If you’re the kind of person who carries thousands of songs offline—someone who builds massive playlists for long train journeys, gym sessions, road trips, study marathons, or just refuses to rely on spotty internet for your music—the VIVO Y100i at Rs. 20999 is one of the smartest and most thoughtful budget phones you can grab right now. I recommended this phone to a friend who’s a die-hard music collector with over 15,000 tracks saved locally (everything from old Bollywood classics to niche indie bands). After a month of daily use, he summed it up perfectly: “Bhai, pehli baar ek phone mila jismein meri poori library bina tension ke fit ho gayi, aur battery bhi pura din chalti hai.”
At this price in early 2026, very few phones still offer expandable storage via microSD (up to 1TB), a large vibrant screen for browsing album art, and a battery that lets you listen for hours without constantly hunting for a charger. The Y100i isn’t chasing gaming trophies or pro cameras — it’s built for people who live for music and want a phone that actually supports that passion without compromise.
Expandable Storage – The Real Reason Music Lovers Choose It
The VIVO Y100i comes with 128 GB internal storage (UFS 2.2) and supports microSD cards up to 1 TB — that’s over 200,000 songs in standard MP3 quality or tens of thousands of lossless FLAC files. Most phones in this segment dropped expandable storage years ago, but VIVO kept it alive for exactly this kind of user.
My friend’s experience:
- Transferred his entire 450 GB music library (FLAC + high-bitrate MP3) across two 512 GB microSD cards
- No lag when browsing folders with 10,000+ tracks in Poweramp or VLC
- Quick search and playlist creation even with massive libraries
- No need to delete old albums to make space for new releases
For offline music enthusiasts who travel frequently (trains, flights, remote areas with no data), this feature alone makes the Y100i feel like a dedicated music player disguised as a phone.
Display – Vibrant & Large for Album Art & Lyrics
The 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with 120 Hz refresh rate is one of the best displays under ₹25,000 right now.
Why music lovers love it:
- Deep AMOLED blacks — album covers and dark-themed players look rich and immersive
- Vibrant colors (100% DCI-P3) — album artwork pops, especially colorful retro or psychedelic covers
- 120 Hz smoothness — scrolling through long tracklists or lyrics feels fluid
- 1800 nits peak brightness — visible outdoors when checking playlists during walks or travel
- Always-on Display — shows song title, artist, and playback controls without unlocking
My friend now uses the AOD as his “now playing” screen — glance at the lock screen and see exactly what’s playing without touching the phone.
Battery Life – Hours of Uninterrupted Listening
5000 mAh battery + 80W FlashCharge.
Typical music-heavy day:
- 7–8 hrs screen-on time (music playback ~50%, browsing/Spotify ~30%, calls/social ~20%)
- 4–5 hrs continuous offline music (Bluetooth earbuds or wired headphones)
- 1–2 hrs navigation + calls during travel
- Ends with 30–45% battery remaining most times
Pure music playback test (offline MP3/FLAC via Bluetooth): ~12–14 hrs continuous before hitting 10%. Standby drain is minimal — can last 2 days on light usage (mostly music + calls).
80W charging is ridiculously fast for this price — 0–100% in ~38–42 minutes. 15 minutes gives ~55–60% — perfect when you’re heading out for a long drive or flight and realize battery is low.
Performance – Smooth for Music Apps & Daily Use
MediaTek Dimensity 6020 + up to 12 GB RAM + extended RAM.
Music & daily tasks handled smoothly:
- Poweramp, VLC, or Spotify with 10,000+ track libraries — instant search & playback
- 8–10 apps open (music player, WhatsApp, Chrome, YouTube Music) — no reloads
- Equalizer tweaks + Hi-Res audio output via 3.5 mm jack — clean sound
- Light gaming (BGMI Smooth + 60 fps) after listening sessions — stable for 45 min
- Video calls or navigation during travel — no stuttering
OriginOS 4 includes music-specific features: Hi-Fi audio mode, customizable equalizer presets, and gesture controls for playback.
Quick Comparison Table – VIVO Y100i vs Competitors (Sub-₹25,000)
| Feature | VIVO Y100i (Rs. 20,999) | Realme Narzo 70x (Rs. 16,999) | Poco M6 Pro (Rs. 17,999) | Samsung Galaxy M35 (Rs. 19,999) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expandable Storage | Yes (up to 1 TB) | No | Yes (up to 1 TB) | No |
| Display | 6.67″ AMOLED 120 Hz | 6.72″ LCD 120 Hz | 6.79″ LCD 120 Hz | 6.6″ sAMOLED 120 Hz |
| Battery & Charging | 5000 mAh + 80W | 5000 mAh + 45W | 5000 mAh + 18W | 6000 mAh + 25W |
| Processor | Dimensity 6020 | Dimensity 6100+ | Snapdragon 4 Gen 2 | Exynos 1380 |
| Avg SOT (music usage) | 7–8 hrs | 6.5–7.5 hrs | 6–7 hrs | 8–9 hrs |
Battery & Storage Quick Chart (Real-World Music Lover Usage)
Average Screen-On Time (offline music + browsing + social):
VIVO Y100i: ██████████ 7–8 hrs
Samsung Galaxy M35: ██████████ 8–9 hrs
Realme Narzo 70x: ████████░░ 6.5–7.5 hrs
Poco M6 Pro: ███████░░░ 6–7 hrs
Expandable Storage Capacity (with 1 TB microSD):
VIVO Y100i: ~1.1 TB total (128 GB + 1 TB)
Poco M6 Pro: ~1.1 TB total
Realme Narzo 70x: 128 GB only
Samsung Galaxy M35: 128 GB only
Who Should Buy the VIVO Y100i at Rs. 20,999?
- Music lovers with huge offline libraries who need expandable storage (MP3, FLAC, lossless)
- Travelers, commuters, and remote workers who want non-stop playback without data dependency
- Young professionals or students who listen to music/podcasts for 4–6 hours daily
- People upgrading from older phones and wanting AMOLED vibrancy + fast charging on a tight budget
- Anyone who values battery endurance, smooth scrolling, and expandable storage over high-end cameras or gaming
It’s not for hardcore gamers wanting ultra graphics or photographers needing pro cameras. But if your phone’s main job is to carry your entire music collection and keep playing for hours, the VIVO Y100i at Rs. 20,999 is currently one of the most satisfying and practical phones in the sub-₹25,000 segment.
My friend still says it’s the best music phone he’s ever owned — 1 TB card loaded, 120 Hz AMOLED making album art look alive, and 80W charging meaning he’s never caught short. If you’re a music obsessive on a budget, this is a no-brainer.
