I’ve been actively using the newly announced Vivo V29 5G for the past two weeks and was left with pretty much nothing but good impressions on the phone. While it may not be an expensive flagship phone like it’s X80 series counterparts, the V29 5G offers just enough to provide a premium smartphone experience at a mouth-watering starting price of just $649 in the local market.
There are plenty of reasons to love this phone and design is definitely a big part of it. The V29 5G features a sleek and stylish exterior which not only looks attractive, but also offers excellent handling experience thanks to the subtle curves at the back which makes it easy to grip when using the phone single-handedly.
Speaking of this, the Vivo V29 5G is one of the few smartphones in the mid-range category to feature a premium Fluorite AG glass back rather than the typical plastic construction. Although this inevitably adds in some weight, I actually find myself appreciating the extra heft which gives me an impression that I’m holding on to an expensive smartphone.
@playfuldroid Hands-on with the new Vivo V29 5G ? #VivoV29 #VivoV29Series #Vivo #Smartphone ? Lambada – Mannymore
The model I have for review comes in a captivating Starry Purple colorway which dons a translucent finish with three-dimensional spectacle that sparkles and shimmers under the light – giving the phone an unique and refined crystalline outlook that stands out of the crowd. Apart from Starry Purple, the V29 5G is also offered in a slightly more understated Noble Black colorway for those who prefer to keep their phone low-profile.
Over at the front, the Vivo V29 5G brings along a spacious 6.78” AMOLED display that offers plenty of screen estate for work and play. Just like the V27 5G (Review), the phone retains a familiar curve screen and a centralized punch-hole camera cutout that looks more minimalistic and less distracting than the trapezoidal notch that we saw on last year’s V23 5G (Review).
Sporting a QHD screen resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate, the front display has no issue putting up sharp and smooth video footage when streaming your favorite drama on Netflix or Disney+. Likewise, HDR10+ support is also available for compatible media contents to provide an even more immersive viewing experience on the device.
Most importantly, the screen has no issue getting sufficiently bright whenever the situation calls for it thanks to it’s impressive peak brightness that goes up to 1,300 nits in auto brightness mode. This ensures the screen always remain legible regardless whether you’re using the phone in indoor or outdoor environment.
Under the hood, the Vivo V29 5G is powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G mobile platform that’s able to deliver an amazing productivity experience with buttery-smooth performance when multi-tasking across multiple apps. Likewise, it also performs amicably well in more resource-consuming game titles like Fortnite and PUBG Mobile under default game settings.
To keep it’s lights on, the Vivo V29 5G is backed by the same 4,600mAh battery as the V27 5G. During my testing, the battery is able to support slightly more than a day’s worth of usage on a single charge. This includes around 7 hours of screen time with 2 hours of gaming in between.
The main highlight here however, lies in it’s super fast 80W flash charging support that’s able to recharge a completely flat battery from 0 to 100% in just around 20 minutes. That’s actually the fastest charging speed you can get in this segment which is even faster than the already-fast Honor 90 5G (Review).
Moving on to the imaging side of things, the Vivo V29 5G features a versatile triple-camera system that’s able to handle all your photography needs. These include a 50 megapixels (f/1.88 aperture) main camera, 8 megapixels (f/2.2 aperture) ultra-wide camera as well as a 2 megapixels (f/2.4 aperture) depth sensing unit.
The main camera uses a high-end Samsung GN5 imaging sensor that’s able capture gorgeous-looking photos with excellent dynamic range and details regardless of lighting condition. In fact, you won’t be surprised that the photos snapped by this S$600 handset are occasionally comparable to those taken by smartphones that are twice or trice it’s price.
Also, it’s worth heaping praise on the impressive low-light performance of the main camera which relies on a capable night mode feature as well as OIS stabilization to deliver flattering photos that remain sharp and vibrant despite some minor movement during the shooting process.
As for the ultra-wide camera, it’s a pretty usable camera even though it’s a small step down from the main camera unit. In good lighting, you can capture some really good-looking photos which you’ll proudly share on social medias. The same could be said for low-light shots so long the camera remains stable when shooting.
Verdict
The Vivo V29 5G is a no doubt great option for those looking for an affordable smartphone that packs a punch. Not only is it a fantastic device for day-to-day usage, it’s also as an superb companion for all your entertainment and photography needs.
In Singapore, the Vivo V29 5G is priced at S$649 and is available for purchase via Vivo official online stores on Lazada and Shopee, consumer electronic stores including Best Denki, Challenger, Courts, Gain City, Harvey Norman, other authorised sellers, and vivo concept stores at Bugis Junction, Causeway Point and NEX.
