Despite a lot of best sellers belong to the price range from $200 to $300, there are still a lot of low-end devices which could be enough for most of the non-advanced users out there. A few hours ago, we saw the debut of the Vivo Y12, which we consider as one of the most interesting affordable phones due to its mammoth battery. That is why we thought it is worth comparing it with other affordable devices which are making a big success in the actual market. The perfect candidates for this comparison are the wonderful Redmi 7 which is one of the best devices in terms of quality-price ratio, and the Nokia 4.2 which is one of the most affordable handsets with Android One installed.
Vivo Y12 vs Redmi 7 vs Nokia 4.2
| Vivo Y12 | Xiaomi Redmi 7 | Nokia 4.2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT | 159.4 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm, 109.5 grams | 158.7 x 75.6 x 8.5 mm , 180 grams | 149 x 71.3 x 8.4 mm, 161 grams |
| DISPLAY | 6.35 inches, 720 x 1544p (HD+), 268 ppi, IPS LCD | 6.26 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 269 ppi, IPS LCD | 5.71 inches, 720 x 1520p (HD+), 295 ppi, IPS LCD |
| PROCESSOR | Mediatek Helio P22, octa-core 2 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 632, octa-core 1.8 GHz | Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, octa-core 2 GHz |
| MEMORY | 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 2 GB RAM, 16 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – 3 GB RAM- 3 GB RAM, 64 GB – 4 GB RAM, 64 GB – micro SD dedicated slot | 2 GB RAM, 16 GB – 3 GB RAM, 32 GB – micro SD slot |
| SOFTWARE | Android 9 Pie, Funtouch OS | Android 9 Pie, MIUI | Android 9 Pie, Android One |
| CONNECTIVITY | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS |
| CAMERA | Triple 13 + 8 + 2 MP f/2.2, f/2.2 and f/2.4 8 MP f/2.2 front camera |
12 + 2 MP f/2.2 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
Dual 13 +2 MP f/2.2 8 MP f/2.0 front camera |
| BATTERY | 5000 mAh | 4000 mAh | 3000 mAh |
| ADDITIONAL FEATURES | Dual SIM slot | Dual SIM slot | Hybrid Dual SIM slot |
Design
Due to its high screen-to-body ratio and its reflective glass back, my favorite phone among these ones is the Vivo Y12. On the other side, Xiaomi Redmi 7 is not so different, and it is even splash resistant, so it may represent a better choice for a lot of people. Nokia 4.2 is the compact one and it is one of the smallest last-generation phones. However, its bezels are not so narrow, at least not as narrow as the ones of its rivals, despite the presence of a waterdrop notch.
Display
The display is usually a weak point of entry-level smartphones, and that is more or less the same when it comes to this trio. All of them come with just an HD display and they do not have a high pixel density. The Nokia 4.2 looks slightly more detailed, but just because it shows the same resolution on a smaller screen. Vivo Y12 has the biggest display, you may need to know it if you want to use your phone for multimedia or productivity purposes. For the rest, they all are just affordable panels with sufficient quality.
Specs & Software
If you want the fastest and smoothest phone, do not think twice and go for the Xiaomi Redmi 7. With its Snapdragon 632 chipset and up to 4 GB of RAM, it is able to provide up to midrange-class performances. Both Vivo Y12 and Nokia 4.2 are equipped with entry-level chipsets, but the latter comes with Android One out of the box: a stock version of Google’s operating system with a great software optimization and faster updates. Note that, if you choose the Nokia 4.2, you can only get up to 3 GB of RAM, while Vivo Y12 is slightly better as it is equipped with up to 4 GB of RAM in the most expensive configuration.
Camera
You will not get a high photo quality with any of these handsets, but if we had to choose the best camera phone, we would go for the most versatile one: the Vivo Y12. It is the only to sport a triple camera, and it even has pretty nice sensors for an entry-level device, including a useful ultrawide lens.
Battery
Vivo Y12 mainly focuses on battery life: by implementing a 5000 mAh battery on such an entry-level device, Vivo surely guaranteed up to three days of battery life on a single charge. There should not be so many phones in the entire market which can reach the same battery life as the Vivo Y12. Right after, there is Redmi 7 which still comes with outstanding battery life, despite it does not arrive at the level of the wonderful Vivo Y12. The battery capacity of the Nokia 4.2 is still above-average, but there is no way 3000 mAh can compete with 5000 or even 4000 mAh.
Price
If you want a unit of the Vivo Y12, you are willing to pay about €160/$180. Xiaomi Redmi 7 starts from just €130/$147, while Nokia 4.2 costs €150/$170. In my personal opinion, the Redmi 7 is a more complete and performing device thanks to its better chipset and its well-balanced specs, despite Vivo Y12 has a more versatile camera department and a longer battery life.
Vivo Y12 vs Redmi 7 vs Nokia 4.2: PROs and CONS
Vivo Y12
PROs
- Huge battery
- Better connectivity
- Bigger display
- Micro SD dedicated slot
CONS
- Low-end chipset
Nokia 4.2
PROs
- Compact and lightweight
- Android One
- Global availability
- NFC
CONS
- Smaller battery
Xiaomi Redmi 7
PROs
- Very affordable
- Good hardware
- Big battery
- Micro SD dedicated slot
- Fast charging
CONS
- Nothing particular
