Review Verdict: Despite being more expensive than its predecessor, the V29e addresses a number of the V27e’s shortcomings while having improvements on camera performance and battery life.
Pros
-Ultra-wide camera is back
-Impressive battery life
-Good overall camera performance
Cons
-Only a single speaker
-Slower charging speed
-More expensive than V27e
The V29e was revealed last September alongside the V29 but took some time before becoming available in stores. Positioned as a more affordable option, the V29e now boasts 5G connectivity and reintroduces the ultra-wide camera. Do these upgrades, along with the revamped Aura Light, justify the price hike from the V27e to the V29e?
vivo V29e Review Philippines: Design
The V29e retains the same boxy design as its predecessor. This also apples to having a flat AMOLED display. Like with the V29, the V29e has a revised Aura Light module, where you have two different LED lights: one being the usual flash, while the other being vivo’s ring light staple that helps in taking portrait shots. Like its more expensive sibling, the V29e’s camera module has the same color as the back panel, giving it a cleaner look. Our review unit is in Ice Creek Blue, which has a crystal-like look and a glossy back panel finish.
Like its predecessor, you have the USB-C port, loudspeaker, and SIM tray at the bottom, along with the power and volume controls on the right side of the phone.
vivo V29e Review Philippines: Display and Speakers
The V29e has a slightly larger AMOLED display at 6.67 inches. It is also a 120hz panel with a Full HD+ resolution, but we noticed that the V29e’s display is brighter than the V27e. We also noticed that the V29e’s bezels are slimmer than its predecessor, making it look more premium as a mid-range phone.
The reduced bezel enhances the viewing experience on the V29e, especially with its deep blacks and vibrant colors typical of an AMOLED display. Aside from that, you get Widevine L1 support so that you can enjoy your favorite Netflix shows in Full HD.
Similar to previous vivo V-series phones, the mono speaker remains a drawback on the V29e. With competitors offering stereo speakers, we hope that vivo includes stereo speakers in its mid-range V-series phones in the future.
vivo V29e Review Philippines: Cameras
The V29e adopts a dual rear camera setup, featuring a 64-megapixel main camera and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, replacing the 2-megapixel fillers on the V27e. While the 8-megapixel ultra-wide isn’t new, we prefer this camera setup over those with filler cameras.
The V29e showcases consistent camera performance on both the main and ultra-wide cameras, even with the 2x digital zoom on the main camera. While it may not match the camera performance of the more expensive V29, the V29e’s 2x digital zoom is very usable.
Even in daylight scenarios, the ultra-wide camera performs consistently with the V29e’s main camera, a significant improvement over any 2-megapixel filler camera. While it retains the same 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera, vivo’s post-processing algorithm maximizes the camera hardware’s potential.
Despite using the same 64-megapixel shooter as the V27e, the V29e impresses with its post-processing algorithm, especially in low-light conditions. Overall, the V29e produces more detailed images with better highlights and shadows than its predecessor.
View this post on Instagram
Video recording remains limited to Full HD, but the V29e introduces a 60FPS option for the main rear camera, enabling smoother footage and leveraging the built-in OIS.
An upgrade in the V29e is the selfie shooter, using the same 50-megapixel sensor as the V29, along with Eye Autofocus, resulting in more detailed selfies compared to the V27e.
vivo V29e Review Philippines: Internals and Battery Life
Powering the V29e is a Snapdragon 695 processor coupled with 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. With its generous RAM capacity, the V29e stands out among mid-range phones.
While competing devices feature more powerful processors, the V29e’s switch to a Snapdragon 695 delivers notable performance improvements over the V27e, coupled with 5G connectivity. Gaming performance also sees a slight boost, allowing smoother gameplay experiences. We were able to do our dailies at Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact with graphics set to medium.
Housing a slightly larger 4800mAh battery while maintaining a slim 7.7mm profile, the V29e excels in battery life, achieving 20 hours and 19 minutes in PCMark’s battery benchmark. Charging speeds, though slower at 44W compared to 66W in the V27e, are still sufficiently fast to charge the battery to 100% in roughly an hour.
vivo V29e Review Philippines: Wrap-up and Conclusions
Those considering the V27e should opt for the V29e, despite its slightly higher price. The upgraded camera setup, including the reintroduced ultra-wide camera, a high-resolution 50-megapixel selfie shooter, and support for Full HD recording at 60FPS, make the V29e a compelling choice. Additionally, the V29e’s 5G connectivity and excellent battery life contribute to its better overall value.
vivo V29e Review Philippines: Price
The V29e is priced at Php 18,999.
