REVIEW: Google’s Android One smartphone; the Cherry Mobile One

Caesar Sengupta, Vice President of Product Management in Google discusses the Android One smartphones during the official launch in the Philippines. Photo by Matikas Santos/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines – Google announced last February 17, 2015 that they will make available to the Philippines their Android One smartphones through Cherry Mobile and MyPhone manufacturers. In releasing the low-cost smartphone to the Philippines, Google aims to get a smartphone in the hands of every Filipino even those who have from the low-income segment.

“We are already in a rapidly growing internet market. With today’s announcement, Google hopes to contribute to the rising number of Filipinos getting online to experience the power of the internet at their fingertips,” Ken Lingan, country manager of Google Philippines said during the launch.

“Imagine what one can do. In fact, imagine what one hundred million Filipinos online will do to make this nation even greater,” he said.

BACKSTORY: Google launches affordable Android One smartphones in the Philippines

In the Philippines, internet penetration rate was at 37 percent as of 2013, according to data from the World Bank. Lingan said that the Philippines is expected to overtake South Korea in terms of number of people connected to the internet as the internet penetration rate rises to 66 percent within two years.

Android One phones have been released in only 5 countries prior to the Philippines: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Indonesia.

Will the Android One phones with their latest Lollipop operating system and basic features be appealing enough for Filipinos? INQUIRER.net reviews the Cherry Mobile One so they can decide for themselves.

Cherry Mobile One Android smartphone running on 5.0 Lollipop

Introduction – Key Features

As of this writing, Cherry Mobile has announced the price of their Android One Device, the Cherry Mobile One at P3,999. The price of the MyPhone Uno has not yet been disclosed.

The best feature of Android One phones is that they run on Android’s latest Lollipop 5.0 OS and will receive updates for up to 2 years.

Specifications:

• OS: Android 5.0 Lollipop (with updates for up to 2 years)
• Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad Core
• RAM: 1 GB
• Storage: 8 GB with MicroSD slot up to 64 GB
• Screen: 4.5 inches
• Camera: 5 megapixel rear camera with flash and 2 megapixel front camera
• Dual Micro Sim
• WiFi, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS capabilities
• Battery capacity: 1780 mAh
• FM Radio

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