The Vivo V40 is a continuation of Vivo’s quest to create innovative smartphones that offer an appealing blend of design, performance, and affordability. As a mid-range device, it is geared towards users who seek high-end features at a more accessible price point. With an impressive set of specifications, including a large AMOLED display, a capable camera system, and reliable performance, the Vivo V40 aims to be a strong contender in the crowded smartphone market. In this detailed review, we will explore its design, display, camera, performance, battery life, software, and overall user experience to give you a comprehensive understanding of what the Vivo V40 brings to the table.
1. Design and Build Quality
The Vivo V40 excels in terms of design, sporting a sleek and premium aesthetic that makes it look more expensive than its price tag would suggest. The device features a glass front and back, with a smooth, matte finish that not only feels great in hand but also helps to resist fingerprints and smudges. The aluminum frame that runs around the edges adds durability and a premium touch, providing a sturdy and solid feel without adding too much weight to the phone.
One of the most noticeable design elements is the camera module on the back, which is arranged in a rectangular setup. Vivo has adopted a minimalistic approach with the camera placement, and the module doesn’t protrude too much from the body, which is a welcome relief, as it helps avoid wobbling when the phone is placed on a flat surface.
In terms of ergonomics, the Vivo V40 is comfortable to hold, thanks to its curved edges that make it easy to grip. At 7.8 mm thick and weighing around 179 grams, it is lightweight and slim, which enhances the overall user experience when handling the device for extended periods. The button placement is intuitive, with the power button and volume rocker located on the right side, making them easily accessible.
The Vivo V40 also features an in-display fingerprint sensor, which works accurately and quickly. The positioning of the sensor is ideal, allowing for quick unlocking without requiring too much effort. In addition to the fingerprint scanner, the phone also supports face unlock, which is equally fast and reliable.
The device is available in several attractive colors, including gradient options that reflect different shades depending on how light hits the surface. This adds to the phone’s aesthetic appeal, making it a stylish option for users who value design.
2. Display
The Vivo V40 boasts a 6.5-inch Full HD+ AMOLED display, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. AMOLED displays are known for their superior color reproduction, and the Vivo V40 does not disappoint in this regard. The colors are rich and saturated, making media consumption a pleasure. Whether you’re watching videos, playing games, or simply browsing the web, the display offers an immersive experience with sharp details and vivid imagery.
The display also supports HDR10, which enhances the dynamic range, allowing for better contrast between dark and light areas of the screen. This feature is particularly noticeable when streaming HDR content from platforms like Netflix or YouTube, where the video quality is significantly improved.
With a refresh rate of 120Hz, the Vivo V40 provides smooth and fluid animations, making interactions feel more responsive and snappy. Scrolling through apps, menus, and social media feeds feels seamless, and the higher refresh rate contributes to a more enjoyable gaming experience.
The brightness levels are commendable, with the display reaching up to 800 nits, making it easy to use even in bright outdoor conditions. The auto-brightness feature works well, adjusting the screen brightness according to the surrounding environment to provide optimal visibility.
3. Camera Performance
The camera system on the Vivo V40 is one of its key selling points, and Vivo has put considerable effort into ensuring that the phone delivers excellent photography capabilities. The rear camera setup consists of a 64MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor.
- Primary Camera (64MP): The 64MP sensor captures impressive detail, especially in well-lit conditions. Photos come out sharp, with accurate color reproduction and minimal noise. Vivo’s AI enhancements help to optimize shots, automatically adjusting settings like brightness and contrast to deliver the best possible image. Even in low-light scenarios, the primary camera performs reasonably well, thanks to the night mode, which enhances brightness and reduces noise, producing clear and bright images.
- Ultra-Wide Camera (8MP): The 8MP ultra-wide lens is useful for capturing landscapes, group photos, or any scene that requires a wider field of view. While the image quality is slightly lower than the primary sensor due to the reduced megapixel count, the ultra-wide lens still manages to produce decent results. However, there is a bit of distortion around the edges of the frame, which is typical of ultra-wide cameras in this price range.
- Depth Sensor (2MP): The depth sensor assists in creating better portrait shots with a natural bokeh effect. The separation between the subject and the background is well-executed, making portrait photos look professional and aesthetically pleasing.
On the front, the Vivo V40 features a 32MP selfie camera, which produces high-quality selfies with excellent detail and vibrant colors. The camera supports portrait mode and beautification options, allowing users to enhance their selfies with various filters and adjustments.
Video recording is supported up to 4K resolution at 30fps, and the footage is generally smooth, thanks to the electronic image stabilization (EIS). While not as effective as optical stabilization, EIS does a good job of minimizing shakes and jerks, especially when recording handheld videos.
4. Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Vivo V40 is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, which is a mid-range processor designed to offer a balance between performance and efficiency. Paired with 8GB of RAM, the phone handles day-to-day tasks effortlessly. Whether it’s browsing multiple apps, streaming videos, or playing games, the Vivo V40 performs smoothly without any noticeable lag or stutter.
In terms of gaming, the Vivo V40 handles popular titles like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Asphalt 9 quite well. The 120Hz refresh rate enhances the gaming experience, delivering smooth gameplay with responsive touch controls. However, for more graphically demanding games, you may notice some minor frame drops when playing at the highest settings, but it’s nothing that significantly hampers the overall experience.
Storage options include 128GB and 256GB variants, both of which offer ample space for apps, media, and games. The phone also supports microSD card expansion, allowing users to further increase storage capacity if needed.
5. Battery Life
The Vivo V40 is equipped with a 4,200mAh battery, which is sufficient to get you through a full day of moderate to heavy usage. Whether you’re streaming videos, gaming, or multitasking between apps, the battery holds up well, providing around 6-7 hours of screen-on time on average.
One of the standout features of the Vivo V40 is its 44W fast charging support. With the included charger, the phone can charge from 0% to 70% in just 30 minutes, which is incredibly convenient for users who are always on the go. A full charge takes roughly an hour, which is still quite impressive for a mid-range device.
Battery optimization features such as app management and power-saving modes help extend battery life when needed, ensuring that the phone lasts longer during periods of low usage or when you’re away from a charger for an extended period.
6. Software and User Interface
The Vivo V40 runs on FunTouch OS 12, which is based on Android 13. FunTouch OS has come a long way in recent years, and Vivo has made significant improvements in terms of user experience and customization options. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, with smooth animations and a variety of features that enhance usability.
Customization is a key highlight of FunTouch OS, allowing users to tweak the home screen layout, icon styles, and themes according to their preferences. The inclusion of Vivo’s Multi-Turbo feature helps optimize performance by intelligently allocating resources, making multitasking smoother and reducing app loading times.
There are some pre-installed apps, but most of them can be uninstalled or disabled, ensuring that bloatware does not detract from the overall experience. The interface also includes several useful features, such as an always-on display, gesture navigation, and a built-in screen recorder.
7. Connectivity and Extras
The Vivo V40 offers 5G connectivity, ensuring that the device is future-proofed for faster internet speeds and better network performance as 5G becomes more widespread. In addition to 5G, the phone supports dual SIM functionality, allowing users to use two SIM cards simultaneously.
Other connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, and Wi-Fi 6, all of which contribute to a well-rounded and modern smartphone experience.
For audio, the Vivo V40 comes with a single bottom-firing speaker, which provides decent sound quality but lacks the depth and richness that stereo speakers typically offer. That said, the audio output is clear and loud enough for casual listening. The phone also retains the 3.5mm headphone jack, which is becoming increasingly rare in modern smartphones.
8. Final Verdict
The Vivo V40 is a well-rounded mid-range smartphone that excels in several key areas, including design, display, camera, and battery life. It offers a premium look and feel, along with reliable performance and a feature-rich user experience, all at a competitive price point. The 120Hz AMOLED display, 64MP primary camera, and fast charging capabilities make it an attractive option for users who want a capable device without breaking the bank.
While it may not be the most powerful