Yotaphone dual screen smartphone launched in India at Rs 23,499

Russian device maker Yota Devices has launched its first-generation Yotaphone dual-screen smartphone in India at Rs 23,499. The phone is being distributed by Jumbo Eletronics, Dubai and will be sold exclusively on e-commerce marketplace Flipkart starting October 17. The phone was launched globally in December 2013.

Yota Devices is a private international company which develops and produce LTE devices such as smartphones, modems and routers.

The talking point of the YotaPhone is its dual displays — an LCD primary display and an E-Ink secondary display. The latter is always on and can be used to show notifications, weather, social media updates, calendar reminders, as well as reading e-books.

As for specifications, the YotaPhone sports a 4.3-inch HD 720p display at the front, and a 4.3-inch (640×360 pixels) E-Ink display at the back. Powering the smartphone is a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor paired with 2GB of RAM, and also included is 32GB internal storage.

Also featured are 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, 1-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 1,800mAh battery, which the company claims is seven-ten times better than other smartphones. On the software front, the smartphone runs on Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

Commenting on the launch, Abdul Karim Sawan, Vice President for Yota Devices - Middle East and India said, "YotaPhone features an electronic paper display that would work as a second screen, making it possible to deliver an array of new and improved user experiences. It combines a smartphone and e-reader into one device for those who enjoy reading on-the-go even in the brightest sunlight. You can save images and information on the second screen, and it stays there, even if you lose battery power. You can save anything on the always-on display from a map to a boarding pass. Information, like a missed call or meeting reminder, stays on the always-on screen until it is no longer needed."