Kyocera Echo Unfolding Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to the Kyocera Echo

The Kyocera Echo was a unique and innovative smartphone released in 2011. It stood out in the market due to its dual-screen design, a concept that was virtually unheard of at the time. The device was meant to provide users with a more versatile and productive mobile experience, taking multitasking on a smartphone to a new level. Despite its intriguing concept, the device had its share of challenges and saw limited success.

Design and Build

The Kyocera Echo featured a unique build with two 3.5-inch TFT displays, each supporting up to 256K colors and a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. These screens could be stacked on top of each other or used side by side, effectively doubling the display size. The combined display offered a more expansive view, allowing users to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

The phone measured 115 x 56.5 x 17.2 mm and weighed 193 g, making it a bit bulky, largely due to its dual-screen mechanism. The body was constructed in a clamshell design, offering a solid feel but less sleek compared to other smartphones of that era. It came in a black color finish and used a Mini-SIM.

Display Technology

Each screen of the Echo measured 3.5 inches, though the revelation came from their tandem functionalities. When unfolded, the phone transformed into a 4.7-inch tablet-like experience, albeit with a significant gap between the screens. This design allowed for various display modes, including single, optimized, and tablet modes, enhancing multitasking capabilities.

The resolution of 480 x 800 provided decent clarity for its time, with a pixel density of approximately 267 ppi. Despite the innovative design, the screen-to-body ratio was around 53.7%, which was relatively low compared to full-screen devices.

Hardware Specifications

The Kyocera Echo was powered by a Qualcomm QSD8650 Snapdragon S1 chipset, featuring a 1.0 GHz Scorpion CPU and an Adreno 200 GPU. This hardware was typical for mid-range smartphones at the time, though it was not particularly powerful. The device had 512MB of RAM and 1GB of internal storage, which was expandable via a microSDHC card slot (up to 32GB), with an 8GB card included at purchase.

Software and Interface

Running on Android 2.2 Froyo and upgradable to Android 2.3 Gingerbread, the Echo utilized a customized user interface to support its dual-screen functionality. Apps could be "spanned" across both screens for a more extensive view or run independently, one on each screen. The device came preloaded with apps designed to take advantage of its unique dual-screen capabilities, although the support from third-party applications was limited.

This made the user experience both intriguing and challenging, as not all applications were optimized for dual screens, often leading to inconsistent app performance and user frustration.

Camera Features

The Kyocera Echo was equipped with a single 5 MP autofocus rear camera, accompanied by an LED flash. It was capable of capturing 720p videos – a respectable feature at the time for a smartphone. The device also had a front-facing camera, albeit with limited capabilities, focusing mainly on video calling rather than high-quality selfies.

Battery Life

Powering this dual-screen device was a removable Li-Ion 1370 mAh battery. The battery life was one of the critical challenges for the Echo, given the energy demand from two screens. The device promised a stand-by time of up to 200 hours and talk time of up to 7 hours, but real-world usage often led to significantly shorter battery performance, necessitating frequent charges.

Network and Connectivity

The Echo supported CDMA and EVDO networks, with data speeds reaching up to EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps. Connectivity options included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, a hotspot feature (charges could apply), Bluetooth 2.1 with A2DP and EDR, GPS with A-GPS, and a microUSB 2.0 port for data transfer and charging. However, it lacked a built-in FM radio, which was a feature present in some competing devices.

Additional Features

The device included essential sensors like an accelerometer, proximity sensor, and compass, enriching the user interface and gaming interaction. Despite not having a sophisticated browser engine by modern standards, it supported HTML and Adobe Flash, aligning with the web browsing needs of that time.

Market Reception and Legacy

Priced at approximately 350 EUR at launch, the Kyocera Echo was positioned as a premium device due to its unique capabilities. However, it faced challenges in the market, mainly due to limited software support for dual screens and the practicality of its bulky design.

The Echo's legacy lies in its pioneering attempt at a dual-screen smartphone experience, setting a precedent that would be explored by future devices. While not successful commercially, it demonstrated innovation and the potential for multitasking enhancements, factors that continue to influence smartphone design today.