Yu Yutopia, released at ₹3,899, was a flagship-level smartphone when it first hit the market. Manufactured by Yu Televentures, a subsidiary of Micromax, this smartphone was designed to offer premium features at an affordable price.
With a focus on high performance, sleek design, and powerful hardware, the Yu Yutopia made a significant impact in the Indian smartphone market.
Design and Build
The Yu Yutopia was designed to be a premium-looking device, featuring a metal unibody that gave it a sleek and sturdy feel. At just 5.2 inches, it was compact and easy to handle, catering to users who prefer smaller phones without compromising on quality.
The phone’s matte finish and curved edges further enhanced its premium look, making it stand out in a sea of plastic-bodied phones available at the time.
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The phone’s design was not just about aesthetics; it also came equipped with a fingerprint sensor on the back, a feature that was relatively new in smartphones during its launch.
This added layer of security and convenience was a great selling point for the Yu Yutopia, especially at its price point.
Display
One of the standout features of the Yu Yutopia was its 5.2-inch QHD (2K) IPS LCD display. With a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, the screen delivered sharp and vibrant visuals, making it ideal for multimedia consumption, gaming, and day-to-day usage.
The QHD display, which was not very common in affordable smartphones, ensured that users enjoyed an enhanced viewing experience, whether watching videos, browsing the web, or playing games.
The IPS LCD panel provided wide viewing angles and good color reproduction, though it lacked the deep blacks and vivid contrast offered by AMOLED screens. However, for the price range, the display was more than adequate and one of the best features of the Yu Yutopia.
Performance
Under the hood, the Yu Yutopia was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810, an octa-core processor that consisted of four cores clocked at 2 GHz and four cores clocked at 1.5 GHz.
This powerful chipset was coupled with 4 GB of RAM, making the Yu Yutopia a performance beast at the time of its release. Multitasking, gaming, and heavy apps were handled with ease, and the phone delivered a smooth and lag-free experience for most users.
Despite the Snapdragon 810 being known for heating issues, Yu Televentures optimized the device to reduce overheating, making it more stable during prolonged use.
Coupled with Android v5.1.1 Lollipop, the phone offered a clean and near-stock Android experience with minimal bloatware, which further improved its performance.
Storage
In terms of storage, the Yu Yutopia came with 32 GB of internal storage, which was expandable up to 64 GB via a microSD card. While 32 GB was fairly standard at the time, the inclusion of expandable storage was a welcome feature, allowing users to store more apps, media, and files without worrying about running out of space.
However, it’s worth noting that the Yu Yutopia used a hybrid SIM slot, which meant users had to choose between a second SIM card or a microSD card for expanded storage.
This was a trade-off that some users found inconvenient, especially those who wanted to take advantage of dual SIM functionality.
Camera
The camera was one of the biggest selling points of the Yu Yutopia. The device boasted a 21 MP primary camera with a dual-color LED flash, making it one of the highest resolution cameras in its price segment at the time.
The camera delivered sharp and detailed images in well-lit conditions, and the dual-color LED flash helped in maintaining natural skin tones in low-light photography.
The rear camera supported various modes, including HDR, panorama, and manual mode, giving users more control over their photography.
Video recording was supported in 4K resolution, which was a remarkable feature for a phone in this price range.
The 8 MP front camera was more than capable for selfies and video calls. With wide-angle capabilities, the front camera allowed users to fit more into their frame, making it great for group selfies.
Overall, the camera setup on the Yu Yutopia was impressive for its time and price, and it performed well in most situations.
Battery Life
The 3000 mAh non-removable battery was adequate for the phone’s specs, but it didn’t set any new standards. On moderate usage, the battery could last a full day, but power users might find themselves reaching for a charger before the end of the day. The Yu Yutopia supported Quick Charge 2.0, which helped users recharge their phone faster than regular charging methods.
However, the battery’s non-removable nature meant that users couldn’t swap out the battery themselves, which was a bit of a downside for those who preferred the flexibility of a removable battery.
Connectivity and Features
The Yu Yutopia came with dual SIM support (micro + nano SIM), though it only supported 4G VoLTE in India. The absence of global LTE band support meant the device might not work well with non-Indian networks, which limited its appeal for international users or frequent travelers.
Other connectivity options included Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB OTG, and FM Radio, which was a staple in Indian smartphones at the time. The phone also featured a fingerprint sensor located on the back for quick and secure access. This feature added an extra layer of security and was fast and accurate, making it a practical addition for users.
Software
The Yu Yutopia ran on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with YU’s custom Cyanogen OS skin on top. Cyanogen OS was known for its customizability and performance optimizations, giving users the flexibility to tweak the software to their liking.
The OS provided various customization options, such as changing the system themes, modifying navigation buttons, and more.
Despite being based on Android Lollipop, the phone received timely updates during its active period, and the company ensured that users got the latest security patches.
Cyanogen OS also enhanced privacy features and offered a clean, bloat-free experience, which was something many users appreciated.
Pros:
- Premium build: The metal unibody design gave the Yu Yutopia a premium look and feel.
- High-resolution display: The QHD display delivered crisp and sharp visuals, making it ideal for media consumption.
- Powerful performance: The Snapdragon 810 processor coupled with 4 GB of RAM made the phone a performance beast.
- Impressive camera: The 21 MP rear camera and 8 MP front camera performed well for their price, offering sharp and detailed images.
- Quick Charge support: Quick Charge 2.0 helped users recharge the phone faster than traditional methods.
Cons:
- Heating issues: The Snapdragon 810 chipset had known heating problems, though Yu Televentures tried to mitigate them.
- Non-removable battery: Some users might find the non-removable battery a downside, especially if they preferred swappable batteries.
- Hybrid SIM slot: The dual SIM setup required users to choose between a second SIM or expanded storage, which could be inconvenient for some.
- Average battery life: The 3000 mAh battery was just about adequate, but power users might need to charge the phone more frequently.
- Limited 4G support: The lack of global LTE band support limited its usability for international travelers.
Conclusion
The Yu Yutopia was an ambitious device that offered flagship features at a budget-friendly price. With its QHD display, high-performance Snapdragon 810 processor, and 21 MP camera, the phone was well ahead of its competition in many aspects.
However, the phone’s heating issues, average battery life, and hybrid SIM slot were potential drawbacks that kept it from being a perfect device.
For users looking for a premium smartphone experience at a reasonable price, the Yu Yutopia was a compelling option.
It showcased how Indian brands like Micromax’s Yu Televentures were capable of producing feature-packed smartphones that could compete with global giants.