Vivo is at it again, launching an all-new flagship phone for 2018 – the Vivo V9. With a 6.3-inch FullView Display, dual cameras on its rear-end,a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 chipset, and a mid-range price tag, the Vivo V9 promises a premium feel and experience to all selfie lovers and gamers out there.
But is the new flagship phone as good as the brand claims it to be? Let’s find out.
Design: Looks Sleek, Stylish, and… Familiar?
Let’s get it out of the way as early as now – at first glance, the new Vivo V9 does look very much like the iPhone X, sporting a compact, bezel-less display. Even the orientation of the dual rear-end cameras are a bit too similar to that of the iPhone X.
Despite all the similarities, Vivo still managed to inject its own unique take on their smartphone’s aesthetics. It still has that pinstriped antenna located at the top and bottom part of its plastic unibody.
And while the build is primarily plastic, Vivo managed to give the Vivo V9 a metallic appearance, making it look sleek and stylish.
Read: Should You Buy Smartphone via An Installment Plan?
There is also the small “notch” on top of the screen which houses the notification lights, earpiece, and the front-end camera. The notch garnered some mixed reaction from most people, but we’d argue that the notch actually gives quite a unique experience to the Vivo V9.
Display: Large, Bright, and Vibrant
Sporting a 6.3-inch, FullView, Full HD+ IPS display, we’re glad to report that Vivo V9’s display is an immersive delight. The images crisp, with full, vibrant colors. Viewing angles are also generous and there is just enough brightness for outdoor usage.
If you’re wondering how videos look in a FullView screen, we’re here to report that videos played using the video-playing apps don’t extend up to the notch. Instead, you get a thick black border at the top end of the screen. This is great because it allows for undistracted viewing on the Vivo V9.
The screen is also protected by a 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and for added protection, Vivo pre-installed an additional screen protector.
Camera: Easily the strongest suit of Vivo V9
There is much to be celebrated in the Vivo V9’s cameras, rear and front-end both.
Let’s talk about the rear-end cameras first. We have here dual cameras – a 16-megapixel primary camera paired with a 5-megapixel depth sensor camera for a bokeh effect. There are also a few features you can play with such as Professional, Face Beauty, HDR, Live Photo, Panorama, AR Stickers, PPT Mode, Time-Lapse, and Ultra HD mode.
Read: 5 Best Dual Camera Smartphones under 15k
Results are pretty amazing for the Vivo V9’s rear-end cameras.
Details are sharp, with dynamic ranges, though the colors can look just a little bit oversaturated. The autofocus lags a bit when used in dimly lit environments or when doing macro shots, but truth to be told, this is a common enough setback for most smartphones.
Then there’s the selfie camera. With the Vivo V9, we get a whopping 24-megapixel camera boosted with some AI features.
Vivo claims that the V9’s Beauty AI features can detect one’s age, gender, skin tone and texture, and available lighting in order to give you groundbreaking selfies. Unlike other Beauty Modes, Vivo V9’s don’t blur down important face features; rather, it helps accentuate your features instead.
Read: The Best Selfie Smartphones Under 10k
Hardware: Powerful for a mid-range phone
Inside the Vivo V9 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 octa-core chipset paired with an Adreno 506 GPU. This combination makes toggling through the phone’s interface smooth and snappy with no lags experienced when switching between multiple apps.
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Gaming is also a breeze with the Adreno 506 GPU and the 4GB RAM. Lags are not present, even when playing graphics-intensive games in their highest settings. There is also an updated Game Mode that allows users to have a more focused gaming environment – it blocks notifications, messages, and even call alerts while you’re playing!
Read: 5 Best Gaming Smartphones Under 10k
THE VERDICT
There is much in the Vivo V9 that wasn’t there in the V7+. The latest flagship phone of the Chinese brand is a few notches more powerful and premium, with features that can be found in more expensive smartphones.
And if you’re a self-confessed selfie addict, you’ll definitely love the 24-megapixel front-end camera that is aided by an AI Beauty Feature. Now it’s as if your selfies have been taken by a pro!
All in all, the Vivo V9 gives users a premium experience but with a mid-range price tag of P17,990. If you ask us, this smartphone is the perfect compromise.
Pre-order is still available until April 5 while the nationwide release is scheduled on April 13. Hurry and get yours now!
How to avail your instalment plan? Planning to avail the vivo v9? Thanks
Hi Sergie!
Unfortunately, BillEase does not offer specific gadget loans. What we do is provide a specific credit limit for each customer and customers can use that credit limit to purchase what they want from Lazada. The amount of repayment per month depends on how much your credit limit will be and the amount of cash out depends on how much your purchase costs versus the amount of credit limit that you have. Hope this clarifies!