Vivo V25 review

Greatest Costs In the present day: Vivo V25

Very like the Vivo V23 earlier than it, the Vivo V25 is a trendy flat-edged mid-ranger with an eye catching colour-changing design and an unusually superior selfie digicam.

Additionally just like the Vivo V23, we’re not totally certain whether or not you’ll be seeing the V25 launched within the UK. The Chinese language model has actually performed quick and unfastened with its world launch plans lately.

So is that this mid-ranger price holding out for in a yr with so many excellent – to not point out extensively out there – alternate options?

Design & Construct

• Color-changing glass rear
• Engaging however sharp flat-edged design
• No stereo audio system of three.5mm headphone jack

Probably the most arresting factor in regards to the Vivo V25’s design is its Color Altering Fluorite AG Glass rear panel. Positive, you might all the time specify it in Elegant Black, however that may be boring.

Go for Dawn Gold or, as I’ve right here, Browsing Blue, and also you’re in for just a little magic trick any time the solar rears its head. When subjected to robust UV mild, the color modifications.

Within the case of my blue mannequin, it switches from mild sky blue to deep ocean blue. Block that mild from sure sections of the rear panel, and also you’ll create just a little two-tone sample on the again of the telephone.

Gimmicky? You wager it’s. However we’ll endorse any try at a recent design, particularly within the inexpensive telephone area. Realme has additionally adopted this trick for the Realme 9 Professional line, in fact, however I’d argue that the Vivo V25 is the higher trying telephone total.

Color-changing means apart, the Vivo V25 appears fairly a bit just like the Vivo V23. It’s acquired the identical iPhone-esque form and flat shiny plastic edges.

I had a little bit of a difficulty with these edges, which had a barely abrasive ‘cheese grater’ impact to them. Nice for tackling tough pores and skin, maybe, however not conducive to a snug holding expertise in the long run.

Vivo has achieved away with the extensive iPhone-like notch this time round in favour of a single teardrop notch. Satirically, its resemblance to older low-cost telephones really makes this smaller notch appear extra dated than its predecessor’s chunkier instance.

One other regrettably backwards alternative is the only speaker on the underside fringe of the V25. With many mid-range rivals going for correct stereo sound, it feels just a little regressive. There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack both, so audiophiles on a price range may wish to look elsewhere.

It’s a fairly compact telephone at 159.2 x 74.2 x 7.8mm, and it weighs 186g. That’s not mild, precisely, however neither is it distractingly heavy both.

All in all, it’s a good-looking design, however maybe not essentially the most virtually inviting on a day-to-day foundation.

Display screen & Audio system

• Mid-sized AMOLED show
• 90Hz refresh fee
• Disappointing mono speaker

One other shared aspect with the Vivo V23 is the Vivo V25’s 6.44in show. That may be thought-about mid-sized by immediately’s requirements.

As soon as once more, it’s a vibrant AMOLED panel with a 90Hz refresh fee. That’s much less fluid than the Poco F4’s display, equal to the OnePlus Nord 2T’s, and higher than the Pixel 6a’s.

It’s a really nice show to make use of, with an inexpensive peak brightness (with auto brightness switched off) of 481 nits within the default Regular display setting, and with clear, punchy colors.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

It’s not essentially the most colour-accurate show although, not less than in basic sRGB phrases. I measured a Delta E of two.61 when switching to the telephone’s supposedly extra pure Skilled color mode, which isn’t nice. Virtually all of its mid-range rivals get a lot nearer to the best determine of 1 or under.

In case you desire, stepping as much as the Vivo V25 Professional will get you a 6.56in AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh fee.

As talked about already, you get a single downward-facing speaker with the Vivo V25, which is a little bit of a disappointment. It’s clear and loud sufficient, but it surely lacks low-end oomph and, clearly, correct stereo separation.

Specs & Efficiency

• Mediocre Dimensity 900 chipset
• A step again from V23 and nicely behind mid-range rivals
• 5G

The Vivo V25 runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 900 chip. Curiously, that is really a downgrade on the Dimensity 920 of the Vivo V23.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

There’s a alternative of both 8- or 12GB of RAM, which is ample in each instances. However that processor downgrade is regrettable. It doesn’t signify an enormous step again in efficiency – these are two very related chips – however a step again it’s nonetheless.

Maybe extra regarding is that the Vivo V25 has fallen even additional behind its mid-range rivals. A mean Geekbench 5 multi-core rating of 2069 falls solely just a little wanting its predecessor, however massively behind the Pixel 6a, OnePlus Nord 2T, and Nothing Cellphone (1).

It’s the same story throughout every of our GFXBench GPU assessments, with the Vivo V25 arising nicely wanting the most effective mid-rangers available on the market.

By way of storage, there’s a alternative of both 128- or 256GB, and there’s no potential for enlargement. That’s just about par for the course for a 2022 mid-ranger.

Cameras

• Respectable selfies
• Improved low mild efficiency due to OIS
• Forgettable secondary lenses

Whereas the Vivo V25 disappoints in efficiency phrases, it not less than partially makes up for it within the digicam stakes.

Its 64Mp primary digicam is able to capturing vivid, crisp, well-exposed photographs in good lighting, and fairly respectable outcomes when the sunshine drops as well.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

That’s aided by the welcome addition of OIS, which was notably missing within the Vivo V23. It makes the Evening mode able to capturing sufficiently clear photographs, in contrast to its predecessor.

Don’t get me unsuitable, this nonetheless isn’t as spectacular a digicam system because the OnePlus Nord 2T with its large flagship-esque primary sensor, or the Pixel 6a with its top-grade picture processing. But it surely’s nonetheless a stable performer in most areas.

There’s additionally an 8Mp ultra-wide digicam right here, but it surely’s not significantly nice. Element and dynamic vary aren’t as much as the principle digicam’s commonplace, and I seen a good quantity of noise within the skies that I captured. It’s the same old cope with cheaper telephones, basically, as is the inclusion of a borderline ineffective 2Mp macro digicam.

The selfie digicam is fairly robust although. It might need misplaced the Vivo V23’s secondary sensor, however the single 50Mp digicam remains to be greater than succesful in good lighting, helped by a large f/2.0 aperture. We’re speaking about loads of element and respectable publicity right here, simply keep away from these terrible beautifying results.

Battery Life & Charging

• All-day battery life
• 44W wired charging
• No wi-fi charging

Vivo has bumped up the charging provision with its new mid-ranger, from 4200mAh within the Vivo V23 to 4500mAh within the Vivo V25.

It’s one other stable performer that can comfortably get you thru a full day. On a 16-hour day of average utilization, with three hours and 10 minutes of screen-on time, I discovered that I used to be left with 57% left from a full cost.

In different phrases, the Vivo V25 will final you a day of intensive utilization, and probably two full days of lighter utilization. This mainly matches mid-range rivals just like the OnePlus Nord 2T.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Within the PCMark Work 3.0 battery check, the Vivo V25 lasted 12 hours and 5 minutes. That’s just a bit higher than the Vivo V23, and significantly better than each the Nothing Cellphone (1) and the Samsung Galaxy A53.

Vivo has caught with its 44W charger, which is bundled into the field. In my expertise, it’s capable of get the V25 from empty to 68% in half-hour, and as much as 100% in simply over an hour.

That’s higher than the Pixel 6a and the Nothing Cellphone (1), neither of which include a charger within the field, but it surely falls nicely wanting the OnePlus Nord 2T with its 80W charger. Nonetheless, it must be quick sufficient to fulfill most prospects.

There’s no wi-fi charging, however that’s common for a mid-ranger. The Nothing Cellphone (1) or the creaky outdated iPhone SE are your solely bets in the event you rely this as a requirement on your hard-earned money.

Software program & Apps

• Android 12
• Funtouch OS
• No phrase on help

The Vivo V25 runs on Android 12 out of the field, however its customized Funtouch OS 12 continues to promote the general bundle quick.

I recognize that my check mannequin is just not instantly headed for the UK or European market, so the offered software program bundle is unlikely to be precisely what a western viewers would get. The likes of Lazada, Shopee, and Viu, for instance, are meant for the Malaysian market.

Leaving pre-installed apps apart (and the likes of TikTok, Netflix, Fb, Twitter, and LinkedIn would probably seem in a UK mannequin as they do right here), the look of Funtouch OS 12 merely hasn’t saved tempo with Google’s Materials You enhancements.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

See also  Samsung Galaxy A14 review

There may be now not less than a system in place to match the UI colors with the colors of your chosen wallpaper, although it lacks the total nuance of Google’s Android 12 system. In any other case, I’d usually file Funtouch alongside Oppo’s ColorOS, Xiaomi’s MIUI, and Honor’s Magic UI. Not dangerous precisely, however a bit meh.

We haven’t heard something about any firmware replace ensures both, which leads us to suspect there gained’t be many.

Value & Availability

The Vivo V25 is out now in 20 territories throughout Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and the Center East. There are not any agency plans to launch it within the UK or Europe, nonetheless.

Primarily based on earlier fashions, we gained’t be holding our breath. The Vivo V21 5G did ultimately flip up within the UK, however solely on the finish of 2021, whereas the V23 5G solely turned up in mainland Europe.

When the Vivo V21 5G landed right here within the UK, it was priced from £399, which is perhaps a good indicator of the place the Vivo V25 may fall if it ever did make its manner west. That might pitch it proper up towards some formidable competitors within the Pixel 6a, the OnePlus Nord 2T, the Nothing Cellphone (1), and the Samsung Galaxy A53 5G.

In case you’re in India, you should purchase the V25 for ₹32,999 (approx $415/£390) from the official Vivo retailer. That’s for the 8/128GB mannequin however you too can get the 12/256GB model for ₹35,999 (approx $450/£360).

Verify our chart of the most effective mid-range telephones for extra choices.

Jon Mundy / Foundry

Verdict

Like its predecessor the Vivo V23, the Vivo 25 is a reliable all-rounder with a very eye-catching colour-changing design. And akin its predecessor, that’s merely not ok to lift it to the highest of an more and more aggressive mid-range market.

Rivals such because the Pixel 6a, the Nothing Cellphone (1), and the OnePlus Nord 2T all supply considerably extra spectacular efficiency and extra colour-accurate shows, to not point out extra spectacular digicam programs. And sure, longer software program help as nicely.

Given the shortage of agency UK and Europe launch plans for the V25, Vivo might itself have concluded that choosing a struggle with such titans is unwise. Even in the event you do see the telephone showing in your area, nonetheless, it is best to know that whereas it’s removed from a nasty telephone, you are able to do higher for the cash.

Specs

• Android 12 with Funtouch OS 12
• 6.44in FHD+ AMOLED show, 90Hz, HDR10+
• MediaTek Dimensity 900
• 8/12GB RAM
• 128/256GB inside storage
• 64Mp, f/1.8 primary digicam with OIS
• 8Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide digicam
• 2Mp, f/2.4 macro digicam
• 50Mp, f/2.0 primary selfie digicam
• Fingerprint scanner (in-display)
• Bluetooth 5.2
• GPS
• NFC
• 5G
• Twin-SIM
• 4500mAh non-removable battery
• 44W charging
• 159.2 x 74.2 x 7.8 mm
• 186g
• Elegant Black, Dawn Gold, Browsing Blue