Manufacturers of mobile gadgets and designers have to "break" their heads a lot in order to surprise their consumers with something. Almost everything has been squeezed out of today's smartphones: the diagonal has grown to the limit, the cameras get professional matrices, and the amount of RAM on board is equal to that of our desktop PCs.
It was then that the idea arose to create a combined device with a second display. Surely, many still remember the time when we admired clamshell phones with 2 screens. But then the designers were limited on many points, where the main problem was the bulky "stuffing", but a beautiful, interesting and compact gadget could do nothing more.
With the advent of new technologies, and at the same time ultra-compact devices, where almost a semblance of a computer can be placed on one square centimeter, manufacturers have a free hand, and they rushed to conquer the new and the well-forgotten old. Moreover, there is enough space for fantasies, because there are simply no certain standards for mobile phones with 2 screens. Some make the second display narrow, others wide, others take it to the back panel or side face, andthe fourth one completely duplicates the original screen.
So, we present to your attention a review of phones with 2 screens, which includes the most remarkable models, distinguished by their quality component.
HTC U Ultra
This new 2-screen phone was introduced this spring. He burst into the market like a hurricane, sweeping away competitors in his path. They are greeted by clothes, and in our case, there is something to see here. Users were delighted with the design of the model: pleasant outlines, perfectly matched colors and overflows of the glass body in the sun - they simply cannot help but fall in love with themselves.
Besides, this Taiwanese phone with 2 screens has great sound, good cameras and excellent performance. The second display (2.5 inches) is located directly below the main ones (5.7 inches), by default it displays data on time, battery charge, and weather. It also shows notifications from background apps. The settings for the second screen are quite flexible. You can display calendar events, almost any labels on it, manage the player, set reminders and much more.
Device specifications
The basic specs of the 2-screen phone are impressive. One of these is a large 5.7-inch display on a high-quality matrix with a high Quad HD resolution (2560 x 1440 px). The latter works on Super LCD technology and is reliably protected by fifth-generation glass from the venerable Gorilla Glass.
Performance did not let us down. Modern processor "Snapdragon"821 series, 4 GB of RAM will "digest" any application without friezes, brakes and other lags, not to mention the ordinary, lightning-fast interface.
The phone with 2 screens HTC U Ultra got excellent cameras, and the main one is also equipped with optical stabilization and has great functionality. In general, the set of characteristics can be called flagship with full confidence, so the gadget justifies its high price.
The only thing that users complained about in their reviews of phones with 2 screens from NTS is the battery life. The device received a modest 3000 mAh battery. Such a battery for a powerful set of chipsets and a voracious Quad HD resolution is clearly not enough, so the smartphone almost twice a day asks for an outlet.
Estimated cost is 30,000 rubles.
YotaPhone 2
The device appeared on the market of mobile gadgets not without the help of Russian designers and engineers. The model turned out to be cute, interesting, moderately productive, but too expensive for the domestic consumer.
If it were flagship, that is, with the appropriate entourage and "stuffing", then sales would be noticeably more active. But the gadget could not find its own track in a pile of similar Chinese phones with 2 screens, so the manufacturer was forced to release the price and sell the device almost at a loss. Despite such sad marketing statistics, an underestimated smartphonedeserves attention.
Features of the model
The YotaPhone 2 device received a 5-inch screen with AMOLED technology and Full HD-scan (1920 x 1080 pixels) with a pixel density of 441 ppi. The second display of the E-Ink class, which is located on the back of the device, has a full sensor and qHD resolution (960 x 540 pixels).
Both screens are protected by the "Gorilla" of the third generation, are immune to scratches. The second screen is great for reading books, so fans of the latter will certainly appreciate the device. Working with an E-Ink matrix is many times more economical than the main display.
In their feedback, users note the impossibility of using both screens at the same time: the taps are delayed, only after some time they switch to another display.
Estimated cost is 20,000 rubles.
LG V20
Koreans are not the first time in the market of mobile gadgets phones with 2 screens. The previous generation of the series - the V10 model somehow quickly sank into a pile of other, more noble and nimble counterparts, and the new device is firmly entrenched in the tops of sales.
The V20 series has an attractive appearance and a powerful set of chipsets. In addition, after working on the bugs, the capacity of the battery (3200 mAh), RAM (4 GB) was increased, and a second powerful camera appeared.
Features of the device
The second screen is 2.1 inches (1040 x 160 px) while the first one (5.7”/2560 x 1440 px) is working, displays all the important data: date and time, chargebatteries, media management interface, and quick access to calls and instant messengers. Such a tandem could be called ideal if the manufacturer equipped the backup with the same AMOLED technology as the main display.
The phone with 2 screens received an attractive metal case, excellent cameras (16 MP + 8 MP), a removable battery and independent interfaces for SIM cards. In terms of autonomy, the performance is slightly below average when compared with Android phones. Still, a powerful set of chipsets and a second screen make themselves felt, they “eat” energy with great appetite.
Users are quite flattering about the V20 smartphone from LG, and the average rating on Yandex. Market does not fall below 4.5 points out of 5. The manufacturer slightly released prices after all presentations and sales peaks, so the model can be called more or less accessible to the domestic consumer.
Estimated cost is 25,000 rubles.
Meizu Pro 7 (Plus)
The Chinese are not far behind the Koreans and the Taiwanese, so they produce quite worthy gadgets with two screens. This summer, the Meizu brand introduced two devices to the mobile device market at once - Pro 7 and Pro 7 Plus.
They differ in two main parameters. The first model has a 5.2-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, and the second one has a 5.7-inch diagonal and a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. There are differences in the "stuffing": Pro 7 - 4 GB of RAM and 8 cores in the processor, and Pro 7 Plus - 6 GB of RAM and 10 cores. Everythingthe rest remained identical, except that on sale you can sometimes find a modification of the Pro 7 Plus with a 3500 mAh battery versus 3000 mAh in the basic configuration.
Pros and cons of models
The second screen with a diagonal of 1.9 inches (536 x 240 px) is located on the rear panel, and this performance, when compared with competitors, is very unusual. The second display, as it were, complements, continuing the style of the main camera behind the gadget. Many users in their reviews, and experts too, consider this decision a fashion “chip”, and not a practical necessity. Nevertheless, it all looks surprisingly beautiful and harmonious.
The second screen can be turned on or off through the menu, as well as a combination of mechanical keys. Also choose your favorite wallpaper, notifications displayed: time, date, weather, pedometer and even camera status, which allows you to use it for selfies.
As for the overall look, there's nothing to complain about here: an attractive metal body, ergonomically spread controls and a stunning main screen with AMOLED technology. There are no questions about the "stuffing" of the gadget: decent cameras, good sound and high performance.
Users in their reviews complained about the short battery life with such a "gluttonous" set of chipsets and a second screen, but the manufacturer put the thin body and lightness of the device in the foreground.
Estimated cost - 24,000 rubles for Pro 7; 30,000 for Pro 7 Plus.
DOOGEE T3
This model has a second screenlocated in an unusual place - on the upper beveled edge, you will not notice it right away. Judging by user reviews, the smartphone turned out to be brutal and interesting, successfully standing out in the mass of other similar devices.
The back panel is framed in leather, and the ends shine with polished metal. A similar solution can be observed in the noble Vertu family. Despite such a specific and monolithic design, the gadget has a removable back cover, as well as a replaceable battery.
Due to the competent bevel angle, the information on the end display is perfectly visible. In the basic setting, it displays the time, calls and the status of the messenger. Wide functionality is not provided for it in principle, because the display space of 0.96 inches is clearly not conducive to this. The main task of the second screen is a detailed indication of current events.
Device features
The main 4.7-inch display received a good matrix with HD-scan (1280 x 720 px), which is quite enough for the existing diagonal. Responsible for performance is a fairly fast processor running on eight cores. Three gigabytes of RAM is enough for the smooth operation of the interface and running modern applications. The set of chipsets is not designed for stable operation of serious and "heavy" applications, therefore, in a good half of modern games, graphic settings will have to be reset to medium, and sometimes even minimal values.
Battery life with 3200 mAh batterycan be called average. The processor, main and secondary screens do not consume much energy, so even with a good load, the phone will quietly last from morning to evening.
We were also pleased with the capabilities of the cameras. The main one at 13 megapixels can take quite tolerable high-definition pictures. The front camera performed well in video messengers and in selfies. In general, the phone is worth its money, fulfills them to the fullest.
Consumer Opinion
As for user feedback, here they are ambiguous. Some consider such design decisions to be nonsense, perceive this smartphone as some kind of monster, while others, on the contrary, almost sing praises to designers for such originality. Many owners complain about the sound of the gadget. Not only did the quality of the speakers let us down a bit, but also the location is somehow ill-conceived: while working with the phone, the grill is constantly closed either with the palm of your hand or with your fingers, so the sound is hard to hear. If you turn the slider to full volume, then the bass, along with the high frequencies, breaks into a cacophony.
However, these shortcomings are more than offset by the cost of the gadget. The manufacturer from the Celestial Empire did not equip his offspring with premium chips, which we observed from previous respondents, but simply made a smart gadget with a democratic price tag for its characteristics. Estimated cost is 9,000 rubles.
