vivo Y28 Review and Specs

Where to buy vivo Y28 in cheapest price and official store

The vivo Y28 is a durable entry-level smartphone with one of the largest battery capacities in its category.

In this review, we explore the phone’s features and capabilities. Can the Y28 be your next daily driver? Let’s find out!

Our review unit came in the Gleaming Orange colorway with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

Starting with the build, the vivo Y28 has a surprisingly premium feel. It is lightweight and comfortable to hold, weighing 199 grams.

The phone features a metallic, glossy frame and back panel with the vivo branding on the lower left.

During my usage, the glossy back panel didn’t smudge often. For those concerned about this, the phone comes with a case.

The dual-rear cameras are located on the upper left of the back panel, along with an LED flash and vivo’s Dynamic Light feature.

On the front, the Y28 has a display panel with a hole-punch front camera. The screen has asymmetrical bezels, which are a nice touch.

The volume rocker and power button are on the right side, while the dual nano-SIM tray is on the left. The top is clean, and the bottom houses one of the two speakers, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio port. The other loudspeaker is integrated into the call earpiece, similar to the vivo Y100.

The vivo Y28 is IP64 rated for dust and splash resistance. While it should be dust-proof, it’s best to be cautious with water exposure.

Overall, I’m pleased with the Y28’s design. The Gleaming Orange colorway is my preference over the Green variant. The phone has a premium look with asymmetrical bezels, smudge resistance, and a highly appreciated 3.5mm audio port.

Display, Multimedia, and Biometrics

The vivo Y28 features a 6.68-inch LCD with HD+ resolution (1608 by 720) and a 90Hz refresh rate. It has a pixel density of 264 ppi and a peak brightness of 1,000 nits.

The pixel density feels a bit low, but for an entry-level device, it provides a decent scrolling and watching experience. It performs well outdoors, though you may need to max out the brightness in direct sunlight.

The dual stereo speakers are surprisingly loud, and users can increase the volume to 300%. I sometimes covered the speaker with my hand, so I used the 3.5mm audio port for better multimedia consumption.

The audio quality from the speakers is rich and loud, perfect for binge-watching videos, though I occasionally covered the speakers accidentally.

Biometric options include the usual pattern and numeric unlock methods, along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. The fingerprint sensor could be more responsive, so I used a numeric code for unlocking.

Cameras

The phone has dual-rear cameras: a 50-megapixel main sensor and a 2-megapixel bokeh camera. The front camera is 13 megapixels.

Photo quality isn’t the best. Indoor shots suffer from saturation issues, and night shots show grain without natural lighting. Selfies are decent, but subjects look slightly “dollified,” and clarity can be lacking even in well-lit photos.

The Y28 is designed to be a long-lasting, affordable option for everyday tasks. While its camera performance isn’t top-notch, it’s adequate.

OS, Apps, and UI

The phone runs on Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. It offers personalization features and performance enhancements, including themes, custom graphics, and animations. Users can also add up to 8GB of extended virtual memory.

The Dynamic Light feature can be set up for alerts, camera countdowns, and music playback. The phone also includes Multi-Turbo 5.5 technology and Game Mode for optimized performance and gameplay.

Funtouch OS 14 comes with a lot of bloatware, though they are organized into folders. Pre-installed apps include Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, and Agoda.

The user interface is typical of Android devices, with easy access to mundane functions like the calculator, scanner, and quick sharing options.

Performance and Benchmarks

The vivo Y28 is powered by a MediaTek Helio G85 chipset with a Mali-G52 MP2 GPU. Our unit has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

The phone handles games reasonably well. It performed fine with light graphics in Teamfight Tactics and did okay with Asphalt 9, though frames can drop during graphics-intensive games. It didn’t heat up much, and performance can be improved by lowering graphics settings.

Benchmark Scores:

Antutu: 270,973
Antutu Storage Test: 15,116
S.Read: 3461
Speed: 301.7MB/s
S.Write: 3109
Speed: 271.0MB/s
R.Access: 8546
R.Speed: 89.0MB/s
W.Speed: 146.0MB/s
3D Mark: Wild Life: 737
Geekbench 6 CPU Single: 433
Geekbench 6 CPU Multi: 1308
Geekbench 6 OpenCL: 582
Geekbench 6 Vulkan: 1112
PC Mark Work 3.0 Performance: 7312

These scores indicate that the Y28 is competitive among modern entry-level smartphones, with notable read and write speeds for storage.

Battery and Connectivity

The Y28 has a large 6,000mAh battery with 44W FlashCharge support.

In PC Mark’s Battery Test, it lasted 22 hours and 5 minutes. In our video loop test, it lasted 27 hours and 17 minutes playing a full HD movie at 50% brightness and muted volume in airplane mode.

For gaming, the Y28 provides up to 12 hours and 30 minutes of gameplay at 50% brightness and volume over Wi-Fi with Game Mode on.

In the charging speed test, it reached 46% in 30 minutes and full power in 1 hour and 10 minutes.

The vivo Y28 excels in battery life, lasting long for various activities.

Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.0, and 5G with dual nano-SIM support. Call quality is standard over signal or Wi-Fi.

Pricing and Conclusion

The vivo Y28 is priced at PHP 7,999 for the 8GB RAM and 128GB storage model, and PHP 9,999 for the 256GB storage option.

This phone is an affordable 2024 release that stands out with its slim profile and strong battery life. It’s a solid choice for those seeking a well-rounded entry-level device.

While the cameras, biometrics, and bloatware are drawbacks, the design, performance, and battery life are commendable.

Would you consider the vivo Y28? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Pros:

Premium design
Excellent battery life
Decent performance
Affordable price

Cons:

Mediocre biometrics
Excessive bloatware
Average camera performance

The vivo Y28 offers several advantages over other smartphones in its price range:

Large Battery Capacity: With a 6,000mAh battery, the vivo Y28 stands out for its long-lasting battery life, making it ideal for heavy users and extended usage without frequent charging.
Fast Charging: The 44W FlashCharge support ensures quick recharges, reducing downtime.
Premium Design: Despite being an entry-level phone, the vivo Y28 boasts a premium feel with a metallic, glossy frame and back panel, offering an appealing aesthetic.
Display: The 6.68-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate provides a smooth and enjoyable viewing experience, which is a rarity in its segment.
Stereo Speakers: The dual stereo speakers deliver rich and loud audio, enhancing multimedia and gaming experiences.
Expandable Storage: With up to 256GB of internal storage and microSD card support, users have ample space for apps, media, and files.
5G Connectivity: The inclusion of 5G support ensures faster internet speeds and future-proofing in terms of connectivity.
IP64 Rating: The dust and splash resistance adds a layer of durability, making the phone more robust for daily use.
Side-Mounted Fingerprint Sensor: Provides convenient and secure unlocking, a feature not always available in entry-level smartphones.
Affordable Price: The combination of these features at a competitive price point makes the vivo Y28 a strong contender in the entry-level market.

These advantages make the vivo Y28 a compelling choice for users seeking a well-rounded, durable, and affordable smartphone.

vivo Y28 specs:

6.68-inch HD+ (1608 x 720) LCD, 264ppi
90Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nits peak brightness
MediaTek Helio G85
2x Cortex-A75 @ 2GHz, 6x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
Mali-G52 MP2 GPU
8GB RAM
128GB, 256GB internal storage
MicroSD card support (hybrid slot)
50MP (f/1.8) main camera
2MP (f/2.4) bokeh camera
8MP (f/2.05) front camera
3.5mm audio port
Dual stereo speakers
Dual nano-SIM
5G
WiFi 5
Bluetooth 5.0
USB Type-C
Funtouch OS 14 (Android 14)
6,000mAh battery, 44W FlashCharge support (wired, in-box charger)
IP64 rating for dust and water resistance
165.70 × 76.00 × 7.99mm dimensions
199 grams weight
Agate Green, Gleaming Orange colors

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