Review WIKO Y61, a basic but functional smartphone

Here we are again with a review on a smartphone. In this case, we have again been able to test a terminal from the WIKO firm, specifically the WIKO Y61. A phone that we can locate in the entry range within the Android market, but that comes with the desire to gain a foothold given the benefits it offers us. 

The manufacturer WIKO is not unknown to users, and there are several models that have come to fruition. The secret of this manufacturer is very simple, save costs in order to offer a product that is affordable in price, but without giving up the fact that the device is fully functional and competitive.

WIKO Y61, everything you need for less than you expect

Not all users of mobile phones want (or can) look at the most "top" models From the market. Either for limited budgets, or for the use that will be given to the phone, the best known of each manufacturer are not always sought. Nor are all smartphones born with the aspiration of becoming the greatest exponent of its category. 

WIKO knows well about Power of the entry-level mobile market, and continue to create devices that perform well in that sector. Starting from a minimum base that makes that the smartphone is 100% functional in all sectors, and saving on aspects such as construction materials.

We can safely say that the WIKO Y61, a smartphone that you can buy right now for less than 100 euros, is capable of doing everything you need to do with your mobile. We are not going to say that in the same way as any other much more powerful. You may not be able to enjoy the latest of the latest most powerful game on the market. But as we say, solvent and functional.

Unboxing WIKO Y61

It is time to open the box of this WIKO Y61 to check what we find inside. Besides of device, which we find in the first instance, we have various elements almost all expected. We have the Wall charger and power cable for charging and data transmissions with format micro USB, a format that still resists in some devices, especially in the input range.

We also found a couple of accessories for the device itself such as a screen protector, which even if it is not made of tempered glass, is always appreciated. A Silicone sheath with good touch, good grip, and that fits perfectly, logically.

And a little surprise in the form of wired headphones. At first glance and touch they are basic, and this is something that we confirm when we connect them to the smartphone and use them. Even so, starting from the basis that they will not be the best you have had, it is always appreciated to be able to have a new pair of headphones, something that the vast majority of manufacturers stopped including years ago.

Physical appearance of the WIKO Y61

In the design where it is noticeable with the naked eye the difference between an inexpensive device and one that is not. We did not find anything new, in fact, the design of the WIKO Y61 could perfectly correspond to that of a smartphone from 5 years ago for several reasons. But this is not why we are talking about the phone being "ugly", far from it, since at the rear, the design improves a lot getting closer to the most current.

If you look at the front of, we see that the screen has large top frames and also side frames, somewhat thinner. No infinity screen, front camera under the screen or "pop up", the camera is at the top of the screen. Yes indeed, in size the screen is closer to today counting with a diagonal of 6 inches.

A very striking rear

The rear of the WIKO Y61 is striking. The construction material is plastic with a gloss finish, something that also dates back to devices from a few years ago. But what is even more striking is that the back cover is removable. We will have to remove it to be able to insert our SIM card and the memory card. And till we can remove the battery… Since when do you not have a smartphone with these two removable things?

Count on a removable back can add extra durability. So that the casing can be easily removed, it is made of flexible plastic that allows some twisting when pulling from the opening tab. This assures us a great resistance to shocks and falls that will not pose a problem for these materials.

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En the bottom of the device we only found the speaker, only one as expected, and the microphone. At the top is the micro USB charging port, it seems that we will never be rid of him forever. And we also found a 3,5mm jack audio input to connect headphones. 

At left side we found a single button dedicated exclusively to the virtual assistant of Google. With the push of a button we will have everything that Google offers to our service. But we have to know that it will have to be configured beforehand in order to get the most out of it. And in the Right side are the lock / unlock and on / off button, and the volume control buttons.

The WIKO Y61 display

We have already commented that the front of the device has a slightly up-to-date look. This is because of the frames that we find at all ends of the screen. But this is not why we are facing a terminal with a small screen. The WIKO Y61 is equipped with a 6 inch diagonal, a very acceptable size, but with a percentage of front panel occupancy as low as 73%.

The screen is of type IPS LCD and with a aspect ratio 18:9, of course much smaller than the one we are used to with the latest releases. As was also to be expected, the resolution It does not shine for its quality, but we have to say that it has disappointed us since it has much less than expected, only 480 x 960, really poor, and unfortunately it shows.

We can say little more about the screen of this WIKO Y61 because it does not have much more to offer. His density is 179 dpi, It is also well below what we find today with recently released models. But as we know, we are talking about a device that reduces costs in order to be as affordable as possible. The screen meets without problems for a basic use of the device, without more.

Something that we liked is the incorporation of a small LED light for notifications at the top of the screen. An option that, as a rule, cannot be added by smartphones that have infinite screens. Having a top frame allows you to easily incorporate the front camera, and some other useful elements that cost more to fit on the entire screen. If what you are looking for is a simple and functional smartphone, here you can buy now the WIKO Y61

What's inside the WIKO Y61?

We have to know that this smartphone It is located in the most accessible range in the Android market. Starting from that base, and attending to an outrageously low price, we can't expect big surprises at the processor and power level. We are analyzing a basic and inexpensive phone and this shows in what it is capable of offering us.

For processor, Wiko has decided to trust MediaTek once again, specifically it mounts the MediaTek Helio A20 (MT6761D). A chip of quad-core quad-core clocked at 1.8 GHz. We found one RAM memory of only 1 GB. Data that is below what we could expect even in the most basic range. 

We see how other devices with the same chip have been able to complete with more RAM, sometimes reaching up to 4 GB. Regarding the ability to storage we find 16 GB. We can expand the storage capacity using a Micro SD memory card.

The WIKO Y61 still camera

It is time to analyze the camera of this smartphone from the basic range of WIKO. As with the rest of the sections, of the camera we assume that we do not have a "top" sensor, but we do expect it to meet decent minimums. The manufacturer himself calls it Go camera, for a couple of extra features that are added from the factory.

We have a single sensor with a resolution of 8 Mpx type CMOS that he does not behave at all bad and manages to defend itself in situations of good natural light. But what has a bad time when we want to take pictures in worse illuminated situations. Its resolution does not give for more, and immediately we notice noise and little definition. It takes a lot to focus and the flash, even being activated, does not stop jumping whenever we need it.

On the front, at the top is located the selfie camera. A camera with 5MP lens on which we can not point much. We can say that it fulfills its mission, but that we cannot expect any surprises or photos that are striking for their quality.

As for shooting modes, we found only two different types. We could do photo (normal and current) or use the portrait mode. In addition to these photography modes we have the video mode, without more. And with a mode called "translate". Using this translation mode we can translate a text focused with the camera into almost any language. WIKO does it using directly Google Lens with this kind of direct access through the camera.

Camera app

Normally when we talk about the camera application of a device we go a bit to assess the level of configuration that we find in this section. There are some manufacturers that go all out in the camera application given the importance of it in the success of the device. Sometimes the application and its "usability" are as important as the camera itself and the quality it is capable of offering.

If we access camera configuration settings what the WIKO Y61 offers us we will not have many complications. It must be taken into account that a large part of the public to which this terminal is destined to a large extent will really appreciate this. The Options that we found are basic to no more. Turn the flash on or off, activate the with a timer (with options of 3 or 10 seconds), and activate or deactivate a filter called "face enhancement", finish.

Photos taken with the WIKO Y61

We have gone out to test the camera of the WIKO Y61. It is confirmed in images what we have told you before when talking about the quality of the photos that it is capable of taking. With good natural light, fine, in low light, bad. A few shortcomings in low light conditions that the LED flash is not enough to improve.

In this photo we see a very clear example that natural light is everything for this camera to be able to deliver decent shots. Clear day, hour of full sun and bright surroundings ... it is very easy for almost any camera to take advantage of it. However, as we look at the farthest elements we soon notice blur in the forms and a little noise.

In this other photo, in which we want to get more detail from a nearby element, we see how in good light, we can also get decent results. We cannot demand much more from such a basic sensor, which, as we can see, defends itself relatively well in good lighting conditions. Though with the brightness of the sun loses sharpness in some points.

Now we look a little at the zoom of the photo camera. We have a scope of 4x digital zoom. A simple and simple zoom that manages to enlarge with the deficiencies that digital ones usually have and with a lens that does everything it can.

Photo without zoom

Photo with zoom

Security lacking

In the security section is another aspect where we found important shortcomings on this device. Especially due to the absence of elements that we could consider essential even in smartphones from several years ago. The WIKO Y61 has the security code or pattern lock. But has dispensed with the fingerprint reader.

The absence of a fingerprint reader means that this smartphone does not have the guarantees offered by said system. Is left over only protected with an unlock code or pattern. And although we can add some external application for facial unlocking, they do not offer sufficient reliability.

Battery, autonomy and software

Looking at the autonomy section if we found a positive point. The WIKO Y61 has a 3.000 mAh Li-Ion battery. A charge that is not bad at all and that guarantees autonomy of almost two full days with "normal" use. A decent battery charge that gains more autonomy given the lower consumption of its components.

The brightness of the screen or the high processing of the chips when multitasking are some of the main reasons that drain the battery of smartphones the most. A screen with low density and low resolution consumes much less than another with very high resolution, higher pixel density and high brightness. And a 1GB processor, no matter how hard you try to be solvent it does not consume what a 6GB either, without taking into account the energy efficiency of the most current.

El software integrated with device applications they also make the user experience smooth. Android is mimicked to the maximum with the usability of the smartphone that the version of Android 10GO, it flows much better than we might expect on paper.

Specifications table

Pros and cons

To talk about the good and the less good of the WIKO Y61 we have to take into account the market sector where it is included. An inexpensive and accessible device that for this has to reduce costs in practically all aspects. Based on this concept, we cannot compare it with other much more powerful products for obvious reasons. 

Pros

No doubt the price This smartphone is its main attraction, few phones can be found for less than € 100 that are fully solvent.

La functionality The WIKO Y61 is above what others offer us, and we can say that it is capable of performing any task, with some limitations.

Cons

The memory RAM At only 1 GB it seems that it is very short, even being a smartphone of the most basic range.

La Screen resolution shows its shortcomings on a good-sized 6-inch panel.

Su camera suffers too much in poor natural lighting conditions.

Editor's opinion