Yu Yutopia

Right off the bat, the Yutopia manages to impress. The device is positioned as a loaded flagship, and the first thing it ensures is that users are not left wanting when it comes to design and build quality. The metal unibody feels solidly built, lending it a premium feel when you hold it in your hands. The gunmetal finish means the looks are subdued and can’t really be described as flamboyant, but we still think it looks stylish. The metal is cool and smooth to the touch, though that also makes it a tad slippery.

Sticking to its loaded credentials and aiming to outclass rivals, most of which come with 1080p displays, the 5.2-inch screen on the Yutopia is a QHD affair. Offering a sharp pixel density of 565 ppi, it utilises One Glass Solution tech and comes protected by a layer of Corning Concore Glass. We appreciate the fact that YU’s chosen to go with a screen size that works well for one-handed usage, instead of taking the phablet route. Most flagship-grade phones these days come with large screen sizes, and it isn’t really easy to find a capable option in case one-handed usage and easy pocketability is high on your priority list.

YU’s partnership with Cyanogen, announced even before its first smartphone, the Yureka was launched, created quite a buzz, and has been touted as a key differentiator for its offerings. The brand’s exclusive deal with Cyanogen affected OnePlus One sales soon after this phone was launched in India, but that’s another story altogether. Cyanogen OS has been a part of almost all smartphones by YU so far (barring the budget Yunique), and the Yutopia runs the same platform as well. More specifically, it runs CM 12.1, based on Android Lollipop 5.1.1, and the next big refresh, i.e., CM 13, which would utilise Android Marshmallow, can be expected in the near future.

The primary shooter on the Yutopia is a loaded affair, much like the rest of the smartphone. Entrusted with capturing special moments is a 21-megapixel primary shooter that utilises a Sony Exmor RS IMX230 sensor. The camera boasts features like optical image stabilisation and Phase Detection Autofocus. A dual-tone flash is available to help in low-light situations. From 4K to slow motion, it can record it all. For self portraits, you get an 8MP front-facing snapper.

The top-of-the-line octa-core Snapdragon 810 processor. 4 gigs of RAM. These are ingredients for steroidal performance, and the Yutopia doesn’t disappoint in this aspect. There’s no evidence of any speed breakers – whether you use the usual productivity or social apps, or indulge in intensive gaming.