I was fortunate to have been invited to attend the Yahoo TechnoStorm media event on the first day of the expo so it was easy for me to jump to the MyPhone booth afterward and grab some hands on pics of the much-awaited Iceberg Mini. It sports some of the best internals that can be found on a locally branded phone, but what does it handle like in person? Read on for my hands on impressions.
Design and Construction
The MyPhone Iceberg Mini features an aluminum body that feels very light in the hand. The lightness is comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S4 and you just don’t expect a phone of this size to feel so light. Thankfully, there weren’t any noticeable gaps or flexing when I pressed on the unit, so I’ll say the construction is pretty good despite the lightness.
The Screen
The 5 inch Full HD IPS OGS display is easily the best hardware feature of the MyPhone Iceberg Mini. And it’s not just because the image quality is so good. The OGS construction eliminates the air gap between the actual display and the protective glass, bringing the image much closer to the surface. It’s barely noticeable until you view it from a really extreme angle, but it really does add to that premium feel.
Performance
The Iceberg Mini is powered by a 1.5GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589T CPU coupled with a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU that’s been overclocked to 357MHz. The performance of the two combines to provide a buttery smooth user experience when navigating through the UI and launching different apps. I wasn’t able to test it on any games or benchmark apps though, but those of you who are familiar enough with the MT6589T platform should be confident enough in its overall performance.
First Impressions
The MediaTek MT6589T SoC is a proven platform that powers many of the best locally branded smartphones with Full HD displays. When you encase it with a lightweight aluminum body and slick yet understated paint job, you’ve got a pretty good phone right there. At Php12,888, the price point is a little worrisome, not because it’s expensive, but because people start looking at more established international brands like Samsung and LG once you start going above Php10k.
MyPhone Iceberg Mini Specs
- 5″ Full HD IPS display (1080 x 1920 resolution, 441ppi)
- 1.5GHz quad core MediaTek MT6589T
- 357MHz PowerVR SGX 544 GPU
- Android 4.2 Jelly Bean
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB internal storage
- 13mp rear-facing autofocus BSI camera
- 5mp front fixed focus BSI camera
- 3.5G/HSPA+
- WiFi b/g/n
- Bluetooth 4.0
- GPS with A-GPS
- Battery: 2,000mAh
- Price: Php12,888
Buying a locally branded phone does not mean being “cheap”. If you really value for your money, you won’t be buying super expensive smartphones and then the following day you have nothing to spend for your lunch… Lol funny, (sikat nga brand ng smartphone puro utang ka naman!) masabi lang na naka “sosyal” na brand lang. I’ve been using locally branded smartphones for over a year and still work fine. This unit of my phone is really a great gadget to buy. So therefor, Stop comparing and start assesing your colonial mentality.
Thing is, the value for your buck is vital too. At PhP 13,500; you can already buy an Xperia V (Waterproof, LTE, Snapdragon not MediaTek) from online stores. It’s not really for being “sosyal”, it’s really what you’re paying for. Add about a little more, and you get a waaaaaaay better device. :)
Yung mga panay ang lait sa mga local brand jan, it simply shows that you are all a lowly class in our society trying to lift your self up by having “Branded” gadget. Porket ba branded ang gadget mo ibig bang sabihin nun ay mataas na din ang status mo sa buhay? malamang yan nakahawak lang branded na gadget dahil sa mga “Plan” na nakalock for years or inutang gamit ang credit card dahil wala naman talagang pera at nag fefeeling mapera.. Nakakaawa kaung klase ng mga nilalang.. “You are all Pathetic Social Climber”..
I agree. Not all people who are using branded or well known smartphones are in a higher class of the society. Karamihan is pasikat lang. They aren’t really looking for the performance and specs… masabi lang na meron silang gantong klaseng phone… This Iceberg mini is a powerhouse for its price.
Tumahimik nga kayo..wag kaung mgcomment dto kung ayaw nyo ang myphone.. D magbranded kau at mag mhone kmi..problema nyo?my clever motion b ang mga phone n pnanttpat nyo?nya voice command sa pagtake ng picture?may screen shot b ang samsung m?LG nyo?nexus m?xperia nyo?wala!! Kaya laos kau..sa tao lng yan kaya walang pkialamanan.. Branded k nga.. D k nga nhhya.. Pero msya kaba sa specs?inggit k lng ata sa specs nto eh?hahaha…