14 DAY TRIAL // As expected, Panasonic revived its new Eluga series of smartphones with the launch of a premium device, the Eluga U. The smartphone will be available for purchase in India beginning tomorrow, July 31, for Rs 18,990 ($315 / €235) outright.
We reported earlier today that Panasonic Eluga U went on sale in India ahead of the official announcement and can already be purchased via eBay India for only Rs 17,490 ($290 / €215).
Those who are willing to wait until tomorrow, when the smartphone is expected to arrive at multiple retailers, will be able to grab it for the suggested retail price mentioned above. Hopefully, some of these retailers will offer slight discounts, as the Eluga U seems rather pricey for the Indian market.
However, if we are to compare the Eluga U with other smartphones in the same price range, launched by well-established manufacturers such as Samsung, HTC and Lenovo, Panasonic’s premium handset does seem to be the better deal.
The main advantage over other handsets in the same price range seems to be the fact that it comes with a newer version of Android, namely KitKat 4.4.2. Other than that, the differences are minor, so it comes to each and every one to decide which smartphone suits their needs better.
Panasonic has confirmed today that the Eluga U will be powered by Android 4.4.2 KitKat with Fit Home UI, which allows users to handle the smartphone with only one hand.
The handset is equipped with a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory. Additionally, the Eluga U also comes with microSD card slot for memory expansion (up to 32GB).
Another strong point of the Panasonic Eluga U would be the 5-inch capacitive touchscreen display that supports HD (720p) resolution. On the back, the smartphone boasts an impressive 13-megapixel photo snapper with autofocus, LED flash and full HD (1080p) video recording, while on the front there’s a secondary 2-megapixel camera for video calls and selfies.
The device features dual-SIM support, as well as FM Radio function. It also comes with Kwik Lock that allows users to double-tap on the screen to wake the phone, Pop-i-player and Gesture play.
Other highlights of Panasonic’s premium smartphone include: 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, HD Voice support, GPS with A-GPS and a 2500 mAh battery that has yet to be rated by the manufacturer.
Panasonic Eluga U will have a hard time becoming a best seller in India, especially due to the recent launch of the Xiaomi Mi3, but also due to the fierce competition from Indian handset manufacturers.
