Vivo V30 Pro First Impressions: Raises the Bar

Vivo has launched its latest V-series flagship, the V30 Pro, in India, and it promises to be a serious contender in the premium smartphone segment. Building upon the success of the V29 lineup, the V30 Pro has significant upgrades across the board, making it a compelling option for those seeking a top-notch cameraphone experience.

Design and Display

The V30 Pro offers a premium look and feel thanks to its sleek glass rear panel, which has a matte finish. The Andaman Blue colour is particularly eye-catching, featuring a unique shiny water ripple effect that the company claims is inspired by the Andaman islands. Despite packing a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display and a 5,000mAh battery, this device maintains a slim profile, measuring just 7.45mm thick and weighing 188 grams.

The display is a standout feature, boasting a 1.5K resolution, a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and an impressive peak brightness of 2,800 nits, as per Vivo. This combination ensures an immersive multimedia experience with vibrant colours and decent sunlight legibility.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the V30 Pro is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 8200 SoC, the same as the V29 Pro. This SoC promises smooth multitasking, even with demanding applications and games. It is paired with up to 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, depending on which variant you choose.

The V30 Pro runs on Android 14 with Vivo's FuntouchOS 14 skin on top. In addition, Vivo has committed to providing three years of Android updates and four years of security patches.

Cameras

One of the V30 Pro's standout features is its camera system, which boasts Zeiss optics – a first for Vivo's V-series outside the flagship X-series lineup. The triple rear camera setup includes a 50-megapixel primary camera with OIS, a 50-megapixel telephoto camera with 2X optical zoom, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens. This versatile array of high-resolution cameras promises exceptional image quality and flexibility in various situations

The V30 Pro introduces several flagship camera features that have trickled down from the X-series, including Zeiss Style Portrait options and an improved Aura Light system for subject illumination and colour temperature adjustments. Its video capabilities include support for 4K recording at up to 60fps with “ultra stabilisation” and manual aperture adjustment for portrait videos.

Battery Life and Charging

The V30 Pro packs a substantial 5,000mAh battery. Vivo claims that this battery, combined with the device's power-efficient SoC and software optimisations, should provide all-day battery life. The phone's 80W wired charging ensures a quick top-up, with Vivo advertising a 0-100% charge in just 43 minutes.

First Impressions

Starting at Rs 41,999, the Vivo V30 Pro appears to be a compelling package, offering a premium design, top-notch display, powerful processor, advanced camera specifications, and long-lasting battery life. It remains to be seen whether all of this will be able to sway buyers in the premium smartphone market, but we'll find that out in our full review soon.