Cherry Mobile recently introduced its new Flare X3 mid-range smartphone. It offers a large hi-res screen, Helio P60 chipset, 6GB RAM, a total of five cameras, and a 4,000mAh battery. Priced just below PHP 10K, it aims to compete with the likes of the Realme 3 which offers similar specs at the same price point. Which one looks better on paper? Find out in our specs comparison below.
Author’s note: We’re using the 4GB + 64GB model of the Realme 3 priced at PHP 9,990.
| Cherry Mobile Flare X3 | Realme 3 (4GB + 64GB) |
|---|---|
| 6.18-inch FHD+ (2246 x 1080) TrueView 19:9 display, 403ppi | 6.22-inch HD+ (1520 x 720) Dewdrop display, 270ppi |
| Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | |
| MediaTek Helio P60 2.0GHz octa-core CPU | MediaTek Helio P60 2.0GHz octa-core CPU |
| Mali-G72 MP3 GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 GPU |
| 6GB RAM | 4GB RAM |
| 64GB storage | 64GB storage |
| microSD up to 256GB (SIM 2 slot) | microSD up to 256GB (dedicated slot) |
| 12MP + 5MP + 2MP triple rear cameras | 13MP + 2MP dual rear cameras |
| 20MP + 2MP dual front cameras | 13MP front camera |
| Dual-SIM | Dual-SIM |
| 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| WiFi 802.11 b/g/n | WiFi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Bluetooth 4.2 | Bluetooth 4.2 |
| GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| USB Type-C | microUSB |
| 3.5mm audio jack | 3.5mm audio jack |
| Fingerprint scanner (side-mounted) | Fingerprint scanner (rear-mounted) |
| Face Unlock | Face Unlock |
| FM Radio | FM Radio |
| Android 9 Pie | ColorOS 6 (Android 9 Pie) |
| 4,000mAh battery w/ fast charging | 4,230mAh battery w/ fast charging |
Summary of Advantages
Cherry Mobile Flare X3:
• Higher screen resolution
• Larger RAM
• Three rear cameras
• Two front cameras
• USB Type-C
Realme 3:
• Slightly larger screen w/ smaller notch
• Gorilla Glass 3 protection
• Dedicated microSD card slot
• Higher rear main camera resolution
• Larger battery capacity
The two devices have their own merits. The Flare X3 with Full HD+ resolution would appeal to those who need those extra pixels, which is great for viewing photos, watching videos, or gaming. The Realme 3, on the other hand, only has an HD+ resolution but has a slightly larger screen with a smaller notch which looks nicer. It also has the advantage when it comes to screen protection thanks to Gorilla Glass 3.
Looking at the cameras, the Flare X3 sports three rear cameras, consisting of the main sensor, depth sensor, and a monochrome sensor for lowlight photography. The Realme 3, on the other hand, only has two rear cameras, consisting of the main sensor and depth sensor. For the front cameras, the Flare X3 has two cameras with a higher resolution main sensor and depth sensor. The Realme 3, on the other hand, has a single camera.
Quality-wise, the Realme 3 proved to be a good shooter for its class. For the Flare X3, we only got to test it for a short period, but it’s also looking good. We’re going to hold off on the final verdict once we have thoroughly reviewed the Flare X3.
When it comes to performance, both are powered by MediaTek’s Helio P60 CPU with Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. The Flare X3, however, has a larger 6GB RAM compared to the Realme 3’s 4GB, this allows the former to handle more background process and smoother multitasking. Looking at AnTuTu benchmarks, the two are in the same league, with the Flare X3 scoring 125,366, while the Realme 3 scoring 128,288.
As for other features, the two have support for microSD cards, but the Realme 3 wins for having a dedicated slot. Both also have fingerprint scanners but placed differently — the Flare X3 is placed on the side while the Realme 3 has it on the back. Both also have 3.5mm audio jack. However, the Flare X3 has the more convenient USB Type-C while the Realme 3 uses the micro USB.
As for the battery, both have large capacities, but the Realme 3 wins for having 230mAh more. In our review, the Realme 3 was able to provide a solid battery life, so we expect the Flare X3 to at least get close to its numbers.
Lastly, the price. The Flare X3 is priced at PHP 9,999 while the Realme 3 is at PHP 9,990. That’s a measly PHP 9 difference. So the question now is, which one to get? If you want a higher resolution screen, more cameras, large RAM, and USB Type-C, then the Flare X3 is for you. But if you want a smaller notch, Gorilla Glass protection, dedicated microSD card slot, and larger battery capacity, then go for the Realme 3.
In the meantime, you can read our review of the Realme 3 here, and our in-depth hands-on of the Flare X3 here.
