The budget smartphone market is fiercely competitive, offering incredible value for your money. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the TCL 408 and the vivo Y16. Both promise affordability, but which one delivers the better overall experience?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The vivo Y16 edges out the TCL 408 thanks to its slightly more powerful chipset and potentially better software optimization. While both are budget options, the Y16 offers a marginally smoother experience, making it the preferred choice for most users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - T507A, T507U, T507U1, T507U2, T507J | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 13, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 - T507U, T507U1, T507U2 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/11.5 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/75 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28 - T507D1 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2023, January 05 | 2022, September 01 |
| Status | Available. Released 2023, March 31 | Available. Released 2022, September 01 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 164.7 x 75.4 x 9 mm (6.48 x 2.97 x 0.35 in) | 164 x 75.6 x 8.2 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190 g (6.70 oz) | 184 g (6.49 oz) |
| | - | Splashproof |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1612 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.6 inches, 104.6 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.51 inches, 102.3 cm2 (~82.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core (4x2.3 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Mediatek MT6762G Helio G25 (12 nm) | Mediatek MT6765 Helio P35 (12 nm) |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8320 | PowerVR GE8320 |
| OS | Android 12 | Android 12, Funtouch 12 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM | 32GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 50 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 0.7µm, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 13 MP, f/2.2, (wide), PDAF
2 MP (macro) |
| Features | LED flash | LED flash |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.0, 27mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | Yes |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.1, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (T507U only) | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | Virtual proximity sensing | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | Li-Po 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Gravity Grey, Midnight Blue | Drizzling Gold, Stellar Black |
| Models | T507D1, T507A, T507U, T507U1, T507U2, T507J | V2204, V2214 |
| Price | About 130 EUR | About 120 EUR |
TCL 408
- Potentially lower price
- Decent battery life
- Simple and easy to use
- Less powerful chipset
- Basic camera performance
- Slow charging
vivo Y16
- Slightly better performance
- Potentially better software optimization
- Good battery life
- May be slightly more expensive
- Basic camera performance
- Slow charging
Display Comparison
Both phones likely feature similar LCD displays, probably around 6.5 inches with HD+ resolution. Expect decent viewing angles but limited brightness and color accuracy. The vivo Y16 might have a slightly better panel due to vivo's generally good display tuning, but the difference will be minimal.
Camera Comparison
Camera specs are likely comparable, with both phones featuring a primary camera around 13MP and a depth sensor. Image quality will depend heavily on software processing. vivo often has a slight edge in image processing, potentially resulting in slightly better photos in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance will be average on both.
Performance
The vivo Y16's Helio P35 chipset holds a slight advantage over the TCL 408's Helio G25. The P35 generally offers better CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking and slightly better gaming capabilities. Both will struggle with demanding games, but the Y16 will handle everyday tasks more efficiently.
Battery Life
Both phones are expected to have a battery capacity around 5000mAh, providing all-day battery life for moderate users. Charging speeds are limited to 10W wired charging on both, meaning a full charge will take around 2-3 hours.
Buying Guide
The TCL 408 is a good option for users prioritizing a very basic smartphone experience and potentially a slightly lower price point. The vivo Y16 is ideal for those seeking a bit more performance and a potentially more polished software experience without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The vivo Y16 is slightly better for gaming due to its more powerful chipset, although neither phone is designed for demanding games.
❓ Do these phones have 5G connectivity?
No, both the TCL 408 and vivo Y16 are 4G LTE devices.
❓ What is the storage capacity of these phones?
Both phones typically come with 64GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card.
