Hands-on with the Windows 10 Mobile powered Cherry Mobile Alpha Prime 4

Despite such a name this is no 'flagship' device. And it's going to be location restricted anyway, but come later this year folks in the Philippines will be able to pick one up. So we swung by the Microsoft booth last week in Taipei to check it out.

Recapping on the specs, then. Microsoft's information at the show seemed to be a mix of the 4- and 5-inch models, but as set out in the official release, this is what we're looking at:

Alpha Prime 4 Specs:

  • Snapdragon 210 (MSM8909)
  • 1.1Ghz Quad Core
  • 4-inch Screen
  • WCDMA 900/2100
  • FDD-LTE B1/B3/B5/B7
  • 5mp Main Camera
  • 2mp Front Camera
  • 4gb ROM
  • 512mb RAM

Alpha Prime 5 Specs:

  • Snapdragon 210 (MSM8909)
  • 1.1Ghz Quad Core
  • 5-inch Screen
  • WCDMA 900/2100
  • FDD-LTE B1/B3/B5/B7
  • 8mp Main Camera
  • 2mp Front Camera
  • 8gb ROM
  • 1gb RAM

So, what's it like? Well there's not a lot to talk about on the software front since the show demo model was just running the Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview, just like many of us already are. There's no sneaky look at any future stuff here. But it's a nice little device for what's presumably not a lot of money. You get capacitive, rather than on-screen buttons, and lots of plastic with a not terrible looking screen for a 4-incher. The one we saw had a gold trim offset against the black front and rear, and for something pretty low spec it looks pretty nice.

Except for that Windows Phone logo on the back. For obvious reasons when this is a Windows 10 Mobile device.

But that's just picking. Microsoft's global partners are continuing to show good support for the platform and as we're moving forwards it seems to show no signs of slowing down.

Cherry Mobile Alpha 4

Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine