Ulefone Note 11pvsvivo Y21

Ulefone Note 11p

vivo Y21

Ulefone Note 11p

The Ulefone Note 11P is a budget smartphone that promises to deliver good performance and features at an affordable price of around $180. After using it for two weeks, I have mixed feelings about this device. On the positive side, the phone has a decent design despite being made of cheap plastic. It also features a 3.5mm audio jack, which is useful for those who still use wired earbuds. The triple card slot allows you to insert dual SIM and a micro SD memory card simultaneously, which is a convenient feature. The Ulefone Note 11P has impressive specifications, including the Helio P60 chipset, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. However, I found that the 8GB of RAM is more of a marketing gimmick than an actual performance booster. The phone's performance was smooth, but benchmark results were comparable to those of devices with lower RAM configurations. The camera setup is another highlight of this device, particularly the 48MP primary sensor and ultra-wide-angle camera. However, the bokeh camera was disappointing, producing subpar portrait mode shots. Battery life was average, but charging time was excessively long at around 3 hours for a full charge. Overall, I would not recommend the Ulefone Note 11P over other budget smartphones like the Redmi Note 10 or its 5G variant, which offer better performance, display, and battery life at similar prices. The next smartphone from Ulefone needs to address these issues if they want to compete in this crowded market.

vivo Y21

The Vivo Y21 is a budget-friendly smartphone designed to compete in the upper budget segment. Priced at KSh 16,999, this device boasts an affordable tag while packing some impressive features. Design-wise, the phone has a sleek diamond glow texture that's sure to turn heads. The well-positioned volume buttons and USB-C port are also notable features. Vivo opted for a side-mounted fingerprint sensor instead of an in-display one, which works efficiently. The 6.51-inch Halo LCD display with 1600x720 pixels resolution is not high-refresh-rate enabled, but it still provides a pleasant multimedia experience. The phone's performance is backed by a Mediatek Helio P35 processor paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, expandable to 1GB. While the device handles light to medium tasks without any issues, gaming performance takes a hit. Playing graphic-intensive games like Call of Duty requires medium settings, which might deter some users. However, the phone's battery longevity is noteworthy. The 5000mAh battery delivers up to two days of use on a single charge, with charging speeds that top off from 0-70% in just 52 minutes using an 18W charger. The camera setup features three sensors - an 8MP selfie camera and a 13MP dual main camera with a 2MP macro sensor. While not the best camera performer, it's still a commendable feature set for its price bracket. Overall, the Vivo Y21 is a solid budget offering that's worth considering, especially given its excellent battery life, satisfactory performance, and value-for-money pricing.