Android Alliance Philippines has seen many Android Searchers like me help in their decisions on the best Android phones and tablets for them. Twenty-twelve (2012) holds much promise for the Android as an ecosystem. Ever since its boom in the Americas in 2010, and its rise in Asia in 2011, there seems to be no stopping the Android's growth.
Last January 10, the Android Alliance Ph Team was invited for the press launch of Alcatel's latest line of OneTouch phones at Relik Tapas and Bar in Bonifacio Global City. Android Pub and I were there to check out this proud new product of Alcatel. On the event, I was able to meet some Android App developers who were just happy to introduce to me their new app, which I will write about soon on a separate article.
The event was graced by none other than former Ateneo Blue Eagles top player and Smart Gilas shooting guard Chris Tiu, a proud user of the Alcatel Blaze Glory 918N, one of OneTouch's Android phones. The phone runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and has a good set of useful default apps like a podcast app and app killers to save on battery life and resources. Apart from the tons of apps that one may get, the phone is Dual SIM and will help with people who are always on call from different network services. With two colors to choose from, white and black, one can follow in his own style and preference. For yfrog ethusiasts and with Instagram now available for Android users, photosharing is easy with the 3.0 megapixel camera.
This phone line aims to attract working class people who want premium-quality phones, yet with affordable prices. Indeed, for Php 5,999, it is an awesome buy for a phone with full features, directly competing with Samsung's Galaxy Y.
The question, though, is not the price but the phone's performance. Good thing that the event organizers got us to try out the phone, for the duration of the event at least. For a phone that is relatively cheap in price, I expected to see lags like that of Cherry Mobile Orbit but I was proven wrong. Alcatel's Blaze Glory 918N has a smooth touch and none of that dreaded signature lags I have noticed with Android phones which gives the product some plus points.
Alcatel Blaze Glory 918N is now available on the market for my fellow Android searchers to try out. Aside from this one, the Asia Pacific General Manager for Alcatel, Harry Au, promised that more of these cheap but quality phones will be available on the market, and soon. They are working on their tablet line, as well, though there is no timetable yet for a launch.
With Alcatel stores spread all over the country, it will be hard to miss the Alcatel OneTouch line of mobile phones. If you ask me the usual question if I will get this phone to replace my current Android phone, that is one big possibility, though I'll always be on the lookout for awesome Android phones, tablets, and possibly other devices that may be invented. If you want a phone that is budget-friendly yet is worth more than the price, I'd recommend this one.
I promised to give you an impressions shootout of the Lenovo A60, the Alcatel OneTouch Glory (918N), and the Cherry Mobile Stellar, and finally, here it is. I didn't have the luxury of getting to play with all three phones for a week, but I will do my best to find these phones' users and interview them for you, soon.
But for those who are in a hurry to buy any of these three models now, here are my impressions of these three:
Cherry Mobile Stellar -- Php 7,899
The Cherry Mobile Stellar is probably the stateliest-looking of these three phones. Just one look at this beauty was enough to get me to believe that this may be my next Android. Its pictures online just don't give it justice. It has a gorgeous metallic finish and a beautiful bottom ridge that ensures a good grip. The screen is also beautiful and wide enough for games.
At 512MB ROM/512MB RAM, and powered by a Qualcomm 7227T Processor, clocking at a paper speed of 800 MHz, my instant love for this Android is justified.
The downside, however, is that the Cherry Mobile Stellar feels very light to the touch, a testament of its plastic build.
On the other hand, the lightness may be a boon for users who usually carry their Androids in their jeans pockets. If you've ever gone beltless, or you just don't believe in wearing one, you'll understand what heavy gadgets will do to your jeans. Just make sure that you keep your Android in a good, sturdy protective case, as pocket pressure tends to be the demise of many a touch screen phone.
Lenovo A60 -- Php 7,990
When I first saw the Lenovo A60 in the wild, used by a high school classmate and dear friend at that, I let out a shriek. It meant one thing: I would be able to play with the Lenovo A60 and tinker with it up close!
And I did. I immediately went to the Settings area and bugged my classmate about it. Indeed, like we heard, the Lenovo A60 only has 3G in one of its SIM Card slots. SIM #2 only hosts a 2G network, though SIM #1 can connect to 3G.
In terms of its build and profile, the Lenovo A60 is sleek and slender, perfect for both ladies and men who don't like bulky phones.
Its camera, even at a "mere" 3.2 MP, takes really clear, good-enough pictures. If you've been on a Chinaphone or a Cherry Mobile for so long, you'll appreciate the camera on this one.
All in all, I believe that the Lenovo A60 is good for a consumer who will use his Android as a phone.
Last, but not the least, the much-talked-about Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory.
Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory -- Php 5,999 (Promo Price)/Php 7,999 (Regular Price)
My first impression about this phone is this was meant to be a guy's phone: with a rubberized coating and a bit of a heft in its profile, this isn't for those who are looking for the sleek phone types. Rather, when seen wielding a OneTouch Blaze Glory, you will be labeled a "Barako," and they will be justified in saying so.
The phone looks like it can withstand a number of falls and even tosses across the room. However, we weren't at a liberty to test that theory.
The screen is clear and much better than a Samsung Galaxy Y. Its implementation of the Android is standard, and, aside from some Dual SIM Management features and APN menu differences, if you've used an Android, you'll find your way fine with the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory.
There's a bit of a speed bump, however, as the SIM card placement isn't the usual one SIM card stacked upon the other, with gold contact points all facing down to touch the terminals. Rather, with the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory, you have to position your SIM Cards to face each other, with their gold terminals touching each other. Odd, but that's how it goes with this unit.
Dual SIM and 3G
Indeed these three Androids are 3G-Capable, however, these are the differences with their network implementations:
Lenovo A60:
The Lenovo A60 is 3G-Capable on SIM 1 only. And, you will not be able to swap your 3G connection to be hosted from SIM 2. As this implies, SIM 2 is 2G-only.
Cherry Mobile Stellar:
Cherry Mobile Stellar appears to allow 3G for BOTH its SIM Card slots. There was an option to assign SIM 2 to be "2G Network Only," in order to save battery, with this battery-saving note also indicated in the menu. I believe that implies that unless you choose to assign 2G-only for SIM 2, it is connected to 3G on a regular basis.
Data management is accessed via the Wireless and Networks/Data Management menu.
Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory:
Just like the Cherry Mobile Stellar, both its SIM Cards are 3G-Capable, with just some Data Management swapping involved. Its 3G toggle options are accessed via the "SIM Card Management" menu, however, which, conveniently is also on the Wireless and Networks menu. You can choose to turn either SIM card off.
Collective and Comparative Impressions
I believe that the best buy for a regular phone user would be the Lenovo A60. It has all that you need and more: a great cam, the ability to host a 3G Connection on your phone, as well as a great screen. All that, packaged in a sleek profile, sans the "signature Android lag."
On the other hand, if you're a non-phone Android user like me, meaning your Android is really used as a MiFi/Mobile Internet device, then it would make better sense to get the Cherry Mobile Stellar instead. It seems to be able to host 3G simultaneously, and is the fastest Android of the three.
On the other hand, for those who are looking to buy an Android at the most affordable rates, then there's no stopping you from catching Alcatel Mobile Philippines' promo of the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory. At the promo price of Php 5,999, this is the best buy of the three, price-wise.
In terms of the "signature Android lag," however, I would have to say that I experienced it just starting up and tinkering with the fresh Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory. For a machine running Android 2.3 Gingerbread on 256MB RAM and a 650MHz processor, at Php 5,999, I don't think you can expect much.
The Bottom Line
If you're looking for power, go for the Cherry Mobile Stellar. If you're looking for an awesome phone with awesome standard phone features running an Android, go for the Lenovo A60. If you're looking for a rugged, sturdy form factor, at a price you won't be able to resist despite a lag that you shouldn't mind, then the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory is for you. Just remember to buy it soon, as it may revert to pre-promo price.
Edit, 1/11/2011:
In my research for this article, I discovered that the Cherry Mobile Stellar may just be similar to the Lenovo A60 in its 3G/HSDPA functions. Check out the Manual and the Product Page on the links.
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Photo Credits:
Remember those phones we still call the "Safeguard" phones? Back when GSM was still an innovative tech breakthrough and when top-of-the-line cellphones were still Nokia and Siemens, and when Bosch still had a phone lineup, there was that phone with the "Safeguard," the soap, form factor.
That was the Alcatel. And even then, they still prefixed their lineup with the "OneTouch" brand.
Who could forget the "Safeguard" phone, eh?
But most of us probably did. Especially when Nokia became THE brand to beat.
Just like Motorola, they experienced a certain degree of being pushed into obscurity for a while. Then in recent years, Alcatel started regaining lost ground with a line of good Dual-SIM and WiFi-capable phones. They also joined the QWERTY phone craze, and their lineup now consists of a strong product line of QWERTY and Dual-SIM offerings.
Today, just like the Motorola, they also moved to up their ante in relevance with the Android. Alcatel Mobile Philippines now has five Android phone models to its name.
The most recent model they've released is the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Duo 918N, also known as the OneTouch Blaze Glory.
This phone is powered by Gingerbread, 3G, and 650MHz of MediaTek CPU processing speed, 150MB Internal Storage.
Ho-humm. So what else is new?
How about:
- Dual-SIM Standby
- WiFi Hotspot
- HSDPA/HSUPA at 7.2MBPS max download/5.76MBPS max upload
All at Php 5,999?
There has been a clamor for Dual-SIM Androids of late, and the closest competitors to this, as Dual-SIM Androids, are only the Cherry Mobile Stellar and the Lenovo A60.
The closest competitors to this model, in terms of price, would be the single-SIM Samsung Galaxy Y and the Cherry Mobile Cosmo, but both are single-SIM Androids.
Should you want to get a more affordable Dual-SIM Android, there is the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Duo 890D, at Php 4,399. The only drawback is a smaller, resistive screen. The Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory has a Capacitative touchscreen, so there would be a better touch screen experience with this one.
For its price and its specs, the Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Glory is the phone to have. In terms of durability, Alcatel phones do have their record of surviving quite a bit of user misuse. However, you'd have to see tomorrow's Dual-SIM Android specs shootout for a more informed comparison. Also, take note that Alcatel has indicated that this is a PROMO price. Though, Alcatel has been known to keep their phones at "Promo" prices for months.
Things sure are looking awesome on the Android front! Later today, my review of the custom ROM I installed on my Cherry Mobile Nova, the Firetrap Lollipop.
Enjoy this chilly Tuesday!
***
Today officially marks the 12th Day before Christmas. From now to December 25, we'll be featuring one Android phone model, up until the very day when Christ's birth is celebrated. While most (if not all) of your Christmas presents would have been opened and enjoyed by the 25th, any day is always a good day to think about an Android machine. Plus, post-Christmas and post-New Year sales and price drops will abound, not to mention that most employees will be getting their 13th Month Pay. From now until the end of January may well be a great time to think about upgrading your Android, or even getting your first Android.
So, to open our 12 Days of Christmas series with a bang, we're giving you the Top 3 Cheapest Android Phones.
If you wonder why these picks aren't actually the market's cheapest models, here is the one single standard for the brands and models that made it to this list:
The Android phone has to have 3G. Androids make no sense if they're WiFi-only. They just don't. Why? For one, being able to use your Android as a Portable WiFi Hotspot is a major feature. Also, downloads from the Android Market, and even basic online navigation is much faster on a 3G connection. So if you were to enjoy your Android to the maximum, you're going to have to choose one with 3G/HSDPA.
However, for those who don't mind using a WiFi-only Android, as long as it's the market's cheapest, we're going to feature the Top 3 Cheapest WiFi-Only Androids in a future post in this series.
Ready? Here you go:
#3 Php 5,499 SRP -- It's a Tie!
Cherry Mobile Cosmo
- ROM: 512MB (User-available Internal Storage is around 150 to 170MB)
- RAM: 256MB
- Processor: Qualcomm MSM7227, 600 MHz
- 3.2” HVGA Capacitive Touchscreen
- Android Froyo 2.2
- 2MP Camera
Alcatel OneTouch Blaze 906
- User-available Internal Storage: 200MB
- RAM: N/A
- Processor: N/A
- 2.8" TFT Resistive Touchscreen
- Android Froyo 2.2
- 2MP Camera
#2 Php 4,990 -- Samsung Galaxy Y
- User-available Internal Storage:180 MB
- RAM: 290 MB
- Processor: ARMv6, 830 MHz
- 3.0" TFT Capacitative Touchscreen
- Android Gingerbread 2.3
- 2MP Camera
#1 Php 4,799 -- Alcatel OneTouch Blaze Duo 890D
- User-available Internal Storage:150 MB
- RAM: N/A
- Processor: MTK6516, 420 MHz
- 2.8" TFT Resistive Touchscreen
- Android Froyo 2.2
- 2MP Camera
- Dual SIM
The Samsung Galaxy Y is offered at that rate when you buy it via Smart Rewards, as we mentioned before. Cherry Mobile Cosmo and the Alcatel OneTouch phones are on special sale rates. Cherry Mobile Cosmo's price may stay that way, because Cherry Mobile has the tendency to keep their sale prices as the new price of their phone models after the sale seasons.
Alcatel, on the other hand, keeps their phones at sale prices for months, though they do revert to regular price after.
So if you're on the market for good, 3G-Capable Androids, these are the most affordable options the market has to offer!
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Photo Credits: Best Christmas Gift For
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