Comparison: Cherry Watch vs Cherry Mobile G2

Cherry Mobile has officially announced its newest device and it’s a wearable dubbed as Cherry Watch. While this is not the first wearable from Cherry, it’s surprising that they have not given up on wearables. From 2014, we had the Cherry Mobile G2 but it didn’t get the spotlight it wanted. With the Cherry Watch, how is it any different?

watch-vs-g2

Cherry WatchCherry Mobile G2
1.54-inch IPS LCD (240 x 240 pixels), 220ppi1.44-inch TFT LCD,
128MB RAMN/A
64MB internal storage4GB internal storage
Expandable via microSD, up to 32GB-
VGA cameraVGA Camera
Micro-SIM-
2G EDGE-
BluetoothBluetooth
FM Radio-
PedometerPedometer
Micro-USB portMicro-USB port
-IP54-certified
300mAh battery500mAh battery

Display and Design

Without any question, Cherry Watch is heavily inspired by the Apple Watch — from design to name. This is a factor for those looking forward to having a good-looking smartwatch on their wrist. Coming from the Cherry Mobile G2, which is a generic silicon smartwatch, the metal body of the Watch is a step forward. Although, Cherry has not specified if the new Watch still has an IP54 rating from the G2 for dust and water resistance.

The display got an upgrade to an IPS LCD from a TFT LCD and a resolution bump from 128 x 128 pixels to a crispier 240 x 240 pixels in a 1.54-inch panel at 220ppi.

Software and Features

Software-wise, the Watch probably still uses a proprietary software like the G2 but we’re expecting a more user-friendly UI. We’re still miles away from having a local Android Wear smartwatch but for less than two thousand bucks, we’re not expecting. We’re yet to try out the Watch but we had a review of the G2 when it was released in the last quarter of 2014.

If we are to base on the G2, the Watch could still be a companion watch for your smartphone. Although, the Watch can be a phone itself with its own micro-SIM slot and 2G radio. Imagine texting on a 1.54-inch display, or placing a call on your wrist. Both have a pedometer to track your steps, like most expensive smartwatches.

Camera and Multimedia

While it’s cool to use your wrist to take photos, the VGA shooter on-board the Watch, which is the same as the G2, is not the best around. The Watch is rewarded with an FM radio over the G2, so aside from playing audio files, you can also listen to your favorite stations. The 4GB of internal storage of the G2 is now down to 64MB but there’s a microSD card slot for expansion.

Battery

With the redesigned body comes a smaller battery. The Watch has a 300mAh battery which is a significant downgrade from the 500mAh of the G2. It’s quite concerning since the Watch is going to power more pixels. With our review of the G2, it lasted for a few days before it needs recharging. we can expect les with the Cherry Watch.

Pricing

When it was released, the Cherry Mobile G2 has a price tag of Php1,899. On the other hand, Cherry Watch is a hundred peso more expensive at Php1,999. The additional cost should be justified by the more premium build and better display. But in 2016, we’re already seeing much cheaper handsets with better specs, but not at this size.

We hoping to get our hands on with the Cherry Watch. When we do, we’ll definitely take it for a spin to know more what it can do.

The post Comparison: Cherry Watch vs Cherry Mobile G2 appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines News & Tech Reviews.

The LG G2 is a great high-end Android phone

THE first thing that strikes you when you turn on the LG G2 is how beautiful the display is. It is sharp and vibrant and comes on such a big screen. It’s almost realistic you’d find yourself gingerly pressing the glass.

And as you start using what is currently LG’s flagship device, the next thing that will strike you is how responsive it is. Opening apps, switching between applications and moving between screens feel fluid and seamless.

And as the day wears on, you’d find the phone’s large battery capacity kicking in, allowing you to use the device for an entire day without having to recharge.

I tried the LG G2 for several weeks and found the phone, which comes with Android Jelly Bean, a joy to use.

LG G2

GREAT ANDROID PHONE. The LG G2 packs a formidable processor with high capacity battery to make for a great mobile device.

As a heavy phone user, I use my phone as my main computer. It’s the first device I check in the morning and the last one I open at night. Throughout the day, I use it for various work and personal tasks. The phone is my main email and reading device. And as a journalist, the phone is a personal newsroom where work and play coexist.

Excellent phone display

Coming from an iPhone 5, the G2’s screen really stands out. It’s just about right for reading on the phone – big enough to make the reading enjoyable and small enough to still be handy.

The LG G2 comes with a 5.2″ Full HD IPS display with a 423 pixels-per-inch resolution. The company said the Full HD screen will give you an “authentic view of whatever you’re looking at.”

The G2 is a great reading device that comes with an auto-brightness capability that works. Whether catching up with news on Flipboard or Zite, going through long reads saved in Pocket or reading ebooks on the Kindle app, reading is a great experience on the G2.

The G2’s HD display also makes viewing movies on the phone a great experience. I store movies at home with a network attached storage and stream these using an Android app – a setup I took full advantage of with the G2. I watched episodes of Agatha Christie’s Poirot (at 1 hour and 30 minutes each), Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries (55 minutes each) and The Blacklist (45 minutes) in bed and find the phone still on when I wake up. On the iPhone, I’d find the battery drained.

LG G2 Sinulog Guide

GREAT DISPLAY. The LG G2 comes with a sharpand vibrant display with a screen big enough to make reading enjoyable and small enough to still be handy. Above, the phone shows the Android app version of our Sinulog Guide.

Battery capacity

Battery capacity is one standout feature of the LG G2. It comes with a 3,000 mAh battery unmatched by phones in its class. With the G2, I could leave home without a charger, confident the phone will last me the day. This is particularly useful for my job – as a journalist I need to be constantly connected to keep up with news and updates and to do work.

The battery is the bane of modern phones but with the G2, it is its best feature. Even with my son playing graphics-intensive games on the phone, the G2 still had enough power for me to do work.

And power is one thing the G2 has plenty of – it comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Processor with 2.26Ghz quadcore CPUs. For people of a certain generation reading about processor specifications of desktops that used to be launched annually, it boggles the mind to find these numbers on today’s mobile devices.

The processor serves the G2 well, allowing you to indulge in the vice of modern living – digital multi-tasking – without the device freezing or slowing to a stuttering display.

13-megapixel camera

The G2 also comes with a good camera: a 13-megapixel device that comes with an optical image stabilizer technology to steady the image, even with our shaky hands while doing selfies. It also comes with multi points auto focus to help you get clearer shots.

G2 sample photo

SAMPLE PHOTO. This photo was taken with the LG G2. This image has been edited and scaled down. For the unedited version, check the image in Flickr.

The G2’s controls are different from other phones – the buttons are placed at the back of the device, right where your index finger is when holding the device during a phone call. It needs a little getting used to, and for me it took a couple of days.

The phone also has a different way to wake up. You just need to double tap on the screen to make it active again.

It also comes with audio zoom that will allow you to focus on an audio source by zooming in on it while recording the video. LG said the feature “uses three stereo mikes, which amplify sound from the specified angle and deemphasize the surrounding noise, so you can zoom in on the sounds you want to hear, and tune out those you don’t.”

Quick Window case

The LG G2 also has a unique phone case with a “quick window” capability. It offers you a peek, via a small cutout display on the front cover, on such things as the time, missed calls and messages. The Quick Window case comes free with the G2 package as part of the company’s promotion.

The device comes with a plethora of features: high-speed connectivity with LTE, NFC-capability, plug and pop that presents icons related to listening as soon as you plug in a headphone, guest mode to allow other people to use the device, among other technical specs.

LG G2 quick window phone case

QUICK WINDOW. The LG G2 comes with a free phone case with Quick Window capability.

What I don’t like about the device is its lack of a memory card slot to expand storage. But this is easily dealt with by cloud storage services and apps. I wasn’t sold on its default launcher and Android customization but, in fairness and to be honest, I never gave it a chance. The first thing I’d do on any Android device is to replace its home launcher. My current choice is Nova Launcher, which worked well with the device.

But all in all, the G2 is a top-class Android phone. It’s suggested retail price is P29,990, which is not bad compared with other devices in its range.

The G2 is a top-class Android phone. Its suggested retail price is P29,990, which is not bad compared with other devices in its range.

If you’re considering a high-end Android device for your Christmas phone upgrade this year, the LG G2 should be among the first devices you should consider.

The post The LG G2 is a great high-end Android phone appeared first on Leon Kilat : The Tech Experiments.