Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 Review
The Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 really caught us by surprise once we started using it for the purpose of this review. Truth be told we had low expectations for it since it just packed 512MB RAM but it turns out that this is even more of a reliable daily driver than the Cherry Mobile Flare variants because this one can actually last you almost the whole day without a recharge.
Here’s a quick recap of the specifications. If you haven’t read our unboxing yet, click here.
Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 Spec Sheet
- 1.2GHz Quad-core Processor
- 512MB RAM
- 4GB Internal Storage, expandable via microSD Card
- 4.5-inch FWVGA Capacitive Touch Screen
- 5.0-megapixels primary camera
- VGA secondary camera
- WiFi, WiFi Hotspot, 3G, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS/aGPS
- Dual SIM, Dual Standby
- Android Jelly Bean 4.2
- 2,000mAh
- SRP: Php4,699
Hardware: Curvy, Good Grip
One of the most noticeable “stand-out” features of the Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 is how it looks. It definitely isn’t your run-of-the-mill candy bar rectangular solid block of glossy plastic. The Burst 2.0 is shaped like a pillow. The back has a bump and it tapers off at the sides. While the back actually comfortably rests on a users palm because of the shape BUT at the same time the sides are kinda sharp. So it’s nice for your palm but can be irritating for the sides of your hand, hehe.
In terms of build the Burst 2.0 is made of two major components. First is the main chassis which is composed of polycarbonate plastic with a smooth matte finish. This flows into the second component with is made from glossy piano black plastic (top and bottom). The duality gives it a much more premium look but at the same time makes it also look a little bigger.
For the display we have a FWVGA 4.5-inch screen. The additional 0.5-inches is worth noting since most devices in this price range just carry 4.0-inch screens. Resolution is decent (not fantastic, just okay). You’ll notice pixelation mostly when you zoom in or if you squint to find em. Otherwise it’s fine.
Over-all the Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 presents a unique take on design for devices in this price category. It can definitely be polarizing so those who will like it will love it while those who won’t find it appealing will probably hate it.
Respectable Performance Given Price Point
In terms of software and performance, the Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 delivers a surprisingly good Android experience. The quad-core processor gets the job done but you will notice some stutters and lags when you start doing multi-tasking or if you have a lot of stuff happening in the background. There are just limits to having just 512MB RAM.
On the Antutu Benchmark Test, the Cherry Mobile Burst 2.0 scored a respectable 13,000+, something to be expected of quad-core machines carrying MediaTek’s chipset. As with most devices with this score you can expect the Burst 2.0 to give a good gaming experience but note that it does bog down (like what we said above) if you have stuff running in the background. If you will play a graphics and RAM intensive title make sure you close other apps so you can free up RAM. Otherwise it will crash (happened to us a few times).
As for other phone functions like social networking (Twitter, FB, Instagram, etc), messaging, e-mailing, and browsing, the Burst 2.0 can handle those with no problem.
Camera: Boo
One feature that the Burst 2.0 fails miserably in though is with its camera. Color reproduction is just off even in decent lighting conditions. Sample shots below.
Battery Life: It Should Last You the Whole Day
Perhaps the thing we appreciate the most about the Burst 2.0 is the battery life. The 2,000mAh battery is more than enough to get you through the day with the Burst 2.0. 2,000mAh might be small for quad-core phones with 5.5-inches and above displays (with Full HD resolution) but the Burst 2.0 has a 4.5-inch screen and the resolution is just FWVGA, hehe. With heavy use we still managed to get over 9 hours out of it before needing a recharge. Not bad!
Verdict: Good Daily Driver
Unlike the Cherry Mobile Flare series, the Burst 2.0 can be a reliable daily driver thanks to the battery life. The quad-core processor is enough to do complicated (but dedicated) tasks well and the hardware design is definitely unique. We feel that for Php4,699 this phone is great value and can be of great service to Pinoys looking for a budget-friendly Android daily driver smartphone.