Vivo Y18i Review: Budget-Friendly Smartphone with Impressive Features

The Vivo Y18i is a budget-friendly smartphone that offers a solid combination of performance, design, and features at an affordable price point. As part of Vivo’s Y-series, this entry-level device aims to provide a smooth user experience while keeping costs low. Whether you’re upgrading from an older device or purchasing your first smartphone, the Vivo Y18i provides great value with its sleek design, decent performance, and long-lasting battery life. In this review, we’ll dive into the key aspects of the Vivo Y18i, including its design, display, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life, to help you decide if this device is the right fit for your needs.

Design and Build Quality

The Vivo Y18i features a clean and modern design, which is expected from Vivo’s budget-friendly Y-series. The smartphone comes with a polycarbonate plastic back that is lightweight yet durable. The back panel has a glossy finish, which reflects light beautifully and gives the device a premium feel, though it can be prone to fingerprints. The build quality feels solid for its price range, and the phone’s smooth curves make it easy and comfortable to hold.

Measuring at just 8.3mm thick and weighing only 180 grams, the Vivo Y18i is slim and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and use one-handed. The side-mounted fingerprint scanner is integrated into the power button for quick access to the device, offering convenience and security with just a tap. There’s also a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is still a much-appreciated feature for those who prefer wired headphones.

Available in a variety of attractive colors, the Vivo Y18i brings a youthful look to the budget segment, offering something for everyone without compromising on style.

Display

The Vivo Y18i sports a 6.51-inch HD+ IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels. While the resolution is lower compared to Full HD displays on more expensive devices, it still provides a satisfying viewing experience for everyday tasks like browsing the web, watching videos, or social media scrolling. The HD+ display produces vibrant colors and decent brightness levels for typical indoor use, though it may fall short under direct sunlight.

The Vivo Y18i also features a waterdrop notch at the top of the display, which houses the front-facing camera. This design maximizes the screen area, allowing for an immersive viewing experience. While the bezels around the display are slightly thicker than those found on higher-end smartphones, they don’t detract from the overall experience.

One notable feature of the display is Eye Protection Mode, which reduces blue light emission to reduce eye strain, making the phone more comfortable to use for extended periods. For its price point, the Vivo Y18i’s display is sufficient for day-to-day tasks and casual multimedia consumption.

Performance

The Vivo Y18i is powered by the MediaTek Helio G35 chipset, paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. The Helio G35 is an entry-level processor designed for basic tasks such as calling, texting, social media, and light app usage. For light gaming, the Vivo Y18i can handle less demanding games like Subway Surfers or Candy Crush, but more graphically intensive games like PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty Mobile may experience lag and performance drops.

With 3GB of RAM, the phone provides adequate multitasking capabilities for casual users. You can switch between apps, check emails, and browse social media without much slowdown. However, if you tend to run multiple apps simultaneously or use heavy-duty applications, you may experience occasional performance issues. App load times are decent, but they may be slower compared to mid-range or high-end devices.

The 32GB of internal storage offers enough space for apps, photos, and a few videos. However, if you need more space, the Vivo Y18i supports microSD card expansion up to 1TB, allowing you to store additional media files, documents, or apps without worrying about running out of space.

Running on Funtouch OS 12, based on Android 12, the Vivo Y18i offers a clean and simple software experience with several customization options. The interface is user-friendly and features a range of shortcuts and smart management tools to enhance performance and battery life.

Camera System

The Vivo Y18i comes with a 13MP primary camera and a 2MP depth sensor, aimed at providing decent photography capabilities for budget-conscious users. The 13MP main camera is capable of capturing sharp and vibrant images in well-lit environments. Daylight shots come out clear, with good color reproduction and reasonable dynamic range. The camera also features AI scene detection, which automatically adjusts the settings based on the subject, making it easier for users to take good pictures without manually adjusting settings.

In low-light conditions, the camera tends to struggle, with noticeable noise and loss of detail, which is common for smartphones at this price. However, the Night Mode feature helps brighten photos in low light, although the results are not on par with more expensive devices.

The 2MP depth sensor is used to create a background blur effect in portrait shots, making your subject stand out. While it works reasonably well for casual portrait photography, the bokeh effect might not be as refined as that seen in higher-end phones.

For selfies, the Vivo Y18i is equipped with a 5MP front camera. The camera performs adequately in good lighting, capturing clear and sharp images. In low-light situations, the selfies may appear grainy, but the AI Beauty Mode helps enhance skin tones and smoothens out imperfections.

Overall, the camera performance on the Vivo Y18i is satisfactory for casual photography, but it is not designed for professional-level imaging.

Battery Life and Charging

One of the standout features of the Vivo Y18i is its 5000mAh battery, which is more than enough to get you through a full day of moderate use. Whether you’re browsing social media, streaming videos, or texting, the 5000mAh battery provides excellent endurance, making it a solid option for users who prioritize long-lasting battery life.

For heavier users, such as those who watch videos or play games throughout the day, the battery should still last most of the day, though you may need to charge the device in the evening. The phone supports 10W charging, which, while not the fastest, is adequate for a budget device. Charging the phone from 0% to 100% takes around two hours, which is typical for this price range.

Software and Features

The Vivo Y18i runs on Funtouch OS 12, based on Android 12. Vivo’s custom interface offers a clean and intuitive experience with various customization options, such as changing themes, adjusting font sizes, and organizing the home screen. The AI-powered features help optimize battery life and improve performance, ensuring a smooth experience throughout the day.

The phone also includes additional features such as gesture navigation, smart management tools, and dark mode. The security features include the side-mounted fingerprint sensor for fast unlocking and face unlock for quick access to your phone.

Conclusion

The Vivo Y18i is a solid budget smartphone that offers a reliable user experience for those on a tight budget. With its large 5000mAh battery, decent 13MP camera, and sleek design, it is an ideal option for users who need a simple, everyday device without paying a premium. While its performance and camera capabilities may not compete with higher-end devices, the Vivo Y18i delivers great value for money in the budget segment.

If you’re looking for a budget smartphone with long battery life, good design, and decent camera performance, the Vivo Y18i is a strong contender in its category. It’s perfect for casual users who prioritize essential smartphone features like reliable battery life and an easy-to-use interface. For its price, the Vivo Y18i is a worthy choice for anyone looking to enjoy the basics of smartphone functionality without the premium price tag.