vivo Y300 Review: Features, Price, and Performance
vivo Y300:
Network
- Technology: GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
- Announced: November 21, 2024
- Released: November 26, 2024
- Status: Available
Body
- Dimensions: 163.2 x 75.9 x 7.8 mm or 8.0 mm
- Weight: 188 g or 190 g (6.63 oz)
- Build: Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame
- SIM: Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
- IP64, dust and water-resistant
Display
- Type: AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1200 nits (HBM), 1800 nits (peak)
- Size: 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm² (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio)
- Resolution: 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)
Platform
- OS: Android 14, Funtouch 14
- Chipset: Qualcomm SM4450 Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 (4 nm)
- CPU: Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x1.95 GHz Cortex-A55)
- GPU: Adreno 613
Memory
- Card slot: microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
- Internal: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, UFS 2.2
Main Camera
- Dual:
- 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.95", 0.8µm, PDAF
- 2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
- Features: Ring-LED flash, panorama, HDR
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Selfie Camera
- Single: 32 MP, f/2.5, (wide)
- Video: 1080p@30fps
Sound
- Loudspeaker: Yes, with stereo speakers
- 3.5mm jack: No
- 24-bit/192kHz Hi-Res audio
Comms
- WLAN: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band
- Bluetooth: 5.0, A2DP, LE
- Positioning: GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, QZSS, BDS, NavIC
- NFC: No
- Radio: No
- USB: USB Type-C 2.0, OTG
Features
- Sensors: Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
- Type: Li-Ion 5000 mAh
- Charging: 80W wired, 80% in 30 minutes
- Reverse wired
Miscellaneous
- Colors: Titanium Silver, Carbon Black, Emerald Green
- SAR: 0.99 W/kg (head), 0.99 W/kg (body)
- Price: ₹ 20,974
Design and Finish :
The Vivo Y300 sports a simple yet functional design typical of budget smartphones. The phone sports a body made from polycarbonate plastic that ensures durability while keeping it lightweight. The back is smooth and features a clean design with the dual cameras positioned vertically in the top left corner, a common arrangement for budget devices. Vivo's branding logo is centered on the back, enhancing the phone's subtle aesthetic.
The 6.51-inch display is the highlight on the front, offering a large screen-to-body ratio with relatively narrow bezels. The display stretches from edge to edge and has a teardrop-shaped notch that houses the front camera. The overall design is light and feels good in the hand, but it doesn't have the high-quality materials and finish found on higher-end models. The Vivo Y300 comes in a variety of colors. While these aren't as bold or eye-catching as flagship devices, the color options are pleasant and functional. The build of the phone isn't the best, but it's sturdy enough for everyday use and can withstand normal conditions.
Screen :
The Vivo Y300 features a 6.51-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. While this isn't full HD, it's a screen that offers a decent viewing experience for an entry-level phone. With an HD+ resolution, text, images, and videos remain sharp enough for everyday tasks like browsing the web, scrolling through social media, and watching videos. The color reproduction of the display is good for a phone in this price range, and the brightness level is adequate for indoor use. However, using the phone outdoors in direct sunlight can cause a slight decrease in the visibility of the display, which is quite common for budget phones. The Vivo Y300 also supports Widevine L3, which allows you to stream content at 720p resolution on platforms like Netflix.
Overall, the display is not the sharpest or most high-resolution, but it is more than adequate given the price and offers good performance for basic use.
Performance and Software :
Inside the Vivo Y300 is the MediaTek Helio G35 processor, a budget chipset designed to provide reliable performance for basic tasks. This octa-core processor runs at 2.3GHz and can handle everyday activities like calls, text messages, social media, and light multitasking with little to no lag. It works well with apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube, but more demanding applications like games and intensive multitasking may experience slowdowns and stuttering.
The Vivo Y300 comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, which is typical for an entry-level smartphone. This configuration is enough for light use, but for users who need more space for apps, photos, or videos, the phone supports expandable storage via microSD card, allowing up to 256GB of additional storage. This is a great feature for those who want to store more media without worrying about running out of space. The Vivo Y300 runs Funtouch OS 11, which is based on Android 11. Funtouch OS offers a customization layer on top of Android, with features like dark mode, gesture navigation, and app cloning. While Funtouch OS is not as polished as standard Android, it does offer a variety of useful features, but some users may find it a bit clunky to use as an entry-level phone. The software experience is pretty smooth, but as expected from devices in this segment, it can show signs of slowdown when using more demanding apps or loading too many background tasks.
Camera system :
The Vivo Y300 has a dual camera setup on the back with a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. The main camera can take decent photos in good lighting conditions, capturing good details and color accuracy in everyday shots. However, the camera tends to perform poorly in low light, resulting in photos with lots of noise and lacking detail. It can't compete with mid-range or flagship devices, but it can meet the needs of users who want to take simple photos for social media or personal use.
The 2MP depth sensor helps with portrait photography by creating a blurred background effect (bokeh) to make the subject stand out more. Although the depth sensor adds value, its effect is not always perfect and the results can look somewhat unnatural. On the front, the Vivo Y300 has an 8MP selfie camera that captures crisp, sharp images for video calls and selfies. It produces acceptable results in bright lighting, but like the rear camera, it struggles in low light. The camera does have some software enhancements, such as an AI beauty mode that can smooth skin tone and adjust facial features, but these effects are also not as sophisticated as those found on higher-end devices.
The Vivo Y300's camera system is simple and functional, making it a good choice for users who are not very demanding when it comes to photography but still need a camera to take photos from time to time.
Battery Life :
One of the main selling points of the Vivo Y300 is its 5000mAh battery, which offers incredible durability for a budget phone. This large battery will easily last the device for a full day of moderate usage, including browsing, social media, messaging, and watching videos. It will last even longer with occasional use, providing excellent battery life for those who value durability.
When it comes to charging the device, the Vivo Y300 supports 10W charging, which is common for budget phones. This isn't the fastest charging solution, but it should be enough for most users. Charging the phone from 0% to full is expected to take a few hours, but this is to be expected as charging speeds are slow at this price point.
Connectivity and Other Features :
One of the main selling points of the Vivo Y300 is its 5000mAh battery, which offers incredible durability for a budget phone. This large battery will easily last the device for a full day of moderate usage, including browsing, social media, messaging, and watching videos. It will last even longer with occasional use, providing excellent battery life for those who value durability.
When it comes to charging the device, the Vivo Y300 supports 10W charging, which is common for budget phones. This isn't the fastest charging solution, but it should be enough for most users. Charging the phone from 0% to full is expected to take a few hours, but this is to be expected as charging speeds are slow at this price point.
Connectivity and Other Features :
The Vivo Y300 has standard connectivity features for a budget phone, including 4G LTE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and GPS for location services. The phone also offers dual SIM support, which is useful for users who want to use two different numbers (personal and work) or use a local SIM card when traveling abroad.
As for additional features, the Vivo Y300 comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack. This feature is becoming rarer on smartphones these days, but is still appreciated by users who prefer wired audio. The phone also has a MicroUSB port for charging and data transfer. This is a bit outdated compared to USB Type C, but it still works.
Conclusion :
The Vivo Y300 is a great choice for users looking for a budget smartphone that can handle basic tasks with ease. With a large display, decent battery life, and expandable storage, it offers great value for those who don't need high-end performance or advanced features. The camera system and performance may not stand out compared to mid-range or flagship phones, but it will do the trick for users who value affordability and functionality.
