Vivo Y100 5G review
The Y100 5G suits light to moderate users in regions with 5G coverage who prioritize display smoothness and brightness over battery capacity and camera range. Anyone needing all-day battery life under heavy use or serious camera versatility should look at rivals with larger batteries and proper ultrawide lenses."
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo Y100 5G, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Vivo Y100 5G pairs a bright 90Hz AMOLED screen with a mid-range Dimensity 900 chipset and 4500mAh battery at around €100, landing squarely as a balanced budget 5G phone for everyday use. The standout is the display quality—AMOLED brightness and smoothness are rare at this price—but it lacks the charging speed and camera versatility of rivals, and the battery capacity is modest by today's budget standards.
Design & build
At 7.7mm thick and 181g, the Y100 5G feels light for its 6.38-inch size, slipping easily into a pocket. Glass front and back give it a more polished feel than plastic rivals at this price, though that also means it is less forgiving in a drop. The color-changing back panel is a nice visual trick—Twilight Gold and Pacific Blue both shift under angle and light, which breaks up the look of a €100 phone. IP54 dust and splash resistance is genuinely useful for weather, though it is not deep-water safe; you can rinse it or use it in light rain without worry. Dual SIM is standard for this market and region support.
Display
The 6.38-inch AMOLED panel at 1080 x 2400 is the phone's strongest card. 1300 nits peak brightness makes it one of the rare budget phones you can actually see outdoors in sun without squinting. The 90Hz refresh rate is not 120Hz, but it is still a noticeable step above 60Hz for scrolling and swiping—faster enough that you will notice the difference on day one. 413 ppi density is sharp for everyday viewing, and HDR10+ support means video and streaming apps get a color boost when available. For a €100 phone, this display is genuinely class-leading; most rivals at this price still push 60Hz or cheaper LCD panels.
Performance
The Mediatek Dimensity 900 is a capable mid-range chip. It runs everyday tasks—messaging, YouTube, social media, light browsing—without visible lag, and multitasking feels responsive. Gaming depends on your expectations: lighter titles and casual games run fine, but demanding games like PUBG or Genshin Impact will need graphics dialed down to stay smooth. The 8GB RAM handles app switching without stalling. This is not flagship power, but it is not entry-level either; it is the right level for a €100 phone that will not frustrate you on basic tasks.
Software
Android 13 with Vivo's Funtouch overlay lands here. Funtouch adds some customization and convenience apps, but it also layers a fair amount of bloat—expect a bunch of pre-installed apps that are not essential and harder-to-find settings due to menu reorganization. Updates will likely come slowly at this price tier; Vivo historically provides one major OS bump and security patches for a couple of years, not the six-plus years you get on some competitors. For most users, Funtouch will not ruin the experience, but it is less clean than stock Android.
Camera
The 64MP main sensor with f/1.8 lens, phase-detect autofocus, and optical image stabilization is solid in theory and handles daylight decently—colors pop and detail is reasonable in bright scenes. OIS helps with handheld video and lower light. However, the macro-only auxiliary lens is a wasted slot when a proper ultrawide would give far more utility. Night mode is absent from the feature list, so low-light shots will be soft or noisy compared to rivals that include it. The 16MP selfie camera is ordinary for this class. Video caps at 4K 30fps, which is fine but not fast.
Battery & charging
The 4500mAh battery is below the 5000mAh that has become standard in budget 5G phones over the past two years. You will likely get a full day of moderate use—social media, messaging, streaming, some gaming—but heavy users will hunt for a charger by evening. Light use might stretch into a second day. The charging rate is not specified in the sheet, which is a red flag; most competitors at this price have jumped to 33W or higher, and Vivo's silence here suggests the Y100 is slower. Without knowing the exact wattage, estimating charge time is difficult, but assume 60+ minutes to full if following typical Vivo patterns.
Value & verdict
At around €100, the Y100 5G is a good display phone for the budget-conscious. The AMOLED screen with 90Hz refresh and solid brightness is the real reason to pick this over a €80 LCD rival. The Dimensity 900 is fast enough, and 5G connectivity future-proofs you where networks are rolling out. However, the battery is smaller than current rivals, the charging speed is a mystery (likely a weakness), and the camera module feels half-hearted—a macro lens instead of an ultrawide is an odd choice in 2023. If you value a sharp, smooth display above all else and do not game hard or take photos often, the Y100 fits. If battery endurance or camera range matter to you, check the current Redmi Note or Realme options at this price first.
Verdict
The Y100 5G suits light to moderate users in regions with 5G coverage who prioritize display smoothness and brightness over battery capacity and camera range. Anyone needing all-day battery life under heavy use or serious camera versatility should look at rivals with larger batteries and proper ultrawide lenses."
- 90Hz AMOLED display with 1300 nits peak brightness—scrolling is smooth and outdoor visibility is solid for a €100 phone
- Dual SIM 5G connectivity with solid band support across most regions
- Slim and light at 7.7mm and 181g, with a color-changing back panel for visual appeal
- Optical under-display fingerprint sensor and IP54 splash resistance add practical polish
- No charging wattage listed; rivals at this price typically hit 33W or higher, leaving charge time unclear and likely slow
- 4500mAh battery is below the 5000mAh standard for budget 5G phones now, risking shorter endurance under real use
- 64MP main camera with f/1.8 lens and OIS is decent on paper, but macro-only ultrawide and no night mode setup handicap low-light and creative shooting
Vivo Y100 5G Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2023, February 16 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.38 inches, 98.3 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~413 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM |
| Main camera | 64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS 2 MP (macro) Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, (wide) |
| Battery | 4500 mAh |
| Software | Android 13, Funtouch 13 |
| Dimensions | 158.9 x 73.5 x 7.7 mm (6.26 x 2.89 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 181 g (6.38 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, glass back |
| Durability | IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) Color changing back panel color |
| Network | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo Y100 5G FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Y100 5G support 5G?
Yes. The Y100 5G supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Y100 5G use?
The Y100 5G runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 900 (6 nm).
What display does the Y100 5G have?
A 6.38 inches, 98.3 cm2 (~84.1% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak), 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~413 ppi density).
How big is the Y100 5G battery?
The Y100 5G has a 4500 mAh battery.
Is the Y100 5G water resistant?
The Y100 5G carries a IP54 dust protected and water resistant (water splashes) Color changing back panel color rating.
Does the Y100 5G support a microSD card?
Yes, the Y100 5G supports expandable storage (microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)).
Alternatives to consider
If the Y100 5G isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Y100 4G
Y38 5G
V40 Lite 4G
Y300 Plus
Enjoy 70X Energy
