Vivo V29 Review: Solid Display And Camera In A Sleek Package

vivo is quietly gaining momentum in the smartphone market. The company even surpassed Samsung to take first place in one of the world's most important smartphone markets, which also attracts attention in Europe and Latin America. One of the main reasons for their success is that they offer great cameras and a great experience without charging high prices.

Vivo V series smartphones are known for offering excellent cameras at an affordable price. In fact, the vivo V27 has received a lot of praise from our sister site Pocket-lint as a great budget phone with really good cameras. Vivo V29 is the latest offering from the company, which offers an improved ring light aura and a unique design.

We've been using the vivo V29 for a few weeks now and have been very impressed with it. In this review we will take a look at everything the vivo V29 has to offer and see if it is worth the money.

Price and availability

Vivo is a bit of a mystery when it comes to the price of the Vivo V29. They haven't said how much it will cost yet. While the company claims it's "new," it's not ready for sale at this time. However, the device will go on sale soon.

Vivo said the V29 will be sold in 39 countries around the world, including major markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Considering the phone's specs and what we know about V-series smartphones, we expect its price to be under 500 euros. But let's be clear: there is still no official statement on the matter.

We will update this review as more information becomes available.

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• Dimensions : 164.18 x 74.37 x 7.46 mm.
• Weight : 186 g
• Colors : star purple, peak blue, noble black, velvet red.
• Building materials : unique looking 3D magnetic particles/Fluorite AG glass/color changing glass/IP68

Vivo V29 shares many design languages ​​with its predecessor V27. It has a curved display at the front and a curved display at 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 talk about below. Next to the flash is a small 2MP monochrome sensor.

The back has a unique finish, especially in the Peak Blue version we tested. This unique image is inspired by mountain peaks and is made up of approximately 15 million micrometers of magnetic particles that reflect light in a special way, creating a unique look. If you like a glossy finish, then Peak Blue V29 will catch your eye.

The Star Purple version also has a different finish. The V29 is also available in Velvet Red, which looks more like purple and has a soft hue. But if you prefer something simpler, the V29 is also available in Noble Black. While the latter two models have Fluorite AG glass backs, others like Peak Blue and Starry Purple use a plastic back that feels surprisingly premium.

The design of the phone is standard. At the bottom there 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 blank. Despite the slim profile and dual front and back curves, the vivo V29's buttons are tactile and easy to reach.

Overall, the vivo V29 feels very good in the hand. The curved back and screen make it elegant and pleasant to look at. It is also quite light, weighing approximately 186 grams, and does not cause fatigue after prolonged use. It's a little slippery, so a clear TPU case is included in the package. But even with the case the phone remains slim and easy to handle.

In terms of durability, the Vivo V29 is on par with most modern flagships as it has IP68 dust and water resistance, something we rarely see in budget smartphones. vivo even claims that the V29 can withstand slip and fall tests of up to 1 meter, although we haven't tested this ourselves.

Screen

• 6.78 inches, resolution 2800×1260 pixels, AMOLED, 120 Hz, 452 PPI
• Curved edges
• Fingerprint scanner under the screen

Coming to the display, vivo V29 has a large 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. This display has a resolution of 2800x1260 pixels, 452 PPI and supports HDR10+ playback. The sides are curved and while it's not as square as the HONOR 90, I have to say that this is one of the nicest displays I've ever seen in this segment. The bezels on the sides are minimal, the top and bottom bezels are also very small.

Color rendering is excellent, visibility in sunlight is also very good. Gaming, surfing the internet, watching videos and reading were fun on the vivo V29. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures smooth and smooth images. vivo also uses several display technologies that reduce harmful blue light and screen flicker and protect your eyes.

camera

• Main camera with 50 MP resolution, optical image stabilization and f/1.9 aperture.
• 8MP ultra-wide-angle + 2MP monochrome sensor
• 50MP selfie camera with auto focus
• Aura ring light with intelligent color temperature control and uniform illumination.

What really sets the vivo V29 apart are its cameras. The Vivo V29 has the same camera setup as its predecessor with a 50MP primary camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. The front-facing selfie camera is still 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. Take beautiful photos with lots of detail and sharpness. The colors are quite vibrant, especially a little brighter than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but not too saturated. The images are clear, have a wide dynamic range and have virtually no visible noise. Even in difficult lighting conditions, the V29 manages to capture a wide range of details that even the best flagship smartphones fail to do.

The camera can also be impressive in low-light conditions or artificially lit areas. Thanks to the built-in optical image stabilization (OIS), it captures a significant amount of light even without the use of the Aura ring light. Flash is useful in low-light situations where its use is not ideal. It balances the lighting of the subject and the automatic color adjustment works smoothly.

However, the ultra-wide-angle camera and monochrome sensor are a bit weak. You will notice a decrease in overall quality, clarity, detail and color. However, if you don't use the ultra-wide camera often, it should be enough for casual shots. For best results, it's best to use the main camera for selfies.

Speaking of selfie cameras, the V29 features a 50MP selfie camera with f/2.0 aperture and autofocus. Like its predecessor, the V29 offers better front-on shots. Full of detail and clarity, Selfie consistently impresses with its quality. Overall, if you love selfies, the V29 won't disappoint you.

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, extra wide and 2x

Dim/artificial lighting

hardware and software

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

In terms of internal hardware, the vivo V29 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, the same chipset that powered last year's Nothing Phone (1). The chip has one Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.4 GHz, three Cortex-A78 clocked at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A55 clocked at 1.9 GHz. The Adreno 642L handles the phone's graphics and features of 8/12 GB of RAM and 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB of internal memory.

The Snapdragon 778G performs well in everyday life. It handles multitasking, app switching, and some games without any issues. There were a few instances where the animation was slow, especially when there was a lag during the initial setup, but once things settled down, the phone felt fast and responsive most of the time.

However, if you like gaming, this may not be the best choice. Games like Call of Duty, Asphalt 9, and Battlegrounds Mobile India (the Indian version of PUBG Mobile) required low graphics settings for a smooth gaming experience. But if you do Instagram scrolling, WhatsApp messaging, browsing, and similar tasks, this phone is more than capable.

In terms of software, the vivo V29 comes with Funtouch OS 13. It's very similar to stock Android, but has some (useful) extra features like multi-window gestures, custom animations, and themes. vivo promises two major Android OS updates and three years of security updates for the V29.

If I were to think about the hardware, the speakers are not the best. They're clean and loud, but there's no bass and there's only one speaker, so we don't get a stereo effect. On the software side, Funtouch OS slightly reduces the refresh rate of animations to improve battery life. However, we managed to increase the frequency to 120Hz and it still sounds good. Speaking of the battery...

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• The battery capacity is 4600 mAh.
• 80W fast cable charging.
• No wireless charging

The Vivo V29 packs a 4,600mAh battery, which may not be the largest compared to other mid-range phones. But it actually works very well. I was able to get through a full day without any issues, including using the phone for email, web browsing, photos, and gaming, and I consistently got over 6 hours of screen time (SoT) on a full charge.

For those days when you need a quick charge, the V29 features ultra-fast 80W FlashCharge technology. vivo claims that the smartphone can heat up from 0 to 50% in less than 18 minutes, and I found that to be true. The charging adapter is also still included in the package. If I had to find one small criticism, it would be the lack of wireless charging functionality, which is a bit disappointing. But to be honest I didn't miss it because the battery life is really impressive.

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So is the vivo V29 worth buying? If you are looking for a lightweight smartphone that fits comfortably in your hand, has a great display, perfectly customized software, and great camera features without breaking the bank, the vivo V29 is your best choice.

The only small gripe might be the performance, but if you don't like graphics-intensive games, this might not bother you. Furthermore, the battery life is good and the charging time is short. Overall, if you're looking for a mid-range smartphone with impressive camera specs, the V29 won't disappoint.

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