Cherry Mobile V2 Hands-On

Cherry Mobile also released a new series of premium-looking basic phones this past holiday season, and such is the V2 that touts a great aesthetic while offering to be your daily buddy when you don’t feel like bringing out your smartphone.

For starters, the V2 is not your usual Cherry Mobile basic phone as it sports a metallic unibody with soft-touch keys to boot. At the front is the panel for alphanumeric and directional soft-touch keys as well as a 1.5-inch colored display. There’s a single physical button that acts as a power/wake button, and the call speaker grille that sits atop the display that could also be the phone’s media loudspeaker.

Nothing is seen on the sides as the edges narrow out from the back, and the only ports available in this device are the microphone, the dual SIM card tray, and the microUSB port which can be seen at the bottom. The SIM tray is, surprisingly, of a hybrid type and can accommodate two microSIM cards or a combination of SIM and microSD cards.

While the back seems to be non-removable due to its slim nature, the V2 possesses a metallic finish at the back that is not visibly prone to smudges and grime, though you may need to wipe it from time to time due to its semi-glossy nature. Two black lines at the back are also placed for a better mobile signal reception. The device, overall, is lightweight and easy to hold with one hand. Navigation on the phone isn’t far-fetched from the idea of using a smartphone, though, you may need to get accustomed to a smaller phone than you usually use.

What piqued our interest is it’s one of Cherry Mobile’s few devices that can act as a Bluetooth smartphone dialer — you get to pair this up with a smartphone via Bluetooth to check on your messages or dial a contact without lifting your other device. This is great for use in unfamiliar environments and in public spaces. Connecting it has been easy as pairing up a new wireless audio gear. Once paired, the device can access your smartphone’s phonebook and message list.

Cherry Mobile V2 specs:
1.5-inch colored TFT LCD display
expandable via microSD up to 32GB
GPRS 2G Class 12
Dual-SIM, Dual Standby (micro, hybrid)
Bluetooth 2.0, BT Dialer
Multimedia Player
E-Book reader
500mAh battery

The Cherry Mobile V2 Bluetooth Dialer Phone is available in stores and authorized dealers for Php1,499USD 26INR 2,165EUR 24CNY 186.