The Vivo Y52 is a mid-range smartphone that strikes a balance between affordability and functionality. As part of Vivo's expansive Y-series lineup, this device aims to deliver reliable performance for everyday users without breaking the bank. Having spent considerable time with this phone, I've formed some strong opinions about where it excels and where compromises had to be made.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Vivo Y52 presents itself as a modern smartphone with a sleek profile. The plastic back has a glossy finish that mimics glass surprisingly well, though it does attract fingerprints. What impressed me most was how lightweight the device feels in hand at just 185 grams, making it comfortable for prolonged use. The power button doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and I found this placement more intuitive than rear-mounted sensors.

The 6.58-inch display dominates the front with relatively slim bezels, though there's a noticeable waterdrop notch housing the front camera. While the build is entirely plastic, the construction feels solid without any concerning creaks or flexing. The phone comes in two attractive color options: Graphite Black and Ocean Blue, with the latter showing an interesting gradient effect under light.

Display Performance

Vivo equipped the Y52 with a 6.58-inch IPS LCD panel featuring Full HD+ resolution (2408 × 1080 pixels). The screen-to-body ratio sits at about 90.6%, which makes for an immersive viewing experience considering the price point. Brightness levels are adequate for indoor use, though outdoor visibility suffers slightly under direct sunlight.

Color reproduction is decent for an LCD panel, with acceptable accuracy in the default color mode. What surprised me was the 90Hz refresh rate - not something I expected at this price range. While it's not as smooth as flagship 120Hz displays, the difference from standard 60Hz panels is noticeable during scrolling and light gaming. The touch sampling rate could be better though, as I occasionally noticed slight lag during fast-paced gaming sessions.

Hardware and Performance

Powering the Vivo Y52 is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 665 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM (4GB physical + 4GB virtual). This combination delivers competent performance for daily tasks like social media browsing, video streaming, and light productivity work. The phone handles multitasking reasonably well, though heavy apps will cause some reloading when switching between numerous applications.

Gaming performance is where limitations become apparent. While casual games like Candy Crush or Among Us run flawlessly, more demanding titles like Genshin Impact require significant graphic compromises to maintain playable frame rates. Thermal management is decent, with the phone only getting noticeably warm during prolonged gaming sessions.

Storage options include 128GB of internal space, expandable via microSD card - a welcome feature for media hoarders. The inclusion of a dedicated memory card slot means you don't have to sacrifice dual SIM functionality for extra storage.

Camera Capabilities

The quad-camera setup on the Vivo Y52 consists of a 48MP main sensor, 8MP ultra-wide, and two 2MP sensors for macro and depth. Daylight photography produces decent results with adequate dynamic range, though images tend to lose detail when pixel-peeping. The color science leans toward vibrant tones, which makes photos pop but isn't always accurate to reality.

Low-light performance is predictably mediocre, with noticeable noise creeping in as light diminishes. The night mode helps somewhat but can't compensate for the smaller sensor size. The 8MP ultra-wide is serviceable for group shots or landscapes, though corner softness and distortion are evident. Video recording maxes out at 1080p 30fps from all cameras, with electronic stabilization that works reasonably well for steady walking shots.

Battery Life and Charging

With a 5000mAh battery, the Vivo Y52 easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy use. My typical usage pattern involving 4-5 hours of screen-on time with mixed WiFi and 4G usage consistently left me with 30-40% by bedtime. Less demanding users might even stretch this to two days between charges.

Charging speeds are where Vivo made noticeable compromises. The included 18W charger takes nearly 2 hours to fully replenish the large battery. In an era where even budget phones offer faster charging solutions, this feels like a missed opportunity. There's no wireless charging support, which is expected at this price point.

Software Experience

The phone runs Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 11 (upgradeable to Android 12). Vivo's skin remains one of the heavier Android overlays, with numerous duplicate apps and a distinct visual style that may not appeal to stock Android purists. That said, the software is feature-rich with useful additions like system-wide dark mode, gaming modes, and extensive customization options.

One legitimate concern is the update policy. Vivo has improved in this regard but still lags behind competitors in terms of major OS update commitments. Bloatware is present but not excessively intrusive, with most pre-installed apps being removable.

Audio and Connectivity

The single bottom-firing speaker gets reasonably loud but lacks bass and can sound tinny at higher volumes. There's a 3.5mm headphone jack - a disappearing feature that budget-conscious consumers will appreciate. Call quality is good with clear voice transmission and reception.

Connectivity options include dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, and all the standard sensors. The phone supports 4G LTE but lacks 5G capability, which might concern future-proofing buyers. GPS performance is accurate enough for navigation, though it can be slow to get an initial lock in dense urban areas.

Vivo Y52 Full Specifications:

Dimensions: 163.95 × 75.3 × 8.4mm

Weight: 185g

Display: 6.58-inch IPS LCD, 2408 × 1080 resolution, 90Hz refresh rate

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665

RAM: 8GB (4GB physical + 4GB virtual)

Storage: 128GB, expandable via microSD

Rear Cameras: 48MP main (f/1.8), 8MP ultra-wide (f/2.2), 2MP macro (f/2.4), 2MP depth (f/2.4)

Front Camera: 16MP (f/2.0)

Battery: 5000mAh, 18W fast charging

OS: Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 11

Connectivity: 4G LTE, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS

Other Features: Side-mounted fingerprint sensor, 3.5mm headphone jack, dual SIM

Final Verdict

The Vivo Y52 presents a compelling package for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing battery life and display quality over cutting-edge performance. While it won't win any speed tests against more expensive devices, it handles everyday tasks competently. The 90Hz display and massive battery are clear highlights, while the mediocre low-light camera performance and slow charging are notable drawbacks.

This phone makes the most sense for users who value screen real estate and longevity over camera prowess or gaming performance. It's particularly well-suited for students or as a secondary device. At its current price point, the Vivo Y52 competes well against similar offerings from Realme and Redmi, though brand preference might ultimately sway the decision for many buyers.