Highlights
- 6.78-inch AMOLED display with HDR10+ certification ensures a captivating visual experience.
- 50MP OIS night camera captures impressive low-light shots, bolstered by the Smart Aura light feature.
- Snapdragon 778G under the hood offers consistent performance and smooth multitasking.
- 4,600mAh battery complemented by a rapid 80W charging capability.
The Vivo V29 enters the bustling mid-range smartphone market, carrying the weight of expectations from Vivo loyalists and casual users alike.
Hailing from Vivo’s celebrated V-series lineup, the V29 promises a blend of cutting-edge technology, sophisticated design, and a user experience that resonates with the brand’s commitment to innovation.
Priced at Rs 32,999 the device is not exactly a budget-friendly option and in this review let’s find out if it is worthy of your attention.
Vivo V29: Key Specs
- Display: 6.78-inch curved AMOLED, HDR10+ certified
- Processor: Snapdragon 778G
- RAM/Storage: 8GB LPDDR4X / 128GB UFS 3.1
- Rear Camera: 50MP OIS primary lens
- Front Camera: 50MP selfie shooter
- Battery: 4,600mAh with 80W fast charging
- OS: Android 13-based FuntouchOS 13
- Connectivity: 5G ready
Vivo V29: Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
| Stunning AMOLED display | Modest battery size |
| Sleek design and build | No stereo speakers |
| Rapid 80W charging | Bloatware presence |
| Impressive primary camera quality |
Vivo V29: Design and Build
The Vivo V29, Vivo’s latest entrant into the smartphone market, is a testament to the brand’s commitment to innovative design and impeccable craftsmanship.
At the very outset, its design language speaks volumes of Vivo’s prowess: the phone beautifully marries form with function.
Sporting an exquisite Majestic Red hue, the V29 showcases a frosted matte-glass finish on the back.
This not only lends the device a luxurious and premium appearance but also boasts a practical aspect, being resistant to unsightly fingerprints.
The design intricacies extend to the phone’s slim profile, a mere 7.4mm, which is quite an achievement given its suite of features.
Furthermore, weighing in at just 184g, it feels incredibly light, almost feather-like, in the hand.
The gentle curves on its back are not just an aesthetic choice but are also ergonomically designed, mimicking the natural curve of a hand and ensuring a comfortable grip.
This attention to detail is evident in the phone’s buttons as well.
Sleek slits on the side double up as the volume rocker and power button, exuding a minimalist elegance.
At the bottom, the Vivo V29 houses the now-standard USB-C port, reinforcing its contemporary design ethos.
However, the absence of stereo speakers is somewhat surprising and might be a letdown for audiophiles.
Vivo V29: Display Quality
When you boot up the Vivo V29, the first thing that catches your attention is the 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display.
It delivers clear and crisp visuals, and the colours are vibrant, but not overly saturated. With its HDR10+ certification, the display manages to offer decent contrasts, especially noticeable while streaming content on platforms like Netflix.
The curved edges, a design choice we’ve seen in many premium devices, does give the V29 a refined look.
It also has the added advantage of reducing bezels, providing a slightly larger screen real estate.
The punch-hole for the selfie camera is present at the top, and while it’s a common feature in most phones nowadays, it remains minimally invasive on this display.
Brightness levels are commendable and should suffice for most scenarios, from indoor to outdoor.
However, as with most devices, direct sunlight might pose some visibility challenges.
On the whole, the Vivo V29 offers a solid display experience suitable for day-to-day tasks, streaming, and gaming.
Vivo V29: Camera Capabilities
The Vivo V29’s camera system is, without a doubt, its most distinguishing feature, with the 50MP OIS night camera taking center stage.
In low-light settings, our preliminary tests yielded images that were rich in detail and color accuracy.
The built-in Night Mode accentuates this capability, even though we noticed a smidge of noise in some shots.
Adjusting the settings, however, quickly rectified this.
Another notable feature is the Smart Aura light, which, in our experience, surpassed traditional flash in capturing superior images, especially of faces during evening events.
In well-lit conditions, the device demonstrated commendable dynamic range and detail, especially for its price bracket.
The camera’s capability to crisply focus on subjects while naturally blurring backgrounds was particularly impressive.
However, not all lenses were equally praiseworthy.
The 8MP ultra-wide lens didn’t measure up to the primary lens’s performance, and the inclusion of a 2MP depth sensor seemed redundant, given the advancements in AI-driven bokeh effects.
On the front, the 50MP selfie camera stands out, delivering some of the most detailed selfies in its segment.
Consistent with Vivo’s tradition, the V29 places a strong emphasis on producing top-tier portraits, whether using the front or rear cameras.
Vivo V29 Day Camera Samples
Vivo V29 Night Camera Samples
Vivo V29: Performance and Features
The Vivo V29 is powered by the Snapdragon 778G processor.
While it’s not the fastest offering for its price range, in our tests, the device’s performance was consistent and reliable, with minimal lag or interruptions.
Benchmark scores offer a quantitative perspective: the V29 logged a multi-core score of 2,873 on Geekbench 6 and an overall score of 589,851 on Antutu.
When stressed, the device sustained up to 91% of its optimal performance, which is commendable.
For gamers, the V29 supports BGMI at 60fps with Smooth graphics settings, though there’s a noticeable warmth after 30-45 minutes of continuous play.
Summing it up, the V29 delivers decent performance, but if you’re after top-tier processing speed, there are other contenders in the market.
Apart from that the phone packs in 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of UFS 3.1 storage to boot
The omission of stereo speakers is indeed a drawback given the phone’s price point. On a positive note, the in-display fingerprint sensor worked efficiently during our tests.
Additionally, its 5G capabilities, when tested on Airtel’s Noida network, met our expectations.
Vivo V29: Software and Battery
The software on the Vivo V29 is characteristic of FunTouchOS—highly customisable with a multitude of settings to delve into and tweak for a personalized user experience.
However, it does come with its share of bloatware.
Some pre-installed apps can be helpful, but many may not align with every user’s needs. While you can uninstall several third-party apps, the proprietary Vivo apps might pose a challenge to remove.
Vivo has committed to two years of Android OS updates, starting with the Android 13-based FuntouchOS 13 the phone comes with, and three years of security patches.
Given the competition in this segment, with brands like OnePlus and Samsungoffering extended update periods, it would be reasonable for users to expect Vivo to extend its OS update commitment.
The Vivo V29 houses a 4,600mAh battery, which might seem modest in comparison to the typical 5,000mAh batteries seen in many phones within this price bracket.
However, its standout feature is the 80W fast charging capability, enabling users to rapidly recharge the phone.
In our regular use, the phone managed just above 5 hours of screen-on time, necessitating a charge by day’s end.
While the swift charging is appreciated, a more substantial battery would have been a welcome addition.
Vivo V29: Final Verdict
The Vivo V29 attempts to strike a balance between premium features and practical usability, and for the most part, it succeeds.
Its AMOLED display, impressive main camera, and rapid charging make it a strong contender in its segment.
However, some choices, like the slightly smaller battery and absence of stereo speakers, are felt.
Still, with its robust performance, customisable software, and elegant design, the V29 should resonate with those looking for a blend of style and substance.
Vivo V29: My Mobile Rating
Vivo V29: My Mobile RatingDesign – 4/5
Display – 4/5
Performance – 3.5/5
Camera – 3.5/5
Battery – 3.5/5
Overall – 4/5
VIVO V29 KEY SPECIFICATIONS
Key Specs
| RAM | 6 GB |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G |
| Rear Camera | 64 MP + 8 MP + 2 MP + 2 MP |
| Front Camera | 32 MP |
| Battery | 4500 mAh |
| Display | 6.5 inches (16.51 cm) |
General
| Launch Date | July 15, 2023 (Unofficial) |
| Operating System | Android v11 |
| Custom UI | Funtouch OS |
Performance
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G |
| CPU | Octa core (2.2 GHz, Dual core, Kryo 470 + 1.8 GHz, Hexa Core, Kryo 470) |
| Architecture | 64 bit |
| Fabrication | 8 nm |
| Graphics | Adreno 618 |
| RAM | 6 GB |
Display
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Screen Size | 6.5 inches (16.51 cm) |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2408 pixels |
| Aspect Ratio | 20:9 |
| Pixel Density | 406 ppi |
| Bezel-less display | Yes with punch-hole display |
| Touch Screen | Yes, Capacitive Touchscreen, Multi-touch |
Camera
| MAIN CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Quad | |
| Resolution | 64 MP, Primary Camera 8 MP, Ultra-Wide Angle Camera 2 MP, Macro Camera 2 MP, Depth Camera |
|
| Autofocus | Yes | |
| Flash | Yes, LED Flash | |
| Image Resolution | 9000 x 7000 Pixels | |
| Settings | Exposure compensation, ISO control | |
| Shooting Modes | Continuous Shooting High Dynamic Range mode (HDR) |
|
| Camera Features | Digital Zoom Auto Flash Face detection Touch to focus |
|
| FRONT CAMERA | ||
| Camera Setup | Single | |
| Resolution | 32 MP, Primary Camera | |
Battery
| Capacity | 4500 mAh |
| Type | Li-Polymer |
| Removable | No |
| Quick Charging | Yes, Fast |
| USB Type-C | Yes |
Storage
| Internal Memory | 128 GB |
| Expandable Memory | Yes, Up to 256 GB |
Network & Connectivity
| SIM Slot(s) | Dual SIM, GSM+GSM |
| SIM Size | SIM1: Nano, SIM2: Nano |
| Network Support | 5G Not Supported in India, 4G Supported in India, 3G, 2G |
| VoLTE | Yes |
| SIM 1 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| SIM 2 |
4G Bands:
TD-LTE 2300(band 40)
FD-LTE 1800(band 3) 3G Bands:
UMTS 1900 / 2100 / 850 / 900 MHz
2G Bands:
GSM 1800 / 1900 / 850 / 900 MHz
GPRS:
Available
EDGE:
Available
|
| Wi-Fi | Yes, Wi-Fi 4 (802.11 b/g/n) |
| Wi-Fi Features | Mobile Hotspot |
| Bluetooth | Yes, v5.1 |
| GPS | Yes with A-GPS, Glonass |
| USB Connectivity | Mass storage device, USB charging |
Multimedia
| Loudspeaker | Yes |
| Audio Jack | 3.5 mm |
Sensors
| Fingerprint Sensor | Yes |
| Fingerprint Sensor Position | Side |
| Other Sensors | Light sensor, Proximity sensor, Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope |
FAQs
What sets the Vivo V29’s display apart?
The V29 sports a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED screen with HDR10+ certification, ensuring vibrant and contrast-rich visuals, especially while streaming content.
How does the 50MP OIS night camera perform in low-light scenarios?
The camera excels in low-light settings, producing detailed and color-accurate images. The built-in Night Mode further enhances this, and the Smart Aura light feature is particularly effective for capturing detailed facial shots in dim lighting.
Does the Vivo V29 offer efficient performance?
Powered by the Snapdragon 778G, the V29 offers reliable and consistent performance for everyday tasks and gaming. Benchmark scores further underline its capability to handle multiple tasks seamlessly.
Is the battery life adequate on the Vivo V29?
The V29 houses a 4,600mAh battery, which might seem modest when compared to other devices in its range. However, its 80W fast charging feature ensures you can quickly top up the battery, providing a balanced power solution.
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