Vivo V20 SE 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 V20 SE is a mid-range smartphone that offers a sleek design, a vibrant display, decent camera performance, and satisfactory battery life. With its affordable price tag, it aims to provide a value-for-money proposition to consumers. However, it falls short in terms of performance compared to some of its competitors in the same price range.

Design and Build Quality

In terms of design, the Vivo V20 SE sports a slim and lightweight profile, making it comfortable to hold and use. The plastic frame with a glass front and back gives it a premium look, although the glossy finish is prone to fingerprints and smudges. The 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a dewdrop notch offers vibrant colors and good viewing angles. The phone also features an in-display fingerprint sensor for secure unlocking.

Display

The 6.44-inch AMOLED display of the V20 SE offers a Full HD+ resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. It delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and good contrast levels. The display is bright enough for outdoor use and offers customization options for color profiles and temperature. While the lack of a higher refresh rate is noticeable, the overall visual experience is satisfactory.

Performance

The Vivo V20 SE is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor, which is a mid-range chipset. While it handles day-to-day tasks smoothly, it struggles with intensive gaming and multitasking. The 8GB of RAM provides decent performance, but the device could have benefited from a more powerful processor to deliver a smoother overall experience.

Software and User Interface

Running on Funtouch OS 11 based on Android 10, the V20 SE offers a user-friendly interface with a few pre-installed apps and some bloatware. The software provides customization options and features like Dark Mode, Game Space, and Ultra Game Mode. However, it is disappointing that the device does not come with Android 11 out of the box.

Camera

The Vivo V20 SE features a triple camera setup on the rear, consisting of a 48MP primary sensor, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP depth sensor. The camera performance is decent in well-lit conditions, capturing detailed and vibrant photos with accurate colors. However, in low-light situations, the image quality suffers, and there is noticeable noise and loss of detail. The 32MP front camera takes good selfies in daylight but struggles in low light.

Battery Life

With its 4,100mAh battery, the Vivo V20 SE offers satisfactory battery life for moderate usage. It can get through a day with regular tasks such as browsing, social media, and multimedia consumption. The device supports 33W fast charging, which allows for quick charging times and reduces the need for frequent top-ups.

Connectivity and Networking

The Vivo V20 SE comes with standard connectivity options including dual SIM support, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and USB Type-C. It also includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is a welcome feature for users who prefer wired audio.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When compared to its competitors in the same price range, such as the Realme 7 Pro and the Galaxy M31s, the Vivo V20 SE falls slightly behind in terms of performance. While it offers a sleek design and a vibrant display, the Snapdragon 665 processor is not as powerful as the Snapdragon 720G found in the Realme 7 Pro. Additionally, the camera performance in low-light conditions is not as impressive as the Galaxy M31s.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Overall, the Vivo V20 SE offers a decent package for its price point. It delivers a sleek design, a vibrant display, and satisfactory camera performance in well-lit conditions. However, its performance falls short compared to some of its competitors, and the camera struggles in low-light situations. If you prioritize design and display quality, the V20 SE could be a suitable choice. However, if you require better performance and camera capabilities, there are other options available in the same price range.