The Penthouse 8747 nestled on the 21st flr. In Lepanto Bldg. is an apt venue for the sophisticated to unwind. The city-lit open-air deck certainly adds to the relaxing vibe. The gold and black metal-esque motif evokes a tinge of exclusivity but welcome affluence as if to say, “if you’ve made it, you belong here.”
This very same view-deck is aptly where Flash Plus 2 was launched yesterday. The parallels to the venue can clearly be seen but the copious amount of metal is the focal point. The Flash Plus 2 is a 5.5” all metal stunner on all sides.
The horizontal-brushed surface and chamfered edges suggests that Flash took its time on making this second iteration stylish. The logo of Flash, with its brand name written with a contemporary relaxed calligraphy style contrasts well with the refined metal it’s printed on. It definitely gets high marks on the looks department.
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- Flash Plus 2 1
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- Flash Plus 2 7
“Most people are looking for a sophisticated phone that doesn’t break the bank,” said Lei Zhang, Flash Philippines Country Manager. “With our new flagship phone in place, they will be able to get their hands on a smartphone that’s not only sleek and stylish, but also functional.”
Ok, I have to admit, as a newbie gadgeteer I really did not have any idea to who Flash nor did I have any indications to how much the price is. Usually plastic equals low-end and metal equals high-end. I thought to myself, this has got to be in the 15k minimum. Flash Plus 2 had me at “’metal” and it screams “premium”. So my jaw almost dropped when Mr. Zhang flashed the SRP: P6,990. On the Q&A, a member of the media even asked and I paraphrase, “There’s got to be a catch at this price range right?”. My newbie estimate of price was just validated. Even the experienced ones were short of astonished.
So maybe the metal is not the same kind of metal used in premium phones? There’s no way at this price point that the quality is at par. My doubts were erased when, at the presentation, a Flash Plus 2 exec in front dropped the phone hip-height on concrete and calmly said, “That’s the drop test”. Though the phone wasn’t passed around for our inspection, from a distance he showed that the screen did not crack or break, the metal housing is intact and the phone functioning.
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- Flash Plus 2 6
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- Flash Plus 2 5
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- Flash Plus 2 4
What then if you were out drinking with friends then your not-so-sober bro accidentally (or intentionally) spilled beer on your Flash Plus 2? No worries. Flash plus 2 is beer-proof or at least that was how it looked based from the actual demo. Yes, a Flash Plus 2 exec poured beer on the same unit that was drop-tested. The Flash Plus 2 still functioned and is still sober. Kampai! The Flash Plus 2 can be your stylish wingman.
Tech-wise, the Flash Plus 2 operates on Android M system. The new operating system promises snappy and better user experience. There are tons of new improvements that runs in its core, but I’m reserving everything to my review of the device pretty soon.
My only gripe about the back is the protruding lens. I’m not a fan of any protrusions on phones due to the higher risk of getting snagged. It’s also the part of the phone that has constant contact with any flat surface and may get scratched easily.
At this size and price-segment, Flash Plus 2 shines through. Its stylish and durable full metal enclosure combined with its bar-raising specs make it head and shoulders above the rest.
Flash Plus 2 will be available exclusively at Lazada on May 31, 2016. Availability is limited and will surely sell out in a flash.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
