The Realme Note 50 and vivo Y17s represent the fiercely competitive sub-$150 smartphone market. Both aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price, but they take different approaches to achieving this. The key differentiator lies in their chipsets and charging capabilities, impacting performance and user experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the vivo Y17s is the better choice. While both phones utilize 12nm process nodes, the Helio G85 offers a slight CPU clock speed advantage and, crucially, 15W charging with reverse wired charging, providing more flexibility than the Realme Note 50’s 10W charging.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, January 23 | 2023, September 18 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, January 23 | Available. Released 2023, October 02 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 167.2 x 76.7 x 8 mm (6.58 x 3.02 x 0.31 in) | 163.7 x 75.4 x 8.1 mm (6.44 x 2.97 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186 g (6.56 oz) | 186 g (6.56 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~260 ppi density) | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~269 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.74 inches, 109.7 cm2 (~85.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.56 inches, 103.4 cm2 (~83.8% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 90Hz, 560 nits (peak) | IPS LCD, 700 nits (peak) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) | Octa-core (2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6769 Helio G85 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-G57 | Mali-G52 MC2 |
| OS | Android 13, Realme UI T | Android 13, Funtouch 13 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.2, 25mm (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens | - |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | Unspecified | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 15W wired
Reverse wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Sky Blue, Midnight Black | Glitter Purple, Forest Green |
| Models | RMX3834 | - |
| Price | € 95.83 | - |
Realme Note 50
- Potentially lower price point
- Reliable for basic smartphone tasks
- Simple and straightforward user experience
- Slower processor compared to the vivo Y17s
- Slower 10W charging
- Lacks reverse wired charging
vivo Y17s
- Slightly faster processor (Helio G85)
- Faster 15W charging
- Reverse wired charging capability
- May be slightly more expensive than the Realme Note 50
- Similar camera performance to the Realme Note 50
- Potential for thermal throttling under heavy load
Display Comparison
Neither Realme nor vivo provide display specifications beyond the basic panel type. Given the price bracket, expect 720p+ LCD panels on both devices. The absence of details like peak brightness or color gamut coverage suggests a focus on cost reduction. Bezels are likely to be substantial on both, impacting the overall immersive experience. Color accuracy will likely be standard for this segment.
Camera Comparison
Camera performance is likely to be similar, relying heavily on software processing. Both phones likely feature a primary camera alongside depth and macro sensors (details not provided). The absence of Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) on either device suggests image stabilization will be digital, potentially resulting in softer images in low light. The 2MP macro cameras common in this segment offer limited utility due to their low resolution and fixed focus.
Performance
The vivo Y17s holds a slight edge in performance thanks to its MediaTek Helio G85. While both chipsets feature an octa-core configuration with 2x Cortex-A75 and 6x Cortex-A55 cores, the G85 boasts a 2.0 GHz clock speed on the A75 cores compared to the Note 50’s 1.8 GHz. This translates to marginally faster application loading and smoother multitasking. Both utilize a 12nm process, meaning thermal throttling under sustained load is a possibility, but the G85’s architecture is optimized for gaming. RAM speed is not specified, but likely LPDDR4X in both cases.
Battery Life
Battery capacity is not specified for either device, but both likely house around a 5000mAh cell, typical for this price range. However, the vivo Y17s significantly benefits from 15W wired charging, reducing charging times compared to the Realme Note 50’s slower 10W charging. The inclusion of reverse wired charging on the Y17s is a notable advantage, allowing it to function as a power bank for accessories like earbuds or smartwatches.
Buying Guide
Buy the Realme Note 50 if your primary need is a basic, reliable smartphone for everyday tasks like calling, texting, and light social media use, and you prioritize a potentially lower price point. Buy the vivo Y17s if you value slightly better performance for casual gaming, faster charging speeds, and the added convenience of reverse wired charging to top up accessories.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Helio G85 in the vivo Y17s handle demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
The Helio G85 is capable of running PUBG Mobile, but expect to play at medium settings to maintain a stable frame rate. The chipset's gaming optimizations provide a slight advantage over the Unisoc Tiger T612, but sustained gaming will likely lead to some thermal throttling.
❓ How long does it take to fully charge the vivo Y17s with the 15W charger?
While a precise 0-100% time isn't available, the 15W charging on the vivo Y17s will likely take around 2.5 to 3 hours for a full charge, significantly faster than the Realme Note 50's 10W charging which could take upwards of 4 hours.
❓ What is reverse wired charging and how useful is it on the vivo Y17s?
Reverse wired charging allows the vivo Y17s to act as a power bank for other devices. It's useful for topping up accessories like wireless earbuds, smartwatches, or even another phone in an emergency, though charging speeds will be slow.
