Upon hearing there was a new range of smartphones with the name Andy at Mobile World Congress, it was logical that I should go and cast a critical eye at them. Who better to ensure the Andy smartphones live up to the huge expectations placed on anyone, or anything, bearing such a name, than a fellow Andy.
The phones come from Yezz, a smartphone manufacturer in the business for around three years, but primarily focused on Latin America. Now, it’s ready to expand out into Europe, and increase its presence in North America. The Yezz line-up consists of half a dozen phones, with the Andy A5QP and Andy A5VP being new for the show.
While its other hardware fits into the lower half of the mid-range – 960 x 540 pixel resolutions, and basic cameras are common – the Andy A5QP is far better equipped. The 5-inch touchscreen has a 720p resolution, and inside is MediaTek’s increasingly common 1.7GHz octa-core processor and 1GB of RAM. A 13-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel front camera take care of imaging duties.
The A5VP has a Snapdragon 400 processor and 4G LTE connectivity, but the resolution on the 5-inch display drops down to 960 x 540 pixels. The same 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera found on the A5QP are fitted though. Android 4.3 Jelly Bean will be installed, a slight improvement over 4.2 Jelly Bean on the A5QP.
Yezz didn’t have a finished version of the 4G A5VP on show, so it’s the A5QP in the pictures. It’s well built, and the uncluttered design is attractive, although it’s not visually exciting. The rear panel is flat and comfortable to hold, and the chassis is slim and light.
Yezz already sells some of its smartphones through outlets such as Amazon and eBay, and according to a spokesperson at the show, the Andy A5QP will join them in North America, perhaps from March. The price is around 320 euros, or $440. The 4G LTE A5QP should be on sale before the summer, and will be cheaper at 270 euros, or $360. The price could change once the hardware gets its dollar price, but when the Moto G, Moto X, and the Nexus 5 can be had for these prices or less, Yezz’s Andy phones become a harder sell. Still, it’s pleasing to see a fun new brand pushing its way into the U.S. and Europe.
