The mid-range smartphone market of 2015 was fiercely competitive, with the vivo Y37 and Lenovo K3 Note representing strong contenders. Both devices aimed to deliver a balanced experience, but differed significantly in their core hardware. This comparison dissects those differences, focusing on the chipset, performance, and battery life to determine which phone holds up better today.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user seeking a functional, albeit aging, smartphone, the Lenovo K3 Note edges out the vivo Y37. Its slightly faster CPU clock speed (1.7 GHz vs 1.4 GHz) and identical battery endurance rating offer a marginal performance advantage, making it a better choice for basic tasks and light multitasking.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 | 1, 3, 7, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, TD-SCDMA, LTE, TD-LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | - | HSDPA 2100 - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, August. Released 2015, August | 2015, March. Released 2015, March |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 154 x 77 x 6.8 mm (6.06 x 3.03 x 0.27 in) | 152.6 x 76.2 x 8 mm (6.01 x 3.00 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) | Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 165 g (5.82 oz) | 150 g (5.29 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Asahi Dragontrail Glass |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~401 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~70.3% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~71.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.4 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Mediatek MT6752 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Mali-T760MP2 |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop), Funtouch 2.1 | Android 5.2 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6 (Marshmallow) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDHC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 16GB 2GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, AF | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 5 MP, f/2.4 |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR | 4.1, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | Yes | - |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | Up to 50 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 410 h (2G) / Up to 410 h (3G) | Up to 750 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 14 h (2G) / Up to 12 h (3G) | Up to 36 h (3G) |
| Type | 2720 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | White | Onyx Black, Pearl White, Laser Yellow |
| Models | - | K50a40, K50-t5, K50-t3s |
| Price | - | About 150 EUR |
| SAR EU | 0.34 W/kg (head) 0.97 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 53h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1793:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 65dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 76dB
|
| Performance | - |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 984Basemark X: 5656 |
vivo Y37 (2015)
- Qualcomm chipset potentially offers better modem performance.
- Historically, Qualcomm chipsets have better software support.
- Balanced octa-core CPU configuration.
- Slightly slower CPU clock speed compared to the K3 Note.
- Limited information available on camera capabilities.
Lenovo K3 Note
- Faster CPU clock speed (1.7 GHz) for improved responsiveness.
- Identical battery endurance rating to the vivo Y37.
- Competitive performance for its price point in 2015.
- Mediatek chipset may have less consistent software updates.
- Potential for increased thermal throttling under heavy load.
Display Comparison
Both the vivo Y37 and Lenovo K3 Note share a nominal contrast ratio of 1793:1, suggesting similar visual pop and black levels. However, detailed display specifications like brightness (nits) and color gamut coverage are unavailable. Given the era, both likely utilized IPS LCD panels, prioritizing viewing angles over the OLED technology emerging at the time. The lack of information prevents a definitive judgment on display quality, but the shared contrast ratio indicates a comparable viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed with basic 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details on sensor size, aperture, or image stabilization. In 2015, megapixel count was often prioritized over sensor quality, so a direct comparison is difficult without further information. It’s reasonable to assume both phones offered acceptable image quality in good lighting conditions, but struggled in low-light scenarios. The absence of details suggests neither phone was a standout performer in the camera department.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the vivo Y37 utilizes the Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615, while the Lenovo K3 Note features the Mediatek MT6752. Both are octa-core processors built on a 28nm process, but the MT6752 boasts a higher clock speed of 1.7 GHz compared to the Snapdragon 615’s 1.4 GHz and 1.0 GHz split core configuration. This translates to a potential performance edge for the K3 Note in CPU-intensive tasks. However, the Snapdragon 615’s Adreno 405 GPU is a known quantity, offering decent graphics performance for the time, while the Mali-T720 MP3 in the K3 Note is comparable. Thermal management is a key consideration; both 28nm chips were prone to throttling under sustained load, but the K3 Note’s higher clock speed might exacerbate this issue.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both the vivo Y37 and Lenovo K3 Note share an endurance rating of 53 hours. This suggests similar battery life despite potentially different battery capacities (which are not specified). The efficiency of the chipset and software optimization likely played a significant role in achieving this comparable endurance. Without knowing the actual mAh capacity, it’s difficult to assess which phone offers superior battery performance, but the identical rating indicates a similar real-world experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y37 (2015) if you prioritize Qualcomm’s historically better modem performance and potential for wider carrier compatibility. Buy the Lenovo K3 Note if you prefer a slightly more powerful CPU for everyday tasks and are comfortable with Mediatek’s chipset ecosystem. Both represent budget options for users needing a secondary device or a simple smartphone experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Mediatek MT6752 in the Lenovo K3 Note known to overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
The Mediatek MT6752, being a 28nm chip, was susceptible to thermal throttling under sustained load. While it offered good performance for its time, extended gaming sessions could lead to reduced clock speeds and noticeable performance drops. The Lenovo K3 Note’s thermal design likely mitigated this to some extent, but it remains a potential concern.
❓ Does the Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 in the vivo Y37 offer better cellular connectivity compared to the MT6752?
Qualcomm historically held an advantage in modem technology. The Snapdragon 615 likely provided more reliable cellular connectivity and wider carrier compatibility compared to the Mediatek MT6752, particularly in regions with complex network configurations. This was a key benefit for users prioritizing consistent call quality and data speeds.
❓ Given their age, can either of these phones be reliably updated to modern Android versions?
No. Both the vivo Y37 and Lenovo K3 Note launched with older versions of Android (likely KitKat or Lollipop). Official software support from both manufacturers has long ceased. While custom ROMs might be available, they are often unstable and lack full functionality.
