The new Vivo Y18 is unquestionably proof that higher-end features have been gradually making their way into mid-range and even entry-level smartphones. With no fanfare, Vivo discreetly put the phone on its Indian website. It has a sophisticated-looking back with silver ripples carved into the rear plate thanks to a 3D micro sculpting technique used on the Gem Green model. yields a texture resembling a gem when combined with a nanoscale covering, thus the colorway’s name.

Additionally, there is the more muted Space Black, which, upon closer inspection, has a faint’starry night’ appearance. In addition, the Y18 has a 50 MP primary rear camera, dual speakers, and an IP54 dust and splash resistance rating.

It boasts what Vivo claims to be the brightest display in the segment, with a maximum brightness of 840 nits when in High Brightness Mode, along with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button. That may not seem like much for an OLED panel, but since this is an LCD, the achievement is very remarkable. Additionally, TUV-certified “genuine eye protection” is provided.

The 6.56-inch screen has a resolution of 720×1612 and a refresh rate of 90 Hz. MediaTek’s Helio G85 SoC, which has 4GB of RAM and 64/128GB of expandable storage, powers the phone. The Y18 boasts an 8 MP selfie camera and a 5,000 mAh battery that can be charged using a 15 W cable charger. The phone is 163.63 x 75.58 x 8.39 mm, weighs 185g, and runs Android 14 with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 14 on top.