Cherry disrupts the budget scene again! Presenting the Aqua S10 Pro 5G and Aqua SV!

It has been a while since Cherry opted for AMOLED, and the SV has surprised us with its mindblowing specs for its price. Truly aggressive!

Cherry has revealed today two new smartphones with aggressive pricing for their specs. These two represent Cherry’s first-ever 5G phones. The SV has an AMOLED display instead of the usual IPS LCD.

Aqua S10 Pro 5G

The Aqua S10 Pro 5G is based on the Blu F91 5G and almost has the same specs as the 4G Aqua S10 Pro. The difference lies in the Dimensity 700 5G chipset.

The Aqua S10 Pro 5G uses a nearly identical 6.67in. FHD+ (2460x1080px) IPS LCD screen protected with a layer of an unspecified version of Corning Gorilla Glass. Like the 4G version, this does not have a high refresh rate.

Powering the phone is the 7nm Mediatek Dimensity 700, a basic chipset that allows for 5G services paired with 4GB RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. The reason why the RAM is this low is for “cost-cutting purposes” as well as not to cannibalize the Aqua S10 Pro 4G sales.

The cameras are familiar to anyone who has the Aqua S10 Pro 4G. The cameras are composed of a 48MP Samsung ISOCELL GM1 main camera coupled with two depth cameras. An official from Cherry Mobile has told us that two depth sensors help it, along with the software, for focusing whenever you make portrait shots. The first is a 5mp sensor and the other is 2mp. There is also the gimmicky 2mp macro. The selfie camera is a 16mp Omnivision OV16A1Q.

The Aqua S10 Pro 5G has a 5000mAh battery coupled with 18W fast charging and 10W wireless charging. This can be gimmicky or useful depending on how you view things.

One difference between this and the S10 Pro 4G, aside from its design, is the side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The Aqua S10 Pro 4G has its fingerprint sensor at the back. It is charged via USB-C and also supports face unlock.

The price is pretty decent too, only Php7,999. However, if you’re more on performance, going for the 4G phone is a more ideal choice, having more RAM and faster charging, for example.

Specs:

• 6.67in. FHD+ (2460x1080px) IPS LCD, 403ppi
• Mediatek Dimensity 700 (7nm)
• CAMERAS:
  • 48mp (main), Samsung ISOCELL GM1
  • 5mp (depth), GalaxyCore GC5035
  • 2mp (depth)
  • 2mp (macro)
  • FRONT: 16mp (main), Omnivision OV16A1Q
• 5000mAh, 18W fast charging
  • 10W Wireless charging
• Android 11
• 3.5mm jack, MicroSD card slot (up to 512GB), side-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock
• Wi-Fi 802.11ac (2.4/5GHz), 5G services, Bluetooth 5.1
• Astral Gray
• PRICE:
  • 4/128: Php 7,999

It is available to purchase now on Lazada and select Cherry Mobile physical and flagship stores nationwide. It comes with a FREE Cherry Ion TokiDoki Limited Edition. It should be available soon on Shopee as well.

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV

When the Aqua SV has first been heard of in rumors, we are actually pretty excited. Based on the promo pictures, we anticipated it is actually the HiSense H60 5G that was released in China a few months back. This is the very reason we’re pretty excited about this phone and how we want to review it if the time comes.

It is also currently Cherry’s flagship offering and it is very competitive with phones in similar classes like the Redmi Note 11s and the Realme Narzo 50. We have confirmed that the phone is indeed in fact based on the HiSense H60 5G, albeit with some changes. The “SV” in the name actually stands for Super Velocity as confirmed by the company. This makes sense as the phone is constantly advertised as speedy with a grandiose screen for its asking price.

The back uses a synthetic leather back that helps it differentiate from the plastic slabs other phones use. Sure it isn’t vegan leather but it is still unique, especially since this phone is priced at sub-Php15K. The front has two punch hole cameras which we actually don’t see anymore. The camera arrangement gives us Vivo vibes.

First off, the phone boasts a 6.6in. FHD+ (2400x1080px) AMOLED with 90Hz refresh rate. This is also protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. This marks the first time since the Flare 5 that Cherry offered AMOLED displays for their smartphones. With Corning Gorilla Glass 5, the specs of it are unmatched, rarely touched by other contemporary manufacturers. It is also the first phone from Cherry with a high refresh rate.

Inside is a more capable chipset than the Aqua S10 Pro 5G. It uses a Mediatek Dimensity 810 chipset paired with 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 2.2 storage. The HiSense H60 uses a slightly slower UFS 2.1 storage. It also has liquid cooling which Cherry did not specify but it is better than having none as it helps the phone cool down during its most intense moments.

It runs Android 11 which may be disappointing to some as the phone won’t be supported for long. It has a small 4,200mAh battery that is compensated with 30W fast charging. This is rare for the price. Another rare thing that this phone has that others don’t is the in-display fingerprint sensor. Usually, this is only seen on sub-Php20K phones and phones with AMOLED that is on par with the Aqua SV usually come with either a side or a rear-mounted fingerprint.

The cameras are also changed from the HiSense H60 5G. Instead of a 108MP GW2 shooter, Cherry has opted for a 64mp Omnivision OV64B, which is actually used on some more expensive handsets. Cherry went with this as that camera sensor as it has better image processing. This is paired with the usual 5mp ultrawide and 2mp depth and macro sensors. The front camera is unchanged from the Aqua S10 Pro 5G.

It comes in Luxe Green and is priced at a surprisingly low Php11,999. What’s more, on its debut sale on 8th May, the phone is further discounted to Php9,999. We are expecting at least Php15K price point but pricing it below that is pretty much surprising as it is. Moreover, the phone feels flagship or high-end midrange for its generously low asking price.

Specs:

• 6.67in. FHD+ (2400x1080px) AMOLED, 90Hz refresh rate, 399ppi
• Mediatek Dimensity 810 (6nm)
• CAMERAS:
  • 64mp (main), Omnivision OV64B
  • 5mp (ultrawide)
  • 2mp (macro)
  • 2mp (depth)
  • FRONT: 16mp (main), OV16A1Q
• 4200mAh, 30W fast charging, PE 2.0
• Android 11
• Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C, FM Radio, Dual Nano-SIM, 5G services
• In-display fingerprint scanner, Liquid Cooling, Synthetic Leather Back
• Luxe Green
• PRICE:
  • 8/128: Php 11,999 (Php 9,999 debut price)

The Aqua SV would be available first on Shopee this 8th May, followed by a listing on Lazada as well as in authorized third party stores and Cherry’s own flagship stores and kiosks.