MWC 2014: Various brands overview

New YotaPhone hands-on

Yota Device, makers of the first phone with an e-paper display on the back are at the MWC with the Next Generation YotaPhone. Don't call it the YotaPhone 2 though, it's crowd-sourced evolution – Yota changed it based on feedback of its early adopters, analysts and the media.

A 5" AMOLED screen on the front makes the YotaPhone look normal

The result is a tangible improvement – the build quality has improved noticeably. We especially like how the e-paper display is integrated into the back, you can't tell it's a screen unless it refreshes. It's also great at keeping fingerprints at bay.

The e-paper display integrates beautiflly into the back

This screen is 4.7" big and touch-enabled so you can navigate Android. From what we saw it's unskinned Android, but Yota is working on custom apps that will use both screens (an Office suite is in the works). You can answer calls, read messages and post social networking updates, without having to power on the color screen.

Taking calls, reading messages and checking the calendar on the e-paper scren

Note that the e-paper display is not e-Ink like you've seen in Kindles and other e-readers. It has selective refresh, meaning it can update only the parts of screen that change. That means you won't see the characteristic flash when an e-Ink unit updates. It's lit too, so you can use it in the dark.

Reading web pages on the back of the YotaPhone

The YotaPhone has a power-saving mode that disables the color screen and uses just the e-paper screen. Yota says this mode allows the phone to last over 50 hours between charges.

The e-paper screen is very power-efficient

The color screen is a 5" AMOLED display. The other phone specs are pretty impressive too, thanks to a Snapdragon 800 chipset.

The Next Generaion YotaPhone will come out in the final quarter of this year in Russia and EMEA. The US and Asian markets will get a version of the phone too, but three to four months later. If you have the first-gen YotaPhone, the company will let you upgrade "at a significant discount." The details of this deal will be unveiled later.