YotaPhone 2 InDepth Review of Specs Pricing Features & Flaws

Design and Build Quality

The Yota YotaPhone 2 stands out with its innovative dual-screen design, setting it apart in a bustling smartphone market crowded with lookalike devices. The primary display is a vibrant 5.0-inch AMOLED screen, boasting a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, ensuring both striking visuals and durability. The secondary display, an E-Ink screen on the back, offers a unique touch, designed for reading and displaying static content without draining the battery. This innovative use of two screens showcases Yota's commitment to combining technology with user-friendly features.

Physically, the YotaPhone 2 embraces a sleek and modern aesthetic, with dimensions of 144.9 x 69.4 x 9 mm and a weight of 145 g, presenting a comfortable grip for the average user. Its Gorilla Glass 3, both front and back, complemented by an aluminum frame, speaks volumes about the device's premium build quality, aimed at ensuring long-lasting usability and elegance.

Display Quality

The main attraction of the YotaPhone 2 is indeed its dual-display feature. The primary 5.0-inch AMOLED display offers outstanding clarity and color vibrancy, resonating well with users who appreciate high-quality visuals. With a pixel density of approximately 442 ppi, the display provides sharp, crisp images and text, making it ideal for a variety of applications, from browsing to multimedia consumption.

The secondary E-Ink display, while limited in color and graphical capability, serves a distinct purpose for reading and minimalistic interactions, such as checking notifications, without consuming much battery. It’s an excellent utility for users who spend considerable time reading on their devices. Additionally, the sunlight readability of this screen is exceptional, given the nature of E-Ink technology, thus serving as a boon for outdoor usage.

Performance

Under the hood, the YotaPhone 2 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 chipset, a quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 CPU, and an Adreno 330 GPU. Paired with 2GB of RAM, this hardware combination ensures smooth performance for day-to-day operations and moderate multitasking, though it may be outstripped by more intensive gaming and processing tasks compared to modern standards.

For users who prioritize speed in connectivity, the device supports LTE Cat4, allowing for download speeds of up to 150 Mbps. The phone’s ability to handle demanding apps and tasks with relative ease was quite revolutionary during its release period, marking it as a capable contender among contemporary devices.

Camera Capabilities

Photography is not the main selling point of the YotaPhone 2, but it doesn't disappoint either. The main camera sports an 8 MP sensor, equipped with autofocus, LED flash, and features like panorama and HDR. It can record videos at 1080p@30fps, making it an average performer for casual photography and videography needs.

The front-facing camera stands at 2.1 MP, suitable for basic selfies and video calls. While modest by today’s standards, it covers the essential needs most users may demand from a front-facing camera.

Battery Life and Charging

The YotaPhone 2 is powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 2500 mAh battery, which might seem underwhelming, but the device makes up for it with its E-Ink display, significantly conserving power. Impressively, the phone supports wireless charging via Qi technology, adding a level of convenience and modernity.

In terms of endurance, it offers up to 397 hours of standby time on 2G and up to 406 hours on 3G, alongside talk time of up to 41 hours 40 minutes on 2G and up to 26 hours on 3G. Music enthusiasts can enjoy up to 92 hours of playtime, reinforcing its efficient energy consumption traits.

Storage and Memory

The smartphone offers a storage capacity of 32GB which, unfortunately, cannot be expanded due to the absence of a card slot. This storage limitation might be seen as a drawback, especially for users who require ample space for apps, media, and documents. However, for many users, this storage can suffice for general usage and moderate app installations.

Software Experience

Initially shipped with Android 4.4.3 KitKat, the YotaPhone 2 is upgradeable to Android 6.0 Marshmallow, allowing users access to a more recent software experience than its initial offering. This upgrade path shows Yota’s effort to provide longevity in terms of software support.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The YotaPhone 2 does not skimp on connectivity features, offering Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac support, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, GLONASS, NFC, FM radio, and a micro USB 2.0 port. These features ensure comprehensive connectivity options, catering to both wireless and wired preferences.

Sensors included range from an accelerometer to a gyro, proximity, and compass, allowing users a multitude of interactive possibilities and enhanced usability in apps that rely on these sensors for more immersive experiences.

Market Position and Price

Originally announced in February 2014 and released in December 2014, the YotaPhone 2 carved a niche for itself with its dual-screen functionality. Initially priced at about 150 EUR, it positioned itself in a unique space between innovation and consumer accessibility.

Conclusion

The Yota YotaPhone 2 remains a testament to innovation in smartphone design, particularly with its dual-display concept. While certain components like the camera and storage may not match today’s high standards, the device's functionality, design, and thoughtful features advocate for a holistic smartphone experience driven by meaningful innovation rather than mere technicality. Ideal for tech enthusiasts and consumers looking for unique, forward-thinking design, the YotaPhone 2 holds its ground as an iconic piece in smartphone history.