Kyocera Echo Dual-Screen Android Smartphone Review
Conclusion
Certainly the Kyocera Echo's dual-screen design is the most unique and attention-grabbing feature of the phone. By using dual displays, the phone is able to offer a user experience that's different from any other phone we've reviewed to date. By allowing users to use the screens independently or together as a larger display, Kyocera has opened many doors for what can efficiently be done with a smartphone.
We enjoyed our time with the Echo and its two screens. There were numerous times during the course of our review that we used both screens, either to use two applications at the same time, or simply to enjoy a roomier keyboard when tapping out a message to a friend.
In terms of performance benchmarks, the Kyocera Echo earned very respectable scores in almost all of the tests we threw at it. During our hands-on time with the phone, we were pleased with its responsiveness.
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The biggest downfall to a phone that has two screens is the drain those displays place on the phone's battery. Also, we felt the Echo's battery drained more quickly than it should have, even when using only one of the screens. We appreciate the fact that Kyocera provides a second battery and travel charger with the Echo. It's definitely a step in the right direction, though having a single battery that lasts longer is certainly better.
One other minor sticking point is the Echo's hinge. It isn't quite as sturdy or smooth as we would have liked, but it does the job adequately and doesn't interfere with the enjoyment of using the phone.
All in all, we enjoyed our time with the Echo. Candy bar form factor phones are the norm these days, so it's nice to see something new and innovative every now and then. Although we don't expect the Kyocera Echo to revolutionize the way in which other manufactures design smartphones, it's nice to have options, and the Echo definitely provides a unique form factor and user experience that you won't get with other phones.
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