The more expensive sibling — the vivo V30 Pro 5G — was met with praise because it collaborated with ZEISS to up its mobile photography game. However, the vivo V30e 5G didn’t receive the same treatment. What’s worth noting though is that vivo doesn’t fall short when it comes to its shooting capabilities, especially in the midrange segment. Will that be the case with this more affordable sibling? Find out in this review.
Design and build
At first look, you might think that the vivo V30e 5G in Cloud White is just like any other muted designs for minimalists. But try looking at it from different angles then you’ll get a glimpse of the stunningly vibrant streaks.
It was a delight to hold given its slim and lightweight build, measuring 7.65mm and weighing 179g, respectively. The frosted finish further boosts the fun factor since it feels silky smooth to the touch and doesn’t leave fingerprints.
You also don’t have to worry about butter fingers and accidental spills as the device features a durable SCHOTT Xensation cover glass and IP64 dust and water resistance.
On the other hand, the Coco Brown color option is fitting for mature tastes as it draws inspiration from luxury watches.
Display
Flipping the phone, you’ll find an equally vibrant 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 2400 x 1080 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. As a series-binger, I was impressed by the fluid visuals and nearly borderless display (90.3% screen-to-body ratio). Additionally, it exhibits rich colors and a high contrast ratio, making the viewing experience truly immersive.
Just to reiterate, it’s built tough. It can withstand clumsy days and rainy days. And even during sunny days, one could use its bright screen that features 1300 nits peak brightness. This benefits me when I stream movies, shoot content, and work on the go.
Camera
For the main event, we have the elegant-looking dual camera setup at the rear headlined by the 50MP main camera that utilizes a Sony IMX882 sensor. You also have an 8MP ultra-wide camera at your disposal.
I’m happy to report that its main camera didn’t fall short in terms of producing high-quality shots. It was effortless to take beautiful photos exhibiting true-to-life colors and crisp details. Even without the ZEISS optics boost, it’s clear that the vivo V30e 5G still has game in the mobile photography arena.
It’s also evident when you try out its zooming capability — just the 2x zoom to be exact. If you want to get creative with your shot or highlight your subject, you can count on it since the photo quality won’t take a hit. As for ultra-wide shots, it produced decent enough shots for social media posting, but I might not reach for it as much.
When lighting becomes scarce, the device works extra hard to keep shots clear and noise-free. Since I’m active at night, this works to my advantage. I’m not limited to just shooting amid favorable lighting conditions.
If you’re fond of flash photography at night then there’s more to look forward to as the vivo V30e 5G comes with the Aura Light 3.0. With this, you can adjust the temperature, from cooler to warmer tones, as well as increase or decrease the brightness to achieve a soft glow while taking night portraits.
This preserves details of your portraits taken in low light conditions or at nighttime. What would normally appear washed out and flat will come out with balanced light and shadow, beautiful colors, and sharp details.
As for selfie queens, they can take advantage of the 32MP front camera. It performed consistently well across various lighting scenarios. Even when there’s harsh lighting it retains details of both the subject and the background.
Lastly, for those who are all about the short-form video trend, the video shooting capability of the vivo V30e 5G is something you can count on. It’s stable enough even with slightly shaky hands.
Performance
It’s no slouch when it comes to performance as it’s powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 processor. This is paired with 8GB + 8GB Extended RAM and 256GB of storage.
For light-to-moderate everyday use, the vivo V30e 5G performed exceptionally well. This consists of browsing through social media, answering emails, and running multiple apps to multitask. Gaming sessions and Netflix movie marathons were likewise experienced without any stutters.
Since I shoot a lot of content, the storage space is just modest. But thankfully, the device is built with a microSD slot to give me plenty of room for safety shots.
Battery
The vivo V30e 5G is packed with a large 5500mAh battery. Hence, you’ll be left uninterrupted during work and play hours. This gave me a little over a day of use with moderate use. After maximizing the device, you can power it up to 100% in a little over an hour with the 44W power adapter.
Verdict
All things considered, I can say that the vivo V30e 5G doesn’t fall far from the tree. It may not have ZEISS optics like its more expensive sibling, but it still has a couple of photography tricks up its sleeve.
Priced at PHP 17,999, it’s a well-rounded device that satisfies all types of users — be it a workaholic, content creator, or casual gamer. You get a feature-packed device that impresses with its unique aesthetics, stunning display, accomplished performance, and of course, great set of cameras.
