7 Pros and Cons of the Vivo Y17s Smartphone

The Vivo Y17s was launched globally at the end of September 2023. The Vivo Y series is renowned for its stellar design and impressive photographic capabilities. These are the very qualities I explored while examining the Vivo Y17s’s strengths and weaknesses.

The smartphone has a lightweight design with subtle stylistic flourishes that convey a sense of elegance and luxury. The camera produces visually appealing photographs, especially impressive for an entry-level device. Additionally, the Vivo Y17s offers numerous benefits and some drawbacks, which we will detail further.

Its competitive price makes it an attractive option for tech enthusiasts on a budget. If you’re considering purchasing the Vivo Y17s, it’s worth exploring the detailed analysis of its pros and cons that we have compiled. Keep reading to discover more!

Pros of Vivo Y17s

The Vivo Y17s has several impressive features for its price range, particularly appealing to those who value design and photo-taking prowess. Its performance is commendable, holding its own against other models in its category.

1. Good Performance at its Price, Powered by Helio G85

The Vivo Y17s operates on the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, which is quite robust for its category. Introduced in 2020, this chipset remains effective, especially given its budget-friendly price, as it manages core performance efficiently.

Fabricated using 12 nm technology, the Helio G85 may not match newer chipsets like the Helio G99 or Snapdragon 680, which are based on 6 nm technology. However, its HyperEngine technology smartly manages power distribution across the smartphone’s components, enhancing overall performance.

The chipset includes an ARM Mali G52 GPU, operating at 1 GHz to ensure smooth graphics. It also features an octa-core processor with two Cortex A75 cores at 2.0 GHz and six Cortex A55 cores at 1.8 GHz.

This processor supports dual cameras, with one camera capable of capturing images at 48 MP. It also includes features like Voice Wakeup for enhanced power efficiency, inertial navigation for precise location tracking, and dual SIM 4G capabilities.

I have used the Realme Narzo 20, which also employs the Helio G85, and it has provided a smooth gaming experience without significant issues.

According to Nano Review, the Helio G85 in the Vivo Y17s scored 268,416 points on AnTuTu v10 and achieved scores of 412 in single-core and 1,329 in multi-core tests on Geekbench 6.

While I couldn’t find specific performance data for playing popular games at the time of writing, the PRFF Gaming YouTube channel reports that the Vivo Y17s runs BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) smoothly without lags.

BGMI is akin to PUBG Mobile, suggesting similar performance levels. Additionally, my personal experience with an Helio G85-equipped device while playing Mobile Legends was largely positive, maintaining a stable 30 FPS, although some frame drops occurred after extended play periods.

This suggests that the Vivo Y17s could offer a comparable experience, although its heat management could influence performance. At launch, the Vivo Y17s runs Android 13, wrapped in Funtouch 13.

In terms of software, Vivo enhances the gaming experience with features like Ultra Game Mode and Game Space, which optimize play by silencing notifications and calls, showing FPS rates, optimizing RAM, and more.

2. Generous Memory and RAM for an Entry-Level Device

The Vivo Y17s is equipped with a substantial 6 GB of LPDDR4x RAM. While some smartphones in the same price range offer 8 GB, I find that 6 GB sufficiently meets the needs for smooth multitasking.

Thanks to the Extended RAM feature, the Vivo Y17s can utilize an additional 6 GB from its storage as virtual RAM, effectively doubling the total RAM to 12 GB. Vivo has also incorporated a RAM Saver feature that boosts RAM performance by up to 500 MB to minimize lag.

Accompanying the RAM is a hefty 128 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1 TB through a dedicated external memory slot. This ample storage capacity allows users to install numerous applications and games without concern.

The 128 GB storage meets the standards of 2023, where 64 GB no longer suffices for contemporary needs. Additionally, the separate memory slot enables users to transfer multimedia files to a microSD card, thereby freeing up more internal storage space.

3. Durable Battery Life

The Vivo Y17s features a 5,000 mAh battery, a common capacity found in smartphones across various classes. Typically, a 5,000 mAh battery can last up to a full day on a single charge, and with conservative use, it might even extend to two days.

According to Vivo's reports, the Y17s can sustain up to 13.62 hours of Instagram video viewing, 19.67 hours of YouTube streaming, 60 hours of music playback, or 5.69 hours of playing PUBG Mobile.

Vivo smartphones often include an ultra power-saving mode, which conserves battery life by reducing screen brightness, limiting connectivity, and disabling non-essential applications.

When the battery is depleted, the included 15 W charger facilitates a relatively quick recharge. Although it's not the fastest in its category, this charging capacity can refill the battery from zero to full in approximately two hours.

4. Bright Screen with a 90 Hz Refresh Rate

If you're in the market for a smartphone that's great for watching movies, the Vivo Y17s is a dependable choice. It boasts a roomy 6.56-inch screen. Although it's HD Plus (720p) rather than Full HD (1080p), it still impresses with its peak brightness levels reaching up to 840 nits.

The device utilizes an IPS LCD panel instead of AMOLED. While IPS LCD may not offer the same contrast ratio and power efficiency as AMOLED, it has the advantage of being less susceptible to screen burn-in.

The Vivo Y17s enhances your viewing and gaming experience with a 90 Hz refresh rate, making transitions on the screen 50% smoother compared to the standard 60 Hz. This improvement significantly enhances gameplay in games like Temple Run, Subway Surfer, Alto's Odyssey, and Dead Trigger 2.

Although the color gamut is 83% NTSC, making it less than ideal for creating content, the display still provides vibrant colors that are more than adequate for viewing content, especially considering its affordable price.

5. Simple, Elegant, and Waterproof Design

The smartphone features a 2.5D frame design, which makes it comfortable to hold. On the back, there's a slightly raised camera module with two cameras arranged vertically, and just below them, a small white circle for the LED Flash.

Unlike typical Vivo phones, which are often bright and heavily decorated, the Vivo Y17s opts for a minimalist yet aesthetically pleasing design. The camera module's color matches the rest of the body, giving it a seamless and unique appearance.

Vivo describes this design as a "sultan-style design" and offers it in Glitter Purple and Forrest Green colors. The back of the phone uses crystalline matte technology with a glass-like material and frosted texture, which helps keep it free from fingerprints and scratches.

It's unclear whether the Vivo Y17s includes Gorilla Glass protection. However, it does have IP54 waterproof certification, protecting it from water splashes from any direction.

Weighing in at 186 grams, the Vivo Y17s isn't the lightest phone available but is still lighter than some competitors like the Redmi 12 (198.5 grams) or Redmi 12C (192 grams).

Overall, the Vivo Y17s's design is likely to attract many smartphone enthusiasts. It's uncommon for a phone priced under Rp 2 million to feature IP54 certification, and its advanced rear body protection technology helps it maintain a like-new appearance over time.

6. Reliable 50 MP Camera

Vivo consistently prioritizes camera quality across its product range, even in entry-level smartphones like the Vivo Y17s. This device features a dual camera setup on the back, comprising a 50 MP wide-angle sensor and a 2 MP depth sensor.

The primary camera is equipped with PDAF technology, enabling quick and accurate focus, even on moving subjects. On the front, there's an 8 MP selfie camera housed within a waterdrop notch display.

The 50 MP rear camera utilizes 4-in-1 pixel binning technology, combining four adjacent pixels into one large pixel to produce a 12.5 MP resolution image. This enhances light absorption, resulting in improved image quality, including better detail, reduced noise, and enhanced low-light performance.

In terms of video recording, the Vivo Y17s supports standard recording up to 30 FPS at 1080p resolution. However, for optimal content creation, support for at least 60 FPS is preferred to ensure smooth videos, especially for platforms like Instagram.

Here are some sample pictures taken by the phone:

Source: YouTube/KINGDOM OFFICIAL

Source: YouTube/KINGDOM OFFICIAL

Sample photos taken with the Vivo Y17s under well-lit daytime conditions showcase good results, with minimal noise and preserved details. The background blur effect adds charm to the images, keeping the main subject sharply focused.

While there may be slight imperfections in edge detection upon close inspection, overall, the photos are suitable for social media sharing.

7. Convenient Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner

In addition to its camera capabilities, Vivo pays attention to design elements, evident in the clean and sleek rear body of the Y17s, which lacks a visible fingerprint sensor.

Instead, the fingerprint scanner is cleverly integrated into the side of the device, seamlessly blending with the power button. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also provides a more natural and intuitive unlocking experience.

The Vivo Y17s supports various connectivity options, including USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG and reverse charging capabilities, as well as compass, accelerometer, and proximity sensors. Additionally, it offers dual-band Wi-Fi support (5 GHz/2.4 GHz) and Bluetooth 5.0 for efficient wireless connectivity.

Drawbacks of the Vivo Y17s

Despite its numerous advantages, the Vivo Y17s still falls short of perfection as an entry-level smartphone. Here are some drawbacks to consider before purchasing the Vivo Y17s.

1. Lacks Ultrawide Camera

An ultrawide camera expands the field of view, similar to fish eye lenses often attached to rear cameras. Unlike external lenses, ultrawide sensors on phones tend to have less distortion.

However, they're becoming scarce in phones priced around IDR 1-3 million due to global chipset shortages. Some models in this price range, like the Redmi 10 2022, Redmi 12, and Samsung Galaxy A13, do offer ultrawide lenses.

It's disappointing that the Vivo Y17s lacks this feature, especially considering its photography strengths.

2. Outdated Storage Technology

While the Vivo Y17s boasts 128 GB of storage, it relies on the outdated eMMC 5.1 standard. This can result in slower data copying and gaming performance, affecting overall system stability.

In contrast, competitors like the Infinix Hot 30i and Realme Narzo 50A Prime offer faster UFS 2.2 storage, facilitating quicker file transfers and smoother gameplay.

3. Lacks Gorilla Glass Protection

The Vivo Y17s doesn't feature Gorilla Glass protection for its screen, which could increase scratch resistance and prevent screen cracks from drops or impacts.

Some alternatives in the same price range, such as the Redmi 10, Redmi 9T, and Realme C20, come equipped with Gorilla Glass, albeit typically Gorilla Glass 3, providing basic scratch protection.

Conclusion

Given it's price, and for the 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage variant, the Vivo Y17s offers many advantages suitable for gaming, photography, and multitasking across all user groups.

Its affordability makes it a viable choice as a first phone for children or the elderly, or as a secondary device. Despite its budget-friendly price, the Vivo Y17s boasts a luxurious and elegant design with splash-proofing, disguising its budget origins.

However, it falls short in some areas, lacking an ultrawide camera, using outdated storage technology, and omitting Gorilla Glass protection.