Vivo isn’t just competing for the intermediate market; the Vivo Y21, which was just released, is also fighting for the affordable sector. This is the brand’s attempt to establish itself as a major participant in the higher-end market.
The Vivo Y21 is one of the most cost-effective options in its category, but does it have the necessary features to stand out? In this review, we’ll discover out.
Design
Vivo is distinguished by its distinctive design. This unit comes available in a diamond glow form, which has a texture that is meant to dazzle the world in the same way that well-cut diamonds do. The metallic blue version features a silver coating mixed with a curtain coating that adds a metallic shine to the purple-blue surface that varies with light and movement. Regardless of how you feel about gradients, the color is undeniably striking.
With well-placed, tactile volume buttons, a USB-C port at the bottom, and a headphone jack, the remainder of the phone is quite easy. I like how Vivo went with a power button and a side-mounted fingerprint reader instead of an in-display sensor. It’s simple and quick.
With a weight of 182 grams, using the phone for long periods of time will not be a bother. The phone is slim, with a 2.5D flat frame and a 5000mAh huge battery crammed into an 8.0mm thin shell.
A 6.51-inch Halo LCD Display with a resolution of 1600 by 720 pixels sits in the foreground. There isn’t even a fast refresh rate. Surprisingly, I enjoyed listening to multimedia stuff on the speakers as well — they are loud, and most people should be satisfied with the output, even when gaming.
The only disappointment I came across with the Vivo Y21 is the lack of 1080p display and fast refresh rates which are being offered by some phones in the same price range.
Performance
The Vivo Y21 is powered by Android 11 and Funtouch OS 11.1 respectively. Vivo’s version of Android, Funtouch, has been enhanced. It’s incredibly adaptable and doesn’t feel cluttered with useful features. With flatter symbols, more vacant space between visual elements, and neutral colors, the user interface is cleaner.
Ultra-Game mode, S capture for more efficient screen capture, iManager, Security Scan, AI editor, and the fun fascinating animations under Dynamic Effect are just a few of the features that FunTouchOS offers to customize your phone.
Android 11 is fluid and stutter-free to use. The Vivo Y21 is powered by a Mediatek Helio P35 CPU with 4GB of RAM that can be expanded to 1GB and 64GB of inbuilt storage.
Camera
The Vivo Y21 has three cameras: an 8MP selfie camera, a 13MP dual main camera combined with a 2MP macro sensor, and a 13MP dual main camera setup with a 2MP macro sensor. Portrait (basic), Video, Pano, Live Photo, Time-Lapse, Pro, and Document scanning are among the modes to experiment with when you buy the new Vivo Y21 smartphone.
Selfies and pictures are suitable for social media sharing. There’s a lot of detail in pictures but the phones’ rear camera, isn’t great at handling highlights. To get the best results, you’ll want to stay in brightly lighted areas.
Finally, when it comes to video quality, the highest resolution available is 1080p 30FPS, which produces jerky frames due to the lack of stabilization. There is a significant quantity of noise in any lighting setting less than ideal.
Vivo needs to improve its photography, especially in the ultra-competitive entry-level sector, where competitors currently offer triple or quad setups with 64MP and 48MP sensors, as well as a dedicated night mode. That’s just how I feel.
Battery Life
Vivo has placed a strong emphasis on battery life. The Vivo Y21 comes with a 5000mAh battery that delivers as promised.
During my time with the Vivo Y21, I was able to utilize it for an entire day without any battery concern. The phone’s screen on time was in the high nines and twelfths of an hour. On a single charge, this phone may easily last two days.
With an 18W wired charger included in the box, charging is very quick. The Vivo Y21 can be charged to just under 70% in 52 minutes, with a full charge taking roughly 2 hours (plus an extra hour for the remaining 30%).
Conclusion
When compared to rivals in the same price range, the Vivo Y21 is a clear-cut competitor on its own – the slender frame, outstanding battery life, decent performance, and striking design – but when compared to rivals in the same price range, its presence diminishes. This is because other phones have already made bold measures to stand out, such as high-resolution, high-quality displays, sharper and larger cameras, and settings that can handle even the most difficult conditions.
The Vivo Y21 would be a good phone if it stood alone, but there are better alternatives on the market. The likes of Xiaomi Redmi 9T, Oppo A54.