1.3GHz MT6580 quad-core processor
GPU: Mali-400 MP2
RAM: 1GB
ROM: 8GB expandable via microSD card slot up to 64GB (dedicated)
Main Camera: 13MP f/2.8 w/ AF, BSI, and LED flash
Selfie Camera: 8MP f/2.8
Battery: 3,000mAh
OS: Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition)
Connectivity: WiFi, 3G, HSPA+, Bluetooth, GPS, dual SIM
Sensors: Proximity, ambient light, accelerometer
Others: Fingerprint sensor, dual SIM, USB OTG Colors: purple, red, blue, gold, black
Price: PHP 4,499
Disclaimer: This is unit is from Cherry Mobile for our review.
Unboxing/Accessories
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| Here's what inside! |
The Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus arrived in a blue-white box with the image of the unit on the front. The back of the box has the key specifications of the smartphone.
Inside, it has the unit itself, USB wall charger, USB to micro USB data / charging cable, earphones with mic, pre-installed screen protector, removable battery, and the usual paper documents.
However, Cherry Mobile failed to add a protective case.
Build Quality/Design
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| The polycarbonate build of the Flare P3 Plus |
The Flare P3 Plus is made out of a polycarbonate material. It has a glossy back plate that is prone to fingerprint smudges with a Cherry Mobile branding just below the fingerprint scanner.
Attractive looking budget phone!
On the top, its 6-inch HD+ screen is protected by the pre-installed screen protector. It has no Gorilla or Dragontrail glass.
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| At the bottom |
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| On top, you'll find the 3.5 mm headphone jack and micro USB port for charging |
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| There's nothing on the left of the P3 Plus |
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| Volume rocker and power buttons on the right |
Design-wise, it is an attractive looking budget phone with good curves on the top, sides, and at the back.
There's nothing on the left side of the Flare P3 Plus and on its left are placed the volume rocker and power buttons.
Overall, it has a nice grip and build. But you must be very careful since it can get a few scratches or might as well put on a protective case.
There's nothing on the left side of the Flare P3 Plus and on its left are placed the volume rocker and power buttons.
Overall, it has a nice grip and build. But you must be very careful since it can get a few scratches or might as well put on a protective case.
Display Quality
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| 6-inch HD+ 18:9 TrueView display |
It features a 6-inch HD+ 18:9 TrueView display. It has latest small bezels trend. The Flare P3 Plus' True View display makes a wide screen for our gaming and binge-watching of our favorite series.
Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus has a resolution of 1440 x 720. It has an okay display quality, the colors are nice but we wish that the Cherry Mobile used the latest icons fora better user experience.
The P3 Plus can go enough bright and has still nice viewing even under direct sunlight.
However, the P3 Plus' HD+ screen has only 5 points of touch.
The P3 Plus can go enough bright and has still nice viewing even under direct sunlight.
However, the P3 Plus' HD+ screen has only 5 points of touch.
Audio Quality
This smartphone has two grille speakers at the bottom with nothing in between. It is nice for casual listening but it is not that loud even if you turn it up to the highest volume possible. It has minimal sound distortions but it is not that noticeable.
Headphone audio output is decent and flat sounding. It is good for those who wants a balanced sounding output. It could have been louder though. For the price, I'm not complaining.
Bluetooth audio works as well.
Its microphone quality is okay. And for videos recordings, the P3 Plus create some hissing sound.
Battery Life
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| Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus battery benchmark score! |
Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus is equipped with 3,000mAh removable battery. The performance of its battery recorded a total of 8 hours and 16 minutes via a battery benchmark test.
In our real life usage, social media browsing, texting, calling, Spotify, and some games, it managed to last almost a day. We also noticed that even though we do not use it (standby mode), it is drains its battery faster than the usual standby modes we had with past reviews.
You can fill it up to 100 percent from 0 percent for 2 hours and 20 minutes.
In our real life usage, social media browsing, texting, calling, Spotify, and some games, it managed to last almost a day. We also noticed that even though we do not use it (standby mode), it is drains its battery faster than the usual standby modes we had with past reviews.
You can fill it up to 100 percent from 0 percent for 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Camera
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| 13MP rear camera |
The Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus is equipped with 13MP BSI, AF rear camera with LED flash.
Since this is only an entry-level smartphone, it only has the basic photo and video option, HDR, and panorama.
It can take nice photos under daylight. For indoors, the quality is okay but you can improve it if you will enable the HDR mode.
Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus is one of the smartphones under PHP 5K price point that has better cameras. It’s definitely a steal for this one!
The same with lowlight photos, it shoots okay and can be improved with the help of LED flash and HDR mode.
Rear Camera Samples
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| Dim daylight |
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| Daylight with human subject |
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| Close-up indoor food |
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| Dim HDR |
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| Lowlight |
For its front shooter, the Flare P3 Plus is equipped with 8MP camera. It also has the basic photo and video option, the same with its rear counterpart.
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| 8MP selfie cam |
Selfie Camera Samples
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| Daylight selfie |
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| Indoor selfie |
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| Dim light selfie |
The P3 Plus can shoot 720p at 30 fps quality handheld videos with decent and acceptable stabilization. It has no OIS or EIS.
The Cherry Mobile Flare P3 runs with the ageing 32-bit MediaTek MT6580 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz and Mali-400 MP2 GPU.
However, since Flare P3 Plus is only packed with 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM, you can notice that there’s a bit lagging in a way that switching from one app to another is not seamless. But, its overall speed is decent and acceptable under light to moderate usage.
Performance
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| Not that strong performance |
The Cherry Mobile Flare P3 runs with the ageing 32-bit MediaTek MT6580 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz and Mali-400 MP2 GPU.
However, since Flare P3 Plus is only packed with 1GB RAM and 8GB ROM, you can notice that there’s a bit lagging in a way that switching from one app to another is not seamless. But, its overall speed is decent and acceptable under light to moderate usage.
We tried to download the PUBG Mobile application, however, Google Play Store prompted that it is not compatible with the Flare P3 Plus as shown below. But still, games like Mobile Legend, Clash of Clans and other 3D games are available for download.
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| No PUBG for Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus |
Flare P3 Plus' thermal management is also nice. It does not get alarmingly hot even if we use it continuously.
Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition) is the latest powerful experience for entry-level smartphones. It optimizes the phone because of smaller app sizes, more storage space, and way more control over how your content is stored.
There are fewer pre-installed apps and much lighter apps you get 2x more available storage out of the box.
Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition) is the latest powerful experience for entry-level smartphones. It optimizes the phone because of smaller app sizes, more storage space, and way more control over how your content is stored.
There are fewer pre-installed apps and much lighter apps you get 2x more available storage out of the box.
Its fingerprint sensor is placed under the rear camera and functions well. It unlocks the phone fast and we didn't have any issues with it.
The rest of the telephony experience works great. It has a strong GSM signal for SIMs, WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS. It has LED notification, and USB OTG. It has no LTE connectivity.
Pros - 18:9 HD+ screen, Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition), nice thermal condition, decent cameras
Cons - Processor is weaker than competition, no LTE connectivity
Verdict
The Cherry Mobile Flare 3 Plus can be an option for you if you're opting for Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition) smartphone.
It may be a bit less speedy, but it is still acceptable and decent. You can get the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus for PHP 4,499.
Since the Flare P3 Plus is an Android (Go edition) smartphone, it has lighter apps that creates more storage and an optimized smartphone under PHP 5K.
But I wish that the local smartphone company made it more affordable since the Flare 6 that has LTE and 2GB RAM is only priced at PHP 3,990.
Build/Design - 4
Display - 4
Audio - 3
Battery - 3.75
Camera - 3.5
Performance - 4
Average - 3.7/5
Since the Flare P3 Plus is an Android (Go edition) smartphone, it has lighter apps that creates more storage and an optimized smartphone under PHP 5K.
But I wish that the local smartphone company made it more affordable since the Flare 6 that has LTE and 2GB RAM is only priced at PHP 3,990.
Build/Design - 4
Display - 4
Audio - 3
Battery - 3.75
Camera - 3.5
Performance - 4
Average - 3.7/5
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