vivo Y73 review
The Vivo Y73 is an upper-entry level smartphone that packs a punch with its 6.4-inch AMOLED display, 64-megapixel main rear camera, and fast 33-watt charging technology. However, at the price of PHP 14,899, it's questionable whether it's worth it. The phone boasts a trendy design with a diamond flare variant that gives a premium feel, but may not be as premium as some other options in its class. The body is made of plastic with an anti-glare glass coating on top, making it comfortable to grip and lightweight at 170 grams. The Y73's display is a highlight, with vibrant colors and deep blacks, perfect for video watching. However, the audio quality takes a hit due to only one downward-firing speaker, which can be improved with headphones or external speakers. Powering this device is the Mediatek G95 chipset, which is good enough for basic tasks like browsing and social media use. The phone's performance is fine when playing graphically-intensive games, but may experience stutters in crowded scenes. The Y73 also boasts a modern set of connectivity features, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE, GPS, and FM radio. The battery life is decent, lasting a day or two with moderate usage, and the phone's cameras take pretty good shots in ample lighting, but struggle in low-light conditions. Overall, the Vivo Y73 is a reliable daily driver with its trendy design and good set of cameras, but may not be the best option for heavy gamers. Its price point makes it competitive in the market, but there are other devices that offer better performance at the same price range.
Build Quality and Design
The Vivo Y73 boasts a trendy design that's sure to turn heads. The diamond flare variant we reviewed adds a touch of artistry, with its supposed diamond cut appearance giving it a premium look without feeling cheap. However, this design choice can be polarizing, as some may find the mosaic-like pattern uninspiring. Despite this, the phone's build quality is impressive. Made from plastic, the Y73 feels sturdy and lightweight at just 170 grams. The anti-glare glass coating on top repels fingerprint smudges and makes it comfortable to grip. A minimally protruding camera module sits on the upper left corner, reminiscent of Vivo's previous flagship devices. The phone's front features a 6.44-inch display with slim bezels and a slightly thicker chin. The water drop notch houses the 16-megapixel front camera and earpiece. Unfortunately, there's no Corning Gorilla Glass protection mentioned, but a pre-installed screen protector provides an extra layer of protection. The placement of buttons and ports is well-executed. The power trigger and volume rocker sit on the right side, while the triple card slot for two nano SIM cards and a dedicated micro SD card slot are located on the left. At the top is a secondary microphone, and at the bottom, you'll find the speaker grille, USB Type-C port, main microphone, and 3.5mm headphone jack. While the Y73's design may not be to everyone's taste, its build quality is undoubtedly solid. The phone feels premium without breaking the bank, making it a reliable daily driver for those who value aesthetics alongside functionality. However, it falls short of being truly impressive in this department.
Battery Life
The Vivo Y73 boasts a massive 4000mAh lithium-ion battery, which is expected to provide an extended usage time. In our testing, the device delivered a decent performance, lasting a day or two with moderate usage. Our PC Mark's battery test yielded a score of 12 hours and four minutes, indicating that the battery life should be sufficient for most users. However, it's worth noting that heavy gamers might need to charge their phone more frequently due to the device's relatively modest processor power. One of the standout features of the Vivo Y73 is its fast charging capabilities. With a 33W charger, you can quickly top up your battery from zero to sixty percent in just 30 minutes. This is especially useful for users who tend to forget their phone or have a busy schedule. In terms of overall battery life, we found that the Vivo Y73 performed well, but not exceptionally so. With regular use, including social media scrolling, browsing, and light gaming, you can expect to get around a day's worth of usage on a single charge. However, if you're an avid gamer or streamer, you might need to plan your battery life more carefully. While the Vivo Y73's battery life is not groundbreaking, it's still respectable considering the device's price point. If you're in the market for a phone with decent battery life and don't mind charging your phone occasionally, the Vivo Y73 should be able to keep up with your demands.
Display
The Vivo Y73 boasts a 6.44-inch AMOLED display, which is a notable upgrade over its predecessor. This screen is a joy to behold, with vibrant colors and deep blacks that make video watching a pleasure. The pixel density of 409 PPI ensures crisp and sharp visuals, making it perfect for multimedia consumption. The AMOLED panel also allows for an always-on display option, which is a nice feature to have. Color reproduction is excellent, and users can adjust the color temperature to suit their preferences. The display's performance is further enhanced by the presence of a pre-installed screen protector, providing an extra layer of protection against scratches. One minor quibble is the absence of Corning Gorilla Glass protection, which is not mentioned in the phone's specifications. However, the added layer of protection from the screen protector does alleviate some concerns. In terms of design, the diamond flare variant we reviewed adds a touch of elegance to the phone's aesthetic. The body is made of plastic, and while it doesn't feel particularly premium, it also doesn't appear cheap. The anti-glare glass coating on top repels fingerprint smudges and makes the phone comfortable to grip. While not perfect, the Vivo Y73's display is certainly a highlight of this device. Its AMOLED panel and crisp visuals make it an excellent choice for those who value multimedia performance above all else.
Camera
The Vivo Y73 boasts an impressive camera setup, consisting of a 64-megapixel main sensor, paired with a 2-megapixel depth sensor and another 2-megapixel macro lens. While the phone's design may not scream premium, its camera capabilities are worth exploring. In well-lit conditions, the Vivo Y73 delivers pleasing results, with vibrant colors and crisp details. However, highlights can sometimes appear overblown, which affects the overall image quality. The portrait mode does a decent job of separating the subject from the background, but it's not always consistent. Unfortunately, the Vivo Y73 struggles in low-light situations. Images produced lack detail and come out looking muddy. While they're still usable for social media postings, they don't quite match the quality one would expect from a phone at this price point. The 16-megapixel front camera delivers decent results, with nice details and good colors. However, be cautious when using the beauty mode, as it can make images appear overly processed. The Vivo Y73 can shoot up to 4K at 30 frames per second, but the video quality is only average. It's not the worst we've seen, but there are certainly better options in this price range. In conclusion, while the camera on the Vivo Y73 has its strengths, it also falls short in certain areas. The phone's ability to produce good-looking images in daylight conditions is commendable, but low-light performance and video capabilities leave much to be desired. Overall, we'd say that the camera is average for a phone at this price point. If you're a casual user who primarily takes photos in well-lit environments, the Vivo Y73's camera might suffice. However, if you're looking for a phone with exceptional camera capabilities, there are other options worth exploring.
Price and Value
The Vivo Y73 is the brand's new upper entry-level smartphone that packs a punch with its 6.4-inch AMOLED display, 64-megapixel main rear camera, and fast 33-watt charging technology. At a price of PHP 14,899, it's an intriguing proposition. But does it deliver value for money? The first thing to consider is the competition in the Philippine market. The smartphone landscape at this price point is crowded with devices from other brands that offer similar or even better specs. To recommend the Vivo Y73, you'd need a compelling reason why it stands out from the rest. Upon closer inspection, the phone's design doesn't quite scream "premium," but neither does it look cheap. The plastic body and anti-glare glass coating on top do make it comfortable to grip, however. Performance-wise, the device runs on Android 11 with FunTouch OS 11.1, which is decent for basic tasks like browsing and social media use. The camera setup is impressive, with a 64-megapixel main camera and a 16-megapixel front shooter. Image quality is good in daylight, but low-light shots can be muddy. So, what's the verdict? While the Vivo Y73 offers an excellent daily driving experience with its big display, trendy design, and good cameras, it's hard to justify the price point of PHP 14,899 given the competition in this segment. There are other devices that offer better performance for the same price range. Ultimately, if you're a Viva fan or simply looking for a reliable daily driver without breaking the bank, the Vivo Y73 is still worth considering – as long as you're not into heavy gaming. However, it's essential to weigh your options carefully before making a purchase decision.
Performance
The Vivo Y73 is a mid-range smartphone that promises to deliver a seamless user experience. However, its performance is where things start to get interesting. Running on Android 11 skin with Funtouch OS 11.1, the phone's software department is highly customizable, but this comes at the cost of some bloatware and pre-installed apps. Under the hood, the phone is powered by a MediaTek G95 chipset, which includes an octa-core processor, Mali-G76 MC4 GPU, 8GB of RAM (with 4GB extension), and 128GB of internal storage. While this setup is good enough to handle basic tasks like browsing and social media use, it starts to struggle with graphically intensive games. You might encounter stutters when playing games, especially if the scene gets crowded or busy. The phone's performance seems fine for casual gaming, but anything more demanding will push it to its limits. The RAM extension feature does help with multitasking, but the OS could do a better job of keeping system apps at a minimum. In terms of benchmarks, the Vivo Y73 managed a score of 12 hours and 4 minutes in our PC Mark's battery test. This is respectable for a mid-range device, but not spectacular. In conclusion, while the Vivo Y73's performance is adequate for everyday use, it falls short when it comes to demanding tasks like gaming or multitasking. If you're looking for a reliable daily driver with a good set of cameras and a trendy design, this phone might be worth considering. However, if you're into heavy gaming or want a more powerful device, there are better options available in the market. 3.5/5
Pros
1. The phone's display is great for video watching, with crisp and sharp details and vibrant colors.
2. The AMOLED screen has a 2400 by 1080p resolution and a pixel density of 409 ppi.
3. The phone's performance is fine when playing graphically intensive games, although it may encounter stutters in crowded scenes.
4. The RAM extension feature helps with multitasking and reduces the likelihood of stutters.
5. The phone has a modern connectivity features including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE, GPS, and FM radio.
6. The battery life is good, lasting for a day or two of moderate usage and charging time can go as fast as zero to sixty percent in just 30 minutes.
7. The phone's design is trendy and artistic, with a diamond flare variant that gives a diamond cut appearance.
Cons
1. The audio quality is budget-like, with only one single downward firing speaker that is only good for voice calls.
2. There are some bloatware apps pre-installed on the phone, including Google apps, Netflix, and Facebook.
3. The fingerprint scanner is positioned on the lower part of the display which can be awkward to reach and take some getting used to.
4. Low light shots with the primary camera aren't the best, with details coming out muddy but still usable for usual social media posts.
5. The battery life may not last as long when playing games or performing resource-intensive tasks.
6. The phone's price of 14,899 pesos is not easy to recommend considering that there are other devices from competitors that can deliver better performance for the same price range.