I recently had the pleasure of meeting some folks from Cloudfone and spending some hands on time with a couple of their new phones. One of them that is yet to be released is the Cloudfone Excite 502D, an entry to mid-range phablet that features some decent internals encased in a sleek body. If any of you guys wish that Nokia would make Android versions of their Lumia phones, well look no further because the Excite 502D is the closest you’ll ever get. The time I spent with the gorgeous phone was short and sweet, but it was enough to gather some impressions, which I’ll share in my Cloudfone Excite 502D hands on review.
Build Quality and Design
The fact that it kind of looks like a Lumia is possibly the best single reason I like the Excite 502D. There just aren’t too many locally-branded phones that feature a premium-looking design and feel, and keep in mind this is from Cloudfone’s mid-range Excite line. The body has a nice matte finish that contrasts well against the shiny glass-protected finish of the bezel. Then on both ends of the phone, there’s a textured carbon fiber-like finish that adds a bit of character against the smooth matte body.
The Screen
The Cloudfone Excite 502D features a 5 inch FWVGA screen with a resolution of 480 x 854. That equates to a pixel density of 196ppi. It’s not too bad, and this is a 5 inch screen we’re talking about so you won’t likely be holding the screen close enough for the pixellation to be apparent. Thankfully, it’s an IPS panel and what it lacks in clarity, it makes up for with accurate color reproduction and viewing angles.
Processing Power
The Excite 502D’s processing power comes from a 1.2GHz dual core Qualcomm MSM8225A processor coupled with the Adreno 203 GPU. It’s typically a good setup, but navigating through the UI wasn’t as smooth as it should have been, considering the resolution of the screen isn’t that high. To be fair though, I was holding a pre-release device, so they might tweak it a bit more before launching it in the market.
Software and UI
Interestingly enough, the Cloudfone Excite 502D runs Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box. For the most part, the skin isn’t too heavy. The only things that are different from vanilla Jelly Bean are the Cloudfone-themed stock icon set, some custom widgets, and a bit of light bloatware.
Telephony and Wireless Connectivity
The phone comes with a complete set of connectivity options all the way up to 3G/HSDPA. There’s WiFi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS with A-GPS, and finally FM in case you get tired of your mp3 collection. Also, the Excite 502D is a dual SIM/dual standby phone, so you can take advantage of multiple networks at the same time.
Imaging
While it’s not a BSI camera, the Excite 502D still features a very respectable 13mp rear-facing shooter. During my meet with the Cloudfone folks, I shot a few pictures with it. I wasn’t able to transfer a sample or two from the main camera, but here’s a sample shot from the screen.
Battery Life
One of the most important factors when buying a smartphone these days is whether or not it can last the day. The Cloudfone Excite 502D is powered by a 2,100mAh battery, which is just about right for a phone with a screen of this size. While the screen is large, the resolution isn’t that high, so it shouldn’t suck the battery dry as fast as some other phones with HD screens.
Impressions After My Time with the Cloudfone Excite 502D
The Cloudfone Excite 502D is an entry-level to mid-range phablet with respectable performance. However, it’s rather refreshing to see a locally-branded smartphone to really stand out in the build quality and design side of things. It encases its innards in a body that is reminiscent of something from the Nokia Lumia line and comes off looking more expensive than its Php6,999 price tag. So is the Cloudfone Excite 502D something you would buy?
Cloudfone Excite 502D Specs
- 5″ FWVGA IPS screen (480 x 854 resolution, 196ppi)
- 1.2GHz dual core Qualcomm MSM8225A CPU
- Adreno 203 GPU
- Android 4.1 Jelly Bean
- 1GB RAM
- 4GB internal storage
- 13mp autofocus rear-facing camera with flash
- VGA front camera
- 3G/HSDPA
- WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
- GPS with A-GPS
- Blutooth 3.0
- FM Radio
- micro USB port
- 3.5mm headset jack
- G-sensor, E-compass, proximity sensor, light sensor
- 2,100mAh Li-ion battery
- Price: Php6,999
in light of it’s specs, this one’s price is too high.
there any there has the stock rom of this device? my 502d didnt open i just wanna try to re flashing it.
meron gamit ka rom ng phicomm i800 rom
My thoughts of cloudfone AFTER-SALES SERVICE
I have purchased a cloudpad 801TV unit last Feb 14th ’15 that has gone defective after 2 weeks of minimal usage. Bought this unit back to the seller in SM BF Cloudfone kiosk that was refused to be taken for servicing but was advised to go to SM Bacoor (service centre). I did what was told and gave the unit March 7th ’15 that was such an inconvenience for a customer. Its been weeks now and still don’t have the repaired unit. Confirming that this is a factory defect to get the motherboard replaced, it is such a horrific experience that I will need to wait for so long (longer than the time I actually used the unit) this displays absolute after sales dissatisfaction. I have managed to get a mobile number of the main office in Mandaluyong and was hoping to escalate this matter but I was ignored both on text message and unreachable by phone call. This has been a frustrating experience for me and an absolute disgrace for how you market yourselves in the market. From a customer point of view, this is a gift that I saved my hard earned money to make my 9 year old daughter happy which I have had the option of choosing your good product over others with the same price.