Panasonic recently introduced its Snapdragon 400 mid range smartphone Eluga U checking all hardware boxes with 2 GB RAM, 13 MP Camera, Android KitKat, 5 inch Display and more. The phone represents premium build high ranked Panasonic Eluga series and read on to know our initial experience with the device.
Panasonic Eluga U Quick Specs
- Display Size: 5 inch IPS LCD capacitive touch screen with 1280 x 720p HD resolution, Gorilla Glass 3
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad Core Snapdragon 400 Quad Core
- RAM: 1 GB
- Software Version: Android 4.4.2 (Kit Kat) OS
- Camera: 13 MP Auto Focus Camera capable of 1080p video recording
- Secondary Camera: 2 MP
- Internal Storage: 16 GB with 13.5 GB available to user
- External Storage: Expandable up to 32GB
- Battery: 2500 mAh battery Lithium Ion
- Connectivity: 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, aGPS, 3.5mm audio jack, FM Radio
- Others: OTG Support – No, Dual SIM – Yes, LED Indicator – Yes
- Sensors: Accelerometer, magnetometer, Gyroscope, Gravity, Ambient light, pedometer, Step counter, Step detector
Panasonic Eluga U Full Review, Unboxing, Price, Camera, Benchmarks, Gaming and Performance Overview[Video]
Design, Build and Display
The Panasonic Eluga U is very light in weight and feels good to hold in hand. The front has narrow bezels which makes it a tad bit smaller than most other 5 inchers. The three capacitive buttons at the end are not backlit. The rear side has nice texture which vaguely resembles Nexus 4. The glass back looks nice but will be prone to fingerprints.
The side edges have sharp bends with both volume rocker and power key on the right edge. Volume keys are made of plastic and are slightly tapered outwards and give good feedback. Over all Panasonic Eluga U scores good in terms of build and design
The display is 5 inches in size with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. The display isn’t as sharp as full HD displays but you won’t notice any pixilation on the bright IPS LCD Display. Viewing angles are great as well. The colors are on the warmer side which gives it a faint yellowish hue. Auto brightness works well and outdoor visibility is good.
Processor and RAM
The processor used is 1.2 GHz Snapdragon 400 quad core chipset aided by 2 GB RAM. The UI transitions were faster and smoother on third party app launcher as compared to Fit Launcher which is activated by default. The chipset scored 17,269 on Antutu and 56.4 on Nenamarks. The chipset isn’t the most responsive that we have seen, but it can handle heavy lifting well.
Camera and Internal Storage
The 13 MP camera performed well in our time with the device. The 1080p Video recording was good in quality. Camera app is fairly simple but allows you to toggle with exposure and pro settings.
Internal storage is 16 GB and there is no separate partition for apps. This is a good thing and you can install apps in entire storage space. MicroSD card is also supported up to 32 GB for further expansion. This will be ample storage for most people. USB OTG is however not supported. Apps cannot be moved or installed on SD card.
Camera Samples
Panasonic Eluga U Rear Camera Video Sample 1080p at 25 fps
User Interface and Battery
User Interface is stock android with mild customizations. There is a clear all button added in recent apps panel, a new Fit launcher, some animation effects, etc. The main diversion from stock is the Fit launcher which allows you to place apps based in alphabetical order, user defined order, installation time and most used.
Battery capacity is 2500 mAh and this will last for one day with low to moderate usage. After setting brightness to auto brightness, reducing sleep time and practicing other precautions, we could extend battery life by a margin. Heavy users will struggle to last one day. Overall we were satisfied with the battery backup on Eluga U.
Sound, Video Playback and Connectivity
Loudspeaker is average as far as loudness is concerned. With Mx player, we could easily play full HD and HD videos without any lag. GPS Locking was instantaneous; we didn’t face any issue with navigation. GPS worked fine.
Device Name Photo Gallery
Conclusion and Price
Panasonic Eluga U is a slim and light weight smartphone which is more than capable of handling all your day to day tasks and some heavy lifting. The phone will be very well suited for users who wish to keep several apps on their smartphone and are only interested in basic usage. The Price however seems slightly high at 17,500 INR approx.
