Vivo Y55s smartphone: Decent performance but overpriced

China-based Vivo, whose strength lies in a strong offline presence in India, has so far delivered devices that are known for superior design and quality.

Priced at Rs 12,490, Vivo's new offering Y55s is an upgraded version of Y55L that was launched last year.

The device packs split-screen feature for multitasking and an eye-protection mode that allows for comfortable screen brightness by reducing blue light.

Here is what works for the device.

Sporting unibody design with 2.5D curved-edge screen, Y55s looks similar to other Vivo smartphones.

The overall dimensions of the device are neat and it does not slip while holding. The rear camera placement is also good and does not protrude, making it safe from unwanted scratches.

The 5.2-inch HD display choice appears adequate for the price. The colours rendered on the screen are nice but not very sharp. Lenovo K6 Power in the same segment offers more vibrant colours, brightness levels and contrast ratio than Y55s for an enhanced movie or videos watching experience.

The 'Eye Protection' feature reduces strain by restricting blue light emissions, thereby preserving eye health.

The octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM ran smoothly during light to moderate multitasking. However, serious gamers beware as the device slows down.

The "Funtouch OS 3.0" based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow is bright, colourful and easy to navigate.

The camera performances -- both rear and front -- are good enough for regular use but do not deliver exceptional photos.

The 13MP rear camera with LED Flash is pretty good and daylight, macro shots came out clean with enough colour in them.

If you are a selfie lover or a photo enthusiast, Y55s is not the one for you.

The 2,730mAh battery, though small, manages to run for almost a day on light usage.

What does not work?

The 720p display is not the best in this price range. Smartphones like Lenovo Vibe K5 Plus and K6 Power pack full-HD display.

The display brightness of Y55s is also not suitable for outdoors viewing during day time.

Vivo Y55s does not have fingerprint sensor which has become a common feature in smartphones.

Conclusion: Vivo Y55s packs decent specifications and has enough power for regular use, but, unfortunately, there are devices in the same price segment that are armed with better specifications. Still, go for it if you have used Y55L before.

By Anuj Sharma

(Anuj Sharma can be contacted at [email protected])