A thin phone with two screens. Dual-screen smartphone from Fujitsu

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Specifications

Android 4.4.3
Qualcomm 800 chipset, 4 cores up to 2.2 GHz, Adreno 330 graphics accelerator
2 GB random access memory, 32 GB built-in, of which 25 GB is available to the user
Main screen 5 inches, 1080x1920 pixels, 480 ppi, AMOLED (Samsung), automatic adjustment backlight, up to 5 touch points
Second eINK screen, 4.7 inches, 960x540 pixels, full touch screen, including support for two-finger zoom;
Front-camera 2 megapixels, main camera with autofocus and LED flash, 8 megapixels resolution
Built-in Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 2550 mAh, operation up to one day using two screens, up to two days with active use of the second screen. Up to 50 hours of reading books from the second screen;
Supports LTE, Bluetooth 3.0, NFC, USB on the Go;
nanoSIM;
Case colors - first the device comes out in black, then white

Contents of delivery

Telephone
Charger with USB cable
SIM card tray removal clip
Wired stereo headset
Instructions

Positioning

It is difficult to distinguish what is more in the story with YotaPhone, political background, involuntary as well as conscious PR at the state level, or a real product that can be perceived as something you can buy in a store. There is no way to avoid political overtones in discussing this device; it will haunt the creators of this device, and to some extent they become hostages of the situation. Yota Devices is co-owned by the Rostec state corporation, and its director Sergei Chemezov showed the first YotaPhone dummy to the country's top officials back in 2010. Since then, the trail of government attention to the first Russian smartphone project has not weakened, but only intensified. This is a rare case when the invested funds led to the appearance of a really working product, and not an exhibition sample that never went into production. Moreover, a year after the release of the first device, the second generation comes out, in which new capabilities are implemented, and the technical and technological features are at a completely different level. But the hype around this product arose even before the moment of its presentation, so much so that the phone itself has long been forgotten and has become secondary; who “advertises” it and how it comes to the fore.

The Russian President set the tone; at the APEC summit in Beijing, he presented a sample of YotaPhone 2 to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

A joke immediately appeared that this phone was being transported nearby, from China to China. To some extent, it is logical to talk about the absurdity of such a gift, but if we consider that the vast majority of electronics are produced in China, then we can safely consider all of them to be Chinese and then it is not worth giving them to officials of the Celestial Empire. But we must admit that the YotaPhone idea is original, has no analogues and has not been copied by anyone, including the Chinese. And this is a Russian product, no matter how they try to claim the opposite. You and I are so accustomed to the fact that nothing worthwhile can be created in Russia, and there is no production as a class, that we are ready to throw out the baby with the bathwater. In “Spillies” I discussed why this product can and should be considered Russian, I don’t see any point in repeating the arguments, read that material.

But against the background of the state PR of this project, one can definitely assume that it will not be perceived within the country as something sensible. Vladimir Putin’s car rally in a canary-colored Lada immediately comes to mind; many jokes were born back then. Ruthless PR from Tina Kandelaki added fuel to the fire; she gave the phone to Ramzan Kadyrov, and he published pictures of it on his Instagram. Look at the photo, it seems to me that it conveys the very essence of how this project is perceived by ordinary Russian residents.

Probably, for officials there cannot be too much with Putin, but for commercial product there's too much of it. And if you remember that the first YotaPhone was bought by the dozens by the Ministry of Communications and was given to government officials at various levels as proof of the ability to create something similar, then it becomes completely sad. I never had the chance to meet an ordinary person with a YotaPhone in the real world, somewhere in the subway, restaurant, cafe. I think that most readers have not seen such people, and remembering the aggressive coverage of the phone’s release for sale, the stories on most federal channels, and as a result - huge interest in the device from potential buyers, a picture of the apocalypse arises. The formula that emerges in the head of any even more or less thinking person is this: aggressive and noticeable PR with the help of an administrative resource, the absence of YotaPhone users around. What's the obvious conclusion? A fake project that didn't take off. Let's admit that this is exactly what most people in Russia think, who have at least heard something about this device. And, apparently, the situation with the second YotaPhone is repeated according to the same scenario.

In an interview with Vedomosti, General Director Vladislav Martynov said that the cost of creating development centers, two phone models, as well as sales offices, obtaining patents, in a word, building a phone production business, amounted to $50 million. At the same time, he especially emphasized that no money was received from the state for this project (Rostec owns a stake in the company). The first phone was and is sold in 19 countries around the world; it can be considered as a trial balloon. And I especially want to emphasize that throughout the world it is perceived exclusively as a Russian product. But in Russia, people have a completely different understanding of this issue, and they consider this device to be Chinese or something else, which is unfair.

Our consciousness is determined by our environment and emotions. I admit honestly that it is difficult to react adequately to YotaPhone, since the general mindset is such that this product needs to be branded - it has become fashionable. Moreover, most of those who do this have never held it in their hands, and, most likely, will never pick it up. It’s just an emotion, a mood, if you like, which, like blinders on the eyes, does not allow one to evaluate the product as such and its capabilities. Although, following the saying, if you struggle for a long time, something will work out - we can say that Yota Devices will gradually not only learn how to make good devices, but also solve a number of other problems, for example, they will be able to create a phone with an adequate market value. By and large, the second generation YotaPhone is already a good product that can be assessed meticulously and without any discounts, it has one flaw - it is high cost.

The time at which this device comes out can play a cruel joke on it. Sanctions from Western countries, and YotaPhone is our response to them. It will be enough for a few more politicians to praise this device, and mass sales in Russia for ordinary consumers it will be possible to put a bold cross. Or put in a lot of effort, which, in turn, will affect the cost of the device. It turns out to be a vicious circle, and therefore the YotaPhone 2 project is acquiring more and more political features, although Yota team Devices is trying its best to avoid this. But the shareholder, represented by the Rostec corporation, has his own view of things and promotes the device as best he can. The road to high sales is not paved with good intentions, and until the PR of this device by government officials changes, it has little chance of success in Russia. Namely, success in Russia is vital for this device, since the native market is able to provide support and give massive sales, which will automatically lead to a reduction in the cost of subsequent devices.

For technology fans, the second generation YotaPhone is an interesting example of what you can get from stock Android with some extra effort. Interesting toy to explore. For officials this perfect way show their commitment to Russian products by abandoning the iPhone. But something tells me that officials will be reluctant to choose YotaPhone; there are simply no levers to force them to do this. For an ordinary, rational consumer, this is an expensive device, where price is a blocking factor, and it is this that will scare away buyers. Sales of the second YotaPhone may be higher than those of the first generation, but you should not expect any noticeable success yet. There are simply no prerequisites for this, and the success of this device outside Russia is possible, but there the price also becomes a blocking factor. But as a direction of development, this device is not just interesting, but very important for Russia. It is possible that by the third, fourth, fifth generation we will get devices that will be perceived completely differently and will reach a mass audience. To some extent it is a pity that this will not happen instantly, since technical solutions in YotaPhone 2 are quite interesting. However, let's talk about everything in order and in detail. I apologize for such an unusually long preface, but the product is so odious in Russia that there was no way to do without it.

Design, dimensions, control elements

In the first generation of YotaPhone they tried to play with the curvature of the case, so that when people tried to put the eINK phone with the screen up, they did it automatically. It turned out unusual, but somewhat angular, and the size of the screen was such that the device stood out from the usual dimensions of flagships of that time. A little smaller and thicker.

Some people liked it, but most remained indifferent. The design didn't appeal. In the second generation, the diagonal of the main screen changed, it became 5-inch, which means that the device grew in size and began to correspond to other devices in this segment.

The design of YotaPhone 2 cannot be called bright and unusual; it has absorbed the features different devices. The shape of the case, when it is turned towards you with a black and white screen, is somewhat reminiscent of HTC flagships. When you look at the main screen, it appears that there is not a speaker at the top, but a button, like on the Galaxy S3. A kind of collective image, which turned out not as a sum of different components, but as a certain new quality. When you look at the front panel with the main screen, what you see is an ordinary Android smartphone, of which there are hundreds, if not thousands. It is impossible to recognize anything unusual in it; there is not even an inscription with the name of the device. We turn the device over, and we see a unique design, because the screen is always on.

It's hard to overstate that the eINK screen always works. This makes the device feel completely different; it lives its own life, looks something unusual in your hands or on the table. The opinions of those who saw this phone in my hands were clearly divided. Some said that they didn’t like the design, while others, on the contrary, praised the fact that you can display any picture or information. In my opinion, constantly working black and white screen(it also reflects shades of gray!) – this is a feature that will be revealed even more in the future. So far, Yota Devices simply does not have enough weight on the market to show all the advantages of such an approach and make it fashionable, and therefore in demand.

The case is made of matte plastic, it is expected that there will be two colors - black, which will be the first to hit the market, and the device white. Phone size – 144x69.5x8.9 mm, weight – 145 grams. It fits well in the hand and is quite similar in size to modern devices of the same class.

The screens are covered on both sides with Corning Gorilla Glass, the quality of the glass is very good, there is an oleophobic coating, and fingerprints are almost invisible on the main screen. The quality of this coating is at an excellent level, no worse than on the best devices from other manufacturers.

There are no hardware keys under the main screen; all the buttons are on the screen, they are virtual. Above the screen is a front-facing 2-megapixel camera, and right there is a hole for the main speaker. On the right side you can see the volume rocker, it can be removed using a needle, inside you will see a tray with a nanoSIM card.

In the first YotaPhone, the SIM card was hidden behind the on/off button; the design was a little simpler, but also original. The power button was made separate because its pressing should be detected as accurately as possible. Yota engineers have ensured that the phone understands by your grip which side and which screen it is facing you, respectively, pressing a key activates either the main or the second screen. This feature is not found anywhere, since there are no similar devices with two screens. But such a development can easily find application in various devices with touch surfaces and unusual shapes, for example, a sphere. It is possible that in this case Yota Devices will be able to sell patents for this development. On the other hand, large manufacturers, for example, Samsung, have had similar prototypes ready for several years, and also have relevant international patents. In the video you can see how turning on screens with one button works. The number of random and incorrect operations is almost zero, everything works perfectly.

At the bottom end you can see the hole for the microUSB connector, and there is also a speaker grille. At the top end there is a 3.5 mm jack.

Now let's move on to the rear surface, which can be called as such, because the second screen is located here. Above it, exactly in the middle, there is an 8-megapixel camera eye and an LED flash. This arrangement is much better than in the first generation device; your finger does not accidentally cover the lens with any grip.

The build quality of the phone is top five, there are no gaps, perfectly fitted surfaces. The phone is very durable, scratches do not appear on the body, including on the second screen. True, if you shake the phone in your hands, you will hear the SIM card holder mechanism moving, but this does not affect the strength of the structure. The design is not amazing, but in real life it is very pragmatic and fits well into the tasks assigned to the phone and its second screen.

Displays - main and second eINK screen

The technical characteristics of the screen are ordinary - it is a 5-inch screen with HD resolution 1080x1920 pixels, 480 ppi, AMOLED, manufactured by Samsung. This is by no means a cheap screen that has good color rendition, color gamut. But no additional operating modes, as in SuperAMOLED screens. I often come across erroneous definitions of this screen as being made using SuperAMOLED technology, but this is a regular AMOLED. IN this moment Samsung does not sell its SuperAMOLED screens to anyone; it reserves them for its own products. The difference between the two types of screens is that in those with the Super prefix, you can change the color gamut settings, which directly affects the perception of the picture - it can be either calm or brighter, even acidic, flashy colors.

In terms of picture quality, I really like the screen in YotaPhone 2, it is quite vibrant, automatic backlight adjustment works correctly in all conditions. There are no special operating modes for the screen, there is no information output, like on Nokia phones (also matrices from Samsung), there is no energy saving mode and there is no image conversion mode. gray colors, like Samsung, because YotaPhone has a second eINK screen, which gives greater benefits in performance and operating time.

In the sun the screen remains readable and no problems arise with the device.

The second eINK screen has a diagonal of 4.7 inches, a resolution of 960x540 pixels, and no backlight. Compared to the first YotaPhone, the diagonal has grown from 4.3 inches, and the resolution has changed, previously it was 360x640 pixels. The screen still displays up to 16 shades of gray, but the screen refresh time has been fundamentally changed. You can even watch videos on it, there are no problems other than color restrictions. While navigating around the city on Google Maps the map is drawn as quickly as possible, you can zoom it and move around. This is a big plus, since in fact you can use any content on the second screen and the limitation is not so much the resolution as the lack of color. Many people have an analogy with e-books, where the screen refresh rate in older models was by no means optimal. This has not been the case for a long time, but the stereotype continues to live. In this phone, the second screen can be considered full-fledged; in a separate chapter of the review I will tell you how it can be used.

By the way, on the eINK screen the picture looks very good, but in the screenshots in the review the fonts have serifs and are a little blurry. This is rather a drawback of the screenshots themselves; in real life it is not so noticeable and hardly noticeable.

The lack of backlight is a minus, but there is a main screen on which all information can be displayed, and it can work in full mode. So this cannot be considered a serious disadvantage.

Hardware platform, memory, performance

The development of the device began more than a year ago, so it should not surprise you that it uses the maximum chipset at that time in terms of characteristics - Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, it has 4 cores and a maximum frequency of 2.25 GHz. It is clear that over the past year there have appeared updated versions This chipset, first of all, they provide better power consumption and more balanced performance. But it’s impossible to call the Snapdragon 800 not a very productive solution; its capabilities are enough for most typical everyday tasks, and even for heavy toys.

The amount of RAM is 2 GB, but the built-in memory is 32 GB, of which about 25 GB is available to the user. There is no way to install additional memory, since there are no memory cards provided.

Performance in synthetic tests is average, which is typical for such hardware characteristics.

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery has a capacity of 2550 mAh, the full charging time is about 2 hours 30 minutes. It is enough for a full day of work with a load, or for two days with a very light load - a couple of calls, up to 30 minutes of using the screen. Considering that the chipset is well known and the results obtained are expected, you should count on a full workday; if the load is very heavy, you will have to charge the device after lunch. These are typical results for this type of device; for example, the Vertu Aster demonstrates similar performance because it has a similar hardware configuration.

When using only the eINK screen, up to 50 hours of reading time is possible. But the figure is a little disingenuous, since in practice you still get two screens working in most modes. It’s a pity, but the Android utility only shows the operating time of the main screen, and does not take into account the second screen at all. Therefore, when the device worked for two days, it was not minimal use at all, as it might seem, but full-fledged work with it, but on the second screen. How can I prove it? Nothing, it is impossible to measure this time directly at the moment.

In the settings, you can configure a parameter such as YotaEnergy, this is a classic performance limitation plus disabling various communications, for example, you can switch to only 2G calls, remove the Internet connection. You can set the percentage of battery charge at which this mode is activated - 5, 10 or 15 percent plus an arbitrary value. In this mode, the device works noticeably longer, but the question is how able you are to choose correctly what to refuse without causing damage. For example, I can recommend turning off NFC, as well as Bluetooth, if you do not use them, and setting a limit on processor performance. I think you will not lose the smoothness of the interface and its speed, but the device will live much longer. However, these tips apply to any modern smartphone.

The second screen consumes almost no energy and displays information, which makes its use in this product significant; in any case, you get more than on any other phone. But it is impossible to say that in normal scenarios of using the phone there is some kind of breakthrough in energy consumption, a miracle did not happen.

Communication capabilities

The device fully supports LTE; no problems were found on Russian networks. The built-in NFC can be used both to pair with other devices and to pay for purchases, if you have the appropriate software from the bank. I will note the standard ones Bluetooth profiles, there are no revelations here. Overall it's ordinary modern smartphone, which also added USB on the GO, you can connect external flash drives and other devices to the corresponding connector.

Camera

The first YotaPhone had the same 8-megapixel camera with autofocus; it did not change much by the second generation. Due to the slightly different screen, photos on a phone look great, but on a computer they are noticeably inferior in terms of perception. Far from iPhone 6, and not comparable to most Chinese companies, this is a typical average level.

Among the interesting features, I would like to note the appearance of an electronic level when using the zoom during video shooting. But this is where the features end; the set of settings is very standard, as is the interface.

Look at the examples of photos and videos, I think they will all speak for themselves.

Interface, dual screen control – ergonomics

There are no other smartphones on the market with two screens, so Yota figured out exactly how to organize work with them and make communication with the phone as comfortable as possible for any consumer. When you first turn it on, there is a program that shows you how to use these screens; it explains everything clearly in a few minutes. Unlike the first generation, the convenience of the phone has changed dramatically; the full touch screen on the back side gives a completely different perception of the model. If in the first YotaPhone it was necessary to remember movements on the touch pad, which were far from intuitive, then here the usual control from the screen, like on any other device.

In Android mode, you can work as usual on a smartphone, but as soon as you want to switch to the second screen, just press the center key. In all Android smartphones it runs Google Now, here also calls up a menu in which there are two additional items. YotaSnap becomes optional; it is an opportunity to take a screenshot. Why optional? The reason is that the standard mechanism for taking screenshots is supported - the volume down button and the power button at the same time. But you can also take pictures from the second screen, just press the power button and the volume up key. Convenient and understandable.

The remaining action is called YotaMirror. By selecting it, you turn off the main screen and go to the second one. It displays the menu you were in. Moreover, it supports screen rotation and display of any content. It is important to emphasize here that you should choose the wallpaper of your main desktop so that it looks good on the second screen, otherwise the icons you need will be lost in the diversity. Programs that use backgrounds in the style of old paper look bad on such a screen, the text gets clogged. For example, in the CoolReader reading program this is clearly visible.

But otherwise, the second screen is no different from the first, you can use any program - even a game, even system utility. At some point, I realized that it was convenient for me to work on the second screen and I often stayed on it without switching to the main mode.

Yota decided to show how you can use Android capabilities for the second screen, and created several toys in which it is used. These are chess, checkers, Sudoku, 2048. In each game you select settings on the main screen, and then the game itself begins on the second, black and white display. For chess lovers, this is an ideal option; you are constantly looking at the game, the screen is always on.

You can read books in the YotaReader program; several classic works are offered pre-installed. You can download your books, there's not much to say here as the ereader function is well implemented and the touch screen makes reading even more convenient. For those who are already accustomed to other programs or have books purchased in them, it will not be difficult to read in them. For example, in the video I show how you can use Amazon Kindle for these purposes.

In the YotaHub settings you can select two modes of operation of the second screen. The first and simplest is called YotaCover, these are covers from the device’s memory, from a Facebook album, Instagram plus icons about events. No personal information is displayed, that is, the phone simply displays pictures. They can be shown in slide show mode at a certain specified interval; this has almost no effect on energy consumption.

The second mode is YotaPanel, here you can customize widgets, which are quite beautiful and can display information about your letters, weather, messages, meetings and the like. There can be several such screens, and setting them up is not difficult.

From these widgets you can view mail or SMS, and immediately respond to them by typing text on the screen. Comfortable? Definitely yes. Another thing is that, for example, continuous text input without lifting your finger from the second screen is impossible, and if you are used to it, then you should use the main screen. But writing a few words from the second screen is quite convenient, and most importantly, it’s fast. I was latently afraid that, as in the first YotaPhone, I would have to jump between screens, but this did not happen.

From the point of view of interface convenience and its logic, the second YotaPhone is radically different from the first. If in the first one the presence of a second screen was often perceived as a feature that did not provide real convenience and required a return to the main screen, then here everything is exactly the opposite. This is a full-fledged screen with all the ensuing consequences. The device has become much more convenient in everyday life, and this is a huge plus in its karma, as well as a plus for its developers.

The scenarios for using the second screen can be listed for a long time, there are a lot of them. From banal book reading, which is convenient on eINK, to navigation using any program. Maps are rendered efficiently and quickly, traffic jams are not visible, but this is not necessary in navigation mode. And the readability of such a black and white screen is much higher than that of a smartphone with a color screen. I checked this point very simply - turned on the navigation and drove for ten minutes, focusing on the main screen, looked at eINK for ten minutes.

A successful find in the first YotaPhone were pictures corresponding to the words in the SMS, for example, “I love you” or something similar, immediately accompanied by a picture on the screen. Emotionally, this will diversify communication with the device. Look only at some of the possible pictures.

The multimedia capabilities of the device are quite typical, this standard application Google Play Music, in which you can listen to your compositions, but you can also install any player of your own. There is a built-in FM radio with the ability to record broadcasts.

Playing a video is not difficult, install MX Player, and the device becomes omnivorous, digesting any video or film.

Impression

There are no complaints about the sound quality during a call; the device is not bad in this regard. The ringer volume is above average, the vibration alert is a little weak. In general, this is a typical device at the level of flagships from other manufacturers, plus or minus the same voice quality.

Unlike the first generation, YotaPhone 2 turned out to be more interesting in terms of both design and functionality of the second screen. His specifications does not correspond to the latest flagships that are presented on the market, it lags behind the market by exactly a year. For many people who measure convenience exclusively in megabytes and megahertz, this will already be an unforgivable sin. It seems to me that this is the first time that the concept of a second screen has been so fully disclosed; a touch screen changes the idea of a product. I would like the characteristics to match the latest developments of other companies, but there is also an understanding that it is impossible to create something similar almost from scratch. Even within a few years.

The product turned out to be interesting, unusual and with real use cases that distinguish it from everything else on the market. But it has a huge drawback that puts an end to it from the point of view of the mass market, and this is not politics and accompanying PR, although they introduce a lot of shortcomings in promoting the product. The big minus of YotaPhone 2 is its cost, which in Asia will be about $700, in Europe 699 euros, and in Russia from 32,990 thousand rubles. The ruble exchange rate does not play any role here, the cost of this product is very high, it differs from that of the iPhone or Galaxy S by almost two times. This includes both the cost of the second screen and the development price, which is higher than for other companies, since it is necessary to solve extraordinary problems that have not been faced by other manufacturers. This cannot be justified in the eyes of the consumer; after all, for that amount you can buy any current flagship that turns out to be better in terms of camera, overall characteristics and perception by other people. It is the price that becomes the factor that will hinder the sales of YotaPhone 2, just as the cost of 19,990 rubles did not make the first generation popular, although it was more likely to talk not about popularity, but about the fact that people did not try this device. In the second generation, those who want to try it out of curiosity will be in the minority, after all, we are already talking about a fairly significant amount.

Moreover, the price becomes a stopping factor not only in Russia, but also in most other countries of the world, while the Yota brand is not widely known and attracts the attention only of those who are interested in this topic. Even brands that are well known in the market, such as Amazon, have not been able to achieve success for their devices. Let's remember how Amazon Fire sales failed, the price of which is already $199 without a contract, and sales began at $649. Discussing Amazon Fire's mistakes, the company's president noted that there was a mistake in price positioning.

This situation reminded me of what is happening around YotaPhone 2, with one serious difference. Yota Devices does not have the resources of Amazon and the ability to obtain the minimum cost; the price of their device is such due to the relatively small production, development costs, and the high price of the second screen. And this becomes the main problem that needs to be solved in the next generation of YotaPhone. The company was able to create a high-quality, good, but very expensive product. Now is the time to work on the cost of the device, and then YotaPhone will immediately increase its target audience and increase sales. In the meantime, the device will be of interest to enthusiasts and, as we already know, Russian officials. It’s a pity, the product turned out to be quite good, but very, very expensive, which spoils everything.

When the diagonals of smartphone screens grew to the limit, camera parameters reached the level of decent cameras, and the amount of RAM became many times greater than on our seemingly old computers. Manufacturers have to rack their brains to surprise users with something. This is how the idea of a second screen in phones was born. But everything new is well-forgotten old, because many people still have fresh ideas in their minds. memories of flip phones. The first high-profile representative of the new generation of dual-display smartphones was the Russian YotaPhone, then there was a lull in this area, and companies began to rapidly reduce the frames around the screen and one after another introduce frameless models. This year, smartphones with two screens have almost become a hit - a lot of them came out, and the functionality of the additional display is often at the same level, so we decided bring together the best representatives of the genre. There is no single standard for a second screen, and it is not needed at all. Each manufacturer shows their imagination and demonstrates their idea of a second screen. Some people make it very small and narrow, others – on the contrary, quite noticeable. Some people place it above the main display, while others place it on the back panel or side end. Some manufacturers see in it only the ability to display alerts and basic information, others are trying to turn the second screen into a full-fledged one, which would be used for reading and saving energy. There are a lot of options, and we have chosen the most interesting and productive smartphones with two displays.

The smartphone was presented in the spring of this year and immediately became the center of attention. Users liked the distinctive design of the device, overflow glass case in the sun, great sound and excellent cameras, but the main feature of the model was the presence of a second screen. It is small and located directly above the main one. By default, it displays information about the date, time, battery charge and weather. Notifications from applications also appear on the display. You can customize it to display shortcuts to your most important apps or calendar events. With its help, you can control the player and set reminders for yourself.

Discounts, TOP and credit

Iris scanner

Mobile phone type

A telephone is a portable communication device used for voice communication. Some phone models, in addition to performing the main task of providing high-quality communication, have additional functions: mp3 player, Bluetooth, FM radio, etc. The main advantages of phones are compact size and low cost.
A smartphone is a phone that is equipped with an operating system that allows you to install and work with additional applications, which in turn significantly expands the functionality of the device. On smartphones, the user can fully use all the capabilities of the Internet, work with email, create and edit documents, take high-quality photographs and shoot videos. In a word, the smartphone has turned into a pocket computer and has become an indispensable human assistant. Smartphones, unlike telephones, are significantly larger (the screens of some models have already exceeded 6 inches) and are more expensive.

Type of shell

Classic monoblock– the simplest type of case, which does not contain moving parts and is presented in the form of a candy bar with an open screen and keyboard. The main disadvantage is the need to constantly block the buttons to avoid unnecessary presses. This type of case is the strongest.
Clamshell - the body consists of two parts connected to each other by a hinge. The keyboard is located on the bottom of the phone, and the screen is on the top. This design is compact in size, avoiding random clicks buttons and protects the screen. Some models are equipped with two screens: internal and external.
With hinged lid– the design of the phone has a hinged cover that protects the phone’s keyboard and prevents accidental presses on it.
A slider is a body that consists of two parts located in parallel planes and connected by a special mechanism that allows them to move relative to each other. The screen is located on the top of the phone, and the keyboard is on the bottom. This design allows for a compact phone size and avoids accidental clicks.
Slider horizontal– unlike a regular slider, the parts of the slider move apart not in a horizontal, but in a vertical plane.
A watch is a mobile phone designed in the form of a wristwatch.

Thickness, mm

Memory card slot

Is used for functional expansion phone capabilities. Modern smartphones support memory cards up to 256 GB, which in turn allows you to store a large number of photos, music, videos, navigation maps and other information necessary for the user.

Weight, gr.

Waterproof housing

Protects your smartphone from liquid getting inside the device. Modern smartphones are equipped with two standards of dust and moisture protection: IP 67 and IP 68. Smartphones with a protection standard of IP 67 indicate complete dust protection, as well as the ability to immerse the device in water to a depth of 1 meter, IP 68 – to a depth of more than 1 meter.

Shockproof housing

Allows you to maintain the functionality of your smartphone or phone under extreme operating conditions (falls, shocks). Smartphones with shock-resistant casings are popular among construction workers, tourists and people leading active image life.

Stylus included

Color

Screen diagonal, "

Diagonal screen size, measured in inches. Smartphones with smaller screen sizes fit better in the hand. A larger screen diagonal increases the amount of information that can be displayed on it, however, at the same time, the size of the smartphone and its power consumption increase.

Touch screen

The touch screen allows you to control your smartphone using touches. Due to simplicity GUI, ease of operation, quick access to device functions, the touch screen greatly simplifies working with a smartphone. Depending on the smartphone model, touch screens can recognize from 5 to 10 simultaneous touches (multi-touch). Multi-touch makes working with a smartphone much easier and more comfortable.

Curved screen

Main screen resolution

Two screens

Performance

Built-in memory capacity, MB

Built-in memory is a part of the system that is designed to store data, program codes and other necessary information. The size of the built-in memory plays an important role, since the amount of information that the user can store on the phone (programs, photos, videos) depends on its volume. This parameter plays a particularly important role in those smartphones that do not support memory cards.

Volume of RAM, MB

RAM is designed to store application files running on the smartphone. When you close the application, this data is deleted from it. The amount of RAM affects the number of applications that can be simultaneously running on a smartphone. If there is a lack of RAM, the speed of the smartphone will drop significantly.

CPU

The most important part of a smartphone, on which its operating speed and energy consumption depend. The most major manufacturers processors for smartphones are Qualcomm and MTK. Qualcomm processors They have greater productivity and lower energy consumption than MTK, but are more expensive.

Number of SIM cards

Majority modern phones and smartphones support the ability to work with two (sometimes even three) SIM cards. In practice, this allows you to stop using several phones for each individual SIM card, and use just one phone both for calls to numbers from different operators and for the mobile Internet.

GLONASS

Russian satellite system, which, along with GPS, allows you to determine location coordinates using signals received from satellites. The combined use of GLONASS and GPS allows you to more accurately determine location coordinates, and navigation program can use data from satellites of two systems.

3G (UMTS) support

The third generation network, which allows you to transfer data in a relatively high speed(in practice up to 384 Kbps). At the same time, 3G allows you to use video telephony, download audio and video files to your smartphone or phone.

WiFi

Standard for data transmission over radio channels. This technology allows you to create wireless connection between smartphones and computers, to transfer data or provide access to the Internet.

Bluetooth

Wireless technology that allows data to be transmitted over radio channels. At Bluetooth assistance the user can create a wireless connection between smartphones (for data transfer), remotely control devices and exchange voice communication.

GPS module

A device that allows you to receive signals from a satellite to determine your location. The accuracy of location determination depends on the number of satellites from which the GPS module receives signals. Thanks to the GPS module, a smartphone user can use his device as a navigator.

LTE/4G

A standard for wireless high-speed data transfer for smartphones. This technology allows you to increase the data download speed up to 150 Mbit/s depending on the frequency. LTE/4G supports operation on different frequencies(called bands) from 1 to 44. In Russia, bands 3, 7, 20, 38 are used. When choosing a smartphone, you should make sure that the required frequency is supported by the smartphone.

NFC

Wireless communication technology that allows several devices located close to each other (no more than 5-10 cm) to exchange data. In smartphones availability of NFC allows you to make instant payments to pay for purchases in a store or travel on the subway.

SIM card type

Purpose

For the elderly

The main goal of phones for older people is to be as simple and easy to use as possible. These phones are mainly used for making calls and sending SMS. Phones for older people can be equipped with larger buttons and numbers, larger screen font sizes (for people with poor eyesight), loud ringing.

Children's mobile phones

Children's phone models are available in bright colors, and the body can be made in different shapes, and may also contain parental control programs.

Platform

Android is an open operating system that allows you to install applications from third-party developers. In this regard, the production of smartphones at android base, a large number of companies are engaged, and in Play Market presented huge selection additional applications.
Windows is a less popular operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. The main disadvantage of this operating system is the significantly smaller set of applications in the Microsoft Store.
iOS is an operating system that is designed specifically for mobile devices manufactured by Apple. The main advantages of this operating system are ease of use, good optimization system operation and a huge selection of applications in App store Store.

Modern manufacturers of mobile equipment always want to surprise their users with something and add some bright and distinctive detail to a new model. Some experiment with camera megapixels, some equip their gadget with a super-powerful battery, and others decide to add an additional screen. Today, a smartphone with two screens is not such a common occurrence; few companies undertake bold experiments and implement this idea in completely different ways.

We can all remember old folding phones that had a simple color screen inside and a monochrome one for displaying the time outside. So, we do not take such devices into account, but will focus specifically on modern attempts to create a smartphone with two screens.

Since the way the second screen is implemented differs from one manufacturer to another, it is impossible to give a clear answer to the question of why it is needed: some use it to display the most important information and save energy, others use it to control the smartphone itself, and others simply surprise themselves the presence of a second screen, without giving it any special functionality. However, many users look towards such gadgets, and their presence in the hands makes them stand out from the crowd, so they are still in demand, even despite not the most low price, they use it.

So, let's begin a review of the most interesting models with two screens, the first of which began to appear long before the famous YotaPhone.

Dual-screen smartphone from Fujitsu

Fujitsu was one of the first in the world to begin such developments, which already in 2010 presented a prototype of a smartphone with two screens, although it never went on sale: apparently, it was far ahead of its time.

It looks like an ordinary clamshell, only very large, but when you open it, it turns out that the screen is located not only in its usual place, but also in place of the keyboard. The resolution of both displays was 960*480 pixels - not bad for that time. The lower part was touch sensitive, so it could be used as a keyboard to control a smartphone. The top display, by the way, also supported touch controls, so you could, for example, drag an image from one screen to another when they are positioned vertically. The configuration of the smartphone allowed the screens to be rotated so that they were in horizontal position and created a single space for browsing web pages, for example, etc.

Ava solution

Another progressive solution from 2010, when a 7 mm thick device case contained two full screens in a very unusual configuration. It looked like a miniature smartphone with an excellent color touch screen, and with the help of roller mechanisms, an additional thin flexible display could be pulled out when necessary. In this case touch smartphone turned into a full-fledged QWERTY keyboard, and the entire device into a miniature laptop.

The author of the idea was Donny Mamanov, but then everything remained at the prototype level, since there was no demand. Now, with the growing popularity of smartphones with two screens, such a development has a future.

YotaPhone and YotaPhone 2

Interesting devices from the Russian manufacturer are probably among the first with two screens that are produced for sale and fully functioning. The first model was released in 2013, and based on user criticism and some comments, the second model was released in 2014: it became more thoughtful and balanced.

YotaPhone is often called The world's first dual-screen smartphone: Although there were other developments before, this is still the first gadget that went into mass production. And it surprises not only with its two screens, but also a good technical stuffing: 2-core processor, 13 megapixel camera, 2 GB RAM, stylish design. Naturally, the main feature is the presence of a second screen made using E-Ink technology. It has the same diagonal as the main one - 4.3 inches, and is located on the back of the smartphone.

The black and white screen is easy to read, as it does not tire the eyes, it consumes almost no energy, so it works constantly in the smartphone. An additional display serves here to display information about time and events from selected applications: the list of notifications can be configured at your discretion, including privacy settings: for example, displaying only information about the SMS, but not its text. In addition, you can set wallpaper here, a funny inscription appears when you take a photo, and developers can write their own applications to interact with the second screen. Its resolution is small - 360*460, but for E-Ink this is normal. The only negative is that the display is not touch-sensitive, and you need to remember several gestures to control it. But it is possible to instantly transfer information from the main screen to the second one, and use this function, for example, when the phone is low, but an electronic ticket is stored in it, etc.

But the first YotaPhone was not without many shortcomings: users complained about the strange placement of the camera lens at the bottom, not very well-thought-out controls for the main and second display, not the most productive hardware, and low resolution of the main display. After the manufacturer was convinced that such devices were in demand, it released an updated device that is difficult to find fault with.

YotaPhone 2, released at the end of last year, received the latest operating system, a new dual-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory, improved cameras, a 5-inch color display with a resolution of 1080 * 1920 pixels and protective glass, a battery 2500 mAh, wireless charging. The second display with a diagonal of 4.6 inches has a resolution of 540 * 960 pixels, 16 shades of gray. The E-Ink display here is beyond praise: it has become touch-sensitive and can display all the same information as the main smartphone: watching movies, navigation, surfing the Internet, etc. Everything is fast, clear and of high quality, and if you are saving battery power, you can safely switch to using the second screen.

In terms of design, the second YotaPhone turned out to be much better: it is stylish, thin, not similar to the first, with a rounded rear panel. The volume rocker is combined with a SIM card slot, the battery life is long, and the photos come out great. All this with a thickness of 8.45 mm and a weight of 145 g.

Another domestically produced gadget that has two displays. The new product was introduced at the end of last year. The second screen is also located on the reverse side; it is small and serves to display the time, information about incoming calls, messages, and notifications of customizable applications. The second screen serves more as an auxiliary display and is an analogue of those small screens that were found in old clamshells.

In terms of other characteristics, we have a standard modern smartphone: 8-core processor, 4.7-inch screen with a resolution of 1280*720 pixels, 2 GB of RAM, 13 and 2 megapixel cameras, support for two SIM cards, latest Android, nice design and light weight (135 g). True, due to its interesting feature, it turned out to be a little more expensive than smartphones from the same company with similar parameters.

The Chinese manufacturer decided to surprise users with a model where both screens are color and have an excellent resolution of 1080p. The new product also became known at the end of last year.

So the smartphone is made in the form of a “clamshell”, on the inside and outside of which there are equivalent 4-inch screens with a resolution of 1080 * 1920 pixels, which means that the pixel density is a staggering 550 per inch. Other characteristics include: a 4-core processor with a frequency of 1.5 GHz, 2 GB of RAM, 16 and 5 megapixel cameras, a fresh operating system, and a 2050 mAh battery. The weight of the device is 172 grams, and there are no details of the price, release dates and operation with two screens yet.

In conclusion

Today, manufacturers are increasingly deciding to experiment with screens. So, our review did not include, for example, Galaxy Note Edge, in which the main screen forms an additional one, slightly bent from it. There are also devices on sale with slightly bent screens, etc. In the near future, smartphones that seem futuristic and unrealistic today will be perceived as something standard.

Yotaphone, a name that has already become a brand, has been on everyone’s lips since last year, when the Yota Devices team released its first smartphone. And less than a year has passed since the second generation Yotaphone went on sale, in which the developers took into account all their mistakes made in the first product and made it better in all respects. The uniqueness of this device is that it has 2 screens, one of which is always on and practically does not waste energy. But Special attention It is worth paying attention to the fact that the smartphone was developed in Russia, and apparently, it is capable of worthy competition with famous global brands operating in this industry.

As promised, the official presentation of YotaPhone 2 took place in Moscow on December 2 at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art in Gorky Park. The presentation was made by the General Director Yota company Devices Vladislav Martynov, and it was noticeable that he himself was very pleased with the result. After this, similar events were held in London on December 3, Milan and Amsterdam on December 4, and in the coming days YotaPhone 2 will also be presented in Dubai. In addition, on December 5, the company entered into a partnership agreement with Vodafone, the leading mobile operator in the world. Now the new smartphone can be purchased with a Vodafone contract for the provision of mobile communication services under both tariff plans (contract and prepaid).

“The agreement with Vodafone is important step to build a successful global business around YotaPhone 2,” says Yota Devices CEO Vlad Martynov. – We set an ambitious goal to make YotaPhone 2 a mass product all over the world. Our device, supplemented by a contract from the well-known and reliable operator Vodafone, will be of interest to an even larger circle of users.”

At the moment, YotaPhone 2 is the only smartphone in the world with two touch displays, one of which is always on. The device simultaneously combines two displays - a color AMOLED, designed specifically for YotaPhone, as well as a black and white EPD display, created based on electronic ink technology. Both screens have their own battery indicator, depending on which mode you are currently using, and for greater convenience it can be configured as a counter for the remaining days, hours and minutes. In addition, there is the possibility of wireless charging, which is carried out through the screen located on the rear panel. The smartphone is a development of Yota Devices specialists and includes more than 150 international patents. And as the developers assure, YotaPhone 2 is designed to change the usual experience of interaction between the user and the smartphone.

“We believe that YotaPhone 2 will change the way users interact with smartphones. The presence of a second EPD display allows the smartphone to be more functional while consuming less power. Therefore, in the future, many devices will receive second screens, said Vladislav Martynov, which will create a new direction in the industry. Due to the fact that the phone was developed in our country, part of its cost does not depend on the exchange rate of world currencies. The price of our device in rubles will be more stable compared to devices from other vendors.”

The characteristics of the second generation YotaPhone have been improved in all respects and correspond to modern premium devices. In particular, the main and rear screens have increased in size. The front liquid crystal AMOLED display has a diagonal of 5 inches (versus 4.3 inches in the previous model), with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (Full HD). The size of the second monochrome E Ink screen is 4.7 inches (instead of 4.3 inches) and has a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. Both screens are made of ultra-strong Gorilla Glass 3 to protect against scratches and other damage. And unlike its predecessor, the new YotaPhone uses full touch control of both screens (in the first version, only the LCD display was touch-sensitive). The product’s sensor performs well both in hot climates and at sub-zero temperatures, even if you are wearing gloves.

Despite the larger screens, the device has become thinner and lighter, its dimensions are 144 x 69.5 x 8.9 mm and it weighs 145 grams. The dual-core processor has been replaced by a new quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 with clock frequency 2.3 GHz. The smartphone carries 2 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, which, unfortunately, cannot be expanded. The main camera with LED flash has a resolution of 8 megapixels, the front one – 2.1 megapixels. The device comes pre-installed with Android 4.4 KitKat OS, but it promises to be able to upgrade to version 5 in the future. Supported wireless formats include 4G/LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC microchip, GPS/GLONASS satellite navigation system receiver, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass.

The battery in YotaPhone 2 is not replaceable, but noticeably larger than that of its predecessor, its capacity is 2500 mAh, which, when paired with an energy-efficient AMOLED, and even more so with an EPD display, shows very good results. IN normal mode, when both screens are used alternately, you can get about 1.5-2 days of operation without recharging, and if you actively use only the black and white screen (calls, SMS, e-mail, working with texts), then the operating time increases to 3 days. You can also use the monochrome display as a compact “reader”, completely turning off the main one. This is very convenient, since there is no glare from the sun, less strain on the eyes, a viewing angle of 180 degrees, and most importantly, in this mode the smartphone can be used for up to 100 hours on a single battery charge.

Another function of the EPD screen is to personalize your YotaPhone. To make it truly personal, any photo, graphic or text can be placed on it. And if we take into account the fact that it can be constantly turned on (since the captured image no longer consumes energy), this will allow you to get rid of the purchase of new panels and diversify appearance phone at any time.

If we talk about safety, then special version YotaPhone 2 is equipped software, making the smartphone unique in terms of security. The device passed the FSB test and received a KS1 certificate, confirming protection against unauthorized entry and downloading of data.

YotaPhone 2 was created as a competitive smartphone for sale on the global market, and the creation of such a product requires international cooperation. Therefore, components for YotaPhone are supplied by leading global companies (Samsung, Corning, E-ink, Qualcomm). The device is assembled in Asia at the production facilities of the Singaporean company Hi-P, whose partners include leading technology brands, including Apple, Motorola, BlackBerry. In the coming days, YotaPhone 2 will hit the market in 20 European countries, in the first quarter of 2015 in China and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, and then in Canada and Latin America. In Russia, you can purchase the device now, starting from December 6, 2014, in the Yota Retail network stores, the Yota Devices online store, as well as in Ulmart stores, the online store Ozon.ru and the network for selling media products “Delicatessen Stereo”. YotaPhone is also opening its own corners at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports. The cost of the smartphone will be 32,990 rubles, and for owners of the first YotaPhone model there is a 20% discount, and it will cost them 26,390 rubles.

Technical characteristics of the YotaPhone 2 smartphone:

Case color: Black;
OS version: Android 4.4, KitKat;
Processor: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 800 2.2 GHz quad-core;
Dimensions: 144.9 x 69.4 x 8.95 mm;
Weight: 145 g;
Case type: Monoblock with two touch screens;
SIM card type: Nano-SIM, built into the volume rocker;
Number of SIM cards: 1;
Audio output: 3.5mm AV output;
Audio formats/codecs: AAC LC, HE-AACv1 (AAC+), HE-AACv2 (enhanced AAC+), AAC ELD, AMR-NB, AMR-WB, FLAC, MP3, MIDI, Vorbis, PCM/WAVE;
File types/containers: 3GPP (.3gp), MPEG-4 (.mp4, .m4a), ADTS raw AAC (.aac), MPEG-TS (.ts), 3GPP (.3gp), FLAC (.flac), MP3 (.mp3), MIDI Type 0 and 1 (.mid, .xmf, .mxmf), RTTTL/RTX (.rtttl, .rtx), OTA (.ota), iMelody (.imy), Ogg (.ogg) , Matroska (.mka), WAVE (.wav);
FM radio: yes;
Video resolution: Full HD 1080p;
Frame rate: 30fps;
Video codecs: H.263, H.264 AVC, MPEG-4, WebM;
File types/containers: 3GPP (.3gp), MPEG-4 (.mp4), MPEG-TS (.ts), WebM (.webm), Matroska (.mkv);
Communication: GSM/EGPRS 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz; WCDMA, DC HSDPA (rel. 8, cat. 24); HSUPA (rel. 7, cat 7) bands 1 (diversity), 2, 5 and 8; LTE (rel. 9, cat 4) bands 3, 7 and 20, VoLTE;
Memory: 2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC;
Sensors: Accelerometer, compass, gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor;
Main camera: 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash;
Front camera: 2.1 MP;

COLOR DISPLAY

Technology: AMOLED;
Size: 5.0";
Resolution: Full HD 1920 x 1080;
Colors: 16M;
Resolution: 442 ppi;
Input: capacitive touchscreen;
Corning Gorilla Glass 3;
Glove operation: yes;

ALWAYS ON DISPLAY

Technology: electronic ink display;
Size: 4.7";
Resolution: 960 x 540;
Colors: 16 shades of gray;
Screen aspect ratio: 16:9;
Resolution: 235 ppi;
Input: capacitive touchscreen;
Corning Gorilla Glass 3;
Glove operation: yes;
Interfaces: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (VHT20, MSC 8), MicroUSB 2.0 (SlimPort®), Bluetooth® 4.0, NFC, A-GPS + GLONASS;
Battery type: Li-Ion;
Battery capacity: 2500 mAh;
Battery mount: non-removable;
Recommended price: 32,990 rubles / for owners of YotaPhone 1st generation: 26,390 rubles;