vivo V21 review

The Vivo V21 5G stands out in the market with its exceptional selfie video capabilities, making it a top choice for social media enthusiasts and those who frequently engage in long video calls. While other mid-range smartphones may have more powerful chipsets, the Vivo V21 5G excels in power efficiency, ensuring smooth day-to-day performance. The phone's design is sleek and premium, with a plastic build that feels solid to the touch. The 6.4-inch AMOLED display offers a high refresh rate of 90Hz, providing a seamless viewing experience. The camera setup includes a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultrawide lens, and a 2MP macro camera, which delivers impressive results in various lighting conditions. The highlight of the phone is undoubtedly its 44MP selfie camera, which produces stunning stills and videos with excellent autofocus, LED flash, and OIS. The front-facing camera captures detailed selfies, even in low light, making it ideal for social media content creation. While the Vivo V21 5G may not be the most powerful mid-ranger on the market, its focus on power efficiency makes it a reliable choice for everyday tasks. The phone's battery life is also commendable, lasting up to 123 hours on our tests. In comparison to other mid-range smartphones like the Redmi Note 10 and Galaxy A52 5G, the Vivo V21 5G may not have all the bells and whistles, but it excels in its niche. If top-notch selfie video capabilities are a priority, this phone is definitely worth considering, especially given its competitive pricing.

Build Quality and Design

The Vivo V21 5G's build quality and design are quite impressive, considering its mid-range price tag. The phone's back and frame are made of plastic, but the material feels premium to the touch. It's slim and easy to hold, although it can be a bit tricky to keep clean due to its smooth surface. One aspect where the V21 5G doesn't quite measure up is in terms of durability. There's no mention of IP-rated protection or Gorilla Glass on the front, which could make it more susceptible to scratches and drops. However, this shouldn't be a major concern for most users who are looking for a device that can withstand everyday use. Design-wise, the V21 5G is unapologetically a Vivo phone. It sports the same square camera bump and design language as many other offerings from the brand. While some may find this approach underwhelming, it's hard to deny that the dusk blue color of our review unit looks quite stunning. There are two other options available - sunset dazzle and arctic white - if you prefer something more eye-catching. The V21 5G's dimensions make it easy to hold in one hand, although its size might not appeal to those who prefer smaller phones. The device is compact enough to fit comfortably in a pocket or purse, making it perfect for daily commutes or travel. Overall, the Vivo V21 5G's build quality and design are solid, if unremarkable. While they may not be the most exciting aspects of this phone, they're certainly not its weakest points either. If you're looking for a device that exudes a sense of quality without breaking the bank, the V21 5G is definitely worth considering.

Battery Life

The Vivo V21 5G's battery life is a notable aspect that deserves attention. The phone packs a 4000mAh battery, which may seem average in today's market, but it delivers excellent endurance. In our tests, the device managed an impressive 123 hours of usage time, which is quite remarkable considering its modest size. Charging speeds are also satisfactory, with the 33W fast charger getting the phone from zero to full in just over an hour and a half. This is around the speed advertised by Vivo, making it a great addition to this mid-range device. In everyday use, the battery life of the V21 5G was more than sufficient for our needs. We managed to get through a day with moderate usage without needing to charge the phone again. Of course, your mileage may vary depending on how much you use your phone, but overall, we were pleased with the battery life offered by this device. One of the highlights of the V21 5G's battery performance is its ability to keep going even when you're using power-hungry apps like games or video streaming. The phone's power efficiency and efficient hardware combination make it a great choice for anyone who wants a reliable mid-range device without breaking the bank. Overall, the Vivo V21 5G's battery life is a significant selling point, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable and feature-packed mid-range smartphone.

Display

The Vivo V21 5G boasts an impressive display that is worthy of note. The 6.4-inch AMOLED screen is well-suited for everyday use, with decent-sized bezels that are average for the class. The fingerprint reader sits comfortably under the display and functions smoothly. One notable feature of this phone's display is its 90Hz refresh rate. While it may not be considered high-end in today's standards, it still offers a smoother viewing experience compared to traditional 60Hz displays. What's more impressive is that the screen has three modes to choose from, with the 90Hz mode delivering better auto management and dropping the frame rate when you're not interacting with the display or watching videos. HDR 10+ support and Widevine L1 certification are also notable features of this phone's display. While Netflix HDR streaming may not be available at present, it's possible that Vivo is working on incorporating this feature in the near future. In terms of brightness, the Vivo V21 5G performs admirably with a maximum output of 761 nits in auto mode. This means you'll have no trouble viewing content outdoors, even in bright sunlight. The only disappointment regarding the display is the single speaker located at the bottom of the phone. While it doesn't screech or distort audio, its average loudness might leave something to be desired compared to other phones in this price range that often feature stereo speakers. In conclusion, the Vivo V21 5G's display is a highlight of this mid-range offering. Its AMOLED screen, impressive brightness, and decent refresh rate make it well-suited for everyday use. While there are some minor drawbacks, such as the lack of IP-rated protection or gorilla glass, the overall display performance is solid and worth considering when evaluating this phone's merits.

Camera

The camera department on the Vivo V21 is one area where this mid-range phone truly shines. While it may not offer the most impressive specs, the cameras deliver surprisingly good results in various lighting conditions. On the rear, you'll find a 64-megapixel primary sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 2-megapixel macro camera. During the day, the main camera produces well-detailed photos with vibrant colors, although dynamic range could be improved, and sharpening can sometimes appear heavy-handed. Zoomed-in shots are decent, but quality drops when zooming in beyond two times. The ultrawide camera takes acceptable photos, but colors can appear washed out, and sharpness is lacking. Portrait mode works well, with natural bokeh and excellent subject separation. However, it may take longer to detect non-human subjects. At night, the main camera performs admirably, producing low-noise images with plenty of detail. Night mode helps further, although it can be slow to capture a shot (around 3 seconds). The ultrawide camera's nighttime performance is disappointing, with dark and smeared images. The true highlight of this phone lies in its front-facing camera – a 44-megapixel selfie shooter that produces excellent results. With autofocus, two LEDs, and OIS, it captures detailed selfies during the day, even if portrait mode can struggle with busy backgrounds at night. The autofocus sometimes misfires, but detail remains great. The selfie camera also captures excellent 4K videos, with sharp footage, good stabilization (although limited to a slight crop), and vibrant colors. However, dynamic range could be better. In conclusion, the Vivo V21's camera is an unexpected strength in this mid-range phone. While it may not set the bar high for image quality, it consistently delivers decent to excellent results across various scenarios, particularly in selfie mode. If you prioritize great front-facing camera performance and are willing to compromise on other aspects of photography, the V21 might be a compelling choice.

Price and Value

In a sea of decent mid-range smartphones, the Vivo V21 5G stands out as a compelling option for those seeking top-notch selfie camera performance at an affordable price. Priced around [insert price], this device offers impressive features that make it hard to ignore. While not the most powerful chipset in its class (thanks to the Mediatek Dimensity 800U 5G processor), the Vivo V21 5G makes up for it with a well-rounded package that includes a 6.4-inch AMOLED display, a capable quad-camera setup, and a 44-megapixel selfie camera that's unparalleled in its price segment. The phone's design may not be the most flashy, but it has a premium feel to it, making it a solid choice for those who value aesthetics alongside performance. The battery life is also noteworthy, with an excellent 123 hours of endurance on our tests. One of the standout features of the Vivo V21 5G is its impressive selfie camera capabilities. With autofocus, two LEDs, and OIS (optical image stabilization), it delivers exceptional stills and videos in bright light conditions. While nighttime selfies may require some patience, the results are generally satisfactory. Considering its price point, the Vivo V21 5G offers remarkable value for those who prioritize a good camera experience. It may not be the most feature-packed device out there, but it gets many things right, making it an attractive option for buyers in this budget category. If you're on the lookout for a mid-range smartphone that won't break the bank and delivers solid performance across various aspects, the Vivo V21 5G is definitely worth considering.

Performance

The Vivo V21 5G is a mid-range smartphone that stands out in its class with an exceptional selfie camera performance. However, its overall performance leaves something to be desired. Under the hood, the phone runs on the same MediaTek Dimensity 800U 5G chipset found on the vanilla Vivo V21. While it's not the most powerful processor in this price range, it still manages to handle day-to-day tasks without any issues. However, its focus on power efficiency rather than performance means it's not the highest performer in its class. The phone's gaming performance is also somewhat disappointing. Although it features an Ultra Game mode with its own settings menu and a feature that allows you to turn off the display without pausing your game, most games still run at 60fps or lower. This is likely due to the Dimensity 800U's limitations in handling demanding tasks. One area where the phone excels is its battery life. The 4,000mAh battery provides an impressive 123 hours of endurance on our tests, making it a great option for those who need a device that can last all day without needing a charge. However, charging times are somewhat slower than expected. With the included 33W fast charger, you can get from zero to 64% in half an hour, but a full charge takes around an hour and five minutes. Overall, while the Vivo V21 5G's performance is adequate for its price range, it's not exactly what we'd call exceptional. The phone's real strength lies in its camera capabilities, particularly its selfie camera, which takes stunning photos with great detail and sharpness. If you're looking for a mid-range smartphone that excels at taking selfies, the Vivo V21 5G is definitely worth considering.

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