While modern smartphones have been engineered to replace our beloved antiquated gadgets like DSLRs and iPods, they often have a similar weakness: low battery endurance. Seeing this issue, Vivo may have brewed a perfect antidote with the Vivo T4. The brand already had an exceptional track record of harnessing its phones’ battery well, so the next logical step on their part was to utilise an unprecedented battery capacity. With its new smartphone, it made this possibility a reality. The T4 comprises a 7,300mAh battery. Besides this USP, it features other interesting stuff: a bright quad-curved display, a capable processor for adequate performance, and a reliable primary camera.
Vivo T4
Rs 21,999
What Is Good?
- Vibrant display with clear picture quality
- Prolonged battery life
- Dependable portrait snapper
- Surprisingly lightweight phone
- Adequate performance without lag or stutter
What Is Bad?
- Bloatware
- Mono speaker lacks depth in audio quality
- Low-light camera performance needs tweaking
As the sub-Rs 30,000 segment witnesses new drool-worthy smartphones each month, did Vivo crack the code to stay relevant in this formidable race with the T4? Or is it nothing more than a face in a crowded market? Read my review to find out.
Design and Build Quality
From the rear, the T4 resembles the X200. However, Vivo slightly distinguishes between the two phones by encircling the T4’s camera module with a strip that has the same colour as the rear panel. This change adds more finesse to the phone’s overall aesthetic.
| Design | Specifications |
| Colour Options | Emerald Blaze (reviewed) and Phantom Grey |
| Weight | 199g |
| Thickness | 7.89 mm |
| IP Rating | IP65 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: Primary microphone, SIM Card tray, USB port, and speaker grille
Top: Secondary microphone Right side: Power button and volume button |
While the rear panel boldly embraces the ripple effect (which I am a fan of), it unfortunately can’t stop itself from displaying smudges at full force. Just a minute’s interaction with the light is sufficient to reveal the map of your fingerprint smudges. I wish the T4’s back could be frosted, so its beauty would’ve been preserved without smudges ruining the magic.
The T4’s weight distribution is the real aspect that lowkey blew my mind. The smartphone has a battery equivalent in size to an average power bank, yet I never felt its weight even after holding it for hours. Even the phone’s thickness carefully conceals this fact, as it measures equal width to your normal smartphone. This is a real testament to Vivo’s ingenuity in crafting its product.
An extra feather in Vivo’s hat is how durable the phone feels in my hand. Using it for days convinced me it can outlast most evergreen memes if we don’t deliberately fumble it around. However, all these fabulous things happened at the cost of the IP rating. The T4’s IP65 rating against dust and water may not concern you, but its rivals boldly flaunt their triple IP rating.
Display and Audio Quality
With the quad-curved display, the T4 continued its streak of impressing me. While the Red, White, & Royal Blue movie on Prime Video made me kick my feet in the air due to its rom-com aspect, the screen’s quality actually contributed a lot to my experience.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 6.77-inch |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | Full HD+ resolution (1080 x 2392 pixels) |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Display Protection | Not Mentioned |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 5000 nits, Tested: 1956 nits |
| Minimum Brightness | 18 nits |
Each scene appeared beautifully with vibrant colours. Additionally, it was a cakewalk for me to recognise how detailed they were.
I watched a good chunk of the movie at 37 per cent brightness because going a notch above could stun me in a jiffy. As it reached 1956 nits in our brightness test, this situation is completely within the realm of possibility. As a bonus, it can stream HDR videos on Netflix, letting you enjoy your favourite series in tremendous quality.
Talking comprehensively about the T4’s multimedia experience makes me facepalm. While the display is terrific, the speakers didn’t deliver a similar amazing result. Its mono speaker sounded tiny and didn’t get loud to its full capacity. I had to search for my wandering earbuds to enjoy the movie.
Performance and Software
The Vivo T4 relies on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset as its brain. It’s my fourth encounter with this guy. Except for one, it again delivered a satisfying performance in my testing. As you can see, the benchmark score may showcase that it trails somewhat behind its competitors.
However, my daily usage dictated something else. From scrolling the YouTube short feeds to watching a movie to gaming, every task was executed in an instant with no lag in sight.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 |
| RAM | Up to 12GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | Up to 256GB UFS 2.2 |
| Storage Test | 59038 |
| CPU Throttling Test | No CPU Throttling detected |
| Software Version | FunTouch OS 15 based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity Details | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Number of Software Updates | Two years of OS updates and three years of security updates |
Speaking of gaming, I played BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile to check the phone’s capabilities. BGMI could only touch the 60fps mark at the lowest graphical settings, yet the game consistently hovered around this point in my entire gameplay.
The T4 can run Call of Duty: Mobile at 90fps, which is why I had the most fun defeating my enemies. That said, the frame per second meter didn’t constantly stay at 90fps. While the frame rate fluctuated slightly, I encountered no noticeable stutter.
While the software’s look and feel may not win accolades, its reliability did win my heart. The animation felt sluggish when I started reviewing this phone, considering the refresh rate was set at 120Hz. By pushing two updates, Vivo took no time fixing this issue. It is a bummer that the brand promises two years of software updates and three years of security updates. That’s because you can find other phones like the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion offering three years of updates and four years of patches in the same segment. Nevertheless, this period will be the most calming moment because you will regularly receive software updates on time.
However, my current experience with the phone was slightly annoying, and the bloatware was at fault. These apps wouldn’t resist filling my notifications with spammy messages if I accidentally opened them. The notorious ‘Hot Apps’ and ‘Hot Games’ played a major role. If this irks you, opting for the Motorola Edge 60 Fusion or the Nothing Phone (3a) might be a better choice for you.
Camera
The T4 may trick you into believing it comprises quadruple cameras, but it only possesses a 50-megapixel primary camera alongside its bokeh sidekick.
| Cameras | Specifications |
| Primary camera | 50-megapixel, f/1.8 (OIS) |
| Secondary camera | 2-megapixel, bokeh, f/2.4 |
| Selfie camera | 8-megapixel, f/2.0 |
| Video capabilities | 4K at 30fps for the rear and front cameras |
The primary camera is adept at capturing detailed photographs in daylight while retaining almost natural colours.
Moreover, dynamic range is often well handled. However, it can sometimes oversharpen the image at moderate intensity.
But what truly stole my heart was its ability to click portrait images with flawless blur. These images have a blur in the background that feels natural. Edge detection is majorly on point.
Additionally, human skin tones resemble those in real life. Meanwhile, it maintains subtle details on the subject’s face. That said, a decline in light instantly provokes the camera to introduce noise in the darker portion of any photo and smooth out the human face.
By the way, the last sentence aptly explains its performance in low-light conditions. In ample lighting, it produces results similar to those achieved in daylight conditions. It preserves intricate details in the subject, as seen in Kaiju No. 8’s figurine.
However, the decline in lighting makes it even out stuff like stubble on the human face. Also, a slight movement blurs the subject in a heartbeat, so make sure you carry along patience when stepping out.
The front camera takes attractive selfies in ample lighting, with the face containing most details. That said, it flattens out the details in low-light conditions.
Battery and Charging
The biggest USP of the T4 is its humongous 7,300mAh battery. And, Vivo delivered on the claim it made for this phone. We tested the phone alongside the Realme P3 5G, iQOO Z10, and Nothing Phone (3a).
It lasted for almost 10 hours in the extreme battery test. It is a commendable feat when you consider we ran multiple rounds of benchmarks, 4K video recording, BGMI gameplay, and whatnot. To experience this peak moment, you can visit the video linked below.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Capacity | 7,300mAh |
| PCMark Battery Test | 25 Hours |
| Charger Support | 90W |
| Charger in the box? | Yes |
| Charging Speed | 1 hour 5 minutes |
We also examined its battery life using the PCMark Battery test, and it outperformed nearly every phone in our testing history by achieving 25 hours on the scoreboard. Yet, it was not enough to hold the ground against the Redmi 14C, which lasted two hours more.
I squeezed almost similar battery life in my daily routine on moderate usage. When its battery was depleted to zero, it took me just an hour and 30 minutes to charge the phone completely with its 90W charger.
Verdict
Ultimately, the Vivo T4 is an irresistible option for folks seeking a long marathoner. Besides its persistent battery longevity, it offers a tremendous display for memorable movie nights. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 3 chipset delivers adequate performance for an easygoing life.
While the overall aesthetic of the user interface may not leave a strong impression, it is pretty reliable. Regular software updates instantly iron out any bugs. If you are a portrait fanatic, its primary camera will serve you admirably.
That said, Vivo’s battery champ isn’t immune to compromises, which you should take note of. The phone’s speaker doesn’t match the quality of its display, so your holistic multimedia experience may fall short of your desired satisfaction. The culprit in this case is the mono speaker.
While the software is reliable with frequent bug fixes, it can annoy you with its spammy notifications. Moreover, folks seeking regular updates for years may get demoralised by its two years of software and three years of security patch updates. The camera’s low-light performance needs refinement, as a slight change in light intensity is sufficient to alter its quality.
Regarding the alternatives, you can consider the iQOO Z10, as it offers a similar proposition while delivering relatively faster performance. You can also opt for the Nothing Phone (3a) if your priority is a well-rounded experience with a pristine user experience. The Motorola Edge 60 Fusion is also a good choice if you seek an all-rounder phone.
