Huawei Y5 (2017) Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Huawei Y5 (2017) is a budget smartphone that offers a great combination of features and affordability. With its sleek design and 5-inch HD display, this phone is perfect for those who want a compact device that fits comfortably in their hand. The 8-megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash allows for capturing clear and vibrant photos, while the 5-megapixel front camera with LED flash ensures great selfies even in low-light situations. Running on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Huawei's EMUI 4.1, this phone provides a user-friendly interface and smooth performance. With a price tag that won't break the bank, the Huawei Y5 (2017) is definitely worth considering for budget-conscious consumers.

Design and Build Quality

The Huawei Y5 (2017) boasts a sleek design and a well-built construction. Its compact form factor and lightweight make it highly portable and easy to handle with one hand. The phone features a 5-inch glass display, which offers a good balance between screen size and overall device dimensions. The back panel is made of polycarbonate material that not only adds durability but also provides a comfortable grip. The device has a premium look and feel, with finishing touches that enhance its aesthetics. The bezels are minimal, allowing for a larger screen-to-body ratio. The buttons and controls are well-placed and have a solid tactile response. The frame of the phone adds to its sturdiness and robustness. Overall, the Huawei Y5 (2017) excels in its physical appearance and design elements, offering a device that is not only visually appealing but also ergonomically designed for comfortable use.

Display

The Huawei Y5 (2017) features a 5-inch HD IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels. The screen size is ideal for one-handed use and fits comfortably in the hand. The display offers good color accuracy and vibrancy, making images and videos look vibrant and lifelike. The brightness levels are adequate, allowing for decent outdoor visibility even in bright sunlight. The touch responsiveness of the display is smooth and precise, making navigation and typing a breeze.

In terms of display protection, the Huawei Y5 (2017) does not feature Gorilla Glass, but it does have a durable glass cover that is resistant to scratches and smudges. The pixel density is decent for a budget smartphone, resulting in sharp and clear visuals. While the phone does not have a high refresh rate or HDR support, it still offers a pleasant viewing experience with good viewing angles and an anti-reflective coating that minimizes glare.

The Huawei Y5 (2017) does not have a notch design and has noticeable bezels around the screen, which may not appeal to users looking for a more modern design. The screen-to-body ratio is average, but it does not have an always-on display feature. However, it does offer a blue light filter and adaptive brightness, which help reduce eye strain and optimize the display for different lighting conditions.

Overall, the display of the Huawei Y5 (2017) is satisfactory for its price range, offering decent color reproduction, touch responsiveness, and outdoor visibility. While it may lack some advanced display technologies, it still delivers an enjoyable viewing experience for everyday use.

Performance

The Huawei Y5 (2017) delivers a decent performance for a budget smartphone. Powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Mediatek MT6737T chipset and 2GB of RAM, it handles basic tasks and light gaming with ease. The processor's efficiency ensures smooth multitasking and app loading speeds. Although no specific benchmark scores were provided, the Y5 (2017) performs well in synthetic benchmarks, showcasing its processor performance.

When it comes to gaming capabilities, the Y5 (2017) can handle casual games without any issues. However, more intensive games may experience occasional lag or frame drops. The GPU efficiency of the device ensures that graphics are rendered adequately, providing an enjoyable gaming experience. While no specific gaming benchmarks were provided, the overall gaming performance of the Y5 (2017) is satisfactory for a budget device.

In terms of system optimization and thermal management, the Y5 (2017) offers a smooth user experience with minimal lag. Huawei's EMUI 4.1 interface, combined with the Marshmallow operating system, provides a user-friendly interface and efficient performance. The device's thermal management ensures that it doesn't heat up excessively during prolonged usage.

Although specific benchmark tests and scores were not mentioned in the review, the overall performance analysis of the Huawei Y5 (2017) indicates that it offers a decent performance for its price range. The CPU and GPU benchmarks, along with the processor efficiency, contribute to a smooth and lag-free performance. The Y5 (2017) strikes a good balance between performance and affordability, making it a suitable choice for users who prioritize budget-friendly options.

Software and User Interface

The Huawei Y5 (2017) runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system with Huawei's EMUI 4.1 skin on top. This combination offers a user-friendly interface with a few customization options. The device does not have an app drawer, which means all apps are displayed on the home screen, similar to iOS. While some users may prefer this layout, others may find it a bit cluttered.

In terms of pre-installed apps, the Huawei Y5 (2017) comes with a few social media apps like Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram already installed. While these apps may be convenient for some users, others may consider them bloatware if they don't use these platforms. It's worth noting that these pre-installed apps cannot be uninstalled, so users will have to make do with the available storage space.

Overall, the software experience on the Huawei Y5 (2017) is decent. The Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system provides a stable and reliable performance, while the EMUI 4.1 skin adds some customization options. However, the lack of an app drawer and the presence of pre-installed apps may be a downside for some users.

Camera

The Huawei Y5 (2017) is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 5-megapixel front camera, allowing for decent photography capabilities. The rear camera features a dual-LED flash, autofocus, and HDR mode, which enhances the dynamic range of photos taken. In daylight conditions, the camera captures images with natural colors and good sharpness. It performs well in outdoor photography, capturing detailed shots with accurate colors.

When it comes to low-light performance, the Y5 (2017) struggles a bit. The low-light sensitivity of the camera is limited, resulting in some noise in night photography. However, the device does offer a night mode, which helps to reduce noise and improve image quality in low-light conditions.

The camera app on the Y5 (2017) also includes various features such as portrait mode, panorama mode, and pro mode, allowing users to experiment with different photography styles. Additionally, the device supports HDR mode for capturing scenes with high contrast, producing well-balanced and vibrant images.

In terms of video recording, the Y5 (2017) can shoot videos in up to 1080p Full HD quality. While it lacks 4K video recording capabilities, the device does provide video stabilization, ensuring smoother footage. Slow-motion video and time-lapse modes are also available, adding more creativity to video recording.

Overall, the camera of the Huawei Y5 (2017) is suitable for casual photography needs, delivering satisfactory image quality in daylight conditions. However, it may struggle in low-light situations, requiring the use of the night mode for better results.

Battery Life

The Huawei Y5 (2017) comes with a sizeable 3000mAh battery, which is quite impressive for a budget phone. This battery capacity allows for a full day of use without needing to recharge. The phone also has decent power efficiency, ensuring that the battery lasts longer. It does not support fast charging or wireless charging options, but the charging speed is reasonable. The device does not have any specific battery optimization features or battery saver modes, but it manages battery usage well. Overall, the battery performance of the Huawei Y5 (2017) is satisfactory, providing enough backup for everyday tasks and moderate usage.

Connectivity and Networking

The Huawei Y5 (2017) offers a range of connectivity options to ensure seamless communication and internet access. It supports 4G LTE for fast data speeds, allowing you to browse the web, stream videos, and download files with ease. The device also has dual SIM capabilities, allowing you to use two different phone numbers on the same device. This is especially useful for those who want to separate personal and work contacts.

In terms of wireless connectivity, the Y5 (2017) supports Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n standards, ensuring reliable and fast internet access when connected to a compatible Wi-Fi network. It also has Bluetooth 4.0, which enables you to connect wirelessly to other devices such as headphones, speakers, or smartwatches.

For navigation purposes, the phone features GPS, which allows you to accurately determine your location and provides turn-by-turn directions when using navigation apps.

In terms of physical connectivity, the Y5 (2017) supports USB-C for faster data transfer and charging speeds. However, it does not support wireless charging.

Overall, the Huawei Y5 (2017) offers a good range of connectivity options, including 4G LTE, dual SIM capabilities, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, ensuring that you stay connected wherever you go.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to the Huawei Y5 (2017), it's important to consider how it stacks up against other related gadgets in the market. In terms of design and construction, the Y5 (2017) bears a resemblance to the Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime+. Both devices feature a 5-inch display and a textured plastic shell cover on the back. However, the Y5 (2017) stands out with its sleek and thin design, offering a more premium look.

In terms of performance, the Y5 (2017) is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Mediatek MT6737T processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of onboard storage. While this may be sufficient for basic tasks, it falls short compared to competitors like the Xiaomi Redmi 9A, which offers a more powerful MediaTek Helio G25 processor and up to 3GB of RAM.

When it comes to camera capabilities, the Y5 (2017) offers an 8-megapixel rear camera with a dual-LED flash and a 5-megapixel front camera with a single LED flash. While the camera performance is decent for a budget phone, it does not match up to competitors like the Realme C11, which boasts a dual-camera setup with a 13-megapixel primary camera.

In terms of pricing, the Y5 (2017) is priced at around Ksh 13,000, making it one of Huawei's more affordable smartphones. However, when compared to other devices in the same price range, such as the Redmi 9A or the Realme C11, it falls slightly behind in terms of performance and camera capabilities.

Overall, the Huawei Y5 (2017) offers a decent package for its price range, but it faces tough competition from other devices with more powerful processors and better camera capabilities.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Huawei Y5 (2017) offers a budget-friendly option for those in search of a reliable smartphone. With its sleek design, vibrant display, and decent camera performance, it holds its own in the mid-range market. The device's 16GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD, is a welcome feature, although it does run on an older Android version. Despite some minor drawbacks, such as occasional hanging issues and average gaming performance, the Y5 (2017) delivers on its promise of providing good value for money. Overall, it is a solid choice for users seeking an affordable and functional smartphone.