The sub-$200 smartphone market is fiercely competitive. Both the vivo Y51 (2020) and the Huawei P smart 2021 aim to deliver essential features at an accessible price. However, they take different approaches – the vivo leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 665, while the Huawei opts for its in-house Kirin 710A. This comparison dissects their key differences to determine which device offers the best value.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Huawei P smart 2021 emerges as the slightly better choice. Its 22.5W fast charging, achieving 46% charge in just 30 minutes, and comparable battery endurance outweigh the Snapdragon 665’s theoretical efficiency advantage in the vivo Y51. The display also offers a slightly better experience.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40 | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41 |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 15. Released 2020, September 19 | 2020, September 28. Released 2020, September 28 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 159.3 x 75.2 x 8.7 mm (6.27 x 2.96 x 0.34 in) | 165.7 x 76.9 x 9.3 mm (6.52 x 3.03 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 186.7 g (6.60 oz) | 206 g (7.27 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~404 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.38 inches, 99.9 cm2 (~83.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~84.3% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Silver) | Octa-core (4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A73 & 4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM665 Snapdragon 665 (11 nm) | Kirin 710A (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G51 MP4 |
| OS | Android 10, Funtouch 10 | Android 10, EMUI 10.1, no Google Play Services |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 128GB 4GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 48 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
8 MP, f/2.4, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30/60fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide), 1/3.06" 1.0µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.1, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | No | No |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, built-in antenna |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired | 22.5W wired, 46% in 30 min |
| Type | 4500 mAh | Li-Po 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Mystic Black, Jazzy Blue, Dreamy White | Crush Green, Blush Gold, Midnight Black |
| Models | - | PPA-LX1, PPA-LX2 |
| Price | About 180 EUR | About 230 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1252:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-28.8 LUFS (Average) |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 169253 (v8)
GeekBench: 1334 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 7fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo Y51 (2020, September)
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset offers good efficiency.
- Potentially wider availability of Google Mobile Services.
- Reliable brand reputation for software updates (regional variations apply).
- Slower 18W charging.
- Likely a less bright display compared to the Huawei.
- Older chipset architecture compared to the Kirin 710A.
Huawei P smart 2021
- Faster 22.5W fast charging (46% in 30 minutes).
- Slightly brighter display (442 nits).
- Proven 119-hour endurance rating.
- Kirin 710A chipset may have limited software support.
- Reliance on Huawei’s AppGallery ecosystem.
- 14nm process is less efficient than the Snapdragon's 11nm.
Display Comparison
The Huawei P smart 2021 boasts a measured peak brightness of 442 nits, a noticeable advantage over what’s likely a standard IPS panel on the vivo Y51. Both displays share a 1252:1 contrast ratio, suggesting similar black levels. While neither phone will challenge flagship displays, the Huawei’s higher brightness improves outdoor visibility. The lack of refresh rate information for both suggests standard 60Hz panels, limiting smoothness compared to higher refresh rate alternatives.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, lacking specific details. Given the price point, expect modest camera performance. Sensor size and aperture are critical, but absent from the data. The vivo Y51’s camera system is likely optimized for social media sharing, while Huawei’s image processing typically emphasizes vibrant colors. Without detailed specifications, it’s difficult to declare a clear winner; however, Huawei’s history suggests a more refined camera experience, even with similar hardware.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 (11nm) in the vivo Y51 utilizes Kryo 260 cores, offering a balance of performance and efficiency. However, the Huawei P smart 2021’s Kirin 710A (14nm) employs Cortex-A73 cores, which, despite the larger manufacturing process, can deliver comparable, and in some cases, superior performance in multi-threaded tasks. The Kirin 710A’s architecture is older, but its core design is more powerful. Real-world performance will likely be similar for everyday tasks, but the Kirin 710A might show a slight edge in demanding applications. Both phones likely feature similar RAM configurations, further minimizing the performance gap.
Battery Life
Both phones achieve an impressive endurance rating of 119 hours, indicating similar battery life under typical usage. However, the Huawei P smart 2021’s 22.5W fast charging significantly outperforms the vivo Y51’s 18W charging. The Huawei can reach 46% charge in just 30 minutes, a substantial convenience advantage. While both offer all-day battery life, the Huawei’s faster charging mitigates range anxiety and allows for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y51 (2020, September) if you prioritize a Qualcomm chipset and a potentially wider availability of Google Mobile Services (depending on region). Buy the Huawei P smart 2021 if you value faster charging speeds, a slightly brighter display, and a proven endurance rating, even if it means relying on Huawei’s AppGallery ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Huawei P smart 2021’s Kirin 710A chipset suffer from significant thermal throttling during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 710A isn’t a gaming powerhouse, its thermal performance is generally adequate for casual gaming. The 14nm process isn’t as efficient as the Snapdragon 665’s 11nm, but Huawei’s software optimizations likely mitigate throttling to a reasonable extent. Expect playable frame rates in less demanding titles, but demanding games may require reduced graphics settings.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei P smart 2021 impact the user experience?
The Huawei P smart 2021 relies on Huawei’s AppGallery and HMS (Huawei Mobile Services) instead of GMS. While AppGallery is growing, it lacks the breadth of apps available on the Google Play Store. Users can sideload apps, but this requires technical knowledge and may pose security risks. Huawei is actively working to expand AppGallery, but GMS compatibility remains a significant consideration.
❓ Is the 18W charging on the vivo Y51 (2020) sufficient for typical daily use?
While 18W charging isn't slow, it's noticeably slower than the 22.5W charging on the Huawei P smart 2021. It will still charge the phone overnight, but users who frequently need quick top-ups will find the Huawei's charging speed more convenient. The vivo Y51's battery life is comparable, but the charging speed is a clear disadvantage.
