The midrange segment is the most exciting battlefield in the local industry today. Most Filipinos are now upgrading their low-end smartphones to a more capable handset. Most people are really drawn into these smartphones due to the premium factor they deliver for a budget price.
So, a lot of smartphone manufacturers are fighting it out in the midrange category. From the prominent brands, up to some upcoming Chinese brands that have proven their worth in the last couple of years.
Today we’ll be comparing two budget-friendly smartphones from the brands on each side of the spectrum. We have Samsung, a long-standing name in the industry, and their new Galaxy A6 2018.
We also have Vivo, a Chinese brand that had a staggering growth in the last couple of years — and their new midrange offering, the Vivo Y85.
This Vivo Y85 versus Samsung Galaxy A6 2018 specifications and features comparison aims to figure out which between the two actually delivers the best value for the money. Can Vivo take on the Android giant in the field? Or will Samsung maintain its reign? Let’s all figure that out.
Vivo Y85 | Samsung Galaxy A6 2018 | |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Android 8.1 Oreo FunTouch OS 4.0 | Android 8.0 Oreo Samsung Experience |
SIM | Dual SIM Dual Standby | Dual SIM Dual Standby |
Display | 6.3-inch FHD+ IPS 2280 x 1080 resolution ~400ppi 18:9 aspect ratio | 5.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED 1480 x 720 resolution ~293ppi 2.5D Infinity Curved Glass 18:9 aspect ratio |
Processor | 2.0GHz MediaTek Helio P22 octa-core | 1.6GHz Exynos 7870 octa-core |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | Mali-T830 |
Storage | 32GB expandable via microSD up to 256GB | 32GB/64GB expandable via microSD up to 256GB |
Front camera | 8-megapixel f/2.0 SoftLight flash | 16-megapixel f/1.9 LED flash |
Rear Camera | 12-megapixel + 2-megapixel f/2.0 PDAF LED flash | 16-megapixel f/1.7 PDAF LED flash |
Security | Fingerprint scanner Face unlock | Fingerprint scanner Facial unlock |
Connectivity | HSPA+ 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS FM Radio microUSB 2.0 | HSPA+ 4G LTE WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band Bluetooth 4.2 GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS BDS FM Radio NFC USB Type-C |
Dimensions | 154.8 × 75 × 7.8mm | 149.9 x 70.8 x 7.7mm |
Weight | - | - |
Color | Black Ruby Red | Black Blue Gold Lavander |
Battery | 3260mAh | 3000mAh |
Price | Php13,990 | Php16,490 |
Samsung is sometimes hailed as the king of Android smartphone. This company makes some of the best Android devices around. However, it looks like their prowess on that field wasn’t transferred in their less expensive products.
As seen in the table above, the Samsung Galaxy A6 2018 is noticeably pricier than the Vivo Y85. However, it appears that the latter has a more appealing specs sheet.
For starters, the Vivo Y85 offers a better processor. It runs on MediaTek’s new Helio P22 processor making it one of the first smartphones to come equipped with one. It also has a higher clock speed at 2.0GHz and is made of a 14nm process which is relatively better than the 14nm Exynos 7870 on the Galaxy A6 2018.
The Vivo Y85 also has a bigger and sharper screen with its 6.3-inch FHD+ display. There’s also a display notch on top just like the Vivo V9 (read our review), which everyone seems to like.
It also runs on Android 8.1 Oreo, which is relatively newer than the Android 8.0 found on the Galaxy A6 2018. Lastly, it comes with a bigger 3,260mAh battery, while the former only has 3,000mAh capacity.
Related
- Vivo Y85 vs OPPO F7 Youth: Specs Comparison
- OPPO F7 Youth vs Samsung Galaxy A6 2018: Specs Comparison
Despite all the Vivo Y85’s edge over the Galaxy A6 2018, that doesn’t mean that Samsung’s bet is a lousy competitor. Although it was beaten in major areas, the Galaxy A6 2018 was able to take a win in some minor, but still relevant, departments.
For one, Samsung uses a Super AMOLED screen which is known for its good colors and contrast, although it might be overshadowed by its smaller screen size and lower screen resolution.
The Samsung Galaxy A6 also comes with a better pair of cameras. There’s a 16-megapixel shooter on the front, which is two times the sensor resolution of the 8-megapixel selfie camera of the Vivo Y85.
It also has the same 16-megapixel camera on the back, which I think is still better than the 12-megapixel + 2-megapixel dual cameras of the Y85. The extra camera is only added for a more accurate Portrait mode, which I doubt that a lot of people would actually use.
The Samsung Galaxy A6 2018 also has more advanced connectivity features. It supports NFC and USB Type-C, something that the Y85 lacks.
But at the end of the day, people who are shopping at the midrange category would still value the price more. Honestly, I don’t think that some of the extras they’d be getting the Galaxy A6 2018 are enough to justify its Php16,490 price tag. For Php2,500 less, the Vivo Y85’s Php13,990 can easily steal the win from Galaxy A6 2018 on this fight — making it the better option between the two.