If you’re the kind of music obsessive who treats your phone like a personal jukebox—hoarding thousands of offline tracks, curating massive playlists that span genres and decades, refusing to rely on spotty streaming data during long train rides, flights, remote treks, or dead zones, and hating every time you have to delete an old album to make room for new music—the VIVO Y100i at Rs. 20999 is one of the most liberating and thoughtful budget phones for offline audio lovers in early 2026. I handed this phone to my roommate who has a 14,000+ song library (high-bitrate MP3s, FLAC rips, rare Bollywood vinyl rips, underground indie, and full discographies of 90s rock bands). He used to delete entire artists every few months on his old phone. After a month with the Y100i, he told me: “Bhai, ab meri saari library ek hi card mein fit ho gayi—1TB daal diya, 120 Hz AMOLED pe album art dekh ke goosebumps aa jaate hain, aur battery itni lambi hai ki pura din music bajta rehta hai bina charger ke tension ke.”
At just ₹20,999, the Y100i doesn’t chase gaming frame rates or pro cameras. It wins on two things true offline music addicts live for: genuine 1TB expandable storage that lets you carry your entire collection without compromise, and a vibrant 120 Hz AMOLED display that turns every album cover, tracklist, and lyric screen into something beautiful. Add blazing-fast 80W charging and solid all-day battery, and it becomes the perfect companion for anyone who believes music should be local, unlimited, and always available.
1TB Expandable Storage – Your Entire Music Library in One Place
The Y100i comes with 128 GB internal storage (fast UFS 2.2) and supports microSD cards up to 1 TB — that’s potentially 200,000+ MP3 songs or tens of thousands of lossless FLAC files without ever deleting anything.
Real offline music-lover wins my roommate experienced:
- Transferred his full ~520 GB library across two 512 GB microSD cards — no more “which albums to delete this month?”
- Browsing 15,000+ tracks in Poweramp, VLC, or foobar2000 mobile — instant search, folder navigation, no stuttering even in massive collections
- Creating huge playlists (800+ songs) — quick loading, seamless shuffle, no buffering
- Offline paradise — no data needed during long flights, remote hill stations, or areas with poor connectivity
- Hi-Res audio support via 3.5 mm jack — clean wired output for audiophiles using good IEMs or headphones
For anyone who hates streaming compression, data limits, ads interrupting songs, or deleting music to “free space,” this expandable storage is a dream come true. It’s one of the last phones in this price range that still includes a microSD slot.
120 Hz AMOLED Display – Album Art & Lyrics Look Stunning
The 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED panel with 120 Hz refresh rate is a visual treat for anyone who cares about how music looks as much as how it sounds.
Why music lovers love it:
- True AMOLED blacks — dark album covers, night-mode players, and lyric screens look deep and immersive
- Rich, accurate colors (100% DCI-P3) — retro vinyl sleeves, colorful indie artwork, and vibrant cover photos pop vividly
- 120 Hz smoothness — scrolling through massive tracklists, artist bios, or long lyrics feels silky and addictive
- 1800 nits peak brightness — visible outdoors when checking playlists during walks, travel, or outdoor listening
- Always-on Display — shows current song title, artist, album art snippet, and playback controls — glance at what’s playing without unlocking
My roommate now uses the AOD as his “now playing” screen — he can see the track from across the room without touching the phone.
Battery Life – All-Day Offline Playback Without Stress
5000 mAh battery + 80W FlashCharge.
Typical heavy music day:
- 7–8 hrs screen-on time (music playback ~50%, browsing/Spotify ~30%, social/calls ~20%)
- 5–6 hrs continuous offline music (Bluetooth earbuds or wired headphones)
- 1–2 hrs navigation + calls during travel
- Ends with 30–45% remaining most times
Pure offline music playback test (high-bitrate MP3/FLAC via Bluetooth): ~12–14 hrs continuous before hitting 10%. Standby drain is minimal — stretches to 1.5–2 days on lighter usage.
80W charging is insanely fast: 0–100% in ~38–42 minutes. 15 minutes gives ~55–60% — perfect when you’re heading out for a long drive, flight, or trek 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 lag
- 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 Offline Music 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?
- Offline music addicts with huge 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 massive 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 roommate still says it’s the best music phone he’s ever owned — 1 TB card loaded with his full library, 120 Hz AMOLED making every album cover look alive, and 80W charging meaning he’s never caught short. If you’re a playlist king or offline music obsessive on a budget, this is a no-brainer.
