Unihertz Jelly Star mini smartphone review

Unihertz Jelly Star mini smartphone review.Unihertz is known for its commitment to making small smartphones, and its latest model, the Jelly Star, is making waves as the world’s smallest Android smartphone. This credit card-sized phone has impressive specs and functions like a modern smartphone, making it an attractive option for those looking for a compact device. At the same time, the 3-inch screen and tiny on-screen keyboard may pose a challenge for users with low vision or those accustomed to larger phones.In this Unihertz Jelly Star review, we’ll take a closer look at this phone and help you decide whether the Jelly Star is worth buying as your next smartphone.

Unihertz Jelly Star mini smartphone: first impressions and characteristics

As soon as I unboxed the Unihertz Jelly Star, I was surprised by its compact size. This mini smartphone fits comfortably in the palm of your hand and easily fits into any pocket or purse. However, despite its small size, it has a solid construction and does not feel flimsy.Unihertz Jelly Star is equipped with an octa-core processor and provides smooth performance during everyday tasks. Another pleasant surprise is that it runs on the latest Android operating system, Android 13, and is compatible with a number of apps and services. It also comes with the April 2023 security update.The device has an impressive 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, providing plenty of space for your apps, photos and files. It also supports storage expansion via a microSD card slot.Before continuing with the review, let’s take a closer look at the specifications of the smartphone:

- Dimensions: 3.75 x 1.94 x 0.69 inches (95.1 x 49.6 x 18.7 mm)
- Weight: 4.3 oz (116 g)
- CPU: Helio G99 Octa-Core 2.0-2.2 GHz
- OS: Android 13
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Memory: 256 GB UFS 2.2 ROM
- SIM card type: dual nano, with micro SD support
- Screen: panda glass, LCD display, display area 2.63 x 1.5 inches

< li>Resolution: 480 x 854

Connectivity: 2G GSM, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi 2, 4 GHz/5 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Rear camera: 48 MP
Front camera: 8 MP
LEDs: Bright single LED, plus dynamic U and O shape action
Navigation: GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou + Galileo
Battery: Li-ion, 2000 mAh, non-removable
Additional features: NFC, facial recognition, infrared, programmable key, loudspeaker, FM radio
Colors: transparent red and transparent blue.
Price: $229.99 on Unihertz official website.

Unihertz is aimed at people who are looking for unusual Android phones, and Jelly Star is unique. This is one of the smallest Android smartphones, which makes it stand out from the crowd of large glass slabs we’re used to seeing.

Design and unpacking

Unihertz Jelly Star is a unique mini-smartphone. This tiny, credit card-sized phone is incredibly lightweight, weighing just over 4 ounces. The attractive design is a step up from the previous Unihertz Jelly 2. Jelly Star is available in a transparent red or blue case (following the transparency trend set by Nothing products).

What’s in the box

Here’s everything you’ll find when you unbox your Unihertz Jelly Star:

Unihertz Jelly Star Smartphone
USB-C to USB-A Charging Cable and Charger
Additional screen protector
Strap
SIM contact
User manual

I received the blue transparent version of the phone to test.On the front of the Jelly Star, you’ll see massive edges surrounding the compact screen. Above the display there is a speaker, a front camera and a notification light – a great feature on a smartphone.This little phone’s 3-inch display is protected by durable Panda Glass, and while it’s not as good as the Gorilla Glass usually found on mainstream smartphones, it still offers decent protection. Below the screen you will find dedicated capacitive buttons for navigation. They’re the same as those found on most Android phones, so navigation will feel familiar if you’ve owned an Android smartphone before.You will find the volume buttons on the left side of the smartphone. The right side houses the power button, a programmable button for settings, a dual Nano SIM slot, and a USB-C port for charging and data transfer. At the top of the Jelly Star you will see a 3.5mm headphone jack, and at the bottom of the phone is the device’s speaker.Turning the phone over reveals a translucent back panel with a prominent Unihertz logo. There is a single camera lens, flash and a fingerprint sensor with a sleek metallic finish. The fingerprint scanner and Unihertz logo are surrounded by two small but bright LED strips. The LED strips on the back look cool at first glance, but they may not be for everyone. By default, these white LEDs are quite bright and can be distracting. For example, playing music or YouTube videos causes the light to pulse along with the sound, which may not be to everyone’s taste. There are other options, such as always turning on the lights to remind you to charge your phone, or turning them on or off for incoming calls and notifications.However, you can adjust the brightness of the LED lights or turn them off completely if you don’t like them.

Performance and software

Unihertz Jelly Star, although small in size, impresses with its performance and software capabilities. The MediaTek Helio G99 processor and 8GB RAM ensure smooth performance even on a tiny screen. The overall performance is impressive and the phone runs smoothly without any lag or lag. While the Helio G99 chipset may struggle on large, high-resolution displays, it handles Jelly Star’s low-resolution screen with ease.You will be surprised to know that this little phone comes with the latest Android 13 software rather than Android 12, giving you access to the latest features and improvements.Jelly Star is compatible with T-Mobile and Verizon 4G LTE networks in the US, so you’ll get reliable connectivity no matter where you are. Thanks to its compact size, Jelly Star is the perfect travel companion, especially if you want to take a break from your large smartphone.Jelly Star’s display may be small, but it’s clear and bright, making navigation and browsing easy. The device also supports Wi-Fi hotspot function, which allows you to share your Internet connection with other devices.Unihertz Jelly Star supports Bluetooth 5.3, which ensures seamless connection with wireless headphones and other peripherals. Whether you want to enjoy your favorite music and podcasts or take calls hands-free, this tiny phone has you covered.

Photo and video quality

Jelly Star has one 48-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera. In good lighting, photos are clear and detailed, with accurate colors. But in low light conditions, the quality may not be as good and some photos may look too sharp. The rear camera can take photos with a resolution of 6000 x 8000 pixels, which is good enough for sharing on social media or with friends. But it may not be the best choice if you want to print photos or need professional-quality photos. * Examples of photographs taken with Jelly Star Jelly Star video can record up to 1080p, which is convenient for everyday use and online sharing.Overall, the Jelly Star’s camera is decent for such a small phone, but more expensive phones are better. It’s good for casual photos and videos. If you want to create professional-quality content, your best bet is the latest Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy S23 if you prefer an Android phone. To begin with, these smartphones are more than ten times more expensive than Unihertz’s Jelly Star.

Battery life

Jelly Star is equipped with a 2000 mAh lithium-ion non-removable battery. It offers decent battery life and can easily last a full day. If you take it off the charger early in the morning, you’ll still have about 20% battery left by 10pm. The screen battery life is also reasonable, so you can expect 4-5 hours of continuous use. However, remember that this may vary depending on how often you use the device during the day.Charging the Jelly Star is relatively fast thanks to its 10W charging speed. Fully charging the battery from zero can take about an hour and a half. The downside is that the phone doesn’t support wireless charging, so you’ll need a cable to charge it.

Is Unihertz Jelly Star worth buying?

The Unihertz Jelly Star mini-smartphone is a unique and compact device that stands out among the mass of large and similar-looking smartphones.If you’re looking for a rugged smartphone with a small screen and don’t mind the potential limitations of future Android updates, the Unihertz Jelly Star might be just what you need. It’s ideal for people with excellent vision who want a lightweight phone that won’t weigh them down. Cool translucent red or blue plastic shells give this little gem a touch of personality.