Yu Yureka Plus or Lenovo K3 Note? The sub-Rs 10,000 phone question
They are both offering what seems to be incredibly good hardware and software for a remarkably reasonable price - full HD displays, 2 GB RAM, powerful octa core processors, 13.0-megapixel cameras, Android L, and a lot more for less than Rs 10,000 (the prices occasionally change depending on which “offer” is making the rounds, but at the time of writing, the Lenovo K3 Note is retailing for Rs 9,999 and the YU Yureka Plus for Rs 8,999). Small wonder then that both the YU Yureka Plus and the Lenovo K3 Note are getting sold out within seconds of going on sale online.
But if you had Rs 10,000 to spend and one phone to pick, which of these two would you opt for? Well, let’s just compare the two worthies and see if we can give you an answer:
Appearance, looks and build
Let’s be honest - neither of these worthies will ever win a beauty contest. They are both relatively plain Janes with fronts dominated by 5.5 inch displays and plastic backs. The Yureka Plus has a metal rim to give it more solidity, but on the flip side, the K3 Note is far more compact (152.6 mm against 154.8 mm in length, 76.2 mm against 78 mm in breadth and 8 mm in thickness as against 8.5 mm). Add to this, the yellow colour option (limited, though) and the K3 Note has a greater chance of standing out in a crowd as compared to the Yureka Plus. On the other hand, the Yureka Plus comes with Gorilla Glass protection and that metal rim, making it a hardier customer. If you like solidity, we think you will prefer the Yureka Plus, but if it is sheer head-turning quotient that matters, then the K3 Note edges it out. It is a very close call, but we are scoring this one for the K3 Note.
Going below the surface, the two devices are very closely in terms of hardware. Both have 5.5 inch full HD displays, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB storage (expandable by 32 GB using a memory), 13.0-megapixel rear cameras and 5.0-megapixel front facing front cameras, 4G support and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. There are differences, though - the YU Yureka comes with a 64-bit oca core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor, which is considered superior to the octa core MediaTek MT6752 processor on the K3 Note, But the K3 Note scores in the battery department, with a 3000 mAh battery against a 2500 mAh one on the Yureka Plus. In terms of sheer specs, we think the processor gives the Yureka Plus the edge here.
Both devices run on Android L, but there the similarity ends. While the K3 Note runs on Android with Lenovo’s Vibe UI layer over it, the Yureka Plus runs on the Cyanogen OS, which is a very heavily customisable build of Android. The routine consumer might find themselves more at home with the more colourful UI of the K3 Note, but if you really want to change the user experience your device, right from the launch animations to icons, then the Yureka Plus wins easily. Thanks to Micromax’s tie-up with Cyanogen, users of Yureka Plus will also be assured of regular OS updates for two years (Lenovo’s record in the OS update section is a trifle more inconsistent). And that really wins the round for the Yureka Plus.
Multimedia - camera, video and sound
When it comes to multimedia, we see the Lenovo K3 Note pulling away from the Yureka Plus. Both devices have full HD displays but we found that of the K3 Note to be a bit sharper and brighter, making it a better proposition for viewing videos and Web pages. And even though both phones have similar megapixel counts on their cameras, the K3 Note’s performed consistently better in terms of colour reproduction and detail. Round that off with the K3 Note’s support for Dolby Atmos in the sound department and this round goes solidly to the K3 Note, even though the Yureka Plus is a very solid performer.
When it comes to casual games - Stick Cricket, Angry Birds and the like - the two devices are very closely matched. Up the ante and get into the territory of “heavier” games like Asphalt 8 and Hitman, and the Yureka Plus’ Snapdragon 615 processor starts to make its presence felt, even though it does heat up slightly too. If you are into heavy duty gaming, we think the Yureka Plus would be a better option, but if you are into routine casual games, then both devices are pretty much on equal terms. We are giving this one to the Yureka Plus again.
But how do these devices behave as, well, ‘regular’ phones, smartness aside? Well, once again, it is an incredibly close battle. We found the Yureka Plus generally working more smoothly, which we think can be attributed to Cyanogen which is known to make relatively lesser system demands. That said, call quality was better on the K3 Note, and that bigger battery meant that the K3 Note easily saw off a day of heavy use, while the Yureka Plus generally needed a recharge towards the evening. It is very tough call here and we are calling this a tie - the smartphone crowd will like the smoothness of the Yureka Plus, but the more general phone users will like the better battery life and call quality on the K3 Note,
So where does all that leave us? Well, if one were to look statistically, the Yureka Plus wins on three parameters (hardware, software and gaming) and for many people, scoring on hardware and software would pretty much decide the matter. That said, what cannot be denied is that the K3 Note scores on design, wins on multimedia (especially the camera and sound) and comes with significantly better battery life. It is really going to boil down - as in so many things - to what one’s needs are. We can see those wanting a better camera and good battery life preferring the K3 Note, while gaming freaks and the geek crowd that want regular OS updates and control over their device’s interface will love the Yureka Plus. Which are you? Either way, you have got a great device for less than Rs 10,000!
