Vivo V29 Review: Quick, let me take a selfie

Verdict

The Vivo V29 is a type of attention-grabbing smartphones that makes an enormous play on a single characteristic – selfie high quality. That it then is vastly profitable as a basic digital camera telephone, with principally beauty, reliable battery life and a vibrant, detailed display screen is a testomony to its total high quality. However for a greater speaker setup, a bit extra energy or longer software program help, it will be an on the spot suggestion.

Introduction

The hunt for the proper selfie has seen many challengers come and go – utilizing modern sensors, flashes and extra as their instruments of alternative, although arguably none have ever actually succeeded.

With its new entry, the V29, BBK subsidiary Vivo is staking a declare for the prize. It has a super-high decision 50MP snapper on the entrance, an modern Ring-LED flash on the rear, a set of specialized photograph processing choices and extra, it is a system that on the floor is designed round a single use case.

There’s after all extra to a very good selfie than specs, and extra to a very good smartphone than a singular concentrate on one space. By specialising an excessive amount of there comes the hazard of shedding out to extra typically expert units from the competitors, however by not specialising sufficient the killer characteristic may simply grow to be a dud.

On the identical worth level of round £430/€450 (no confirmed UK worth simply but) there’s the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G, the Google Pixel 7a and the Redmi Observe 12 Professional Plus 5G, all of that are decked out with specs and able to rumble.

So does the Vivo V29 make the case for the return of the selfie telephone and handle to be an honest smartphone too within the course of? Learn on for our full overview.

Design

• Curved show
• Tall/skinny facet ratio
• Single bottom-firing speaker

For some time, any smartphone that was designed to really feel ‘premium’ featured a waterfall show. Curving the display screen across the sides to numerous extremes, it lasted for a 12 months or so, however for essentially the most half, producers have moved on. With the V29 Vivo seems to be making an attempt to buck the decline.

No matter your views on curved shows is perhaps, the V29 has a pronounced one. It makes the system somewhat simpler to carry, however comes with some tradeoffs.

Mixed with a glass sandwich design and a distinguished digital camera island (continent?) It is a very fairly however extraordinarily slippery smartphone. A generic TPU case comes within the field, it’s extremely beneficial that you simply use it instantly.

No matter this, even with the case fitted, the V29 feels very nice to carry and is skinny sufficient to make use of one-handed. At 186g it’s not so heavy as to be cumbersome, however sufficient to offer somewhat heft, and at 7.5mm it isn’t the thinnest however feels comfy. With a 90% screen-to-body ratio, it does a convincing impression of solely being a show.

I wouldn’t suggest leaving this with a toddler or a careless particular person nonetheless – although it feels sturdy sufficient and doesn’t bend, a hardwood ground can be its finish. That is the most important tradeoff of any curved show, that even with a case fitted the display screen will nonetheless be extremely uncovered to something which may scratch it, and simply that bit slippier basically.

Two color choices can be found, Noble Black and Peak Blue, with my overview unit showing within the former. Peak Blue is interesting in particular person, offering a bit extra persona than your lavatory customary black smartphone.

Underneath the show there’s a fingerprint reader which I discovered to be fast and correct, and charging is over USB-C. There’s no headphone jack, a single downward-firing speaker and no microSD card slot. Lastly, there may be solely house included for a single SIM, although there may be eSIM functionality.

Fortunately, there’s additionally waterproofing which is a rarity in smartphones which have their origins in China. The V29 is IP68 rated, which supplies theoretical safety at as much as 1.5m for half-hour, which is an uncommon functionality for the value.

In all, the V29 feels costlier than it’s – there’s no hollowness or sharp edges and it has a assured total end. It seems much less Fisher Worth than the Google Pixel 7a and fewer boring than the Redmi Observe 12 Professional Plus.

Nonetheless, there’s no phrase on what’s recycled and what isn’t, which doesn’t bode effectively for sustainability efforts.

Display screen

• 6.78-inch 1260×2800 OLED show
• HDR compliant
• 120Hz refresh fee

Rather a lot has been mentioned on this overview about curved screens and the way they influence design and sturdiness, however not usability. So what’s it like to make use of a display screen with such a dramatic curve on the edges because the Vivo V29?

For essentially the most half, advantageous, you gained’t have any points when scrolling by the interface or studying. Issues grow to be somewhat bizarre when watching video, the place display screen house is misplaced to the curved sides and brightness isn’t uniform. In case you are watching from an angle, it could grow to be somewhat distracting, although that is nitpicking.

At over 1080p however shy of 1440p the V29 has a high-resolution show which has advantages for the viewing expertise, making images, video and textual content seem sharper. There are some drawbacks by way of energy consumption, however extra on that later. 

The 120Hz refresh fee retains the system feeling clean basically use, even when the likes of the Xiaomi Redmi Observe 12 Professional Plus provide 144Hz, the distinction in use is negligible. It’s an enchancment over the 90Hz supplied on the Pixel 7a nonetheless.

With HDR10+ compliance, supported content material on YouTube or in any other case seems vibrant and detailed, and basically use, the show is colour-accurate. At 6.78 inches the show is as large because it sounds, which signifies that watching video is mostly a deal with, although taking part in video games is impacted somewhat once more by the curved sides. As it’s OLED, it has loads of distinction and colors that pop with out going overboard.

I discovered in day-to-day use that the display screen might get vibrant sufficient to resist the (admittedly weak) solar this very British summer season, and there’s an ‘Additional Dim’ setting that makes studying in mattress a pleasing expertise.

Cameras

• 50MP selfie digital camera
• 50MP predominant digital camera, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP depth sensor
• Ring LED flash on rear

Sometimes in 2023, when a smartphone is constructed round a digital camera characteristic, that ‘characteristic’ tends to be the dimensions of the principle sensor on the rear, or the extent of zoom it could obtain. To centre a telephone on a high-resolution selfie sensor and a flash subsequently takes us proper again to 2014 and the times of the HTC Eye.

There’s loads of cause to do that, after all. Smartphones are the first means by which we report our valuable reminiscences, and plenty of of these could also be selfies. As a substitute of utilizing a tiny mounted focus sensor that looks like an afterthought, it’s good to make use of one thing with somewhat pizazz.

To start with specs, the entrance sensor sports activities a 50MP decision, a considerably larger quantity than a lot of the competitors, and binning to 12.5MP. Importantly, the entrance sensor has autofocus, which is a godsend for each photograph and video. On the rear, there’s a 50MP 1/1.56 snapper with optical picture stabilisation, flanked by an 8MP ultrawide and a 2MP depth sensor for portrait mode.

Coming to picture high quality, I solely have optimistic issues to say – Vivo has constructed a pedigree for digital camera efficiency in its units and it reveals. Element in any given picture is considerable, with no hint of oversharpening, the processing is evident and pure in its strategy. Colors are saturated by default, however the ‘Pure Colors’ toggle permits this to be toned down. Dynamic vary as an entire could be very huge, however retaining distinction, and pictures are principally noise-free.

Low-light is equally a hit. Both with the usual long-shutter or the built-in night time mode, photographs produced are stuffed with element, mild, color and distinction. The built-in tripod mode can illuminate even the darkest scenes. Simply as importantly, seize instances are fast, making this among the best mid-range digital camera telephones available on the market in the intervening time. There isn’t a zoom digital camera, however that is anticipated for the value level.

I wouldn’t usually dedicate a lot time to discussing the flash on a smartphone, however the one on the V29 is particular. It’s a ‘Ring LED’ flash, which implies it’s considerably bigger and has higher protection than the usual two-stage smartphone flash. It permits for higher illumination when working in very low mild, and is superior to straightforward flash.

Efficiency by the ultrawide is much like the principle sensor for essentially the most half, with the proviso it isn’t stabilised, is decrease decision and is a smaller sensor, with all the things that entails.

Now for the star of the present, the selfie sensor. Effectively, there isn’t a lot to say because it showcases the entire identical qualities as the principle sensor, apart from stablisation. Regardless of the circumstances, you’ll be assured a fantastic selfie in your photobook. That’s offering you flip off a few of the beautification options – it’s far too simple to present your self a peanut head.

Video is a reasonably blended bag. Although footage is usually detailed and noise-free, the stabilisation isn’t nice, producing a barely nauseating jello impact when strolling. Video from the selfie digital camera is extra of a win, benefitting from a principally static topic (i.e. the face). Audio is equally somewhat uneven. Recording is accessible at as much as 4K 30fps on the entrance and on the rear.

In comparison with the competitors, the Pixel 7a showcases comparable picture high quality however with poorer selfies, whereas the Redmi Observe 12 Professional Plus makes a very good exhibiting however turns something inexperienced right into a shade of thermonuclear astroturf. The Vivo is healthier than each all spherical.

Efficiency

• Snapdragon 778G 5G processor
• 8/12GB of RAM
• 256GB of storage

As is perhaps anticipated from a BBK smartphone in 2023, the Vivo V29 is not any slouch in relation to specs, although with an odd exception.

That’s the Snapdragon 778G 5G that retains it chugging alongside. This barely older chipset has been used within the likes of the Pixel 5 and Pixel 6A – not precisely the most recent and biggest. It’s backed up by a minimal of 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, nonetheless, each of that are greater than sufficient to deal with Android. The system is fluid and highly effective in on a regular basis use, barely skipping a beat.

For the value, the Pixel 7a has a Tensor G2 chipset, which is extra highly effective however has points with thermal efficiency and energy effectivity. The Redmi Observe 12 Professional Plus has a MediaTek Dimensity 1080, which performs equally when scrolling by the interface however higher basically when gaming.

And it’s gaming that is perhaps thought of the Achilles heel of the Vivo V29. Whereas it has sufficient oomph to deal with the likes of PUBG at a excessive body fee with first rate element ranges, it tends to grow to be scorching after prolonged durations of gaming. For many who need a good selfie, this may not matter, however our roundup of one of the best gaming telephones might serve budding cell avid gamers somewhat higher.

Relating to audio, the only bottom-firing speaker doesn’t do one of the best job, getting loud sufficient however showcasing no stereo presence. There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack both, so wired audio fans might want to look elsewhere.

On the Bluetooth aspect, there’s help for aptX HD and aptX Adaptive which signifies that supported Bluetooth earbuds will sound somewhat clearer and fuller. Audio efficiency will not be a spotlight of this system, nonetheless.

Software program

• Runs Funtouch 13
• Primarily based on Android 13
• Principally clean and laid-back pores and skin

As is to be anticipated with any system that has an origin within the East, the V29 comes operating Vivo’s specific flavour of Android, the considerably creepily named ‘FunTouch’.

Previously, this, as with many different of those skins, had a popularity for being overbearing, complicated and buggy. Time has modified lots of that for the higher.

What may need as soon as been a bag of choices and options with none polish is now a ‘customary’ Android interface. A swipe to the left reveals the Google Uncover pane, whereas a swipe to the proper or up reveals apps. A swipe down brings the notification shade down. Within the settings there are many choices for customisation, and blessedly few commercials for Vivo’s personal companies, one thing Xiaomi is horrible for.

Fortunately the Vivo comes with the most recent Android 13, with all of its bells and whistles, nonetheless there are not any guarantees relating to software program updates. Vivo doesn’t have a lot of a foothold within the UK and different BBK subsidiaries are reportedly withdrawing their enterprise from Europe, so chances are you’ll not get updates in the long run.

Battery life

• 4,600mAh battery
• 80W quick charging

Regardless of its slim dimensions, the Vivo V29 comes with a reasonably substantial 4,600mAh battery pack, and with a comparatively weak and power-sipping processor, the components are there for good battery life.

And for essentially the most half that’s what the Vivo displays. Waking at 7am and utilizing it repeatedly throughout a ‘customary’ day of calls, messaging, social media, digital camera recording and GPS, I noticed it attain 30% by 8pm. This implies it, as most any smartphone can simply do now, will final a full day of utilization for most individuals.

The sport changer right here is after all quick charging. At 80W, what the V29 can provide is fast. Extra particularly, the V29 can cost from flat to 100 in slightly below 40 minutes. That’s sufficient to high up shortly earlier than an evening out, if not as quick because the 120W supplied by the Xiaomi Redmi Observe 12 Professional Plus.

If you happen to regularly have solely ten minutes in a day to cost your smartphone, that shall be a greater possibility, however for many the Vivo will simply suffice. Fortunately, a charger comes within the field however it’s European so an adapter shall be required. 

Newest offers

Trusted Opinions check knowledge

‹

Geekbench 6 single core

Geekbench 6 multi core

Time from 0-100% cost

Time from 0-50% cost

30-min recharge (included charger)

15-min recharge (included charger)

3D Mark – Wild Life

Vivo V29

1024

2962

40 min

20 Min

79 %

43 %

693

›