Vivo has recently introduced two new smartphones, the Vivo V30 and Vivo V30 Pro, in India as part of their V-Series lineup. Over the past few years, the brand has consistently aimed to provide slim and stylish designs, along with impressive camera performance, in their mid-range devices. This time around, Vivo has continued this trend by equipping the Vivo V30 Series with enhanced camera optics through their partnership with Zeiss. Additionally, the Aura Light design has been modified compared to the previous V27 or V29 Series.
For our review, we received the Pro variant of the V30 Series, and I must say that the camera design is improved and the device itself is even slimmer. The Vivo V30 Pro measures a mere 7.45mm in thickness, yet manages to house a powerful 5000mAh battery. Furthermore, it boasts features such as a 120Hz AMOLED display, Dimensity 8200 chipset, a 50MP Sony IMX920 sensor, a 50MP selfie sensor, and 80W wired charging support. With all these impressive specifications, the Vivo V30 Pro falls within the 40,000 budget category.
Now, the question arises as to whether individuals looking for a phone in this price range should wait for the Vivo V30 Pro or consider the already available OnePlus 12R. To address this query, we have thoroughly reviewed the Vivo V30 Pro 5G.
Vivo V30 Pro 5G Review Snapshot
Editor’s rating: 3.9/5
Design
Display
Software
Performance
Camera
Battery
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Pros
- Attractive design
- Bright AMOLED display
- IP54 rating
- Impressive camera performance
- Long battery life
Cons
- No microSD card slot
- Slight bloatware
- No IP68 rating
Vivo V30 Pro Price & Availability
Vivo V30 Pro 5G comes in two storage models-
- 8GB RAM+256GB storage– Rs. 41,999
- 12GB RAM+512GB storage– Rs. 46,999
It will retail via Flipkart, Vivo India website, and offline channels. The first sale begins on March 12.
Vivo V30 Pro 5G Review: Design and Build
The Vivo V30 Pro exudes a sense of luxury at first glance. In comparison to its predecessor, the Vivo V29 Pro, the device showcases a revamped camera module design that is easily noticeable and enhances its overall appearance. Despite the design change, the weight remains the same at 188 grams, and the dimensions are nearly identical (164.4×75.1×7.5mm).
Our review unit came in the Classic Black color variant, featuring a shimmering back that adds to its visual appeal. The rear panel is home to a rectangular camera module on the top left corner, housing three camera sensors, Zeiss branding, and a square-shaped Aura light. The Vivo branding is located on the bottom left side. Thanks to the frosted glass material, the back panel resists smudges and feels comfortable to hold.
Both the rear panel and the display are curved towards the frame, providing a secure grip and comfortable handling. Flipping the device over reveals a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a punch-hole selfie camera at the top. Slim bezels surround the display, enhancing its aesthetics. A sleek metal frame separates the screen from the rear panel, with the volume rockers and power button conveniently placed on the right side.
At the bottom edge, you’ll find a sim tray slot, microphone, USB Type-C port, and speaker grille, while the top side features a secondary microphone and the text ‘Professional Photography’ engraved on it. Despite having an IP54 rating, it would have been more impressive for a device in this price range to have an IP68 rating for better water and dust resistance.
Overall, the design of the Vivo V30 Pro is appealing and sleek, offering a comfortable grip. However, to prevent accidental slips, it is recommended to use a protective cover to maintain the device’s design integrity and improve grip.
Vivo V30 Pro 5G Review: Display
The Vivo V30 Pro 5G features a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display that offers an impressive 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and a brightness of 2800 nits. When streaming HDR content, the display claims to hit a peak brightness of 2800 nits, while under normal circumstances it typically claims to hit 1200 nits of peak brightness. While we cannot attest to those numbers we can confirm that the display remains visible in outdoor conditions even at this lower-than-highest brightness level.
Thanks to the 120Hz refresh rate, scrolling on this AMOLED screen is incredibly smooth. I found the Auto Switch Mode to be the most convenient option, but you can also manually set the refresh rate to either 120Hz or 60Hz according to your preference.
When it comes to streaming content, the Vivo V30 Pro delivers vibrant colors and impressive camera angles. Even HDR content looks great on this screen. Additionally, the device offers an Always-On-Display with a variety of styles to choose from, making it a fun and customizable experience. In everyday usage, the screen performs smoothly and provides a decent video streaming experience. Furthermore, HDR support is available for popular platforms like Netflix and YouTube. The V30 Pro display comes with Schott Xensation Up protection which further enhances its durability and overall quality.
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Vivo v30 pRO 5G Review: Camera
This marks the debut of Zeiss optics in Vivo’s V-Series devices. Before the V30 Pro, none of the V-Series devices featured Zeiss optics. The Vivo V30 Pro boasts three rear sensors, all powered by Zeiss. The primary camera is a 50MP Sony IMX920, accompanied by a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 camera with f/2.0 aperture, and a 50MP Sony IMX816 telephoto lens. Additionally, there is a 50MP Samsung ISOCELL JN1 front camera for selfies and video calls.
The standout feature of this camera setup is the 50MP primary sensor, which incorporates VCS (Vivo Camera-Bionic Spectrum) technology. Vivo refers to it as a “two-color camera.” VCS enhances color accuracy in photos, resulting in 25% better clarity and 15% improved color reproduction.
Vivo has also made enhancements to the Aura light. Unlike previous models with a circular ring, the V30 Pro features a larger and softer square flash ring under the camera module. The Aura light adjusts according to the lighting conditions and changes its color to match the surroundings.
Moving on to the camera’s actual performance, the 50MP primary lens captures excellent photos with detailed shots and decent color contrast. The dynamic range is also impressive. However, some colors may appear oversaturated, such as the red shade of a flower in a photo. To address this, using Zeiss’ Natural Color Mode will produce more natural-looking photos.
Now, let’s discuss the ultrawide camera. Shots taken with this sensor exhibit vibrant colors similar to those captured by the primary sensor, albeit with slightly less detailing. Ultrawide pictures have a softer appearance but are still of good quality.
The 50MP telephoto sensor is the third sensor that enhances portrait shots with the help of Zeiss optics. Users have the option to capture images in either 2x or 4x zoom. The 2x mode preserves details effectively, while the 4x mode results in softer images that are still usable. Scroll down to view some portrait samples.
Vivo has a dedicated significant focus on selfies and the front camera too. The 50MP front camera produces detailed selfies, showcasing clear facial features and natural skin tones.
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VIVO V30 PRO 5G REVIEW: PERFORMANCE
The Vivo V30 Pro stands out with its MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, unlike the base model which features a Snapdragon chipset. This powerful combination, along with 8GB or 12GB RAM and 256GB or 512GB storage, ensures a smooth and responsive user experience. Additionally, the option for up to 12GB virtual RAM further enhances performance.
During my week-long usage, I found that the phone performed exceptionally well across various tasks such as web browsing, social media browsing, photography, benchmark testing, and video streaming. There were no noticeable lags even while multitasking.
When it comes to gaming, the 4nm chipset delivers a commendable performance. Although the device did warm up slightly and experienced a slight frame drop during gaming and benchmark testing, this is expected as the device is pushed to its limits. However, while gaming at high graphic settings and frame rates, there were no lags whatsoever.
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Overall, the Vivo V30 Pro offers a good performance. However, it is worth noting that the OnePlus 12R, available in the same price range, comes with the slightly superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. Nevertheless, the Vivo V30 Pro excels in other areas, providing better performance in certain departments. You can view the benchmark test results below.
VIVO V30 Pro 5G Review: Battery Life and Charging
The Vivo V30 Pro is equipped with a 5000mAh battery and comes with an 80W Flash Charge wired adapter. Upon draining the battery completely, we connected the device for charging. With this charger, the device went from 15% to 40% and then to 100% in just 40-45 minutes. In terms of battery life, it is reliable and can easily last a full day, even for heavy users. The credit for the extended battery life can also be attributed to the new power-efficient chipset. Starting the day with a full charge, my usage throughout the day included video streaming, light gaming, calls, WhatsApp, Instagram, and more. Despite all this activity, the battery level was at 20% by the evening.
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Review Verdict: Should you buy the VIVO V30 Pro 5g?
The Vivo V30 Pro is a pricier device compared to its predecessor, the Vivo V29. However, the slight price increase comes with some notable upgrades that users will appreciate. One of the standout features is the inclusion of Zeiss optics, with all four camera lenses boasting a 50MP resolution. This is a unique offering in this price range, setting it apart from other devices. The Zeiss optics also enhance the camera modes, resulting in improved photography capabilities. Additionally, the Vivo V30 Pro boasts a powerful chipset, a vibrant AMOLED display, and a long-lasting battery life, making it an attractive option for consumers.
While the absence of a microSD slot may be seen as a drawback, the device compensates with its generous 512GB onboard storage, which is more than sufficient for most users. The gaming performance is commendable, and the device delivers fast overall performance.
In terms of pricing, the Vivo V30 Pro falls within the same budget as the OnePlus 12R. However, it surpasses the OnePlus device in terms of camera quality and features a more stylish and premium design. Although the OnePlus 12R performs slightly better due to its Snapdragon chipset, the Vivo V30 Pro still delivers a smooth performance, making it a close competition between the two devices for the top spots in this category.
Reasons to buy
- Attractive design
- Bright AMOLED display
- Impressive camera performance
- Long battery life
Reasons to not buy
- No microSD card slot
- Slight bloatware
- No IP68 rating
