Unihertz Jelly Star review: 3-inches of magic

I have been caught complaining concerning the death of compact smartphones greater than as soon as. My small palms, busy schedule, fixed real-life multitasking, and thin denims simply haven’t got room for the phablets that lead immediately’s Android market. And whereas the smallest mainstream phones are legitimately wonderful units, they’re probably not what I might name compact.

So I made a decision to place my cash the place my mouth is and see what the world’s smallest full-featured Android cellphone (by a large margin) can really do. After dwelling with the Unihertz Jelly Star for a number of weeks, it is higher and simpler to make use of than lots of people would predict, though it is nonetheless a distinct segment gadget that you’re going to both love, or need nothing in anyway to do with.

Value, availability, and specs

Initially backed by crowdfunding, the smallest and most uncommon Android 13 cellphone is available in a single SKU for round $200. It is usually $230 from the producer, $220 from Amazon, and $250 from Ali Specific, however sees small reductions comparatively ceaselessly. All fashions help the identical, decently large set of widespread worldwide frequency bands, and Unihertz apparently ships from warehouses within the US, the EU, and China.

Within the US, it really works straightaway on T-Cellular’s community, though it lacks the extended-range n71 band that many rural prospects depend on. It helps Verizon’s community, however Verizon would not formally help it, so you will must activate your SIM on a Verizon-approved gadget. It would not work with AT&T in any respect, and as you may anticipate, no carriers promote it.

What I like concerning the Unihertz Jelly Star

The listing is longer than even I anticipated

The very best half and largest purpose to purchase it’s the ultra-compact design. Regardless of researching the specs earlier than its arrival, I wasn’t ready for the way small it’s. It concurrently feels much less and extra like a cellphone than each different, presumably as a result of my final handset earlier than graduating to a smartphone was a equally sized sweet bar cellphone.

I’ve talked earlier than about my utilitarian smartphone use; I hardly ever watch movies and by no means play video games on telephones. Since these are the shape issue’s largest weaknesses, all of the Jelly Star has to do isn’t screw up primary smartphone performance, and I am principally offered.

Admittedly, the 3-inch display screen wasn’t what I envisioned whereas repeatedly begging the trade for a compact smartphone. The expertise — particularly the typing — was slightly rocky out of the field, however rising font sizes, resizing the keyboard, and adjusting the backlight smoothed issues out properly.

Whereas there’s positively a studying curve to utilizing one thing so minuscule, I discovered it surprisingly user-friendly after a few week. Its thick physique makes it snug to carry and use one-handed — if it was the identical ~1cm thickness as the whole lot else, it would be nigh-impossible to make use of.

Talking of handy ergonomics, there is a vibrant purple button beneath the ability button that is technically for push-to-talk performance, however it’s really a programmable shortcut key that permits you to customise the motion of 1 quick press, two quick presses, and one lengthy press.

There is a easy listing of preset capabilities, like opening an app, taking a screenshot, or recording a name. However in image key mode alongside an app like Key Mapper, you may program it to do almost something, together with assigning as much as three alternate layers of intricate OS controls accessed by quick, lengthy, and double presses of the shortcut key. That is a complete of 15 potential two-step shortcuts out there by using the amount and residential row keys at the side of the purple button.

Each cellphone wants this. Its small dimension and quick versatility make capturing candid moments, archiving a dialog, and accessing your favourite audio a breeze. The truth is, I am taking footage extra ceaselessly than I do with different telephones because it’s simply really easy.

Its uninspiring Mediatek MT6789 system-on-a-chip really hasn’t slowed down or taken a very long time to load something, though the shape issue primarily prohibits probably the most resource-intensive use instances. A stunning 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM provide you with loads of headroom for the whole lot its small display screen actually works for. Even the battery lasts decently lengthy, simply lasting all day and routinely charging from 45% to almost 70% in underneath 20 minutes when plugged in.

It is also impressively thorough for one thing roughly as large as a Snickers bar, housing a hybrid nano-SIM/microSD growth, a headphone jack, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 5, an IR blaster, and an FM radio, supplying you with extra versatility than most units launched within the final couple of years. Face and fingerprint unlock work nice, too, and in well-lit situations, even its photographs look good, particularly if you happen to set up GCam as a substitute for the inventory digital camera app.

Except for the practicality, this factor is neat. Folks always do double-takes and ask what the heck I am and typing on. The clear case it comes with reveals off a tiny little bit of the semi-transparent physique and uncovered internals, however if you happen to’re courageous sufficient to rock it caseless, it has a little bit of a Nothing Cellphone vibe. Really, there’s rather a lot to love about this little factor.

If the Jelly Star had actually every other precise competitors, I won’t charge this sweet bar so extremely. However the one comparable choices are its predecessors, the Unihertz Jelly 2 and 2E, that are borderline out of date already.

What I do not like concerning the Jelly Star

No main deal-breakers, however some apparent compromises

The clear case will most likely find yourself yellowing barely over time

First, it is slippery as heck. I hardly ever use cellphone instances, however the low-traction physique pressured me to put in the included case, which is simply as slick because the cellphone. With primarily zero aftermarket equipment, there is not actually an answer except I design a 3D print.

I might welcome a tiny bit extra display screen house, too, since stretching the keyboard to a handy dimension covers a lot of the show. It is also fairly dim and closely blue tinted (though perpetual Night time Mode use helps), a little bit of a one-two punch in opposition to any form of long-form visible media consumption. And, to be sincere, a bland Android UI would not do its usability or look many favors, main among the largest Jelly Star followers to third-party launchers (and even Lineage OS).

Sadly, it is virtually useless within the water by way of software program. Sustaining continued safety patches (and particularly new Android builds) prices cash, and Unihertz is virtually a grassroots smartphone producer that depends on crowdfunding to get most units off the bottom. Safety updates are few and much between, and Android 14 is a dream the Jelly Star will probably by no means understand. And whereas I’ve by no means had my units compromised as a consequence of gradual or no safety patches, all it takes is as soon as.

The second two present the OK, however barely blown out selfie digital camera; the final two present the subpar evening images

The digital camera {hardware} is satisfactory (the place its predecessors’ had been borderline ineffective), however its inventory software program struggles mightily in something however good lighting. I examined a few dozen implementations of Gcam (a port of the Pixel Digicam), and managed to search out one from developer BSG (model 8.5.300 if you happen to’re taking notes) that helps slightly with low-light element, and considerably with smaller points like white stability and the poor inventory interface.

Sadly, it may well’t overcome the low-light limitations of the middling sensor and its noisy, yellowish nighttime photographs.

Its community connectivity is not stellar, both. It checks round 40Mbps from my desk, vastly slower than the iPhone SE, its only competition size-wise. This additionally means its hotspot — which burns quite a lot of battery — is not excellent for, say, demanding distant work open air.

Lastly, there are minor software program quirks. The ambient mild and fingerprint sensors did not work for 2 days, till a tough shutdown did the trick. A proprietary battery safety app additionally repeatedly killed Musicolet, my favorite Android music player, mid-dog stroll to avoid wasting battery till I tracked down the marginally hidden choice to forestall it. So, ultimately, the software program bugs all managed to get smoothed out over a short while.

Must you purchase the Unihertz Jelly Star?

Some folks would by no means hassle attempting to transition to a 3-inch show. Others will probably be happy to know the Jelly Star is a surprisingly efficient resolution for sensible cellphone use. If you happen to already do not use a lot visible media in your cellphone, or wish to considerably reduce your display screen time, doomscrolling, and social media habit, it is someplace approaching unbelievable. It is also unbelievable for any form of train apart from swimming.

A lot of its customers completely adore it, and a good variety of Android followers decide it up as a secondary gadget due to its worth. All advised, it does a great job at the whole lot I want a smartphone to do each day. If you happen to’re searching for one thing novel, efficient, and low cost, this is a wonderful little gadget to have.