It’s about looks when it comes to the smartphone rear panel. One company that has been making the right noises is Vivo, which has lately been getting quite a few things right, especially the combination of looks and camera. But is that enough to make the Vivo T1 Pro 5G worth your time?
Let’s talk about the aspect where it shines — camera. The camera module appears to have two cameras but if you look closely, there are three, even though the 2MP macro sensor is quite basic. The main 64MP camera is as good as what you get on any mid-range phone. Pictures come out sharp, there is zero lag and colour reproduction is brilliant given the price. Even the 8MP ultra-wide camera is not bad at all. Under uneven lighting, the camera punches above its weight and frankly, overall performance is enough to take attention away from, say, recent OnePlus Nord launches. And unlike several brands, Vivo is offering 4K video recording even though it’s limited to 30fps.
Colours are lifelike and there is good HDR performance
If I were to nitpick, then skin colour reproduction on the selfie camera could have been better. Also working in favour of Vivo is the quality of microphone. In portrait mode, there are several filters and styles to play around with, giving social media posts a twist. And you can also shoot full 64MP, which will give you a larger file to play around with on the editing table.
As much as I like the rear panel, the display makes me wonder why there is a tear-drop notch in 2022? For a company that’s trying to get its design philosophy right, it makes no sense. But the display itself is good enough for everyday use. It’s a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate. That means, videos will play smoothly and colour levels are up to scratch. Agreed that there are phones that come with 120Hz refresh rate but it doesn't make too much of a difference. And audio output is quite good (there is no headphone jack).
Powering the phone is Snapdragon 778G 5G, which can handle day-to-day jobs well and it allows most games to execute at high graphic settings. But don’t expect too many apps to remain open in the background. It’s an energy-efficient processor, which should see the 4700mAh battery though the day. This is the processor you will find in iQOO Z6 Pro and Samsung A73 5G, which means it’s tried and tested. The review unit came with 6GB RAM and 2GB extended RAM.
Frankly, there is nothing to dislike about the phone. It’s smooth, consistent and energy efficient. Perhaps less bloatware would have helped but then, all the unnecessary apps can be deleted. These are phones that you can easily play around with for a couple of years and it won’t let you down. To Vivo’s credit, they haven’t compromised on camera or display given the price point.
Taking pictures of furry friends is not a problem
At a glance
Device: Vivo T1 Pro 5G
Price: Rs 23,999
High notes
• Excellent camera performance
• Good design
• Nimble processor
Muffled notes
• Tear-drop display
• Bloatware