Cherry Mobile has finally taken the wraps off their newest iteration of the Flare S series and they’re confident enough to call them game changers at a time when they’re facing stiff competition from strong names. After finally getting a chance to spend time with these phones, I can definitely say the Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Series is legit. However in some ways, these phones are very different from each other, and not just in terms of price point. Which one is for you?
Cherry Mobile Flare S8
The handset that will appeal to the most budget-minded users is obviously the Cherry Mobile Flare S8. At just Php3,999, you get a 6.26″ HD+ teardrop display, Helio P23 octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, and 32GB of internal storage. Those are some of the best specs you can get at this price point. And as if that wasn’t enough, they even went the extra mile to give this entry-level handset a smashing glossy gradient finish.
Additionally, it also offers a 13+2MP dual camera setup on the back and another 13MP camera up-front for selfies. The 2,800mAh battery does leave a bit to be desired though. Thankfully, power banks are a fairly inexpensive accessory these days.
Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Specs
| DISPLAY | Type | IPS, 2.5D curved edges |
| Size | 6.26-inch | |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520, 269ppi | |
| PLATFORM | OS | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Chipset | Helio P23 | |
| CPU | 64-bit 2.3GHz octa-core processor | |
| GPU | Mali-G71 MP2 | |
| MEMORY | RAM | 3GB |
| ROM | 32GB | |
| Expandable? | Yes, up to 128GB | |
| CAMERA | Primary | 13 + 2MP |
| LED flash | ||
| Secondary | 13MP | |
| CONNECTIVITY | Network | Up to 4G LTE |
| WLAN | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | |
| USB | Micro USB 2.0 | |
| BATTERY | mAh | 2800mAh |
| MISC | Sensors | Fingerprint, face unlock |
| Price | Php3,999 |
Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Pro
If you’re willing to shell out a little more, the Flare S8 Pro is just Php5,999 and gives you a slightly larger 6.5″ teardrop display, and significantly more RAM and storage (4GB/64GB). These are some of the best specs you can get for the money as of writing, especially when it comes to RAM and storage, and it’s all wrapped in an impressive textured gradient finish!
The Flare S8 Pro also comes with a better 20+5MP dual camera setup and 20MP selfie camera. The 4,000mAh is a significant upgrade versus the Flare S8’s paltry battery. Combined with the better RAM and storage, that might make it worth the extra Php2k.
Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Pro
| DISPLAY | Type | IPS, 2.5D curved edge |
| Size | 6.5-inch | |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 | |
| Aspect Ratio | 259ppi | |
| PLATFORM | OS | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Chipset | Helio P22 | |
| CPU | 64-bit 2GHz octa-core processor | |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | |
| MEMORY | RAM | 4GB |
| ROM | 64GB | |
| Expandable? | Yes, up to 512GB | |
| CAMERA | Primary | 20 + 5MP |
| LED flash | ||
| Secondary | 20MP | |
| CONNECTIVITY | Network | Up to 4G LTE |
| WLAN | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | |
| USB | Type-C, USB OTG | |
| BATTERY | mAh | 4000mAh |
| MISC | Sensors | Fingerprint, face unlock, accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic |
| Colors | Black, Twilight Purple, Midnight Blue, Emerald Blue | |
| Price | Php5,999 |
Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Plus
The headliner is definitely the Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Plus, touting a total of 5 cameras, with a 16+5+2MP triple camera setup on the back and 16+2MP dual selfie cameras! Not only that, but the selfie camera is of the pop-up variety! Of course, since it utilizes a pop-up camera mechanism, the screen is notch-less as well!
Additionally, the Flare S8 Plus comes with a Helio P70 processor, 6GB RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. The battery could have been better though, as you’re only getting 3,250mAh. The Pearl Black colorway and its gloss finish doesn’t quite have the same impact as either the Flare S8 or Flare S8 Pro.
Cherry Mobile Flare S8 Plus Specs
| DISPLAY | Type | IPS, 2.5D curved edge |
| Size | 6.26-inch | |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340, 412ppi | |
| Aspect Ratio | 412ppi | |
| PLATFORM | OS | Android 9.0 Pie |
| Chipset | Helio P70 | |
| CPU | 64-bit 2.1GHz octa-core processor | |
| GPU | Mali-G72 MP3 | |
| MEMORY | RAM | 6GB |
| ROM | 128GB | |
| Expandable? | Yes, up to 512GB | |
| CAMERA | Primary | 16 + 5 + 2MP |
| AI-assisted | ||
| LED flash | ||
| Secondary | 16 + 2MP | |
| CONNECTIVITY | Network | Up to 4G LTE |
| WLAN | WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz/5GHz) | |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.2 | |
| GPS | Yes, with A-GPS | |
| USB | Type-C, USB OTG | |
| BATTERY | mAh | 3250mAh |
| MISC | Sensors | Fingerprint, accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic |
| Colors | Pearl Black | |
| Price | Php12,900 |
Which Flare S8 is for You?
The Flare S8 series is one of the most impressive we’ve seen from Cherry Mobile in the last couple of years. To me, the Flare S6 series was a bit of a letdown, while the Flare S7 Plus was the only outstanding model from the last one. Now, we have three phones at three different price points and all three are fairly excellent at those respective price points.
The Flare S8 is obviously for the budget-minded who are trying to get the most bang for their buck. It’s a perfect all-rounder for the price, with few letdowns. The battery might leave you wanting, but a mid-day’s charge is about the norm these days.
The Flare S8 Pro is a significant upgrade versus the Flare S8 though. The slightly larger screen and processor aren’t why you would be getting it though. Rather, it would be the increased 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, and better battery and cameras. Considering you can stream a lot of things these days, those who would definitely benefit from the extra Php2k are those with large media libraries.
The Flare S8 Plus is what you would go for if you wanted to experience flagship features at a friendly mid-range price. It has so much going for it, including the 5-camera setup, Helio P70 processor, and increased RAM and storage. The icing on this cake is the pop-up camera mechanism, which you’ll rarely find even at this low of a price point.
So which Flare S8 Series is for you? Let me know in the comments!
