Cherry Mobile Cubix 3 First Impressions - The Next Great Sub 5K Phone?

The Cubix project is a result of the collaboration between Cherry Mobile and Lazada. It aims to bring great smartphones with great affordability and wider reach across the country. Recently, there's another variant of this successful smartphone line. Dubbed as the Cherry Mobile Cubix 3, it's the 3rd generation of their capable budget handset that's touted to bring several refinements against the older models. Are they successful with that? Let's all find out.

Meet Cherry Mobile Cubix 3

Cherry Mobile Cubix 3 Specs

Display: 5.5 Inch HD IPS On Cell 1280 x 720 resolution at 267 ppi
CPU: 1.3 GHz 64 Bit MT6753 octa core processor
GPU: Mali T720
RAM: 2 GB
ROM: 16 GB expandable via micro SD card slot up to 32 GB
Back Camera: 16 MP Samsung sensor w/ AF, BSI and LED flash
Selfie Camera: 8 MP
Battery: 2,700 mAh
OS: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Connectivity: WiFi b,g,n, 3G, HSPA+, LTE, Dual SIM (micro)
Others: Colors: Gold, rose gold
Dimensions: 150 x 77 x 8.8 mm
Weight: 170 g
Price: 3,999 Pesos

Disclaimer: The unit we have here is an engineering sample with different specs. The final unit will have the stated specs above.

Build Quality / Design

View at the back

The Cubix 3 follows a familiar material and design language similar with Cherry's Omega 4G. It goes with an illusion of a metal device, but it's really a plastic clad device. Worry less though, as they ensured that the plastic doesn't feel as flimsy as you'd expect which appears to be a decently device.

Then while they didn't indicate if there's some sort of protection in its glass front, it looks like there's some layers there that should be good enough to help prevent scratches. Aside from that it's not a fingerprint magnet in front, so there must be some sort of oleophobic coating.

Opened, you'll see two micro SIM and micro SD slots
The speakers will also be visible there

Upon opening the device, we discovered that the battery isn't removable compared to what we read in the leaks before. Anyway, what we like here is Cherry improved what's inside. Unlike before, it now has a dedicated removable micro SD card. That means you can now put two SIM card slots and your micro SD card.

The view on top where you'll find the ear speakers, front camera and 3.5 mm jack

Below there's a pin hole microphone and the micro USB data / charging port

Power button and volume rocker on the right

In terms of design, this one is clearly inspired with Huawei's Honor 4 series and a smaller Omega 4G. It has an all metallic looking paint that's reasonably sized, the texture is smooth overall, there are no sharp edges and it fits my hand very well. It also feels light as not as heavy compared to metal framed and clad handsets. The corners has that semi rounded look as well slightly arc back cover design that should be the reason behind that ergonomic feel.

Specs and features analysis

5 points of multi touch

Donning a 5.5 inch screen, this device has 1280 x 720 resolution at 267 ppi. It's also powered by the 64 bit 1.3 GHz MT6753 octa core processor, Mali T720 GPU, 2 GB of RAM and 2,700 mAh of battery capacity. The Cubix 3 also boast a 16 MP rear camera w/ AF and LED flash.

It boast several upgrades compared with Cubix 2 such as as the addition of an LTE connectivity, use of newer SoC and GPU setup, larger megapixel count, dedicated micro SD card slot and better looking design. However, the 5.7 inch FHD screen is down to just 5.5 HD display and the battery at just 2700 mAh coming from 3,500 mAh.

Fortunately, most of them are upgrades and makes the Cubix 3 feature the best specs in its price bracket, beating their very own Flare 4 in screen size.

Overall, it's possible to get the best possible power performance in a sub 5k mobile phone today.

As of the moment

On first look, the Cherry Mobile Cubix 3 is a more balanced edition of this series. While it goes with lower screen size, resolution and battery life, Cherry Mobile and Lazada solved some of the known previous issues such as lack of micro SD card slot, LTE connectivity and more updated OS version.

For now we think that this is one of the better deals in the sub 5K range, in line up there with Flare 4 / S4. However, just take this as a grain of salt as we aren't done yet with testing this unit.

Hope to have our hands full with this soon and give you guys our full thoughts and verdict about this unit.

It will be exclusively available at Lazada Philippines during their upcoming birthday sale this March 15 - 18, 2016 for 4,999 Pesos only.

Where to buy this? Click Here!