Since its inception 16 years ago, multiple flavours of Android smartphones have appeared in India. However, what stuck with value-conscious consumers the most were those that are reliable. Amidst all the brands, Vivo is the one which is sliding close to being synonymous with reliability. And with the launch of the Y31 series, it has moved one step closer to this ambitious goal.
At its core, this new series is all about offering a perfect balance between style, strength, and superior performance. To make it even more special, Vivo has sprinkled an additional hint of durability. The Y31 and Y31 Pro are MIL-STD-810H certified, essentially making them durable against silly accidental drops. Among these two products, the Y31 has an IP68 + IP69 rating for resistance against water and dust. While the Y31 Pro is not as rugged, it comes with an IP64 rating.
Under the hood, the Y31 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 processors, while the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 chipset manages the Y31 Pro’s internal operation. Both come with LPDDR4X RAM. That being said, the Y31 Pro pairs it with faster UFS 3.1 storage. On the flip side, the Y31 provides slower eMMC 5.1 storage. Within this series, the Y31 Pro is a better choice for those looking for a smartphone that matches the pace of their fast-paced lifestyle.
On the front, the Y31 rocks a 6.68-inch LCD with a Full-HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. In this regard, the Y31 Pro offers nearly identical display specifications to the Y31, with the sole exception being the screen size. Its screen is slightly bigger, measuring 6.72 inches diagonally. Fortunately, these smartphones offer stereo speakers that support a 400% volume boost, providing clearer calls and louder music/multimedia playback.
Speaking of identical specifications, the Y31 series is equipped with a 50-megapixel main camera. What distinguishes them is their secondary camera. While the Y31 pairs it with a 0.08-megapixel sensor, the latter comes with a 2-megapixel bokeh camera. Both smartphones house an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the front.
On the software side, both smartphones come with the FunTouch OS 15 based on Android 15.
Regarding the battery, a 6,500mAh battery fuels the Y31 series. Additionally, both support 44W fast charging.
The standard Y31 starts at Rs 14,999 for the 4GB+128GB variant. On the contrary, the starting price of the Y31 Pro is Rs 17,999 for the 8GB+128GB variant.
Although the Y31 series appears to be an attractive overall package, its competitors from the same brand offer better value in some cases.
If someone is searching for a smartphone under Rs 15,000, the Vivo T4x outperforms the standard Y31 with its top-tier performance. It features a faster MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and UFS 3.1 storage.
For those considering options under Rs 20,000, choosing the Vivo T4R over the Y31 Pro is a sensible decision. The T4R features a quad-curved AMOLED display, is thinner and lighter, and includes a 32-megapixel front camera.
Additionally, it is almost impervious to water with its IP69 rating against water and dust. If these advantages are not enough, the smartphone appears more visually pleasing from all directions compared to the Y31 Pro.
Though I want to preface that the Y31 series does have an upper hand in a few key areas. While the standard Y31 offers better protection against water and dust compared to the T4x, the Y31 Pro provides faster storage than the T4R.
Ultimately, your choice hinges on whether you prize rock-solid durability or cutting-edge specs.
