We’ve seen quite a lot of action around the Rs 25K price point in the smartphone space. Brands have upped their style and design quotient at this price point with devices that are not short on flaunt value. That’s the first thing that struck me when I unboxed Vivo’s new Y Series device. Vivo is making a big push in this competitive price band where consumers can sometimes have lofty expectations. We expect devices at this price to offer elements of a flagship experience even though we pay half the price. Does the Vivo Y100 tick enough boxes to be that all-round smartphone? It’s certainly not short on oomph.
Changing colour palette
The Vivo Y100 keeps things light. It’s a welcome trend to see smartphones crack design to ensure smartphones pack solid batteries without adding too much heft. At 181 gm, this device feels great in your hand and is comfortable to hold during those late-night texting marathons. More than the form it’s Vivo’s choice of a colour-changing Fluorite AG glass back that wins our approval. We checked out the Twilight Gold option that swings from a pleasing orange to a metallic gold depending on the play of light. It’s just the sort of colour changing trick that might impress your co-workers when you go into flaunt mode.
Bold camera design
We dig the large, circular camera modules that define the design of the Vivo Y100. The rear camera combines a 64MP primary lens with OIS, a 2MP depth sensor and a 2MP macro lens. Vivo is playing up the primary lens and it walks the talk with good results across lighting scenarios thanks to the OIS advantage. We shoot a lot more videos than even a couple of years ago, Vivo has also packed this camera with a whole bag of tricks including a Dual View mode and Vlog video option. You also get Vivo regulars like a Bokeh Flare Portrait. The camera does a great job for its price, although we find an ultra-wide lens handier than a macro lens. It’s not just the Vivo Y100, many smartphone cameras have opted to give the ultra-wide lens the boot.
Feature packed
One of the talking points of this device is the 6.38-inch AMOLED, Full HD+ (2400 x 1080 pixels) that peaks at 1300 nits. We’re not fans of the notch though. The 90Hz refresh rate keeps things smooth. Gaming is fun and gets a boost from the MediaTek 900 processor that is backed by 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage (expandable with a Micro SD card). The device is available in only one variant and doesn’t huff and puff even if you push it over the edge slightly. The Y100 notched up a respectable score of 2312 (multi-core) in our Geekbench benchmark test. Battery life is solid – there’s a 4500 mAh battery under the hood with a 44W charger in the box. The device goes from 1 to 60% in just 30 minutes
The Vivo Y100 costs Rs 24,999 and is available in Metal Black, Twilight Gold and Pacific Blue. Vivo is offering an additional cashback on ICICI cards (up to Rs 750)
