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YotaPhone 2
YotaPhone 2
YotaPhone 2
YotaPhone 2
...


7.5/10
Informr score
The YotaPhone 2 currently has an Informr score of 7.5 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 21 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Dual screen for smartphone and e-reader use
  • Good performance with no lag
  • Full Android experience on E-Ink display

What's bad

  • Ghosting issues on E-Ink display
  • Battery life good but not as impressive as company claims
  • UI navigation in native software sluggish on E-Ink display

The original YotaPhone stirred up quite a bit of interest due to its unique dual-screen design but ultimately it failed to gain traction due to the limited uses of the second screen. Despite this, Russian manufacturer is back with the sequel: the YotaPhone 2.

Although they share the same name, the YotaPhone 2 couldn't be more different from the original. The boxy build has been replaced with rounded corners and a distinctive oblong shape. While not a revolutionary design by any means, Engadget notes that, "its…shape is charming in its own right and much more pleasing to the eye than Yota Devices' first attempt…" Other reviewers add that it is also much more comfortable to hold and were amazed that it was able to maintain a thickness of only 0.4 inches despite sporting two screens.

The one thing that hasn't changed from the original is the phone's dual screen feature, though both have been improved significantly. On the front is a full HD 5-inch AMOLED display with a pixel density of 442ppi. Thanks to its high pixel count, reviewers had no problems reading small text and had no issues with pixilation on images. As well, they add that the AMOLED technology provided excellent brightness levels, vivid colors and excellent contrast. Flip the phone around and you have access to the 4.7 inch E-ink display. The updated resolution of 960x540 provides reviewers with sharp and easily legible text. Unfortunately, it still suffers from some of the same issues as the original. The biggest issue reviewers noticed was "ghosting." This term refers to the faint traces of the previous screen left behind when the display refreshes and while the company has stated it was a software malfunction that would be fixed, reviewers are not hopeful as this was also an issue on the original.

Both screens are touch-enabled and both sides can run Android on the E-ink display thanks to a new software package.The update to Yota's software has added a new level of functionality to the E-ink display. When running the full Android experience, reviewers were impressed with the overall refresh rate and general touch responsiveness. When using the native software though, they noticed it was incredibly sluggish, often taking a full second to navigate through the UI.

The specs on the Yotaphone 2, while not top-of-the-line, aren't anything to sneeze at either. It comes equipped with a 2.2GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. These specs kept the phone humming along for experts and they didn't experience any lag or stutters even when playing graphics intensive games. The main issue is the lack of storage. It only comes with 32GB of onboard storage but there is no microSD slot for further expansion. Besides the dual screens, the other main selling point of the YotaPhone 2 is its alleged longer battery life. According to the manufacturer, it should last 2 days of basic smartphone use or 5 days of only reading. When critics put it to the test, they were able to get a little over a day of heavy use on the AMOLED side and around 5 days on the E-ink. While the battery life is decent, TechRadar states, "…battery life isn't as groundbreaking as I'd hoped."

Overall, reviewers are split on the YotaPhone 2. Trusted Reviews notes, "The YotaPhone 2 has moved from technological curio to a phone we'd be happy to live with…" On the other hand, CNET states, "The YotaPhone 2 is certainly not a bad phone…but you can get much more phone for the money elsewhere."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
2.2 GHz
Processor
Processor
2.2 GHz
5"
Screen Size
Screen Size
5"
8+ MP
Camera
Camera
8+ MP
2500 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


Digital Trends
Digital Trends

The YotaPhone 2 seems uniquely suited to a very specific customer: the tech-savvy reader who only wants to tote around one device every day. It can replace a Kindle. The e-paper screen acts as an ebook reader and something of a smartwatch, thanks to the notifications and clock displayed on the alway...

- Malarie Gokey, Digital Trends
Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor

There are a lot of things to like about the YotaPhone 2 and we applaud the company for doing something different. The design is excellent and if you want a dual-screen smartphone this is the one for you (ie. don't buy the original). Although the concept works pretty well and there's potential for gr...

- Chris Martin, Tech Advisor
What Mobile
What Mobile

The potential lack of upgrades is something you should consider if your cursor is hovering over the ‘Buy’ button on YotaPhone’s website: this phone is what it is now, and possibly will be nothing more. It takes huge expense for manufacturers to update phones and create an ecosystem...

- What Mobile, What Mobile
Phonedog
Phonedog

As an overall package, excluding the secondary screen, the YotaPhone is a good smartphone. In fact, I’d have no issue using it as my daily driver. But, if you’re an avid e-book reader and don’t want to take your Kindle with you everywhere you go, the E-Paper display on the back mig...

- Cam Bunton, Phonedog
Fone Arena
Fone Arena

Concluding the YotaPhone 2 is very much like concluding a game of cricket with two very different innings. On the one hand, the cost is prohibitively expensive and the handset has a mediocre camera with average battery life and none of the gimmicks features on other flagship devices.On the other, it...

- Nirave, Fone Arena


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Yota Devices backs up the YotaPhone 2 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your YotaPhone 2 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Yota Devices support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Yota Devices's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




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Quick view

Screen Size
5"

The YotaPhone 2's screen size is 5 inches with x pixels resolution.

Processor
2.2 GHz

There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad core 2.2 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on proprietary operating system firmware.

Camera
8+ MP

You can take photos or capture video with the phone's onboard 8+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 2+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
32 GB

Internal memory is 32 GB. No external card slot is available for expansion.

Battery
2500mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 2500 mAh battery. Yota Devices's performance ratings are 17 days standby time, 2508 minutes, 264 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

YotaPhone 2 Specs

Overview
Release Date December 4, 2014
Regions Available United Kingdom
Operating System No

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 Quad core 2.2 GHz
Internal Storage 32 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.287 W/kg
Body: 0.268 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included AC Charger, Manual, Standard Battery
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling No
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) No
SIM card size
Nano-SIM
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot No
Expansion Slot Info
NFC Yes
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
8+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Panorama, Self-timer, HDR
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
2+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology AMOLED
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution x pixels
Pixel Density 442 pixels
Size 5 inches
Secondary Display Grayscale E-ink, 540 x 960 pixels, 4.7 inches
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 2500 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging Yes
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 570 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 264 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 2508 minutes
Standby Time Up to 17 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Black, White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 14.5 x 6.9 x 0.9 cm (5.7 x 2.7 x 0.4 in)
Weight 145 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):

YotaPhone 2 Manual
Related Links Quick Start Guide (PDF)
YotaPhone 2 Reviews
Where to buy YotaPhone 2
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