vivo Y300 Plus: A Midrange Marvel With 120 Hz AMOLED Display And 5G Power

Design and Build Quality

The vivo Y300 Plus strikes a sleek balance between style and functionality. Measuring 164.4×74.9×7.5 mm and weighing 172 g or 183 g, depending on the variant, this phone is impressively light and slim for its size, making it easy to handle and comfortable in the hand. The build incorporates a glass front, and you can choose between a plastic or glass back. Either way, the frame is plastic, which might be a slight letdown for those who prefer a more premium all-glass or metal design. It's available in two elegant colors: Silk Black and Silk Green, both of which exude a minimalist aesthetic. Here are the relevant specs:

The dimensions of the vivo Y300 Plus place it firmly in the typical size range for modern smartphones. At around 6.47 inches tall, it's neither too bulky nor too slim, hitting a nice middle ground. The 7.5 mm thickness makes it feel impressively slim, especially when you consider it packs a sizable 5000 mAh battery. This slim profile should fit comfortably in most hands, making it easier to hold during long sessions of scrolling or gaming without it feeling like a brick.

As for the weight, you have two versions: one at 172 g and another at 183 g. Both weights are relatively light compared to many midrange or flagship phones out there. The weight distribution feels well-balanced, so even during prolonged use, it won't cause fatigue in your hand. In terms of portability, this weight class is ideal - light enough to slip into pockets or bags without adding bulk but not so light that it feels flimsy.

The build quality of the vivo Y300 Plus involves a mix of materials, with glass front as a constant, and the choice of either a plastic back or glass back. The plastic-backed variant feels more budget-friendly, but don't write it off just because of that. High-quality plastic used in smartphones today is far more durable than the cheap plastic of yesteryears. It is more resistant to shattering compared to glass, which means it can withstand accidental drops a little better. Plus, plastic is less prone to fingerprint smudges, making it easier to keep looking clean.

The glass-back option offers a more premium feel and look. It provides a shiny, more reflective surface that can enhance the phone's aesthetics. However, glass is more fragile, meaning you'll want to be extra careful or invest in a case to avoid cracks from drops. The upside is that a glass back is often associated with higher-end devices, giving the Y300 Plus a more luxurious vibe in this variant.

The plastic frame used in both variants keeps the phone's weight in check, but it doesn't have the durability or cool-to-the-touch feel that metal frames offer. While it's strong enough for everyday use, it might feel a little less premium than metal, especially when comparing it to high-end phones. That said, the plastic frame helps with shock absorption in case of a fall.

The vivo Y300 Plus comes in two color variants: Silk Black and Silk Green. Each has its own personality and would appeal to different types of users:

• Silk Black: Classic, timeless, and sleek, this color is perfect for those who prefer a more minimalist and professional look. It's a color that works well in all settings - whether you're using the phone in a work environment or just out and about. Plus, it tends to hide scratches and scuffs better than lighter colors, which is a big win for those who like to keep their phones looking pristine.
• Silk Green: This color is more playful and stands out with its soft, sophisticated green tone. It's for the users who enjoy a bit of flair in their tech. It's unique enough to catch the eye but subtle enough to avoid being too flashy. If you like your phone to reflect a bit of your personality, this would be a good choice for those who lean toward trendy, creative, or nature-inspired aesthetics.

In summary, the vivo Y300 Plus strikes a solid balance between comfort and practicality. Its slim dimensions, light weight, and materials make it easy to handle during long usage sessions without feeling heavy or cumbersome. The plastic variant offers more durability for clumsier users, while the glass variant brings a bit of premium flair at the cost of potential fragility.

The colors, too, offer a nice choice between classic and modern, ensuring there's something to suit every personality type. If you're someone who's frequently on the go or spends long periods using your phone, the vivo Y300 Plus won't weigh you down or feel awkward in your pocket or bag, making it a comfortable companion for all-day use.

IP Rating

(Related: IP ratings explained.)

For those who tend to be a little more accident-prone, the Y300 Plus comes with an IP54 rating, offering protection from dust and minor splashes, though it's not fully waterproof.

The IP (Ingress Protection) rating system is used to classify the degree of protection provided by electrical enclosures against the intrusion of foreign objects (like dust) and liquids (such as water and moisture). The rating consists of two digits: the first digit indicates the level of protection against solid particles, while the second digit denotes the level of protection against liquids.

In the case of the vivo Y300 Plus, here's what each digit in its IP54 rating signifies:

• Protection Against Solids (First Digit): The "5" in IP54 indicates that the device is protected against dust ingress to a limited extent. While it may not be completely dustproof, it provides sufficient protection to ensure normal operation under typical indoor conditions.
• Protection Against Liquids (Second Digit): The "4" signifies that the device is protected against splashing water from any direction. While it's not fully waterproof like devices with higher ratings, it can withstand light splashes and raindrops.

Given the IP54 rating, you should exercise caution when exposing the Y300 Plus to environmental elements. While it can handle occasional splashes and light dust exposure, prolonged exposure to water or dust-intensive environments should be avoided to prevent damage.

To further safeguard the device, you may consider investing in additional protective measures, such as a protective case and a screen protector. A rugged case can provide enhanced shock absorption and added defense against impacts, while a tempered glass screen protector can shield the display from scratches and minor abrasions. These accessories not only enhance the durability of the device but also offer peace of mind for users who lead active lifestyles or work in demanding environments.

In summary, while the IP54 rating offers a degree of protection against dust and splashes, you should supplement it with additional precautions, such as using protective cases and screen protectors, to ensure the longevity and reliability of your vivo Y300 Plus smartphone.

Display

(Related: Know more about the various kinds of displays and screen specs.)

One of the standout features of this device is its 6.78-inch, curved AMOLED display. With a 90.1% screen-to-body ratio, you're getting an immersive viewing experience with minimal bezels. The display's 1080×2400 pixel resolution at 388 PPI ensures sharp visuals, and the 20:9 aspect ratio makes it perfect for content consumption and multitasking. The 120 Hz refresh rate is another huge plus, delivering ultra-smooth scrolling and animations, a feature that's typically reserved for higher-end devices. vivo also takes care of wet-hand situations with wet touch support, making sure a bit of water on the screen won't ruin your day.

vivo Y300 Plus display. Image credit: vivo

Here are the relevant specs:

The 6.78-inch AMOLED display of the vivo Y300 Plus delivers the kind of vibrant visuals you typically find in higher-end phones. AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology is known for its ability to produce deep blacks and punchy colors, thanks to the way it operates: each pixel is individually lit, meaning that when a pixel is black, it's actually turned off, saving power and giving you those incredible contrast levels.

For users who enjoy media consumption - whether that's watching videos, gaming, or scrolling through photo-heavy feeds - this display will provide a more immersive experience. The color accuracy, sharpness, and saturation are all amped up, making visuals pop. If you've used a phone with an IPS LCD before, you'll notice that the AMOLED display on this phone feels far more vibrant and engaging.

The 120 Hz refresh rate is another feature that gives this display a more premium feel. Many phones in the midrange or budget categories stick with a 60 Hz refresh rate, so this is a significant upgrade. What does this mean in practical terms? A higher refresh rate makes all your interactions smoother - whether you're scrolling through social media, switching between apps, or gaming.

At 120 Hz, the animations are fluid, reducing motion blur and making everything feel more responsive. Gamers, in particular, will appreciate this feature, as it provides a competitive edge in fast-paced games. Once you've experienced 120 Hz, it's hard to go back to a standard 60 Hz display because of how polished everything looks and feels.

The 1080×2400 pixels resolution gives the vivo Y300 Plus a 388 PPI (pixels per inch) density, which means sharp visuals and clear text. Whether you're reading articles, watching videos, or zooming in on photos, the level of detail will impress you. This Full HD+ resolution hits the sweet spot for this screen size - balancing clarity with efficiency.

With a 20:9 aspect ratio, the screen is also tall and narrow, which makes it ideal for viewing media in widescreen format. This ratio is becoming standard in smartphones, as it provides more vertical space for content, making multitasking easier and offering a cinematic feel when watching movies or YouTube videos.

One of the biggest challenges with smartphone displays is visibility in bright sunlight. With the 1300 nits peak brightness, the vivo Y300 Plus ensures that you won't struggle to see the screen, even on sunny days. Not many midrange phones reach this level of brightness, so it's a standout feature here.

The high peak brightness is particularly useful when you're outdoors. Whether you're reading messages, navigating using GPS, or just scrolling through your phone while walking around, the display remains bright and readable in most lighting conditions. Indoors, the display can get incredibly bright too, but you'll likely find yourself dialing it down to avoid eye strain.

The contrast ratio of 8000000:1 in the Y300 Plus contributes to stunning visual depth. The high contrast ratio allows for deep blacks and bright whites, making images pop with vibrancy and detail. It also makes the visuals more lifelike, adding a sense of depth and realism to everything displayed on the screen.

The Always-On Display (AOD) is a handy feature that many users appreciate. AMOLED technology allows this feature to work efficiently, as only the necessary pixels light up, conserving battery power. With the AOD, you can see essential information like the time, date, notifications, and battery percentage without needing to fully unlock the phone.

This feature is great for anyone who constantly checks one's phone for updates or just wants quick information at a glance. It adds convenience and sophistication, especially in situations where you want to keep an eye on your notifications without pulling your phone out of sleep mode every few minutes.

And this might seem like a niche feature, but the wet touch support can be a game-changer in real-life situations. Whether you're caught in the rain, just washed your hands, or dealing with sweaty palms, the display remains responsive. Many displays struggle to register touches accurately when there's moisture on the screen, so this added feature ensures you can continue to use your phone comfortably in less-than-ideal conditions.

In conclusion, the display of the vivo Y300 Plus is a major selling point, especially for a midrange device. The AMOLED panel delivers rich colors and deep blacks, making multimedia experiences more engaging. With a 120 Hz refresh rate, the screen feels smooth and responsive, which is particularly noticeable when gaming or scrolling.

The 1080×2400 px resolution ensures sharp visuals, while the 1300 nits peak brightness means you can use this phone comfortably in any lighting environment. The Always-On Display adds a layer of convenience for those who like to stay informed at a glance, and the wet touch support is a thoughtful addition for real-world use.

All in all, the vivo Y300 Plus offers a display experience that competes with phones at much higher price points, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize screen quality.

Networks

(Related: Cellular networks explained.)

Networking is the invisible thread that connects us all in the digital world! The vivo Y300 Plus, with its support for the networking quartet of GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G technologies, is like a well-connected socialite in the world of networks.

GSM and HSPA are the stalwarts, providing 2G and 3G connectivity, respectively. Then there's LTE, the foundation of modern 4G networks, delivering faster internet speeds and improved call quality. And of course, the star of the show - 5G. It's the future, promising blazing-fast download and upload speeds, reduced latency, and a world of possibilities for future applications.

SIM

The vivo Y300 Plus supports dual Nano-SIM (dual stand-by). This capability adds a layer of convenience for those juggling work and personal life on a single device.

Chipset - Performance

Under the hood, the vivo Y300 Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. Built on a 6-nm process, this chipset is energy-efficient while still providing ample power for daily tasks. The octa-core CPU includes two types of cores, ensuring a balanced performance for both gaming and regular usage. The Adreno 619 GPU takes care of graphical tasks, so whether you're playing graphically demanding games or streaming videos, performance remains solid.

Here are the relevant specs:

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G is a midrange processor that strikes a good balance between performance, power efficiency, and 5G connectivity. It is a 6-nm chipset, which means it's built using a smaller, more power-efficient process compared to older 8- or 12-nm chipsets. This 6-nm architecture helps in keeping the phone's performance smooth while being less power-hungry, which is particularly beneficial for extending battery life on a device like the vivo Y300 Plus with its 5000 mAh battery.

The CPU inside the Snapdragon 695 is octa-core, meaning it has eight cores split into two types of clusters to handle different kinds of tasks:

• Two High-Performance Kryo 660 Gold Cores Clocked at 2.2 GHz: These cores are based on ARM's Cortex-A78 architecture and are designed to handle intensive tasks that require more processing power. This includes activities like gaming, photo editing, running resource-heavy apps, and multitasking with multiple apps open at once. The higher clock speed means faster processing for demanding tasks, ensuring that performance remains smooth under load.
• Six Power-Efficient Kryo 660 Silver Cores Clocked at 1.8 GHz: These cores are based on the Cortex-A55 architecture and are optimized for efficiency rather than raw power. They handle day-to-day tasks like browsing the web, sending messages, social media use, and light app usage. These cores work in the background to conserve power when the phone doesn't need to be running at full speed, which is why the phone is able to offer good battery life despite its impressive screen and feature set.

This big.LITTLE architecture (combining powerful and efficient cores) allows the Y300 Plus to adapt to the demands of whatever task you're doing. Routine tasks are handled by the power-efficient cores to save battery life, while the high-performance cores kick in when more power is needed.

The Adreno 619 GPU is responsible for handling the graphical tasks of the vivo Y300 Plus, such as rendering visuals in games, animations, and other GPU-accelerated apps. While it's not the most powerful GPU in Qualcomm's lineup, it's more than adequate for casual gaming and multimedia tasks.

It can run popular mobile games like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, and Asphalt 9 on medium settings without much trouble, delivering smooth gameplay for most users. However, if you're aiming to play more graphically intense games on the highest settings, you might notice occasional frame drops or longer load times.

When it comes to everyday tasks like watching videos, browsing the web, and using productivity apps, the Adreno 619 performs smoothly and efficiently. It's also capable of handling basic photo and video editing, though for more complex video editing or 3D rendering, you'd need a device with a more powerful GPU, such as one in the Snapdragon 8-series.

With these components under the hood, the vivo Y300 Plus has the right processing configuration to handle a wide range of tasks efficiently, including:

• Daily Multitasking: With 8 GB of RAM and the Snapdragon 695 chipset, this phone is perfect for handling day-to-day tasks like messaging, social media, and email with multiple apps open in the background.
• Casual Gaming: Games that aren't too graphically demanding will run smoothly on medium settings, and titles like Clash Royale, Candy Crush, and Among Us will pose no issues.
• Streaming and Media Consumption: The Adreno 619 GPU can handle streaming in Full HD on platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime without breaking a sweat.
• Photography: The chipset supports AI features that improve camera performance, so taking photos and applying filters in real-time is handled efficiently.
• 5G Connectivity: Thanks to the built-in 5G modem, you'll get fast internet speeds when using compatible networks, making downloads and streaming more responsive.

However, there are tasks that may benefit from a more powerful configuration, such as:

• High-End Gaming: If you're an avid gamer who wants to play the latest, most demanding mobile games on high graphics settings, the Snapdragon 695 may struggle. While it can run these games on lower settings, the overall experience might not be as smooth as it would be on phones with more powerful chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
• Heavy Video Editing or Content Creation: The phone can handle basic video editing, but for serious content creators dealing with 4K videos or using more advanced tools like Adobe Premiere Rush, the processing power and GPU might show their limits.
• Advanced Multitasking: Power users who like to run demanding apps like 3D modeling software or perform complex tasks simultaneously (e.g., editing a video while rendering another) may find the processing power a bit lacking compared to flagship devices with more robust hardware.

In summary, the combination of the octa-core CPU and Adreno 619 GPU in the vivo Y300 Plus ensures it's a solid performer in the midrange segment. Its big.LITTLE architecture allows the phone to strike a great balance between performance and power efficiency, making it an excellent choice for everyday use, casual gaming, and general multimedia consumption. However, power users with high-end gaming or heavy content creation needs might want to look at phones with more advanced configurations.

For the average user, though, this processing setup is more than capable of delivering a smooth and responsive experience in most scenarios, making the vivo Y300 Plus a very competent all-rounder at its price point.

Memory and Storage

Here are the relevant specs:

In terms of memory and storage, the vivo Y300 Plus comes with 8 GB of RAM, which is more than sufficient for multitasking and handling multiple apps at once. The 128 GB of UFS 2.2 storage ensures faster read and write speeds compared to older standards, making app launches and file transfers snappier. If that's not enough for your media needs, the phone also supports microSDXC cards, so you can expand the storage if required.

Cameras: Balanced, But Not Advanced

The camera setup on the vivo Y300 Plus is solid for its price range. The 50 MP main camera is equipped with PDAF, ensuring fast and accurate focus, especially in well-lit environments. For portrait mode enthusiasts, the 2 MP depth sensor works hand-in-hand with the main camera to deliver decent bokeh effects.

Video recording maxes out at 1080p at 30 fps, which might seem a bit underwhelming given the prevalence of 4K recording in even midrange devices these days, but for casual shooters, it gets the job done.

Selfie lovers will appreciate the 32 MP front-facing camera with an f/2.5 aperture, which captures bright and detailed selfies. It's also capable of recording 1080p videos at 30 fps, making it more than adequate for video calls or even vlogging.

Rear Camera

Image credit: vivo

The vivo Y300 Plus comes equipped with a dual-camera setup on the back, which, while simple by today's standards, offers a well-rounded experience for everyday photography. Let's break down the roles of the two lenses and highlight some of the key camera features that enhance the overall camera performance. Here are the relevant specs:

Specification	vivo Y300 Plus
Number of Cameras	2 (Dual)
Resolution (Megapixels)	50 MP (wide), 2 MP (depth)
Aperture	f/1.8, f/2.4
Autofocus	PDAF, N/A
Video Recording	1080p at 30 fps
Other Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR

The main star of the vivo Y300 Plus's camera system is its 50 MP wide lens. This high-resolution sensor is designed to capture sharp, detailed photos, especially in well-lit conditions. With such a high megapixel count, you'll be able to zoom in on images and retain a decent amount of clarity, which is useful if you need to crop or blow up your photos.

The f/1.8 aperture is fairly wide, meaning the camera can let in more light, which results in better low-light performance. You'll notice this particularly when taking photos indoors or during evening shots, as this allows for brighter images without as much noise or graininess.

This camera is ideal for general photography, whether you're capturing landscapes, portraits, or scenery. It's versatile enough for most situations and is sure to satisfy casual photographers looking to document their daily lives.

The secondary lens is a 2 MP depth sensor. While it doesn't capture images on its own, it plays a crucial role in enhancing portrait shots by creating a bokeh effect - that pleasing background blur that makes your subject pop. Depth sensors measure the distance between the subject and the background, helping the camera to distinguish between what's in focus and what should be blurred out.

This depth information is used for creating more professional-looking portrait mode shots, where the subject remains crisp while the background is softly blurred, much like what you'd get with a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

In addition to the lenses themselves, the vivo Y300 Plus's camera software is equipped with features that help you get the best out of the dual-camera setup. PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) is a type of autofocus technology that allows the camera to focus on subjects much faster than traditional contrast-based autofocus. It does this by splitting the incoming light into two separate images and then adjusting the lens until those images align perfectly.

This results in quick and accurate focusing, which is especially useful when capturing moving subjects or when you need to take a quick snapshot without waiting for the camera to focus. It ensures that you're less likely to miss the moment because of focus-hunting delays.

In practice, this means that the vivo Y300 Plus can focus swiftly in a variety of scenarios, from chasing your pet around the yard to snapping a photo of a car speeding down the street.

The LED flash helps illuminate subjects in low-light or nighttime situations. While it's not as sophisticated as dual-tone or Xenon flashes found on some higher-end smartphones, it still provides enough brightness to make a difference when there's little ambient light.

It can be handy for night photography, close-up shots in dim environments, or when you just need a quick burst of light to capture a moment clearly. That said, relying on the flash too much can sometimes result in overly bright subjects with harsh shadows, so it's best used sparingly.

The panorama mode allows you to capture wide, sweeping landscapes by stitching together multiple shots into a single, elongated image. This is perfect for scenic outdoor photography, like mountain ranges, beach views, and cityscapes, where you want to capture the grandeur of the scene beyond what the typical frame allows.

It's easy to use - simply sweep the camera across the scene in a continuous motion, and the software does the rest, combining the images seamlessly into one cohesive photo.

And HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode is essential for balancing light and dark areas in your photos, ensuring that neither highlights nor shadows are lost. This feature is especially useful in high-contrast scenes, such as when you're shooting against a bright sky or in situations with tricky lighting conditions (e.g., indoors with sunlight streaming through a window).

By taking multiple exposures at different levels of brightness and merging them together, HDR ensures that details in both bright and dark areas are visible. So, if you're taking a photo of a building with a bright sky in the background, HDR will help preserve the details in both the sky and the structure, giving you a more balanced image.

In conclusion, with the vivo Y300 Plus, the camera setup is designed to appeal to casual photographers who want a straightforward but competent camera system. It doesn't pack a triple or quad-lens array like some flagship phones, but it provides all the essentials needed for snapping quality photos in a variety of settings.

The 50 MP primary camera delivers excellent results in well-lit conditions and can still perform decently in low-light situations thanks to the f/1.8 aperture. The 2 MP depth sensor is a great addition for portrait photography, adding a professional touch to your close-ups with the bokeh effect. However, it's not a camera for heavy-duty photographers who want telephoto lenses, optical zoom, or ultra-wide-angle capabilities.

For those seeking advanced camera features like 4K video recording or optical image stabilization, this setup might feel limited, but at its price point, the vivo Y300 Plus offers solid value with its dual-camera array.

Battery and Charging

(Related: Battery specs and charging types explained.)

Here are the relevant specs:

With a 5000 mAh battery, the Y300 Plus is built to last through a full day of usage without breaking a sweat. Whether you're streaming videos, gaming, or just browsing, the efficient 6-nm Snapdragon 695 chipset paired with this sizable battery means you won't be scrambling for a charger by midday.

When you do need to juice up, vivo's 44 W wired charging will quickly get you back up to speed. vivo also includes reverse wired charging, allowing the Y300 Plus to double as a power bank for other devices in a pinch - though it's not as fast as dedicated power banks.

Sound

(Related: Know more about the sound specs and features.)

Here are the relevant specs:

Connectivity

The vivo Y300 Plus doesn't compromise on connectivity and convenience. With support for dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, it ensures you can connect to common Wi-Fi networks.

The Y300 Plus boasts Bluetooth 5.1, ensuring a seamless connection, whether you're connecting to headphones, speakers, or other devices. With features like A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) for high-quality audio streaming and LE (Low Energy) for power efficiency, your Bluetooth experience reaches new heights.

Lost? Not with the positioning capabilities of the vivo Y300 Plus! It supports multiple global navigation satellite systems, including GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS, and NavIC. This means your device always knows where you are, no matter where you travel in the world. Whether you're navigating through bustling cities or remote wilderness, your device's positioning technology ensures you're always on the right path.

However, if NFC is on your must-have list, you might want to explore other options.

Last but not least, the trusty USB-C - the universal connector. Whether you're charging your device, transferring files, or connecting to external devices, USB Type-C ensures a reliable connection. It's the jack-of-all-trades, allowing you to expand your device's capabilities and stay connected to the wider world of technology. And the support for OTG (USB On-The-Go) enables your device to act as host and connect to other USB devices, such as flash drives, keyboards, cameras, and more, without needing a computer as an intermediary.

Sensors

The vivo Y300 Plus comes equipped with the following sensors:

• Proximity Sensor: Detects the presence or movement of an object (say, with infrared, sound, light, or electromagnetic fields) without physically contacting it. It is used, for example, to turn off the screen when you position your device close to your ear while making a call.
• Fingerprint Sensor: Used for quick and secure unlocking. It is the in-display, optical type in the Y300 Plus.
• Gyro: The gyroscope can detect when your device is being twisted or turned in any direction. It enhances the accuracy of apps and games that rely on precise motion, like augmented reality (AR) apps and racing games.
• Accelerometer: The accelerometer detects changes in the device's orientation and acceleration. If you tilt, shake, or move your device, the accelerometer knows.
• Compass: The compass determines your device's orientation. It is essential for navigation apps, map orientation, and augmented reality experiences.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is vivo Y300 Plus release date?

  The vivo Y300 Plus has been announced and released on the 16th October, 2024.