The Vivo Y51s is a mid-range smartphone that offers a blend of solid performance, sleek design, and impressive battery life. While it may not compete with flagship devices, it certainly holds its own in its price segment. This review dives deep into its features, performance, and overall value proposition to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your needs.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Vivo Y51s exudes a modern aesthetic with its glossy plastic back and minimalist design. The phone feels surprisingly premium despite its plastic construction, and the gradient color options add a touch of sophistication. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is conveniently placed and responsive, while the side-mounted power and volume buttons offer a satisfying click. Weighing in at 190 grams, it’s not the lightest phone out there, but the weight distribution feels balanced, making it comfortable for one-handed use.

The 6.53-inch IPS LCD display dominates the front, with slim bezels and a small waterdrop notch for the front camera. While an AMOLED panel would have been a welcome addition at this price point, the LCD screen delivers decent brightness and color accuracy for everyday use. The lack of a high refresh rate is noticeable, but for casual browsing and media consumption, it gets the job done.

Display and Multimedia Experience

The Vivo Y51s features a 6.53-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1080 x 2340 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of around 395 PPI. Text appears sharp, and colors are vibrant enough for most users, though they may not pop as much as on an AMOLED display. The screen is sufficiently bright for indoor use, but outdoor visibility can be a challenge under direct sunlight.

For multimedia consumption, the single bottom-firing speaker delivers clear audio, but it lacks depth and bass. Pairing the phone with a good set of headphones or Bluetooth speakers is recommended for a more immersive experience. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack might disappoint some users, but the included USB-C to 3.5mm adapter softens the blow.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Vivo Y51s is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 880 chipset, paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The Exynos 880 is a capable mid-range processor that handles day-to-day tasks with ease. Apps open quickly, and multitasking is smooth for the most part, though heavy gaming or intensive applications may cause occasional stutters.

The phone runs on Funtouch OS 10.5, based on Android 10. While the software is feature-rich, it comes with a fair amount of bloatware that can’t be uninstalled. The UI is clean but leans heavily toward Vivo’s customizations, which may not appeal to fans of stock Android. On the upside, the software is optimized well enough to deliver a lag-free experience for general use.

Camera Performance

The triple-camera setup on the Vivo Y51s includes a 48MP primary sensor, a 2MP depth sensor, and a 2MP macro lens. In good lighting conditions, the primary camera captures detailed shots with accurate colors and decent dynamic range. However, low-light performance is mediocre, with images often appearing noisy and lacking detail. The depth sensor helps with portrait shots, but the edge detection isn’t always perfect. The macro lens feels more like a gimmick, as the 2MP resolution results in underwhelming close-up shots.

The 8MP front-facing camera takes decent selfies with natural skin tones, though it struggles in low light. Video recording maxes out at 4K@30fps, but the lack of stabilization means footage can be shaky. For casual social media use, the cameras are serviceable, but they won’t impress photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life and Charging

One of the standout features of the Vivo Y51s is its 4,500mAh battery, which easily lasts a full day of moderate to heavy use. Even with prolonged screen-on time, the phone manages to stretch into a second day for light users. The 18W fast charging support is decent, but it’s not the fastest in its class, taking around two hours to fully recharge the battery.

Connectivity and Additional Features

The Vivo Y51s supports dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and 4G LTE, but lacks 5G connectivity. NFC is also missing, which might be a dealbreaker for some users. The phone includes a microSD card slot for expandable storage, a welcome feature for those who need extra space. The in-display fingerprint sensor is fast and reliable, and face unlock works well in good lighting conditions.

Vivo Y51s Full Specifications:

Display: 6.53-inch IPS LCD, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 395 PPI

Processor: Samsung Exynos 880

RAM: 6GB

Storage: 128GB (expandable via microSD)

Rear Cameras: 48MP primary, 2MP depth, 2MP macro

Front Camera: 8MP

Battery: 4,500mAh with 18W fast charging

OS: Funtouch OS 10.5 (Android 10)

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, 4G LTE

Dimensions: 162.1 x 76.5 x 8.5 mm

Weight: 190 grams

Final Verdict

The Vivo Y51s is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that excels in battery life and everyday performance. While it has its shortcomings—such as the lack of an AMOLED display, average low-light camera performance, and no 5G support—it offers solid value for its price. If you’re looking for a reliable device with long battery life and decent specs, the Y51s is worth considering. However, if camera quality or cutting-edge features are a priority, you might want to explore other options in the same price range.