Review: YotaPhone 2
The YotaPhone 2 is certainly an interesting handset. Few phones can claim to have front and back screens, which makes the Y2 a conversation starter pretty much anywhere you take it.
The Y2's design is simple, but effective. It may lack advanced materials and crazy lines, but the e-ink display provides it with a two-faced personality offered by none others. I like the hardware, which for the most part functions well. The phone is built well and comfortable to hold and use.
The main screen looks great and competes well with most handsets in this class. The phone performed admirably in terms of signal and sound quality, despite its lack of optimization for U.S. networks. I'd say the camera does slightly better than many other 8-megapixel shooters, and the media apps are fine.
Conserving battery life is the core tenet behind the secondary e-ink screen. If you use just the e-ink screen, the YotaPhone 2 delivers days of battery life, no questions asked. In an emergency, the Yota Energy tool will let you go at least a full day when the battery has just 10% left. The e-ink screen helps save energy, of that there's no doubt. The experience of interacting with the e-ink screen, however, leaves a bit to be desired. It's slow and stuttery due to the technology that makes e-ink displays work.
The YotaPhone 2 is not for people seeking the best of the best. It's main appeal should be to people who truly do worry about battery life, who like to read books on their phone, and are interested in taking a chance on something new.
Our Ratings
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