Vivo X21 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 X21 is a smartphone that stands out from the crowd with its innovative in-display fingerprint sensor. This cutting-edge feature allows you to unlock your phone by simply touching the screen. But the X21 offers more than just a unique fingerprint scanner. Its sleek design, featuring a 6.28-inch AMOLED display with a notch, gives it a modern and premium look. Powered by a Snapdragon 660 processor and 6GB of RAM, it delivers smooth performance and ample storage with 128GB of internal memory. The X21 also boasts a dual camera setup and runs on Vivo's Funtouch OS. With its intriguing features and competitive price, the Vivo X21 is definitely worth considering.

Design and Build Quality

The Vivo X21 boasts a sleek and premium design that immediately catches the eye. Its physical appearance is characterized by an all-black aluminum frame and a glass back that exudes elegance. The device has a form factor that feels comfortable in the hand, and its dimensions strike a good balance between screen size and one-handed usability. The smooth texture and finishing touches on the X21 further enhance its premium look and feel.

In terms of durability, the X21 is built to withstand daily use. The robustness and sturdiness of the device are evident in its construction and build quality. The buttons and controls are well-placed and offer a satisfying click when pressed. The bezels are minimal, resulting in an immersive display experience. The frame provides a solid grip, reducing the likelihood of accidental slips.

The back panel of the X21 showcases a glossy glass finish, which not only adds to its aesthetic appeal but also makes it stand out from other devices in its price range. Despite the glass back, the phone does not feel fragile and offers a good level of durability.

Furthermore, the X21 is relatively lightweight and portable, making it easy to carry around in pockets or bags. Its sleek design and premium materials make it a device that you wouldn't mind showing off to others. The fit and finish of the X21 are top-notch, giving it a polished and refined look.

Overall, the design and build of the Vivo X21 are commendable, offering a premium aesthetic, robust construction, and comfortable ergonomics.

Display

The Vivo X21 features a 6.28-inch Super AMOLED display with a 19:9 aspect ratio, providing a large and immersive screen experience. The display resolution is Full HD+ (1080 x 2280 pixels), resulting in crisp and detailed visuals. With AMOLED technology, the colors on the X21's display are vibrant and vivid, offering excellent color accuracy and vibrancy. The brightness levels are impressive, ensuring good visibility even under direct sunlight. The X21 also has wide viewing angles, allowing for comfortable viewing from different orientations. Additionally, the display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, offering durability and scratch resistance. The touch responsiveness of the screen is smooth and precise, making it easy to navigate and interact with the device. The X21 does feature a notch design, which some users may find appealing as it maximizes the screen-to-body ratio. The bezels around the display are relatively thin, further enhancing the immersive experience. Overall, the Vivo X21's display is a standout feature, providing a vibrant and immersive visual experience for users.

Performance

The performance of the Vivo X21 is commendable, thanks to its powerful chipset and optimized software. The phone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, which provides efficient multitasking and smooth user experience. It has also been tested in various benchmark tests, showcasing impressive scores in CPU and GPU benchmarks. The processor efficiency ensures that the X21 can handle demanding tasks and run resource-intensive apps without any lag or slowdown.

In terms of gaming capabilities, the X21 delivers a satisfying experience. The GPU benchmarks indicate that it can handle graphically intensive games with ease, providing smooth gameplay and immersive graphics. The thermal management of the device ensures that it does not overheat during extended gaming sessions, contributing to a comfortable gaming experience.

The app loading speeds on the X21 are impressive, thanks to its optimized system and fast processor. The phone launches apps quickly, allowing users to switch between multiple apps seamlessly. The system optimization ensures that the phone's performance remains consistent even after prolonged usage.

The X21's performance analysis reveals that it excels in both synthetic benchmarks and real-world usage. The benchmark scores reflect the device's capabilities, and the phone lives up to its promises. Whether it's browsing the web, streaming videos, or running heavy applications, the X21 performs exceptionally well.

Overall, the Vivo X21 offers impressive performance in all aspects. Its powerful chipset, efficient processor, and optimized software contribute to a smooth and lag-free user experience. Whether it's gaming, multitasking, or running resource-intensive apps, the X21 delivers excellent performance. The phone's performance metrics, including CPU and GPU benchmarks, highlight its capabilities and efficiency.

Software and User Interface

The Vivo X21 runs on Funtouch OS 4, which is based on Android 8.1 Oreo. This operating system version provides a stable and reliable user experience. Funtouch OS offers a high level of customization, allowing users to personalize their device according to their preferences. However, it is worth noting that the software comes with a fair amount of pre-installed apps, some of which may be considered bloatware. This can be a downside for users who prefer a cleaner and more streamlined interface.

In terms of user-friendliness, Funtouch OS has a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate. The settings menu is well-organized, making it convenient to find and adjust various system settings. Additionally, the software offers a range of useful features and functionalities, such as gesture navigation and a split-screen mode for multitasking.

While Funtouch OS provides a smooth and responsive user experience, it does have some UI quirks that may take some time to get used to. Additionally, the heavy customization of the software may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer a more stock Android experience.

Overall, the software of the Vivo X21 offers a decent level of customization and functionality. However, the presence of pre-installed apps and the heavy customization may be a drawback for some users.

Camera

The Vivo X21 comes with a dual camera setup on the back, consisting of a 12-megapixel primary sensor and a 5-megapixel depth sensor. The primary sensor has a moderate aperture, allowing for decent low-light performance and a good balance of sharpness and detail in daylight photography. The camera also features image stabilization, which helps in reducing blur and maintaining image quality, especially during handheld shots.

The X21's camera produces images with natural colors and a good dynamic range, capturing a wide range of details in both highlights and shadows. The low-light sensitivity is respectable, although noise reduction could be better in challenging lighting conditions. The phone offers a dedicated night mode, which helps in capturing brighter and cleaner images in low-light scenarios by combining multiple exposures.

The X21's camera app includes various shooting modes such as portrait mode, HDR, panorama mode, and pro mode, allowing users to explore different photography styles and techniques. The AI scene recognition feature automatically detects the subject and adjusts the settings accordingly, resulting in optimized image quality.

When it comes to video recording, the X21 supports 4K video capture, providing high-resolution footage. The phone also offers video stabilization, ensuring smoother footage even when recording handheld or in motion. Slow-motion video and time-lapse features are also available, allowing users to capture creative and engaging videos. The X21 supports multiple video formats, giving users flexibility in choosing their preferred output format.

Overall, the Vivo X21's camera offers a versatile shooting experience with decent image quality, especially in daylight scenarios. While low-light performance could be improved, the inclusion of features like image stabilization, night mode, and various shooting modes make it a capable camera setup for everyday photography and videography needs.

Battery Life

The Vivo X21 comes with a 3,200mAh battery, which provides decent battery life for a day of moderate usage. The battery capacity may not be the largest in its class, but it is sufficient to power the device throughout the day. The phone also supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly top up your battery when needed. The battery performance is optimized to provide power efficiency and maximize battery usage. With the inclusion of battery optimization features, you can further extend the battery life by managing background apps and optimizing power consumption. While the X21 does not offer wireless charging options, the fast charging capability ensures that you can quickly get back to using your phone without waiting for a long time for it to charge. Overall, the battery of the Vivo X21 offers decent performance and reliable battery backup to keep you connected throughout the day.

Connectivity and Networking

The Vivo X21 offers a wide range of connectivity options to keep you connected wherever you go. It supports dual SIM functionality, allowing you to use two SIM cards simultaneously for better network coverage or to separate your personal and work numbers. The X21 is compatible with various network bands, ensuring that you can use it in different countries or with different carriers.

In terms of data speeds, the X21 supports LTE connectivity, which provides fast internet speeds for streaming, downloading, and browsing. It also has Wi-Fi support, allowing you to connect to wireless networks for even faster internet speeds when available. The X21 supports the latest Wi-Fi standards, ensuring a stable and reliable connection.

For wireless communication, the X21 comes with Bluetooth, enabling you to connect wirelessly to other devices such as headphones, speakers, or smartwatches. The Bluetooth version on the X21 is not specified, but it is expected to be a recent version with improved performance and energy efficiency.

The X21 does not support NFC, so you won't be able to use it for contactless payments or quick data transfers with other NFC-enabled devices. However, it does come with GPS for navigation and location services, ensuring that you can easily find your way around using apps like Google Maps.

In terms of physical connectivity, the X21 unfortunately does not have a USB-C port, which is a more modern and versatile option for charging and data transfer. Instead, it uses a micro USB port, which is slightly outdated. However, it does support USB OTG (On-The-Go), allowing you to connect external storage devices or other peripherals to your phone.

Overall, the Vivo X21 offers a good range of connectivity options, including dual SIM functionality, LTE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. The lack of NFC and USB-C is a slight drawback, but it still provides enough connectivity for most users' needs.

Additional Features

Comparison with Other Related Phones

When comparing the Vivo X21 with related gadgets in the market, it becomes evident that it has some unique features that set it apart from its competitors.

In terms of design and build quality, the Vivo X21 stands out with its sleek glass back and metal frame. It shares a similar design language with the Vivo V9, but with some upgraded features.

One of the standout features of the Vivo X21 is its in-display fingerprint sensor, which is a rarity in the market. This innovative technology allows users to unlock their phone by placing their finger on the display itself, eliminating the need for a physical fingerprint sensor. This feature gives the X21 an edge over other phones in terms of convenience and futuristic appeal.

When it comes to display, the Vivo X21 boasts a large 6.28-inch Super AMOLED screen with a 19:9 aspect ratio. This puts it in direct competition with devices like the OnePlus 6 and Samsung Galaxy S9, which also offer vibrant and immersive displays.

In terms of performance, the Vivo X21 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor and comes with 6GB of RAM. While it may not match the processing power of flagship devices like the iPhone X or the Samsung Galaxy Note 9, it still delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks.

Camera quality is another important aspect to consider when comparing the Vivo X21 with other devices. While the X21's dual rear camera setup may not match the capabilities of high-end devices like the Google Pixel 3 or the Huawei P20 Pro, it still delivers decent results for its price range.

When it comes to pricing, the Vivo X21 is positioned as a mid-range device with a price tag that is slightly higher than its competitors. However, considering its unique features like the in-display fingerprint sensor, it offers good value for money.

In conclusion, the Vivo X21 stands out from its competitors with its innovative in-display fingerprint sensor and sleek design. While it may not match the performance or camera capabilities of flagship devices, it offers a good balance of features at a competitive price point.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Vivo X21 is a smartphone that brings innovation to the table with its in-display fingerprint scanner. This unique feature sets it apart from other devices in its price range. The phone also boasts a sleek design, vibrant display, and decent performance. However, it does have some downsides such as the presence of a Micro-USB port and average camera performance. Despite these drawbacks, the Vivo X21 offers a futuristic experience and is a solid choice for those looking for a stylish and innovative device.