The YotaPhone is the first smartphone to experiment with a technology that has been around for years, but never fully been implemented in anything other than onE-Readers and early smart watches.
Of course, it's not the first smartphone to try and include an unconventional feature as a selling point, the Samsung Galaxy S5 includes a heart rate monitor while the Sony Xperia Z2 is completely waterproof.
Its E-Ink display is not only meant as a helpful tool but a meaningful alternative to the truth, which is that the more powerful our smartphones get, the more their batteries suffer. The question is, does it provide a good enough end product to answer both those points?
The maker has already unveiled at follow-up model - the YotaPhone 2 - at the MWC show in Barcelona, but it's taken this long for this – the first version – to turn up on UK shores.
Of course, it's not the first smartphone to try and include an unconventional feature as a selling point, the Samsung Galaxy S5 includes a heart rate monitor while the Sony Xperia Z2 is completely waterproof.
Its E-Ink display is not only meant as a helpful tool but a meaningful alternative to the truth, which is that the more powerful our smartphones get, the more their batteries suffer. The question is, does it provide a good enough end product to answer both those points?
The maker has already unveiled at follow-up model - the YotaPhone 2 - at the MWC show in Barcelona, but it's taken this long for this – the first version – to turn up on UK shores.
YotaPhone: Size and build
Pick the YotaPhone up and immediately it's clear that while this may not be from a well-known manufacturer, Yota Devices has in no way skimped on build quality.
On the top you'll find the headphone socket and a SIM-card slot that also doubles as the power/lock screen button, it's a neat feature and despite doubling up it feels solid.
Its sturdy plastic body feels extremely solid and well built while the wedge design is an interesting idea well executed.
If we had any reservations it's simply that there's too much wasted space, the bezels are too large, especially at the top and bottom making the screen feel smaller than it is.
On the top you'll find the headphone socket and a SIM-card slot that also doubles as the power/lock screen button, it's a neat feature and despite doubling up it feels solid.
Its sturdy plastic body feels extremely solid and well built while the wedge design is an interesting idea well executed.
If we had any reservations it's simply that there's too much wasted space, the bezels are too large, especially at the top and bottom making the screen feel smaller than it is.
