It is obvious even at first sight – the Flash 2 is a beautiful phone. Quite a surprise considering the ‘me too’ designs that crowd the entry-level market. It’s marketing literature waxes eloquent on the phone’s ‘French’ minimalist design and we have to agree with that. With its smooth contoured edges and slightly curved back, the phone has the feel of a premium smartphone. It is also a major departure from the previous version of the same brand.

The shiny power, volume buttons are located on the thin right edge of the device along with a dedicated camera button. The headphone socket is at the top right corner of the phone while the micro-USB connector is at the bottom.

MODEST SCREEN

We are a bit disappointed by the Flash 2’s screen resolution which tops out at just 1280×720. The modest resolution is a bit of a surprise considering that many entry-level phones now boast Full HD screens. On the plus side, the 5-inch LCD screen is quite bright and colourful.

DECENT HARDWARE

The Flash 2 is powered by a Mediatek MT6753 SoC which comprises of an octa-core ARM Cortex 53 CPU and a Mali-T720MP3 GPU. Although not exactly cutting edge, this Mediatek SoC is now a common sight in entry-level phones.

It also comes with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage which can be expanded to 128GB using a microSD card. Another nice feature is the phone’s dual SIM option which is surprisingly missing even in many premium smartphones.

Despite its low price, the Flash 2 has a pretty beefy 13MP rear camera, putting it in the same league as much more expensive phones. Although the screen is lower resolution, the phone can record Full HD videos at 1080P resolution.

PERFORMANCE MATTERS

As one would expect from an entry-level phone, the  Flash 2 did not set any performance records. The device ships with Android Lollipop and is fast enough for regular use like web surfing or video streaming via YouTube. But it struggles with the latest generation of graphics heavy games. To be fair, it is unlikely that anyone buying this phone will be looking to entertain themselves using those types of games.

Without a shadow of doubt, the Flash 2 is a smartphone which punches well above its price. Those on the lookout for a mid-range phone should definitely consider this one and save themselves some money.

Specs

OS: Android OS, v5.1 (Lollipop)

CPU: Octa-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53

Chipset: Mediatek MT6753

GPU: Mali-T720MP3

Internal Storage: 16GB

RAM: 2GB RAM

Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery

Colors: Volcanic Grey, Mica White

Value: 9/10

Features: 9/10

Performance: 7/10

Design: 9/10

Usability: 9/10

Total: 8.6

Price: RM649

Verdict: Beautiful and inexpensive with some good features