Nice show and digital camera, now with improved efficiency

The vivo V29 is one in every of my favourite mid-range Android smartphones from this yr. It gives so much for its value, but when I had been to focus on a disadvantage, it is the efficiency. Outfitted with the Snapdragon 778G processor, the V29 struggled to satisfy my calls for. Nevertheless, the vivo V29 Professional, that includes the improved MediaTek Dimensity 8200, has arrived, and I have been testing it for just a few weeks. I feel the V29 Professional gives the proper stability between options, value, and efficiency. Discover out why the vivo V29 Professional will grow to be my default mid-range Android smartphone suggestion in my detailed evaluate under!

Value and Availability

The vivo V29 Professional is at present out there for buy in India for round Rs. 40,000 (~$480). vivo says the V29 Professional may also be out there in different nations worldwide, however we do not have a precise date from the corporate but. We’ll preserve you posted with any new particulars as and after they grow to be out there.

Design and Construct

its design, the vivo V29 Professional shares the very same look as the usual V29. Actually, subsequent to a regular V29, you will not be capable of inform the distinction between the 2 — they’re precisely the identical. This implies you will get pleasure from a curved glass on each the back and front, with a plastic body holding them collectively. On the rear, you will discover the identical triple-camera setup, the Aura Ring gentle, and the vivo emblem.

In contrast to the usual V29, which is available in quite a lot of colours, the V29 Professional is available in two colours: Himalayan Blue and Area Black. The Himalayan Blue model seems the identical as the usual V29, that includes a design impressed by mountain peaks and boasting about 15 million micron-sized magnetic particles that create a novel gentle impact.

Nevertheless, I like the Area Black variant I’ve right here. It has a textured end just like sandstone, which I discover extra interesting in comparison with the shiny end of the Blue shade. It has a minimal look that matches my model, although, it is nonetheless fairly slippery identical to the Blue variant. Fortunately, vivo features a clear case within the field.

As for the button and port placements, they continue to be unchanged. On the backside, you will discover a USB-C port, a speaker grill, and a SIM tray, whereas the ability button and quantity rockers are on the precise aspect. The highest and left sides are left clean. Regardless of its slim and dual-curved design, vivo has ensured that the buttons on the V29 Professional are tactile and straightforward to achieve.

And, lastly, when it comes to sturdiness, each telephones are an identical as nicely, providing IP68 mud and water resistance. All issues thought-about, the V29 Professional has a wonderful really feel to it. The curved again and display screen make it a modern and pleasurable gadget to make use of. Regardless of its slim profile, it feels sturdy in hand and is sort of light-weight, weighing round 188 grams – simply 2 grams greater than its customary counterpart.

Show

Shifting over to the entrance, you get the identical large 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh price. It’s got the identical 2800 × 1260-pixel decision with 452 PPI and assist for HDR10+ playback. It’s curved on the edges, which makes it an absolute pleasure to make use of. Sure, I do know not everyone is a fan of curved shows, however what? I fairly respect it on this case. The large edge-to-edge AMOLED show, with its vibrant colours, contributes to a premium really feel, and also you hardly discover any aspect bezels.

Much like the usual V29, this AMOLED panel delivers distinctive shade copy. Whether or not you are scrolling by social media, watching YouTube, or enjoying video games, it stands as one of many most interesting shows within the mid-range Android section – particularly when in comparison with units just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 FE, which sport considerably thick bezels. Moreover, identical to the usual mannequin, vivo has included varied show applied sciences to reduce blue gentle and display screen flicker for eye consolation.

Efficiency

And now, let’s discuss in regards to the standout function of the vivo V29 Professional in comparison with its customary counterpart – its chipset. The vivo V29 Professional runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 8200 chipset. This processor, constructed on a 4nm node course of, options 4 high-performance cores and 4 power-efficient cores. To interrupt it down, the Dimensity 8200 consists of one Cortex-A78 core working at 3.1 GHz, three Cortex-A78 cores working at 3.0 GHz, and 4 Cortex-A55 cores working at 2.0 GHz.

However how does it carry out in real-world use? Is the distinction noticeable in comparison with the usual V29? To place it merely, sure, completely. Any occasional hiccups or stutters I encountered whereas utilizing the V29 are nowhere to be discovered. This sturdy chipset handles all my every day duties, which embrace a number of texting, social media scrolling, emails, calls, and even some gentle gaming, with ease. The Funtouch OS 13, which it is at present working on (although vivo guarantees an replace to Android 14 by year-end), completely sails easily right here.

Talking of gaming, common titles like Name of Responsibility, Asphalt 9, and Battlegrounds Cellular India (the Indian model of PUBG Cellular) run easily on the V29 Professional. These video games run easily at excessive graphics settings, although you should not count on an analogous gaming expertise as that of a smartphone with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Nonetheless, the V29 Professional impresses with its efficiency. If I had been to nitpick, I might level out some pre-installed bloatware within the software program. Fortunately, you’ll be able to disable it, though it takes a little bit of effort and time.

Relating to storage, vivo gives 256GB of storage by default. You could have two decisions for RAM – 8GB and 12GB. When you’ve got a bit of additional cash to spare, I might suggest going for the 12/256GB mannequin. Whilst you won’t instantly discover the distinction, in the long term, you will respect the advantages of the additional RAM. Apps run easily, and so they decide up proper the place you left off — it is undoubtedly a profit value the additional cash.

Digital camera

Coming to the digital camera, the vivo V29 packs an analogous digital camera setup as the usual V29. This implies you get a 50 MP foremost digital camera with a f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, and OIS coupled with an 8 MP ultra-wide lens. The 2MP depth sensor has been swapped for a 12MP telephoto lens that gives 2x optical zoom. On the entrance, the selfie digital camera maintains its 50 MP decision, that includes auto-focus and a wider f/2.0 aperture for brighter selfies.

So, what is the verdict on the digital camera? Nicely, it stays largely unchanged. The first digital camera stands out, particularly contemplating the value level. The 50MP sensor excels at capturing ample element and performs rather well in well-lit circumstances. Even in low-light environments, the first digital camera holds its personal.

The Aura Ring Mild is useful in dimly lit conditions. It is useful if you’d favor to not use a harsh flash or if you wish to illuminate your topic extra softly. It helps evenly distribute gentle in your topic, and the automated shade changes additionally work fairly seamlessly.

The 2x telephoto lens proves itself fairly helpful, as you’ll be able to see within the pattern photos under. The photographs are sharp and spectacular. The colour copy of the telephoto lens matches (carefully) to that of the first lens, which is nice.

The one factor that I did not like, is the ultra-wide angle digital camera. The pictures from this lens seem considerably off in comparison with the opposite two lenses. The colours appear off, and there is a lack of sharpness, but it surely ought to suffice for infrequent photographs. For one of the best outcomes, sticking to the primary digital camera and telephoto shooter is your greatest wager.

Digital camera Samples

Daylight

Extremely-wide vs 1x vs 2x

Low/Synthetic Mild

Battery Life

Lastly, onto the battery life, and I will be actually trustworthy, I had excessive expectations right here. Though the V29 Professional comes solely with a 4,600 mAh cell — which is small these days, however given the telephone is slim, I might reside with it — I used to be hopeful, because of the 4nm Dimensity 8200 chipset, which ought to theoretically provide improved energy effectivity. Nevertheless, that wasn’t the case.

Sure, the telephone lasted me a day, however I needed to be cautious with my utilization. With none restrictions, I might simply drain this telephone earlier than the day was out. Nevertheless, vivo makes up for it together with an 80W FlashCharge with the V29 Professional (adapter is within the field). It will possibly take the telephone from 1% to 50% in roughly 20 minutes, with a full cost taking round 50 minutes. Whereas there is not any wi-fi charging, it is one thing you may count on on this value vary.

Verdict

So, is the V29 Professional value shopping for? Nicely, in the event you’re on the lookout for a smartphone that gives an incredible show, major digital camera, and efficiency, the vivo V29 Professional is a stable alternative. Actually, I might suggest it over the usual V29 as a result of the efficiency enchancment is sort of noticeable. If I needed to nitpick, I’d say the dearth of stereo audio system and kind of brief battery life may very well be a problem for some. Nevertheless, if these elements do not trouble you, that is essentially the most well-rounded smartphone that you may get on this value vary.