The YotaPhone has had a rough time to market, and while there might be a new version on the way to shelves later this year, the company hasn’t given up on their original device that got them started. The original YotaPhone certainly doesn’t look as impressive as the second-generation model, but it still features those intriguing dual-screens, giving you an e-Ink display around back. Now, the device has gone up for sale in the UK and unfortunately, it isn’t quite as affordable as we’d like. For an unlocked device free of contract however, we’ve seen much worse.
If you’ve forgotten what the YotaPhone features (and we wouldn’t blame you) it’s got a 4.3-inch 720p display, and another 4.3-inch display on the back, which is your e-Ink display capable of displaying all sorts of info on the go, like boarding passes, news, notifications and more. It’s a great idea and we wouldn’t be surprised if it caught on to other brands aside from the YotaPhone. Inside you’ll find a dual-core Snapdragon S4 at 1.7 Ghz, which really doesn’t sound like much but, there is 2GB of RAM and this should be just fine for everyday use. No matter how good that e-Ink display is, shipping with Android 4.2.2 in 2014 really isn’t a good idea, and we’re hoping for a swift update to at least Android 4.3.
The e-Ink display here is really the star of the show and YotaPhone have loaded the device with software to take advantage of that on the move. It’s great for reading, of course, but it’s also great for pertinent info going through check-in, glanceable info without a drain on your battery and more. A great little addition to an otherwise mediocre device. If this sort of thing has you intrigued however, for £419 in the UK it can be yours. That’s not a great price for a device like this, after all the Moto G can be had for £129 from Amazon. What you’re paying for here of course, is the e-Ink display and the added benefit that could bring you. A nice touch then, but perhaps not priced quite right. Let us know what you guys think!