What's good
- Truly tiny
- Inexpensive
- Extremely portable
- Headphone jack
What's bad
- Too small for some apps
- Uneven backlighting
- Finicky fingerprint scanner
- Poor camera quality
The Unihertz Jelly 2 goes beyond being a small phone into the realm of genuinely tiny. For some, that’s a massive part of the appeal. It’s lightweight, easy to shove in a pocket, and a boon to those looking to reduce screen time and decrease electronic dependence. What—besides size—are you giving up for the benefits, and is the phone dependable and worth using?
Design
The phone is easily the smallest full-featured phone on the market in 2020. Its outer shell is a glossy fingerprint magnet. The phone is also a bit thick if you’re used to toting around a smartphone. But it will likely still weigh less than any other phone you might have owned in the past few years.
It also has a programmable shortcut button, which you can customize based on how you use your phone and a fingerprint scanner on the center back. Unfortunately, some reviewers found the fingerprint scanner frustratingly slow and inaccurate.
Display
This is where things get complicated. The screen isn’t incredibly sharp or colorful. Pair this with the tiny size and it’s going to be an adjustment for just about anyone who has adjusted to larger smartphones.
Because the display is so tiny, the keyboard essentially takes up the entire screen when typing in a password or firing off text messages. Viewing apps with complex layouts or heavily-formatted websites can get dicey as well.
Performance
The Unihertz Jelly 2 performed surprisingly well for its size. Reviewers never complained of sluggishness or wait times and reported good reviews overall on speed and capabilities. They did, however, note that things could be buggy sometimes due to the tiny display.
Software & Storage
Storage is a surprising 128GB to start and also has a MicroSD expansion slot. It runs stock Android 10 without any fancy skins or bloated extra apps. Reviewers found the barebones approach refreshing.
Cameras
The phone includes a 16MP camera on the back of the phone. It sits above the fingerprint scanner in an aluminum bezel of sorts. Unfortunately, it’s not very good. Reviewers stated that the photos were over-exposed at the best of times and noise filled mud at their worst. Some even remarked that the function of the camera Unihertz chose was simply to check it off the spec list.
Battery Life
There’s only so much room to cram a battery on such a small phone. As such, reviewers found that heavy phone use would mean you’ll need to top it off in the afternoon. That said, top-offs are fast thanks to USB Type-C charging and the tiny 2,000mAh battery.
Audio
Middling at best, this phone comes with the typical mobile audio caveats. Flat sound and an easy-to-muffle speaker were leading complaints. However, since the phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack, you can quickly remedy the situation.
Specs at a Glance
- Plastic chassis
- 3-inch display
- MediaTek Helio P60 Octa-core 2 GHz processor
- 6GB of RAM
- Android 10
- 128GB onboard storage and MicroSD slot
- 16MP camera
- 2,000mAh battery
Bottom Line
The Unihertz Jelly 2 bucks the big smartphone trend of 2020 and packs a surprising punch. Along with some small issues that are easily fixed, it behaves much as it should with just a little extra -- as long as you’re not looking to take great photos with your phone.
The consensus is that this phone is perfect for those cutting back screen time and dependence on their phones. It might be an excellent option for outdoorsy types looking for a phone that doesn’t take up much space, but be sure to keep it dry because it doesn’t have an IP rating.
PC Magazine says, “The tiny Unihertz Jelly 2 is the perfect device for people who need access to apps, but don't want to spend a lot of time looking at their phones.”
The Verge states, “I can’t say I have much need for the Jelly 2 myself, but I continue to appreciate Unihertz’s devotion to making ultra-niche devices. I’m sure the Jelly 2 is exactly what a very small number of people have been waiting for.”
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Ryne Hager, Android PoliceThe $200 price tag might be a bit expensive as a novelty, but I think the phone transcends that sort of dismissive label, even given its issues. Those with the cash to spare on a second phone who need or want something small will probably be pleased. There are specific use cases here where this phon...
- Matthew Miller, ZDNetUnihertz responded to feedback from original Jelly phone owners with the Jelly 2.0 and is releasing another solid, affordable Android phone targeted towards specific use cases.
- Sascha Segan, PC MagazineThe tiny Unihertz Jelly 2 is the perfect device for people who need access to apps, but don't want to spend a lot of time looking at their phones.
Prices (Where to Buy)
Common Questions
Unihertz backs up the Jelly 2 with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.
If your Jelly 2 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Unihertz support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Unihertz's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.
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