Vivo just brought the Y21d to Pakistan. This phone was already launched in Bangladesh a while back, and now it’s our turn. The pitch is simple: waterproofing that actually works and a battery that won’t quit on you. The catch? Well, there’s always a catch at this price.
Build and Design
Let’s talk about what you’re actually holding. It’s plastic, though Vivo dresses it up as “premium composite material.” Sure. The thing is about 8.4mm thick, which means it’s got some heft. Not slim by any stretch, but that thickness isn’t random—they needed space for the battery.
Now here’s where it gets interesting. IP69+ waterproofing. You don’t see this on budget phones. Ever. Most manufacturers skip water resistance to save costs, but Vivo went all-in. Drop this in 1.5 meters of water and fish it out half an hour later? It’ll survive. Water gets in the speaker? Tap a button and it shoots the water out. Even the screen responds when it’s soaking wet, which matters more than you’d think if you’ve ever tried using a phone in the rain.
Colors are Jade Green and Coral Red. Pick your poison.
The Performance Situation
Here’s where things get complicated. Inside is a Unisoc T7225 chip clocked at 1.8GHz. If you haven’t heard of Unisoc, there’s a reason—they make budget processors that get the job done without setting any speed records.
The Pakistan version comes with:
- 6GB LPDDR4X RAM
- 128GB eMMC 5.1 storage
Both specs are dated. LPDDR4X and eMMC 5.1 are older standards that move data slower than what you’d find in mid-range phones. The processor can’t push information very fast anyway, so everything becomes a bottleneck.
What does this mean in practice? Scrolling Instagram, watching YouTube, texting—all fine. Start switching between multiple apps or try running a demanding game, and you’ll notice the lag. It’s usable, just don’t expect snappy performance.
Battery Life
6500mAh. That number alone should tell you this phone will last. Combine the huge battery with an HD+ screen and a processor that sips power, and you’re easily looking at two full days of use. Maybe more if you’re not constantly on it.
Charging tops out at 44W, which is actually pretty quick for this segment. Most budget phones limp along at 18W or less. The 44W charger ships in the box too, so that’s one less thing to buy.
Display Compromises
The screen is where Vivo clearly saved money. You’re getting a 6.68-inch IPS LCD with:
- 1608×720 resolution (HD+)
- 90Hz refresh rate
- 83% NTSC color coverage
- 1000 nits peak brightness (supposedly)
That resolution is the problem. Spread 720p across nearly 7 inches and everything looks softer. Text isn’t as crisp, photos lose detail. Coming from a Full HD phone? You’ll notice. The color gamut at 83% NTSC means the display looks washed out compared to better panels. Colors lack punch.
The 90Hz refresh rate helps. Scrolling feels smoother than standard 60Hz screens, which makes the phone feel more responsive than it actually is. As for that 1000 nits brightness claim—manufacturers love inflating these numbers, so take it with skepticism until someone tests it properly.
Camera Setup
Rear cameras consist of a 50MP main sensor and a laughable 0.08MP “depth sensor.” That second camera is complete marketing fluff. 0.08MP can’t do anything useful—it’s there so the box can say “dual camera.” The 50MP main sensor should handle everyday photos fine in good light. Low light and tricky scenes? Don’t expect miracles.
There’s a Dynamic Ring LED around the cameras. It’s decorative, nothing more.
Up front sits a 5MP selfie camera. That’s rough even for a budget phone in 2025. Your selfies will lack detail and struggle in anything but bright daylight. Video calls work fine, but forget about content creation.
Extra Bits
Stereo speakers made the cut, which is nice. Dual speakers sound better than the single bottom speaker most cheap phones use. You’ll appreciate it when watching videos.
The fingerprint sensor lives in the power button on the side. Quick to unlock, convenient placement.
Software is Android 15 with Vivo’s FunTouch OS 15 skin. Google Circle to Search works here—circle anything on screen to search for it. Handy when you need it.
Price
One option available:
- 6GB/128GB: Rs. 43,999
At this price, you’re choosing waterproofing and battery over performance and display quality. Competitors offer sharper screens and faster chips for similar money. Figure out what matters more before buying.
