Vivo V29 Review: Solid Display And Camera In A Sleek Package
vivo is quietly making waves in the smartphone market. The company has even overtaken Samsung to take the top spot in one of the world's largest smartphone markets, drawing attention in Europe and Latin America as well. One of the main reasons for their success is that they offer great cameras and great experiences without charging inflated prices.
Vivo V series smartphones are known for offering great cameras at an affordable price. In fact, the vivo V27 has been highly praised by our sister site Pocket-lint for being a budget phone with very good cameras. Vivo V29 is the latest offering from the company which offers better aura ring light and unique design.
We have been using the vivo V29 for a few weeks now and are very impressed with it. In this review, we'll take a look at what the vivo V29 has to offer and see if it's worth it.
Long live V29!
The best camera phone
vivo V29 is the company's latest mid-range smartphone that offers excellent camera features, design and features at an affordable price. It has a large 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display, a 50MP primary camera with OIS, and a 50MP front-facing camera. This model is one of vivo's first budget phones with IP68 water resistance.
- material
- 3D Magnetic Particle Glass on the back, Fluorite AG Glass on the front
- IP rating
- IP68
- Dimensions:
- 164.18×74.37×7.46 mm
- The weight
- 186:
- The screen
- 6.78 inches, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 452 PPI, 2800 x 1260 pixels resolution
- SoCs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G
- AZP:
- 8 GB, 12 GB
- storage
- 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB
- Operating System
- Funtouch OS 13 (Android 13)
- battery
- 4600 mAh
- Fill up
- 80W USB-C flash charging
- ports
- USB-C:
- Front camera
- 50 MP (auto focus)
- reversing cameras
- Primary: 50MP OIS | Ultra Wide: 8 MP | Monochrome camera: 2 MP
- Other:
- Aura Light Ring
- communication
- 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.2
- Security
- Under-display fingerprint scanner, face recognition, PIN, pattern, password
- Colors
- Star Purple, Spade Blue, Noble Black, Velvet Red
- Large curved AMOLED display
- Excellent main camera
- Unique back cover with 3D magnetic particles
- All day battery life
- Slim design with IP68 resistance
- Performance could be slightly improved
- No wireless charging
- Without a cover, it can be slippery
price and availability
vivo is a bit of a conundrum when it comes to the price of the vivo V29. They have not yet said how much it will cost. Although the company claims that the device is a "new launch", it is not currently available for sale. However, the device will go on sale soon.
Vivo said the V29 will be sold in 39 countries worldwide, including major markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Based on the phone's specs and what we know about the V series smartphones, we're guessing the price will be under $500. But to be clear, there is no official announcement about this yet.
We will update this review as more information becomes available.
design
- Dimensions : 164.18 × 74.37 × 7.46 mm
- Weight : 186 grams
- Colors : Star Purple, Navy Blue, Noble Black, Velvet Red
- Construction materials . Unique 3D Magnetic Particles / AG Fluorite Glass / Color Changing Glass / IP68
The Vivo V29 shares many design languages with its predecessor, the V27. It has a curved display on the front and a curved display on the back with a rectangular camera module in the top left corner. The camera system now includes a larger main camera, an ultra-wide sensor, and a larger Aura ring light, which we'll detail below. Next to the flash is a small 2MP monochrome sensor.
The rear gets a unique finish, especially the Peak Blue version we tested. Inspired by mountain peaks, this unique image is composed of magnetic particles approximately 15 million microns in size that reflect light in a specific way, creating a unique appearance. If you like a glossy finish, Peak Blue V29 will catch your eye.
The Star Purple version also has this distinctive finish. The V29 is also available in Velvet Red, which is more like purple with a smooth gradient finish. But for those who prefer something simpler, the V29 is also available in Noble Black. While the latter two models have Fluorite AG glass backs, others like the Peak Blue and Starry Purple use plastic backs that look surprisingly premium.
The design of the phone is standard. At the bottom is a USB-C port, a speaker grill, and a SIM card slot. The power button and volume buttons are on the right side, while the top and left sides are empty. Despite the slim front and back profile and dual curvature, the vivo V29's buttons are tactile and easily accessible.
Vivo V29 is comfortable to use thanks to its slim design and nice touch.
Overall, the vivo V29 feels good in the hand. The curved back and screen make it a sleek and comfortable device. In addition, it is quite light, about 186 grams, and does not get tired during prolonged use. It's a bit slippery, so the included clear TPU case helps. But even with the case on, the phone remains slim and easy to handle.
When it comes to durability, the vivo V29 is on par with most of today's flagships as it is IP68 dust and water resistant, something we rarely see in budget smartphones. vivo even claims the V29 withstands slip and drop tests up to 1 meter away, though we haven't tried it ourselves.
The screen
- 6.78 inches, 2800 x 1260 pixels resolution, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 452 PPI
- Curved edges
- Fingerprint scanner under the screen
As for the display, the vivo V29 sports a large 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. This display has a resolution of 2800 x 1260 pixels, 452 PPI and supports HDR10+ playback. The sides are curved and although it's not square like the HONOR 90, I have to say it's one of the nicest screens I've seen in this segment. The side bezels are minimal, even the top and bottom bezels are very small.
If I had to sum up my experience with the Vivo V29 display in one sentence, I'd say it's an absolute pleasure to use.
Color rendition is excellent and visibility in sunlight is also very good. Gaming, surfing the web, watching videos and reading were enjoyable experiences on the vivo V29. The 120Hz refresh rate ensured a smooth and fluid experience. vivo also features multiple display technologies to reduce harmful blue light and screen flicker and protect your eyes.
camera
- 50 MP primary camera sensor with OIS and f/1.9 aperture
- 8MP ultra-wide sensor + 2MP monochrome
- 50 MP selfie camera with auto focus
- Aura ring light with intelligent color temperature control and even lighting
What really makes the vivo V29 shine is its cameras. The Vivo V29 has the same camera setup as its predecessor with a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP monochrome sensor. On the front, the selfie camera remains at 50MP, but now has autofocus and a larger f/2.0 aperture for better selfie lighting.
The main camera is the star of the show. It takes great photos with great detail and clarity. Colors are quite vibrant, especially when compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, being slightly brighter but not oversaturated. Images are sharp, have a wide dynamic range and almost no visible noise. Even in difficult lighting conditions, the V29 manages to capture a range of details that even the best flagship smartphones can't.
The camera is even convincing in dimly lit or artificially lit areas. Thanks to the built-in optical image stabilization (OIS), it captures a significant amount of light even without using the Aura ring light. The flash is useful in low light conditions when the flash is not ideal. It balances the lighting of your subject and automatic color adjustments work smoothly.
Vivo V29 has one of the best main cameras in the mid-range segment.
However, the ultra-wide-angle camera and monochrome sensors are a bit weak. You will notice a degradation in overall quality, sharpness, detail and color. However, if you don't use the ultra-wide-angle camera often, it should be perfectly adequate for casual shooting. For best results, it's best to use the main camera to take selfies.
Coming to the selfie shooters, the V29 sports a 50MP selfie snapper with f/2.0 aperture and autofocus. Like the previous model, the V29 offers the best frontal shooting. Full of detail and clarity, the selfie consistently impresses with its quality. Overall, if you love selfies, the V29 will not disappoint.
The Vivo V29 might have the best camera of any mid-range smartphone, but don't trust me; Take a look at the sample images below and decide for yourself.
Examples of cameras
daylight
Wide and Ultra Wide and 2x
Dim/artificial lighting
hardware and software
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor
- 8 GB + 128/256 GB or 12 GB + 256/512 GB
- Funtouch OS 13 (based on Android 13)
As for the internals, the vivo V29 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, the same chipset that powered last year's Nothing Phone (1). The chip has one Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.4GHz, three Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.2GHz and four Cortex-A55 clocked at 1.9GHz. Adreno 642L powers the phone's graphics and comes with 8/12GB of RAM and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB of storage.
In everyday life, the Snapdragon 778G performs well. It handles multitasking, app switching and some games smoothly. There were a few instances where the animations were slow, especially when there was a lag during the initial setup, but once everything was settled, the phone felt fast and responsive most of the time.
However, if you like games, this might not be the best choice. Games like Call of Duty, Asphalt 9 and Battlegrounds Mobile India (the Indian version of PUBG Mobile) had to be set to low graphics for smooth gameplay. But if your usage includes scrolling through Instagram messages, WhatsApp, browsing and similar tasks, this phone is more than enough.
As for software, the vivo V29 comes with Funtouch OS 13 as standard. It's very similar to Android, but with a few extra (useful) features like multi-window gestures, customizable animations, and themes. vivo promises two major Android OS updates and three years of security updates for the V29.
The Vivo V29 handles everyday tasks with ease, but it might be the best choice for serious gaming.
If I had to think about the equipment, the speakers are not the best. They're clear and loud, but there's no bass and there's only one speaker, so we don't get stereo effects. On the software front, Funtouch OS reduces the animation refresh rate quite a lot to save battery. However, we were able to bump it up to 120Hz and still look good. Speaking of batteries...
battery
- The battery capacity is 4600 mAh
- 80W fast wired charging
- No wireless charging
The Vivo V29 has a 4,600mAh battery, which may not be the biggest compared to some other mid-range phones. But it works pretty well. I could get through a full day without issue, including using the phone for email, surfing the web, taking photos, and gaming, and still managed over 6 hours of screen time. Display (SoT) when fully charged.
For those days when you need a quick charge, the V29 is equipped with super-fast 80W FlashCharge. According to vivo, the smartphone can be charged from 0 to 50% in less than 18 minutes, and I found that to be true. In addition, a charging adapter is always included in the scope of delivery. If I had to find one small complaint, it would be the lack of wireless charging, which is a little disappointing. But honestly, I didn't miss it because the battery life is really impressive.
evaluation
So you should buy vivo V29. If you're looking for a lightweight, easy-to-hold smartphone with an amazing display and great camera capabilities to complement it well, then no matter the price, the vivo V29 is for you. your best choice.
The only minor drawback might be the performance, but if you don't like graphics intensive games, you might not mind. Also, battery life is good and charging time is short. All in all, if you're looking for a mid-range smartphone with impressive camera specs, the V29 won't disappoint.
Long live V29!
The best camera phone
vivo V29 is the company's latest mid-range smartphone that offers excellent camera features, design and features at an affordable price. It has a large 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display, a 50MP primary camera with OIS, and a 50MP front-facing camera. This model is one of vivo's first budget phones with IP68 water resistance.
