Vivo V5 Review: The Selfie Smartphone

Nick R
Written By Nick R

Nick R is a passionate writer with a keen interest in technology, gadgets, and innovation. With a background in journalism and a knack for storytelling, Nick brings a unique perspective to the world of smartphones and consumer electronics.

The selfie craze is still going strong, and Vivo has joined the party with the launch of the V5 smartphone. Positioned as a selfie-centric device, the Vivo V5 packs a powerful 20-megapixel front camera with a ‘moonlight flash’ for capturing better selfies in low-light conditions. But is the V5 more than just a selfie machine? Let’s find out.

Design and Build

The Vivo V5 sports a slim and lightweight design, making it comfortable to hold and operate with one hand. The phone measures 153.8 x 75.5 x 7.55 mm and weighs 154 grams. However, the plastic body construction feels a bit cheap and lacks the premium feel of metal or glass.

Display

The V5 features a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels (HD). While the resolution isn’t the highest, the display manages to produce vivid colors and decent brightness levels. The viewing angles are also quite good, making it enjoyable to watch videos or browse the web.

Hardware and Performance

Under the hood, the Vivo V5 is powered by an octa-core MediaTek MT6750 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM. This combination delivers smooth performance for day-to-day tasks and basic multitasking. However, you may experience occasional hiccups when running demanding games or apps.

The phone comes with 32GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. It’s worth noting that the V5 has a hybrid SIM slot, which means you can either use a second SIM or a microSD card, but not both at the same time.

Camera

The highlight of the Vivo V5 is its 20-megapixel front-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture and a dedicated ‘moonlight flash’ for low-light selfies. In daylight conditions, the front camera captures detailed selfies with accurate colors and good dynamic range.

However, the rear 13-megapixel camera with an f/2.2 aperture and phase detection autofocus (PDAF) is a bit underwhelming. While it captures decent shots in well-lit environments, the image quality deteriorates in low-light situations, with visible noise and loss of detail.

Battery Life and Connectivity

The Vivo V5 is equipped with a 3,000mAh non-removable battery, which delivers decent battery life. With moderate usage, the phone can easily last a full day on a single charge. The battery backup is further complemented by the power-efficient MediaTek processor and HD display.

In terms of connectivity, the V5 supports dual-SIM (4G+4G) with VoLTE capability, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS. It also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack and a micro-USB port for charging and data transfer.

Software and User Experience

The Vivo V5 runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow with Vivo’s custom FunTouch 2.6 skin on top. While the UI offers a decent amount of customization options, it feels cluttered and overwhelming, especially for first-time users.

Additionally, the phone comes pre-loaded with several bloatware apps, which can’t be uninstalled and take up valuable storage space.

Pros:

  • Slim and lightweight design
  • Vivid and bright display
  • Good front camera performance in daylight
  • Decent battery life
  • Smooth performance for basic tasks

Cons:

  • Plastic build feels cheap
  • Underwhelming rear camera performance
  • Hybrid SIM slot limits expansion options
  • Cluttered custom UI with bloatware

Verdict

The Vivo V5 is a decent selfie-centric smartphone that delivers on its promise of capturing good selfies in daylight conditions. However, its overall performance is hindered by an underwhelming rear camera, plastic build, and a cluttered custom UI.

At a price point of around Rs. 17,980, the V5 faces stiff competition from devices like the Oppo F1s and Gionee S6s, which offer better overall value and performance. If you’re specifically looking for a selfie-focused smartphone, the V5 might be worth considering, but if you want a more well-rounded experience, you might want to explore other options in this price range.

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