Kyocera Hydro Edge (2013) review

Kyocera announced the launch of the Hydro Edge smartphone in 2013. The manufacturer is offering the Kyocera Hydro Edge phone with 4 inch display, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8627 chipset, 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage.

The Kyocera Hydro Edge smartphone comes with Android OS v4.1 (Jelly Bean) out of the box, and a Li-Ion 1600 mAh battery. The 4 inch phone comes with a high resolution IPS display (480 x 800 px). This screen can reproduce accurate and vibrant colors. This smartphone has a single camera on the back (5 MP, 2592 х 1944 px). The single camera setup can be sufficient for many smartphone users, depending on their photography needs and preferences.

Kyocera Hydro Edge specifications

Body

The weight of Kyocera Hydro Edge is about 4.52 oz with battery, which is average compared to most of the smartphones with same size. The dimensions of this Kyocera smartphone are average (4.9 x 2.5 x 0.39 inch). Smaller smartphones are more compact and easier to carry around, but they may have smaller displays that can be harder to read and interact with. A micro SIM is a smaller (15 x 12 x 0.76 mm) version of the standard SIM card used in mobile devices. The micro SIM card provides the same functionality as the standard SIM card, allowing the user to connect to a cellular network and use mobile data, voice, and messaging services.

System

The Kyocera Hydro Edge comes with Android OS v4.1 (Jelly Bean) out of the box, but it is upgradable to the next OS. Android is a mobile operating system developed by Google based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software. The Hydro Edge has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 MSM8627 CPU. This CPU can be fast enough for basic phone operations. The Hydro Edge utilizes Adreno 305 GPU. A GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) is a specialized chip that is primarily designed to handle and accelerate the processing of graphics and visual data. It is responsible for rendering images, videos, and animations on a smartphone screen. Adreno GPUs are designed to work in conjunction with Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. The latest Adreno GPUs support advanced graphics features such as high dynamic range (HDR) rendering, virtual reality, and augmented reality applications.

Display

The 4 inch phone comes with IPS display. The IPS display provides enhanced features, such as optimal viewing angles, color accuracy, invariable color reproduction and better power consumption. Smaller smartphones are generally more compact and easier to handle. The size of the screen is measured diagonally, from corner to corner. A larger screen typically requires more power to illuminate, which can impact battery life. The display of Kyocera Hydro Edge is multitouch capable. Multitouch technology enables the device's touchscreen to detect and interpret multiple touch points on the screen simultaneously.

Memory

1 GB of RAM is not typically considered to be enough for a smartphone. Most smartphones today come with at least 3 GB or 4 GB of RAM, and some high-end devices have even more. Having more RAM in a smartphone can provide benefits in terms of performance and multitasking. When you have more RAM, you can keep more apps and processes open in the background without slowing down the device. 32 GB of internal storage is generally considered to be the minimum amount of storage you would want in a smartphone. The Hydro Edge has only 4 GB of internal storage. The memory of Kyocera Hydro Edge (1 GB) cannot be expanded, but the internal storage (4 GB) can be expanded with a compatible microSD card. A microSD card is a type of small, removable flash memory card used to store digital information.

Camera

The Hydro Edge offers only a single-camera setup. The single camera can still be sufficient for many smartphone users, depending on their photography needs and preferences. The camera of the Hydro Edge has no autofocus capability (fixed-focus). An autofocus (or AF) optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus on an automatically or manually selected point or area. Very few Android cameras come without autofocus. The main camera of Hydro Edge smartphone does not have OIS. The optical image stabilization (OIS) is an important feature in smartphones, particularly for those who frequently use their phones to take photos and videos.

Connectivity

The Kyocera Hydro Edge supports 2G and 3G networks only. 3G is obsolete now, because most phones can use 4G and 5G networks. The Kyocera Hydro Edge supports the latest Wi-Fi standards. Wi-Fi is now a ubiquitous technology that is widely used in homes, businesses, public spaces, and other environments around the world. The Hydro Edge smartphone is capable of connecting to Bluetooth devices. Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology that allows devices to connect and communicate with each other over short distances.

This phone has a built-in GPS. GPS is a highly accurate navigation system using signals from satellites to determine a location on the Earth's surface, irrespective of weather conditions. Most phones have a GPS unit on board. The Hydro Edge isn't NFC (Near Field Communication) capable. NFC is not essential for basic phone functionality, but it can be useful for a variety of tasks and features. The Hydro Edge phone has built-in FM radio. The built-in FM Radio is great for listening to your favorite radio station.

The Hydro Edge has a microUSB port. MicroUSB is a type of USB connector that was commonly used on older smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. The Hydro Edge smartphone has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. A 3.5 mm headphone jack is a small round port, that allows you to connect wired headphones or earphones to the device.

Battery

The Li-Ion 1600 mAh battery gives the smartphone a good battery backup. The Li-ion is a low maintenance battery which offers high energy, is lightweight and does not require periodic full discharge. The battery of Hydro Edge is removable. You can simply buy a new piece from the open market and interchange it easily by yourself.

Features

Smartphones today come with a wealth of sensors to facilitate a better user experience. The accelerometer is a sensor that measures the tilting motion and orientation of the phone. This Kyocera phones come with proximity sensor. This proximity sensor detects how close the phone is to an outside object, such as your ear. The Hydro Edge phone comes with a compass sensor. A compass sensor is a device that provides accurate directions in relation to the earth's North and South magnetic poles. The ambient light sensor detects the level of ambient light in the surrounding environment. The main purpose of a light sensor in a smartphone is to automatically adjust the brightness of the device's display.

The specifications above are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the Kyocera Hydro Edge, then don’t hesitate and signal the problem to us.

Kyocera Hydro Edge pictures

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Please take a look at the following compilation of the most recent Kyocera phones. This list showcases the latest offerings from Kyocera in the realm of mobile devices. Feel free to explore and check out these cutting-edge smartphones.

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Kyocera DuraForce Ultra 5G
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