Budget S5 MINI... in some ways even better.
Edited: Aug 25, 2014, 11:22 AMPhone owned for less than 3 months
Do a side-by-side comparison of this phone to the Samsung Galaxy S5 MINI. The similarities are striking! The differences being, the Kyocera Hydro Vibe came out 2 months prior to the S5 MINI, comes in a slightly smaller form-factor, and all of the specs are just a tad behind the S5 (e.g. both have quad-core processors, but the S5's is slightly faster). Then even the design is striking. They both have dimpled backs and a faux-metal band around the rim.
What I like best of the Kyocera compared to the S5 is first the price tag ($99, off-contract, at Best Buy). And that it is nearly stock android. I had a Galaxy Note II for 2 years, and never liked Touchwiz. Also, the Kyocera uses an IPS display apposed to an AMOLED, which I personally like more. The Kyocera also has a unique in-ear sound system (that no Galaxy device uses) where there isn't a speaker - rather it vibrates a non-open portion of the phone which you hold to your ear and it both projects sound into your ear as well as sending it through your cartilage - this is good for when you're in a noisy situation.
So aside from comparing it to the Galaxy phones. (which I think that speaks to its pros, that on paper it stacks up against one of the most famous phones on the market today).
Cons:
-firmware has a few minor hiccups. For example, flick-scrolling happens far faster than any other phone I've used flick-scrolling with.
-the phone is a bit thick by today's standards.
-the materials to build the phone aren't premium; but don't feel all that cheap either (its pretty much the same build materials that Samsung uses. I do think the S5 MINI has a slightly better feel in the hand though... maybe because it is thinner)
-Camera isn't as good as hoped.
-Obviously the display also isn't good on paper - the good news is that its an IPS display, so the colors are very natural and it isn't often that you notice any pixels.
Overall, I give it a 9/10. This is due mainly to what you get for the price. The S5 MINI is (over-all) a better phone, but it certainly isn't worth the 4-times larger price-tag of the Kyocera Hydro Vibe. (compare $99 to $399). In fact, right now, even an S4 MINI (worse on paper specs) on contract cost as much as the Kyocera off-contract.
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