Vivo Y36 Comprehensive Review of Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview and Launch

The vivo Y36, a smartphone released on May 27, 2023, stands out in the market with its efficient performance and modern features, catering to mid-range smartphone users. This device is available for purchase globally and promises a well-rounded smartphone experience with a balance of performance, display quality, and battery life.

Design and Build

The vivo Y36 has a sleek and contemporary design with dimensions of 164.1 x 76.2 x 8.1 mm, weighing only 202 grams. The device features a glass front and a plastic back and frame, which contribute to its lightweight and ergonomic build. Available in vibrant colors such as Meteor Black, Gold, and Aqua Glitter, it offers a stylish look suitable for a variety of personal tastes.

This smartphone supports Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by), catering to users needing separate lines for personal and professional use.

Display

The vivo Y36 is equipped with a 6.64-inch IPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate. This display provides a peak brightness of 650 nits, ensuring clear visibility even under sunlight. With a resolution of 1080 x 2388 pixels and a density of approximately 395 ppi, users can enjoy crisp and vivid visuals suitable for multimedia consumption and gaming. The screen-to-body ratio is around 85.4%, offering a nearly bezel-less viewing experience.

Performance and Platform

Powered by the Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G chipset, the vivo Y36 offers reliable performance with its Octa-core CPU (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) complemented by the Adreno 610 GPU. This configuration provides both power efficiency and competent multitasking capabilities. The device operates on Android 13, overlayed with vivo's Funtouch 13, ensuring a user-friendly and customizable interface.

Memory and Storage

The vivo Y36 comes with multiple configurations catering to different user needs. Storage options include 128GB with 4GB RAM, 128GB with 8GB RAM, and 256GB with 8GB RAM. Additionally, it has a dedicated microSDXC card slot, allowing further expansion of storage to accommodate larger files and applications.

Camera

The vivo Y36 features a versatile camera setup. The main camera is a triple lens configuration, comprising a 50 MP wide lens with an aperture of f/1.8 and PDAF for fast focusing. Accompanying the primary lens are a 2 MP depth sensor and a 2 MP macro lens (the macro camera availability is market/region dependent), allowing for a variety of photography styles. An LED flash enhances photos in low-light conditions, and the camera can record videos at 1080p@30fps.

The selfie camera is a 16 MP wide lens with an aperture of f/2.5, also capable of recording videos at 1080p@30fps, providing clear and detailed self-portraits and video calls.

Sound

The device is equipped with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm audio jack, ensuring audio versatility for both media consumption and voice calls while accommodating traditional headphone users.

Connectivity

The vivo Y36 offers comprehensive connectivity options including dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.1, and multi-system positioning with GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, and QZSS support for accurate navigation. The device includes NFC for convenient wireless transactions (availability is market/region dependent) and an FM radio for live broadcast listening. It uses USB Type-C 2.0 with OTG support, enabling fast data transfer and connectivity with other devices.

Sensors and Additional Features

The device integrates a side-mounted fingerprint sensor for quick and secure unlocking. Additionally, it includes various sensors such as an accelerometer, proximity sensor, gyro, and compass, enhancing its functionality for applications like gaming and navigation.

Battery and Charging

The vivo Y36 is equipped with a substantial 5000 mAh non-removable battery, promising longevity and sustainability throughout the day. It supports 44W wired charging, which can charge the battery to 30% in approximately 15 minutes, as advertised. It also supports reverse wired charging, allowing the device to act as a power source for other gadgets.

Price and Market Position

Priced at around 200 EUR, the vivo Y36 offers competitive value for its specifications. It targets consumers seeking a feature-rich, mid-range smartphone without straining their budget, balancing performance with affordability.