The Vivo Y37 Pro is a budget-friendly smartphone that aims to deliver a solid all-around experience without burning a hole in your pocket. Released in September 2024, this device offers a mix of modern features and robust performance, all wrapped up in a sleek, slim design. As someone who’s always on the lookout for a phone that balances price and functionality, I was eager to see how the Vivo Y37 Pro stacks up in terms of display, performance, battery life, and overall user experience. With features like a massive 6000mAh battery, a 120Hz display, and Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, it seems like a promising option on paper.
Let’s dive into the details and see how the Vivo Y37 Pro performs in real-world usage.
Design and Build Quality
The Vivo Y37 Pro strikes a balance between style and practicality with its minimalist design and sturdy build. At 199 grams and just 8mm thick, the phone is not too bulky, making it easy to hold and carry around.
The glass front gives it a premium feel, while the plastic frame and back add durability. While plastic may not sound as luxurious as glass, it keeps the weight manageable and contributes to the phone’s overall resilience. The IP64 rating for dust and water resistance is an added bonus, especially if you’re prone to the occasional splash or dust exposure in day-to-day use.
What I found interesting was the notification LED light on the back of the phone, a rare but handy feature that makes it easier to notice alerts at a glance.
The phone is available in three color options: Dark Gray, Green, and Apricot. I tested the Dark Gray model, which looks sleek and understated. Despite being a budget phone, the build quality doesn’t feel cheap, and Vivo has done a good job in crafting a device that looks more expensive than it actually is.
Display
The 6.68-inch IPS LCD display on the Vivo Y37 Pro is one of its main highlights. While the resolution sits at 720 x 1608 pixels, the inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate makes the display feel smooth and responsive. Even though the pixel density is relatively low at 264 ppi, the screen still manages to offer decent clarity for everyday tasks like browsing, texting, and watching videos. I wouldn’t say it’s the sharpest display out there, but for a budget-friendly device, it holds its own quite well.
One aspect I appreciated was the screen’s brightness, which can peak at 1000 nits in High Brightness Mode (HBM). This means that even in direct sunlight, the display remains visible and easy to read. Watching videos or scrolling through social media feels fluid, thanks to the high refresh rate. While it may not compare to the crispness of a full-HD or AMOLED display, I found it to be more than sufficient for casual media consumption and everyday use.
Performance
Powered by the Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, the Vivo Y37 Pro delivers solid performance for a phone in its price range. With an octa-core CPU (2×2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 and 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) and 8GB of RAM, the phone handles multitasking with ease. I switched between apps, streamed videos, and played games without any noticeable slowdowns. The Adreno 613 GPU also allows for casual gaming, though heavier games like “Genshin Impact” may require lower settings for smoother gameplay. Still, for everyday tasks, the Vivo Y37 Pro performs admirably.
During my testing, the phone felt responsive, and I didn’t encounter any significant lags or stutters. OriginOS 4, built on Android 14, also contributes to the smooth performance. The interface is clean, with only a few pre-installed apps, most of which can be removed if not needed. I found navigating through the UI intuitive, and the side-mounted fingerprint sensor worked reliably, unlocking the phone quickly and without any fuss.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery life is where the Vivo Y37 Pro truly shines. Its massive 6000mAh battery is a powerhouse that easily lasted me through a full day of heavy use. I was able to stream videos, browse the web, and use social media without worrying about the phone dying midway through the day. Even with the 120Hz refresh rate enabled, the battery holds up impressively well, offering nearly two full days of use with moderate activity. This makes it an excellent choice for users who prioritize long battery life over everything else.
The 44W wired charging is another feature that sets this phone apart from other budget models. Vivo claims that the phone can charge up to 50% in just 36 minutes, and in my testing, this held true. It took roughly an hour and a half to charge the phone fully, which is quite fast considering the large battery capacity. The reverse charging feature is also handy if you want to use the Vivo Y37 Pro to charge other devices, although I didn’t find myself using this feature very often.
Camera Performance
The camera system on the Vivo Y37 Pro is fairly standard for a phone in this price range. It sports a dual-camera setup with a 50MP wide sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. In good lighting conditions, the 50MP main camera performs well, producing sharp and detailed images. I took the phone out for a few outdoor shots, and I was pleased with how vibrant the colors appeared. The PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus) helps in capturing quick-moving subjects with decent clarity, though it’s not perfect.
In low-light conditions, the performance of the camera dips, which is expected for a budget phone. Photos taken in dim settings lacked sharpness, and there was noticeable noise in the images. The 2MP depth sensor assists in portrait mode, providing decent bokeh effects, but it’s not particularly impressive. As for video recording, the phone supports 1080p at 30fps, which is fairly standard. Videos came out clear enough, but nothing to write home about.
The 5MP selfie camera does a satisfactory job for video calls and casual selfies. It’s not the most detailed front camera out there, but it gets the job done for everyday use. Just don’t expect high-quality selfies in low-light conditions, as the camera struggles to maintain clarity in darker environments.
Software and User Experience
The Vivo Y37 Pro runs Android 14 with OriginOS 4 layered on top. OriginOS 4 is a relatively clean interface, and while it doesn’t offer a pure stock Android experience, it does bring some useful features. Customization options are plentiful, allowing users to tweak the home screen, icons, and animations to their liking. The interface felt fluid during my time with the phone, and I didn’t experience any major bugs or glitches.
One of the more practical features is the built-in dark mode, which not only looks good but also helps save battery life, especially on the large display. Additionally, the side-mounted fingerprint sensor was responsive and accurate in unlocking the phone. I appreciated how the overall software experience was free from unnecessary bloatware, and the few pre-installed apps didn’t get in the way of the phone’s performance.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Vivo Y37 Pro supports a wide range of connectivity options, including 5G, which is a standout feature for a phone in this price bracket. My experience with network reception was smooth, with no issues switching between 4G and 5G where coverage was available. The phone also comes with dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and GPS, all of which worked reliably during my usage. However, the lack of NFC might be a drawback for those who rely on mobile payments via Google Pay or similar services.
The phone includes stereo speakers, and while they’re not the loudest, they provide decent audio quality for media playback and calls. I found the 3.5mm headphone jack to be a convenient addition, especially since many budget phones are moving away from this feature. Whether listening to music or watching videos, the audio output was acceptable, though not particularly outstanding.
Storage and Expandability
With 256GB of internal storage, the Vivo Y37 Pro offers plenty of space for apps, photos, videos, and other files. For most users, this amount of storage will be more than enough. However, the absence of a microSD card slot means you’re stuck with the built-in storage, so if you’re someone who likes to store a large amount of media or apps, you’ll need to manage your space carefully. Fortunately, the UFS 2.2 storage is fast, and I didn’t notice any delays when opening or switching between apps.
For everyday use, the 256GB storage capacity is more than sufficient, and even heavy users should find it adequate. While expandable storage is always a nice feature to have, the large internal storage on the Vivo Y37 Pro compensates for the lack of a microSD slot.
Price and Value for Money
The Vivo Y37 Pro is priced at around €230, and considering what it brings to the table, it’s a strong value proposition. The combination of a 120Hz display, Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 chipset, and a massive 6000mAh battery with 44W fast charging makes it one of the better budget options available right now. For anyone looking for a phone that can handle day-to-day tasks with ease while offering excellent battery life, the Vivo Y37 Pro is worth considering.
It’s not without its compromises, such as the lack of NFC and a lower resolution display, but for the price, these are minor trade-offs. Overall, the Vivo Y37 Pro provides excellent value for its price, making it a solid choice for anyone on a budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice essential features.
