Vivo V5s Review: Calling All The Selfie Mongers

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Vivo has always reserved its A-game for the optics and the popularity of its ‘V5’ series of smartphones (the V5 Plus, V5s and V5) in the country comes as no surprise, considering the fact that they come heavily loaded on that front. Nevertheless, with the continuous introduction of optically inclined smartphones, Vivo is driving home the point that it intends to stay in the selfie game for now. (हिंदी में पढ़ें)

And no different is the V5s, which aims to make a mark in the company’s selfie-centric cavalry. With this smartphone, Vivo has sought to give the users an option to obtain a slightly more enhanced version of the V5 smartphone.

Also Read: Nokia 6, Nokia 5, and Nokia 3 Launched In India – Everything You Need To Know

We spent quite a few days with the V5s, and here’s what our detailed report proclaims about the middle child in the V5 family.

Vivo V5s Specifications

Model Vivo V5s
Display 5.5-Inch, HD, 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass
Processor MediaTek MT6750 Processor
RAM 4GB
Internal Storage 64GB, expandable up to 256GB
Software Android 6.0 Marshmallow-based Funtouch OS 3.0
Primary Camera 13MP, PDAF, LED Flash
Secondary Camera 20MP, f/2.0 aperture, Sony IMX376 sensor, 5P lens and Moonlight Flash
Dimensions and Weight 153.8 x 75.5 x 7.55mm, 154Grams
Battery 3,000mAh
Others 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm Audio Jack, microUSB 2.0, Fingerprint Sensor, Hi-Fi Audio
Price Rs. 18,990/-

Vivo V5s Design, Build and Display

On the design front, it is clear that the company wants the V5s to emulate its bigger sibling, which it does to a T. The chassis and the U-shaped antenna bands on the top and bottom of the back of the phone are also pretty reminiscent of the iPhone 7 (then again, a problem common to all Chinese OEMs these days).

Coming to comparisons within the family, the phone sticks to the V5 template and can easily be termed as the ‘lite’ variant of the V5 Plus. For the differences, there is a faux-metal back panel (which we didn’t mind at all) and the absence of the dual camera unit up front (done to fit it in the mid-range bracket).

Physically, the phone is an easy fit for the pocket in spite of featuring a large (5.5-inch) display topped with a 2.5D curved glass. Beneath the display rests a home button that can double as a quick and efficient fingerprint scanner.

Another thing that bode well for us here, is the easy one-handed usage, meaning that the fingers need not panic, for the whole of the display, and the fingerprint sensor/home button lie within easy reach, and so does the volume rockers and the power button (on the right). The control center that drags up from the bottom helps too.

The left side has been reserved for the hybrid SIM tray while a the back, the camera and the LED flash find themselves placed side by side.

Now, for the display, the 720p HD resolution works fine and manages to provide vibrant colors with deep blacks, reasonable dynamic range, and high contrast. It works well outdoors (read: in sunlight) too, and the availability of an eye protection mode is a welcome addition. The display does do its job well, but considering the kind of competition it is facing, the V5s indeed needed a Full HD resolution. New users might not notice it, but text and icons are soft when compared to sharper resolution displays.

Also Read: Moto Z2 Play vs OnePlus 3T vs Vivo V5 Plus – Specifications and features detailed comparison

Vivo V5s Performance and Software

Similar to the V5, the V5s makes use of a MediaTek MT6750 processor, that has been paired up with a 4GB RAM – a combo that gives out an amazing performance. The day-to-day usage is up to the mark and multi-tasking is also a breeze. Video playback was flawless and so was our overall gaming experience (though some serious problems did arise with Injustice 2).

The phone does get hot, but only during prolonged gaming or excessive media usage. More or less, it is a big thumbs up from our side, if you are a light to moderate user.

For the OS, we have Vivo’s customary FunTouch OS 3.0 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which did pinch us a bit for we were hoping for Android Nougat on the phone (there has been on confirmation on an update, either).

Nevertheless, the FunTouch OS works well enough (although it takes several cues from the iOS), and comes up with its own set of features to put the user(s) at ease.

These include the Smart Split 2.0 that lets the users run two apps simultaneously (but is limited to a couple of apps for now), a one-handed mode that further shrinks down the screen to boost single-handed usage, Smart Click through which you can turn on the flashlight or open the camera by long pressing the volume button as well as a Clone app, wherein you can log-in and use two accounts simultaneously.

The bloatware (apps like Manager, iMusic, V-Appstore, Vivo Cloud, and iTheme) cannot be deleted, and hence, is a bit of a dampener.

Vivo V5s Camera

Optics is one avenue the company has repeatedly banked upon to sell its goods, and the same approach has been undertaken with the V5s, too.

On the front, there’s a 20MP camera with ‘Moonlight Flash’ (also one of the focal points in terms of the phone’s marketing), entrusted with the job of taking care of the selfies. The interface is easy enough, with different modes just a tap away.

Also Read: Top 7 Smartphones Set to Launch In June 2017

Talking of the modes, there’s available a simple ‘Take Photo’ mode, a ‘Face Beauty’ mode (meant to enhance the facial features) as well as a dedicated mode for capturing group selfies (you have to rotate the phone to your right and then left, to do so). Wide angles shots thus captured are quite inconsistent, though. The effects one can make use of here are the Bokeh effect and the HDR effect, both of which can be toggled off and on.

On the back, there is a 13MP camera which produces almost equal images as the one on the front. It produces detailed shots, and is quick in focusing as well. In low-light conditions though, there is a little drop in the quality of the snapshots.

For the rear camera, the features provided include a professional mode (where you can toggle with the ISO, shutter speed etc.), an Ultra HD mode, Night mode etc.

Vivo V5s Battery, Audio, Others

The 3,000mAh power unit that the phone comes fitted with comfortably last a full day (and even a day and a half, if you are a light user). The battery, however, depletes pretty fast with gaming. Though the company has not implied for the fast charging provisions with the phone, it got charged up to its full capacity in around 90-100 minutes of time.

As far as drainage is concerned, the flow is largely slow under most circumstances and gets rapid only during prolonged high-end gaming or surfing (or both).

The audio output was very good via the headphones as well as the speakers, and we did not experience any call drop anywhere. 4G VoLTE support is efficient everywhere as well.

Final Verdict

While we (and practically, everyone) would have preferred the latest Android OS, and at least a Full HD display, we are not entirely concerned about that as the V5s presents in itself a viable option if you are looking to get something in the offline segment of the market.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4 (2GB RAM) FAQ – All Questions Answered

The selfie-camera is being highlighted as its primary strength, and it must be noted that this same camera setup is also available on Vivo V5 and Y66 – both of which are cheaper. Yes, it’s the better of the three ‘perfect selfie’ phones in Vivo’s portfolio, but there in’t a stark difference between the three and you might as well opt for the V5 if you are on a tighter budget.

Pros

  • Premium looks
  • One of the better selfie cameras
  • Fast fingerprint sensor

Cons

  • Hybrid SIM slot
  • Needs upgrade on software front
Anurag SharmaAnurag Sharma
Passionate Storyteller, Occasional Writer. \m/ Journalism Undergrad. Trying to win at life one sentence at a time. Why so serious? Let's put a smile on that face. 8)

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