Unihertz is known for its commitment to providing small smartphones, and its latest model Jelly Star is making waves as the world’s smallest Android smartphone. This credit card-sized phone offers impressive specs and works like a modern smartphone, making it a compelling option for those looking for a compact device. At the same time, the 3-inch screen and tiny onscreen keyboard may become a challenge for users with poor vision or those used to larger phones.
In this Unihertz Jelly Star review, we’ll look closer at this phone and help you decide whether to buy the Jelly Star as your next smartphone.
Unihertz Jelly Star Mini Smartphone: First Impressions & Specs
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 slips easily into any pocket or purse. Yet despite its small size, it has a solid build and doesn’t feel flimsy.
The Unihertz Jelly Star is powered by an octa-core processor and provides smooth performance for everyday tasks. Another pleasant surprise is that it runs on the latest Android operating system, Android 13 OS, and is compatible with a range of apps and services. It also came with an April 2023 security update.
The device has an impressive 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage, providing lots of space for your apps, photos, and files. It also supports expandable storage via a microSD card slot.
Before we continue the review, let’s take a closer look at the smartphone’s tech specifications:
- Dimensions: 3.75 x 1.94 x 0.69in (95.1 x 49.6 x 18.7mm)
- Weight: 4.3 oz (116g)
- CPU: Helio G99 Octa-Core 2.0-2.2GHz
- OS: Android 13
- Memory: 8GB RAM
- Storage: 256 GB ROM UFS 2.2
- SIM card type: dual nano, micro SD capable
- Screen: panda glass, LCD, 2.63” x 1.5” display area
- Resolution: 480 x 854
- Connectivity: 2G GSM, 3G, 4G, Wifi 2.4GHz/5GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB Type-C, 3.5mm headphone jack
- Rear camera: 48MP
- Front camera: 8MP
- LEDs: Bright single LED, plus dynamic action ‘U’ and ‘O’ shaped
- Navigation: GPS + GLONASS + BeiDou + Galileo
- Battery: 2000 mAh lithium ion, non-removable
- Extra features: NFC, facial recognition, infrared port, programmable key, loudspeaker, FM radio
- Colors: transparent red and transparent blue
- Price: $229.99 on the official Unihertz website .
Unihertz caters to people looking for unusual Android phones, and Jelly Star is unique. It’s one of the tiniest Android smartphones out there, making it stand out from the crowd of big glass slabs we’re used to seeing.
Design and Unpacking
The Unihertz Jelly Star is a unique mini smartphone. This tiny phone measures about the size of a credit card and is incredibly light, too, weighing a little over 4 ounces. The eye-catching design is a step up from the previous Unihertz Jelly 2 model. Jelly Star is available in either 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 unboxing your Unihertz Jelly Star:
- Unihertz Jelly Star smartphone
- USB-C to USB-A charging cable & charger
- Extra screen protector
- Lanyard
- Sim pin
- User guide
I received the blue transparent version of the phone for testing purposes.
On the front of the Jelly Star, you’ll see chunky edges surrounding the compact screen. Above the display is an earpiece, a front-facing camera, and a notification light, a nifty feature to have on a smartphone.
The 3-inch display of this small phone is protected by durable Panda Glass, and while it’s not as good as Gorilla Glass commonly found in mainstream smartphones, it still offers decent protection.
Under the screen, you’ll find dedicated capacitive buttons for navigation. These are the same as on most Android phones, so the navigation feels familiar if you owned an Android smartphone before.
You’ll find the volume buttons on the smartphone’s left side.
The right side features the power button, a programmable button for customization, the Nano dual SIM card slot, and the USB-C port for charging and data transfer.
At the top of the Jelly Star, you’ll see a 3.5mm headphone jack, and the bottom of the phone houses the device’s speaker.
When you flip the phone over, you’ll see a translucent back with a prominent Unihertz logo. There’s a single camera lens, a flash, and a fingerprint sensor with a sleek metallic finish. The fingerprint sensor and Unihertz logo are flanked by two small but bright LED strips.
The LED light strips at the back look cool at first, but they may not be for everyone. By default, these white LED lights are pretty bright and can be distracting. For example, playing music or a YouTube video triggers the lights to pulsate with the sound, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. There are other options, too, like having the lights always on to remind you to charge the 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 entirely if you don’t like them.
Performance & Software
The Unihertz Jelly Star may be small in size, but it impresses with its performance and software features. The MediaTek Helio G99 processor and 8GB of RAM ensure smooth operation, even with its tiny screen.
The overall performance is impressive, and the phone operates smoothly without any lags or delays. While the Helio G99 chipset could face challenges on larger high-resolution displays, it easily handles the Jelly Star’s low-resolution screen.
You’ll be surprised to learn that this little phone comes with the latest Android 13 software and not Android 12, providing access to the latest features and improvements.
The Jelly Star is compatible with both T-Mobile and Verizon 4G LTE networks in the U.S., so you’ll get reliable connectivity wherever you go. Thanks to the compact size, Jelly Star is a perfect travel companion, especially when you want to take a break from your big smartphone.
The display on the Jelly Star may be small, but it’s crisp and bright, making navigation and browsing easy. The device also supports Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, allowing you to share your internet connection with other devices.
Unihertz Jelly Star supports Bluetooth 5.3, which ensures seamless connections with wireless earbuds and other peripherals. Whether you want to enjoy your favorite music and podcast or take calls hands-free, the tiny phone has you covered.
Photo and Video Quality
The Jelly Star has a single rear camera with 48 megapixels and a front camera with 8 megapixels. In good lighting, it takes clear and detailed pictures with accurate colors. But in low-light settings, the quality may not be as good, and some photos may look too sharp.
The rear camera can take pictures with a resolution of 6000 x 8000 pixels, which is adequate for sharing on social media or with friends. But it may not be the best choice if you want to print the pictures or need professional-quality photos.
- Examples of photos taken with Jelly Star
For videos, the Jelly Star can record in up to 1080p resolution, which is good for everyday use and sharing online .
Overall, the Jelly Star’s camera is decent for a small phone like this, but more expensive phones are better. It’s fine for casual pictures and videos. If you’re looking to create professional quality content, your best options would be the latest Apple iPhone models or Samsung Galaxy S23 if you prefer an Android phone. Mind you, these smartphones are more than ten times more expensive than the Jelly Star by Unihertz.
Battery Life
The Jelly Star has a 2000mAh 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 around 20% battery left by 10 PM.
The screen time is also reasonable, so you can expect about 4 to 5 hours of continuous use. However, remember that this may vary depending on how much you use the device throughout the day.
Charging the Jelly Star is relatively quick, thanks to its 10W charge rate. It can take around an hour and a half to fully charge the battery from zero. One downside is that the phone doesn’t support wireless charging, so you’ll need a cable to charge it.
Should You Buy the Unihertz Jelly Star?
The Unihertz Jelly Star Mini Smartphone is a unique and compact device that sets itself apart from the crowd of large and similar-looking smartphones.
If you’re looking for a rugged smartphone with small screen size and don’t mind the potential limitations with future Android updates, the Unihertz Jelly Star could be just what you need. It’s perfect for people with great vision who want a lightweight phone that won’t weigh them down. The cool translucent red or blue plastic shells add a touch of personality to this little gem.
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If you don’t have a full-sized printing machine at home and often need to print a document on the go, check out the Newyes portable printer . This wireless printer is lightweight and small enough to fit in your bag. Not to mention it’s environmentally friendly, since it uses thermal paper instead of ink.
Follow our review of the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer to see if it suits your printing needs.
Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal A4 Printer: First Impressions & Specs
When I was a student, I remember my university always required hard copies of documents. Luckily, there was a print shop on campus where I could always pop in to print something.
Then I became a professional, and to my surprise many life spheres still required me to have printed versions of documents with me. Of course you can get your own full-sized machine to print things at home, but if like me you live in a small apartment, you value every extra bit of space and don’t want a massive printer to take it up.
One day, when I was looking for a neighbor with a printer to help me with my event tickets, they introduced me to the concept of a portable printer. Seeing how easy it is to use, I immediately wanted to get my hands on one of those. So here I am, reviewing one of the most useful gadgets I received recently – the Newyes portable thermal printer.
Before we continue with this review, here is the full list of specs of this printer.
- Model: Newyes LD0801
- Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.2 x 2.28 in (265 x 58 x 30.5 mm)
- Weight: 16.8oz (475g)
- Paper format: A4
- Paper width: 210mm or 218mm
- Printing Type: thermal paper
- Resolution: 203DPI
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Charging port: USB type-C port
- Input Voltage: DC 5V / 2A
- Battery: 1200mAh lithium battery
- Charging time: 75 min
- Automatic shut down: after 30 minutes
- Stand-by: about 30 days
- Extra features: LED light, reset, on / off switch button
- Color: white, black
- Warranty: limited one year warranty
- Price: $199 on the Newyes website
If you find yourself in need of hard copies of important documents while on the move, the Newyes portable wireless thermal printer will become your go-to gadget. Newyes calls it “the world’s smallest printer”, and with the weight of under 500g this seems plausible. This mini printer offers a handy solution for those moments when you need to quickly print an important document but don’t have access to an office setup.
Operating this printer is a breeze – a simple Bluetooth connection is all that’s required. Once connected, just fire up the app, choose the file you want to print, and send it over. Efficiency is at the forefront, and you can easily print multiple sheets by inserting new pages back to back.
The only limitation this printer has is that it can only print in black. So even if your original file is in color, the printed document will still come out in black and white. Other than that – you can print a variety of file types including Excel, Word, PDF, JPG, PNG, and web pages – and it only takes seconds.
The Newyes portable wireless printer combines convenience, portability, and efficiency – all the things I appreciate in a modern gadget.
Design and Unpacking
Let’s have a closer look at the design and build of this smart printer, as well as what you get included in the package when you purchase it.
What’s in the Box
Here’s everything you’ll find when unpacking your Newyes portable thermal printer:
- The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer
- Bracket
- USB type-C cable
- Storage/carrying pouch
- 100pcs thermal printing paper
- User manual
You can use the Newyes portable printer right out of the box, as you’re all set with essential accessories. Aside from the printer itself, the package includes a bracket which will make printing more than one page smoother, a convenient storage bag for carrying your printer with you, a USB-C cable for charging, and a supply of 100 pieces of thermal paper to get you started.
One important thing to remember is that this printer only works with thermal paper. While thermal paper is significantly more expensive than normal paper, this printer also uses inkless printing and works without a ribbon and toner. Since you don’t have to spend money on ink, carbon ribbons or toner cartridges, you ultimately end up saving money with thermal paper.
The Newyes LD0801 is a pocket-sized printer that features straightforward design. For the purpose of this review, I had a printer in white color. The printer looks like a small white brick with just two pressable buttons on top – one for switching it on and off, and another for opening the printer’s cover. You’ll also see the paper entry slot on top of the printer.
On the side of the printer, you’ll find a single charging port.
The printer is made of plastic, but the build feels sturdy. I never have to worry about throwing it into my bag or damaging it when traveling. Besides, you can use a nice carrying pouch included in the package for protection.
Performance & Features
According to Newyes, the portable printer has a “handheld size and two times the weight of an iPhone”. This can give you an idea of how portable and convenient this little gadget is. In a month of testing, I used it at home, in a store, and even in a car while on the road.
Using the printer is unbelievably easy. Connect it to your mobile phone via Bluetooth, press the button to turn the printer on and put a sheet of thermal paper into the paper entry slot. Make sure to use thermal paper and not standard paper, and put it with the black marks facing down. Bear in mind that the thermal printer can only print in black and white and only on one (marked) side of the thermal paper sheet.
Then open the iPrint app on your smartphone. If you’re printing an A4 document, you can select one of two options – Photo Printing and Document Printing . Then choose the document from your phone’s files and print it.
The printer is reliable and in the time that I used it the Newyes LD0801 never let me down. The printing quality will surprise you, as it’s sometimes better than what you get from a full-sized printer. The printer supports printing in various formats, and you can use it to print documents from your smartphone (Android and iPhone), iPad, and Android tablet.
When fully charged, the printer can support up to 90 pieces of paper continuously, which is very impressive for a gadget of such a small size.
Software
The Newyes portable printer requires an iPrint app to operate. The app is available for free on iOS and Android. You’ll need to download the app on your device from the App Store or Google Play before you begin printing your documents.
The app has a simple and user-friendly design. You’ll need to pair your device with the printer on the first use via Bluetooth.
Depending on the type of document you want to print, you can choose different options from the app. There’s photo printing, document printing, web printing, and banner printing.
The app also has Materials and Template sections, where you can find various pictures and templates for printing to-do lists, post-its and holiday cards. You can also use the Newyes LD0801 as a label printer using these templates.
Battery Life
The Newyes portable wireless thermal printer is equipped with a decent 1200mAh lithium battery. This high-capacity battery allows you to print on the go without constantly worrying about running out of charge. When I received the printer, I charged it fully once, and it still hasn’t run out of battery after one month of use (I use it to print something almost every other day).
Charging this printer is quick and takes just over an hour to charge the printer from zero to full. The type-C charging cable facilitates a rapid charging experience. And if you run out of battery while on the go, you can quickly charge the printer from a portable power station or a power bank to continue printing.
The printer doesn’t support wireless charging, so I’d recommend always bringing the usb-c cable with you just in case.
Should You Buy the Newyes Portable Wireless Thermal Printer?
The Newyes portable thermal printer ensures high-quality wireless printing while on the go and easy operation. It’s not the most budget-friendly option, but this purchase will save you money and nerves in the long run thanks to its versatility and portable nature.
Personally, I can say that this printer made my life easier. So much that it’s probably my favorite smart gadget of the year. If you’re looking for a portable printer that won’t take any space in your house, I’d certainly recommend considering the Newyes LD0801 model.
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