The YU Yureka Black and YU Yunicorn were popular budget smartphones vying for attention in a competitive market. Both offered compelling features for their price point, but significant differences existed under the hood. This comprehensive comparison will help you understand which phone was the better choice.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The YU Yunicorn generally edges out the Yureka Black thanks to its slightly more powerful processor and better battery optimization. While both are budget-friendly, the Yunicorn's octa-core CPU configuration provides a smoother overall experience, especially for multitasking.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 40 | 3, 5, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2017, June. Released 2017, June | 2016, May. Released 2016, June |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 142 x 69.6 x 8.7 mm (5.59 x 2.74 x 0.34 in) | 153.3 x 75.4 x 8.5 mm (6.04 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 152 g (5.36 oz) | 172 g (6.07 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~441 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~69.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | - | Around YU 2 |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 (28 nm) | Mediatek MT6755 Helio P10 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Mali-T860MP2 |
| OS | Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | eMMC 5.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | Dual-LED flash, panorama | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP | 5 MP, f/2.0 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.1, A2DP |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 100 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 168 h (2G) / Up to 168 h (3G) | Up to 500 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 28 h (2G) / Up to 21 h (3G) | Up to 20 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Po 4000 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Matte Black, Chrome Black | Silver, graphite, gold |
| Models | YU5040 | YU5530, U55 |
| Price | About 9000 INR | About 180 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.52 W/kg (head) 0.81 W/kg (body) |
YU Yureka Black
- Compact design
- Affordable price
- Decent camera for the price
- Slower performance
- Shorter battery life
- Less RAM (typically 2GB/3GB)
YU Yunicorn
- Better performance
- Longer battery life
- Improved front camera
- More RAM options (3GB/4GB)
- Slightly larger size
- Potentially slightly higher price (at launch)
Display Comparison
Both phones featured 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS displays. While the panel quality was comparable, the Yunicorn sometimes exhibited slightly better color accuracy. Viewing angles were generally good on both devices.
Camera Comparison
The Yureka Black typically had a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The Yunicorn featured a 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front camera. While megapixels aren't everything, the Yunicorn's front camera offered better selfies, and both phones produced decent images in good lighting conditions, but struggled in low light.
Performance
The YU Yunicorn's Mediatek Helio P10 chipset with its big.LITTLE architecture (4x1.8 GHz + 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53 cores) offered a noticeable performance advantage over the Yureka Black's Snapdragon 430 (Octa-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53). The Yunicorn handled multitasking and gaming better, experiencing fewer stutters.
Battery Life
The YU Yunicorn boasted a larger 4000mAh battery compared to the Yureka Black's 3000mAh. This resulted in significantly better battery life on the Yunicorn, often lasting a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the Yureka Black required charging before the end of the day.
Buying Guide
The YU Yureka Black is a good option for users prioritizing a compact design and a slightly more affordable price. The YU Yunicorn is better suited for those who need a bit more processing power for gaming or demanding apps and value longer battery life.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The YU Yunicorn is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and better thermal management.
❓ Is the Yureka Black still worth buying?
If you're on a very tight budget and prioritize a compact size, the Yureka Black can still be a usable device. However, newer budget phones offer better performance and features.
❓ What operating system did these phones ship with?
Both phones initially launched with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, with potential for updates to Android 7.0 Nougat.
