Cherry Mobile Flare J1 is an affordable entry-level smartphone featuring a durable LCD. This innovation helps reduce the propensity of cracking its screen that could lessen our worries regarding the LCD’s fragility. Here’s our unboxing review with initial impressions of the Cherry Mobile Flare J1 2017.
Flare J1 2017 is an upgrade from the 2015 version. The new version has a 1.2GHz Quad Core processor that runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. It’s a dual sim handset with an expandable memory up to 32GB via microSD. The biggest improvement of Flare J1 2017 is its 1GB RAM from the 512MB RAM of the 2015 version.
What’s in the box?
Similar to other smartphones from the Flare series, Flare J1 comes with an outer slipcover and an actual box within.The package contains the Flare J1, earphones, a travel charger, a micro-USB cable, a user manual, and a Cherry Mobile pamphlet including all of Cherry Mobile’s featured services.
A Blast from the Past
The features of the Flare J1 are a collection of things you would basically find in an entry-level smartphone. The handset is definitely not high-end but it gets the job done.
The display is a 5-inch TFT display with a durable LCD. The resolution is only 854 x 480 pixels (196ppi). The handset has a broad top and bottom bezel with the bottom bezel containing the navigation buttons and the top bezel, the front facing camera.
The phone has a polycarbonate back and a removable battery which is expected for its price. Having a modular battery compartment is quite an advantage because of replaceable batteries; however, it sacrifices the sleek and premium feel that we look for in a smartphone. When I first held the Flare J1, it felt heavy and bulky to me but the polycarbonate back, that has a faux-leather feel, helped in getting a good grip on the phone. The look and feel of the Flare J1 brought back memories of the Samsung Note 4 (2014) that also has a back cover with the faux-leather feel and a removable battery.
The back of the phone has an 8MP camera, a dual LED Flash, and a loudspeaker. Furthermore, in order to insert a microSD card and sim cards, you must remove the back cover of the handset which reveals the microSD card slot, 2 sim card slots, and the 2300mAh battery. All the physical buttons for both volume and power are located at the right-hand side of the handset. The top contains the 3.5mm Audio Jack and the micro USB Port while the bottom has the microphone pinhole.
UI and Display
Flare J1, as mentioned earlier, runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with a 1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor and 1GB RAM. This helps in its smooth transition from one window to another. We can also quickly switch from one application to another with this set of specs. The J1 also comes with pre-installed apps supported or owned by Cherry Mobile. Most of the pre-installed apps are services offered by Cherry Mobile such as Bonus Load, Cherry Fun Club, Cherry Play, and Cherry Prepaid.
In terms of display, the lack of IPS display gives the handset limited viewing angles. However, the durable LCD feature makes sure that the handset’s display is tough enough to withstand fast-paced way of living.
The Cherry Mobile Flare J1 2017 is available in stores nationwide for an affordable price of Php 2, 699.00. Stay tuned for our full review of the Cherry Mobile Flare J1.