vivo V29 Assessment: Stable show and digital camera in a smooth package deal

vivo has been making a robust influence within the smartphone market just lately. The BBK-owned model even overtook Samsung to safe the highest spot in one of many world’s main smartphone markets and is gaining consideration in Europe and Latin America as effectively. One of many massive causes for vivo’s latest success is that it affords smartphones with wonderful cameras and an excellent person expertise, all with out asking for loopy excessive costs.

vivo’s V collection smartphones play a big position of their success story, recognized for providing wonderful cameras at an inexpensive worth. The vivo V27, in truth, obtained loads of reward from our sister-site Pocket-Lint for being a fantastic price range cellphone with actually good cameras. The vivo V29 is the newest providing from the corporate, and it brings a fair higher Aura ring gentle expertise and a novel design.

We have been utilizing the vivo V29 for the previous few weeks and are actually impressed with it. On this evaluation, we’ll dive deep into every part the vivo V29 has to supply and see if it is value your cash.

Worth and availability

vivo launched the V29 formally in August 2023, however it’s presently out there for buy in solely a choose few markets. vivo says the V29 will quickly be out there in a complete of 39 international locations worldwide, together with main areas in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Presently, you should purchase the smartphone in Spain for €529. Whereas there is not any official details about its pricing in the remainder of Europe, contemplating the €529 price ticket in Spain, we anticipate will probably be equally priced in different European markets. It is value noting that the vivo V29 can also be scheduled to launch in India on October 4, 2023.

We are going to replace this evaluation as and when extra data turns into out there.

Design

• Dimensions: 164.18 × 74.37 × 7.46 mm
• Weight: 186g
• Colours: Starry Purple, Peak Blue, Noble Black, Velvet Crimson
• Construct Supplies: Distinctive-looking 3D Magnetic Particles / Fluorite AG Glass / Coloration Altering Glass / IP68

The vivo V29 shares loads of design language with its predecessor, the V27. It has a curved display within the entrance and a curved again with an oblong digital camera module within the prime left nook. The digital camera system now features a larger principal digital camera, an ultra-wide sensor, and a a lot bigger Aura Ring Gentle, which we’ll discuss extra under. There’s additionally a small 2MP monochrome sensor subsequent to the flash.

The again has been given a novel end, particularly the Peak Blue model we examined. This distinctive look attracts inspiration from mountain peaks and options about 15 million micron-sized magnetic particles that mirror the sunshine in a particular method, creating a novel look. For those who like shiny finishes, the Peak Blue V29 will catch your eye for certain.

The Starry Purple model additionally options this distinct end. The V29 is available in Velvet Crimson too (proven above), which seems to be extra like pink/purple and incorporates a clean gradient end. However when you favor one thing less complicated, the V29 can also be out there in a Noble Black variant. Whereas the latter two fashions have a Fluorite AG Glass again, the others, like Peak Blue and Starry Purple, use a plastic again that feels surprisingly high-end.

The structure of the cellphone is normal. There’s a USB-C port, a speaker grill, and a SIM tray on the backside. The ability button and quantity rockers are on the appropriate aspect, whereas the highest and left sides are left clean. Regardless of its slim profile and dual-curved front and back, vivo has ensured the buttons on the V29 are tactile and simply reachable.

On the entire, the vivo V29 has an excellent in-hand really feel. The curved again and display make it an total smooth package deal that is a pleasure to make use of. It’s fairly light-weight as effectively, coming in at round 186 grams, and did not trigger any fatigue throughout extended utilization. It is a bit slippery, although, so having the included clear TPU case helps. However even with the case on, the cellphone stays slim and simple to deal with.

The vivo V29 is a pleasure to make use of due to its smooth design and comfy in-hand really feel.

Sturdiness-wise, the vivo V29 is on-par with most modern-day flagships as it’s IP68 mud and water resistant — one thing we hardly ever see in price range smartphones. vivo even claims that the V29 can take as much as a 1-meter-high roll and drop take a look at, though we did not attempt that ourselves.

Show

• 6.78-inch, 2800 × 1260-pixel decision, AMOLED, 120Hz, 452 PPI
• Curved Edges
• Beneath-display fingerprint scanner

Transferring on to the show, the vivo V29 incorporates a massive 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh price. This display options 2800 × 1260-pixel decision, 452 PPI, and helps HDR10+ playback. It’s curved on the edges, and though it is not quad-curved just like the HONOR 90, I’ve to say that it is without doubt one of the most beautiful-looking shows that I’ve seen on this phase. The bezels on the edges are minimal, and even the highest and backside bezels are very small.

If I needed to sum up my expertise with the vivo V29’s show in a single sentence, I might say it is an absolute delight to make use of.

The colour replica is great, and the daylight visibility can also be superb. Taking part in video games, browsing the online, watching movies, and studying have been all satisfying experiences on the vivo V29. The 120Hz refresh price made the expertise clean and fluid. vivo additionally contains a number of show applied sciences to cut back dangerous blue gentle and display flickering to guard your eyes.

Digicam

• 50 MP main digital camera sensor with OIS and f/1.9 aperture
• 8 MP ultra-wide angle + 2MP monochrome sensor
• 50 MP selfie digital camera with auto-focus
• Aura Ring Gentle wit Sensible Coloration Temperature Adjustment and even lighting

And now onto what makes the vivo V29 actually shine – its cameras. The vivo V29 packs an identical digital camera setup as its predecessor, that includes a 50 MP principal digital camera, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2 MP monochrome sensor. On the entrance, the selfie digital camera stays at 50 MP however now has auto-focus and a wider f/2.0 aperture for better-lit selfies.

The first digital camera is the star of the present. It takes wonderful pictures with loads of element and sharpness. The colours are fairly vigorous, leaning in the direction of a bit extra vivid aspect, particularly when in comparison with the iPhone 14 Professional Max, however not oversaturated. The photographs are crisp, with a broad dynamic vary and hardly any seen noise. Even when coping with difficult lighting, the V29 manages to seize a variety of particulars — one thing that even the most effective flagship smartphones fail to do.

Even in low gentle or areas with synthetic lighting, the digital camera manages to impress. It captures a superb quantity of sunshine even with out utilizing the Aura Ring Gentle, due to the built-in optical picture stabilization (OIS). The Ring Gentle turns out to be useful for low-light conditions the place utilizing the flash is not ideally suited. It evens out the lighting in your topic, and the automated shade changes work seamlessly.

The vivo V29 has among the finest main cameras within the midrange phase.

Nevertheless, the ultra-wide angle digital camera and the monochrome sensors are a little bit underwhelming. You will discover a drop in total high quality, sharpness, element, and shade. Nevertheless, when you do not use the ultra-wide digital camera usually, it ought to do the job for infrequent photographs. For the most effective outcomes, sticking to the primary digital camera and selfie shooter is your finest wager.

Speaking in regards to the selfie shooter, the V29 incorporates a 50 MP selfie shooter with auto-focus f/2.0 aperture. Identical to the earlier mannequin, the V29 delivers a few of the finest front-facing photographs. Selfies are stuffed with element and sharpness, persistently impressing with their high quality. On the entire, if selfies are your factor, the V29 will not disappoint.

The vivo V29 may simply have the most effective digital camera of all of the midrange smartphones, however do not simply take my phrase for it – check out the pattern footage down under and resolve for your self.

Digicam samples

Daylight

Extensive vs Extremely-Extensive vs 2x

Low/Synthetic Gentle

{Hardware} and software program

• Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor
• 8GB + 128/256GB or 12GB + 256/512GB
• Funtouch OS 13 (primarily based on Android 13)

Transferring onto the internals, the vivo V29 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, the identical chipset that powered the final 12 months’s Nothing Telephone (1). The chip has one Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.4GHz, three Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.2GHz, and 4 Cortex-A55 at 1.9GHz. Adreno 642L handles the cellphone’s graphics and it is available in decisions of 8/12GB RAM and 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage.

In on a regular basis use, the Snapdragon 778G works effectively. It handles multitasking, switching apps, and a few video games and not using a hitch. There have been a couple of situations when animations stuttered, particularly throughout the preliminary setup when there have been lags, however as soon as every part was settled, the cellphone felt quick and responsive more often than not.

Nevertheless, when you’re into gaming, this may not be your finest wager. Video games like Name of Responsibility, Asphalt 9, and Battlegrounds Cellular India (Indian model of PUBG Cellular) needed to be set to decrease graphics for clean play. However, in case your utilization includes scrolling Instagram, texting on WhatsApp, searching, and related duties, this cellphone is fairly succesful.

On the software program aspect, the vivo V29 comes with Funtouch OS 13 straight out of the field. It seems to be rather a lot like inventory Android however with a couple of (helpful) added options, comparable to multi-window gestures, customizable animations, and themes. vivo promises two main Android OS updates and three years of safety updates for the V29.

The vivo V29 can deal with on a regular basis duties simply, however for severe gaming, it may not be the best choice.

If I needed to nitpick on the {hardware} aspect, the audio system aren’t the best. They’re clear and loud however lack bass, and there is just one speaker, so we do not get any form of stereo impact. As for the software program aspect, it appears as if the Funtouch OS lowers animations refresh price fairly aggressively to avoid wasting battery life, however we managed to pressure 120Hz and nonetheless obtained good battery life. And talking of battery…

Battery

• 4,600 mAh battery
• 80W quick wired charging
• No wi-fi charging

The vivo V29 comes with a 4,600 mAh battery, which could not be the largest in comparison with another midrange telephones. However, it truly performs fairly effectively. I managed to get by means of a full day with no points – that includes utilizing the cellphone for electronic mail, browsing net, taking pictures, and taking part in video games – and I persistently obtained screen-on-time (SoT) of greater than 6 hours on a full cost.

For these days while you want a fast cost, the V29 comes with tremendous quick 80W FlashCharge. vivo says the smartphone can go from 0 to 50% in lower than 18 minutes, and I discovered that to be true. Plus, the charging adapter remains to be included within the field. If I needed to discover a small problem, it is that there is not any wi-fi charging, which is a bit disappointing. However truthfully, I did not actually miss it as a result of the battery life is de facto spectacular.

Verdict

So, do you have to purchase the vivo V29? Properly, if you’re on the lookout for a smartphone that is light-weight, feels good in your hand, has a improbable show with software program that enhances it effectively, and boasts distinctive digital camera capabilities, all with out having a worth that does not break the financial institution, the vivo V29 is your finest wager.

The one slight downside is likely to be in its efficiency, however when you’re not into heavy graphics-intensive gaming, that may not even trouble you. Plus, the battery life is strong, and charging occasions are brief. All in all, when you’re on the lookout for a midrange smartphone that provides spectacular digital camera options, the V29 will not disappoint.