The flagship challenger zone, has traditionally been one of OnePlus’ strong bases. Consumers looking for a smartphone between Rs 30,000 and 40,000 are not willing to compromise on key features and a design aesthetic. Vivo is making a play for this segment with its newest offering. The Vivo V25 Pro is billed as a camera-centric phone and also boasts of a premium design language with a curved display. Does it tick all the right boxes?
Iridescent appeal
Vivo has used a unique finish that is almost iridescent for the back. We checked out the Sailing Blue colour option. It swings from an aquamarine blue to a deeper blue under a light source and adds to the oomph of the device. Vivo has created a layer of crystals along with what it calls fluorite AG that changes colours at different angles. We dig the design aesthetic, the curved glass sandwich design that features metal edges and a flat bottom. OPPO keeps the heft to 190g, making it easy to clasp. The finish is a tad slippery but it doesn’t attract smudges. You might be tempted to house this phone in a transparent back case.
Binge-proof?
Vivo adds to the premium appeal of this device with a curved display that we usually see in flagship devices. The 6.56-inch AMOLED display (2376 x1080 pixels) with a 120Hz refresh rate peaks at 1300 nits and is truly gorgeous. Blacks are deep and colours are vibrant. We’re fans of curved displays and only wish Vivo had backed this up with stereo speakers.
Hardware on point
The V25 Pro is powered by the Dimensity 1300 Processor that we first checked out on the OnePlus Nord 2T. Performance was quite similar to what we experienced with the Nord. It’s enough firepower for most heavy duty users and aced our gaming and multi-tasking tests. The device notched up a score of 2529 in our Geekbench benchmark (multi-core) tests. We checked out the 8GB/128GB variant; there’s also a 12GB/256GB option. Battery life is quite dependable too. There’s a 66W in-box charger that takes the battery from 0 to 40% in just 15 minutes.
A whole bag of camera tricks
Vivo tends to pack its cameras with multiple features that can almost be overwhelming for many users. The V25 Pro is no exception but beyond all the marketing spiel, this is a versatile camera that does a lot of basic stuff right. You get a whole bunch of shooting modes with the 32MP selfie cam. The rear cam combines a 64MP primary lens with OIS, an 8MP wide-angle lens and a 2MP Macro cam. We’re not sure about how much use you will have for a macro cam in everyday scenarios but this device impressed with its lowlight performance. Vivo is betting big on its OIS super night portrait. According to Vivo, an OIS algorithm ensures clear portraits in lowlight. The results are quite impressive.
Wrap up
If there’s one crib, it’s the bloatware on the phone. While you can uninstall most of these apps, it’s still quite a tedious process. That apart, the Vivo V25 Pro delivers on the key features that matter at its asking price. It boasts of one of the best rear cameras at this price point and the design aesthetic adds to its premium appeal.
The Vivo V25 Pro comes in Sailing Blue and Pure Black. The 8GB/128GB version costs Rs 35,999 while the 12GB/256GB option costs Rs 39,999. There’s an instant discount of Rs 3,500 for HDFC Bank customers.
