Like the Vivo V25 that I reviewed last year, the Vivo V27 has an attractive design and a sleek back with a color-changing design.
The V27 also shares many specs and features with the Vivo V27 Pro in terms of camera, display, battery, charging speed and more, all at a price that remains low. You can immediately see the similarities between the two devices when you look at them.
However, the regular model's processor is a step back from its Pro sibling, which is powered by a 4nm MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset (the V27 Pro has a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC).
Does this small difference make a big difference in performance? Or do cheaper models hold up in the real world? This review is primarily intended to answer these questions.
Vivo V27: Price and Availability
While the V27 Pro is exclusive to the Indian market, the standard variant is more widely available. You can buy the phone at a base price of $399 in more than 25 markets, including Singapore, Hong Kong, India, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
However, it should be noted that prices may vary depending on the market.
Vivo V27: Design
Unlike the Vivo V25, which looks different from the Vivo V25 Pro, this time the Vivo V27 has a lot in common with its Pro sibling, from camera design and curved screen to weight and size, the two models are hard to tell apart. distinguish just look at them. front and back panels.
That's not bad, because it means the standard V27 looks more premium than the original, at least at first glance. It doesn't look like a typical mid-range phone, but has a high-end aesthetic. Vivo sent me the Emerald Green model, and to be honest, I like it better than the Magic Blue Vivo V27 Pro. While the phone is comfortable to use, my biggest issue with its design is that the glass back is smooth and the surface is matte. is not. Doesn't help.
Like its predecessor, the most interesting design element of the Vivo V27 is the back panel, which changes color thanks to AG fluorite glass. Choose the emerald green version like mine and you'll have a beautiful party makeover every time the sun kisses the back of your phone. The green model has a smooth marble finish that runs along the upper back and fades to green at the bottom.
However, when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light, the color turns dark green. It provides a fun way to temporarily personalize your phone, like with a stencil. If you bring it back to a shade, the color will return to normal within a few minutes. This transition is almost imperceptible, and although it does not make practical sense, it gives the phone a pleasant shine.
The standard V27 has curved edges, making it look thinner than it actually is. This is in stark contrast to the V25's straight edges, reminiscent of the iPhone's design. It has a distinctive shiny stem but does not get dirty easily. The back panel is also resistant to daily scratches, as I carried small items in my pocket for several weeks when testing the phone.
The Vivo V27 doesn't have a water resistance rating, but it does have a rubber seal where water can get in the most, like the SIM tray. I don't see the lack of an IP rating as a major drawback, as long as you're careful enough to keep your phone away from swimming pools or splashing water. That shouldn't be a problem either, as the Vivo comes with a transparent casing.
Like the V27 Pro, the standard variant has many premium design cues, including the absence of a headphone jack and a microSD card slot. These two factors may deter some buyers who are looking for this feature in a smartphone. And while the metal frame finish looks good, it's actually polycarbonate.
Vivo V27: Display
Another similarity to the V27 Pro is the standard model's 6.78-inch screen, which is quite a large screen by today's standards. Still, the screen is a joy to behold with features like FullHD+ resolution, HDR10+ support, and a surprisingly smooth 120Hz refresh rate.
It's a bright AMOLED panel that's a joy to use, with a peak brightness of 1300 nits, just like its Pro sibling, which I found to be very bright in direct sunlight and one of the highest which I have seen on a flagship model. series. As almost always guaranteed with AMOLED panels, the screen offers impressively vivid colors with deep blacks and good contrast ratio, which makes video watching enjoyable, although the single downward facing speaker does not offer a decent sound image. The sound is clear enough, but there is no decent bass similar to low-end stereo speakers. However, a pair of Bluetooth headphones can solve this problem.
There is also a fingerprint sensor in the screen which works well and responds quickly when you touch the screen with your finger. While this style feels more premium than a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, there is no real advantage to an in-display fingerprint scanner over a classic side-loading scanner.
If you hate the traditional notch on the Vivo V25 screen, you'll be happy to hear that it's been replaced with a much nicer punch-hole selfie camera (more on that later). The V27 also competes with the Pro variant in terms of hiding its thickness with its dual curved screen.
Vivo aims to position its V series as a more attractive alternative for consumers who are more concerned with looks, while previous regular V series models have not been as successful as their Pro brothers, it is doing so with the V27 alter.
Vivo V27: Performance
Vivo V27 comes with 8GB or 12GB of RAM and up to 256GB of internal storage. Vivo sent me a large memory configuration. Anyway, these two variants use the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset based on 4nm technology, while the Pro version uses the Dimensity 8200 SoC. This chipset can be considered new, it was launched in February last year and so far comes only with Vivo V27.
It's a great mid-range processor with performance comparable to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870, which is probably the perfect chipset for the price. From a phone perspective, day-to-day performance was excellent, and I lacked power when it came to content consumption, social media, browsing, and productivity. Vivo V27 is no fool when it comes to performance.
While the Dimension 7200 won't really be at the top of the charts, the phone it runs on can run games without issue. The phone's Gaming Assistant overlay plays a big role in achieving this, providing quick access to a host of useful in-game features, including limiting notifications and blocking screen brightness.
I enjoy playing various games on the Vivo V27 and the smooth frame rate is addictive in most games. While less intense games can reach the 60fps limit using a 120Hz screen refresh rate, this is not the case for graphics-intensive games like Genshin Impact. So if you're looking for a gaming phone on a budget, the V27 isn't the obvious choice.
However, during my testing there were brief moments where the screen would freeze and the animation would stutter. While the Dimensity 7200 isn't as capable as its Snapdragon counterpart in most scenarios, it manages day-to-day use and holds its own with many of our favorite budget Android phones.
It plays PUBG Mobile well even with maximum graphics. I should also mention that the V27 doesn't heat up as easily when playing most mobile games, and it runs as fast as you'd expect thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling smooth. However, some apps may take a second or two to open, although this does not significantly affect the overall experience.
Vivo V27: battery life
Like the V27 Pro, the regular model has a 4600 mAh battery and can last all day without a charger. Like many models in this price range I've tested, the V27 should get me through the day without breaking when doing moderate tasks like taking photos, browsing the web, playing YouTube videos and watching movies .
I was also impressed with the phone's battery life and often went to bed with an average of 30% left. The Vivo V27 also includes a powerful 66W charger, which is currently rare in this price range. Then, when it's time to recharge, your phone's battery can be charged to about 60 percent in half an hour from the charger, or to 100 percent in about 45 minutes.
If you choose the "Smart Switch" refresh rate setting, which automatically selects an appropriate screen refresh rate based on actual usage, as well as other low-power configurations, the phone can last a day and a half on a single charge.
Unfortunately, there is no support for wireless charging, although this is not unusual for mid-range models.
Vivo V27: camera
Moving on to the V27 camera, again similar to the V27 Pro, which isn't bad. This means you get a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera with an f/1.9 aperture, an 8MP secondary ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro sensor. However, the secondary camera is a little on the weak side, and in some cases only the ultra-wide camera is needed. In most cases, especially when taking close-up shots, you'll get better results using the main camera or the selfie camera.
Vivo seems to have doubled down on its photographic performance, which is definitely the main focus of this series. This is most evident from the words "professional photography" printed on the top of the phone. There is some truth to this claim, and the V27 has some of the most impressive cameras I've seen in a mid-range phone.
The main camera captures images with relatively accurate colors and decent dynamic range when Auto HDR is enabled. However, when the photo is enlarged, some aggressive artifacts and sharpness are visible.
It's hard to ignore Vivo's image processing here, as is common with all V-series editions. There are plenty of filters to choose from, as well as presets and enhancements to play with in the camera app.
The macro camera isn't as impressive as you'd expect, so 2x digital zoom is better for key shots. On the other hand, the ultra-wide lens produces decent images in daylight, but there is a noticeable drop in detail in low light where motion blur becomes a real problem.
Fortunately, this is easily overcome by Night Mode, which does an excellent job of preserving detail with an impressive dynamic range. With the main camera, I had no problem getting blur-free photos thanks to OIS stabilization and phase detection autofocus.
Flip the V27 over and you'll see the same selfie punch hole cutout found on the Pro model. It's the same 50-megapixel sensor as last year's model, and that's more than enough for selfies with nice sharp edges. However, at f/2.5 poorly lit rooms should be avoided.
Vivo V27 camera sample
Video recording is a little disappointing compared to the V27 Pro: you can record up to 4K/30fps on the regular rear and front cameras. At these resolutions and frame rates, stabilization is limited. More stable 4K/60fps support only for Pro model.
However, recording is much smoother at 1080p/60fps. All video recording modes depend on the main camera, so you won't be able to shoot video with an ultra-wide angle lens.
However, the Vivo V27 is the overall camera winner and represents one of the best Vivo photo shoots to date.
Vivo V27: Software
The Vivo V27 runs Android 13 and has a Funtouch OS 13 overlay on top. It has a fairly clean interface with a recognizable layout. However, he has a different approach to Android 13 than most Android stock buyers. For example, you'll find stylized icons and additional features that take some patience to get used to, although they're pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Like previous versions of the Funtouch OS, this iteration isn't shy about its obsession with widgets. This means that the app drawer has an entire section dedicated to widgets.
The skins also come with many useful features to optimize your gaming experience and manage your battery. However, I was confused by the inclusion of pre-installed software, although this practice has become the norm for smartphones from Chinese OEMs. So there is nothing surprising.
This isn't exactly a disappointment as you have the option to uninstall most of the apps you don't need and install the ones you do want on the home screen or app drawer.
Despite the fact that I got rid of the built-in apps, every time I pull out my phone, it reminds me that I'm holding a budget model in my hands. But the V27 manages to easily hide its economy, which is surprising elsewhere.
My biggest disappointment is Vivo's lack of commitment to software updates like previous models in the range. While mid-range rivals like the Google Pixel 7a and some Samsung Galaxy A models receive OS updates every three and four years, respectively, Vivo hasn't kept up.
Vivo V27: competition
Vivo V27 is a solid mid-range model that easily competes with popular budget models from Samsung and other Chinese phone manufacturers. While it's rare to find a phone with a Dimensity 7200 chipset, some models like the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G could be a viable option, albeit at a higher price. Samsung's latest mid-range model starts at $500, which gets you a 5,000mAh battery, stereo speakers, splash protection, and Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro will easily come to mind. It costs around $290 and comes with a 5000mAh battery. It includes the low-powered Dimensity 1080 SoC, but handles less intensive tasks.
Vivo V27 has a better processor, higher screen resolution and more premium design. However, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 12 Pro has a bigger battery, a more versatile camera system and a lower price.
Vivo V27: is it worth buying?
You should buy it if…
You're looking for great performance in a mid-range phone.
You want a beautiful, ultra-smooth look with lots of sharp, vibrant colors.
You love camera systems that take great photos in a variety of lighting conditions.
You like stylish and trendy designs that will attract attention.
Do not buy if...
You are looking for a phone with clean and fast software.
Are you going to store a lot of photos, videos or apps because your phone will soon run out of space.
You are looking for a mobile phone with good stereo sound.
The Vivo V27 is a great mid-range phone with a lot of what I love about budget smartphones: an expensive screen, a big screen and a great camera. The mainstream shooter especially exceeded my expectations in low light, and while the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 isn't as loud as some Qualcomm variants or its Pro Dimensity 8200 sibling, it handles graphics-intensive tasks. complex games.
There is no official IP rating, nor is there any mention of Gorilla Glass protection. And if you're using a stock Android smartphone like the Pixel 6a or 7a, you might find the Funtouch OS features a bit difficult to work with.
Vivo's lack of commitment to software updates brings up another problem, as the V27 will most likely not get Android 14 when it hits the stable channel later this year. So while this phone has a great display and powerful hardware, it's not the perfect budget phone for everyone.
I live B27
Elegant middle class
Vivo V27 is a stylish phone with a curved screen and a versatile camera. If you're looking for an all-around mid-range phone that feels premium in the hand but won't break the bank, this phone is worth considering.
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