The Yu Yunique seems like a promising smartphone and could top the budget category soon.
Micromax's Yu brand has been taking on Chinese brands like Xiaomi with each new device that it launches. The Yu Yunique, priced at Rs. 4,999, is the most affordable device in Yu's lineup presently. Despite the price, though, Yunique has a spec-sheet similar to the likes of the Xiaomi Redmi 2 and other similar ones. In addition, the Micromax Canvas Spark, which comes from Yu's parent brand, is priced at Rs. 5,999, but seems pale in comparison to the Yunique. Here are our first impressions of the phone.
Let’s start with the looks, and the smaller footprint and ergonomics that comes with it are really likable up front. The 4.7-inch display, powered by an IPS LCD panel, offers HD resolution and is a category first. The display is nothing unique compared to any other sub-7K phone, but is a definite step-up compared to the non-HD panels we generally see on sub-5K devices. There is a matte finish on the back, which reminds me of the recently-launched Micromax Canvas Xpress 2. The button layout is good, with the three usual physical keys placed in line, and the good travel of the keys makes usage very convenient. The weight and overall feel of the phone are also better than what we have seen so far in the sub-5K range.
The Yu Yunique runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC, which we have seen in Yu Yuphoria and other similar phones. However, this is the first phone to feature this SoC in the sub-5K mark, and on first impressions, the performance seems impressive. It has 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, which is nothing unique, considering that Micromax Canvas Spark offers similar specs too. But, while the Canvas Spark lags occasionally, the Yunique has not lagged over the one day that we've used it so far. We have tried games like Asphalt 8 and Sky Force, and haven't found any major performance issues yet, apart from some minor gaming lags (which can be reasonably forgiven).
Looking at the UI, the Yunique is running an almost-stock version of Android Lollipop, with some tweaks added by Yu. The addition of stock Android in a Yu phone is somewhat confusing, since the company has been boasting its partnership with Cyanogen so far. You can still use Cyanogenmod though, simply by downloading it from Yu's website and flashing it, without voiding your warranty.
The rear houses an 8MP camera, which seems to take good pictures till now. Pictures taken in ample lighting conditions are good, and boast reasonably good colour saturation levels. The dynamic range of the camera could have been better, but it is still quite good at this price. Images taken in lower lighting conditions are somewhat grainy, but still better than the competition, at this price.
The only gripe I have with it, is the flash sale model. Overlooking that, the Yu Yunique seems to be the best offering in the sub-5K segment. We will know more about the phone once we are done with our review. Watch this space for more!
Buy Yu Yunique at Rs. 4,999 on Snapdeal
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Hardik Singh
Light at the top, this odd looking creature lives under the heavy medication of video games. View Full Profile
