Vivo
vivo iQOO Z9x 5G Review: Budget Meets Substance
iQOO first emerged in the smartphone industry as a sub-brand of vivo. Under vivo, the brand brought industry-leading R&D capabilities and supply chains to new customers. The Z series from iQOO stands out as a high-budget option with significant performance capabilities. The latest in the lineup, the Z9x 5G was recently launched on 29th April 2024. Here’s a detailed take on the vivo Z9x 5G.
Key Specifications of the vivo iQOO Z9x
Design and Build Quality
The Z9x is a plastic-built smartphone all around. However, the sophistication of the design elements makes everything unique about the device. The frosted textured back (“planetary orbit” according to iQOO), the sunburst camera module, and the flat frames make for a stylish design.
The dimension of the device comes in at 165.7 mm by 76 mm by 7.99 mm with 199 g weight. As a high-budget smartphone, the headphone jack and the card slot are on the Z9x. The power button doubles as the fingerprint scanner as the screen has no optical sensor.
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The porthole camera and the slight chin at the bottom of the display are streamlined with previous Z series smartphones. Needless to say, the design has adjusted enough to the changing landscape.
The Z9x also boasts IP64 water and dust resistance for accidental splashes. The device is available in two colors, Mystic Black and Northern Green.
The Display
The display on the Z9x is a 6.72-inch IPS LCD panel with 120Hz high refresh rate and 1000 nits of peak brightness. The FHD+ panel has a resolution of 2408 by 1080 pixels with about 393 ppi density. The relatively smaller chin accounts for an 86.4% screen-to-body ratio.
Additionally, the panel boasts about 83% NTSC color saturation. However, it does not support the DCI-P3 color gamut.
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As a sub-25 K smartphone, the lack of an AMOLED display might be a deal breaker for some. But if you can overlook that, the color accuracy, viewing angles, and overall smoothness of the display are praiseworthy.
The Camera
There’s a dual camera setup on the Z9x. The main camera is a 50 MP, f/1.8, wide-angle shooter with a 1/1.95" sensor. The secondary sensor is a 2 MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The front camera is a generic 8 MP, f/2.1 sensor.
In terms of performance, the Z9x holds up nicely for its price. The pictures taken in the daylight were well-detailed with decent exposure. One thing that stood out was the color vibrancy of the images. Regardless of the subject, the images tend to have a vibrant pop of color. At times, it might look and feel artificial, depending on the subject. Zooming on the images also shows over-sharpening issues at times, even with decent lighting.
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As for nighttime images, the included night mode is the saving grace here. Pictures with the night mode came out well-exposed and detailed. However, the post-processing produces overall soft images to roll out the grains.
As for the front camera, the portrait mode worked well thanks to the dedicated depth sensor.
The maximum videography capacity on the iQOO Z9x phone’s rear and front cameras are rated at 4K and 1080P respectively. The gyro-EIS helps slightly to stabilize the footage. But you’ll probably need a dedicated gimbal for proper videography with this camera.
Processor and Performance
The processor on the Z9x is Qualcomm SM6450 Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 based on a 4 Nm architecture. The Gen series brought an overhaul in the naming convention, with more or less the same increment as before. The octa-core processor has a chip design of 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 with Adreno 710 GPU.
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In terms of day-to-day use, the Z9x breezes past activities like browsing the web, watching videos, or scrolling social media. Games like PUBG were stable on the Smooth Extreme setup. There weren’t any frame drops unless there were deliberate high graphics usage moments in the game. Genshin Impact was also playable, but it had far more frame drops and jitters compared to PUBG. Highly optimized games like Asphalt 9 and COD ran without any issues.
The device did, however, heat up quite a bit in each gaming session. But it didn’t affect the overall performance.
Benchmark
GeekBench 6: 933 (single core); 2799 (multi-core)
Antutu 10: 580645
Software
The iQOO Z9x runs on Funtouch OS 14, based on Android 14. Funtouch OS came a long way to becoming more optimized and streamlined with the stock Android experience. However, it still has its distinct features, like the app retainer, redesigned split-screen, and media locking. iQOO promises up to 50 months of smooth usage thanks to the newly optimized OS.
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Battery and Charge Time
The vivo iQOO Z9x is powered by a large battery featuring 6000 mAh. It’s one of the largest in its class and can be easily topped up using the supported 44W wired charging system. Surprisingly, the Z9x also supports reverse charging, which isn’t all that common in this price range.
Pros and Cons of the vivo iQOO Z9x
Pros:
- IPS LCD panel with 120 Hz high refresh rate- Capable dual camera system- 4K video recording capabilities- Audio jack and extendable micro SDXC- Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor- 6000 mAh battery with 44W wired charging- Side-mounted fingerprint scanner- IP64 water and dust resistance.
Cons:
- No ultrawide or zoom lens- No NFC support- Outdated UFS 2.2 storage system- No rated front glass protection.
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Price of the vivo iQOO Z9x
The iQOO Z9x is available in the 8/128 GB variant in India. The price is 16,630 INR (with a discount). It roughly translates to 23,348 BDT (1 INR = 1.40 BDT).
Verdict
The vivo iQOO Z9x, with its high refresh rate display, dual camera setup, and 5G capabilities, brings a lot to be hopeful about. Especially, its Snapdragon processor performs better than the similarly powered Helio options.
On the other hand, minor shortcomings like the lack of a faster read-write speed are the only mentionable drawbacks of the device. On the whole, anyone looking for a solid daily driver with slight gaming capabilities at a budget price can easily pick up the vivo iQOO Z9x 5G.
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Vivo Y28 4G Review: Is it a value-for-money smartphone?
Vivo recently announced their lower mid-range device Vivo Y28 4G for the Bangladeshi market. The device was on pre-booking from 4th to 9th July with official delivery starting on 10th July 2024. The Y28 brings an exciting new design among a host of other improvements. But is it enough to justify the price? Let’s find out.
Key Specs of Vivo Y28 4G
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Y28 is a complete overhaul of the traditional Y series. The device is made of plastic all around but the frosted composite plastic sheet on the back and the accented chromed frames give it a premium look. The rounded square camera housing and the ring light also add a premium feel to the device.
The dimension of the Y 28 comes in at 165.70 mm by 76.00 mm by 7.99 mm for the Agate Green variant and 165.70 mm by 76.00 mm by 8.09 mm for the Gleaming Orange option. The weight is clocked at 199 g.
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Regarding ports and buttons, the Y28 includes all the essentials including the headphone jack and the micro SDXC slot. However, the lack of a secondary noise cancellation mic at this price point is disappointing.
The power button on the Y28 doubles as the fingerprint scanner. The device also has an IP64 water and dust rating for accidental splashes.
The Display
The display on the Y28 is a 6.68-inch IPS LCD panel with a 90 Hz refresh rate and 1000 nits of peak brightness. It’s a surprising choice to go with an LCD panel especially when most alternatives at this price come with an AMOLED panel.
The display has a 1608 by 720 pixels resolution with 264 ppi density. The display has an 83% NTSC color saturation for a vibrant and crisp contrast. It’s also TUV Rheinland certified for Low Blue Light technology. Stepless Dimming and Global DC Dimming features are also for ease of use in low light conditions.
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In terms of performance, the display looks okay. It has good colors, great viewing angles, and a high refresh rate. However, the lower resolution might be a deal breaker for many especially considering the price.
The Camera
There’s a dual camera setup on the Y28. The main camera is a 50 MP f/1.8 shooter and the secondary one is a 2 MP f/2.4 sensor. The front camera is an 8 MP f/2.05 shooter.
The camera system on the Y28 is the same as the Y27 with some lateral developments. The performance of the camera can be best described as a mixed-bag experience.
Pictures taken in daylight had a neutral tone to them. It's different from the usual mid-range cameras where there is a pop of color and social-media-ready processing. Instead, the pictures are more suited for those who like to edit their pictures. Portrait pictures came out well on the Y28. However, the background blue may feel a bit artificial at times. The front and back cameras showed a hint of red tint in the images.
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Night-time photography performed similarly. There were some exposure issues here and there. Other than that, the cameras produced decent results.
The videography on the Y28 is rated at 1080P at 30 fps. However, without any external stabilization, the videos are barely usable at best.
Processor and Performance
The processor on the Y28 is Helio G85 based on a 12 Nm architecture. The chip design consists of 2 x 2 GHz & 6 x 1.8 GHz processors. The G85 at this point is several years old and is more suited for a sub-15 K budget smartphone.
The RAM capacity ranges from 6 to 8 GB. Starting from 128GB the memory reaches up to 256GB featuring eMMC5.1 technology. The maximum limit of its expandable storage is 1TB.
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In terms of performance, the processor can handle day-to-day tasks pretty well. But the gaming isn’t really on par here. In the test, games like PUBG and Free Fire stuttered in the highest settings. Even with reduced graphics, there were frame drops here and there.
What we liked is the 300% surround sound stereo speakers. It performed pretty well even in near-highest volume settings without any distortions.
Benchmark
Antutu V9: 217448 PCMark: 11655Geekbench 5: 353 (single core); 1311 (multi-core).
Software
The software on Y28 is the Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. Funtouch hasn’t changed any of its design language from last year with the same animations and bloatware. Some of the bloatware can be uninstalled after the initial setup which might be helpful for a more minimal look.
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Battery and Charge Time
The battery on the Vivo Y28 is 6000 mAh. The large battery capacity easily makes for a day's usage on a full charge. Vivo has also included 44W of fast charging with the device.
Pros and Cons of Vivo Y28
Pros:
- Stylish design - Comes with a ring light - 90 Hz high refresh rate- LPDDR4X RAM - eMMC 5.1 internal storage option - 50 MP main sensor - Up to 1 TB of expandable storage - 300% volume - 6000 mAh large capacity battery- 44W fast charging.
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Cons:
- No AMOLED display- No gorilla glass protection- HD+ resolution display - Pictures came out with a washed-out neutral tone - Sub-par processor - No wireless and reverse charging Support.
Official Price of Vivo Y28 in Bangladesh
The official price of Vivo Y28 is 20,999 BDT for the 6/128 GB variant and 25,999 BDT for the 8/256 GB variant.
Verdict
The Vivo Y28 4G with its features doesn’t justify the price. It has a great design and a good battery life. But that’s about it when it comes to its strengths. The 720P display, entry-level processor, and camera don’t add much value. For instance, OnePlus Nord CE 4 Lite 5G is offering an AMOLED screen at a similar price range.
As for the users, the Vivo Y28 4G is best suited for those looking for a daily device for regular use.
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vivo iQoo Z9 Turbo Review: New Contender in Mid-Budget Range
iQOO, a sub-brand of vivo, produces high-performance devices catering to gamers and tech enthusiasts. The Z Turbo series of iQoo is known for its performance and innovation. Z9 Turbo, the latest addition to this series, debuted on April 29, 2024. Let’s look at the features, pros, cons, and price of the vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo in Bangladesh.
Key Specifications of the vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo
Design
The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo boasts a standard design with dimensions of 163.7 mm by 76 mm by 8 mm and a weight of 194.9 grams, offering a handy feel despite its large battery. The dual SIM slots support Nano-SIM cards, and the phone is IP64-rated for dust and water resistance. Though it lacks a 3.5 mm audio jack, it features an in-screen fingerprint sensor for easy access. All ports and buttons are strategically placed for user convenience.
The design draws inspiration from the iQOO 12 series, with a rear panel that resembles frosted glass but is made of durable plastic, providing a premium look without the added fragility.
Display
The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo features a stunning 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 1 billion colors, offering an immersive visual experience. With a screen-to-body ratio of approximately 89.2%, it provides a large viewing area. The 1260 by 2800 pixels resolution ensures good quality images with a pixel density of about 453 ppi.
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The display supports HDR and can reach a peak brightness of 4500 nits, making it easy to view even in bright sunlight. It also has an always-on display feature for quick access to important information.
While the 144Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and gaming, it may drop to 120Hz or 90Hz for some apps, ensuring optimal performance. The display offers accurate color reproduction and a symmetrical design for a balanced look.
Camera
The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is equipped with all the necessary camera features. The main camera setup includes a 50 MP wide lens with an aperture of f/1.8, featuring PDAF and OIS for sharp and stable shots. It is paired with an 8MP ultrawide lens with an aperture of f/2.2 for capturing expansive scenes. Additional camera features include LED flash, panorama, and HDR for enhanced photo quality. The main camera supports video recording in 4K at 30/60fps and 1080p, with gyro-EIS and OIS for smooth and steady footage.
For selfies, the phone has a 16 MP front camera with an aperture of f/2.5, capable of recording 1080p video at 30fps. This combination ensures high-quality photography and videography in various settings.
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Performance and Hardware
The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo offers top-tier performance with its advanced hardware and software. It runs on Android 14 with OriginOS 4, providing a smooth and user-friendly interface. Powered by the Qualcomm SM8635 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset built on a 4 nm process, it features an octa-core CPU composed of one 3.0 GHz Cortex-X4, four 2.8 GHz Cortex-A720, and three 2.0 GHz Cortex-A520 cores. This configuration ensures excellent processing power and efficiency. The Adreno 735 GPU enhances graphics performance, making gaming and multimedia experiences seamless.
Memory options include 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, paired with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and it uses UFS 4.0 technology for fast data transfer. Overall, the iQOO Z9 Turbo delivers exceptional speed and performance.
Battery and Charger
The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is equipped with a robust 6000 mAh non-removable battery, ensuring extended usage without frequent recharges.
It supports 80W wired charging, allowing for rapid power-ups to keep you connected and productive throughout the day. Additionally, the phone features 7.5W reverse wired charging, enabling it to share power with other devices, making it convenient for on-the-go charging needs.
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The large battery capacity, combined with efficient charging technologies, ensures that the iQOO Z9 Turbo offers reliable performance and long-lasting power, ideal for heavy users and gamers who demand consistent and dependable battery life.
Pros and Cons of The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo
Pros
- 5G and NFC-enabled- Android 14 OS with OriginOS 4- FHD AMOLED display with 144Hz refresh rate- 4500 nits brightness- Always-on display- IP64 dust and water resistance- 4K video recording with gyro-EIS and OIS- 6000 mAh battery with 80W fast charging- 7.5W reverse wired charging- Stereo speakers- Infrared port- Excellent gaming and multitasking performance.
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Cons
- No wireless charging- Selfie camera limited to 1080p videos- No optical zoom camera- No secondary card slot- No audio jack.
Price of the vivo iQoo Z9 Turbo in Bangladesh
vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo is available for around BDT 42000 in Bangladesh. However, the price is subject to change.
Conclusion
The vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo speaks for itself in the mid-budget range with its design, AMOLED display, and performance. Key features include an FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate, a 50 MP main camera, and a powerful Snapdragon chipset. The phone runs on Android 14 with OriginOS 4 and offers substantial memory options. The extra-large battery supports fast charging and reverse-wired charging, making it ideal for heavy users.
Despite lacking wireless charging, optical zoom, and a secondary card slot, the vivo iQOO Z9 Turbo excels in gaming, multitasking, and overall functionality.
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vivo Y18 Review: A Budget-friendly Phone with Standard Features
vivo Y Series lineup is popular for producing value-for-money devices with stylish designs, standard displays, and long-lasting batteries at affordable prices. vivo’s latest budget-friendly phone Y18 hit the Indian market on 3rd May 2024. This phone is now officially available in Bangladesh. Let’s dive deeper into the specifications, pros, cons, and price of vivo Y18.
Key Features of the vivo Y18
Design
The vivo Y18 uses a standard design with dimensions of 163.6 mm by 75.6 mm by 8.4 mm. Not so bulky, and not so thin, the phone manages to keep a medium body frame making it easy to hold and use. Weighing 185 grams, it feels solid without being too heavy.
The phone has a glass front for a premium look, while the plastic frame and back keep it lightweight. It supports dual SIM cards, allowing you to use two numbers simultaneously. You will find all the buttons on the phone's right side and the sim tray on the left. The vivo Y18 is dust- and splash-resistant with an IP54 rating, providing extra durability for everyday use.
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Display
The vivo Y18 features a 6.56-inch IPS LCD with good-quality visuals. With a 90Hz refresh rate, the screen maintains smooth scrolling and responsiveness. So it won’t lag while using apps or playing games. The display can reach up to 840 nits in brightness. So, it can sustain visibility even in the direct sun.
It has a 720 by 1612 pixels resolution, featuring clarity with a 20:9 aspect ratio for a good viewing experience. The screen-to-body ratio is approximately 83.6%, meaning most of the phone's front is dedicated to the display. This large viewing area enhances the experience of watching videos, browsing, and using apps, making the vivo Y18 a pleasure.
Performance and Hardware
The vivo Y18 runs on Android 14 with Funtouch 14, providing a user-friendly interface and the latest software features. It is powered by the Mediatek Helio G85 chipset, built on a 12 nm process. The CPU is an octa-core setup, consisting of 2x2.0 GHz Cortex-A75 cores for performance tasks and 6 x 1.8 GHz Cortex-A55 cores for efficiency.
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The GPU is a Mali-G52 MC2, handling graphics and gaming. For memory, the phone includes a dedicated microSDXC card slot for expandable storage, in addition to the internal 64GB storage and 4GB RAM. This combination ensures smooth multitasking and adequate storage for apps, media, and files.
Cameras
The vivo Y18 comes with a main camera and a selfie camera. The main camera has a 50 MP sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which captures wide-angle photos and includes PDAF for fast focusing. There is also a 0.08 MP auxiliary lens with an f/3.0 aperture. The main camera features an LED flash for low-light photography and supports wide-shot panorama mode. It can record video at 1080p at 30 frames per second.
The selfie camera is 8 MP with an f/2.0 aperture, designed for wide-angle shots. It also supports video recording, although specific resolution details are not provided. These camera specifications offer versatile options for both photography and video recording.
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Battery and Charging
The vivo Y18 has a non-removable 5000 mAh Li-Ion battery, providing enough power for extended use. This battery capacity ensures the phone can handle a full day of typical usage, including calls, browsing, and media consumption, without requiring frequent recharges. It supports 15W wired charging.
vivo V30 Lite Review: Know the Pros and Cons
The V series has been the premium flagship line of the reputed smartphone manufacturing brand vivo for several years. The brand also introduced the V Lite lineup to provide a flagship-like experience to mid-range users. vivo recently launched the V30 Lite, the successor to last year's hugely popular V29 Lite on 6th May 2024 in Bangladesh. Let’s take a look at the features, pros, cons, and price of the vivo V30 Lite.
Key Specifications of the vivo V30 Lite
Design and Build Quality
There are several new design features with the new V30 Lite. The core design elements remain the same bearing a rectangular camera housing, vertical sensors, and a punch-hole display. The back panel is made from AG Fluorite glass with injection screening to provide a feather-like pattern. The back panel has thermal sensitivity where it changes color in contact with sunlight.
The dimension of the device comes in at 163.17 mm by 75.81 mm by 7.79 mm (Crystal Black) and 163.17 mm by 75.81 mm by 7.95 mm (Breeze Green) for the two variants. The weight corresponds to 186g (Crystal Black) and 196g (Breeze Green) respectively. It’s a slightly smaller footprint compared to the vivo V29 Lite making it a bit more compact.
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Ports and buttons are all in their usual positions. Like the ancestor V29 Lite, there is no headphone jack on V30 Lite. The V30 Lite is also IP54 dust and splash-resistant making it more durable.
The Display
The display on the vivo V30 Lite is a 6.67-inch AMOLED panel with a dynamic 120 Hz refresh rate and 1 B colors. Users will enjoy up to 1800 nits of peak brightness in a space of 88.3% screen-to-body ratio.
The resolution of its display comes in at 2400 by 1080 pixels with 394 ppi density. Additional features like 107% color saturation, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, and E4 light-emitting materials make this display a touch above the rest.
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considering overall quality, the V30 Lite takes the edge over the V29 Lite. Even among its competitors, the V30 Lite provides better results than the Samsung Galaxy A55 or Oppo Reno 11 F. The only device to edge over the V30 Lite at this price is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro.
The Camera
There’s a dual camera setup on the vivo V30 Lite. The main sensor is a 50 MP f/1.8 with PDAF and the secondary sensor is a 2 MP f/2.4 depth sensor. The front features a generic 8 MP f/2.0 sensor.
From the spec alone, the V30 Lite falls short of its competitors as most devices at this price range come with a triple camera setup. The V29 Lite also had a triple camera setup with the main sensor being a 64 MP one.
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But speaking of the actual performance, the V30 Lite produces on-par results. Pictures came out sharp with great contrast and neutral color in daylight. There was no forced color reproduction which the A55 or the Redmi Note 13 Pro suffers from. The quality was also similar in low light with better exposition in the dedicated night mode.
The depth sensor helps in taking great portrait shots. Users can tweak the bokeh effect after taking a shot which might be handy in different situations. The front camera also produced passable results with good details and dynamic range.
The videography on the vivo V30 Lite is limited to 1080P at 30 fps. It produced decent results using the included EIS feature.
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Processor and Performance
The processor on the V30 Lite is the Snapdragon 685 based on a 6 Nm architecture. It is a point of contention given that all the competitors including the previous gen V29 Lite have a better processor.
The processor features an octa-core architecture with 4 × 2.8 GHz and 4 × 1.9 GHz locked clock speed. The Antutu score of the CPU comes in at 346350 and the Geekbench score is 473 (single-core) and 1510 (multi-score).
In terms of performance, the V30 Lite is a daily task smartphone at best. Gaming isn’t its forte as titles like PUBG and Genshin Impact were barely playable in moderate settings. There’s also the thermal issue with prolonged gaming.
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Considering the price, the performance of the vivo V30 Lite isn’t all that great. Alternatives like Galaxy A55 (Exynos 1480), Redmi Note 13 Pro (7s Gen 2), and Reno 11 F (Dimensity 7050) all bring better performance in a similar price range.
Software
The V30 Lite is running Funtouch OS 14 based on Android 14. It has its fair share of bloatware but the overall user experience was moderate with fast navigation and app switching.
Battery and Charge Time
The battery on the vivo V30 Lite is 5000 mAh. The device comes with 80W FlashCharge which can take the device from 0 to 80% in 30 minutes. With moderate and casual use, expect to get around 6 to 7 hours of screen time from the device.
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Pros and Cons of vivo V30 Lite
Pros
- AMOLED panel with 120 Hz refresh rate - 80W FlashCharge support - Decent main camera - IP54 dust and splash resistant - Color changing back - AG Fluorite protection - Comes with Android 14.
Cons
- Average Performance - Plastic frame design - No Gorilla glass protection on display- No reverse or wireless charging capacity- No optical zoom camera - No 4K video footage recordings support- No Gyro-EIS support- No MicroSD card slot- No audio jack- No 5G support - Outdated USB Type-C charging port.
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Official Price of vivo V30 Lite in Bangladesh
The V30 Lite is available in the 8/256 GB variant in Bangladesh. The price of the V30 Lite is 32,999 BDT. However, the price is subject to change.
Verdict
The V30 Lite can be best termed as a mixed-bag smartphone. It brings an interesting design with gimmicky features, great display, and great battery life. But at the same time, it grossly falls short in the performance department.
If you’re looking for a more capable device in terms of performance and camera capabilities then the A55 and Redmi Note 13 Pro can be a better choice. Other than that, the vivo V30 Lite can be good for those looking for a stylish smartphone for casual use.
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vivo iQOO Z9 Review: A Budget-friendly Phone with Decent Features
vivo’s sub-brand iQOO has hit the market with its latest model iQOO Z9. It was released on 12th March 2014 in India. For its reputation as a value-for-money smartphone provider, iQOO has made a lot of traction in the market. Is the newest model up to that par? Let’s find out the features, pros, cons and price of vivo iQOO Z9.
Key Specs of vivo iQOO Z9
Design
The iQOO Z9 boasts a 163.17 mm by 75.81 mm by 7.83 mm solid build, featuring IP54 dust, and water resistance. It weighs 188g. Its matte back panel and frame resist fingerprints, providing a comfortable, non-slippery grip. However, the flat sides may occasionally feel sharp against your palms.
The device comes in Brushed Green and Graphene Blue colours, with a distinctive feather-like pattern on the back. The rear camera module, housing two cameras and dual flash, sits on the top left, while the power button and volume rocker are on the right. At the bottom, you'll find the USB-C charging port, speaker, and SIM/SD card tray.
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The front display offers slim bezels, except for a thicker chin. It features an in-display fingerprint sensor, though not the fastest in its price range. While the plastic build feels sturdy, competitors with vegan leather backs provide a more premium alternative.
Display
The iQOO Z9 swaps the compact design of its predecessor for a more traditional 6.67-inch AMOLED display with Full HD+ resolution featuring 2400 by 1080 pixels and 120 Hz refresh rate support. However, it disappointingly lacks 120 Hz scrolling in most apps, limiting the smooth experience of the UI.
Despite this hiccup, the display impresses with sharpness at 394 PPI, HDR support, and vibrant colours. HDR content on platforms like YouTube and Netflix looks crisp and vibrant, thanks to the deep blacks and enhanced contrast of the AMOLED panel.
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The display also shines bright, reaching up to 1,800 nits of peak local brightness. Plus, the addition of dual stereo speakers elevates the audio experience, offering full sound with good bass and vocals, a significant improvement over its predecessor's single-speaker setup.
Cameras
The iQOO Z9 impresses with its camera performance, featuring a 50-megapixel (f/1.79) Sony IMX882 primary sensor with OIS. It has a 2 MP (f/2.4) Bokeh camera too.
While lacking an ultrawide shooter, the primary camera excels in capturing stunning photos in both daylight and low-light conditions. Daytime shots exhibit crisp details, natural colours, and a solid dynamic range comparable to higher-priced phones. The 2x zoom images maintain quality, and close-up shots boast a natural bokeh effect.
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Portrait shots deliver close-to-natural skin tones, though edge detection could be improved. The option to capture full 50-megapixel shots retains dynamic range and enhances details. Low-light photography shines with minimal noise and polished results, despite some shadow detail loss.
The 16-megapixel (f/2.0) selfie camera performs decently in daylight but struggles in low light.
Additionally, the phone's rear sensor supports maximum of 4K @30fps video recording with stabilisation, adding versatility to its camera capabilities. While the front camera can capture 1080p videos at 30fps.
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vivo iQOO 12 Review: Flagship Killer or a Flagship Itself?
iQOO smartphones are known for their reliable performance at a marginal price. Their lineup is often dubbed as gaming on a budget. But the marginal price and the flagship killer tag come with certain corner cuts. But that all changed with their new release. iQOO launched the iQOO 12 on 14th November 2023. The device brings improvements in almost every sector compared to its predecessor. Now the question arises, is the vivo iQOO 12 a flagship killer or a proper flagship itself? Let’s find out.
Key Specs of the vivo iQOO 12
Design and Build Quality
It seems like iQOO has been inspired by OnePlus’s Never Settle philosophy when it comes to design. Gone are the rectangular camera housing which has been replaced with a rather square-ish round look. iQOO calls it the porthole design.
The build quality feels more sturdy thanks to the aluminum frame and glass back composition. The dimension of the iQOO 12 comes in at 163.22 mm by 75.88 mm by 8.10 mm (Alpha and Legend) or 8.35 mm (Desert Red). The weight of the device also differs as Alpha and Legend comes in at 203.7 g and the Desert Red comes in at 198.5 g. iQOO has partnered with BMW for the Legend variant. It adds a distinct dash of the M series colorways in a white AG Fluorite back.
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Ports and buttons are in their usual space as before. The 12 with its updated looks and build quality seems to be on par with most flagships today. The Chinese variant even has IP64 water and dust resistance. However, it couldn’t be confirmed whether it’s the same for the global variant as well.
The Display
The display on the iQOO 12 is a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED 8T panel with 1B colors, 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1400 nits of HBM, and 3000 nits of peak brightness. The resolution of the panel comes in at 1260 by 2800 pixels at a 20:9 aspect ratio. It brings the pixel count to about 452 ppi.
One of the impressive things about the iQOO 12 is the ultra-slim symmetric bezel on all sides. It takes the screen real estate to 89.6% screen-to-body ratio.
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The display also has a 2160 Hz PWM dimming mode for ease of usage in ultra-low light conditions. iQOO also incorporated an intelligent anti-fatigue brightness strategy and low blue light emission to relieve the stress on the eyes.
The overall experience with the host of features has been excellent. The display is fast, accurate, has great colors, and is simply a pleasure for content consumption.
The Camera
The camera on the iQOO 12 got a massive improvement over last year’s 11. There’s a new triple camera setup with the main sensor being a 50 MP f/1.7 23 mm wide angle lens with PDAF and OIS. There’s also a 64 MP f/2.6 70 mm periscope telephoto lens and a 50 MP f/2.0 119 degrees ultrawide lens. There’s also a 16 MP f/2.5 selfie shooter on the front.
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The flagship-grade sensors also provide impressive results. Pictures taken during the day had great contrast and sharpness to them with decent dynamic range. You might notice a slightly warm tone in a typical vivo fashion. Pictures taken at night were on par with daylight images thanks to the night mode. The front camera also took decent selfies. However it lacked details and sharpness compared to the main sensor.
The videography on the iQOO 12 is rated to be 8K at 30fps, 4K at 24/30/60fps, and 1080p at 30/60/120/240fps. Both the EIS and OIS do a great job of stabilizing and providing good-quality videos. The selfie shooter can capture only 1080p videos at 30fps.
vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro Review: The Gaming-focused Flagship Phone of 2024
iQOO is here with its highly anticipated Neo series for 2024. The Neo lineup has stirred up quite the hype over the years for its unbeatable price-to-performance deals. The Neo9 Pro was launched globally on 22nd February. The global Neo9 Pro’s features are quite similar to the iQOO Neo9 released in China, while the Neo9 Pro’s Chinese version differs from its global version in the processor and camera section. Let’s find out more on this flagship phone.
Key Specs of the vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro
Design and Build Quality: A Mix of Sophistication and Refinement
The actual Neo9 Pro has been exclusively released for China for the time being. iQOO may not opt to release this model globally as it shares almost the same DNA with the parent company’s Vivo X100.
From the outside, you’re looking at the same dimension as that of the Neo9. There’s a vegan leather version which iQOO calls their Fiery Red model. There are also options for either blue or black glass back finishes.
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Dimension-wise, the iQOO Neo9 Pro comes in at 163.53 mm by 75.68 mm by 7.99 mm or 8.34 mm (Fiery Red). The aggregate weight of the device comes in at 190 g (Fiery Red) of 190 g as standard.
iQOO has incorporated several innovative design choices with the Neo9 Pro. The plastic frame has a four-sided micro-arc design for a seamless transition with the body. The front bezel on the side has been reduced to just 1.54 mm for a near-borderless view. There is also the Fluorite AG glass on the back of the blue and black model to deter fingerprints and smudges.
Ports, buttons, microphones, and dual SIM slots are in their usual spot like the Neo9. There’s no water resistance rating on the Neo9 Pro which might be its only gripe design-wise.
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The Display: Feature-Packed AMOLED Display
The display on the iQOO Neo9 Pro is stacked with features. On paper, users will get a 6.78-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 1B colors, 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1400 nits of HBM. The near-symmetrical panel comes in a 20:9 aspect ratio good enough for a 93.43% screen-to-body ratio.
The resolution has been cranked up to 1260 by 2800 pixels featuring of 452 ppi density. Additional display techs like XDR 2.0 and ZREAL have also been incorporated into the panel. The result is a whopping 8000000:1 contrast ratio in normal usage.
iQOO claims that the touch latency has been reduced by 36% compared to the previous models. The 2160 Hz PWM dimming mode increases the brightness perception by 14.3% making it easier on eyes in ultra-low light environments.
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The Camera
The camera is where the difference between the global 9 Pro and Chinese 9 Pro becomes apparent.
The main rear camera is a 50 MP shooter sporting a Sony VCS IMX 920 sensor. Spec includes f/1.88 aperture, 1/1.49 inch sensor size with PDAF and OIS.
The Chinese Neo9 Pro’s secondary rear sensor is another 50 MP f/2.0 shooter, 119-degree ultrawide sensor. On the other hand, the global version comes with an 8 MP (f/2.2) 119-degree ultrawide sensor.
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For both the Chinese and Global Neo9 pro, the front camera features a single 16 MP f/2.5 lens. It can shoot 1080 pixels of footage at 30 fps.
The custom Sony sensor can nicely capture natural and warm-looking images. The usual photorealism of the IMX 920 was missing here as pictures had a distinct color pop in them. The dynamic range was a bit sub-par. The ultrawide sensor was able to match the performance of the main sensor during daylight.
Pictures taken at night or in low light fared much better thanks to the large sensor size. The night mode was an added plus in low-light photography.
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Videography on the Chinese Neo9 Pro supports up to 8K, 4K, and 1080P. While the global version can capture a maximum of 4K videos. Video quality has been impressive thanks to the gyro-EIS and OIS.
Processor and Performance: Sheer Gaming Capabilities
Beyond the camera, the Chinese 9 Pro is using the latest MediaTek Dimensity 9300 based on the 4 Nm architecture unlike yesteryear’s 8 Gen 2 found on the global 9 Pro. The octa-core processor is coupled with Immortalis-G720 MC12 GPU. iQOO is claiming 40% increased performance with 33% less power consumption compared to the last generation.
The storage combination goes up to 16 GB RAM and 1TB internal storage. iQOO has upgraded to LPDDR5X and UFS 4.0 for the RAM and ROM respectively.
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In addition to the Dimensity 9300 chip, iQOO has also included the Q1 gaming chip developed in-house. iQOO claims that the Q1 can replicate PC-level super-resolution for open world and other graphics-intensive games. In the test, PUBG, COD, Genshin Impact, and Asphalt 9 were running smoothly at 60 Hz. What’s even more impressive is the lack of heating even after hours of gaming. The usual day-to-day browsing and surfing is fast and smooth thanks to the blazing 144 Hz display.
iQOO introduced their 6K Skylight vapor chamber liquid cooling technology which takes up around half of the internal footprint of the device. It accounts for precise heat dissipation resulting in a 26% increase in overall heat transfer.
Software: OriginOS 4 over Android 14
While the global variant comes with Funtouch OS, the Chinese Neo9 Pro sticks with the OriginOS. And given that it is released in China only. It’s a pretty heavy skin over Android 14. Needless to say, it would take some time to get used to its interface and navigation.
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Battery and Charge Time
The Neo9 Pro comes with 5160 mAh battery capacity. The 120W ultra-fast flash charge can take the device from 0 to 40% in 9 minutes. The full charge takes about 1 hour and 24 minutes. iQOO claims that the Neo9 Pro has been tested for up to 1600 full charge cycles after which the battery can retain up to 80% of its original capacity.
iQOO Neo7 SE Review: Competent Mid-range Gaming Phone
vivo’s subsidiary company iQOO has had a reputation for producing value-for-money phones since 2019. In this wave, iQOO launched another gaming-centric device Neo7 SE. Recently, the phone had its global launch which brought it in the spotlight. Let’s have a look at where it can be the right gaming phone for you.
Key Specs of Vivo iQOO Neo7 SE
Design and Build Quality
There’s an obvious caveat of having a plastic build all around on a budget-friendly to lower mid-range phone. The Neo7 SE is also no different. The plastic frame and back have a mix of matte and glossy frosted finish which gives it a glass-like look.
The Neo7 SE comes in at around 164.8 mm by 76.9 mm by 8.6 mm with 193 g weight. It’s a relatively lightweight build with a considerably large footprint. The camera housing on the back is reminiscent of the Neo7 with the iconic squared cut. The front features a near-uniform punch-hole display with a slight bottom chin.
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Ports and buttons are identical to the Neo6 SE. Users will be missing out on the 3.5 mm headphone jack and the extendable card storage on the Neo7 SE.
Overall the design and the build quality are okay for its price. It matches the expectation for a sub 35K BDT smartphone.
The Display
The display on the Neo7 SE is a 6.78-inch AMOLED panel with a 12 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1300 nits of peak brightness. The panel has 1080 by 2400 pixels with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 388 PPI. The slight bottom chin accounts for an 87.6% screen-to-body ratio.
The Neo6 SE also had a similar spec albeit with a higher pixel density thanks to the smaller screen size. Competitions in this price point like the Redmi K60E bring higher resolution with nearly the same features.
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But as for the performance, the Neo7 SE holds its ground. The sharp brightness provides great contrast both indoors and outdoors. The viewing angles were great and the high refresh rate worked smoothly in day-to-day use. For the price, it’s hard to beat what Neo7 SE brings to the table.
iQOO Neo 9 Review: A Flagship Grade Mid-Range Smartphone
iQOO saved up a big surprise till the very end of 2023. The Vivo subsidiary launched the much-hyped iQOO Neo 9 on 27th December in China. The smartphone is scheduled for a mid-February launch globally. For the time being, the smartphone has garnered a lot of attention and buzz among the users. So what’s the hype all about? Let’s find out.
Key Specifications of the vivo iQOO Neo 9
Design and Build Quality
The iQOO Neo series is known for its drastic design jumps in each iteration. The Neo 9 is also no different. There’s virtually no similarity between the Neo 8 and Neo 9 except for the fact that both of them have a plastic build.
The Neo 9 has a flat front and back with two large separate housings for the two camera sensors. The dimension of the smartphone comes in at 163.5 by 75.7 by 8 mm or 8.3 mm. The 8.3 mm version has a faux leather finish in bright red and contrasting white. It's probably the best looking one among a choice between black and blue. The faux leather variant weighs at 196 g whereas the standard model comes in at 190 g.
The ports and buttons are carried on from the Neo 8 with the SIM slot taking its place beside the Type C port. There’s also an IR blaster along with the secondary noise cancellation mic at the top. Other than that, the minimal front bezel and even weight distribution make for a premium mid-range smartphone.
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The Display
The display on the Neo 9 is a 6.78 inches LTPO AMOLED panel with standard features like 1B colors, 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and 1400 nits of HBM. What’s interesting here is the inclusion of an LTPO panel. Even many high-end smartphones these days don’t come with this feature. Needless to say, it’ll definitely help conserve a lot of battery on the 1260 by 2800 pixels and 453 ppi density.
The display also has the new PWM dimming feature. It essentially dims out the blacks entirely by varying the electric pulse on the individual LEDs. The result is striking low brightness in dark environments and true black contrast.
The bezel on the center punch-hole display is very minimal with the lower chin protruding ever so slightly. The slim trim helps to keep the screen-to-body ratio at 89.7%. The bottom line, it's an amazing display that seriously punches above its price.
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The Camera
There’s a dual-lens camera on the Neo 9 with the main camera being a 50 MP f/1.9 wide angle and 1/1.49" aperture sensor. The secondary shooter is 8 MP, f/2.2 with a 119-degree field of view. Both the main and the secondary camera uses IMX sensors from Sony for improved camera performance.