Vivo V30 Pro Review: Featherweight Phone with Heavyweight Camera

Worth When Reviewed

Unavailable within the US ($550 imported)

Vivo’s V-series telephones come at reasonably priced worth factors, and over the previous couple of years, they’ve developed a popularity for delivering a few of the finest selfies round. With the launch of the V30 Professional, evidently’s one thing that may proceed, however this time, the rear cameras are getting a critical improve, too. 

Not solely does the V30 Professional sport a triple 50Mp digital camera array on its rear matched by a 50Mp selfie digital camera, but it surely’s additionally the primary V-series telephone to profit from Vivo’s partnership with Zeiss. This implies it has Zeiss-approved optics and picture tuning, in addition to unique photograph types which might be usually reserved for the model’s expensive flagships, just like the X100 Professional.

As regular, this handset is unlikely to land within the UK or US markets. It has initially launched in Thailand and Indonesia, and it’ll be coming to different areas within the close to future, too. It carries an MSRP of 19,999THB in Thailand, which equates to about £440/$550. That’s a critically low worth for such a succesful set of cameras.

I needed to search out out if the Vivo V30 Professional affords a few of the similar photographic prowess as its dearer siblings, and what corners needed to be lower to hit such an aggressive worth level. After dwelling with it in my pocket for every week, right here’s all the things I realized.

Design & Construct

• Very slim and light-weight
• Curved edges back and front
• IP54 licensed

Vivo typically offers its V-series units an eye catching look, and this newest mannequin follows swimsuit.

I’ve the Bloom White variant in for testing, and it has a singular 3D petal sample throughout the rear panel. It’s to not my precise style, and it form of jogs my memory of fancy lavatory tiling, however some individuals are certain to adore it.

The panel is roofed with Vivo’s regular AG glass coating, which has an opulent velvety really feel to it, but it surely’s slippery, so that you’ll in all probability wish to use a case. Fortunately, the usual clear TPU affair is included within the field.

Luke Baker

The opposite color choices are fairly hanging, too. Waving Aqua has a shimmering glittery wave sample on the rear panel that shifts as the sunshine hits it, whereas the Lush Inexperienced variant is UV-reactive and modifications color in direct daylight. Noble Black is rather more reserved, it’s principally all black and can look the half in a extra skilled setting.

The Vivo V30 Professional is a really slim telephone, and pronounced curves on the edges of the show and rear panel make it really feel slimmer nonetheless. There’s barely a digital camera bump to talk of both, and this implies you’ll barely really feel it in your pocket. It’s fairly refreshing if you’re used to lugging round a chunky flagship telephone.

The haptic motors on this telephone are disappointing. They’re highly effective sufficient, however they really feel imprecise and so they’re very audible. It nearly sounds and feels such as you’re getting a telephone name if you happen to sort rapidly. In case you care about haptics, you’ll wish to steer effectively clear.

Luke Baker

The telephone carries an IP54 score for mud and water resistance. This implies it’s not totally waterproof, however can face up to sprays of water from all instructions. In case you get caught out within the rain, the telephone might be completely superb, however you’ll should be cautious round swimming swimming pools and ponds.

Display screen & Audio system

• 6.78-inch AMOLED show
• 60-120Hz adaptive refresh charge
• Single speaker

The Vivo V30 Professional has a big and vivid show, measuring 6.78-inch and supposedly in a position to output as much as 2800 nits at peak brightness. In regular use, it received’t be hitting such hovering figures, but it surely’s greater than vivid sufficient to compete with sunny summer time days.

Luke Baker

The show has an adaptive refresh charge that may dynamically change between 60- and 120Hz relying on what’s being displayed on the display screen.

It’s not fairly as efficient as an LTPO panel, which may change right down to as little as a 1Hz refresh charge, but it surely’s nonetheless good to have. It means navigating the OS and enjoying video games all the time appears easy and fluid, with out making your battery life endure within the course of.

As talked about, there are pretty pronounced curves on the left and right-hand aspect of the show, which I’m not the largest fan of, however there’s no denying that they make this telephone really feel exceptionally slim. The same old curved-edge caveats apply, although. There’s some color shifting on the very fringe of the show, and it’s extra susceptible to miss-touches than a flat-fronted display screen.

The V30 Professional helps HDR10 playback, and HDR content material from apps like Netflix and Prime Video appears pretty on this panel. The highlights shine vivid, the lows are darkish and detailed and the colors are vibrant. There’s stage of customisation, too, so if you happen to want a hotter tint, you may simply obtain it by tweaking show choices within the settings menu.

Luke Baker

There’s solely a single speaker on this machine, positioned on the underside subsequent to the USB-C port.

It’s slightly disappointing to see, particularly when cheaper units just like the Poco X6 Professional have a stable stereo setup. That stated, the speaker may be very loud and the sound is a lot detailed, however for the perfect expertise, you’ll in all probability wish to pair it with some wi-fi earbuds.

Specs & Efficiency

• MediaTek Dimensity 8200
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage

The Vivo V30 Professional packs the identical MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset as its predecessor, and the mannequin earlier than that, too. However given the speed at which Vivo pumps out V-series handsets, that’s not fairly as dangerous because it sounds.

This time, it’s paired with an ample 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, so it’s arrange for multitasking effectively, and you may seize images and movies to your coronary heart’s content material.

Luke Baker

The Dimensity 8200 is a sub-flagship chip, so that you received’t be seeing this telephone wherever close to the highest of benchmark charts, however regardless of that, it has greater than sufficient energy for most individuals’s wants.

The telephone ran easily all through my testing, apps opened rapidly and navigating the OS was stutter-free. With regards to extra intensive duties, like gaming, the Vivo V30 Professional continues to carry its personal. It’ll simply run Genshin Influence at medium settings in 60fps, and excessive settings at 30fps. It’s nearly playable at most settings, too, but it surely’ll decelerate and stutter when there’s numerous motion on display screen.

Even pushing the chipset with a graphically demanding title like this, the V30 Professional by no means grew to become too scorching and was all the time comfy to carry. That’s very spectacular stuff with a chassis this slim, Vivo will need to have thought fastidiously in regards to the cooling association.

Luke Baker

There’s even a gaming overlay built-in, so you may prioritise recreation efficiency, block notifications and extra. It’s removed from essentially the most in-depth that I’ve come throughout, that’s the place gaming handsets just like the RedMagic 9 Professional shine, but it surely’s good to have a bit of additional management over your gaming expertise.

Vivo V30 Professional benchmarks

Cameras

• 50Mp primary sensor
• 50Mp ultrawide
• 50Mp 2x portrait lens
• 50Mp selfie digital camera with autofocus

It’s clear from the “Skilled Portrait” branding on the highest of this telephone, in addition to the Zeiss brand on the digital camera array, that the Vivo V30 Professional is all about pictures. It’s additionally on this space that the V30 Professional finest differentiates itself from its predecessors and its cheaper sibling.

Luke Baker

Prior to now, we’ve seen Vivo’s V-series units deal with the principle digital camera and selfie snapper, that are often fairly good, however are joined by the unimpressive 8Mp ultrawide and 2Mp macro combo discovered on far too many mid-range and even price range telephones. The V30 Professional modifications that, and with a 50Mp decision on each digital camera, it appears to be a much better bundle.

I discovered the front-facing digital camera to be essentially the most spectacular of the bunch, it has a uniquely huge FOV, which is known as 0.8x within the digital camera app, however also can digitally crop to 1x and 2x as you see match. This makes it nice for group photographs, or taking selfies that showcase your environment, and the truth that it has autofocus means you’re all the time tack-sharp regardless of how far you stand from the lens.

Not solely is that this the perfect front-facing digital camera you’ll discover on this worth bracket, but it surely is likely to be the perfect one on any present telephone. It’s definitely much more spectacular than the selfie digital camera on Vivo’s flagship X100 Professional, and I’d say it offers the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely’s front-facing digital camera a run for its cash, too.

This nice digital camera is aided by a collection of software program enhancements, together with a particularly in-depth magnificence mode, tonnes of filters and a reasonably dependable portrait mode. The portrait mode advantages from Zeiss-inspired bokeh results, which give the images some additional aptitude in comparison with the competitors. My solely gripe is you can’t alter the extent of blur after capturing on the front-facing digital camera, you may on the rear, so it appears odd to omit it right here.

Whereas all of the rear cameras now supply the identical 50Mp decision, it’s nonetheless the principle lens that steals the present. It has a comparatively giant 1/1.49-inch sensor, in addition to a large f/1.9 aperture, and this implies it outshines the opposite cameras each time the lighting will get slightly decrease.

The primary digital camera is joined by an ultrawide and a 2x telephoto or “portrait” lens. Color consistency is nice throughout the entire cameras, however the principle digital camera simply appears slightly sharper and extra detailed in most conditions. That stated, these are very helpful focal lengths to have in your arsenal. As marketed, the 2x lens is nice for creating flattering portrait photographs, whereas the ultrawide is ideal for structure and landscapes. Each of those cameras have very quick minimal focusing distances, too, in order that they work effectively for macro photographs.

The native digital camera app additionally offers you a button to modify to 4x telephoto, which is a digital crop of the 2x lens. I used to be much less impressed with this feature, as you may see an actual drop in picture high quality, particularly in low-light conditions. More often than not, you’d be finest sticking with the 2x lens and transferring nearer, if doable.

The Vivo V30 Professional contains a square-shaped Aura Gentle beneath its digital camera array. So far as I’m conscious, this function is exclusive to Vivo, and it was launched final yr on the V27-series units. Basically, it’s a bi-colour steady mild supply that can be utilized so as to add natural-looking fill mild to both images or movies.

By default, the Aura Gentle will detect the ambient color temperature and alter the heat of this LED ring to match. Nonetheless, you too can management it manually. More often than not, photographs utilizing the Aura Gentle aren’t essentially the most flattering, however they undoubtedly look higher than a standard flash.

Plus, Vivo affords a traditional LED flash, so you may select which one fits the situation higher.

Luke Baker

The V30 Professional can shoot video at as much as 4K/60fps on each digital camera, however sadly, it lacks digital picture stabilisation at 60fps, so that you’ll wish to keep on with 4K/30fps for essentially the most half. In case you do, you’ll get great detailed movies with easy stabilisation.

There aren’t as many video choices as I’m used to seeing on flagships (there aren’t any guide controls, for instance) however for the informal shooter, the Vivo V30 Professional is well-equipped.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5000mAh battery
• 80W wired quick charging
• Charger included

Battery efficiency is one other space the place the V30 Professional excels.

Someway, Vivo has managed to cram a whopping 5000mAh pack into this slim chassis, and with the comparatively environment friendly MediaTek chip at its core, this is sufficient to see you thru the day, after which some.

Regardless of utilizing the telephone closely, capturing tonnes of images, streaming HDR content material and enjoying video games, the V30 Professional by no means did not see me to the tip of the day. Usually, I’d go to mattress with 20% or extra left within the tank.

Luke Baker

Charging speeds are nice, too. Vivo features a speedy 80W wall adapter within the field, and it says this can take you from fully drained to completely charged in as little as 46 minutes. What’s actually stunning, although, is that it solely took 41 minutes in my testing, and a 50% cost solely took me 20 minutes.

There’s no wi-fi charging help, however that’s common on this worth bracket.

Regardless of the blazing quick charging speeds, Vivo may be very assured in regards to the long-term reliability of its battery. After conducting inside testing, the model says you may count on to retain 80% of the unique capability after 4 years of fixed use.

Software program & Apps

• Funtouch OS 14
• Based mostly on Android 14
• Some bloatware to cope with

The Vivo V30 Professional ships with a skinned model of Android 14 referred to as Funtouch OS 14. It doesn’t stray too removed from the inventory Android expertise, navigation all works in a well-known approach and there’s a Google Uncover tab if you happen to swipe to the left.

Luke Baker

Aesthetically, it’s not my favorite pores and skin, however fortunately, there are a great deal of customisation choices to select from, so you may simply tweak the styling to your desire. This contains all the things from the animations if you open an app, to the form of your app icons, you may even change the fingerprint sensor and face unlock icons.

In use, it feels very responsive, and it’s straightforward to become familiar with however my primary criticism is the quantity of bloatware that comes pre-installed.

On first boot-up, you’ll discover plenty of first-party Vivo apps, in addition to folders filled with beneficial apps and video games. It’s considerably comprehensible, at such an aggressive worth level, however cleansing up all this undesirable stuff is a problem that I may definitely do with out.

Luke Baker

With regards to long-term help, Vivo guarantees two main OS upgrades and three years of safety patches. It’s not the worst, but it surely’s removed from spectacular, particularly when rival units just like the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G supply 4 OS upgrades and 5 years of safety patches.

Worth & Availability

Presumably the worst factor in regards to the Vivo V30 Professional, significantly if you happen to stay within the UK or the US, is that it’s going to be very tough to get your arms on one.

For the previous couple of years, Vivo has centered its V-series efforts on the Asian market, and Europe doesn’t often get a glance in.

It initially launched in Thailand and Indonesia, and it must be out there in India, the Philippines and Malaysia, too. Vivo informed me the worth in Thailand, which is nineteen,999 THB or roughly £440/$550. It’s fairly nice worth, given what the telephone affords, however you received’t discover any contract offers within the UK, so that you’d have to consider importing and discovering SIM-only deal.

An apparent competitor at this worth is the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G. With that telephone, you’ll get higher software program help and extra refined software program on the whole, but it surely’s a particular step down in photograph high quality, and never fairly as fast, both. There’s additionally the Google Pixel 7a, which may seize equally spectacular images with its rear cameras however doesn’t come shut with the front-facing digital camera.

Take a look at our decide of the perfect mid-range telephones for extra choices.

Must you purchase the Vivo V30 Professional?

In case you’re searching for a photographic performer that doesn’t break the financial institution, the Vivo V30 Professional is a wonderful alternative. It’s very true if you happen to prefer to take numerous selfies, or portrait photographs of individuals, as that’s the place this Zeiss-backed digital camera system actually shines.

The telephone is stable in different areas too, I wasn’t left wanting efficiency, the battery life is nice and it costs in a flash. There’s one thing to be stated for the slim construct, too. The styling isn’t precisely to my style, however I’m certain loads of folks will adore it, and it undoubtedly stands out in a crowded market.

After all, this solely applies if you may get your arms on it. In case you can, it’s a little bit of a discount, however in any other case, most individuals aren’t going to be keen to go to the lengths of importing a mid-range handset. It’s an actual disgrace as a result of in any other case, it’s a really compelling possibility for the worth.

Specs

• Funtouch OS 14, based mostly on Android 14
• 6.78in, 2800×1260, AMOLED, 120Hz, curved show
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• MediaTek Dimensity 8200
• 12GB RAM
• 512GB storage
• Cameras:
  • 50Mp, f/1.8 primary digital camera
  • 50Mp f/2.0 ultra-wide
  • 50Mp f/1.9 2x telephoto
  • 50Mp front-facing digital camera with autofocus
• As much as 4K @ 60fps rear video
• Single speaker
• Twin-SIM
• Bluetooth 5.3
• 5000mAh battery
• 80W wired charging
• 164.36 × 75.1 × 7.45 mm
• IP54 licensed
• 188g
• Colors: Noble Black, Bloom White, Lush Inexperienced, Waving Aqua