Smartphone makers love to point out off their newest and best flagship telephones with a lot fanfare at product launches. These gadgets usually value almost a thousand {dollars}, but do you actually need to spend that a lot cash on a cellphone?
Vivo says no. With the V29 and V29 Pro, the corporate is attempting to show you will get a nice cellphone with flagship-like options with out spending a fortune. Vivo has been on a roll within the mid-range cellphone class, and it is all because of its telephones’ nice cameras and affordable costs.
The firm’s new mid-rangers use the identical components as their predecessors, the Vivo V27 and V27 Pro (which I reviewed earlier this 12 months), and add a bit of additional flare to make them interesting to shoppers. So, let’s take a nearer take a look at these two gadgets and see how they carry out in the true world.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Price and availability
The Vivo V29 is barely obtainable in a few markets proper now, but Vivo says it will likely be obtainable in almost 40 international locations throughout Europe, Asia, and Latin America sooner or later. In Spain, it prices €529. It additionally launched in India on October 4 at a beginning worth of ₹32,999.
Meanwhile, the Vivo V29 Pro is formally obtainable in India for round ₹40,000 (roughly $480).
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Design
Distinguishing between the Vivo V29 and V29 Pro may be a bit tough, even when you have each proper in entrance of you. Let’s begin by trying out the one noticeable exterior distinction—the again. The Vivo V29 collection affords vibrant selections, equivalent to Himalayan Blue, Majestic Red, and Space Black. Just like its predecessors, all these fashions showcase Vivo’s Fluorite AG Glass again, a nifty characteristic that modifications coloration when hit by daylight or UV gentle.
The Majestic Red and Space Black variations rock that signature thermochroic glass again, but the Himalayan Blue one goes with a surprisingly smooth and premium-feeling plastic again.
On the opposite hand, the V29 Pro solely has a couple of hues—Himalayan Blue and Space Black. However, solely the blue variant performs the color-changing recreation. Its design is impressed by mountain peaks, packing round 15 million tiny magnetic particles that make the colour shift and shimmer with each transfer, in keeping with Vivo. Space Black remains to be superior, but the blue one is next-level mesmerizing.
I received to mess around with each the Himalayan Blue and Majestic Red flavors of the V29, and they have this dazzling factor happening. The Himalayan Blue retains it chill with a constant coloration vibe, whereas the Majestic Red takes you on a journey from a gentle purple hue to a deeper shade in a single easy, gradient transfer.
When it involves how the Vivo V29 and V29 Pro really feel and look in your hand, they’re virtually twins. Besides the glass (or plastic) again end, there’s not a lot setting them aside. They each rock a substantial digicam module that takes up a giant portion of their backs. But it is not as chunky as those you will discover on another flagship telephones. That means these infants slide into your pocket with ease.
Both fashions characteristic the identical curved glass entrance and again, held collectively by a plastic body. Flip it over, and you are greeted by the identical trio of cameras and the fashionable Aura Ring gentle.
Both the V29 and V29 Pro are a little slippery to carry, but Vivo has your again with a clear TPU case it throws within the field. Now, sturdiness is the place the V29 flexes a bit. It boasts an IP68 mud and water resistant tag, which is not your regular characteristic in funds smartphones. It means this cellphone can deal with first rate water publicity, with submersion beneath one meter. Not that I attempted it myself—I’m not that courageous. On the opposite hand, the Pro mannequin, oddly sufficient, does not sport the identical waterproof bragging rights.
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Down on the backside, you’ve got received the same old suspects: a USB-C port, a speaker grill, and the SIM tray. On the precise aspect, you will discover the ability button and quantity rockers.
Like its V27 siblings, the V29 collection is rocking the Aura Light Portrait System in its digicam recreation. It’s received the primary digicam sensor, a little bit of software program methods, and the ring gentle again flash, all teaming as much as make your topics shine.
Now, do not get me flawed, each fashions do churn out some fairly stellar flash portraits. But the Aura gentle is on the smaller aspect, so you are not getting that full-blown gentle ring impact you see in these fancy skilled photographs.
Despite being comparatively inexpensive, the V29 and V29 Pro do not compromise on high quality. With their strong construct and eye-catching design, these telephones really feel like high-end gadgets.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Display
Now, let’s speak screens. Both variations hold it constant with a 6.78-inch AMOLED show that is a pleasure to make use of. The easy 120Hz refresh fee makes every little thing really feel additional snappy, and the brightness holds its personal in opposition to the solar, so no squinting crucial.
These fashions stick with the identical coloration copy controls we have seen earlier than, providing you with three fundamental presets to play with. You’ve received your Standard, Pro, and Bright presets, plus the choice to tweak the colour temperature of every. It’s just about the identical coloration controls you will discover on different telephones from the BBK-owned firm.
Whether you are taking part in video games, looking the online, or watching movies, the Vivo V29 is all about making these experiences top-notch. As a bonus, Vivo throws in some nifty show tech to chop down on blue gentle and display screen flickering, giving your eyes a little additional love and safety.
While many top-tier Android telephones are going all-in on flatter shows, there’s one thing cool about Vivo’s mid-range fashions rocking these curved edges. It offers these telephones a slick and premium vibe. The aspect bezels hold it minimal, and even the highest and backside ones are taking part in it small.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Performance
The spotlight of the present on the subject of efficiency is the Vivo V29 Pro, particularly once you pit it in opposition to its common buddy. The Pro variant attracts its energy from MediaTek’s Dimensity 8200 chipset constructed on a 4nm node course of. This similar powerhouse of a chipset can be the one doing the heavy lifting for the Vivo V27 Pro. When MediaTek rolled this out, it promised some severe gaming upgrades and effectivity boosts. Well, in my testing, it appears like the corporate wasn’t simply speaking the speak—the efficiency features are legit.
Sure, it is not rocking that flagship chip standing, so you will not discover it flaunting its stuff on the prime of any benchmark charts. But for on a regular basis customers, this chipset holds its personal and then some, particularly on the subject of gaming. I threw Genshin Impact at it, cranked as much as 60fps with excessive settings, and I encountered no hiccups or any noticeable slowdowns.
Of course, it is not fairly as highly effective as a cellphone with the most recent Snapdragon chip, but the V29 Pro holds its personal within the efficiency enviornment. Now, if I’m getting choosy, there’s a little bit of pre-installed bloatware lurking within the software program. That mentioned, you may kick it to the curb, but it takes a little bit of effort.
| Category | Vivo V29 | Vivo V29 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Funtouch OS 13 based mostly on Android 13 | Funtouch OS 13 based mostly on Android 13 |
| Display | 6.78 inches, AMOLED, 1260 x 2800, 120Hz, HDR10+ | 6.78 inches, AMOLED, 1260 x 2800, 120Hz |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G | Mediatek Dimensity 8200 (4 nm) |
| RAM | 12GB | 12GB |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB | 256GB |
| Rear digicam 1 | 50MP, f/1.9 (vast), PDAF, OIS | 50MP, f/1.9 (vast), PDAF, OIS |
| Rear digicam 2 | 8MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) | 8MP, f/2.2, (ultrawide) |
| Rear digicam 3 | 2MP, f/2.4 (macro) | 12MP, f/2.0, 2x optical zoom (telephoto) |
| Front digicam | 50MP, f/2.0 (vast), 22mm, AF | 50MP, f/2.0 (vast), 22mm, AF |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Audio | Mono speaker, 24-bit/192kHz | Mono speaker |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor (in-display) | Fingerprint sensor (in-display) |
| Battery & charging | 4600mAh, 80W wired charging | 4600mAh, 80W wired charging |
| Dimensions | 164.2 x 74.4 x 7.5mm | 164.2 x 74.4 x 7.5mm |
| Weight | 186g | 188g |
| Colors | Space Black, Himalayan Blue, Majestic Red | Himalayan Blue, Space Black |
The Pro mannequin can deal with even essentially the most demanding video games, but in case you push it to the max, you would possibly discover some minor body drops throughout intense motion sequences. Considering the worth, that is nonetheless a exceptional efficiency.
When it involves dealing with on a regular basis duties, the V29 Pro can deal with every little thing I throw at it, from texting and social media to net looking and emailing. It’s operating on Funtouch OS 13 based mostly on Android 13 proper now, but Vivo is promising an replace to Android 14 by the top of the 12 months.
On the opposite hand, the Vivo V29 runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G (6nm) processor, a chip that is been round for about two years. Interestingly, the common V27 is powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 7200, which was solely launched earlier this 12 months.
I reached out to Vivo to ask why the corporate selected an older processor for the V29, and this is what the corporate’s product growth crew needed to say:
“With V collection, we need to ship an all-around carefree bundle at a sexy worth level. A product is all the time nearly as good as the choice and the mix of its particular person components. We consider that the V-Package is a good match for our shoppers’ wants, with which they will absolutely depend on secure and good efficiency for on a regular basis duties. Together with superior options such because the Aura Light with Smart Color Temperature Adjustment and 88W FlashCharge, V29 affords an unparalleled mixture of fashionable design, studio-level imaging capabilities, highly effective efficiency, and worth for cash.”
Having mentioned that, the chipset stored up with my each day duties with none main hiccups. While there have been a few cases of minor slowdowns and one temporary freeze, the cellphone typically felt responsive and easy.
But once you fireplace up sure video games, you actually discover the distinction in efficiency. With the Pro mannequin, I might easily play PUBG Mobile at excessive body charges. On the V29, although, I needed to tone it down for a first rate gaming expertise. There’s a fancy recreation increase mode that is presupposed to make every little thing run like butter, but even with it turned on, I could not get 60fps until I cranked the graphics manner down.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Cameras
The V collection is the place Vivo reveals off what it could actually do when it is flying solo. Unlike the X flagship collection, which groups up with Zeiss for the cameras, the V29 collection is all Vivo’s personal work. And similar to previous V collection telephones, the digicam is the true star of the present.
The digicam setup on the V29 and V29 Pro is just about the identical, besides the Pro ditches the common depth sensor for a beefier telephoto lens. This means you may zoom in additional on the Pro with out issues getting blurry. Both telephones have a 50MP essential digicam that packs sufficient element, so you may zoom in twice with out shedding any high quality.
As is all the time the case with Vivo’s mid-range lineup, the primary digicam steals the highlight right here. It takes wonderful photographs with tons of element and sharpness. The colours are vibrant, leaning a little in the direction of the livelier aspect, but they don’t seem to be overblown. The pictures come out crisp, boasting a vast dynamic vary and nearly no seen noise. Even in tough lighting, the V29 and V29 Pro someway handle to seize a ton of particulars, which is one thing that almost all funds Android telephones battle with.
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Even when it will get darkish or the lights are bizarre, the digicam nonetheless holds its personal. It picks up sufficient gentle even with out the flowery ring gentle, because of the built-in stabilizer. But in case you’re actually in a pinch, the ring gentle involves the rescue. It evens out the lighting on your topic and routinely adjusts the colour so that you look your finest.
This cellphone’s digicam has a secret weapon known as Aura Light Portrait. That massive circle subsequent to the cameras is not a flash, but a bi-color gentle supply.
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This good gentle adjusts itself to match your scene’s lighting, providing you with a delicate fill gentle that blends proper in with your environment. As far as I do know, it is the one cellphone in the marketplace with this cool characteristic.
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Sure, the night time mode is strong, so that you may not end up utilizing this good lighting trick too usually in actual life, but it is a cool choice to have anyway. In my checks, it did a nice job of routinely adjusting to the lighting round me, but you may tweak it manually if you would like.
On the flip aspect, the ultra-wide and macro cameras are form of a let-down. The ultra-wide, although, has its moments and may be helpful each now and then. Regardless, you are higher off sticking to the primary digicam and the selfie shooter for the best-quality photographs.
Meanwhile, the V29 Pro’s 2x zoom lens is a actual game-changer, as you may see from the pattern photographs beneath. The photos are tremendous sharp and detailed, and the colours match completely with the primary digicam.
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Taking photographs with the common V29 feels simply as easy and quick because the Pro mannequin. There’s barely any delay, even once you’re snapping tons of images, which is superior contemplating the V29 does not have the identical powerhouse processor.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Battery life
The V29 and V29 Pro pack a 4,600mAh battery, which could not sound large in comparison with another mid-range telephones, but do not let that idiot you. This battery has all the time lasted me by the day, even after I was touring and utilizing my cellphone like loopy with navigation and tons of display screen time. I constantly received greater than six hours of screen-on-time on a single cost, which is fairly spectacular.
If you take it straightforward on your cellphone, you would most likely stretch that single cost to cowl two days. The solely small bummer is that there is no wi-fi charging, which may be a dealbreaker for some. But truthfully, the battery life is so good that I by no means actually felt the necessity for it.
When the battery lastly runs dry, the V29 collection juices again up at lightning pace because of the included 80W wall charger. It’s not fairly as quick because the loopy 120W charging on some Redmi Note telephones, but it is nonetheless loads fast for many of us. You’re taking a look at hitting round 50 % in simply 20 minutes.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: The competitors
The Vivo V29 collection stands out as a fairly strong midrange choice, particularly in case you’re all about that digicam life. However, it is price noting that though they maintain their very own for on a regular basis duties, the V29 and V29 Pro do not prime the charts as essentially the most highly effective midrange smartphones on the market.
The Google Pixel 7a has extra energy with its Tensor G2 chipset, higher video, and longer software program help, whereas the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus has quicker charging and a higher display screen.
That mentioned, the V29 is the most suitable choice for individuals in search of a camera-first cellphone at a worth that doesn’t break the financial institution.
Vivo V29 and V29 Pro: Should you purchase them?
You should purchase them if…
- You need a cellphone that is straightforward on the load and feels comfy to carry.
- You’re into a killer show paired with software program that meshes completely with it.
- You’re a fan of telephones that may actually flex their digicam muscular tissues.
You mustn’t purchase them if…
- Wireless charging is your jam.
- The absence of stereo audio system in smartphones is a little bit of a letdown for you.
- You’re not a fan of utilizing instances, as a result of each fashions have a tendency to slide out of your arms.
If you are on a tight funds, the Vivo V29 already offers you a strong choice. It handles your on a regular basis stuff like scrolling by socials, watching movies, jamming to music, and some gentle gaming with out breaking a sweat. But, in case you’re a severe gamer otherwise you’re pondering of doing picture and video enhancing on your cellphone, it may be price splurging a bit extra for the V29 Pro.
In the images showdown, every of those telephones has its personal strengths and weaknesses. The V29 Pro nails vibrant colours and handles difficult lighting, but the V29 edges forward within the advantageous particulars recreation, particularly in macro mode. Despite that, my vote goes to the V29 Pro for images, primarily because of its beefier processing energy.
Take your portraits to the subsequent degree
The Vivo V29 Pro is a surprisingly nice cellphone powered by a very succesful MediaTek chip. It options a formidable digicam system with a ring gentle you could alter for higher lighting when taking photographs of topics.