The Yu Yureka is a big step for Micromax. It is the first phone under the new brand name YU. Micromax wants to change its image and show that it can make good phones at a low price.
Design and Build Quality
The Yureka is a 5.5‑inch phablet. That size is the same as the Xiaomi Redmi Note, which is its main rival. Even though the size is big, the Yureka feels more premium than the Redmi Note. The back of the phone uses a material called Moonstone. Moonstone looks similar to the Sandstone finish on the OnePlus One, but it feels better than the shiny plastic on the Redmi Note.
Even though the Yureka also has a plastic body, Micromax made it feel sturdy. It does not feel cheap or flimsy. The phone is not the most beautiful phone, but it is not ugly either. It is solid and well‑made. The phone is also light for its size, which makes it easier to hold.
One useful feature is the removable battery. This lets you take the battery out and replace it if needed. Many modern phones do not allow this, so it is a plus for the Yureka. The design matches the price tag and the brand’s new look.
Display Quality
The Yureka has a 720p display. This means the screen resolution is 1280 × 720 pixels. On a 5.5‑inch screen, this resolution is not very sharp. Reviewers have said that 720p screens do not look great on large phones. The colors on the screen are decent, but there is very little color shift when you look from the sides.
Because the screen is not very sharp, pictures and text may look a little blurry compared to a full‑HD screen. However, the display is bright enough for indoor use and works well in sunlight.
Overall, the display is acceptable for the price, but it does not match the higher‑resolution screens on more expensive phones.
Performance and Software
The Yureka runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 615 processor. This is an octa‑core chip that runs at 1.5 GHz. It is one of the first phones to use a 64‑bit Snapdragon chip. The phone also has 2 GB of RAM. This amount of RAM is enough for most daily tasks like browsing, social media, and light gaming.
Games such as Asphalt 8 and Injustice: Gods Among Us run smoothly. The phone can handle these games without much lag. However, the phone uses CyanogenMod 11 (CM 11) as its operating system. Reviewers have found that CM 11 is not the most stable version. Some apps crash occasionally.
Benchmarks show good numbers for the processor, but the phone can get warm after long gaming sessions. The performance is solid for a phone under Rs 10,000, and it was praised in a India Today review as the best smartphone in that price range.
Camera and Photo Quality
The Yureka has a 13 MP rear camera. Reviewers liked this camera a lot. The camera captures good white balance and colour spread. It is better than the camera on the Redmi Note, which many called the best under Rs 10,000 before the Yureka arrived.
Photos from the Yureka can look a little undersaturated. This may be due to the CyanogenMod software processing. The OnePlus One had the same issue, but the Yureka’s photos are not as dull. Among the Yureka, Redmi Note and OnePlus One, the Yureka may have the best camera.
There is no mention of a front‑facing camera in the original article, so we keep the focus on the rear 13 MP sensor.
Battery Life
The phone has a 2500 mAh removable battery. On paper, this size seems small for a 5.5‑inch phone. Micromax says that the CyanogenMod OS uses the battery efficiently. In real use, the battery does not last a full day if you play many games or use power‑hungry apps.
With lighter use, such as web browsing and occasional gaming, the phone can last about a day. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4G has similar battery life, while the 3G version of the Redmi Note does worse. The Yureka could have a bigger battery because there is space inside the phone.
Overall, the battery life is okay for a budget phone, but it could be better.
FAQ
Is the Micromax YU Yureka good for gaming?
Yes. The Snapdragon 615 and 2 GB RAM let the phone run games like Asphalt 8 smoothly. It may get warm after long sessions, but it works well for casual gaming.
How does the Yureka compare to the OnePlus One?
The Yureka is cheaper and has a larger screen. The OnePlus One feels more premium and has a more stable CM 11 version. Performance is similar, but the OnePlus One is considered a higher‑end phone.
Can I replace the battery yourself?
Yes. The Yureka has a removable battery, so you can take it out and put in a new one without special tools.
What software updates are available?
The phone ships with CyanogenMod 11. Newer CyanogenMod versions, like the Android 5.1 Lollipop‑based CM 12.1 nightlies, are available for other phones such as OnePlus and HTC, but not officially for the Yureka.
Conclusion
The Micromax YU Yureka is a solid budget phone. It offers a large 5.5‑inch screen, a decent Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB RAM, a good 13 MP camera and a removable battery. It may not have the sharpest display or the longest battery life, but it gives good value for under Rs 10,000. If you want a large phone that can handle everyday tasks and light gaming without breaking the bank, the Yureka is worth a look.