MyPhone Vortex Price Php 12,388, Specs, Installment Payment Details : Vortex vs. Iceberg Quick Comparison

Priced at Php 12,388, MyPhone Vortex appears to be the full-fledged smartphone counterpart of the local handset company's rather successful Php 11,988 Iceberg flagship phablet released earlier this year.

myphone vortex, myphone agua vortex, myphone

Employing a marketing strategy similar to that of Samsung, MyPhone - it seems - aims to release as many Android devices as possible across various price points and size categories. Interestingly though (or perhaps, oddly enough), unlike the Korean company whose Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone is (expected to be) a lot cheaper than the much-anticipated flagship phablet Samsung Galaxy Note3, MyPhone's 5-inch Vortex handset is a tad more expensive than its 5.7-inch Iceberg hybrid sibling, which leads one to ask, "Why would you want to purchase a Vortex if you can get Iceberg, which is bigger and costs a bit less?"

myphone vortex, myphone agua vortex, myphone

Looking at the specs sheet of both devices, it's evident that - apart from the display, imaging capabilities, and battery size (2,000 mAh for the 5-inch phone vs. 2,600 mAh for the 5.7-inch phablet) - Vortex and Iceberg share largely similar features. The two phones run Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with the same 1.2 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex A7-based MediaTek MT6589 chipset and handle multitasking with 1 GB of RAM. Both of them have 16GB of internal storage, a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 2 touchscreen, and Dual SIM Dual Standby capability. As for connectivity, non-LTE-capable Vortex and Iceberg support WiFi, Bluetooth, and 3G.

myphone vortex, myphone agua vortex, myphone

The two releases likewise share the same rounded, glazed design language and even have a similar aluminum frame, giving them an air of both elegance and durability.

myphone vortex, myphone agua vortex, myphone

Now, to answer the question that I posted above, I think that MyPhone Vortex has three things going for it that would make it a more attractive purchase compared to Iceberg. First, obviously, it's a tad more 'pocketable' and inconspicuous in the bag versus its phablet counterpart; If you don't like really big phones, you should find Vortex more appealing. Second, at least on paper, it should have a more powerful main camera (if a bit); Vortex has a 13 MegaPixel cam with LED flash and BSI sensor at the back while Iceberg flaunts a 12 MegaPixel camera also with LED flash and backside-illuminated sensor. Finally, although both phones have 16GB of internal storage, Vortex allows you to expand it via its microSD card slot, a hardware feature that Iceberg lacks.

myphone vortex, myphone agua vortex, myphone
Kudos to MyPhone for doing a great job on these online posters. I think they're not only easy on the eyes but they also provide useful information about the product, which is always cool.

MyPhone Vortex is now available at all MyPhone stores and kiosks, and Automatic Centre branches nationwide. You can get it for a one time cash payment of Php 12,388 or for just Php 516.17 for 24 months at 0% interest using any of the participating major credit cards -- either way, you get a free 8GB microSD card.

Just a tip, though, you might want to wait until next month to see other upcoming flagship releases by all major brands before you make a smartphone purchase decision. Believe me, a lot of absolutely incredible handsets in this price category by other electronics companies - both local and international - are but waiting to be formally unveiled. It's always good to have as many options as possible before you decide which product you want to spend your hard-earned money on.