YU Yutopia The Ultimate Specs Price Pros & Cons Unveiled

Overview of YU Yutopia

The YU Yutopia, released in December 2015, positioned itself as one of the flagship models of its time, aimed at delivering a superior smartphone experience with high-performance components and a durable design. Although discontinued, it was meant to bring intense competition to the flagship segment dominated by bigger brands, offering power, style, and innovation.

Design and Build Quality

The YU Yutopia boasted a sleek, slim design with dimensions measuring 146.6 x 72.7 x 7.2 mm and weighed in at just 159 grams. The device featured a metal body, contributing to a premium feel and enhanced durability, making it stand out from the plastic builds common in its category at the time. The hybrid dual SIM slots (allowing either Micro-SIM or Nano-SIM) provided flexibility in connectivity options. Available in a striking Silver color, the Yutopia had a distinguished look that appealed to users demanding aesthetic quality alongside functionality.

Display Features

The phone featured a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, offering a pixel density of approximately 565 ppi. This high-resolution display provided users with vibrant colors and sharp images. Additionally, the screen was protected by Corning Concore Glass, which offered an extra layer of durability, ensuring protection against scratches and minor drops.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the YU Yutopia ran on the Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 chipset, supported by an octa-core CPU configuration, including four Cortex A57 cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.5 GHz. The integrated Adreno 430 GPU provided enhanced graphical capabilities, ensuring smooth gameplay and media consumption. This powerful combination was supported by 4GB of RAM, which allowed for efficient multitasking and sustained performance across various applications.

Storage and Expandability

The device was equipped with 32GB of internal storage, which at the time was considered more than sufficient for most users. However, recognizing the growing need for more space, YU included a microSDXC card slot for expandable storage, utilizing the shared SIM slot, thus providing flexibility for users seeking additional storage capacity for apps, media, and files.

Camera Capabilities

YU Yutopia catered to photography enthusiasts with its 21 MP rear camera featuring an f/2.2 aperture, 27mm wide lens, PDAF, and optical image stabilization (OIS). Users were able to capture detailed and vibrant photos with enhanced stability for better video capture, supporting 4K video recording at 30fps and slow-motion videos at 720p@120fps. The camera also featured dual-tone LED flash, HDR, and panorama modes. The front-facing camera housed an 8 MP sensor, suitable for high-quality selfies and video calls.

Software and User Experience

The Yutopia operated on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with the Cyanogen 12.1 custom user interface. Cyanogen OS was known for its rich customization options, providing users with enhanced control over device settings and themes. This brought about a unique user experience compared to stock Android, with additional privacy and security features, improving user interaction and personalization.

Battery Life and Charging

Fueled by a non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery, the phone promised a reliable performance with up to 8 hours of talk time and a standby life of up to 300 hours on a 3G network. It supported 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 2.0 technology, allowing users to recharge their devices rapidly, thus minimizing downtime.

Connectivity and Communication

In terms of connectivity, the Yutopia supported LTE Cat4 speeds with a selection of 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE bands, ensuring a wide network compatibility across various regions. It included Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, and hotspot for seamless internet access. Moreover, it featured Bluetooth 4.1, GPS with GLONASS for navigation, FM radio, and a microUSB 2.0 port with OTG support, broadening its utility. While it lacked NFC, the provided options were well-suited to typical usage conditions at that time.

Sound and Audio Features

The device came with stereo speakers, providing a robust audio experience, and it retained the 3.5mm audio jack, catering to traditional audio headphone users. These features were significantly valued by audiophiles looking for high-quality sound output, whether watching videos or listening to music.

Sensors and Additional Features

Incorporated sensors included a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor for enhanced security, alongside an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, barometer, and compass, contributing to an enriched user experience through various apps and functionalities that relied on these sensors.

Final Thoughts and Legacy

The YU Yutopia, priced at around 420 EUR upon release, provided a comprehensive suite of features aimed at power users and enthusiasts seeking premium build quality and performance. Though its time in the market was brief, the device left a lasting impression with its high specifications and competitive pricing strategy. The Yutopia showcased what was possible from emerging smartphone manufacturers willing to push the envelope in terms of technology and value for money.

While the YU brand has since moved on, Yutopia remains a testament to the competitive and innovative nature of the smartphone industry, representing a milestone in the history of YU's product lineup.