vivo Y21T Philippines Price, Quick Review, Unboxing and Actual Unit Photos

International tech brand vivo recently released a new Android smartphone in the Philippines that doesn't only come with an affordable price tag but also a stellar set of features that are useful for school, work, and play.

With an official suggested retail price of PHP 10,999, the all-new vivo Y21T is a great option for budget-conscious mobile consumers who feel that their entry-level handset is already due for an upgrade or for young ones who will be getting their first smartphone.

If you're currently on the lookout for a fairly affordable new handset that you can use for playing games, reading modules, making zoom calls, snapping photos, or shooting videos, you might want to check this one out.

Box and Contents

Before I show you the actual unit photos and talk about the key features of this handset, let me share these unboxing shots.

vivo Y21T ships in this plain white box with the brand logo and the name of the model printed on the cover. At the bottom, there's a list of the key selling points of the product.

The official retail package includes the unit itself, the Quick Start Guide, Product Technical Specifications Sheet, the Warranty Card, the Travel Charger, USB Type C charging cable, metal pin for ejecting the SIM card tray, and even a free Silicone Case -- so you won't have to purchase one separately.

Design and Ergonomics

Like many handsets in its price echelon, vivo Y21T features an eye-catching exterior crafted from polycarbonate. There are two attractive color options, namely, Midnight Blue and Pearl White, which I have here.

The midframe of the device has a metallic sheen that gives it an air of elegance. The sides are flat, which I particularly like because it makes the body easier to hold.

On the right side, you will find the volume rocker and power button with an integrated fingerprint scanner. There's nothing on the left side.

I particularly like the side-mounted fingerprint scanner since it allows for a singular button press for unlocking the device and turning on the screen simultaneously.

The SIM card that can ejected using the provided pin is located on top of the handset while the 3.5mm audio jack, the microphone pinhole, USB Type C port, and the loudspeaker are all at the bottom.

Both the Midnight Blue and Pearl White models have a luxurious high-gloss backplate with an iridescent finish that gleams with dazzling hues depending on how light hits it.

For a smartphone that's priced at only PHP 10,999, vivo Y21T has the look and feel of a more expensive model, which is something that aspirational consumers will surely like.

Display

vivo Y21T features a 6.51-inch HD+ 720 x 1600 pixels IPS LCD screen that delivers vibrant colors and details with more than acceptable clarity. For most tasks related to online learning or even for work-from-home arrangements, this screen should be a joy to use.

Although I wish that this display panel had a FullHD+ resolution, I take solace in the fact that it at least comes with 90Hz refresh rate that makes screen transitions and animations look more fluid.

Imaging Capabilities

Housed in the camera module located in the upper left section of the backplate, vivo Y21T's Triple Rear Camera Set-up is made up of a 50 MegaPixel f/1.8 main camera that's good and reliable for daily use in various shooting scenarios, a 2MP f/2.4 Macro shooter for taking close-up photos of very small objects or minute details on larger subjects, and finally, a 2MP Depth Sensor enabling Portrait Mode.

In front, housed in a notch near the top of the screen, there's an 8 MegaPixel f/1.8 selfie camera that 

(Stay tuned for a separate TechPinas article or video showing sample still images taken using the three cameras of vivo Y21T.)

As for video recording, vivo Y21T can shoot HD 720p and FullHD 1080p 30fps clips using the main camera at the back as well as the front-facing camera.

I wish that this smartphone can also shoot 4K videos but I guess FullHD is good enough for most consumers in this price bracket who mostly shoot TikTok videos or short vlogs for both Youtube and Facebook.

Internal Hardware

vivo Y21T runs its FunTouch UI customized Android 12 operating system with a 2.4GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor with an integrated Adreno 610 GPU that delivers fairly smooth overall mobile experience and responsiveness.

The chipset is complemented by 4GB of RAM and a sizable 128GB of internal storage that can also be easily expanded using the dedicated microSD card slot.

What's particularly unique about the vivo Y21T in terms of internal hardware is its Extended RAM feature that borrows up to 1GB from the phone internal storage to boost RAM performance, which is particularly handy when running multiple apps and games concurrently.

Gaming Performance

Did you know that the T in vivo Y21T means "Turbo"? Yes, it's true -- and this reflects the fact that this model was crafted with young mobile gamers in mind.

vivo Y21T's Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor and Adreno 610 GPU combined with Multi Turbo 5.0 software boost allow this affordable smartphone to deliver lag-free gaming experience even with high frame rate, usually experienced on more expensive models.

As many of you know, I love playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and I've definitely tried running it on vivo Y21T. I found the gaming experience on this device somewhat comparable to that of my Android smartphones in the PHP 15,000 to PHP 20,000 price echelon. No annoying lags or screen stuttering.

Battery

vivo Y21T is powered by a high-capacity 5,000 mAh Li-Po battery that can easily deliver a whole day of uptime even for heavy gamers and power users. For consumers who will just use the handset for checking social media and messaging apps from time to time, I believe this pack can even deliver up to 2  to 3 days of uptime coming from a full charge.

I think that the energy-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 processor and the lower resolution HD+ display also help in extending the smartphone's battery life.

Initial Verdict

vivo Y21T is a strong and attractive offer in its price category despite having a couple of points for improvement. It's a fairly well-rounded handset that should meet the demands of different types of consumers -- but I particularly recommend it for mobile gamers whose budget is a bit tight for a new gaming smartphone but don't want to compromise on performance.

vivo Y21T Specs

164.3 x 76.1 x 8 mm

182 grams

6.51 inches, HD+, 720 x 1600 pixels, 270 ppi, 20:9 Aspect Ratio, IPS LCD

90Hz Refresh Rate

Waterdrop Notch

Triple Rear Camera Module:

50 MegaPixels, f/1.8 Aperture, Phase Detection AutoFocus (PDAF)

2 MP, f/2.4, Macro

2 MP, f/2.4, Depth Sensor

Front-Facing Camera:

8 MegaPixels, f/1.8

Front and Back Video Recorders: FullHD 1080p, HD 720p 30fps

Funtouch 12

Android 12

6nm 2.4GHz Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 4G

Adreno 610 GPU

4GB + 1GB Extended RAM

128GB Internal Storage

Dedicated microSD Card Slot

Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac

Bluetooth 5.0

4G LTE-A

Side-Mounted Fingerprint Scanner

FM Radio

3.5mm Audio Jack

USB Type-C 2.0

USB On-The-Go

18W Fast Charging

Non-Removable 5,000 mAh Li-Po Battery Pack

High-Gloss Polycarbonate Shell

Midnight Blue, Pearl White

vivo Y21T Price in the Philippines

Official SRP - PHP 10,999