Cherry Mobile Selfie hands-on, first impressions

We had the chance to play around with the Cherry Mobile Selfie which, as the name suggests, is a selfie-centered smartphone that has a fresh and sexy new look. Let’s have a quick look at it and see how well it takes selfies compared to a different phone in this hands-on.

The Selfie carries an unconventional look and takes a break from the usual all-plastic build commonly utilized by the local company. What’s initially noticeable is its metal strip that goes around the device – almost. The metal frame takes a break at the bottom where the plastic material from the back cover extends as the base. Over here is the microUSB port and at the top, you have the 13-megapixel camera accompanied by an LED flash for selfies.

At the right side we have a dedicated camera shutter button situated in the middle. This is how we know that Cherry Mobile is concentrating on imaging for this model. Just above it is the SIM slot and the volume rocker is located on the flip side which is strategically-placed for easy access. In addition, The power/lock button is up top together with the audio jack.

The back is where the same 13-megapixel camera is located flanked by two LED flashes. The rear camera is adorned with a plate of textured chrome that positively accentuates the device. At the bottom is the speaker grille which is also emblazoned with a chrome trim.

Booting up the device shows the Selfie branding and introduces you to the startup guide. UI is generally fluid as we navigate and jump across apps thanks to Android KitKat running OS department. We ran a couple of benchmarks as well and below are their scores:

AnTuTu: 31,733
Quadrant Benchamark: 13,743

We were also able to squeeze in some time to test how well it takes selfies. After all, it should be its selling point. One thing we first noticed is its front camera’s capability to compensate brightness even in low-lit places.

(Using front-facing camera) Left – Cherry Mobile Selfie | Right – iPhone 5

With the little time we spent with the Cherry Mobile Selfie, we could say that it is a smartphone with a good and attractive form factor, a fluid UI, and a selfie camera that takes good photos even in low-light areas. Finally, it is also not that expensive at Php9,999USD 170INR 14,445EUR 162CNY 1,241. Stay tuned as we prepare for a review in the coming days.

Cherry Mobile Selfie specs:
4.7-inch IPS HD display @ 1280 x 720 resolution
1.7GHz MediaTek octa-core processor
Mali 450 MP4 GPU
2GB RAM
16GB internal storage
13MP rear camera with Sony lens and dual LED flash
13MP front camera
Bluetooth 4.0
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
USB OTG
2300mAh Li-Ion battery
Android 4.4KitKat
Price: Php9,999USD 170INR 14,445EUR 162CNY 1,241