The timing of both JiaYu and UMi couldn’t have been better. Not only do we have both the flagship JiaYu G4 and UMi X2 on review at the sometime, but today was also the opening of Qingdao International Auto Show! What better arena for a head to head camera showdown!
Update: We have updated the download links at the end of the article.
Today was the first full day that I have been out armed with just the UMi X2 and JiaYu G4 as my only phones (my trusty Xiaomi stayed at home) while I took a nice walk to the exhibition hall here in Qingdao for the first day of the Qingdao International Auto Show 2013.
Why is an auto show a great proving ground for a camera phone?
Like most auto shows, the annual Qingdao show is held both in doors and outdoors giving us ample opportunity to test the cameras in both environments. The various manufacturer stands with bright spot lights and neon signs also help to test the 13 mega-pixel sensors on both the UMi X2 and JiaYu G4 in various settings too! Then there is the fact that an auto show makes a much more interesting setting for a mobile phone camera test than the local flower bed!
JiaYu G4 Inside
UMi X2 Inside
JiaYu G4 Vs, UMi X2 Camera shootout!
As usual we will upload lower quality photos in the post but we will also provide a link to a file with the full, untouched images so you can see the raw photos.
JiaYu G4 Outside
UMi X2 Outside
Both the JiaYu G4 and UMi X2 boast 13 mega-pixel rear sensors with auto focus so we were expecting similar results, but by the end of our trip we were reaching for one of these phones more than the other!
We tried to take as many photos of Chinese cars while at the show to give you guys a look at the types of cars we see on the roads here, but don’t worry as I also got some photos of more exotic looking models too.
JiaYu G4 Babes
UMi X2 Babes
Phone and camera performance.
If you have already seen the Antutu scores of the JiaYu G4 Basic and UMi X2 (here and here) you will be well aware that the JiaYu G4 scores higher and so we would expect to be the faster of the two phones, however in use we actually found the UMi X2 to be the fast phone when taking photos.
JiaYu G4 photo sample
UMi X2 photo sample
Once the camera application is open the X2 locks on to its subject faster that the G4 did. In fact the JiaYu sometimes needed a little prompting, with a tap of the display, as to what we were actually trying to focus on.
Focus
At the start of the event I tended to reach for the JiaYu G4 before the UMi. I guess this is down to having had more time with the phone and feeling a little more comfortable with it. After a few photos though I soon realised that the UMi X2 was faster at locking on to to my subject, and was easier and faster to catch a good photo.
That said though, the JaYu G4 tends to pick up more detail when shooting up close to the subject, and with a bit of patience is capable of capturing equally good photos, but the X2 was just fast and easy to get better results with first time.
Colours
Photos taken with the JiaYu G4 tend to look washed out or have too much white balance, this is especially noticeable when taking photos outside. The UMi X2 captures a more natural and realistic colour. Playing around with the settings will allow you to get similar photos on both phones, but for this test I wanted to use the default settings as much as possible.
JiaYu G4 Samples
UMi X2 Samples
Video
I caught some short video samples on both phones while inside at the show. In my opinion neither phones video is truly outstanding. The G4 appears to be clearer, however the auto-focus is constantly trying to adjust.
JiaYu G4 Video Sample
The UMi X2 isn’t as sharp but also doesn’t focus from as much ‘hunting’.
UMi X2 Video Sample
Conclusion
Both the UMi X2 and the JiaYu G4 I have are not meant for production, however they are the closest we are to production models at this moment. Based on these sample I would have to say the UMi X2 performs better in the still photo department, but both phones need work to produce better video.
Also keep this in mind that both the UMi X2 and JiaYu G4 will be receiving updates firmware updates through their lives which could see the G4 get improved image capturing capabilities.
As they are though, it was the UMi X2 which I reached for first each time by the end of the show.
For those of you who want to take a look at the full untouched images you can download them from the links below:
These links are the new updated ones!
Keep up to date with JiaYu and UMi on Facebook:
Thanks andi. bit dissappointed by jiayu this time.
Nice review…
Umi definitely has the better one
What a great opportunity to use both phones.
Strange, the f value for X2 is f2.4. It is supposed tu be f2.0…
I told to Andi here like month ago, that the aperture size of youth version (1GB Ram, 16GB Rom) is F/2.4, and Premium version (2GB Ram, 32GB Rom) has only F/2.2 but my comments are ignored here. F/2.0 is only a Umi failed promise! Also I wanna report that both links with full sample photos are not working.
you know the bigger the f size from lense the bigger the lense is and that is actually good!
So it makes sense: the premium version has the better lens so no problem there
True but here it is divided either by 2.2 or 2.4, hence f/2.2 is bigger aperture size than f/2.4.
Umi’s video sucks and for it’s images are a bit better than Jiayu
how about battery consumition? which get more longer andi?
nice, timely coverage with precision. UMI XII would have 6589Turbo, so hope for the best…..
umi photos are reddish
dont like that
I must say that such a bad video output from Umi is far behind the brand named pohones with even lower camera resolutions. Extremely unshar video and dissapointing. I had my hope for better video. The pictures are not bad at all. I think I take a Xiaomi M2s instead. Non of the two phones made me say this is the one I will buy imediately…
Paul where would you buy the Xiaomi M2s ?
EBay
any particular online seller on ebay ?
Hey Andi, great blog! I was wondering if you might be able to take a few shots with the front camera as I’ve only ever had poor experiences with them in Chinese phones…
Keep up the good work!
Excellent review Andi..Thanks….
Woot2! Next, Battery consumption and GPS review!
There is no difference between the cameras. The photo quality (and Umi X2 and Jiayu G4) is EQUAL…
Do you think Zopo should send Andy their ZP980, to put up against the Jiayu G4 & Umi X2 !
Simon,
Zopo would send Andy their ZOPO C2…
Lukis is Zopo C2 better than ZP980,I know that it runs Aliyun OS, (Don’t know how different that is ?)
Simon,
It’s almost ZP980 (just Aliyun OS, which is done in Android 4.2), only $100 less cost! (imho) 🙂
$100 less is a great saving. What is Aliyun OS ?
G4 has definitely better colors than UMI. Umi has a lot of “red color” problems. If you’ve taken white paper shots it would be really noticable.
Hey Andi.. how was the battery of those two babys in the end of the day??
yeah..a little info about battery please..the photos look both equally good to me..not much of a difference…please battery levels next time whenever you are out andi.. and yeah thanks again..
Andy are these test samples that you have to give back, or do you get to keep them. The reason i’m asking is that I bought a Samsung GS3 clone (no specific brand), and it stopped making phones calls after 3 weeks !!
Some I get to keep others I have to send back. I’m happy to send them back most of the time though as I already have far too many at the mo 🙂
图挂了，谁补下图，重新上传一个下载链接，谢了！
I can’t download the sample videos, Dropbox Error (509)
Dropbox Error..
Error (509)
This account’s public links are generating too much traffic and have been temporarily disabled!
I have the same. Any alternative links?
Uploading them now and will update the links shortly.
Ok new download links should be working.
Im going for the UMi X2 Turbo….. just for the baseband 3G 850… and its a good phone too
What is the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value of UMI XII
Just get the new Xiaomi Mi-2s and be done with it (it kicks both their asses)……just got mine yesterday and it rocks
You got the Mi2 or M2S?
Mi2s Andy. The 32g version. Bit of an upgrade from my old jiayu g2 I can tell you 🙂
Sorry get the reason for your question now. M2s as opposed to mi2s 🙂