No longer can the body change color but given an upgrade to the camera system. This is what Vivo has been doing since the V27 series equipped with the Aura Light function. It works like a ring light which is very useful for taking pictures in dim lighting.
Just like the new model V29 which is still equipped with Aura Light but is said to be more versatile including the ability to change colors according to environmental conditions. Apart from that there are also some changes compared to the previous generation which may be quite small but still useful. To know more about it keep reading this review article.
Brief Specifications
VIVO V29 5G
6.78″ AMOLED screen, 120Hz, HDR10+
1260 x 2800 pixels, 20:9 (~453 ppi density)
Snapdragon 778G 5G processor (6 nm)
1 x 2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 chip
3 x 2.2 GHz Cortex-A78
4 x 1.9 GHz Cortex-A55
Adreno 642LC9 Graphics Chip
RAM 12GB RAM
Internal Load 256/512GB ROM
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.9, (Wide), PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.2, (Ultra-wide)
2 MP, f/2.4, (depth)
4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Front Camera 50 MP (Wide), AF
1080p@30fps
4,600mAh battery
80W fast charging
SIM/Telephony SIM Nano + SIM Nano
NFC Available
Infrared None
Waterproof None
Under Screen Fingerprint Scanning System
Face Scan
Sale Price RM 1,799 (12/256GB)
RM 1,999 (12/512GB)
Design And Screen
Personally I think the design of the Vivo V29 is seen to share a lot of similarities with the previous V27. From the curved front screen to the big camera bump on the back. It can be said that these two devices are difficult to distinguish if only viewed from the front. But when turned to the back there is actually quite a big difference.
For example, such as the position of the sensor arranged in a triangle. Then the aura light feature is also bigger with the addition of an LED Flash which is very useful for taking pictures in dim lighting. In addition, there is also Vivo branding on the bottom which complements the back panel of the device.
In fact, the size of this smartphone is quite large, but due to its light and thin body, it is very comfortable to hold. Added to that is the back panel with a beautiful matte finish that works quite well in reducing fingerprint smudges. The overall frame with rounded corners also improves the experience.
A total of three color options are available which includes the new First Love color which is all pink in this article. To be honest, I really like this pink variation. This situation is not because I am a woman but rather because of the color itself which symbolizes cheerfulness and romance. In addition to being able to make a person's appearance look attractive. Even if it has to do with style, even a man is still suitable to use it.
Next, a small perforated screen and an AMOLED-type panel are again used on the device. It is 6.78-inches that supports FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. In addition, full HD content can also be streamed on the Netflix application because the device is equipped with the Widevine L1 DRM system. The overall usage experience is satisfying with good contrast and vivid colors. All displayed content is also clearly visible even when used in open areas.
But a little disappointed with the inconsistent screen caption system especially when set to auto caption. The same thing happened to my colleague while doing a review for the Vivo X90 device earlier.
The device features a power button and audio controls on the right side. Then followed also by the speaker, microphone hole, USB-C port and SIM slot at the bottom. No microSD slot is provided which means the SIM tray used only supports dual nano-sized SIMs.
Further nothing interesting with speakers that are still mono and no Dolby Atmos support. The resulting audio sounds clear but flat. For fans of high-quality audio, the Vivo V29 is not the right device for people like you.
Biometrics
The security system used is a fingerprint scanner built into the screen and works very well. But as usual for any device that supports this technology, users should keep their fingers dry and clean for a smooth response.
Otherwise it may result in the failure of the device to be unlocked and the user will have to try it several times. In addition, face scan support is also provided which also works well.
Just like most of the other V series, there is no waterproof capability and a 3.5mm audio jack is included on the device. Even so, it has NFC which is one of the necessary features in a smartphone these days.
Software And Benchmarks
The Vivo V29 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chip and the review unit received supports 12GB RAM + 256GB ROM memory. No slot for microSD is included but the device can add up to 8GB of RAM virtually using the storage section.
The software used is FunTouch OS 13 (based on Android 13) which as usual provides a simple interface to facilitate the use process. It can also be customized by automatically matching the colors of the interface and background elements. But as usual there is still the problem of fat applications that are ready to be downloaded and unnecessary ads also often appear on the device.
True, the chip used is quite old since 2021 but the performance of the device can still hold. The overall experience shows that absolutely no critical issues were found during the review period. The device performs well in most daily tasks including web browsing and social media. Playing first for a long period of time also does not overheat the device.
Here are the benchmark scores of Vivo V29 compared to iQOO Z7, Honor X9b, Realme 11 Pro+ and OnePlus Nord 3.
Geekbench 6
Vivo V29 – 1008/2728
iQOO Z7 – 1125/3001
Honor X9b – 926/2786
Realme 11 Pro+ – 946/2382
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 1092/3337
Antutu 3D
Vivo V29 – 598,663
iQOO Z7 – 588,831
Honor X9b – 464,060
Realme 11 Pro+ – 562,446
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 914,552
Wild Life Extreme
Vivo V29 – 693
iQOO Z7 – 808
Honor X9b – 2,380
Realme 11 Pro+ – None
OnePlus Nord 3 5G – 2,296
Camera
This is where things get interesting when the Aura Light function on the Vivo V29 is said to be 36% brighter than before. The color can also be adjusted according to the environment either automatically or manually. This means that if the Aura Light on the V27 was previously only capable of emitting white light. This time the feature can be changed to other colors including yellow.
The main camera setup consists of a 50MP OIS sensor, 8MP ultra-wide and 2MP depth. Then the selfie camera is 50MP with autofocus. Maximum 4K video recording can also be made using both sides of this camera with built-in stabilization support.
An overall look at the pictures taken using the main sensor shows satisfactory results. Color reproduction looks vivid along with good dynamic range capabilities. It's just that the results of ultra-wide photos and portraits are less encouraging.
Color reproduction appears to be consistent but detail is not maintained well and there is a problem with noise especially in low lighting. Portrait photos are basically good but not consistent. It can clearly be seen that the camera fails to distinguish between the subject and the background in a blurry situation.
The same goes for night photos that look satisfactory with a standard camera shot. But when Night Mode is activated the results become less accurate especially for color reproduction. Also tested was the Full Moon feature and the results were quite interesting.
There is nothing to comment on the selfie camera's capabilities as the results are satisfactory in most situations. With built-in editing and filtering applications, it also provides users with more options for creative selfies.
Battery
The 4,600mAh battery is the same as the one used in the previous V27. On average the device can last more than a day with normal use with the 120Hz screen activated all the time. It can also last between 6 to 7 hours for more frequent use.
Next, an 80W wired charging system is included, which is faster than the 66W on the V27. Through it the device can be recharged in less than an hour via the USB-C port. A charging head is also provided in the box along with a white USB-C cable.
What's in the Box?
Here's what you get with every device purchase in Malaysia.
1x Vivo V29 5G.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x 80W Charger.
1x User Manual.
1x Silicone Frame.
1x SIM Pin.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the V29 is basically not much different from the previous V27. If there is a difference it lies in the processing chip but it is older. Then followed by an 88W faster charging system and a 2MP sensor which is now for depth. However, it still depends on each individual's needs. If you want a device for photography purposes, especially normal photos or selfies, the Vivo V29 is one that can be bought.
PRO
120Hz HDR10+ AMOLED screen.
Performance can still hold up even though the chip is quite old.
Primary camera with OIS.
50MP selfie camera with autofocus.
Faster tracking system.
CONS
Not waterproof.
Mono speakers.
Ultra-wide sensor and inconsistent portraits.
Fat apps and ads built into the OS.