Huawei Y5 II features significant upgrades over its predecessor

Although most of the attention is focused upon its quartet of upcoming P9 variants, Chinese manufacturer Huawei has plenty of other devices in the pipeline, including a sequel to last year’s entry-level Y5. According to marketing material seen by VentureBeat, the so-called Y5 II will bring a number of significant upgrades that will be sure to interest consumers of this class of handsets.

For starters, Y5 II allegedly features a faster processor, although it is not an apples-to-apples comparison. Whereas the first edition is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 with four cores running at a maximum of 1.1GHz each, the upcoming successor changes CPU vendors to MediaTek and its 1.3GHz quad core MT6735P.

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More significantly, this second generation increases both the dimensions and resolution of the display — from a 4.5-inch, FWVGA LCD to a full five-inch, 720p HD variety with in-plane switching. The memory configuration, however, remains static at 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage capacity.

Surprisingly, despite its larger size, the Y5 II actually weighs in at just 135 grams, down from the first Y5’s 142 grams.

In terms of imaging, both generations offer a 2-megapixel, front-facing selfie cam, but this newer incarnation will boost the main rear camera from 5 megapixels to 8 megapixels. Battery capacity is also said to be increasing, from 2000mAh to 2200mAh.

Powered by Android Lollipop 5.1 and skinned with Huawei’s EMUI 3.1, Y5 II should be available in obsidian black, arctic, white, sand gold, rose pink, and sky blue.

It’s the second of two Y-series phones headed toward an imminent refresh; the second is the Y3 II, about which no details have yet been shared.

https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/711044869813305344

A second-quarter launch and release are likely, and although no pricing details were given, the Y5 II is unlikely to cost much more than the first Y5 did at its debut: about $165 (although a U.S. release is almost surely off the table).