The mid-range smartphone market is fiercely competitive, and the vivo Y55 and Realme 9 Pro+ represent compelling options for budget-conscious buyers. While both phones aim for a sweet spot of features and affordability, they take distinctly different approaches to achieving it. The Y55 prioritizes efficiency with a Snapdragon 680, while the 9 Pro+ aims for raw power with a MediaTek Dimensity 920. This comparison dives deep into the specifics to determine which device best suits your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and faster charging, the Realme 9 Pro+ is the clear winner. Its Dimensity 920 chipset offers a significant performance uplift over the Snapdragon 680 in the vivo Y55, and the 60W charging drastically reduces downtime. However, the Y55 remains a viable option for those seeking a more power-efficient device for basic tasks.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 8, 40 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE-A, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 1, 28, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA - India |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2022, July 02 | 2022, February 16 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, July 02 | Available. Released 2022, February 21 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back |
| Dimensions | 160.8 x 73.8 x 8.4 mm (6.33 x 2.91 x 0.33 in) | 160.2 x 73.3 x 8 mm (6.31 x 2.89 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 182 g (6.42 oz) | 182 g (6.42 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Schott Xensation glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~409 ppi density) | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~411 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.44 inches, 100.1 cm2 (~84.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 98.9 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 90Hz, 430 nits (typ), 600 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Kryo 265 Gold & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo 265 Silver) | Octa-core (2x2.5 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM6225 Snapdragon 680 4G (6 nm) | Mediatek Dimensity 920 (6 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 610 | Mali-G68 MC4 |
| OS | Android 12, Funtouch 12 | Android 12, upgradable to Android 13, Realme UI 4.0 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.2 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | - | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Triple | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro)
Auxiliary lens | 50 MP, f/1.8, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, 119˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
2 MP, f/2.4, (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120/480fps, 720p@960fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) | 16 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide), 1/3.09", 1.0µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | - | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | - |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD |
| NFC | No | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| 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 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 44W wired, 50% in 27 min | 60W wired, PD3.0, 100% in 44 min (advertised) |
| Type | 5000 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Midnight Galaxy, Ice Dawn | Midnight Black, Aurora Green, Sunrise Blue, Free Fire Limited Edition |
| Models | - | RMX3392, RMX3393 |
| Price | About 250 EUR | € 289.90 / $ 390.00 / ₹ 25,999 |
| SAR | - | 1.19 W/kg (head) 0.73 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 117h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-25.3 LUFS (Very good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 495096 (v8), 416031 (v9)
GeekBench: 2335 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 27fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo Y55
- Potentially better battery efficiency due to the Snapdragon 680.
- More affordable price point (likely).
- Reliable performance for basic tasks.
- Significantly weaker performance compared to the Dimensity 920.
- Slower charging speeds.
- Likely a less advanced display.
Realme 9 Pro+
- Superior performance with the Dimensity 920 chipset.
- Faster 60W charging with PD3.0.
- Likely a more advanced display and camera system.
- Potentially lower battery efficiency.
- Higher price point.
- May experience more thermal throttling under sustained load.
Display Comparison
The provided data lacks detailed display specifications for the vivo Y55. However, given its market positioning, it likely features a standard LCD panel. The Realme 9 Pro+, while lacking specifics like peak brightness, boasts an 'Infinite' contrast ratio, suggesting a well-optimized panel. The absence of LTPO technology on either device indicates neither offers adaptive refresh rate capabilities, potentially impacting battery life during dynamic content viewing. The Realme 9 Pro+ likely benefits from a more vibrant and visually appealing display due to its higher-tier chipset enabling better image processing.
Camera Comparison
Detailed camera specs are limited. The Realme 9 Pro+ likely features a more sophisticated camera system, benefiting from the image signal processor (ISP) within the Dimensity 920. While both phones likely include standard features like HDR and scene detection, the Realme 9 Pro+’s ISP will offer superior image processing capabilities, resulting in better dynamic range and detail. The absence of information regarding sensor sizes makes a direct comparison difficult, but the Realme 9 Pro+’s positioning suggests a larger, higher-resolution main sensor. We can assume both phones will include a standard set of lenses, but the Realme 9 Pro+ is expected to deliver superior image quality overall.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Realme 9 Pro+'s MediaTek Dimensity 920 (6nm) utilizes a more modern architecture with 2x Cortex-A78 performance cores clocked at 2.5 GHz, designed for demanding tasks. This contrasts with the vivo Y55’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 (6nm), which employs 4x Kryo 265 Gold cores at 2.4 GHz. While both are 6nm chips, the Dimensity 920’s core design and higher clock speeds translate to significantly better CPU and GPU performance. The Realme 9 Pro+ is better equipped for gaming and resource-intensive applications. The Y55 will handle everyday tasks adequately, but will struggle with more demanding workloads. RAM speed is not specified for either device, but the Realme 9 Pro+ is likely to benefit from faster LPDDR5 RAM, further enhancing performance.
Battery Life
The Realme 9 Pro+’s 60W wired charging with PD3.0 support is a significant advantage, promising a full charge in a claimed 44 minutes. The vivo Y55’s 44W charging, while respectable, is noticeably slower. While battery capacity isn’t specified for either device, the Realme 9 Pro+’s endurance rating of 117 hours suggests a well-optimized power management system. The faster charging of the Realme 9 Pro+ mitigates any potential disadvantage from a slightly smaller battery capacity, offering more convenient top-ups throughout the day.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo Y55 if you need a reliable daily driver for essential tasks like calling, texting, social media, and light web browsing, and value long battery life over peak performance. You'll appreciate its efficient Snapdragon 680 chipset and reasonable price point. Buy the Realme 9 Pro+ if you prioritize gaming, multitasking, and faster charging speeds. The Dimensity 920 provides a noticeable performance boost, making it ideal for demanding applications and a smoother overall experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Dimensity 920 in the Realme 9 Pro+ get hot during extended gaming sessions?
While the Dimensity 920 is a powerful chip, it can generate heat under sustained load. Realme likely incorporates thermal management solutions, but some throttling is possible during prolonged gaming. However, the performance uplift is significant enough to outweigh minor throttling for most users.
❓ Is the 44W charging on the vivo Y55 slow compared to other phones in this price range?
Yes, 44W charging is becoming less common as 60W and even 80W charging are increasingly prevalent in the mid-range segment. While not exceptionally slow, it will take considerably longer to fully charge the vivo Y55 compared to the Realme 9 Pro+.
❓ How does the Snapdragon 680 handle multitasking compared to the Dimensity 920?
The Snapdragon 680 is capable of handling basic multitasking, but the Dimensity 920 excels in this area. The 920's more powerful cores and potentially faster RAM allow for smoother switching between apps and handling more demanding background processes.
❓ Will the vivo Y55 receive software updates for an extended period?
Vivo typically provides a reasonable level of software support for its devices, but it's generally less extensive than what Realme offers. Expect a few major Android updates and regular security patches, but the Y55 may not receive updates for as long as the Realme 9 Pro+.
