The sub-$150 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. Both the vivo Y12i and the Realme C33 2023 aim to deliver essential smartphone functionality at an accessible price. However, they take different approaches to achieving this, primarily through their chipset choices. This comparison dissects those differences and determines which device offers the best overall experience.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and future-proofing, the Realme C33 2023 is the better choice. Its Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset, featuring Cortex-A75 cores, provides a noticeable performance uplift over the older Snapdragon 439 in the vivo Y12i, despite both phones sharing a 10W charging rate.
| 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, 8, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 8, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat6 300/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, July 10. Released 2020, July 10 | 2023, March 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 14 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back |
| Dimensions | 159.4 x 76.8 x 8.9 mm (6.28 x 3.02 x 0.35 in) | 164.2 x 75.7 x 8.3 mm (6.46 x 2.98 x 0.33 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 190.5 g (6.74 oz) | 187 g (6.60 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 720 x 1544 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~268 ppi density) | 720 x 1600 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~270 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.35 inches, 99.6 cm2 (~81.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 102.0 cm2 (~82.1% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.95 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.45 GHz Cortex A53) | Octa-core (2x1.8 GHz Cortex-A75 & 6x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM439 Snapdragon 439 (12 nm) | Unisoc Tiger T612 (12 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 505 | Mali-G57 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), Funtouch 9.1 | Android 12, Realme UI S |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, f/2.2, PDAF
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, (wide), PDAF
Auxiliary lens |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8 | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/1.8 | 5 MP, f/2.2, 27mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 720p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | Unspecified |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 10W wired | 10W wired |
| Type | 5000 mAh | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Agate Red, Mineral Blue | Sandy Gold, Aqua Blue, Night Sea |
| Models | - | RMX3627 |
| Price | About 110 EUR | About 110 EUR |
vivo Y12i
- Potentially more familiar brand reputation for some users.
- May offer a more conservative color profile preferred by some.
- Reliable basic functionality for core tasks.
- Older Snapdragon 439 chipset offers limited performance.
- Likely to struggle with multitasking and demanding apps.
- May receive less software support due to the older chipset.
Realme C33 2023
- More powerful Unisoc Tiger T612 chipset for smoother performance.
- Modern CPU architecture (Cortex-A75) for better responsiveness.
- Potentially better software support due to newer chipset.
- Unisoc chipsets may have less widespread brand recognition.
- Image processing may be overly aggressive for some tastes.
- 10W charging is slow compared to faster-charging competitors.
Display Comparison
Neither device boasts a standout display. Both likely utilize LCD panels, typical for this price bracket. Without specific brightness or color gamut data, it's difficult to declare a clear winner. However, Realme often optimizes its displays for vibrant colors, while vivo tends towards more natural tones. Bezels are expected to be substantial on both, impacting the overall screen-to-body ratio.
Camera Comparison
Both phones likely feature a primary camera alongside auxiliary lenses, but detailed sensor information is lacking. Given the price point, image quality will be heavily reliant on software processing. Without knowing the megapixel counts or aperture values, it’s difficult to assess camera performance. However, the Realme C33 2023’s image processing algorithms are generally more aggressive in enhancing photos, potentially resulting in more visually appealing images, even if lacking in fine detail. The 2MP macro lenses found on many phones in this segment are unlikely to provide significant value on either device.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme C33 2023’s Unisoc Tiger T612 utilizes a 12nm process and features two Cortex-A75 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz, paired with six Cortex-A55 cores. This configuration provides a significant advantage over the vivo Y12i’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 439, which uses older Cortex-A53 cores in an octa-core arrangement (4x1.95 GHz & 4x1.45 GHz). The A75 cores in the Realme offer substantially better single-core performance, translating to snappier app launches and smoother multitasking. While both are 12nm, the architectural improvements in the Unisoc chip are key. The Snapdragon 439 is showing its age, and will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
Both the vivo Y12i and Realme C33 2023 are equipped with 10W wired charging, indicating similar charging speeds – expect around 2.5 to 3 hours for a full charge. Without knowing the battery capacity of the Y12i, it's hard to make a definitive statement. However, the more efficient Unisoc T612 in the Realme C33 2023 may translate to slightly better battery life in real-world usage, even with a similar capacity battery, due to reduced power consumption during typical tasks.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y12i if you need a reliably basic smartphone for essential tasks like calls, texts, and light social media use, and prioritize a familiar brand. Buy the Realme C33 2023 if you prefer a more responsive experience for multitasking, occasional gaming, and appreciate a chipset with a more modern architecture that may receive longer software support.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will the Realme C33 2023 handle popular games like PUBG Mobile?
The Unisoc Tiger T612 in the Realme C33 2023 can run PUBG Mobile, but expect to play at lower graphics settings (balanced or low) to maintain a playable frame rate. The Snapdragon 439 in the vivo Y12i will struggle significantly with PUBG, even on the lowest settings.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the two phones?
The vivo Y12i likely runs Funtouch OS, known for its customization options but sometimes criticized for bloatware. The Realme C33 2023 runs Realme UI, which is generally considered cleaner and closer to stock Android, offering a smoother and more responsive experience. Both are based on Android.
❓ Is the 10W charging a major drawback on both devices?
Yes, 10W charging is relatively slow compared to the 18W or 33W charging found on some competing devices. Expect a full charge to take over 2.5 hours. However, given the battery capacities likely present in these phones, it's a trade-off to keep the price down.
