Vivo Y70 Review

Simply put, if it wasn’t for the Pixel 4a the Vivo Y70 would be my go-to recommendation for a phone around $500. In many ways it is on par with the Google handset but it is still hard to go past the Pixel camera.

It can be difficult thinking about buying a phone from an unknown source, you may even find yourself turning to Google to find out more about Vivo. So when you could go to your most trusted search engine for information, why wouldn’t you go to them for a comparably priced phone when you so easily could?

In actuality there are plenty of reasons to pick this seemingly no-name manufacturer over the search giant, or over other handsets at this price like the Moto G 5G Plus. It just depends on what you want out of a phone.

Photography and camera

The capabilities of the Vivo Y70 camera set up is nothing to scoff at, but the unfortunate reality is that the Pixel 4a is unbeatable. Lets start by taking a look at the Vivo individually before comparing it to other devices.

This camera set up is made of 48MP primary lens, 2MP macro lens and a 2MP bokeh lens, and you’ll also get a 16MP selfie camera settled in a tear drop notch. Android smartphones have the tendency to opt for a big camera count that is backed by little substance, however on the Y70 the lens set up isn’t superfluous.

Each camera does what it is intended to do and does it well – more so switching between these lenses is straightforward thanks to a simple ‘lenses’ button on the camera screen which allows you to toggle between the three.

Let’s take a look at the macro camera. Below we’ve got the same shot from the primary lens, then cropped 300% and through the macro lens. Not only does the macro shot show significantly better detail on the flower itself, but the colours are less pronounced and less oversaturated – making for a crisp, natural image.

Primary lens

300% crop

Macro lens

Here is another example without the crop. Using the macro lens here allows for a clearer focal point as opposed to the primary lens.

Primary lens

Macro lens

The difference is staggering, and more importantly the camera actually performs how you would expect it to.

On to the primary camera and although the photos do come off slightly oversaturated, most people would agree that these are high quality shots. Shutter speed can be an issue on cheaper phones, but the Y70 can capture movement without creating a blurred mess and creates depth while doing so.

Take these pupper pictures as an example. As a farm dog, and a puppy Billie doesn’t exactly know how to stay still – so snapping a usable pictures is an effort to say the least. Here, despite her rambunctious attitude the Y70 captured some sharp lines and enough depth to make her face stand out from the rest of her body. Usually she ends up as a blur, and a tongue protruding from amongst the darkness even on more expensive handsets.

Speaking of darkness, the Super Night Mode is the only camera based let down on the device. Despite the word ‘super’ being in the name, the results are civilian at best. See the examples below and try to figure out where night mode has been enabled.

Super night mode on

Super night mode off

These were taken in complete darkness, and there is such a little difference between the two that it is unwarranted to even discuss.

What is worth discussing however is how the Y70’s camera stacks up against other phones in the price bracket. The most apt comparison is of course the Pixel 4a, and yet somehow it is also the most unfair. The Pixel 4a has a frustratingly great camera ��� it has no right to be as good as it is. Once again, if it wasn’t for the outlying absurdity of the Pixel then the Y70 would be top of the range.

This is not to say that the Vivo doesn’t surpass other cameras at this price point, in fact the photography holds it’s own against others such as the Moto G 5G Plus. Below are three of the same shots taken from the Moto G 5G Plus, the Vivo Y70 and the Pixel 4a. It’s clear that the Vivo eclipses the Motorola – Of course, the shot itself is oversaturated making for a completely different style of photo but there is less noise, finer detail and it handles the light balance in a more sophisticated way. 

Moto G 5G Plus - Primary lens

Vivo Y70 - Primary lens

Pixel 4a - Primary lens

While these comparisons may position the Y70 as a middle of the pack camera, it’s important to note that there is far more to a phone than just a camera. 

Performance and battery

I’ve got no qualms with the performance of this handset. It’s fast, responsive and gives more than enough for the price. Battery life on the other hand is slightly above average which is made better with FlashCharge.

You’ll get between four and five hours screen time with battery saving mode enabled, without you’re looking at something closer to three or four. The fast charge however can get you from 0-50% in just under half an hour. While it’s not as snappy as other devices like the OPPO Find X2 Pro, going from nought to half way charged in 30 minutes is enough to make you feel comfortable with a quick top up before running out the door.

For the price there are also a few extras that you don’t get with comparable devices. Equipped with facial recognition unlock and an onscreen fingerprint scanner, both which work swiftly and are painless to set up – it offers more premium features than anticipated for the cost.

Design

Most phones just look like phones these days, but the Y70 has managed to combine some lovely aesthetics without coming off as cheap.

Starting on the rear, the opalescent (Oxygen Blue) plastic backing has a matte coat which helps to prevent fingerprints and leans into the material used. Rather than the glass looking plastic that has become prominent in handsets, this combination makes the device stand out while also keeping that price down.

The camera bump isn’t overly prominent and the handset itself is lightweight in the hand. There is a slightly pronounced bezel on the front, especially at the bottom that is either made better or worse by the black rim around the AMOLED display. In a way you feel ripped off by the spacious (assumed) bezel, but in reality it’s just a black frame. I wouldn’t say it is better or worse, just noticeable when you look closely enough at it.

Overall, the 6.44-inch display is a delight, the downside comes from the bezels but it’s nothing out of the ordinary for a phone under $500.

Final thoughts

The Vivo Y70 is a fantastic all-rounder and sits close to top of the line. If it wasn’t for a shonky night mode, and the stellar competition it is up against then it would be positioned alongside the best. If you're in the market for a reliable phone, with high end features and a solid camera set up then the Y70 should be up there on your list.

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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