Yota has finally released version 2 of its dual-sided smartphone, and this time round – it’s a device you’ll want to buy, boasting high-end hardware under the hood along with that ever useful, always-on, e-ink screen.
As usual with interesting devices like these, we wanted to sum it up for you; so here’s the list of 4 things you should know about YotaPhone 2. Let’s roll…
1. Really innovative device
When you think about it, all modern smartphones look the same. They have a big screen on one side and camera (with flash) on the other. LG also adds few buttons to the back of its devices. YotaPhone is innovative because it makes sense of that extra space which is seldom used for anything useful. The phone’s second screen is used for reading and keeping some information available at all times, even when your phone dies out.
2. Specs
The YotaPhone 2 is a high-end device, though it doesn’t use the latest processor. Here’s what’s it all about:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor clocked at 2.2 GHz
- 5-inch full HD (1080p) Gorilla Glass 3-protected main screen
- E-ink, Gorilla Glass 3-protected rear screen
- 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage
- 8MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, 2MP front-facing camera
- 4G LTE connectivity, Wi-Fi, NFC
- 2,500 mAh battery
- Size: 144 x 69.5 x 8.9 mm, weight: 145 grams
3. Cool features
That second display comes with some amazing technology, including:
- YotaEnergy – this mode automatically switches all key functions, including calls and texts, to the Yota Always-On Display once battery life reaches 15%, providing another 8.5 hours of use.
- YotaMirror – allows you to use any Android application on the Yota Always-On Display. Some apps work better than others, though.
- YotaSnap and “Life after death” – Grab a crucial bit of information from the color display such as a map, meeting location or the QR code from a travel ticket and preserve it on your Yota Always-On Display. The best part is that this information can be kept on the screen even if your battery dies completely.
- YotaCover – cool feature that “brings beauty and personalization to your device without giving anything away to onlookers.”
4. Availability and pricing
YotaPhone 2 costs 555 GBP in the UK and around 700 EUR elsewhere in Europe. It is now on sale in 20 countries across the Old Continent, the CIS and the Middle East at yotaphone.com and a variety of channel partners. The device will also be available in Hong Kong by the end of December this year and Taiwan in Q1 2015. Availability for China and additional Asian markets will also begin in Q1 2015 with USA, Canada and Latin America availability coming soon after.