Google’s Android Go platform is starting to dominate the low-end smartphone segment. We can’t blame Android OEMs from adopting this new platform as it allows them to offer people a really budget-friendly smartphone without compromising too much on performance.
Cherry Mobile, the biggest local smartphone manufacturer here in the country, launched a slew of Android Go-powered smartphones. But out of the bunch, it was the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus that caught our eye. In the entire line-up, the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus offers the most appealing set of specs and features.
On the other hand, the Redmi 6A is the newest contender from Xiaomi. Unlike Cherry Mobile’s offering, the Redmi 6A runs on Xiaomi’s own MIUI 9 interface. It might not be the most efficient software of all, but its more modern hardware can absolutely make up for it.
Can Android Go really compensate for the Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus‘ low-end hardware? In some cases, it’s a definite yes. Today, we’re comparing the Flare P3 Plus to Xiaomi Redmi 6A, a regular smartphone running on a standard Android 8.1 Oreo with a manufacturer skin.
| Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus | Xiaomi Redmi 6A | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 8.0 Oreo, Go Edition | Android 8.1 Oreo MIUI 9 |
| SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
| Display | 6-inch HD+ IPS display 1440 x 720 pixel resolution ~268ppi 18:9 aspect ratio | 5.45-inch HD IPS 1440 x 720 pixel resolution ~295ppi 18:9 aspect ratio |
| Processor | 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6580 quad-core | 2.0GHz MediaTek Helio A22 quad-core |
| RAM | 1GB | 2GB |
| GPU | Mali-400 GPU | IMG PowerVR |
| Storage | 8GB expandable via microSD up to 64GB | 16GB/32GB expandable via microSD up to 128GB |
| Front camera | 8-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
| Rear Camera | 13-megapixel | 13-megapixel PDAF LED flash |
| Security | Fingerprint scanner | Face Unlock |
| Connectivity | HSPA+ WiFi 802.11 /b/g/n Bluetooth 4.0 GPS, A-GPS microUSB, OTG compatible | HSPA+, 4G LTE WiFi 803.22 b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS Infrared Blaster microUSB, OTG compatible |
| Dimensions | - | 147.5 x 71.5 x 8.3mm |
| Weight | - | 145g |
| Color | Black Gold | Grey Blue Gold Rose Gold |
| Battery | 3,000mAh removable | 3,000mAh non-removable |
| Price | Php4,499 | 16GB: Php5,290 32GB: Php5,990 |
If we look just at the actual hardware itself, it’s obvious that the Xiaomi Redmi 6A is the clear winner here. But then, when you consider the price, it’s kind of a different story. Most people will find the price difference insignificant since it’s just a couple of hundred bucks.
If you think about the market that this device is for, you might realize that every single peso counts. The Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus only has a retail price of Php4,499. And for that price, this is one of the best smartphones you can get.
Cherry Mobile’s offering uses a large 6-inch display with a resolution of 1440 x 720 pixels. The MediaTek MT6580 processor might be lackluster, but thanks to its efficient software, things are still bearable.
There’s also an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the front, which is relatively better than the 5-megapixel sensor found on the Redmi 6A. Also, Cherry Mobile was gracious enough to include a fingerprint scanner on the back on top of facial recognition, while the Redmi 6A only settled for face unlock.
But if you can stretch your budget just a tiny bit, then going with the Xiaomi Redmi 6A is a no-brainer. The base model has a price tag of Php5,290, which is only Php791 more expensive than the Flare P3 Plus.
For that price, you’re getting a smartphone with twice the amount of RAM and storage capacity. You can even get it with 32GB of onboard storage for Php5,990. The device also sports a slightly more powerful 2.0GHz MediaTek Helio A22 quad-core chipset, so it should run apps and games better.
And more importantly, Xiaomi Redmi 6A has 4G LTE connectivity, which was the real bummer for the Flare P3 Plus. Some of you might not realize this, but this feature has a great effect on a consumer’s daily usage, especially when you’re always on the go.
As stated earlier, if you can be a little more flexible to your budget, the extra money you’d be paying for the Xiaomi Redmi 6A will be totally worth it. But if you can’t go beyond the Php5,000 mark, the Php4,499 Cherry Mobile Flare P3 Plus is definitely one of your top options.
Xiaomi will beat Cherry Mobile’s offering. Heck they own the budget segment.