Today, we look at another entry level smartphone from Cherry Mobile, the Cherry Mobile Iris. With an emphasis on security, this device boasts an Iris Scanner in order to personalize phone security. However, is that enough to warrant a purchase? Let’s find out now in the Cherry Mobile Iris review.
Design
To start, I have to say that I really like how this phone looks. It sports a polycarbonate body, which is basically expected for a phone at this price point. However, in my opinion, what really sets this device apart is the minute finishing touches added to the overall body. For example, the rounded back cover adds ergonomic comfort, and acts as a complement to the metallic finish. Because of this, the phone felt like a premium device despite actually being made of just plastic.
Now, let’s take a look around the body. On the right side, we have the standard volume rockers and the lock button. Meanwhile, the micro USB port and the audio jack can be found at the top part. For the front, we obviously have the 5-inch display. On top of this, we can find the iris scanner and front camera, while we have the capacitive buttons on the bottom. Lastly, the back portion contains the rear camera, the flash, and the speaker grills.
Multimedia
The overall multimedia experience was good. Again, we have to understand that this is basically an entry level device, so from my point of view, the Cherry Mobile Iris met expectations. Videos were clear to watch and surprisingly it had wide viewing angles. Audio-wise, it performs fairly well. There’s the typical problem of maxing the volume, which distorts quality, but it’s not too bad. The dialogue in videos were still audible and distinguishable.
Lastly, games were pretty fun on this device. Of course, its specs won’t deliver top-notch performance but it can provide good, casual fun. I played Asphalt Nitro and Dead Trigger on the Cherry Mobile Iris, and it was pretty fun. Actually, I made sure to pick games that I felt would challenge the graphical capacity of the device. Asphalt Nitro played well–it was responsive, and the graphics looked just fine, and the same could be said for Dead Trigger. Overall, I did not experience any lag or delay on the device. If you’re a casual gamer, this phone has your back.
Under The Hood and the Iris Scanner
Just as we mentioned earlier, the Cherry Mobile Iris is pretty responsive. Packed with the Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this phone is pretty smooth to use, and easy to understand. Powered with a 1.3 GHz Quad-core processor, the device was able to handle some games decently. The CPU is paired with 1GB of RAM, for a decent amount of multi tasking, and 8GB of ROM. Unfortunately, only 4GB is actually usable after accounting for pre-loaded apps. Still, it can expand to 32GB with a microSD slot, so I guess that’s fine.
The key feature of the device is the Iris Scanner which takes personal phone security to the next level. Unlike most phones, the Cherry Mobile Iris allows users to lock their devices based on their eyes. Now, from my experience, it does take a while for the eyes to registered. The Night vision capable sensor can be a bit tricky to adjust to while getting your eyes recognized. However, once they are registered, this feature really adds a sense of assurance to the user. It reacts fairly quickly unlike when registering my eyes, and it does make opening phones faster and more secure.
We ran the phone through our benchmark tests, and here are the results.
- Antutu- 23,923
- Quadrant- 7,449
Camera
The cameras on the device are what one would expect; an 8MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera. The rear shooter can take decent photos, enough for social media. However, it can get problematic as indoor shots look rather bland. On the other hand, outdoor shots look pretty good but some shots lose details and clarity with the bright sunlight. It sometimes sacrifices details for color and can make for messy shots. Still it is able to take some okay pictures. The front camera is pretty normal but I do appreciate its beautify function. Overall, the phone has an average camera similar with other low-cost smartphones.
Below are samples:
Connectivity
Simply put, the Iris just sticks with the basics. It is of note though that this device does not have 4G LTE connection. Still it has GPS, 3G, WiFI connectivity, and other normal features expected from phones at this range like Bluetooth, GPS, and FM radio. Calls were clear and over all pretty good, just be mindful of reception.
Battery
The device has a removable 2,300 mAh battery. In terms of practical use, our video loop test yielded around 7 and a half hours, with data and Wi-Fi off. On the other hand, a day of normal use with data and WiFi turned on equaled to around 7 hours. Not bad, especially when compared to entry phones with shorter battery life.
Cherry Mobile Iris Review – Conclusion
Overall, I have to say that I liked the Cherry Mobile Iris. The specs may be meek, but they’re reliable. In fact, the phone had a number of fine surprises like the wide viewing angles, and the decent battery life. I’d say for a starter or entry level device, it’s not a bad choice for the casual user. Especially considering the addition of the Iris Scanner for greater security measures and defenses. Retailing at Php 3,499, this phone is, at the very least, worth your consideration.
Cherry Mobile Iris Specs
OS | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
Processor | 1.3 GHz Quad-core |
Memory | 1GB RAM |
Display | 5-inch HD IPS Screen |
Storage | 8GB ROM |
Camera | 8MP Rear and 5MP Front Camera |
SIM | Dual SIM |
Battery | 2,300mAh battery |
Others | Iris Scanner, 3G Ready |
Price | PHP 3,499 |