Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G Review : The Best CHERRY Smartphone So Far

On April 29, 2022, Filipino tech giant CHERRY officially unveiled its first two 5G-enabled Android smartphones, which allow budget-conscious and aspirational mobile users to enjoy ultra-fast 5G connectivity speeds on a powerful device.

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV, which I'm showing you here, is the more powerful and more expensive of the two models announced.

If you're wondering, 5G is the latest generation in mobile broadband standards. Up to ten times faster than 4G-LTE, 5G speeds in the Philippines have reached 220 Mbps as delivered by Smart Communications in Q2 2021.

With an official suggested retail price of PHP 11,999, Cherry Mobile Aqua SV is quite easily the best-looking and most powerful Android smartphone that the company has released to date. In fact, the SV in this nomenclature means "Super Velocity" and that says a lot about the amazing performance of this handset.

Unboxing and Package Content

As you can see in these images, Cherry Aqua SV 5G ships in this black box with the CHERRY branding and name of the handset printed on the cover in metallic font with an iridescent sheen.

At the bottom of the box, CHERRY meticulously listed down all the key technical specifications and main selling points of Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G, which I will talk about later in this post.

The official retail package includes the Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G unit itself, the quick guide, metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray, wired earphones, USB Type C charging cord, travel charger, and a free silicone case so the user won't have to  buy one separately.

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G doesn't have a 3.5mm audio jack and thankfully, the included pair of earphones has a USB Type C connector.

Design and Ergonomics

As I've said, Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G is quite simply the best-looking device that CHERRY has ever released.

This handset looks stunning regardless of the angle it's viewed from.

The face of the phone features a massive AMOLED display with ultra-thin bezels. This screen gently curves to the sides giving a luxe feel when you hold the device.

Despite having a large display as well as a rather large battery, which I will talk about later, Cherry Mobile Aqua SV weighs only 175 grams, making it a joy to hold and keep in the pocket.

As confirmed by our friends at CHERRY, the mid-frame of Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G is crafted from stainless steel that doesn't only make the phone more durable but also gives it an air of corporate sophistication.

Complementing the display, the mid-frame also has curved sides and corners making the handset look even more elegant.

Design-wise, my favorite feature of Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G is its back panel with faux leather lining that looks downright gorgeous. This reminds me of detailing in cars. It's a visual treat and it also feels great to the touch.

The top and bottom panels feature polycarbonate plates placed inside grooves on the stainless steel mid-frame. I believe this is for improved antenna reception and connectivity.

There's nothing on the top panel except for one of the two stereo microphone pinholes. At the rear, you will find the tray for the Dual nano SIM card slots that can be ejected using the provided pin, the other stereo microphone pinhole, the USB Type C Charging Port, and the loudspeaker. 

Display

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G features a 6.6-inch Curved AMOLED display with 1080 x 2400 pixels and 399 ppi pixel density that delivers brilliant colors and crisp details.

The display is protected by a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 5 panel, adding to the durability of the device.

In the upper left corner of the screen, there's a Dual Camera Punch Hole, which reminds me of what's on some flagship Android smartphones by international brands.

What's even more special about this AMOLED display is that it supports 90Hz Refresh Rate for more fluid screen transitions and touch animations.

Imaging and Video Recording Capabilities

Whether you love taking photos or shooting videos, Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G is a reliable tool for creating content that you can share with family, friends, and fans online.

At the back of the phone, you will a Quad Camera module made up of the following:

1. 64 MegaPixels Main Camera - With the highest resolution, widest aperture, and the biggest sensor, this is the best of the bunch for daily use and in terms of low-light performance.

2. 5 MegaPixels Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera - This is great for capturing landscape and architectural shots. It's also handy for snapping images of large groups of people.

3. 2 MegaPixels Macro Camera - Use this for taking photos of very small objects like insects or minute details on larger subjects.

4. 2 MegaPixels Depth Sensor - This enables Portrait Mode that lets you add background blur or bokeh effect to your shots to make them look more professional or interesting.

In front, there are two cameras housed in the oblong punch hole on top of the screen:

1. 16 MegaPixels Selfie Camera - This high-resolution front-cam delivers clear and crisp self-portraits that are instantly ready for sharing on Facebook or Instagram. This shooter also benefits from CHERRY's own beautification software that clears skin imperfections in selfies.

2. 2 MegaPixels Depth Sensor - This enables Portrait Mode so you can add subtle background blur to your selfies. The software also allows you to adjust the bokeh level depending on your preference.

For TikTokers, vloggers, Youtubers, or even just those who use their smartphones to take family or travel videos, the main camera at the back of Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G can shoot videos with up to 2K or 1440p while the main shooter in front can record clips with up to FullHD or 1080p resolution. The video recorders also benefit from Electronic Image Stabilization so your clips looks steady even when the user's hand is moving or shaking while recording.

Stay tuned for a separate TechPinas article and Youtube video where I will show you sample photos and videos recorded using the Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G. This review will have several parts.

Internal Hardware and Performance

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G runs its Android 11 operating system - replete with CHERRY's own UI - on a 2.4GHz Octa-Core MediaTek Dimensity 810 Processor that incorporates a Mali-G57 MC2 GPU.

According to MediaTek, their Dimensity 810 chipset with 6nm architecture enables great performance, premium displays, and supreme cameras for any situation, all while raising the bar of 5G smartphone battery life.

Some key features that Dimensity 810 brings to Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G include Intelligent Resource Management Engine for greater energy efficiency and smoother gameplay, Network Engine for more reliable network and WiFi connectivity especially when playing games, Faster 5G performance, Dual 5G SIM slot support, high display refresh rate, and boosted core performance.

The stellar MediaTek Dimensity 810 processor is complemented by 8GB of RAM for a seamless multi-tasking experience even when running apps and games concurrently and 128GB of internal storage.

So far, I have already tried playing my favorite game, Mobile Legends : Bang Bang, on the Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G and I'd say that the experience is comparable to what I get from my higher-end  Android smartphones by international brands, especially when I turn on 90Hz refresh rate on the device and enable high-frame-rate graphics in the game. On top of the power of the Dimensity 810 processor and Mali-G57 GPU, I think that the phone's Liquid Cooling Technology helps a lot in enabling smooth gameplay.

Of course, the performance is not right up there with flagship Android handsets that cost upwards up PHP 40,000 -- but for most users, I think they'll find the gaming experience from this model very enjoyable instead of annoying due to lags.

Battery Life and Charging Speed

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G runs on a non-removable 4,200 mAh Li-Po battery that can easily deliver a whole day of uptime even for power users, thanks to the energy-efficient processor. For users who just use their smartphone for updating social media accounts or browsing the web, I believe they can even get more than 24 hours of uptime coming from a full charge.

One of the key features of this handset is its 30W PE 2.0 Fast Charging Support that - based on my test - gives you around 0% to 35% charge after just 20 minutes of plugging the device into an electrical outlet using the provided cable and travel charger. With this feature, you can spend less time charging the phone and enjoy more time using it to play games, take photos, and even just to watch videos on Youtube, Facebook, or Netflix.

Security Features

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G comes with a slew of features that can help protect your privacy and security. On top of the usual pattern and passcode unlock, there's Facial Recognition integrated with the front-facing camera as well as an In-Display Fingerprint Scanner, a hardware feature that is often seen on far more expensive smartphones.

5G Connectivity

While I was writing this review, I messaged Mr. Lonson Alejandrino, CHERRY's Vice President for Product Development, and I asked him if the company has tested Cherry Mobile Aqua SV's 5G connectivity and performance with all leading networks in the Philippines. He confirmed that this 5G  smartphone model works with all of them. He, however, noted that Cherry Mobile Aqua SV's 5G mode works best with SA or Standalone Access 5G networks instead of NSA or Non-Standalone Access networks. SA 5G networks deliver 5G radio directly from the 5G core compared to NSA 5G Networks that course 5G radio through a 4G core.

TechPinas Verdict

Which smartphones from international brands can you buy for PHP 11,999 these days? I'm sure you can name some top choices -- but let me ask you this: How many of them can directly compete with the technical specifications and main features of Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G that I mentioned in this post?

Here's the truth: When you consider everything that Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G gives you - from design to build quality, 5G connectivity to display, internal hardware to security features, and charging speed to gaming performance, it's hard not to conclude that this smartphone delivers tremendous bang for the buck.

Hence, aside from giving it my utmost recommendation, I am also declaring that Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G is the absolute best smartphone that CHERRY has released so far. If you want to get the most value for your hard-earned money when buying a new smartphone, you should definitely consider getting Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G.

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G Specs

160.5 x 73.8 x 8.8 mm

175 grams

6.6-inch FullHD+, Curved AMOLED Display

90Hz Refresh Rate

Dual Punch Hole Display

Corning Gorilla Glass 5

5G NR Support Smart Antenna Tuning

Quad Rear Camera Module:

64 MegaPixels Main Camera

5 MegaPixels Ultra-Wide-Angle Camera

2 MegaPixels Macro Camera

2 MegaPixels Depth Sensor

108MP Super Pixel AI Quad Camera

Dual Front-Facing Cameras:

16 MegaPixels + 2 MegaPixels

Video Recorder:

Back - 2K, FullHD

Front - FullHD

Android 11 Operating System

2.4GHz Octa-Core MediaTek Dimensity 810 Processor

Mali-G57 MC2 GPU

8GB RAM

128GB ROM

No microSD Card Slot

Liquid Cooling Technology

In-Display Fingerprint Scanner

Dual nanoSIM Card Slot

30W PE 2.0 Fast Charging Support

Non-Removable 4,200 mAh Li-Po Battery Pack

Green

Stainless Steel Midframe, Faux Leather Back Lining

Cherry Mobile Aqua SV 5G Price

Official SRP - PHP 11,999

Announcement Date - April 29, 2022