If you’re a creative person—someone who edits Reels on the go, sketches digital art during commutes, writes captions while listening to music, or just loves phones that feel alive with color—the VIVO Y100 at its current street price of Rs. 21999 is one of those hidden gems that punches way above its weight class. I passed this phone to a freelance graphic designer friend who was stuck on a 3-year-old budget device, and after two weeks she texted me: “This thing makes everything look so much better—colors pop like crazy and it never slows down when I’m switching between apps.”
At Rs. 21,999 in early 2026, very few phones manage to combine a truly vibrant display, snappy everyday performance, and a battery that doesn’t make you hunt for a charger mid-day. The Y100 does exactly that, and it does it in a way that feels thoughtful for people who create rather than just consume.
Design & First Impressions – Slim & Eye-Catching
The VIVO Y100 is 7.79 mm thin and weighs only 190 grams — it feels noticeably lighter and more comfortable in the hand than most phones around this price. The back panel has a premium-looking matte glass finish (Twilight Gold or Metal Black variants) that reflects light softly without turning into a fingerprint magnet. The flat sides and gentle curves give it a modern, premium look that doesn’t scream “budget phone.”
The 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate is the first thing you notice. Colors are rich and saturated (100% DCI-P3 coverage), blacks are deep, and scrolling through Pinterest boards, Behance portfolios, or your own Lightroom edits feels incredibly smooth. Peak brightness hits 1800 nits in HDR content — watching reference videos or editing outdoors during golden hour is no problem. It’s protected by Schott Xensation α glass, so minor drops from a desk or bag don’t immediately crack the screen.
Display – The Reason Creatives Fall in Love
For anyone who creates visual content, the screen quality is non-negotiable. The Y100 gets it right:
- 120 Hz refresh rate — buttery smooth scrolling in Canva, PicsArt, or Instagram
- 100% DCI-P3 color gamut — accurate and vibrant tones for photo/video editing
- 1800 nits peak brightness — usable outdoors when checking color accuracy on location
- Always-on Display with customizable widgets — quick glance at notifications without unlocking
- Eye Protection mode + low blue light certification — easier on eyes during late-night creative sessions
My friend edits thumbnails and mood boards directly on the phone now — she says the colors are so close to her calibrated laptop that she trusts what she sees.
Performance – Fast Enough for Creative Workflows
Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G + up to 12 GB RAM + 8 GB extended RAM keeps things surprisingly fluid.
Real creative usage scenarios:
- 10–12 Chrome tabs (Behance, Dribbble, reference images) + Canva + CapCut — no reloads or lag
- Split-screen: YouTube tutorial on top + PicsArt on bottom — stable
- Exporting 1080p Reels or 4K short clips in CapCut — quick and smooth
- Multitasking between Instagram, WhatsApp, Google Drive, and Spotify — instant app switching
- Light digital sketching in Ibis Paint or Adobe Fresco — responsive stylus support (optional)
It’s not a gaming flagship, but for casual BGMI on Smooth + 60 fps or COD Mobile on medium, it handles 45–60 min sessions without major heating or frame drops.
Battery & Charging – Stays With You Through Long Creative Days
5000 mAh battery + 80W FlashCharge is a killer combo at this price.
Typical day for a creative user:
- 8–9 hrs screen-on time (editing, social media, browsing, camera usage)
- 2 hrs active content creation (Reels editing, photo touch-ups)
- 1 hr music + calls + navigation
- Ends day with 25–35% battery remaining
80W charging is ridiculously fast — 0–100% in ~38–42 minutes. 15 minutes plug-in gives ~55–60% — perfect when you’re heading to a client shoot or evening cafe session and realize the battery is low.
Camera – Creative Tools That Punch Above Price
Rear: 50 MP main (OIS) + 2 MP depth
Front: 8 MP
Daylight shots are sharp with good dynamic range and VIVO’s warm, punchy colors — ideal for mood boards, product photos, or Instagram carousels. Low-light performance is decent with Night mode. Portrait mode gives accurate edge detection and natural bokeh — great for quick client headshots or personal branding.
The real creative win is the built-in photo editor (OriginOS gallery tools): filters, AI enhancements, background removal, object eraser — all usable directly on the phone without needing third-party apps.
Quick Comparison Table – VIVO Y100 vs Competitors (Sub-25k)
| Feature | VIVO Y100 (Rs. 21,999) | Realme Narzo 70x (Rs. 16,999) | Poco M6 Pro (Rs. 17,999) | Samsung Galaxy M35 (Rs. 19,999) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.67″ AMOLED 120 Hz | 6.72″ LCD 120 Hz | 6.79″ LCD 120 Hz | 6.6″ sAMOLED 120 Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 695 | Dimensity 6100+ | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Exynos 1380 |
| Battery & Charging | 5000 mAh + 80W | 5000 mAh + 45W | 5000 mAh + 18W | 6000 mAh + 25W |
| RAM + Storage (base) | 8 GB + 128 GB | 6 GB + 128 GB | 8 GB + 128 GB | 6 GB + 128 GB |
| Avg SOT (creative usage) | 7–8 hrs | 6.5–7.5 hrs | 6–7 hrs | 8–9 hrs |
Battery & Display Quick Chart (Real-World Creative Usage)
Average Screen-On Time (editing + social + browsing):
VIVO Y100: █████████░ 7–8 hrs
Samsung Galaxy M35: ██████████ 8–9 hrs
Realme Narzo 70x: ████████░░ 6.5–7.5 hrs
Poco M6 Pro: ███████░░░ 6–7 hrs
Charging Time (0–100%):
VIVO Y100: ██████████ ~40 min
Realme Narzo 70x: ████████░░ ~60 min
Samsung Galaxy M35: ████████░░ ~90 min
Poco M6 Pro: ██████░░░░ ~120 min
Who Should Buy the VIVO Y100 at Rs. 21,999?
- Freelance creatives who edit photos, Reels, or thumbnails directly on the phone
- Small business owners posting daily content on Instagram or WhatsApp Business
- College students in design, media, or marketing who need vibrant colors for reference and editing
- Young professionals wanting a premium-feeling phone with fast charging and smooth performance
- Anyone upgrading from older 4G phones and needing 5G + AMOLED display on a strict budget
It’s not for hardcore gamers pushing ultra graphics or users who want completely clean stock Android with 5+ years of updates. But for creatives who care about how the screen looks, how fast it charges, and how smoothly it handles daily multitasking, the VIVO Y100 at Rs. 21,999 is currently one of the most compelling options available.
My friend still says it’s the best upgrade she’s made in years — the colors make her edits look better, the battery keeps her going, and the slim design makes it easy to carry everywhere. If you’re shopping in this price range and creativity is part of your daily life, don’t sleep on the Y100.
