Yutopia is not just a big deal for YU but is a big moment for an Indian smartphone brand.
It’s been just one year – that’s a long time in the smartphone space, and YU knows more than a thing or two about manufacturing buzz. Part of that buzz has been generated by a seemingly unstoppable line of new launches, each device with its own ‘talking point’. But the buzz for most part has been a result of its irreverent branding that has struck a chord with the ever growing, young and demanding Indian smartphone consumer. The brand’s perceived cool quotient peppered with the Cyanogen UI experience has set it apart (even from its parent - Micromax) in a cluttered market. However will that same cool quotient be enough as the brand takes its most ambitious stride?
Yes, the Yutopia is not just a big deal for YU but is a big moment for an Indian smartphone brand. YU is making a play for the ‘flagship killer’ sweepstakes, a sweet spot in the Rs 20,000 – Rs 30,000 segment where brands like OnePlus are the big daddies. We heard the flagship killer moniker first when OnePlus One made its dream debut and the Yutopia aims to take the fight right there. It certainly has the good looks to belong in that space. Elegant design has been one of YU’s strengths; it’s what helped even a sub Rs 5,000 device like the Yunique stand out. The Yutopia goes all metal with clean lines and a solid build; if there’s one minor crib it’s how the device is slightly difficult to grip making it an ideal candidate for a protective case.
The now YU trademark round camera lens and flash unit (reminiscent of the Lumia 830) rests on the top rear of the device. A fingerprint sensor is located just below the lens. There’s a dual SIM slot on the left spine that can support a Nano SIM and a Micro SIM. The Nano SIM slot also doubles up as a Micro SD slot (Support up to 128 GB). We like how YU has inserted dummy cards so that you don’t mix up the slots and damage the device. But still, I’m not a big fan of a single tray trying to multi-task. The Yutopia sports a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display (1440 x 2560 pixels / 565 PPI); it’s one of the most impressive in this price band whether you need to watch a movie on the go or read a text-heavy document.
The device is mighty quick – toggling between screens was seamless, gaming was a breeze and the camera snaps images in a flash. The brilliant hardware also complements the light, clutter-free Cyanogen (12.1) OS. The device clocked 4004 in our PCMark test (Work performance score) and 67161 on the new version (6.0) of the AnTuTu Benchmark test. The 21MP shooter produces good results across scenarios; you might love or hate the minimalist camera menu (similar to stock Android) though. The 8MP front cam snaps more than acceptable selfies; the fingerprint scanner on the rear doubles up as a camera trigger on selfie mode – very cool touch. The images below will fetch you further clarity on the camera quality.
Ambient light close-up shot
Low light close-up shot
The fingerprint sensor is no longer an unusual sight in devices in the sub Rs 30,000 segment – the Nexus 5X has one of the most impressive sensors in this price band. Unfortunately the sensor on the Yutopia is not very responsive and is one of the device’s weak links. After a point I found myself using the numeric code instead of the sensor. YU has proclaimed that the Yutopia is the world’s most powerful phone (!). It’s obviously a tough claim to validate but with a Qualcomm 2GHz Snapdragon 810 (64-bit) Octa-core processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of Internal memory (aside from the Micro SD slot) you are more than covered. The 3000 mAh battery should work for most average users; we got through a 12-hour day with a mix of 4G and Wi-Fi using WhatsApp, Gmail, about 30 minutes on YouTube and camera usage and about 15 minutes of gaming.
The Yutopia has its shortcomings (like its fingerprint sensor) but is still an impressive device; among the best thus far from an Indian brand. It’s lightning quick with a cool UI and ticks many boxes. But at Rs 24,999 it’s clearly not alone; there are quite a few devices that merit your consideration in this price band including the Nexus 5X and the OnePlus Two.
What we liked: solid design, great blend of hardware and software
What we didn’t like: inconsistent fingerprint sensor
Price: Rs 24,999 /-
QUICK SPECS
- Qualcomm snapdragon 810 processor (64-bit, 2.0GHz Octa-core)
- 4GB RAM / 32 GB onboard memory (Extendable up to 128 GB)
- 21MP rear camera with dual LED flash
- 8MP front facing cam
- 5.2-inch IPS LCD display(2560 x 1440 pixels / 565 PPI)
- 3000 mAh battery
- Android 5.1 (Lollipop) and Cyanogen 12.1 OS
- Dual SIM
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 "YU Yutopia, latest smartphone in India, OnePlus, Qualcomm Snapdragon 810Memory, octa-core processor, Qualcomm, Micromax")
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