JiaYu S3 first impressions and hands on coming soon!

Update: The delivery company failed to bring the JiaYu S3 today. I did receive the Xiaomi Redmi 2 and Ulefone Be Pro. Hopefully tomorrow it will come.

Great news this morning, as the delivery of our JiaYu S3 has been confirmed and the phone is winging its way to us I type.

JiaYu are notoriously slow when it comes to releasing their new phones, and this year is no different! The difference this time though is that the next generation JiaYu S3 is heading to us right now and we will soon learn if the wait for this flagship Mediatek phone will be worth it or not.

The JiaYu S3 is JiaYu’s first phone for 2015, and also their first phone to move to alloy construction, a 64bit processor, LTE and boast a dual LED flash. From photos that we have seen and posted (some below) the S3 is a handsome device.

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In China JiaYu are already shipping the 2GB RAM version of the JiaYu S3 to customers, with 3GB RAM models promised before the Chinese Spring Festival. I don’t know which version of the JiaYu S3 we will take delivery of, but judging from the hardware both models are going to be potent smartphones.

As soon as I receive the JiaYu S3 I will get an uboxing, hands on and first impressions of this highly anticipated smartphone posted ASAP.

JiaYu S3 photos

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JiaYu S3 vs Elephone P7000 vs Meizu n1 note Specifications

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Andi

archie
January 23, 2015
Great news 🙂
But is there any chance that they fixed the video recording? I have seen few video samples and they are very bad, but regular photographs are awesome quality.
- Marco Lancaster
  January 23, 2015
  I guess is a matter of time. Because here, we know the camera is good and capable. It’s just a question of software optimization.
  - RobertNL
    January 26, 2015
    I think i did read something about that on the Jiayu forums. They are working on it.
    Unfortunately i can not link it here as the links with BBS posts are not approved by the admins of Giz it seems :'(
    - Simon
      January 26, 2015
      - RobertNL
        January 26, 2015
        Simon
        January 26, 2015
        It looks like vifocal has the cheapest price.
        
        Jan
        January 27, 2015
        I just noticed Vifocal’s only offering the S3 Basic
        Demetrio
        January 27, 2015
        S3 Advanced doesn’t exist right now. Jiayu has got some issue on receiving 3GB RAM modules. Today they announced a second Basic wave, from 28/01 to 08/02, than S3 Advanced will not be produced before 08/02.
        Simon
        January 27, 2015
Airyl
January 23, 2015

Manos
January 23, 2015
Well the camera is better than the Meizu m1? That’s the biggest question!!
Anyway I think the Meizu is better choice I hope will have some updates and not stock Rom!
- archie
  January 23, 2015
  - Manos
    January 25, 2015
    Thanks for the answers! Yes with Jiayu buying all the packet dual flash, good camera, sd card, removable battery,plus dual SIM 4G.
    I can’t get it other company’s don’t see why Jiayu is winning? this small things makes a complete phone and the price point they have is acceptable for many people.
- desponent
  January 23, 2015
  How many photos can you shoot with that meizu before you need to run to your PC to transfer those photos because it ran out of space?
- Demetrio
  January 23, 2015
  www dot ejiayu dot com/en/News2-1-201.html
  Meizu has got a 2.2 focal Samsung sensor, Jiayu a 2.0 focal Sony sensor, the same as Xiaomi Mi4, Oneplus One, etc. So Jiayu sensor is better, probably it needs some more optimization from Jiayu engineers

desponent
January 23, 2015
They usually have amazing screen quality complete with gorilla glass protection (so a screen protector will only hurt it).
- Marco Lancaster
  January 23, 2015
  - desponent
    January 23, 2015
    It’s not, it’s as useful as the one already installed and of course it’s also useful in degrading how the screen looks if that’s to your fancy.
    Unless you live in beach area, screen protector is moot for phone with tempered glass built-in.
    - Simon
      January 25, 2015
  - RobertNL
    January 26, 2015
    Agree, if they use the right glass (99.2% optical) then its great to have a glass protector. If you are lucky it takes the hit on a drop and the protector breaks instead screen.
    - Marco Lancaster
      January 26, 2015
      That’s what I mean, most normal screen protectors are useless when this phone has Gorilla Glass 3, but the glass screen protector, can luckily take the damage if the phone falls.
      - Demetrio
        January 26, 2015
        uhm, I’m not sure you’re right…
        My old smartphone is broken after a 40cm fall on the floor. It was not a gorilla glass display, and there was a glass screen protector.
        Marco Lancaster
        January 26, 2015
        Ye, unfortunately it’s like i said “luckily” it can take the damage, but not always, just like you phone can fall and nothing happen.
- Demetrio
  January 23, 2015
  there will be some kind of anti-oil layer, but I don’t know if it’s on screen or by using screen protector

RobertNL
January 23, 2015
As far as i can see now the 3GB model is still under testing (last post by Wade on the forums). Can’t agree about Jiayu being slow this time. From announcement of pre-order to delivery is 1 month. Not to bad if you ask me. (and 50K units, how different compared to the G3).
The 3GB model (if i read on the forum) is due to be delivered a few days before the the Chinese new year. To bad as this will cause big delays in international delivery :P.
The first Jiayu unit i bought was the Jiayu G2, at that time not even listed on any international reseller :D. Good old times 😛
- Marco Lancaster
  January 23, 2015
  - Jason45
    January 23, 2015
    - - RobertNL
        January 26, 2015
Marco Lancaster
January 23, 2015
Omg, I can’t wait for it!

Jason45
January 23, 2015
A MIUI rom has been published for the S3, that’s quite nice for people who like this OS (not sure if there are many bugs).
Please test the speaker sound (seems there are some serious complaints about this matter from Chinese buyers).
GPS is very good according to Chinese users, so that is already one less thing to worry about. Screen quality and signal quality is also good. For people who are new with Mediatek phones, GPS was always a issue with Mediatek phones. Of course, it all depends on the manufacturers to implement it well and test it properly.
- Marco Lancaster
  January 23, 2015
  I really want a full AOSP Rom of It, and Hopefully we can get it soon!
  - Simon
    January 23, 2015
- - - - Demetrio
        January 23, 2015
        http : // 112.95.238.153/thread-1240535-1-1.html
        take off some blank in URL address above.
        Anyway, if you don’t speak Chinese, I suggest you to use google translate 😉
        consider that right now the forum is down, they shut down it every night
        Simon
        January 23, 2015
        Thanks for that. Out of interest: How does the Rom exist if the phone isn’t even out yet ?
        
        Demetrio
        January 23, 2015
        1. some power user (in China) received engineering sample for testing
        2 .Basic version is already shipping (in China)
        3. the ROM is already available in needrom dot com
        Simon
        January 24, 2015
        Smota
        February 5, 2015
        Hi Demetrio,
        The link doesn’t work anymore. Do you have another one or someway to post a link for it?
        Thanks in advance
        Demetrio
        February 5, 2015
        I’m not able to find it anymore. I looked for it in first 10 forum pages… really strange. I’ll follow looking for it, if I found again the post I’ll link to you.

billybloggs
January 23, 2015
I am sorely tempted to pre order, but will wait for Andi’s review.
Simon
January 23, 2015
How does Jiayu S3 compare with OnePlus One ?
John
January 23, 2015
Andi I have two question about this model. Will Jiayu release a version with 32 Gb of storage? If they will, When will it be released? Thanks for your answers. Regards.
- Demetrio
  January 23, 2015
  Today there’s no plans for a 32GB version. Advanced version as got 3GB RAM and NFC vs 2GB RAM and no NFC of Basic version. That’s all.
  32 GB could get the price higher (even 100$), and people usually doesn’t need so much, or they could buy a class10 SD card for a much lower price (10$ for 16GB, 25$ for 32GB and so on).
  - Simon
    January 24, 2015
    - Demetrio
      January 24, 2015
      I usually backup older pictures and videos on my home network drive.
      I just use a couple of heavy games for my child and me 😉

enyceckk
January 23, 2015
- Demetrio
  January 25, 2015
  US T-mobile has got 3 bands, but coverage depends from areas. (wikipedia, “T-Mobile US” + “List of LTE Networks”)
  The bands are 2 4 and 12 in FDD , S3 supports 3 7 and 20.
  Unluckily no USA carrier uses at least one global band.

Marcello23
January 24, 2015
andy i would like to see a review between
JiaYu S3 vs Ulefone Be Pro ..i guess those are the most affordable cellphones now.. because i saw meizu note 1 pictures and not at good at all …
http://meizunews.com/2015/01/18/meizu-m1-note-vs-meizu-mx4-photos-shootout/
Simon
January 25, 2015
- Demetrio
  January 25, 2015
  Yes, 5MP F2.4, made by Samsung.
  It should be enough for selphies 😀
  - Simon
    January 25, 2015
    Thanks for clarifying. I’m not sure whether to go for the S3 or the S4 to be honest though.
    - Demetrio
      January 25, 2015
      We don’t know when S4 will be ready to market, you could wait serveral months.
      Take a look to Meizu M1 mini, it should be similar to S4 and it will be officially announced during this week.
      - Simon
        January 25, 2015
        Thanks for that, i’m in no desperate hurry so may wait or may just go for the S3, could always go for a smaller phone at a later date.
Simon
January 25, 2015
- Simon
  January 25, 2015
  From what I can see 440.
- Demetrio
  January 25, 2015
  - Simon
    January 26, 2015
    - Demetrio
      January 26, 2015
      - RobertNL
        January 26, 2015

Update:JiaYu S3 arriving on Monday – First impressions coming as soon as it arrives!

Gizchina News of the week

JiaYu S3 photos

JiaYu S3 vs Elephone P7000 vs Meizu n1 note Specifications

Andi

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