Vivo V21s 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 V21s is a smartphone that was announced in November 2022 and has been available in the market since then. This sleek device boasts of impressive features such as a 6.44 inch AMOLED display with 90Hz refresh rate, a powerful Mediatek MT6853 Dimensity 800U chipset, and a triple rear camera setup with a 64MP primary sensor. Additionally, it comes with a 44MP front-facing camera, an under-display fingerprint scanner, and a 4000mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.

Design and Build Quality

The Vivo V21s boasts a sleek and modern design with a slim profile of only 7.3mm in thickness. The phone is also relatively lightweight, weighing in at only 176g or 177g, depending on the model. The device comes in two striking colors, Dusk Blue and Gradient, which give it a premium and trendy look.

The phone's build quality is impressive with its use of high-quality materials. The back panel is made of glass, while the frame is made of durable plastic. The phone's back panel has a matte finish that not only looks great but also provides a good grip, making it comfortable to hold for extended periods.

Ergonomics-wise, the Vivo V21s is well-designed. The phone's power button and volume rocker are conveniently located on the right-hand side of the phone, making them easy to reach. The fingerprint scanner is located under the display, which is a nice touch and adds an extra layer of security.

The phone's construction is solid, and it feels like a premium device in the hand. The only drawback is that the phone does not have any water or dust resistance rating, which may be a concern for some users.

Overall, the Vivo V21s has an eye-catching design and solid build quality, making it a great choice for users who prioritize aesthetics and ergonomics.

Display

The Vivo V21s boasts a sleek, 6.44-inch AMOLED display with a 1080 x 2404 pixel resolution and a 20:9 aspect ratio. The screen features a 90Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support, and is capable of producing up to 500 nits of brightness under typical conditions and up to 800 nits under high brightness mode (HBM).

The colors on the display are incredibly vivid and punchy, and the contrast is outstanding. The screen's brightness levels are impressive, and the phone's HDR10+ support means that you can enjoy HDR content on the go with excellent clarity. The screen's touch sensitivity is also top-notch, and it responds quickly to user input.

The display on the Vivo V21s is also great for outdoor use, as it is bright enough to be viewed even in direct sunlight. Additionally, the phone's eye protection mode reduces the amount of blue light emitted by the display, which is helpful for users who spend extended periods of time looking at their phone.

Overall, the Vivo V21s has an excellent display that is perfect for streaming content, gaming, and browsing the web. Its AMOLED screen produces stunning colors and contrast, and its high brightness levels and HDR10+ support make it a joy to use in any lighting condition.

Performance

The Vivo V21s boasts a Mediatek MT6853 Dimensity 800U chipset, which is an Octa-core processor with two powerful Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.4 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. This setup ensures that the phone runs smoothly and can handle multitasking and heavy applications with ease. Additionally, the phone comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable via microSDXC.

In terms of real-world usage, the Vivo V21s performs exceptionally well, providing a seamless experience with no lag or stuttering. Applications load quickly, and there is no noticeable delay when switching between them. The phone also handles intensive games with ease, with no significant drop in frame rates or heating issues.

Benchmark scores for the Vivo V21s are impressive, with the phone scoring 456,523 on AnTuTu, which is a testament to the phone's powerful chipset and RAM.

The phone also comes with Vivo's Funtouch 12 operating system, which is based on Android 12. The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, allowing for easy customization and access to all the phone's features.

Overall, the Vivo V21s provides an excellent performance that is suitable for both day-to-day usage and intensive applications. The combination of a powerful chipset, ample RAM, and intuitive user interface ensures that the phone is a great choice for those looking for a device that can handle anything they throw at it.

Software and User Interface

The Vivo V21s runs on the latest Android 12 operating system with Funtouch 12 on top, providing a smooth and snappy user experience. The UI is intuitive and user-friendly, with customizable options to suit individual preferences. The phone comes with pre-installed apps, including Google apps and Vivo's own apps such as EasyShare, iManager, and iTheme.

While some users may find the pre-installed apps to be bloatware, they can be uninstalled or disabled to free up storage space. The notification shade and settings menu are easy to navigate, and the phone comes with a dark mode and a one-handed mode for added convenience.

The V21s offers an excellent software support system, with regular security updates and software patches. The phone also comes with a built-in AI assistant, Jovi, which can help with various tasks such as translations, reminders, and voice commands.

Overall, the software and user interface of the Vivo V21s provide a smooth and customizable experience with useful features and regular software updates. While some may find the pre-installed apps to be excessive, they can be removed or disabled for a more streamlined experience.

Camera

The Vivo V21s boasts a triple camera setup on the rear, comprising of a 64 MP wide lens, an 8 MP ultra-wide lens, and a 2 MP macro lens. The front-facing camera is a single 44 MP wide lens with autofocus and optical image stabilization.

In daylight conditions, the rear camera captures sharp and detailed images with accurate colors and good contrast. The ultra-wide lens is handy for capturing wide landscapes and group photos, although it can suffer from some distortion around the edges. The macro lens is a nice addition, but the quality of the images can be hit or miss, depending on the lighting and stability of the shot.

In low light conditions, the rear camera performs well, thanks to the OIS and Night mode feature. The images captured are clear with minimal noise and good detail. The front-facing camera also performs well in low light, with the OIS and dual-LED flash producing bright and clear selfies.

The video recording capabilities of the Vivo V21s are impressive, with the rear camera capable of recording 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30/60fps. The footage captured is stable, with good color reproduction and detail. The front-facing camera is also capable of recording 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30fps, making it ideal for vlogging and video calls.

Overall, the Vivo V21s' camera system is a solid performer, particularly in daylight and low light conditions. While the macro lens could be improved, the addition of OIS and Night mode make this phone a great choice for photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

Connectivity and Networking

The Vivo V21s is a versatile device when it comes to connectivity and networking. It supports a wide range of cellular networks, including GSM, HSPA, LTE, and 5G, which ensures that you can stay connected no matter where you are.

The Wi-Fi capabilities of the device are also impressive, with support for Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band. This means that you can enjoy fast and reliable internet speeds, even when you're not on a cellular network. Bluetooth 5.1 is also supported, which ensures that you can connect to a wide range of peripherals and accessories.

One of the standout features of the Vivo V21s is its NFC support, which allows you to make contactless payments and connect to other NFC-enabled devices quickly and easily. The device also supports GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BDS, which ensures accurate and reliable navigation, even in areas with poor signal coverage.

The Vivo V21s also features a range of sensors, including an under-display optical fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. These sensors work seamlessly together to provide a smooth and intuitive user experience.

One downside to note is the lack of a headphone jack, which may be a dealbreaker for some users. However, the device does come with a USB Type-C 2.0 port that supports OTG, which allows you to connect a wide range of peripherals and accessories.

Overall, the Vivo V21s offers a solid range of connectivity and networking features that cater to the needs of the modern user. Whether you're looking to stay connected on the go, navigate with ease, or connect to other devices and peripherals, the Vivo V21s has you covered.

Additional Features

The Vivo V21s smartphone boasts of several additional features that make it stand out from the crowd. Firstly, it comes with a dual-LED flash which enhances the quality of photos taken in low light conditions. The device also has an under-display fingerprint sensor that provides quick and secure access to the device.

In terms of connectivity, the Vivo V21s offers NFC support, allowing users to make contactless payments and access other NFC-enabled features. The device also comes with a USB Type-C port that supports OTG functionality, enabling users to connect other devices such as flash drives and cameras directly to the phone.

Audio quality on the Vivo V21s is exceptional, thanks to the Hi-Res Audio certification and the AK4377A Hi-Fi DAC. The absence of a 3.5mm headphone jack is compensated for by the inclusion of a set of earphones with USB Type-C connectivity. The device also features a loudspeaker that delivers crisp and clear audio that is perfect for watching videos or listening to music.

Lastly, the Vivo V21s smartphone comes with an IP68 rating, making it water and dust resistant. This feature ensures that the device can withstand accidental spills and splashes, as well as dust and dirt.

Overall, the Vivo V21s packs a host of additional features that make it a worthy contender in the mid-range smartphone market. From its under-display fingerprint sensor to its water and dust resistance, the device offers a range of features that users will appreciate.

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Vivo V21s with other related phones, the first device that comes to mind is the Vivo V21 5G. This is because both devices have a lot in common, including the same design, display, and battery capacity. However, the V21 5G has a more powerful processor and 5G connectivity, which makes it a better option for those who want faster download and upload speeds.

Another phone that can be compared to the Vivo V21s is the Xiaomi Redmi Note 11 Pro. This device has a similar display size and resolution, as well as a slightly larger battery capacity. However, the V21s has a better camera setup and more RAM, which makes it a better option for photography enthusiasts and heavy multitaskers.

For those who are looking for a more affordable option, the Realme GT Neo 2 is a good alternative to the Vivo V21s. While the GT Neo 2 has a smaller display and battery capacity, it has a more powerful processor and a higher refresh rate, which makes it a better option for gamers and power users.

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy A52s 5G is another phone that can be compared to the Vivo V21s. Both devices have a similar display size and resolution, as well as a similar camera setup. However, the A52s has a more powerful processor and 5G connectivity, which makes it a better option for those who want faster performance and connectivity.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

After thoroughly analyzing the Vivo V21s, it's clear that this smartphone boasts impressive features and specifications. From its sleek design to its advanced camera system and powerful performance, the V21s is certainly a device worth considering.

One of the standout features of this phone is its stunning AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, making it perfect for gaming and streaming. Additionally, the camera system is impressive, with its triple-lens setup and OIS technology, making it capable of taking high-quality photos and videos.

Performance-wise, the V21s is powered by a MediaTek chipset, providing smooth multitasking and app performance along with decent gaming capabilities. The battery life is also impressive, with fast charging technology that can charge up to 63% in just 30 minutes.

Despite its many strengths, the V21s does have a few drawbacks, such as the lack of a headphone jack and water resistance. However, these minor issues can be overlooked given the phone's overall impressive performance and features.

In conclusion, the Vivo V21s is an excellent smartphone that offers a great user experience and impressive features at a reasonable price. It's ideal for those who prioritize camera performance, display quality, and smooth multitasking. Overall, we highly recommend the Vivo V21s to anyone in the market for a high-quality smartphone.