Vivo’s latest top V-series smartphone, the V29 Pro comes loaded with some top-of-the-line features and specifications. For instance, Vivo has made the Aura Light bigger and has given more control to the user to change its colour. But, is that all it takes to woo a potential buyer? What about the rest of the package, and, more importantly, the price point? Check out our quick review to find out more about the new Vivo V29 Pro.
Vivo V29 Pro
Rs 39,999
What Is Good?
- Good performance
- Sleek and lightweight design
- Brillant cameras
- Good battery life
What Is Bad?
- Mono speaker
- Bloatware
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Cameras
- Vivo V29 Pro has versatile cameras that are capable of delivering sharp photos.
- The Smart Aura Light comes as a saviour in low light conditions to get a clear shot.
| Primary Rear Camera | 50-megapixel OIS, Sony IMX663 sensor, f/1.88 |
| Secondary Rear Camera (Portrait) | 12-megapixel, f/1.98 |
| Third Rear Camera (Wide-Angle) | 8-megapixel, f/2.2 |
| Front Camera | 50-megapixel AF, f/2.0 |
Vivo has upped its camera game with the Vivo V29 Pro. It comes loaded with some interesting features like Smart Aura Light, a 50MP OIS triple-rear camera setup, a dedicated portrait camera with a 50mm focal length, an eye-autofocus selfie camera and more. The camera is said to deliver some great night photography and video experience, which does deliver some good results. Here are some of the camera samples.
In daylight, the camera did a great job of capturing all the details. The photos came out to be crisp and the colour reproduction was on point in most of the images. Check out the accuracy of the sky’s colour and leaves’ sharpness in these samples. The wide-angle lens does capture a wider area, at the expense of picture quality.
Coming to night photography, the phone captures some amazing details, all thanks to the 50MP OIS camera. Under extreme low light conditions, some of the details were retained and the grains were under control as well. However, when the light is ample, you will get some detailed shots, which you can also check in the above camera samples.
But, as is the case with every V-series phone, there’s a huge emphasis on portraits. During the daytime, you can click some legitimately awesome-looking shots with smooth bokeh effects and clean edges. The photos clicked in this mode tend to be more saturated than the ones taken in the normal mode. You also get the option of clicking 2x portrait shots, which also delivers good results in both daylight and night.
The Smart Aura Light comes as a saviour in low light conditions and helps to take clearer shots. You can fiddle around with the colour temperature between 1800K to 4500K, but can’t change its intensity. Vivo recommends using a cooler Aura light in scenarios with blue lighting and warmer tones with frames having a reddish ambience.
The phone also supports up to 4K video resolution at 60 fps. However, you can only use the stabilization at 4k 30fps settings. Moreover, to use the full extent of video stabilization, one has to use 1080p at 60fps. That said, the video came out to be sharp, full of details, and with natural colour reproduction.
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Performance
- We noticed no heating or lagging on the Dimensity 8200 SoC
- FunTouchOS 13 is great in real life, but Bloatwares are a bit of a headache.
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC |
| RAM/ROM variants | 8GB+128GB and 12GB+256GB |
| AnTuTu v10 Benchmark Scores | 900760 |
| Geekbench 6 Benchmark Scores | 951 – Single-Core, 3300 – Multi-Core |
| Android version/UI | Android 13, FunTouchOS 13 |
The Dimensity 8200 was a respectable SoC of choice a year ago, and still has the chops to handle moderate to heavy workloads. Benchmarks were right at par with its strongest contender, the OPPO Reno 10 Pro. Casual games were no problem for the V29 Pro, casual or heavy. Call of Duty Mobile, could run at Very High graphics and Ultra frame rates. The phone did get warm during the gaming session, but it was not at an alarming level.
FunTouchOS 13 offers some great customisation options with smoother animations and transitions but there’s a caveat here – there’s still a noticeable amount of bloatware, with Hot Games and Hot Apps being the most unwanted ones. On the plus side, you can disable them, but that takes some time and effort.
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Display
- The curved display provides a seamless experience
- The 1300nits of peak brightness is effective in outdoor conditions, making it easier to read texts without much hurdle.
| Display | Specifications |
| Type | Curved AMOLED |
| Size | 6.78-inch |
| Resolution | 2800×1260 pixels |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 1300 Nits |
| Certifications and other features | HDR10+, DCI-P3 wide colour gamut, Eye Protection Mode |
Apart from its camera, the Vivo V29 Pro’s display is one of its strongest suits. Colours are vibrant on the 3D curved AMOLED panel, which makes the whole content consumption a delightful experience. The viewing angles are great and the text appears to be sharp. While watching series like Our Planet on Netflix, the colour reproduction was on point.
We watched Dracula on Netflix, a series known for its dark scenes, and the V29 Pro could handle it effortlessly. The 120Hz screen refresh rate makes the scrolling and everyday experience a butterfly smooth one.
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Design
- The new Himalayan Blue colour option grows on you as time passes by.
- The phone is quite sleek and lightweight to hold, though the edges are a bit too sharp.
Vivo is known for making some exceptionally designed smartphones and this one is no different. You get a sleek, yet stylish device that surely stands out of the crowd. Vivo said that it has implemented an innovative 3D magnetic particle design at the back panel which uses 15 million micron-sized magnetic particles to form a specific pattern creating a unique light and shadow effect. The Himalayan Blue colour option showcases a multi-layered pattern that gives a vibe of the beautiful Himalayan range. Although you might not notice it right away, the pattern grows on you.
The phone is just 7.46mm thick and weighs around 188 grams, which makes it one of the sleekest devices in this price segment. Moreover, you get a 3D borderless curved screen, which looks premium. That being said, the edges are a bit sharp so handling it can be an uncomfortable experience for some. However, the company is providing a case with the box, which solves this problem.
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Battery
- The fast charging support comes in handy in many situations.
- The Vivo V29 Pro offers a good battery backup even with a small 4,600mAh battery.
| Battery capacity | 4,600mAh |
| Charging wattage | 80W |
The battery on the Vivo V29 Pro is quite good to be honest, despite being rated at 4,600mAh. During our testing, we found out that the device easily lasted one full day with still some battery percentage left at the end.
Our daily usage included some scrolling reels on Instagram, listening to music on Apple Music, watching some short series or films on YouTube, and more. The phone also comes with 80W fast charging support, up from 66W from the V27 series. It’s capable of taking the V29 Pro from 0 to 100 per cent in just 48 minutes.
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Verdict
The Vivo V29 Pro is a great package overall. The sleek design and unique back panel make it stand out from the crowd. The performance is decent enough to handle most of the tasks you throw at it. The display offers good peak brightness and comes with sharp visuals. The cameras are also a high point, which are reliable in most of the lighting conditions.
However, it does have its fair share of cons as well. The edges can make you feel uncomfortable, while the wide-angle lens lacks the kind of clarity you’d expect from a camera phone. The bloatware in the UI may also turn-off some people at this price.
That said, if you are looking for a sleek smartphone that you can flaunt in front of your friends and want a reliable camera, then you can consider Vivo V29 Pro.
Vivo V29 Pro Quick Review: Alternatives
The Vivo V29 Pro will face tough competition from the OPPO Reno 10 Pro Plus and OnePlus 11R, which offers a more premium design and a better chipset. The Nothing Phone 2 is yet another competitor that offers a unique design language, great performance, and a slightly better screen.
