Vivo V29 Review: A Midrange Phone for Live Streamers?

The Vivo V29 is a midrange smartphone that aims to appeal to live streamers and TikTok users with its Aura Light 2.0, a ring light that surrounds the rear camera module. The phone also boasts a 6.78-inch AMOLED display, a 12GB RAM, and a 256GB storage. But how does it perform in everyday use, and is it worth the S$649 price tag? We tested the Vivo V29 for a week to find out.

Design and Display

The Vivo V29 is a slim and lightweight phone, measuring 7.46mm in thickness and weighing 186g. It has a glossy and gradient finish on the back, which comes in two colors: Starry Purple and Starry Blue. The phone has a premium feel and a comfortable grip, and it does not attract too many fingerprints or smudges. The phone also has a 3.5mm headphone jack, a USB-C port, and a side-mounted fingerprint scanner.

The display is one of the highlights of the Vivo V29. It has a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 2,800 x 1,260 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The screen is bright, sharp, and vibrant, with good viewing angles and contrast. The display also supports HDR10+ and has a punch-hole cutout for the 32MP selfie camera. The screen is responsive and smooth, and it has a built-in eye protection mode and an always-on display feature.

Camera and Ring Light

The Vivo V29 has a triple rear camera setup, consisting of a 64MP main camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 2MP macro camera. The camera performance is decent, but not exceptional. The main camera can capture detailed and colorful shots in good lighting, but it struggles in low-light and indoor scenarios. The ultra-wide-angle camera has a noticeable distortion and noise, and the macro camera is not very useful. The camera app has a variety of modes and features, such as night mode, portrait mode, panorama, pro mode, and AI scene recognition.

The most distinctive feature of the Vivo V29 is the Aura Light 2.0, which is a ring light that surrounds the rear camera module. The ring light can be activated by a dedicated button on the side of the phone, and it has three levels of brightness and four colors: white, blue, green, and purple. The ring light is designed to enhance the selfies and videos taken with the rear camera, especially in low-light situations. The ring light works well, and it can create a flattering and soft light effect on the face. However, the ring light is not very powerful, and it can be easily blocked by the fingers or the phone case. The ring light is also not very versatile, as it only works with the Vivo camera app and not with other apps like Instagram or TikTok.

Performance and Battery

The Vivo V29 is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 920 processor, which is a midrange chipset that supports 5G connectivity. The phone also has a 12GB RAM and a 256GB storage, which can be expanded with a microSD card. The phone runs on Android 11 with Vivo’s Funtouch OS 12.0 on top. The performance of the Vivo V29 is smooth and fast, and it can handle multitasking and gaming without any lag or stutter. The phone also has a liquid cooling system that prevents overheating.

The battery life of the Vivo V29 is average, and it depends on the usage and the screen refresh rate. The phone has a 4,500mAh battery that supports 44W fast charging. The phone can last for a day with moderate use, but it can drain faster with heavy use or with the ring light on. The fast charging can replenish the battery from 0% to 70% in 30 minutes, which is impressive.

Conclusion

The Vivo V29 is a midrange phone that offers a unique ring light feature and a sleek design. The phone also has a great display, a large storage, and a smooth performance. However, the phone also has some drawbacks, such as the mediocre camera quality, the average battery life, and the limited compatibility of the ring light. The phone is suitable for live streamers and TikTok users who want to enhance their selfies and videos, but it may not be the best value for money for other users. The Vivo V29 is available for S$649 at Vivo’s official online store and authorized retailers.