Vivo Y500 (China) review
This phone suits people who prioritize toughness and all-day battery over camera quality or processing power—ideal if you handle your phone roughly or need reliable uptime for work. Skip it if you play demanding games, shoot photos seriously, or want the fastest mid-range chip your budget allows.
This review is based on Vivo’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Vivo Y500 (China), 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 Y500 is a solidly built mid-range phone with IP68 durability and a bright AMOLED screen at a budget-friendly price, but the modest Dimensity 7300 chipset and basic camera setup mean it's best for everyday users who don't push their hardware hard. At roughly €170, it offers good value for scrolling, messaging, and light tasks—just not gaming or professional work.
Design & build
At 163 x 76 x 8.2 mm and just 213 grams, the Y500 is comfortable to grip and pockets easily for a phone with a 6.77-inch screen. The IP68/IP69+ rating is the real standout: the phone survives dust, fresh water submersion to 1.5 meters for a full day, and high-pressure water jets, plus it handles drops up to 1.7 meters without typical damage. That durability level is rare in this price tier and makes the phone feel built for real-world use rather than careful handling. Diamond Shield Glass is standard in 2025, and the frame materials are unspecified, but the overall feel is solid for the price.
Display
The 6.77-inch AMOLED with 120Hz refresh and 5000-nit peak brightness is a genuine strength. Scrolling feels fluid, and the high brightness keeps the screen readable in direct sunlight where cheaper LCD panels fade. The 1080 x 2392 resolution, however, yields about 388 pixels per inch—adequate for arm's-length viewing but soft if you examine text or images closely. Colors pop on AMOLED, and the high refresh rate makes everyday interaction feel snappier than 60Hz rivals at this price, so the trade-off is acceptable for most users.
Performance
The Dimensity 7300 is a capable mid-range chip that handles social media, messaging, browsing, and light productivity smoothly. Day-to-day lag is absent, and apps launch quickly. Where it falters is sustained heavy workloads: demanding mobile games run at lower settings or stutter, and multitasking with resource-heavy apps (photo editing, streaming video playback + chat) can slow down. For casual users, this is fine. Anyone expecting consistent gaming or heavy creative work on this chip will hit a ceiling fast. The Mali-G615 GPU is two generations old now, so raw graphics are not competitive with upper-tier rivals.
Software
The phone ships with Android 15 and Vivo's OriginOS 5 skin on top. OriginOS is light compared to some skins, but it still overlays Vivo's apps and UI tweaks. Updates should arrive regularly over the first two years given Vivo's typical cadence, though long-term support on a budget model is uncertain. Out of the box, the phone is usable, though you may need to uninstall or disable some pre-installed apps to free space on the base 128GB model.
Camera
The 50MP f/1.8 main sensor with PDAF is solid for daylight and low-light shots; the wide aperture helps in dim conditions, and autofocus is responsive. However, there is no telephoto, ultrawide, or macro lens, just an unspecified auxiliary (likely a depth sensor), so framing options are limited. The 8MP selfie at f/2.1 is functional for video calls and social media but lacks fine detail in portraits. Video tops out at 4K 30fps with gyro-EIS on the main camera, which is entry-level for this class. If photography is a priority, this phone will disappoint.
Battery & charging
The 8200mAh battery typically sustains 1 to 1.5 days of moderate use (messaging, browsing, music); heavy streaming or gaming cuts that to under a day. For most users managing light workloads, recharging every 1.5 days is realistic. The 90W wired charging should fill the battery in roughly 30 to 45 minutes, allowing quick top-ups before leaving home. There is no wireless charging, which is standard to omit at this price, and no reverse wired charging despite it being listed—a minor oddity.
Value & verdict context
At around €170, the Y500 sits in the solid value range for a durable, everyday phone. The IP68/IP69+ rating and bright AMOLED screen are genuine perks that many rivals at this price skip or skimp on. The Dimensity 7300 is honest mid-range—not fast, but not glacial. The camera setup is basic, and the display's 388 ppi density is acceptable but not impressive. There is no card slot to expand storage, so the 128GB base model fills up quickly if you download media. For users who value durability, daylight screen visibility, and steady performance for routine tasks, the Y500 delivers. Anyone hunting gaming prowess, telephoto zoom, or the sharpest display will want to spend more or look at rivals with older processors at lower prices.
Verdict
This phone suits people who prioritize toughness and all-day battery over camera quality or processing power—ideal if you handle your phone roughly or need reliable uptime for work. Skip it if you play demanding games, shoot photos seriously, or want the fastest mid-range chip your budget allows.
- IP68/IP69+ rating with 1.7m drop resistance—real peace of mind for daily handling
- 8200mAh battery with 90W charging: reliable 1 to 1.5 days of mixed use and full charge in under an hour
- Bright AMOLED display at 120Hz with 5000-nit peak brightness; scrolling is fluid and daylight visibility is strong
- Slim and light at 8.2mm thick and 213g, with an optical under-display fingerprint sensor that works fast
- Dimensity 7300 GPU struggles with demanding games and heavy multitasking; performance dips noticeably under sustained load
- 50MP main camera lacks a true telephoto, and the 8MP selfie produces soft, low-detail portraits
- Pixel density at 388 ppi is adequate but not sharp for a 6.77-inch screen when viewed closely
Vivo Y500 (China) Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, September 01 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio), AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, 5000 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF Auxiliary lens |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.1, (wide) |
| Battery | 8200 mAh |
| Charging | 90W wiredReverse wired |
| Software | Android 15, OriginOS 5 |
| Dimensions | 163.1 x 75.9 x 8.2 mm (6.42 x 2.99 x 0.32 in) |
| Weight | 213 g (7.51 oz) |
| Durability | IP68/IP69+ dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 24 hours) Drop resistant up to 1.7m |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
Vivo Y500 (China) FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Y500 (China) support 5G?
Yes. The Y500 (China) supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Y500 (China) use?
The Y500 (China) runs on the Mediatek Dimensity 7300 (4 nm).
What display does the Y500 (China) have?
A 6.77 inches, 110.9 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio) AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 3840Hz PWM, 5000 nits (peak), 1080 x 2392 pixels (~388 ppi density).
How big is the Y500 (China) battery?
The Y500 (China) has a 8200 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 90W wiredReverse wired.
Does the Y500 (China) have NFC?
Yes, the Y500 (China) has NFC.
Is the Y500 (China) water resistant?
The Y500 (China) carries a IP68/IP69+ dust tight and water resistant (high pressure water jets; immersible up to 1.5m for 24 hours) Drop resistant up to 1.7m rating.
Does the Y500 (China) support a microSD card?
No, the Y500 (China) does not support expandable storage.
Does the Y500 (China) have a headphone jack?
No, the Y500 (China) does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Y500 (China) isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Y500
Y400 Pro 5G
Y31 Pro 5G
Y400 Pro
Galaxy A56
