The vivo V29 5G has arrived in the Philippines. On paper, it doesn’t have many upgrades over its previous iteration but the brand has minutely improved some aspects on the V29 5G to separate itself from the pack.
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G |
| Screen | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 2800 x 1260, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| RAM | 12GB |
| OS | Android 13, FunTouch OS 13 |
| Rear Camera | 50MP f/1.8 OIS Main, 8MP f/2.2 Ultrawide, 2MP f/2.4 Monochrome |
| Front Camera | 50MP f/2.0 |
| Storage | 256GB, 512GB |
| Network | Dual-SIM, 5G |
| Connectivity | WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, USB-C |
| Battery | 4,600mAh, 80W FlashCharge |
| Others | In-Display Fingerprint Scanner, Aura Light 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 164.18 x 74.37 x 7.46mm |
| Weight | 186g |
| Colors | Magic Maroon, Starry Purple |
One of the more recent enhancements in vivo’s imaging department is the Aura Light. First introduced in the vivo V27 5G, the Aura Light 2.0 on the V29 5G promises better lighting than before. Improvements this generation include an increased LED diameter at 15.6mm and a 36% increase in brightness.
Though Aura Light 2.0 won’t be able to light up a room, it is enough to make portrait shoots nicer without producing harsh shadows like most LED flashes on smartphones.
Pixel count for its triple rear cameras remain the same with a 50MP f/1.8 main camera with OIS, an 8MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and a 2MP f/2.4 monochrome depth sensor. We’ve only had a short time with the device but shots look fantastic in daylight. Details are sharp and colors look crisp with slightly above average saturation.
There are some remnants from last generation on the vivo V29 5G including the 4,600mAh battery and 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen. The latter, however, has an increased resolution at 2800 x 1260 from the FullHD+ we are used to seeing in midrange smartphones.
The V29 moves from MediaTek to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G platform complemented by 12GB of RAM from the previous 8GB, and up to 512GB of internal storage. Its increase in storage capacity is especially helpful since it doesn’t have a MicroSD slot to expand capacity.
vivo has made quite an effort to distance themselves from the competition with striking designs in their past few releases and that doesn’t change with the V29 5G. This time around, their new entry will come in two color variants in the Philippines: Starry Purple and Magic Maroon.
The one we got for our review is the Starry Purple variant and it is striking to look at. The brand was inspired by the milky way and “is a tribute to its celestial rivers.” Its 3D Starry Craft design is made with 9 million micron-sized magnetic particles to recreate “two galaxies colliding.” It is stunning to look at and quite striking to the eye, which might make it pleasing to fashionistas.
On the other hand, the Magic Maroon will use vivo’s Photochromic technology like before. It is softer to the touch with subtle changes in color. Exposing its to UV light will change its tone thanks to its Color Changing Fluorite AG Glass making it a unique design compared to other devices in the market.
vivo hasn’t done anything too drastic this generation. Instead, the V29 5G is an iterative improvement over its previous entries. The screen’s increase in resolution is a welcome improvement as it delivers a sharper experience than before. Its main highlight, the Aura Light 2.0, is useful in portrait photography as it lets you get a ring light experience with a smartphone without any additional accessories.
We’ve only had a short time with the vivo V29 5G. We will still be taking it through tests to see what other improvements has vivo brought in their latest midrange device. Stay tuned.
The vivo V29 5G starts at PhP 24,999 in the Philippines. Two storage variants are available: 12GB/256GB for PhP 24,999 and 12GB/512GB for PhP 26,999. You can get it via vivo’s official e-store, Shopee, Lazada, and authorized retailers nationwide.
