The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the YU Yureka, known for its performance, and the Karbonn Sparkle V, aiming for affordability. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges victorious.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The YU Yureka clearly wins this comparison. Its Snapdragon 615 chipset and octa-core CPU offer significantly better performance than the Karbonn Sparkle V's quad-core processor. While the Sparkle V is cheaper, the Yureka's superior speed and features justify the slightly higher price.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 3, 40 | - |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, January. Released 2015, January | 2014, September. Released 2014, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 154.8 x 78 x 6 - 8.8 mm | 132 x 67 x 9.2 mm (5.20 x 2.64 x 0.36 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Dual SIM |
| Weight | 155 g (5.47 oz) | 138 g (4.87 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | - |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 480 x 854 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~218 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~69.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.5 inches, 55.8 cm2 (~63.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| | Cyanogen 12.1 | - |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Mediatek MT6582 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Mali-400MP2 |
| OS | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop) | Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to 6.0 (Marshmallow), Android One |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 4GB 1GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama | LED flash |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 1/3.1", 1.12µm, AF | 5 MP, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 2 MP |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP | 4.0, 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, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity | Accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Stand-by | Up to 210 h | Up to 160 h |
| Talk time | Up to 8 h | Up to 8 h |
| Type | Li-Po 2500 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 1700 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Moonstone Grey | Red |
| Models | AO5510 | - |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 80 EUR |
YU Yureka
- Superior Performance
- Larger Display
- Better Camera
- Longer Battery Life
- More RAM (typically)
- Slightly Higher Price
- Design might be dated
Karbonn Sparkle V
- More Affordable
- Compact Size (potentially)
- Lower Performance
- Smaller Display
- Inferior Camera
- Shorter Battery Life
- Less RAM
Display Comparison
The YU Yureka typically featured a 5.5-inch 720p display, offering decent viewing angles and color reproduction. The Karbonn Sparkle V likely had a smaller, similar resolution display. While both were adequate, the Yureka's larger screen provided a slightly more immersive experience.
Camera Comparison
The Yureka generally had a better camera setup, often featuring a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. The Sparkle V likely had lower resolution cameras. Image quality, especially in low light, would be noticeably better on the Yureka.
Performance
This is where the Yureka shines. The Snapdragon 615 chipset with its octa-core processor provides a substantial performance advantage over the Sparkle V's MT6582 and quad-core CPU. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the Yureka.
Battery Life
While specific battery capacities varied, the Yureka often had a larger battery (around 2500mAh) compared to the Sparkle V (likely around 2000mAh). This translates to longer battery life on the Yureka, especially given its more power-hungry processor.
Buying Guide
The YU Yureka is ideal for users who prioritize performance and a smoother user experience, even on a budget. Gamers and those who multitask frequently will appreciate the extra power. The Karbonn Sparkle V is best suited for users with very basic needs – calls, texts, and light browsing – and those on the absolute tightest budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the YU Yureka still worth buying in [current year]?
While it's an older device, the Yureka's performance still holds up reasonably well for basic tasks. However, newer budget phones offer better features and software support.
❓ What operating system did these phones run?
Both phones originally shipped with Android, likely KitKat or Lollipop. However, software updates were limited, so they may be running older versions or custom ROMs.