Vivo’s latest smartphone, the Vivo V30e, has entered the Indian market and is priced below Rs 30,000. With a smooth display, a long-lasting battery, and decent performance, the V30e puts itself forward as an all-rounder smartphone with a knack for aesthetics. And, it pulls it off well. However, it’s not all roses. The V30e sees itself in neck-to-neck competition against the Poco F5, iQOO Neo 7 Pro, and the OnePlus Nord 3? So, how well does it perform, and should you buy it? Or, is the V30e merely a costly investment? Find out in my review.
Vivo V30e
Rs 27,999
What Is Good?
- Attractive design
- Curved AMOLED display
- Good performance
- Reliable battery life and fast charging
What Is Bad?
- Bloatware
- Low-light photography could’ve been better
- No stereo speakers
Vivo V30e Review: Pricing and Availability in India
The Vivo V30e is available in two different variants on Flipkart, with multiple bank offers and cashback also available.
| Variants | Pricing |
| 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage | Rs 27,999 |
| 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs.29,999 |
Vivo V30e Review: Design and Build Quality
The V30e comes in two different colourways: Velvet Red and Silk Blue. Both variants feature a dual-tone back panel made of different materials. The phone looks undeniably striking with a slim form factor. Unlike its predecessor, the Vivo V29e, the camera module has been completely transformed. The rear camera module is accompanied by a golden outer ring, thus giving it the appearance of a smartwatch dial.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | Velvet Red: 188 grams
Silk Blue: 179 grams |
| Thickness | Velvet Red: 7.75mm
Silk Blue: 7.65mm |
| IP Rating | IP64 |
| Port and Button Placements | Bottom: SIM tray, Speaker grille, Primary Microphone, USB Type-C
Top: Secondary microphone Right Side: Power button and volume buttons |
The Velvet Red variant boasts a glass back panel with 80 per cent covered in matte and 20 per cent in a glossy finish. While the matte side remains resistant to smudges, the glossy portion easily attracts fingerprints. Overall, the quality of the back panel feels quite smooth. If used without a cover, the phone may slip from your hands.
Due to the V30e’s lightweight construction, I constantly experienced that mini heart attack of almost losing my phone when I slipped it into my pocket. Still, the phone offers a comfortable grip, sparing my hands any discomfort. Given its slim nature, using it with one hand is easy. The button placements remain consistent with those of the Vivo V29e. All in all, the look and feel of this phone exudes a premium quality.
Vivo V30e Review: Display and Audio
The V30e features a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display. The 120Hz refresh rate offers a smooth UI experience, making usage faster and more efficient. Regarding brightness, Vivo claims a peak brightness of 1300 nits. Indeed, the display is quite bright even when used outdoors.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 6.78-inch |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1080×2400 Pixels |
| Refresh Rate | 120Hz |
| Peak Brightness | Claimed: 1300 nits, Tested: 693 (No HDR support) |
| Minimum Brightness | 03 |
The V30e also incorporates an in-display fingerprint sensor, which works flawlessly. I also watched Friends and Big Bang Theory on Netflix; the picture quality is good. While it supports the Widevine L1 certification, this phone lacks HDR capabilities. The same can be expected from YouTube. The display produces good and punchy colours. So, if consuming multimedia is your main priority, this phone will satisfy you.
Regarding audio, the V30e features a single speaker at the bottom. This is a letdown, and we’ve also seen a similar setup with the costlier Vivo V30 Pro. The single speaker performs adequately when watching movies, but another speaker would’ve elevated the whole experience. You also get an ‘Ultra Boost Mode,’ which increases the volume level to 200 per cent.
Vivo V30e Review: Performance and Software
The V30e is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC and can handle various tasks seamlessly. The same chipset can also be found in the Realme 12 Pro and the Honor X9b. This chipset delivers reliable performance from routine activities like messaging, calling, scrolling through social media, and browsing to demanding gaming sessions.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 |
| RAM | Up to 8GB |
| Storage | Up to 256GB |
| Storage Test | 568363 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 80 per cent of its max performance |
| Software Version | FuntouchOS 14 based on Android 14 |
| Connectivity Details | Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1 |
For users prioritising everyday functionality, the V30e proves to be a dependable choice. Heavy-duty games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile run smoothly on this device, exhibiting minimal stutters or lags. It consistently ran at 60fps, with the presets set to High graphics and Max framerates. The frames did manage to drop to around 52 fps, but for merely a second, so that did not hinder our experience. Additionally, the phone’s temperature remained stable even after extended gaming sessions. I played almost nine to 10 games, and the experience was fantastic.
When holding the phone horizontally, I encountered a minor issue caused by the glossy finish on the phone’s right side, leading to the occasional slipping of my pinky fingers. This could potentially affect your gameplay experience.
The V30e runs on FuntouchOS 14, based on Android 14. While the software offers plenty of customisation options, it comes preloaded with many bloatware apps. Fortunately, there’s an option to uninstall these apps. It’s worth noting that while the phone handles multitasking adeptly, no app animations when closing applications feel really odd.
Vivo V30e Review: Cameras
The V30e features a 50MP primary camera with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and an 8MP wide-angle lens. However, compared to its predecessor, the Vivo V29e, which boasts a 64MP primary camera, the V30e presents a noticeable downgrade in terms of resolution.
| Camera | Specifications |
| Primary Camera | 50-megapixel with OIS, f/1.79 |
| Secondary Camera | 8-megapixel ultra-wide, f/2.2 |
| Selfie Camera | 50-megapixel, f/2.45 |
| Video Recording Capabilities | Up to 4K at 30fps |
The primary camera delivers good image quality in well-lit conditions. Photos have a fair amount of details, and colours do not appear oversaturated. The secondary 8MP wide-angle lens captures decent shots but struggles with details in shadow, resulting in pixelation when zoomed in on ultra-wide photos. This is expected considering the lower resolution camera.
The V30e does not have a macro camera, but it can focus on objects immediately and capture good pictures from a shorter distance. As for portrait photography, the V30e’s portraits are amazing, with accurate edge detection and good skin tones. This is one department where Vivo has been putting in tremendous effort, and it is good to see the V30e take advantage of it well. On the rear, there’s an Aura light that produces a studio-like effect when capturing photos. This light can also change colour temperatures, giving you a much wider room to experiment. It’s a convenient feature for taking portrait shots and it also comes in handy when you can’t find something in a dark room. The same light can also be found on costlier devices from the V series.
Regarding low-light photography, pictures taken from a distance often appear grainy, and sometimes objects are unrecognisable. However, when photos are taken from a closer distance, the quality improves to an extent, producing better images. If provided with ample light, photos come out well, and OIS helps with minor shakes. However, images can sometimes be inconsistent, and you may not always capture the desired outcome.
The selfie camera tends to smoothen out blemishes, giving a less true-to-life appearance. I also noticed a red tint on my cheekbones, resembling blush, even without any sort of makeup applied. Therefore, if you prefer a naturally enhanced look without much effort, this phone’s selfie camera will suit your needs. However, if you prefer a more natural approach, you will be slightly disappointed. That said, photos have good details and a balanced dynamic range. The portrait mode also works well here, with good edge detection.
Vivo V30e Review: Battery and Charging
The V30e has a 5500mAh battery, 500mAh more than its predecessor. It comes with a 44W flash charger. The phone charges from dead to full in an hour and 30 minutes. So, if you’re in a rush, the fast charger can help you last until you reach your office desk.
In the PCMark battery test, the phone lasted 14 hours and 20 minutes. It easily lasted an entire day’s usage without the need to recharge. After using the phone for about 2.5 hours playing multiple games, watching a few reels, and a few episodes of Friends on Netflix, the phone only dropped about three per cent, which was shockingly good.
Vivo V30e Review: Verdict
The Vivo V30e stands out as a great choice in its price segment. It boasts a sleek design and a curved AMOLED display, enhancing its premium appearance. Due to its inclusion of the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, it’s not winning any medals in the performance category, especially in this price segment. That said, it does manage daily tasks and light gaming without hindering our experience. Moreover, it offers nearly 24 hours of battery life, ensuring prolonged usage without frequent charging.
However, there are drawbacks. The V30e comes pre-loaded with bloatware such as PhonePe, Snapchat, and Facebook, which can be uninstalled, but their inclusion seems unnecessary. Additionally, adjustments may be needed in the low-light photography department.
Rivals like the Poco F5, iQOO Neo 7 Pro, and OnePlus Nord 3 offer superior chipsets and solid gaming performance in this price segment. While the Vivo V30e fulfils all essential requirements, its initial price point could be challenging to its success.
