Lazada Exclusive Cubix Cube initial look - cheapest phone with 2GB RAM

As more and more companies are joining the Android bandwagon, it is only to be expected that better specced phones are being offered for lower prices. This was initially introduced by local brands like myPhone and Cherry Mobile, but in recent months, even notable brands like Asus, Acer, Huawei, and Xiaomi have thrown their names into the hat, making the mid-range market an even more competitive market. This, definitely benefits us, the consumers. 

Not to let themselves get lost in the race is Cherry Mobile, who, after being part of the Android One initiative with myPhone a few months back launched two mobile phones to look forward to: The Cubix Cube, which is an online exclusive via Lazada, and the Flare X.

Here's a quick specification overview of the Cubix Cube:

Cubix Cube specs:
5-inch HD IPS On-Cell display, 1280 x 720 @294ppi
1.4Ghz MediaTek MT6592M octa-core processor
ARM Mali-450MP4
2GB RAM
Expandable 16GB internal storage
Supports up to 64GB MicroSD card
13MP rear camera w/ LED flash
5MP front
Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby
3G HSPA+
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS
2,000mAh battery

The first thing that pops out to me is the RAM. Cherry Mobile [along with other local handset brands] have released Octacore phones to much fanfare since last year. It is only now that someone upped the ante by raising the memory from the typical 1GB to 2GB. This helps out greatly in multitasking and memory intensive applications, which would mean that it would be a much smoother Android experience for the user. 

The screen is a pleasant surprise, as it is a 5-inch, IPS display, which guarantees fairly good viewing angles. Although it should be noted that none of the reference materials regarding this model indicates that this is a scratch-proof solution a la Gorilla Glass, so no practicing of car keys or dropping is recommended.

Internal storage is a pleasant surprise, as 16GB is an ample storage for your initial experience, allowing you to install many apps without worry that the internal space would run out, the latter being a common problem with budget smartphones. To help further, storage is expandable via the microSD slot [up to 64GB].

Not all is rosy out here though, as the glossy back cover attracts fingerprints and smudges. Also, some people might consider the dilemma that this phone does not have LTE, but that should only be an issue if you rely on data connectivity a lot and if your location has a good LTE signal. HSPA+ is fairly decent for the most part. Lastly would be the battery, which seem to be a bit on the low end at only 2000mAH. It would be interesting to see how optimized the software is to maximize the limited battery.

Pros:
- octa-core processor
- high RAM [2GB]
- good GPU
- good, clear display [HD IPS]
- default internal storage at 16GB [vs. typical budget phone storage of 2-8 GB]

Cons:
- battery is quite low for a relatively high-octane device
- glossy back cover is prone to fingerprint smudges
- no LTE [limited to HSPA+]

All-in-all, I think it is a very good deal considering the plusses it brings to the table, and for the price [P4,490]. It is a great offer to be had if you're looking for a new phone with decent specs without breaking your budget.

If you're looking at getting one, you can get it on this link, since as noted above, it is a Lazada exclusive item: Cherry Mobile Cubix Cube

Are flagship phones still worth their price?

It seemed like only a few years ago that in order for one to get top-of-the-line specs and features, you'd have to really break the bank [see: P30,000-P40,000] to get it. Big time manufacturers like Samsung, Sony, LG, and HTC have made a lucrative business out of selling what they term as the best of the best, with various selling points: larger HD screens, more memory, higher processor, more processor cores, long battery life, better camera, etc. From hardware specs, to unique, although sometimes gimmicky features, manufacturers seem to keep on putting every bell and whistle in the book everytime a flagship is announced.

For the past year or so, though, local brands and manufacturers like Asus, Huawei, and ZTE have tilted the landscape quite a bit, by offering either a "close enough" experience to just flat out flagship experience for a fraction of the cost. From Cherry Mobile offering an annual iteration of their Flare series to myPhone countering with their Rio line, more and more people are getting the opportunity to have a great Android experience. 

For me, it started when Asus released their first Zenfone line which was received warmly and was given glowing reviews by most users. Now, even an international brand is starting the trend, and raises the question: Why break your budget when you can get this for something that would not dent your budget as much?

The Asus Zenfone 5 changed a lot of perception about mid-range priced smartphones.

This year, the argument is even more heated as other manufacturers like OnePlus, Asus, and Huawei upped their game. Even the local brands, which used to lord the budget smartphone market are in for a fight, and it seems to me that they are responding with enticing offers of their own.

As of today, Cherry Mobile has done a Lazada-exclusive release of the Cubix Cube, which I think is the cheapest smartphone in the market to sport an octa-core processor AND 2GB of RAM for only P4,490. Partner that with a discount code from Lazada [which depending on the date, may range from 200 to 500 pesos], and you can get this as low as P4,000. Really good deal, if you're not too brand conscious. Of course, there are caveats like a relatively small battery, and/or camera performance which is passable, but not eye popping. Then again, for the price, it's a tempting option.

Lazada-exclusive offer from Cherry Mobile

New brands such as SKK, Firefly and the like are releasing their own models to take their share of the smartphone market. Here are some phones which are worth a peep. Some have already been released, while some are just on the to-be-released phase, which should be within the next month or two.

SKK Lynx
Cherry Mobile Flare X
Firefly Allure 64 LTE
myPhone Rio 2
Huawei Honor 4X
Asus Zenfone 2

Surely, some of these phones don't have some "flagship exclusive" features like fingerprint readers, NFC, 4K video recording and display, but then again, these are mostly add-ons which you can live without for the most part [and even some of these features are now offered by these other brands].

Final Thoughts

While I think that flagship phones are still here to stay, with all the reveal events, press conferences, and the hype trains to ride along with, but the average joe should not feel too left out as more and more well-specced phones enter the market to grab their share of the smartphone pie. 

There is also the question of durability and quality control on these other local brands, which scares off some potential buyers. That's up to these brands to improve on, with their repair lead times, and after sales service, but for the actual devices themselves, they are looking pretty good and have caught up quite nicely with the top-tier counterparts.

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