Which is better – octa core smartphone from a local brand or an Intel Atom powered smartphone from an international brand?
Let’s compare the Cherry Mobile Pulse with the similarly priced Asus Zenfone 5 at ₱6,499. Both flaunt a scratch resistant 5-inch HD IPS display but the differences are much more.
| Feature | Cherry Mobile Pulse | Asus Zenfone 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 1.7GHz Octa Core MediaTek MT6592 | 1.6GHz Dual Core Intel Atom Z2560 with HyperThreading |
| Operating System | Android 4.4.2 Kitkat | Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with ZenUI Kitkat update will be released by Sept. 2014 |
| Display | 5.0-Inch HD IPS @ 1280 x 720 Pixels or 295 PPI | 5.0-Inch HD IPS @ 1280 x 720 Pixels or 295 PPI |
| Scratch Protection | Asahi DragonTrail Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| GPU | ARM Mali-450 MP | PowerVR SGX544MP2 |
| Main Camera | 13.0 Megapixel Autofocus with LED Flash Hopefully, this isn’t interpolated. | 8.0 Megapixel Autofocus with LED Flash See sample pictures |
| Front Camera | 5.0 Megapixel | 2.0 Megapixel |
| RAM | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Internal Storage | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| MicroSD Card | Yes, up to 64GB | Yes, up to 64GB |
| Dual SIM Support | Yes (Regular + Micro) | Yes (Micro + Micro) |
| Networks | 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE and GPRS | 3G HSPA+, 2G EDGE and GPRS |
| Wireless Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0 and GPS | Miracast Wireless Display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GPS |
| Wired Connectivity | MicroUSB, 3.5mm Audio Jack | MicroUSB with PC Link, 3.5mm Audio Jack |
| Assistant Sensors | Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor | Accelerometer, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor and E-Compass |
| Battery | 2,000mAh (Removable) | 2,110mAh (Non-removable) |
| Additional Features | Double Tap to Wake | Extra Features via ZenUI |
| AnTuTu Benchmark | 29,000 Points | 19,700 Points |
| Facebook Likes | Cherry Mobile Pulse | Asus Zenfone 5 |
In terms of specs, the Cherry Mobile Pulse clearly has the upper hand. However, Cherry Mobile products have an issue with quality. If you are going for the Pulse, make sure that you test for factory defects.
Meanwhile, the quality of Asus products gives you the peace of mind that it won’t have defects. Constant software updates and original accessories are also offered for the Zenfone 5.
Nevertheless, Cherry Mobile continues to produce products with high end features at an affordable price. No one benefits from this but the YOU to find the best value for your money.
