The Vivo S18 series has recently been unveiled in China, consisting of the Vivo S18, S18 Pro, and S18e models. In this article, we will take a closer look at the specifications and features of the base S18 and the higher-end S18 Pro models.
Vivo S18 & Vivo S18 Pro: Design and Display
Vivo has given its S series smartphones a design refresh with the new S18 models. Both the S18 and S18 Pro feature a rectangular camera module at the back, but with a different image sensor alignment compared to their predecessors. The back of the devices houses two modules, with the top half containing the cameras and the bottom half featuring a twin LED lighting setup. This setup includes a regular dual-tone flash and a larger soft LED lighting that runs along the border of the bottom half, similar to a ring light.
The rear panel of the S18 series showcases a feather-like pattern and a plastic middle frame. Both models have a slim and lightweight body, measuring just 7.45mm in thickness and weighing 185.8 grams (187.8 grams for the Pro). On the front, both devices sport a tall 6.78-inch curved OLED display with Full HD+ resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2800 nits. The panel also features a center-aligned punch-hole cutout for the front camera.
Specifications and Camera
Vivo recently revealed the chipsets used in the entire S18 series. The Vivo S18 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 SoC, while the S18 Pro features the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset. These processors are coupled with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. It is worth noting that the Pro variant comes with LPDDR5X RAM, while the standard version offers LPDDR4X memory. Both the Vivo S18 and S18 Pro run on the Android 14 OS with the OriginOS 4 custom skin out of the box.
One notable feature of the S18 lineup is its support for up to 16GB of virtual RAM expansion and 50GB of storage compression. The devices are powered by a large 5,000mAh battery pack, which supports 80W fast charging. According to official claims, the S18 and S18 Pro can last up to 13.5 hours on a single full charge, with the battery cells designed to have a lifespan of 4 years. Vivo has also promised free battery replacement for 4 years. Additional features include Bluetooth 5.4/Bluetooth 5.3, an in-display fingerprint scanner, various audio codec support, facial recognition, and more.
In terms of photography, the Vivo S18 Pro boasts a 50-megapixel Sony IMX920 primary sensor, a 50-megapixel Samsung JNI ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 12-megapixel IMX663 telephoto shooter with 2x optical zoom. It is worth noting that the primary sensor used is the same as the one found in the flagship Vivo X100. On the other hand, the base S18 model offers a 50-megapixel main camera paired with an 8-megapixel ultra-wide-angle shooter. Both models feature a 50-megapixel selfie shooter on the front.
Pricing and Availability
The Vivo S18 and S18 Pro are available in multiple color options, including white, green, and black. These models also come in various storage configurations. Here is a breakdown of the pricing:
Vivo S18
- 8GB + 256GB: 2,299 Yuan (roughly $325)
- 12GB + 256GB: 2,599 Yuan (roughly $367)
- 12GB + 512GB: 2,799 Yuan (roughly $395)
- 16GB + 512GB: 2,999 Yuan (roughly $424)
Vivo S18 Pro
- 12GB + 256GB: 3,199 Yuan (roughly $452)
- 16GB + 256GB: 3,499 Yuan (roughly $494)
- 16GB + 512GB: 3,699 Yuan (roughly $522)
The Vivo S18 will be available for sale starting from December 22, while the S18 Pro model will go on sale alongside the S18e on January 13, 2024.
