Vivo Y71 Review: More Than Just The Basics?

Vivo Y71 Review: More Than Just The Basics?

Aging chipset saved by good software optimization

Instead of a Snapdragon 450 processor, the Y71 uses a modest and aging Snapdragon 425 processor to keep costs low, paired with either 3GB or 2GB of RAM depending on the variant. Scoring 44885 on AnTuTu, the aging Snapdragon 425 still proves its worth as a SoC of choice for most budget phones.

Using the 3GB variant for our review, the Y71 is zippy enough for the usual tasks, with little noticeable lags in between. Compared to other phones with similar internals, the Y71 performs slightly better than the competition, and we do think that it has to do with how Vivo’s FunTouch OS manages available RAM space in the phone.

To determine the efficiency of FunTouch OS with its Game Mode, we tried out three games and recorded their overall performance using GameBench.

Using high graphics settings with Asphalt 8, we were averaging in the high teens in terms of FPS, while maintaining a respectable 97% FPS stability, which is not that bad for the casual player. For more serious gamers, however, they will notice the slightly sluggish feel in-game due to the low average FPS but not to the point that they’ll go angry and lose in a race because of a below average performance.

 

The same cannot be said for Marvel Future Fight. Playing on low settings, we got an average FPS of 18, with a poor FPS stability of 66%. This means that those who are dead serious in slaying enemies and bosses in the game will be frustrated, as there are noticeable lags in selecting various attack and defense moves.

 

In the case of the popular battle royale game PUBG Mobile, we got surprising results. While the game automatically defaulted to low graphics settings, we were getting a decent average FPS of 22, along with an 85% FPS stability. For those who love playing similar games on a budget, the Y71’s Game Mode gets the job done by providing a smooth experience in shooting down enemies and in fighting for survival.

FunTouch OS is efficient but has its compromises

A big advantage of the Y71 over the V7+ is that it comes with Android 8.1 out of the box, along with FunTouch OS 5.0. While FunTouch OS’ closeness to Apple’s iOS may not be preferred by some, we cannot question the fact that Vivo’s Android skin is fluid, and that its added features really get the job done—like with the case for FunTouch OS’s Game Mode.

With its efficiency, there are a few compromises, and one of them is that FunTouch OS is not kind to the Y71’s 16GB internal storage. By default, you only have around 6.5GB of free space to deal with, and that can easily be filled up with various files. In our case, we nearly filled up the Y71’s internal storage by installing just three games, leaving us with barely a hundred MB left for other files like photos. Given this issue, it is highly recommended to get a MicroSD card for the Y71 to lessen your worries about storage space.

 

Face unlock works better than the competition, but we still consider it a novelty

To make up for the lack of a fingerprint scanner, the Y71 comes with Face Unlock as an alternative security measure. Setting it up is pretty easy, and unlocking the phone using our face is zippy in good lighting. In times where lighting is insufficient, the Y71 increases the screen’s brightness to aid the 5-megapixel camera in unlocking the phone.

While the thought having Face Unlock is a welcome feature, we still recommend the usual PIN or pattern in unlocking the Y71, as Face Unlock can be unreliable at times.

Let’s talk about the Y71’s camera performance!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest News

Latest Reviews

Best Phones in the Philippines

Best Guides

Recent Posts