Unveiling YU Yunique Plus Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Introduction to YU Yunique Plus

The YU Yunique Plus is a smartphone that was introduced in August 2016 by the Indian consumer electronics brand YU, a subsidiary of Micromax. Positioned in the budget smartphone segment, this device offers core functionalities with an acceptable performance suited for everyday use. Although it has been discontinued, many might still find it relevant due to its affordability and basic feature set. Below is a detailed analysis of the YU Yunique Plus, focusing on its specifications and performance in various aspects.

Design and Build Quality

The design of the YU Yunique Plus adheres to the typical aesthetics found in budget smartphones of its time. It sports a compact form factor with dimensions reflecting a thickness of 8.3 mm and a manageable weight of 128 grams. The device comfortably fits in hand with a 4.7-inch display size, making it easy to operate single-handedly. The design is simplistic yet functional, and the dual-SIM capability supports more flexibility for users managing multiple network connections.

Display

The YU Yunique Plus features a 4.7-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. This results in a pixel density of approximately 312 PPI, which is respectable within its category. In terms of screen protection, the device is equipped with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, providing durability against everyday scratches and minor impacts. The IPS technology ensures better color reproduction and viewability from a variety of angles.

Performance

At the core of the Yunique Plus is the Qualcomm MSM8916 Snapdragon 410 chipset built on a 28 nm process. It includes a quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and an Adreno 306 GPU. This hardware configuration is accompanied by 2GB of RAM, which is sufficient to handle casual smartphone activities such as browsing, social media applications, and light gaming. While not intended for resource-heavy tasks, the performance is adequate for its price range.

Storage

The smartphone comes with an internal storage of 8GB, which may seem limiting in today's standards. However, the presence of a microSDHC card slot allows storage expansion, providing the necessary flexibility to store essential apps, multimedia, and documents. Users can cater to their data requirements by utilizing external storage options.

Camera

The YU Yunique Plus is fitted with an 8 MP rear camera featuring an f/2.0 aperture, autofocus, and an LED flash. This camera setup supports HDR and panorama modes, enhancing the photography experience within the constraints of entry-level hardware. Users can record videos in 1080p at 30 frames per second, ensuring reasonable video capture quality. The front-facing camera is 2 MP with HDR features, rather modest for high-quality selfies but usable for basic video calls.

Battery Life

The device is powered by a non-removable Li-Po 2000 mAh battery. Battery performance varies depending on usage, but users can expect up to 345 hours on standby and approximately 7 hours of talk time. For music enthusiasts, the phone offers around 12 hours of uninterrupted playback. While not extraordinary, the battery performance is in line with the expectations of a budget smartphone.

Operating System and Interface

The YU Yunique Plus runs on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. While slightly dated, Android Lollipop introduced several beneficial features, like a more comprehensive notification system, Material Design for a more polished UI look, and improved performance. Users of this device benefit from the Android ecosystem, with access to its vast library of applications.

Network and Connectivity

Network capabilities include GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies. The device supports 2G, 3G, and 4G bands, allowing it to connect to various networks efficiently. LTE Cat4 enables download speeds up to 150 Mbps and upload speeds up to 50 Mbps. In terms of connectivity, the phone provides Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP and aptX, GPS with GLONASS, and FM radio with RDS and recording features. However, NFC support is absent, which is common in budget phones.

Additional Features

The phone includes dual SIM slots supporting dual standby and is equipped with standard smartphone sensors like an accelerometer and proximity sensor. It has a microUSB 2.0 port with OTG support, allowing connection with various USB peripherals.

Overall Assessment

In summary, the YU Yunique Plus offers a balanced experience at an affordable price of around 80 EUR during its market availability. While it doesn't outperform in any particular category, its straightforward design, decent performance for basic tasks, and practical features made it a noteworthy option for budget-conscious individuals in 2016. With robust build quality, notable battery life, and acceptable display characteristics, it caters well to users seeking essential smartphone functionality without any extravagant additions.