Now This Is PRO: Vivo V30 Pro Review! [PART 1]

Three 50MP cameras that are legitimately 50MP. Plus Zeiss too, that’s a neat feature.

The V-series, Vivo’s most popular phone series. Ever since their inception, these devices have focused specifically on cameras and, for a time, it was almost a twin of Oppo’s F-series. Today, Vivo continues improving this photo-centric device with brand new twists and innovations. Starting with the V27, it was the aura ring light, now with the Vivo V30 Pro, ZEISS Lenses! We were pleasantly surprised to see that they are bringing Zeiss-coated lenses down to the midrange when this feature was once exclusive to the flagship X series, say the X80 and X90.

The phone is based on the Vivo S18 Pro, which is China-exclusive. However, unlike its Chinese brethren, the Vivo V30 Pro has been modified to reflect Vivo and ZEISS’ long-term partnership. In retrospect, only the design was taken, and we believe this is a good way to keep costs down while also looking premium, and right for the V-series.

Unlike other phones which has “Pro” in the name, the Vivo V30 Pro is quite distinct from the Vivo V30 to the point it feels like it actually targets professional photographers, so this is one of the only devices that truly deserve the “Pro” title. The regular Vivo V30 lacks the ZEISS branding and the telephoto lens, and ZEISS is an optics brand with more than a century of experience in cameras and lenses. That means we’re truly holding something serious in our hands and it is not playing around when it comes to photography.

SPECS:

• 6.78″ 1.5K (2800x1260px) Curved AMOLED, 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, L1 Widevine Certification
• MediaTek Dimensity 8200 (6nm)
• CAMERAS:
  • 50MP (Primary), f/1.88, Sony IMX920, ZEISS T*, ZEISS Natural Colour, OIS, VCS “TrueColor”
    • 4K@30/60fps video
  • 50MP (Ultrawide), f/2.0, Samsung ISOCELL JN1, 119° FOV
  • 50MP (Telephoto), f/1.85, Omnivision OV50B, AF, OIS, “Professional Portrait Camera”
  • FRONT: 50MP, f/2.0, Samsung ISOCELL JN1, 92° FOV, AF, “Group Selfie Camera”
    • Ultrawide mode, 4K video, High-Res Mode
• Android 14, FunTouchOS 14
• 5000mAh, 80W Fast Charging
• USB-C, Single Speaker, In-Display Fingerprint Scanner
• 5G services, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6/6e, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC
• Petals White
• PRICE:
  • 12/512: PHP 34,999

HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE and DESIGN

We’ll summarize this since we discussed most of these in our First Impressions article

When we were invited to the launch event last month, we were surprised because we never expected Vivo of all companies to do and we highly appreciate that. There were several Vivo V30 and V30 Pro units on display and frankly the Vivo V30 Pro only comes in a single Petals White colour. The global version has more colors to choose from such as Black and Green so we’re not entirely sure why Vivo Philippines only went with one. Nonetheless, at least it is not black. Black phones are getting a little boring for us so we want to diversify.

Anyway, as we have mentioned in our first impressions, the Vivo V30 Pro is SOLID. At the front is the curved AMOLED which means it can be a little hard to hold but also makes the phone appear tall. Also, the texture at the back has a smooth feeling, sometimes ticklish. It’s like matte, we can’t exactly describe it. Although, the design does look somewhat feminine but that’s not an issue if no one else sees it as an issue.

And speaking of holding, the Vivo V30 Pro is fragile. What we mean by that is that the phone is slippery and gives us anxiety when we hold it without a case. Thankfully, the phone does have a clear case supplied because that is almost mandatory especially because you don’t want that screen to crack when accidentally dropped. Sure, there is Corning Gorilla Glass but that won’t save you once the phone does crack.

FunTouchOS 14:

As a subsidiary of BBK Electronics, Vivo’s FunTouchOS feels very familiar to us. Not only that, but users who might transition from other BBK brands like realme, Oppo, and OnePlus will feel at ease with FunTouchOS. It’s always a good thing that when you transition, what you learned applies to another product or brand. This is actually a philosophy that Steve Jobs followed called “Ease of Use” wherein he postulates that users will only use a product if they feel like it’s convenient for them, otherwise, they probably won’t transition due to the intense learning curve.

The app drawer is enabled by default which is now commonplace among many brands, and that’s a good thing because this avoids the connotation that a specific Android brand is copying iOS right off the bat. Swipe up to reveal the app drawer. There are two tabs here, the other is for the widgets and we honestly like this arrangement because it’s convenient and easy to find.

Although familiar, FunTouchOS is the most different out of all of them. It doesn’t feel like a repolished ColorOS. The functionality is there yes, but aesthetics-wise, the UI feels more different. We can’t exactly describe it, but it feels refreshing.

Of course, it is not without its faults. For instance, the phone is littered with bloatware. Something that is commonplace to any Android phone these days unless it’s OxygenOS or stock. Probably the only negative thing we have to say. Remove the bloat and it’s near perfect. The UI is orderly and clean without the bloatware ads, but the placement of the “Mobile Data” and “Bluetooth” are swapped around from ColorOS, so coming from OxygenOS, there are times where we almost mistapped the mobile data button and the Bluetooth button. Thankfully, they can be customized.

Just like ColorOS. One swipe down from the top reveals the notification menu and another swipe shows the control panel. The blue circle at the top right corner is Vivo’s AI assistant called “Jovi”, like Bon Jovi. This phone is living on a prayer.

The Vivo V30 Pro offers several customization options that suit your style. From changing the colors of the interface (even with app icons), to custom AOD messages, the phone feels quite personal. The method is highly similar to our OnePlus which is not a surprise honestly. And Our OnePlus Nord 3 has the same or similar customization options albeit without the theme store.

In the display settings, you can also set the refresh rate. You can make it adaptive or you can set it to high. However, higher consistent refresh rates, say a full 120Hz, consumes more battery. You can set it to standard 60Hz but this might make the phone feel slower, even though this is just an illusion.

DISPLAY:

The Vivo V30 Pro features a 6.78″ curved AMOLED display with L1 Widevine Certification, 120Hz refresh rate, 1920Hz PWM Dimming, HDR10+ support, and most importantly, 1.5K resolution. This is the type of display typical for its price range, apart from the curviness, which is optional depending on the feedback a brand gets from customers.

However, knowing we use and own the OnePlus Nord 3 which has a display of a similar calibre, some might ask us if we prefer flat or curved. Well, we can’t make a clear or straightforward answer here because both have their own merits and faults. We like flat displays for their simple construction and portability. Meanwhile, we found a better appreciation for curved OLEDs after holding the Vivo V30 Pro for a while. We found them to be more premium and makes a phone look taller, suitable for phones that have a high resolution. We also like how swiping to the left or right that apps will “curve” in as well, creating a small 3D effect. However, its main caveats are mistouches and that the side might crack because it is also part display.

As for the Vivo V30 Pro, the display is great. There are a few customization options in the settings to change the temperature and colour. It might not be LTPO but it sure does do the job well, and better than expected. By default, it uses a vivid layout and the display is bright, text is bold and stands out, and pictures look sharp and clean. We didn’t see any stitching or weird artifacts. Moreover, if you don’t like the current setup, you can adjust the color temperature in the settings.

The display is also great to use outside even on a hot sunny day, especially now when the Philippines is experiencing an oven hot temperature of 45°C temperature. Vivo’s website mentions peak brightness of 2800nits and you can really feel it here. It’s bright and blinding and can be used as an alternative flashlight. We don’t even need to set the brightness to max for the screen to shine brightly. Max brightness should be used sparingly, only when needed.

That is all for part 1! See you in part 2. Be prepared. It’s gonna be quite a long one. ZEISS, here we go!