Kyocera Echo

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 10 expert reviews

Excellent:

2
Good:

3
Average:

3
Bad:

2

Pros:

Dual screens, Extra battery included, Swype keyboard, Multiple operation modes.
Dual WVGA Screen that can be used in tablet mode or separately, Collapsible for regular phone calls and to fit conveniently in purse or pocket, Slim in dual screen mode, but bulky folded up, Standard MicroUSB charge/sync cable, extra battery unit.
Dual high resolution displays that combine for a 4.7” tablet mode, Mostly vanilla Android experience, Comes with an extra battery and charger

Cons:

Awkward to open, No 4G support, Only 500MB builtin memory, Runs older Android 2.2 OS
“The line” of the dual screen, Android. 2.2 makes it yesterday’s news, As does it’s single 5MP rear facing camera, Not 4G, Battery life, depending on if you’re a heavy user or not (but at least you get a backup battery)

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Last revision on November 9, 2011

Reviewers Liked

Dual screens, Extra battery included, Swype keyboard, Multiple operation modes
Dual WVGA Screen that can be used in tablet mode or separately, Collapsible for regular phone calls and to fit conveniently in purse or pocket, Slim in dual screen mode, but bulky folded up, Standard MicroUSB charge/sync cable, extra battery unit
Dual high resolution displays that combine for a 4.7” tablet mode, Mostly vanilla Android experience, Comes with an extra battery and charger
Gorgeous displays, Nearflawless software, Two screens truly are useful
The Kyocera Echo has a one-of-kind design that offers two screens and the ability to use two applications at once. Call quality is acceptable and the smartphone is quick and responsive
Running two applications side by side is useful, Unique design and idea

Reviewers Didn't Like

Awkward to open, No 4G support, Only 500MB builtin memory, Runs older Android 2.2 OS
“The line” of the dual screen, Android. 2.2 makes it yesterday’s news, As does it’s single 5MP rear facing camera, Not 4G, Battery life, depending on if you’re a heavy user or not (but at least you get a backup battery)
Lag, lag, lag, You can’t do much with two displays for now, Battery life is awful, Call quality is poor, Build materials and design could be better, Very high price point
A tad chunky, No WiMAX, Poor SimulTask app selection
The Kyocera Echo's design entails some usability quirks and we're concerned about long-term durability. The feature set is pretty average, it lacks 4G, and you'll have to wait for an upgrade beyond Froyo
Hardware feels gimmicky, Dismal battery life

Expert reviews and ratings

For me, a full blown tablet is nice real estate wise, but it can be tedious to type on. By contrast, a smartphone is nice and handy for thumb pecking out email and posts to Facebook, but the screen is so darn small. Would there could be something in...

By GadgetReview on July 23, 2011

We’ve got a new phone for you today–and it’s pretty new, too; only just emerged. It’s the Kyocera Echo, but will Sprint’s new phone have the goods to compete effectively in a market that’s positively thick with cell...

By MobileWhack on April 29, 2011

The million dollar question is: Are two screens better than one? The answer, in the form of the Kyocera Echo, is no. While the idea is interesting, and while it's true that studies have been done to prove that in the case of desktop computing, two...

By Pocketnow on April 26, 2011

The world's first dual-screen smartphone is here! Read our full Kyocera Echo review.Kyocera Echo Report The dual-screen Kyocera Echo was not the phone we had originally imagined. We thought Sprint would be unleashing a 4G Android 3.0 powerhouse back...

By infoSync World on April 19, 2011

There is a lot to like about the Kyocera Echo, and the phone no doubt suffers from the “first” plague. We applaud Kyocera and Sprint for spurring innovation so we can’t be too hard on the Echo, and with the first dual-display device...

By Phone Arena on April 18, 2011

Is the Echo for everyone? Certainly not. But then again, neither is the expansive Thunderbolt, the larger-than-life Streak or the close-minded iPhone 4. What the Echo delivers is an entirely new approach to Android, and somehow, Kyocera has managed to...

By Engadget on April 13, 2011

The Kyocera Echo's design offers some unique advantages, but its appeal is hampered by usability quirks and a lackluster feature...

By cnet on April 13, 2011

The $199 dual-screen Kyocera Echo is not just an interesting proof of concept or a gimmick; it's a dual-screen dynamo that delivers a truly unique and compelling multitasking experience that you won't find on any other handset today. If...

By LaptopMag on April 13, 2011

Aside from having a larger area for Web browsing, the Echo doesn't seem to benefit greatly from having two screens. Most of the time, the second screen on the Echo feels like a bit of a gimmick. A physical keyboard might have been a better use of...

By PCWorld on April 13, 2011

100

On February 7th, 2011, Sprint unveiled a new smartphone that it was rumored would change the face of the smartphone industry. That particular smartphone was the Kyoecera Echo. Kyocera currently isn't one of the well known brands in the United...

By BrightHub on February 15, 2011

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