Torque Also Has Androids
Images by Torque Pricelist
Cherry Mobile is not the only Filipino company to offer good quality Androids. Torque, also a Filipino company that broke into the mobile phone scene with the same strategy: affordable Dual SIM phones, also launched its own Android line.
The difference between the Cherry Mobile and the Torque models is that Torque skipped the 3G and opted to arm its Androids with Dual SIM/Dual Standby slots and mobile TV instead.
Torque aptly branded its affordable Androids "Droidz." Hardly any creativity there, but it works, and it's actually quite cute. Since both offerings have Dual SIM slots, Torque gave the units names that denote "Two," as in Droidz Dual and Droidz Tandem.
The difference between the Php 7,999 Droidz Dual and the Php 9,999 Droidz Tandem is the screen: the cheaper one has a resistive touch screen, meaning you have to use a stylus to navigate it, while the pricier model has a capacitative touch screen -- like an iPhone or an HTC, you can navigate it with your hands.
Here they are, up close so you can see the specs:
Essentially, both Cherry Mobile and Torque brands are Filipino-designed phones built in China. There is one caveat, however. The 1-year warranty that comes with your Cherry Mobile purchase may be put to good use. Cherry Mobile phones may be affordable, but they're also notoriously breakable.
On the other hand, Torque is known to be more durable and reliable. It's just that, would mobile TV be a better feature than 3G for you?
If you're using your Android as a device for browsing the Internet while you're on the go, 3G access would definitely come in handy when you're not within range of a WiFi hotspot. On the other hand, when you really need to check your mail, mobile TV would hardly be a good feature to make use of at that moment.
The Dual SIM functionality at a more affordable price tag is a good draw for the Torque. However, given that Cherry Mobile may have made its Android line sturdier and more resistant to wear, tear and abuse, Mobile TV vs 3G may be your deal breaker in favor of Cherry Mobile.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to the features you want and the features you need.
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*It doesn't help that Cherry Mobile still has the cheapest Android around with its Eclipse 2.2.
here's a thought -- on a macro-level, maybe we can track down who the chinese manufacturers of torque and cherry mobile are, so we can find out stuff about their apks that work with the dual and multi-sim models?
ReplyDeleteAhh yes, with a little sleuthing you guys can probably find that out. I believe that this website: http://boston-mania.blogspot.com/ has leads to the manufacturers of these whitebox Androids.
ReplyDeleteGeekier Chick, Pump Out My Paradigm, and other modders they usually mention in their comments/discussions know which manufacturers produce Cherry Mobile and Torque's models.
As I said, just a little sleuthing and you'll find out what you want to. :)
Again, as I mentioned in my other reply, Android Alliance strives to be centrist. So modding and tracing the origins of whitebox models are actually not in our agenda. :D I may give you guys some hints here in the comments. ;) -Ed
Btw, Jester-in-Exile, these two companies, I discovered, do not have one single supplier for their phone lineups. The Cherry Mobile Androids, for one, differ in OEM manufacturers. For example, the Cherry Mobile Nova is the Gigabyte GSmart Boston, then the Cherry Mobile Magnum 2x is the Micromax A85. Incidentally, the Micromax Q80 looks awfully like the MyPhone QW30 Duo.
ReplyDeleteThat's why it'd be pretty tough to track everything and consolidate them on one article, but I assure you that if my sked permits it, if and when I get bored and run out of ideas (which is VERY unlikely in this niche), I WILL chase after your idea, coz it's interesting. I have a good mind to do it one model at a time. :)
As for the APK's, I'm not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean the custom ROMs that may be good to use with these?