Vivo S16 Review

• Overview
• Design and Build Quality
• Display
• Performance
• Software and User Interface
• Camera
• Battery Life
• Connectivity and Networking
• Additional Features
• Comparison with Other Related Phones
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion

Overview

The Vivo S16 is the latest smartphone from Vivo, released in December 2022. This phone boasts a high-end camera setup, a large AMOLED display, and a powerful Snapdragon processor. With its sleek design and impressive specifications, the Vivo S16 is sure to catch the attention of tech enthusiasts and casual smartphone users alike.

Design and Build Quality

The Vivo S16 is a sleek and stylish smartphone that boasts a premium design and build quality. The phone measures 164.1 x 74.8 x 7.4 mm (6.46 x 2.94 x 0.29 in) and weighs 182 g (6.42 oz), making it comfortable to hold and use with one hand. The device is available in three different colors: Black, Mint, and Gold, allowing users to choose a color that suits their style.

The phone's body is made of glass and aluminum, giving it a premium look and feel. The device features a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR10+ support, providing a stunning viewing experience. The screen-to-body ratio of 90.4% ensures that users can enjoy a large and immersive display without any distractions.

The Vivo S16 also features an in-display fingerprint scanner, which is fast and accurate, allowing users to unlock their phone quickly and securely. The phone's buttons and ports are well-positioned, and its USB Type-C port supports fast charging, making it easy to charge the device quickly.

Overall, the Vivo S16's design and build quality are excellent, and the device looks and feels like a premium smartphone. The phone's sleek design and premium materials make it a great choice for users who value style and quality.

Display

The Vivo S16 boasts a stunning 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels, providing a pixel density of approximately 388 ppi. This 120Hz display with HDR10+ technology is nothing short of amazing, offering vivid and bright colors, excellent contrast, and great viewing angles.

The display size on the Vivo S16 is perfect for streaming content and gaming. The phone's 90.4% screen-to-body ratio means that the bezels are kept to a minimum, providing an immersive experience. The phone also has a touch sampling rate of 360Hz, resulting in an ultra-responsive display that can detect even the slightest of touches.

The Vivo S16's display is also great for outdoor use. The phone's maximum brightness of 800 nits ensures that the screen remains visible even under direct sunlight. Additionally, the phone features an in-display fingerprint scanner, which works flawlessly and is conveniently placed for easy access.

Overall, the Vivo S16's display is one of the phone's standout features. It's perfect for streaming videos, browsing social media, and playing games. The phone's display is bright, sharp, and responsive, making it a joy to use.

Performance

The Vivo S16 is equipped with a Qualcomm SM8250-AC Snapdragon 870 5G (7 nm) chipset, which delivers smooth and responsive performance. The octa-core CPU features 1x3.2 GHz Kryo 585, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 585, and 4x1.80 GHz Kryo 585, which can handle multitasking with ease. The phone comes in four memory configurations: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, and 512GB 12GB RAM. The internal storage is based on the fast UFS 3.1 technology, which allows for fast read and write speeds.

In terms of real-world usage, the Vivo S16 performs exceptionally well. Apps load quickly, and navigating through the user interface is smooth. Multitasking is a breeze, and the phone can handle running multiple apps simultaneously without any lag. The gaming performance is also impressive, thanks to the Adreno 650 GPU, which can handle even the most demanding games with ease.

Benchmark scores are equally impressive, with the phone scoring high in both CPU and GPU tests. In the Antutu benchmark, the Vivo S16 scored around 670,000, which is a testament to its powerful hardware. The phone also scored well in the Geekbench 5 test, with a single-core score of around 910 and a multi-core score of around 3200.

Overall, the Vivo S16 delivers top-notch performance in every aspect. It's a powerhouse of a phone that can handle anything you throw at it with ease. Whether you're a heavy user who needs to multitask or a gamer who demands high-performance, the Vivo S16 is capable of meeting your needs.

Software and User Interface

The Vivo S16 runs on Android 13 with Origin OS 3 on top, offering a smooth and user-friendly interface. Origin OS 3 is Vivo's proprietary user interface that brings a range of customization options for users to personalize their device. The interface is clean and modern, with a minimalist design that puts the focus on the content.

Pre-installed apps are kept to a minimum, with only a few essential apps such as Google apps and Vivo's own apps. Bloatware is not an issue on this device, giving users enough storage space to install their favorite apps.

The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, with a number of gesture-based controls that make one-handed usage a breeze. The device also comes with a dark mode that not only looks great but also helps reduce eye strain and battery consumption.

Vivo promises regular software updates for the S16, ensuring that users have the latest features and security patches. The device also comes with a range of optimization features that help prolong battery life and improve performance.

Overall, the software and user interface on the Vivo S16 is one of its strengths, offering a clean and user-friendly experience that will appeal to a wide range of users.

Camera

The Vivo S16 boasts an impressive rear camera setup with a triple-lens configuration. The primary lens is a massive 64 MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture, PDAF, OIS, and a ring-LED flash. The secondary lens is an 8 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.2 aperture. The third lens is a 2 MP macro lens with f/2.4 aperture, which is perfect for taking close-up shots of small objects. The camera setup also features panorama and HDR modes, which further enhance the quality of your photos.

In terms of image quality, the Vivo S16 produces stunning visuals in various lighting conditions. The 64 MP primary sensor captures sharp and detailed images with accurate colors and minimal noise. The ultra-wide lens provides an expansive field of view, allowing you to capture more in a single shot. The macro lens delivers impressive bokeh effects, making your subjects stand out from the background.

The camera setup also features zoom capabilities and image stabilization, which allows you to capture detailed shots from a distance without compromising on quality. Additionally, the video recording quality is top-notch, with 4K@30fps and 1080p@30fps options available.

The front-facing camera is equally impressive, with a 50 MP sensor and f/2.5 aperture. The camera setup also features dual-LED flash and HDR modes, which allows you to take stunning selfies even in low-light conditions.

Overall, the Vivo S16's camera setup is undoubtedly one of its most impressive features. It delivers stunning image quality, versatility, and a host of advanced features that will satisfy even the most demanding photographers.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Vivo S16 is a well-connected device that offers a wide range of connectivity options. It supports all the major cellular network technologies, including GSM, CDMA, HSPA, CDMA2000, LTE, and 5G. This means that users can stay connected to the internet and make calls from virtually anywhere in the world.

In terms of Wi-Fi, the phone supports the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard and is dual-band, meaning that it can connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks. Bluetooth 5.2 is also supported, providing fast and reliable wireless connectivity for accessories like headphones and speakers.

The Vivo S16 also comes with NFC support, allowing users to make contactless payments using their phone. GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS are all supported for accurate location tracking, making it easy to navigate while on the move.

The phone also includes a range of sensors, including an optical fingerprint sensor, an accelerometer, a gyro, a proximity sensor, a compass, and a color spectrum sensor. These sensors enhance the user experience by providing accurate and responsive input.

While the Vivo S16 does not include a 3.5mm headphone jack, it does support high-quality audio playback through its USB Type-C port. Additionally, the phone supports 24-bit/192kHz audio, ensuring that users can enjoy their music and podcasts with crystal-clear sound.

Overall, the Vivo S16 provides a comprehensive range of connectivity and networking options, making it a versatile and reliable device for staying connected to the world around us.

Additional Features

The Vivo S16 offers a range of additional features that enhance the user experience. One of the most notable features is its water and dust resistance, which ensures that the phone remains protected even in harsh environments. This is a highly desirable feature for those who are frequently on the go and need to use their phone in different weather conditions.

Another impressive feature is the phone's expandable storage options, which allows users to store more photos, videos, and other files without having to constantly delete data. This feature can come in handy for users who frequently use their phone for work or entertainment purposes.

The audio quality on the Vivo S16 is also worth mentioning, as it offers 24-bit/192kHz audio. This ensures that users enjoy a high-quality audio experience, whether they are listening to music, watching videos or making calls. Although the phone does not come with a headphone jack, it comes with a USB Type-C port that supports wired audio.

The speakers on the Vivo S16 deliver excellent performance, providing clear and crisp sound. This is a great feature for users who enjoy watching videos or listening to music without using headphones.

Finally, the Vivo S16 offers other unique features such as a color spectrum sensor, which detects the color temperature of the environment and adjusts the display accordingly. This ensures that the display always looks natural and easy on the eyes. Additionally, the phone comes with an under-display fingerprint sensor, which provides a secure and convenient way to unlock the device.

Overall, the Vivo S16 offers a range of additional features that enhance the user experience, making it a great choice for those looking for a versatile and feature-packed phone.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When it comes to comparing the Vivo S16 with other related phones, there are a few that come to mind. One of the devices that is worth mentioning is the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G. Just like the Vivo S16, it is also a mid-range device that boasts impressive specifications, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G chipset, 128GB of internal storage, and a 64MP primary camera. However, the Galaxy A52s 5G has a slightly smaller display at 6.5 inches, and its battery capacity is also lower than that of the Vivo S16.

Another device that can be compared to the Vivo S16 is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro. This device also offers similar specifications, such as a MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset, up to 256GB of internal storage, and a 64MP primary camera. However, the Redmi Note 11 Pro does have a larger battery capacity than the Vivo S16, but it lacks features like an AMOLED display and wireless charging.

Lastly, the Oppo Reno6 Z 5G is another device that can be compared to the Vivo S16. The Reno6 Z 5G is also a mid-range device that offers impressive specifications, such as a MediaTek Dimensity 800U chipset, up to 256GB of internal storage, and a 64MP primary camera. However, the Reno6 Z 5G has a slightly smaller battery capacity and lacks features like an AMOLED display and wireless charging, which the Vivo S16 offers.

Overall, while there are several devices with similar specifications to the Vivo S16, it is the combination of features such as the AMOLED display, wireless charging, and high-resolution front-facing camera that make it stand out in the mid-range smartphone market.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Vivo S16 is an impressive smartphone that boasts impressive features and specifications. From the high-quality AMOLED display to the powerful Snapdragon 870 5G chipset and 8GB/12GB RAM options, this device is designed to deliver exceptional performance. The camera setup is also noteworthy, with a triple-lens rear camera that can capture stunning photos and videos in various lighting conditions, and a 50MP selfie camera that is perfect for taking high-quality selfies and video calls.

While the lack of a headphone jack and expandable storage options might be a drawback for some users, the device's fast charging capabilities and long battery life make up for it. The OriginOS 3 operating system is also a welcome addition, offering a user-friendly interface and a range of customization options.

Overall, the Vivo S16 is a great choice for anyone looking for a powerful and feature-packed smartphone. Its competitive pricing and impressive specifications make it a worthy competitor in the market, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a premium smartphone experience.