With Jio giving out invite for Jio preview offer, LYF phone are now essential to enjoy the unlimited offer from Jio. So you have to make a choice from the range of smartphones LYF offer. Obviously the choice would be the cheaper Flame or Wind series which comes around Rs 5000. However, those who really looking to buy a decent phone can spend more to get the best of LYF phones.
LYF Water 1
The LYF Water 1 is a premium phone from LYF and stands alongside with their flagship LYF Earth 1. The phone is made of scratch resistant glass front and back in mirror finish and has aluminium frame running around it.
If I could define it in one sentence, I would say this is an exact replica of premium Sony Xperia Z series smartphones. Too bad the phone isn't waterproof like the Xperia even though it carries water in its name.
Display
The phone has 5" full HD IPS display with 441 ppi and 70% NTSC colour gamut. The LCD panel make use of Incell technology for lower power consumption which suggests the display was manufactured by Japan Display or Sharp. The display bright even under outdoor sunlight. The full HD IPS panel has good contrast ratio and produces stunning colors on screen. Only problem was the ambient light sensor response was slow.
Camera
In the imaging department, the phone has 13MP rear camera with HDR and a 5MP front camera with wide angle. What makes it stand out is the addition of front camera flash and face detection feature making it a true selfie phone. The camera App has different preset to choose from depending on the object. The Autofocus and face detection works well for outdoor photography. The images and videos produced by the camera are stunning and of unmatched quality. The rear flash can produce bright flash light even though it lacks dual tone flash.
Processor, Storage and Battery
Under the hood is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615, a 64 bit octa-core processor paired with 2GB RAM and 16GB internal storage. The phone manages to give a lag free operation even with a ton of apps loaded. However, the device is powered by a 2600 mAh Lithium-ion polymer battery which comparing to current standards fall shorts. The battery hardly last for a day under moderate use with LTE data on. Out of the 16GB onboard storage, only 10GB was available for usage.
Dual SIM with 4G and VoLTE
Both SIM slots are 4G enabled. However, at one time only one slot can be used for 4G while the other will work on 2G. Default SIM to be used for data, voice and SMS can be configured in settings. VoLTE calls with HD voice produce crystal clear digital sound if both caller and receiver use VoLTE. The phone also support High definition voice and Video calling over any LTE and Wi-Fi network. LTE bands 850/1800/2300 and 3G bands 2100/900 along with 2G bands 850/900/1800/1900 is supported.
What is in box?
The LYF Water 1 comes with an Earphone, SIM Ejection tool, Charger Adaptor, Micro USB Cable, User Manual and Screen Guard. The charger provided is a 2 amp fast charger which can charge the device to 100% in less than an hour.
Pros
- Premium feel Glass-Metal Body
- Excellent camera and front flash
- Lag free operation
- Super Slim and lightweight
Cons
- Battery capacity
- Poor ambient light sensor
- Outdated Android
- Slightly costly
LYF Water 1 may not be able to match up with latest launched smartphones from chinese rivals. But it does provide a premium phone at its price range and decent specs to go with it. With Jio Preview offer you will be getting unlimited Voice, Data and SMS for 90 days. Counting that in can make this LYF phone a reasonable buy.
Do let us know by comment below your views on LYF Water 1 smartphone.
Stay tuned for our next review of LYF Wind 4.
