A few years ago, 50-megapixel cameras used to be a luxury for most smartphones. While this has slowly changed, the V30 Pro takes it a step further. The phone comes packed with a triple-camera setup at the back, all of which have a 50-megapixel camera. The front camera is not left behind and joins the bandwagon. Not just that, the V30 Pro also takes a bite out of the exclusive Zeiss partnership that the higher-end X-series has. It’s clearly a camera-centric smartphone. But what else does it have to offer at a starting price of Rs 41,999? Let’s find out in this review.
Vivo V30 Pro
Rs 41,999What Is Good?
- Sleek and lightweight
- Excellent portrait mode output
- Great camera performance
- Reliable battery life
- Decent performance
- Beautiful display
What Is Bad?
- Bloatware apps
- No stereo speakers
- Slightly fewer software updates
- Only IP54 rating
- Costlier than the predecessor
Vivo V30 Pro Pricing and Availability in India
The V30 Pro is available in two storage variants in India. You can get the phone from Vivo’s online store or Flipkart.
| Variants | Pricing |
| 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs 41,999 |
| 12GB RAM + 512GB Storage | Rs 46,999 |
Vivo V30 Pro Review: Cameras
Let’s get into the meat of things. It has three cameras at the back, and one on the front — all of which have 50-megapixel sensors. Most of the OEMs don’t really pay attention to the auxiliary cameras due to budget constraints, but it’s good to have higher-resolution cameras everywhere.
| Cameras | Specifications |
| Primary camera | 50-megapixel, f/1.88, Sony IMX920 sensor with OIS |
| Secondary camera | 50-megapixel portrait camera, f/1.85, Sony IMX816 sensor |
| Tertiary camera | 50-megapixel ultra-wide angle camera, f/2.0 |
| Selfie camera | 50-megapixel, f/2.0 |
| Video recording capabilities | Up to 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 60fps |
| Other features | Aura Light |
The V30 Pro gives you three profiles to play around with: Vivid, Textured, and Natural (Zeiss). The output from each co-relates with their names. Images clicked using the primary camera are sharp and detailed. The blues and greens of my surroundings were not boosted, which is what I usually prefer. The details in the shadows are good, and it also deals with the highlights well. However, it tends to oversharpen images, which are evident upon zooming in. There were also instances of the camera struggling with bright light sources, hopefully, that can be fixed.
The V30 Pro is undoubtedly one of the best phones in this price segment for clicking portrait shots. The edge detection is immaculate, be it human subjects or plants. Portrait shots using the 2x optical camera are much more fun, as they give you a more intimate capture. The ultra-wide angle shots are also quite detailed, thanks to the high-resolution camera.
Details in low-light images are fairly decent, however, the ultra-wide angle camera introduces noise at the edges. There’s no visible distortion at the edges, which is good. The Aura Light can help take brighter photos, and the adjustable colour temperature opens more doors for experiments.
The V30 Pro is surely a contender for the best selfie smartphone with its 50-megapixel shooter upfront. It captures extremely well-detailed images with true-to-life skin tones. Portrait mode also works well in group images, something even the S24 Ultra could not manage well. You also get to take selfies with a wide angle, and another option lets you zoom 2x — this is great for different situations.
Vivo V30 Pro Review: Design and build quality
Vivo is all about stylish smartphones — and the V30 Pro is no different. The phone is available in two colour choices: Andaman Blue and Classic Black. The former looks unique with sand patterns at the back and an overall holiday vibe — hence the name. The V30 Pro is so slim, it puts Shaggy from Scooby-Doo to shame. I’m still confused as to how they keep on pulling this off while still offering a chunky battery inside.
| Design | Specifications |
| Weight | 188 grams |
| Thickness | 7.45mm |
| IP Rating | IP54 |
| Port and button placements | Top: Secondary microphone
Bottom: USB Type-C port, primary microphone, SIM tray, speaker grille |
It is comfortable to hold, and the curved edges also help with this. Conversely, it’s that much easier to drop. I would suggest using a case to avoid this, and one is provided in the box itself. The glossy back does not attract any fingerprint smudges. The shiny metallic frames on all sides give the phone some colour contrast.
Despite sporting a higher-resolution triple camera setup, the module isn’t humongous. It does not protrude much, so table wobbles are not an issue. It’s divided in half with the upper portion captured by the cameras, while the bottom portion is occupied by an LED flash and the Aura Light, which is retained from the V29 Pro from last year. However, it’s square-shaped, instead of a circle.
The V30 Pro comes with an IP54 rating, which is a bit disappointing. Especially, considering phones such as the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus (Review) come with an IP68 rating at a more affordable price.
Vivo V30 Pro Review: Display and audio
The curved display of the V30 Pro is a joy to look at. Watching movies and reading articles on it is a satisfying experience. Despite the curve, the display does not entertain accidental touches which is good.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 6.78-inch |
| Type | 3D Curved AMOLED |
| Resolution | 1260×2800 pixels |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz |
| Peak brightness | Claimed – 2800nits (HDR), Tested – 1538 nits (HDR) |
| Minimum brightness | 03 nits |
The panel gets bright enough for outdoor activities, and the content is sharp and legible. It ticks all the right boxes with good vibrancy, saturation and a 120Hz refresh rate. You also get good customisable designs for always-on display, some of which look stunning. Netflix also gets HDR 10 playback right out of the box. Colours when watching movies such as Fear Street Part One 1994 were punchy, and darker scenes were portrayed well.
While that’s all good, the major downside comes from the audio department. The V30 Pro does not come with a stereo speaker setup, which is a huge miss in this price segment. That said, the single speaker gets loud enough, with an option to boost the speaker output.
Vivo V30 Pro Review: Performance and software
The V30 Pro is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, the same chipset found in the V29 Pro. Using the same processor as last year is not really a bad thing, as long as the phone performs well.
And, the V30 Pro can deal with daily tasks without any issues. Multitasking with multiple different apps is also not a problem for the phone. However, with its current pricing, it goes against the OnePlus 12R and iQOO Neo 9 Pro both of which beat the V30 Pro in performance benchmarks.
But, compared to the outgoing model, the V30 Pro has a slight advantage in AnTuTu and Geekbench 6 single-core scores.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC |
| RAM | Up to 12GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | Up to 256GB UFS 3.1 |
| Storage Test | 78962 |
| CPU Throttling Test | 72 per cent of its max performance |
| Software version | FunouchOS 14 based on Android 14 |
| Connectivity details | Dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth 5.3 |
It’s a given the V30 Pro is not looking to lure gamers, but it still performs decently well in some of these games. BGMI can go up to Ultra HDR graphics and Ultra frame rates. I did not notice any lags or stutters during the gameplay. The back panel gets slightly warm to the touch after prolonged periods, but not to any concerning levels.
While it gets a few bloatware apps, these are comparatively fewer than a bunch of older Vivo phones. However, V-Appstore keeps pushing random notifications now and then, which can be annoying. The V30 Pro should have also gotten four years of software upgrades like the OnePlus 12R, but instead opts for three years — which is not bad, but could’ve been better.
Vivo V30 Pro Review: Battery and charging
Despite the slim nature of the phone, it packs in a 5,000mAh battery which easily lasts throughout the day.
My usage usually consisted of social media doom-scrolling, watching some shows on Netflix over the weekend, and more. However, this was with AOD disabled at all times, so you have to keep that in mind.
In the PCMark10 battery life test, the V30 Pro lasted for 15 hours and 50 minutes, which is decent. The 80W charger can juice up the device in about 50 minutes from dead.
Vivo V30 Pro Review: Verdict
The V30 Pro is very clearly targeting up-and-coming youngsters who have a knack for creating content and clicking photos. And, the 50-megapixel triple gang at the back can surely deliver. Moreover, the portrait mode on the phone has excellent and consistent edge detection.
The V30 Pro is also quite attractive with its whole ‘vacation’ vibe (we mean the colours) and sleek profile. The battery life on the phone is also quite good, and so are the charging numbers. However, other phones are providing faster options.
While hardcore gaming is not its strong point, the phone can handle casual games without any hiccups. The OnePlus 12R (Review) and iQOO Neo 9 Pro (Gaming Review) might be better suited if you fall into this category. If cameras are your priority, you don’t have to look elsewhere.
