vivo Y29: The 5 ‘Ys’ (whys) that make it a good budget pick

So, there’s a new budget-friendly smartphone in town and it’s not trying to look like a budget phone at all. Meet the vivo Y29, and with just a starting price of under Php9,000, this one defies expectations.

We’re talking about a long-lasting 6500mAh BlueVolt battery, enhanced durability, and a trendy design, all packed into an entry-level shell. But, aside from those key features, here are our five reasons why the vivo Y29 is one of the top picks in the budget segment right now.

Trendy look, sleek curves

Right off the bat, let’s have a closer look at the phone’s design. The vivo Y29 sure looks familiar, looking almost like a sibling to the recently launched vivo V50 Lite.

The Y29 sports a rectangular camera island housing its dual camera setup in squircle lenses, and just below those is what vivo calls the “Dynamic Light.”

It’s not an Aura Light per se but rather acts as an LED notification ring that lights up different colors. Up close, you’ll also see the knurled edge around the camera module adding a sense of premium to its overall design.

Our unit is in the Marble White colorway and as you can see, it mimics a marble-like pattern on this glossy back panel.

Notice the edges? They curve gently to the phone’s flat frame which also comes in a glossy finish. Perhaps, you’d appreciate this setup — adding a more comfortable grip and makes it easier to use in one hand.

For an entry-level device, the vivo Y29 definitely nails it in the design aspect, providing a minimalist yet elegant look, at least as seen from the back.

Protection from all angles

Now, the vivo Y29 isn’t just all beauty, it’s also tough.

The phone is IP64-rated for protection against dust and splashes. For added context, vivo claims the phone can withstand 8 hours of rain and it can even survive water submersion for up to 100 seconds.

Plus, it’s built to withstand impacts, backed by SGS Five-Star and Military-Grade certifications. In other words, it should handle accidental drops with ease and is more resilient to everyday wear and tear.

Flip it to the front and the Y29 also gets a SCHOTT cover glass on top for an added layer of drop resistance for its 6.68-inch display.

Loud stereo sound

Speaking of the Y29’s display, it gets complemented by a dual stereo setup — something that you wouldn’t usually find in the entry-level segment.

Its sound stage is loud, clear and would suffice for binge watching content. The phone even offers up to 400% maximum volume, ensuring it remains audible even in noisy environments.

Those who love to play games can also appreciate this feature as it makes the gameplay a bit more immersive.

6500mAh BlueVolt battery lasts for days

When it comes to gaming, users can expect non-stop play sessions with this one.

Surely the best thing about the vivo Y29 is its massive 6500mAh BlueVolt battery, and I’m happy to report that the added capacity translates to actual longer runtime.

Combined with an efficient Snapdragon 685 chipset, the vivo Y29 can last for days on typical use and can deliver hours of uninterrupted casual gaming. It has a claimed 10+ hours of PUBG gameplay and over 40 hours of video playback.

In fact, our benchmark test, the Y29 surpassed over 32 hours of battery life, which is definitely a solid result in our book. Not to mention, vivo also touts the phone’s longevity as it can retain over 80% of battery health even after multiple charge cycles, providing reliable performance for at least five years.

If you’re wondering how fast it charges to full, it only takes about an hour and a half from 1 to 100% thanks to its 44W FlashCharge.

Fun camera experience, supercharged by AI

Of course, it wouldn’t be a complete vivo experience without talking about the cameras.

The Y29 features a 50-megapixel main camera at the rear alongside a 2-megapixel bokeh sensor. While the image quality is decent for an entry-level device, what I really liked about it is the added AI-powered tools.

Case in point, there’s the built-in AI Erase that lets you quickly remove unwanted clutter in your photos with just a tap. Then there’s AI Photo Enhance, which goes beyond fixing low-resolution images and improving facial clarity; it can even breathe new life into your old, faded photos.

I’d also like to mention that the Y29 also features Google’s Circle to Search, and we find this a nice addition — making it more convenient to make a Google search whatever it is on-screen.

Initial thoughts

All in all, the vivo Y29 is shaping up to be a standout contender in the budget smartphone space, combining durability, long-lasting battery, and some surprisingly premium design that you wouldn’t normally expect at its price point.

You can get the vivo Y29 for just PHP 8,999 for the 8GB+128GB config, and PHP 10,999 for the 256GB variant. Both are now available in vivo concept stores and kiosks nationwide as well as online via the vivo e-store.

It’s not just another budget phone, it’s truly one that looks good, feels solid, and packs enough power to keep up with your casual grind.

If this piqued your interest, you may head over to our YouTube channel to watch the vivo Y29 full review!

vivo Y29 specs:
6.68-inch HD+ LCD
1608 x 720 pixels, 120Hz, 264 ppi
1000 nits (HBM) peak brightness
SCHOTT Glass
Qualcomm Snapdragon 685
6nm, octa-core, up to 2.8GHz
8GB RAM (+8GB extended memory)
128GB, 256GB storage
Expandable up to 2TB via microSD (hybrid slot)
Dual rear cameras:
– 50MP main
– 2MP bokeh
– Dynamic Light + LED flash
8MP selfie shooter (hole punch notch)
Dual nano-SIM
4G LTE
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth 5.0
GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
USB Type-C (USB 2.0)
Side-mounted fingerprint sensor
IP64 dust and splash resistance
SGS Five-Star Drop Resistance + military-grade certification
Dual stereo speakers, 400% volume
Funtouch OS 15, Android 15
6500mAh battery
44W charging (wired)
165.70 x 76.30 x 8.09 mm | 8.19 mm (White)
204g | 208g (White)
Marble White, Espresso Brown (colorways)