The most recent vivo smartphone we reviewed was the vivo V29 5G, which we released simultaneously with the smartphone’s launch. During the launch event, the younger model of the vivo V29 5G, known as the V29e 5G, was introduced to the public. Also. we recently had a comprehensive review of this smartphone. Priced below Php 20k, could this device potentially meet your budget requirements? Explore our detailed review article to understand its features and determine its suitability within this price range.
Table of Contents
vivo V29e 5G Specifications
| OS: | Funtouch 13, Android 13 |
|---|---|
| Processor: | Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 |
| Display: | 6.67″ 120Hz AMOLED |
| Wireless Connections: | 5G, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Memory: | 12GB+256GB |
| Connectors: | USB Type-C, OTG |
| Cameras: | Rear Camera: Main – 64MP, f/1.8 Ultrawide – 8MP, f/2.2 Front Camera: 50MP, f/2.0 |
| SIM Card Slots: | Dual SIM (Nano-SIM) |
| Battery: | 4,800 mAh 44W charging |
| Price: | Php 18,999 |
The Unboxing
Similar to its larger counterpart, the vivo V29e 5G arrives in a gray box with an outline of the Aura Light. Upon unboxing, you’ll find the phone itself, a clear silicone case, a SIM ejector pin, the charger, a charging cable, and various accompanying documents.
The Design
The moment I unpacked the vivo V29e 5G, its strong resemblance to its larger counterpart, the V29 5G, immediately caught my eye. The most notable difference is its design: unlike the curved profile of the V29 5G, the V29e 5G showcases a flat design. Apart from this, there are hardly any other noticeable distinctions.
Available color options for the vivo V29e 5G include Forest Black, the variant featured in this review, and Ice Creek Blue. The Forest Black variant, showcased here, boasts a matte dark green hue with a subtle textured finish, evoking a sense of premium quality. In contrast, the Ice Creek Blue variant stands out with its more premium appearance, showcasing a flowing ice crystal pattern.
On the smartphone’s right side, you’ll find the volume rocker and power button, while the bottom section houses the speaker grille, USB-C port, microphone hole, and a SIM tray slot capable of holding two nano SIM cards. The fingerprint sensor retains its position under the display, unchanged.
Despite being a more budget-friendly version of the series, the vivo V29e 5G comes with an IP54 water and dust resistance rating. This means it can withstand water splashes but should not be submerged in water.
The Display and Speaker
The vivo V29e 5G features a slightly smaller 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, which, in my opinion, is still a sizable screen compared to other smartphones on the market. The display resolution is 2400×1080 pixels.
Unlike the V29 5G, there’s no HDR10+, but it still offers a decent display for watching content or playing games, maintaining the advantage of being an AMOLED display. Expect vibrant, high-contrast visuals with true blacks. The 120Hz refresh rate is great for gaming and ensures a smoother experience when scrolling through social media apps.
In terms of audio, it still has a down-firing speaker, consistent with the V29 5G. However, we noticed a slight difference in sound quality, particularly with mid and lows. Nevertheless, for the average user of the vivo V29e 5G, they may not find it to be a downside as the speaker remains usable and clear. Additionally, they have the option to use a Bluetooth speaker or headphones for an enhanced audio experience
The Performance
The vivo V29e 5G is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and an additional 8GB of virtual RAM, along with 256GB of internal storage. Despite using the Snapdragon 695 5G, which is available in other smartphones priced lower than the V29 5G, the combination of RAM and internal storage it offers is impressive for its price point.
Here are the benchmarks scores of the vivo V29e 5G:
Upon powering up the vivo V29e 5G, you’ll encounter Funtouch OS 13, built on the foundation of Android 13. For those acquainted with Funtouch OS, the operating system retains its familiar interface but includes various pre-installed applications that some might consider bloatware. Nevertheless, these can be uninstalled, although the process might be somewhat tedious.
As for the chipset, it can easily navigate multiple task smoothly as it is also has a big RAM that can store multiple apps simultaneously. But you can see its downfall when playing games falls short with high graphic intensive games like Genshin Impact compared to other smartphones that is priced around the same with the vivo V29e. Nevertheless if you just want to play casual games and scrolling social media apps or watching online content it is able to deliver a smooth experience which you can enjoy.
Surprisingly, the vivo V29e 5G has omitted the NFC feature present in the previous generation, and there’s no support for eSIM, unlike the v29 5G.
The Camera
The vivo V29 5G camera setup includes a 64-megapixel main camera with OIS, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 50-megapixel front camera. In comparison to its predecessor, the V27e, there is an improvement by replacing the macro and depth cameras with a more useful ultrawide camera.
They also enhanced the front camera, upgrading it from 32 megapixels to an impressive 50 megapixels. However, there’s a downside as they downgraded the video capability to 1080p at 60 fps, compared to the V27e’s 4k at 60 fps recording.
Reviewing the pictures taken with the vivo V29e 5G, the default output from the 64-megapixel camera is 16 megapixels. To utilize the full 64 megapixels, you can switch to high resolution mode under more settings.
Daylight pictures captured with the main rear camera exhibit vibrant colors and excellent details. Even in low-light conditions, the camera performs well, producing well-detailed images with vivid colors and good contrast.
Like the vivo V29 5G, the vivo V29e 5G has also received an upgrade to its Aura Light feature. It now boasts a 6.8 times larger light-emitting area and a 60% increase in brightness. With these upgrades, it provides better light illumination for its subject. Additionally, it is capable of adapting to or allowing manual changes in light temperature.
Switching to the ultrawide camera, vivo delivers nearly the same image quality as the main camera, showcasing impressive image processing. This shift to a more practical ultrawide camera is a positive move.
Selfies taken with the upgraded 50-megapixel front camera result in better-detailed images and natural skin tone colors, providing an improved selfie experience.
The Battery
There is a slight trade-off in the battery department with the vivo V29e 5G. The device now features a 4800 mAh battery, a modest increase from the 4600 mAh battery in the V27e. Despite this, you can expect it to endure your busy day and likely have some battery life remaining when you return home from work.
Unfortunately, with this upgrade, they have reduced the charging speed to 44W. While still fast, it falls short of the impressive 66W fast charging capability of the v27e.
vivo V29e Verdict
The vivo V29e 5G, considering the slight downgrade it received, it still got a great upgrade such as the improved front camera and the reconfiguration of the rear camera by adding an ultrawide lens instead of a macro plus depth camera. Additionally, the battery improvement is a noteworthy enhancement.
Unfortunately, the price of the vivo V29e 5G has increased, as it comes now at Php 18,999. However, if you can find it on sale, it becomes a more appealing option. The device is available for purchase online on platforms like Lazada or Shopee and is also available nationwide.
