Vivo Y18i 5G Review: Is This Budget 5G Smartphone the Best Bang for Your Buck?

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, 5G is no longer a feature reserved for high-end flagship devices. The increasing demand for faster and more reliable mobile internet is pushing manufacturers to offer budget-friendly 5G smartphones, and Vivo has joined the race with its Vivo Y18i 5G. Priced under ₹10,000, this phone promises to deliver fast 5G connectivity, a large screen, decent performance, and an overall solid experience without burning a hole in your pocket.

But is the Vivo Y18i 5G truly worth the money? Can a smartphone under ₹10,000 provide good performance, an impressive camera, and lasting battery life? In this detailed review, we’ll dive deep into the device’s unboxing experience, design, performance, battery life, and camera capabilities to help you decide whether this smartphone deserves a spot in your pocket. Let’s get started with a closer look at this promising budget phone.

Unboxing the Vivo Y18i 5G: What to Expect Inside the Box

If you’re someone who loves the excitement of unboxing a new smartphone, the Vivo Y18i 5G delivers a straightforward experience. Vivo sticks to simplicity in packaging, with minimal frills inside the box.

Here’s what you’ll find when you open the Vivo Y18i 5G box:

• Vivo Y18i 5G smartphone
• SIM ejector tool for easily accessing the SIM card tray
• Type-A to Type-C USB cable for charging and data transfer
• Documentation including a quick start guide and warranty card

One thing to note is that Vivo has not included a charging adapter in the box. This is a growing trend among smartphone manufacturers, likely in response to both environmental concerns and cost-cutting measures. If you don’t already have a Type-C charging adapter, you’ll need to purchase one separately.

Design and Build Quality: Light and Sleek Yet Sturdy

At first glance, the Vivo Y18i 5G looks modern, sleek, and well-designed despite its budget price tag. The phone comes with a polycarbonate back and frame, which helps keep the cost down but still feels premium to the touch. The back has a matte finish that not only gives it a sophisticated look but also helps prevent fingerprints and smudges.

Weighing in at just 184 grams and with a thickness of 8.4mm, this device is extremely lightweight and easy to handle. The boxy design of the phone is a nice touch, giving it a more angular and structured look, though some users might prefer more rounded edges for comfort. The device feels solid in hand and doesn’t give off the impression of being flimsy.

A noteworthy feature here is the IP54 rating that provides splash resistance, ensuring that your phone can survive minor spills or light rain, though it’s not waterproof, so you’ll need to be careful around water.

Key Design Highlights:

• Polycarbonate back and frame for a lightweight build
• Matte finish to resist smudges and fingerprints
• IP54 splash resistance, offering limited protection from water exposure
• Lightweight at 184 grams and slim profile at 8.4mm for comfortable usage

For a phone at this price, the Vivo Y18i 5G offers a solid design that is both practical and aesthetic, making it an appealing option for those who want something that looks and feels more expensive than it actually is.

Display: Big and Bright with a 90Hz Refresh Rate

One of the standout features of the Vivo Y18i 5G is its display. It sports a 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen, offering an immersive viewing experience at a budget price. The HD+ resolution of 720×1612 pixels provides adequate sharpness for watching videos, browsing, and gaming, although it won’t deliver the same clarity as Full HD+ displays found on higher-end smartphones. Still, for most daily tasks, this display should serve you well.

What sets this display apart in its price range is the 90Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth scrolling and a more responsive experience. This is particularly impressive in a budget phone, as most devices in this range stick to the standard 60Hz refresh rate. The Waterdrop notch at the top houses the selfie camera, and while the bezels are noticeable, they don’t detract too much from the overall experience.

Display Highlights:

• 6.56-inch IPS LCD screen for vibrant colors and wide viewing angles
• 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsive touch inputs
• 720×1612 pixel resolution with 269 PPI pixel density, offering decent sharpness
• 83.6% screen-to-body ratio, maximizing display area for immersive use

Whether you’re streaming content or playing light games, the display on the Vivo Y18i 5G delivers more than you’d expect from a phone in this price segment.

Performance: Powered by a Budget-Friendly Chipset

Moving on to performance, the Vivo Y18i 5G is powered by the MediaTek Helio G85 chipset. This 12nm processor runs at a clock speed of 1.8GHz, making it sufficient for handling everyday tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming. However, it’s important to manage your expectations when it comes to gaming and heavy multitasking. While the device can run casual games smoothly, it may struggle with more resource-intensive titles.

The Vivo Y18i 5G comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, which is more than enough for basic tasks like web browsing, messaging, and video streaming. Additionally, the phone supports extended RAM, meaning you can increase the virtual RAM by an extra 4GB, improving multitasking and general performance. This feature is especially useful for users who often switch between apps or use their phone for longer periods.

For the operating system, the Vivo Y18i 5G runs on Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14. Funtouch OS is fairly customizable and user-friendly, offering features such as dark mode, app cloning, and more.

Performance Overview:

• MediaTek Helio G85 chipset with a 1.8GHz clock speed, suitable for daily tasks
• 4GB RAM with 4GB of extended RAM for better multitasking
• 64GB internal storage, with options for further expansion via microSD card
• Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14 for a smooth and customizable software experience

While not a powerhouse, the Vivo Y18i 5G delivers a balanced performance that should satisfy most casual users, especially considering its price point.

Battery Life: All-Day Power with Fast Charging Support

Battery life is often a key concern for smartphone users, and the Vivo Y18i 5G addresses this with a 5000mAh battery. This large battery capacity is more than sufficient to last you through an entire day of moderate to heavy usage, including web browsing, video streaming, and social media.

In addition to the large battery, the phone supports 15W fast charging, which, while not the fastest on the market, is adequate for quickly topping up the battery when you’re in a hurry. However, as mentioned earlier, the charging adapter isn’t included in the box, so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you don’t already have a compatible charger.

Battery Highlights:

• 5000mAh battery, offering all-day battery life even with 5G usage
• 15W fast charging for quick power top-ups
• Efficient power management thanks to the Helio G85 chipset

The combination of a large battery and efficient chipset ensures that the Vivo Y18i 5G will easily last a full day, making it an excellent choice for users who don’t want to worry about constantly charging their phone.

Camera: Decent for the Price, But Nothing Groundbreaking

When it comes to photography, the Vivo Y18i 5G offers a 13MP primary camera paired with a 0.08MP secondary sensor, which essentially acts as a depth sensor for portrait shots. While this setup isn’t groundbreaking, it gets the job done for casual photography. The camera delivers decent quality shots in well-lit conditions, though low-light performance is somewhat lacking, as is expected from a budget phone.

For selfies, the device is equipped with a 5MP front camera, which is serviceable for video calls and casual selfie-taking but won’t deliver the level of detail or sharpness found on higher-end devices.

Camera Overview:

• 13MP primary camera with f/2.2 aperture, offering decent shots in good lighting
• 0.08MP secondary camera, serving mainly for depth-sensing in portrait shots
• 5MP front camera for basic selfies and video calls
• Basic photography modes like HDR, panorama, and portrait mode

Overall, the Vivo Y18i 5G’s camera setup is sufficient for users who need a camera for casual snapshots and social media posts, though it doesn’t perform as well in low-light conditions.

Software and User Experience: Smooth and Customizable

The Vivo Y18i 5G runs on Funtouch OS 14, which is built on top of Android 14. Vivo’s Funtouch OS offers a user-friendly experience that is customizable and feature-rich, with a focus on providing convenience to users. The interface is minimalistic and relatively clean, though some users might find the pre-installed apps (bloatware) a bit annoying. However, most of these can be removed or disabled, freeing up storage and improving the overall experience.

Vivo has packed in several useful features, such as:

• App Clone: This feature lets you duplicate certain apps, such as WhatsApp or Facebook, allowing you to use two accounts simultaneously on the same phone.
• Ultra Game Mode: For casual gamers, this mode optimizes the phone’s performance while gaming, reducing distractions from calls and notifications.
• Dark Mode: A system-wide dark theme that helps save battery life and reduce eye strain, especially in low-light conditions.

In terms of updates, Vivo has been consistent with rolling out security patches and software updates, though being a budget phone, the Vivo Y18i 5G might not receive as many major Android version updates as flagship devices.

Connectivity: Ready for the Future with 5G Support

The most prominent selling point of the Vivo Y18i 5G is, of course, 5G connectivity. With the rollout of 5G networks across India and globally, having a 5G-enabled phone ensures that your device is future-proof for faster internet speeds, lower latency, and overall better network performance.

In addition to 5G, the Vivo Y18i 5G also supports a range of connectivity options, including:

• Dual SIM support: You can use two SIM cards at once, making it ideal for users who need to balance work and personal calls.
• Bluetooth 5.1: Ensuring stable and fast wireless connections with Bluetooth devices like headphones and smartwatches.
• Wi-Fi 5: Supporting fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections.
• USB Type-C port: For charging and data transfer, though it’s worth noting that it’s still USB 2.0, so data speeds might be slower than some higher-end phones.

With GPS, GLONASS, and BeiDou support, the phone ensures accurate location tracking, which is especially useful for navigation apps.

Security Features: Stay Protected

The Vivo Y18i 5G offers both face unlock and a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, ensuring that your phone is secure but easy to unlock. While the face unlock works well in good lighting conditions, it may struggle in low-light environments. The fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate, offering a more reliable and secure option for unlocking your device.

Vivo Y18i 5G vs Competitors: How Does It Stack Up?

In the highly competitive budget segment, the Vivo Y18i 5G faces tough competition from devices like the Realme Narzo 50, Redmi 11 Prime 5G, and Poco M4 Pro. Let’s take a quick look at how the Vivo Y18i 5G compares in key areas:

As you can see from the table, the Vivo Y18i 5G offers decent features for its price, though it lags behind some of its competitors in areas like camera quality and fast charging. However, if you’re looking for an affordable 5G phone with a good display and solid battery life, the Vivo Y18i 5G still holds its own.

Who Should Buy the Vivo Y18i 5G?

The Vivo Y18i 5G is targeted towards users who are looking for a budget smartphone that doesn’t skimp on essentials like 5G connectivity, battery life, and a smooth display. If you’re someone who needs a basic smartphone for everyday tasks such as browsing, social media, and light gaming, the Vivo Y18i 5G is a great choice at this price point. It’s also a good option for those who want a future-proof device that can take advantage of 5G networks as they become more widespread.

Final Verdict: Is the Vivo Y18i 5G Worth Buying?

To sum it up, the Vivo Y18i 5G brings a lot to the table for a phone under ₹10,000. Its 90Hz display, 5000mAh battery, and 5G support make it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers who want a future-ready phone without breaking the bank.

However, it does come with a few compromises, such as average camera performance and lack of fast charging. But if you’re primarily concerned with 5G connectivity, a good display, and a long-lasting battery, the Vivo Y18i 5G is one of the best options available at its price point.

For users who need more power or better photography, it may be worth considering alternatives like the Realme Narzo 50 or Redmi 11 Prime 5G. But for the price, Vivo Y18i 5G delivers a well-rounded experience, making it an ideal choice for those stepping into the world of 5G smartphones on a budget.