Cherry Mobile Flare XL Plus hands-on, first impressions

First revealed in April, the Cherry Mobile Flare XL Plus is poised to be one of the brand’s most affordable offering to pack a 5.5-inch display, octa-core CPU, 2GB RAM, and Android Lollipop – all of that for a sub-Php4K asking price. Find out our initial thoughts below.

Unboxing photos:

Out of the box, the Cherry Mobile Flare XL Plus looks like your typical Android affordable smartphone – plastic build, white color, rounded edges. But it sports some aesthetic upgrades that we’ll discuss later on.

Up front, we have a 5.5-inch IPS display with HD resolution or equal to 267ppi. Above it are the earpiece, 8-megapixel front camera, and light sensors. Down below are the capacitive navigation keys and the pinhole for the microphone.

On the right, we have the power/lock button and volume keys. Up top are the microUSB port and the headset jack. The left and bottom parts, on the other hand, are devoid of any physical keys.

Looking at the back, you will see the 13-megapixel camera, dual-LED flash, and the loudspeaker at the bottom.

The backplate features a geometrical pattern which becomes obvious when viewed from an angle. It actually reminds us of the backplate design of the ASUS Zenfone 2 Deluxe.

Removing the backplate will reveal the 2,300mAh removable battery, dual-SIM card slots, and dedicated microSD card slot.

On hand, the Flare XL Plus feels good and comfortable to hold thanks to its thin and light body. The chrome lining on the sides not only adds some attractiveness to the device but also makes it easy to grip.

Cherry Mobile Flare XL Plus specs:
5.5-inch HD IPS Screen Display
1.4GHz MediaTek MT6592M octa-core CPU
2GB RAM
16GB Internal Storage
Expandable storage via microSD up to 64GB
13MP rear camera w/ LED flash
8MP front camera
Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby
3G HSPA+
WiFi b/g/n
Bluetooth
GPS
Android 5.1 Lollipop
2,300mAh battery

The Cherry Mobile Flare XL Plus is priced at Php3,999. Stay tuned for our full review.