A few days ago, the presentation of the new VIVO mobile phones in China took place, the VIVO X200 series. We were able to test the main models announced and even compare its camera with that of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra since VIVO has bragged a lot about the zoom of its new flagshipsone of which will soon be available in Europe.
The company is now announcing a new mid-range model that adapts rather well to the Spanish market, in terms of performance and price. This is a version of a terminal already on sale in our country but with much improved fast charging. We are referring to the VIVO V40 SE 80 W.
This terminal is an economical version of the VIVO V40 with some adjusted features but which stands out for a new design with Aura Light and, above all, for its ability to charge at 80 W, which is not usually seen in this price range . This mobile costs 329 dollarsand arrives with two gifts. The first is a fast charger of no less than 80 W and the latter are some earbuds TWS 3e with active noise cancellation.
A nice mobile
One of the main selling point of VIVO mobile phones is their design and in this case it is clearly seen. It is a terminal that, on the table, could look like an upper mid-range or a high-end. In addition, the chosen color is similar to the titanium that Samsung and Apple have made fashionable, although logically in this case it is simply paint and this metal is not used.
The fact is that as soon as we pick up the cell phone, we feel like we are holding a cheap cell phone in our hands. This visual sensation not transmitted to touch. But there is something important, most people use a holster so this shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, the company itself includes one in the sales box of this device, transparent, to show off the design. It is not particularly heavy at 189 grams and the thickness is also controlled, at 7.95 mm.
The frames are very glossy, which can be a problem with fingerprints or scratches, butsomething that can be a problem for catching fingerprints or showing scratches but, again, it’s only an inconvenience if we don’t use a case. The buttons are easy to press and don’t make any noise and there is only one aesthetic element that shocks us: the front camera ring. Like many other cheap phones, it has a silver ring on the front camera that makes it lose some of that feeling of having a premium phone compared to what we paid. It has a dual stereo speaker with Hi-Res Audio certification and IP64 water and dust resistance.
Lots of internal memory
This terminal does not use the latest generation processor. He opts for the same as that of his older brother, the Snapdragon 4 generation 2 with 4nm architecture. It does, however, have a lot of memory, as is normal in company terminals. Are 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB internal storage.
We used the mobile to play, but it’s clearly not a terminal designed for that. It is clear that the processor family has already told us, but although you can play even demanding titles, this is a terminal for those who are not looking for a very powerful mobile phone, just one that works properly on a daily basis. daily and prioritize other issues, like design or battery quality.
As for connectivity, we have Wifi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and dual-band GPS, in addition to NFC. Yes indeed, no headphone jack although it has a microSD slot If we use one of the two that exist for SIMs. In addition, this terminal, like the rest of the models in the VIVO V family, has an eSIM, which is an advantage when traveling abroad.
Adjusted cameras
A mobile with two rear cameras. A mid-range with two rear cameras. We’re finally starting to see some movement from brands that are focused on removing nonsense sensors that don’t improve the photographic capabilities of their phones. This smartphone has two cameras on the back, a main one of 50 Mpx with f/1.8 and an ultra wide angle of 8 Mpx with f/2.2.
One of the novelties of this version is the inclusion of Aura Light, a lighting system that complements the flash and allows more homogeneous lighting in low light portraits, obtaining details but without the side effects of flash. Additionally, this system is capable of changing the color temperature, in addition to serving as a notification LED or counter for the timer.
The selfie camera is 32MP with f/2.45, which makes photos a bit dark if the light is not good. The rear cameras do well in good light, although dynamic range isn’t the best and contrast is high. The problem is low lightas usually happens with these phones.
With the main sensor we can still take decent photos, but the wide angle weakens a lot, and 2x crop zoom loses quality very quickly. This isn’t a cell phone designed for taking photos, beyond portraits with Aura Light, but it does the job for taking a specific photo.
Concerning the camera software, VIVO has included in the mobile an option of editing with artificial intelligence to correct distortion in certain photos, improve sharpness or scan documents. Additionally, objects can be removed from photos using AI. The options are there, but the result is nothing crazy.
Responsive OLED display
The VIVO V40 SE 80W’s screen isn’t one of the features that stands out the most, but that doesn’t mean it’s a problem, far from it. It is a 6.67 inch panel with FHD+ resolution capable of offering Average brightness of 1200 nits with 1,800 nits peak.
In addition, screen technology is AMOLED; and is able to show a refresh rate up to 120 Hzalthough as it is not LTPO it will slightly affect battery life. Under the panel is the optical fingerprint sensor, which works properly, always keeping in mind that it is a mid-range mobile.
Impressive fast loading
The battery of this mobile has not increased since the version already announced. Are 5,000 mAh capacity
This version has more improvements compared to the V40 SE but the main one is its loading speed. The 80 W allows it to be filled to 100% in just over half an hoursomething that is not available not only in competitors, but even in many models that cost significantly more. We don’t have wireless charging, although that’s not something you see in this price range.
An elegant interface
When VIVO arrived in Europe, it did so with a very little modified interface, very reminiscent of pure Android. This has changed little by little and currently FuntouchOS is a layer that personalizes Android but does it in a very correct way. To start, It is possible to change the design to resemble what we see in PixelMotorola mobiles, etc.
This does not mean that there is several customization optionslike the one that even allows you to change the fingerprint icon on the screen. In addition, the system is very stable, always taking into account that its fluidity depends on the hardware of each mobile phone and in this case the hardware is clearly that of a mid-range device.
The only thing that can be improved in this section is the update policy, which remains in place. two years of major releases and three of security patchessomething that many other brands are already improving, although it must be recognized that it is something that is of very little concern to the audience to which this model is aimed.
Should I buy it?
The new VIVO V40 SE 80W It has a key differential aspect: its fast charging. It also features other improvements, such as the system Light aura for low-light portrait photos, but it mainly stands out for its 80 W. Additionally, the charger is included in the sales package, although it does not come in the box. This makes it an option worth considering at this price.
Of course, this is not a cell phone designed for those who want to play games, but rather for those who take a lot of portrait photos, don’t want to waste time waiting for the cell phone to reach 100% when they charge it and also for those who want to show off their cell phone. Because it’s nice for a while.
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