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YotaPhone
YotaPhone
YotaPhone
YotaPhone
...


5.2/10
Informr score
The YotaPhone currently has an Informr score of 5.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 9 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Two displays in one phone
  • Decent camera
  • Smooth day-to-day performance

What's bad

  • E-ink display suffers from blurry text and ghosting
  • Camera sensor placement very awkward
  • Capacitive buttons for e-ink display not responsive

With the growing number of Android phones available to the market, it can be difficult for manufacturers to stand out from the crowd. Russian designed YotaPhone sparked the interest of many critics as it offers two 4.3" displays: one regular LCD and the other e-ink. The phone switches between LCD to e-ink when performing tasks such as reading and viewing notifications. The phone manufacturer explains that this transition ultimately improves battery life as the e-ink display only consumes power when changing image. While an interesting idea, reviewers ultimately found the 1,800mAh battery lacking. Trusted Reviews states, "…there's limited reasons to use the black and white screen. You can squeeze about a day's use but that's really pushing it." They go on to mention that the battery does charge quickly and goes from fully drained to full capacity in a little over two hours.

In terms of design, the YotaPhone isn't going to win any rewards. Reviewers describe it as boring and blocky. It is fairly thick measuring in at 0.39 inches and not exactly lightweight at 146 grams. Due to the two screens, Yota opted to move the camera sensor to the bottom right hand corner in the back, which forces you to flip the phone any time you want to take a picture. Once they got over the initial awkwardness, critics found the camera adequate. Engadget states, "The 13-megapixel image output is of decent quality…which is a polite way of saying there's little to report in terms of either flaws or bonuses."

The main focus of the device is its two screens. The main display only offers a 720p resolution though this still translates to a pixel density of 320ppi. While not full HD, experts describe the display as sharp though they also warn that its black levels and viewing angles are mediocre. The back e-ink display garnered more negative criticism due to blurriness of text as well as very noticeable ghosting. Not only that but it also lacks many of the features found in current e-readers such as lack of color, no back-lighting and no touch sensitivity. There is a capacitive area beneath the panel that responds to swipes, taps and holds, but most reviewers describe it as being unresponsive with T3 adding, "…trying to read an eBook becomes a chore as it'll take several swipes to change the page."

In keeping with the general theme, the internal specs of the phone are not inspiring. It's equipped with a 1.7GHz dual-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Despite only have a dual-core processor, reviewers found that it ran relatively smooth for normal day-to-day use even when streaming videos and multi-tasking. They did notice some slow down and stuttering when playing more graphics heavy games though.

Most critics found the idea of the YotaPhone interesting but its actual execution lacking. CNET sums up, "If a better quality display is used and YotaPhone works much more closely with developers, its next generation device might be worth checking out."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.7 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.7 GHz
4.3"
Screen Size
Screen Size
4.3"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
1800 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Digit
Digit

Ever since we heard of the YotaPhone we were quite intrigued with the technology it was bringing to the table but once we tested it, we were left disappointed. YotaPhone has missed its opportunity to bring something that could have been a true game changer. The incomplete implementation of its e-ink...

- Hardik Singh, Digit
Recombu
Recombu

As much as we love what Yota Devices has gone for with the dual screen concept, the YotaPhone fails first and foremost at being a decent phone. We love the idea of having a second e-ink screen on the back of a phone, given that poor battery life plagues virtually every modern phone out there. The Yo...

- Thomas Newton, Recombu
The Gadget Show
The Gadget Show

It’s gimmicky, sure, but the YotaPhone also comes with some genuinely handy features that genuinely make this one to consider if you're shopping for a new phone SIM-free (It rings up £419 on the till, which is substantially more than a Google Nexus 5, but less than a new HTC One (M8) or...

- The Gadget Show team, The Gadget Show
The Inquirer
The Inquirer

Although the Yotaphone offers some unique design features and feels sturdy, we think that what makes it original also makes it somewhat style over substance.The secondary screen is a great idea that lets users check notifications and read books in brightly lit environments without draining the batte...

- Lee Bell, The Inquirer
TrustedReviews
TrustedReviews

The YotaPhone is a clever two-screen smartphone, but it needs to get a whole lot smarter and more powerful before we'd consider buying one.

- Michael Sawh, TrustedReviews


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Yota Devices backs up the YotaPhone with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your YotaPhone has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Yota Devices support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Yota Devices's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.



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Screen Size
4.3"

The YotaPhone's screen size is 4.3 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
1.7 GHz

There is a Krait Dual core 1.7 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 1+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
1800mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 1800 mAh battery. Yota Devices's performance ratings are 13.6 days standby time, 1320 minutes, 348 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

YotaPhone Specs

Overview
Release Date December 4, 2013
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Krait Dual core 1.7 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.57 W/kg
Body: 0.276 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Micro-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Panorama, White balance, Scene mode
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
1+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 342 pixels
Size 4.3 inches
Secondary Display Grayscale E-ink, 360 x 640 pixels, 4.3 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 1800 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 444 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 348 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1320 minutes
Standby Time Up to 13.6 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 13.4 x 6.7 x 1.0 cm (5.3 x 2.6 x 0.4 in)
Weight 146 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Messaging: SMS, MMS, Google Talk
Multi-Use Smart Phone / PDA: Yes
Graphics: Yes
Themes: Yes
Backlit Illumination: Yes
Zoom / Magnification: Yes
Screen Orientation Lock: Yes
Predictive Text Entry: Yes
Voice Commands: Yes
Keypad/Screen Lock: Yes
Multiple Numbers Per Contact: Email address, Other fields
Contact Groups: Yes
Voice Activated Dialing: Yes
Photo Caller ID: Yes
Web Browser: Yes
Email Client: Yes
Email Protocols: POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Microsoft Exchange
PC Synchronization: Yes
Audio Formats: MIDI, MP3, eAAC+, eAAC, AAC, AMR, WAV
Video Playback Formats: 3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Streaming Video: Yes
Custom Ringtones: Yes
Vibration Alert: Yes
Downloadable Ringtones: Yes
Ringer ID: Yes
Speakerphone: Yes
Haptic Feedback: Yes
Data Tethering: Yes
Mobile Hotspot: Yes
Radio: Yes (FM)
Games: Downloadable
Apps: Downloadable
Included Software / Apps: -
To-Do / Task List, Calendar, World Clock, Alarm, Calculator, Maps, Voice Memos / Recorder

Other Names (AKA):

YotaPhone Manual
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
YotaPhone Reviews
Where to buy YotaPhone
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