A week before the launch of their first Android with dual front camera, I finally came up with my findings on the Vivo Y55
This is their first handset on their latest Funtouch OS 2.6 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. There is almost no difference in terms of controls and the usual navigation compared to FunTouch 2.5 exccept for more app support on their multi window mode including the ever reliable MX Player but I did not manage for us during the time of my review. At first, it was a learning curve for me as it was my first time to grab a Vivo review unit but the multi tasking was a-ok for me.
Calls, texts, mobile data, Bluetooth and WiFi - no complains for me except for my usual no LTE only support for mobile data. I knew that I am in good hands with a processor like Qualcomm Snapdragon 430.
SD 430 has a right combination of power and battery efficiency for a phone below 10k so it got a respectable over 42.000 on Antutu and has 5 point multi touch. Gaming was also good for me during my sessions on Asphalt 8 and Dead Trigger 2.
During my review, I got the version 1.97.beta which I never saw some major changes except for better app compatibility and navigation. Out of 16 GB ROM, you will get a nice less than 10 GB of app storage.
On our video battery rundown test, the 14 nm is giving us some benefits as it lasted fort 12 hours and 20 minutes out of 2,650 mAh battery. I can say that for a normal usage, I can use it in a working day (16 hours) with 20% screen brightness and 4.5 hours of screen on time.
On the extras even that the SoC supports it naturally, the Vivo Y55 does not have quick charge as it will fully charge the phone at around 2.5 hours. If there is one big issue about this phone is the not so stable FM radio signal when I am in a move either by walking and commuting. I even tried to use other third party earphones but still no success for me.
On camera, the main shooter has 8 MP with f/2.0 and 5 MP secondary one with f/2.2 which is a-ok for daylight and a bit artificial lighting but you are in low light, you really need to use that flash as you can see the limits of that low MP count when you zoomed it in. Good thing that the camera UI works great on shooting and the image processing time.
Vivo Y55 main camera samples
Vivo Y55 secondary camera sample
Vivo Y55 is positioned at Php 7,999 which is pretty good if you will compare with other interrnational with a bit less in terms of power and battery efficiency. Heavy users might need a powerbank as they put in a bit small battery compared to both global and local alternatives with the same SoC. The FM radio issue was a bit of downer for me which I hope they can still fix it. Camera output is good enough on their advertised specs. Vivo Y55 for me is at 4 out of 5
