Vivo Y300 Pro Review: A Budget Smartphone Packed with Surprising Features
Vivo continues to solidify its presence in the budget smartphone segment with the release of the Vivo Y300 Pro. In a market saturated with affordable devices, Vivo has managed to carve out a space by offering a well-rounded phone that combines modern design, reliable performance, and some unexpected high-end features. This review dives deep into the Vivo Y300 Pro, examining its strengths, weaknesses, and whether it’s a good fit for budget-conscious consumers in 2024.
Design and Build Quality
The Vivo Y300 Pro embraces a modern, sleek design that belies its budget price tag. It features a plastic back with a glossy finish that mimics glass, offering a premium feel without the fragility. The device is thin and lightweight, measuring 8.2mm in thickness and weighing just 190g, making it easy to hold and use with one hand.
The phone comes in two colors—Crystal Blue and Matte Black—both of which have a subtle shimmer when they catch the light. The rounded corners and edges give it a more ergonomic grip, though the glossy back is prone to fingerprints and smudges.
On the front, the Vivo Y300 Pro sports a 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a waterdrop notch housing the front camera. The screen bezels are slim on the sides but slightly thicker on the top and bottom, which is typical in budget devices.
Display
The Vivo Y300 Pro features a 6.5-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. While it may not match the sharpness or clarity of Full HD displays, the screen still offers vibrant colors and decent brightness levels for everyday use. The 60Hz refresh rate might feel dated compared to the 90Hz or 120Hz panels seen in more expensive phones, but for basic tasks like browsing and social media, it performs adequately.
The LCD panel provides good viewing angles, and the display is bright enough for outdoor use under direct sunlight, though it struggles a bit in harsh lighting conditions. Vivo has also included an Eye Protection mode to reduce blue light emission, making it easier on the eyes during extended use.
Performance
Under the hood, the Vivo Y300 Pro is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset. While not the fastest processor on the market, it is a reliable choice for budget smartphones, offering a balance between performance and power efficiency. Paired with 6GB of RAM, the phone handles multitasking, casual gaming, and general usage smoothly.
Basic apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram run without issues, and switching between them is seamless. However, for more demanding apps or heavy gaming, the phone shows some limitations. Games like PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile are playable but with reduced graphics settings, and the device tends to heat up after prolonged gaming sessions.
The 128GB internal storage is a welcome addition at this price point, providing ample space for apps, photos, and videos. The phone also supports expandable storage via a microSD card slot, allowing users to add up to 1TB of extra space.
Camera System
The Vivo Y300 Pro boasts a triple-camera setup on the rear:
50MP Primary Sensor: The main camera offers decent image quality in well-lit conditions. Photos have good detail, accurate colors, and reasonable sharpness. However, in low light, the camera struggles to maintain clarity, with images appearing grainy and lacking detail.
2MP Macro Lens: The macro lens is capable of capturing close-up shots, but the quality is mediocre. It’s more of a novelty feature than a truly useful tool for photography enthusiasts.
2MP Depth Sensor: This sensor helps create portrait shots with a bokeh effect, blurring the background to focus on the subject. It works well for casual portrait photography but isn’t as precise as higher-end phones.
On the front, there is an 8MP selfie camera housed in the waterdrop notch. It delivers decent selfies in good lighting conditions, with features like AI beautification to enhance skin tones and smooth out imperfections. The front camera also supports 1080p video recording at 30fps, which is ideal for vlogging or video calls.
Battery Life
The Vivo Y300 Pro is equipped with a 5000mAh battery, which is one of its strongest selling points. With this large battery, the phone easily lasts a full day on moderate use, including social media, video streaming, and light gaming. For lighter users, it can stretch into two days without needing a recharge.
Charging, however, is limited to 18W fast charging, which, while not blazing fast, gets the job done in about 1.5 to 2 hours. Given the size of the battery and the budget nature of the device, this charging speed is acceptable.
Software
The phone runs on Funtouch OS 14, which is based on Android 14. Vivo’s custom skin has evolved over the years and now offers a cleaner, more intuitive experience. While it still comes with some pre-installed apps (bloatware), most of these can be uninstalled.
The UI is smooth, with several customization options, such as themes, widgets, and gesture controls. Vivo has also included a Game Mode, which optimizes performance for gaming and blocks notifications to ensure a distraction-free experience.
One notable feature is App Cloning, which allows users to run two instances of apps like WhatsApp or Facebook, making it convenient for those who juggle personal and work accounts.
Connectivity and Extras
The Vivo Y300 Pro supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, and GPS. There’s no 5G support, which is a slight downside given that 5G networks are becoming more common, but it’s an understandable omission at this price point.
The phone has a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, which is fast and reliable. Face unlock is also available and works well in good lighting, though it struggles in dim conditions.
The 3.5mm headphone jack is still present, which is a welcome feature for those who prefer wired headphones. The single bottom-firing speaker delivers average sound quality, but it’s sufficient for basic media consumption.
Pricing and Availability
The Vivo Y300 Pro is competitively priced, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers. It is available in India at around ₹14,999, depending on the retailer and occasional discounts. Given its features and specifications, the Y300 Pro offers excellent value for money in its category.
Verdict: Is the Vivo Y300 Pro Worth It?
The Vivo Y300 Pro is a solid budget smartphone that ticks most of the boxes for everyday users. With its modern design, decent performance, long battery life, and a capable camera system, it delivers more than what one might expect at its price point. However, if you’re looking for a phone with 5G support or need top-tier gaming performance, you might need to look elsewhere.
For those on a tight budget who want a phone that looks good, lasts long, and handles day-to-day tasks with ease, the Vivo Y300 Pro is a great option in 2024. It’s perfect for students, casual users, or anyone looking for a reliable second device.
