The Starmobile UP Neo, a smartphone model released in the Philippines in July 2015, was marketed with several promotional offers targeting users seeking affordable mobile devices with added value. The device itself was introduced at a price point of P6,490, featuring a 5.3-inch display, a True Octa Core processor, and a Triple LED flash system. Alongside the standard hardware specifications, Starmobile partnered with Smart Communications to offer a "Super Pack" bundle for a related model, the Starmobile Play Neo, which included significant free data allowances.
Device Specifications and Features
The Starmobile UP Neo was positioned as a mid-range Android smartphone. According to the official announcement, the device runs on the Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system (though a later source mentions Android Lollipop for the Jump Neo model). Key hardware specifications include:
- Processor: 1.3 GHz Spreadtrum 7731G Quad-Core processor (with MALI 400MP2 graphics) or a True Octa Core processor depending on the specific model variant.
- Display: 5.3-inch Multi-Touch Capacitive Display.
- Memory: 8GB of internal storage, expandable via MicroSD card up to 32GB, paired with 512MB of RAM.
- Cameras: A 5.0 Megapixel main camera with BSI (Back-Side Illumination) and a 2.0 Megapixel front camera. The UP Neo specifically highlighted a Triple LED flash for improved low-light photography and a front flash for selfies.
- Battery: 2,000 mAh (removable) or 2,400 mAh detachable battery, offering up to 18.7 hours of talk time and up to 26 days of standby power.
- Connectivity: Micro USB port, WiFi, and GPS. It includes slots for one regular SIM and one Micro SIM.
The device was designed to handle standard mobile tasks such as social media posting, web browsing, and gaming, including titles like Clash of Clans and Summoners War.
The Starmobile Play Neo Super Pack Bundle
While the UP Neo was the flagship announcement, the "Super Pack" bundle was specifically associated with the Starmobile Play Neo. This bundle offered a distinct promotional value: free mobile data.
Bundle Details
The Starmobile Play Neo Super Pack included: * A new 5-inch Android smartphone (Starmobile Play Neo). * A Smart Prepaid SIM card pre-loaded with calls, text, and data capabilities. * Free Data Offer: 700MB of free data per month for one whole year.
Eligibility and Redemption
To avail of the 700MB worth of free data, subscribers were required to top up their Smart Prepaid SIM with a minimum accumulated amount of Php 150 per month. The top-up could be done in increments; for example, a user could top up Php 50 on three separate occasions within the month. Once the accumulated threshold was met, an SMS would notify the subscriber that the 700MB data allocation was active. This data would expire after 30 days.
The data allowance was compatible with various apps and sites, including Facebook, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Spinnr, YouTube, and Clash of Clans. The Super Pack bundle was available nationwide starting the second week of September (presumably 2015).
Other Promotional Models and Offers
Starmobile also offered other devices in the UP series and the Play series with competitive specifications and price points.
Starmobile UP Octa
The Starmobile UP Octa was available for PHP 4,990. It featured Cortex-A55 cores and supported 700MHz 4G LTE connectivity. However, specific details regarding promotional freebies or data bundles for the UP Octa were not provided in the source material.
Starmobile Jump Neo
The Starmobile Jump Neo was an affordable Android Lollipop phablet priced at Php 3,990. It ran on Android 5.0 with a 1.3GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex-A7 processor and 1GB RAM. It featured a 5MP rear camera with autofocus and flash, and a 2MP front camera. The device included 8GB of internal memory (with over 5GB available for use) and a 2400 mAh detachable battery.
Starmobile Play Click 1288 Bundle
The Starmobile Play Click 1288 Bundle was reviewed as a super budget phone with a warm sound signature suitable for listening with headphones. It featured a 1,650 mAh battery that provided fairly long battery life, lasting up to 2 days on a single charge with light to casual usage. The microphone was noted as acceptable for calls but grainy for general recordings.
Conclusion
The Starmobile UP Neo and related Play series models were marketed with a focus on value, combining capable hardware with promotional bundles. The most significant offer detailed in the available sources was the Starmobile Play Neo Super Pack, which provided 700MB of free monthly data for a year to users who topped up a minimum of Php 150 monthly. Other models like the UP Octa and Jump Neo offered competitive pricing and specifications, though specific freebie details were limited to the Play Neo bundle.