Vivo V23 5G Review – Paying Only For Selfies

Vivo has just introduced two new smartphones in the V23 Series, both of which are camera-focused. Vivo V23 5G is a good smartphone, but it isn’t for everyone because there are other smartphones around Rs 30,000 that offer better value. If you want a camera-centric smartphone, the Vivo V23 is a good choice; else, the OnePlus Nord 2 can be a better option.

Vivo has now used some kind of innovation on the backside that will change its colour whenever the back panel gets in contact with UV lights. This will attract a large number of people. Overall, the Vivo V23 5G is for people who would like the best selfie camera and smartphone design. I’ve already reviewed the Vivo V23 Pro 5G, so now it’s time to review the Vivo V23 5G and discover its ups and downs.

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Vivo V23 5G price in India starts at Rs 29,990 for 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage and goes up to Rs 34,990 for 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. The smartphone is available in two colour options: Stardust Black and Sunshine Gold, and it can be purchased from Flipkart.

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Users will get the following items inside the box of Vivo V23 5G:

• Vivo V23 5G device
• USB Cable
• 44W Charger
• 3.5mm Earphone Jack Adapter
• Sim Eject Tool
• Phone Case
• Protective Film (Applied)
• Documentation

Before we talk in detail about the Vivo V23 5G, let’s see what the on-paper specs look like:

• Display: 6.44 inches AMOLED
• Chipset: MediaTek Dimensity 920
• RAM & ROM: 8GB RAM 128GB Storage, 12GB RAM 256GB Storage
• Software: Android v12
• Rear camera: 64MP + 8MP + 2MP
• Selfie camera: 50MP + 8MP
• Battery: 4200 mAh
• Weight: 179 grams 
• Dimensions: 157.2 x 72.4 x 7.3 mm

Your latest Vivo V23 5G is guaranteed to stay stylish whichever colour you see it in. It’s an intriguing feature, and it appears that most of its users would be girls rather than boys (because girls tend more matching mania, and it’s likely that it changes colours to match their outfits). The ultra-thin aerospace aluminium frame has rounded corners to help in delivering a comfortable grip. The front bezels are smaller for the full-view experience to maximise screen real estate.

The base colours are Sunshine Gold and Stardust Black, however, the Sunshine Gold variant has a trick up its sleeve with colour changing glass. When exposed to sunlight or UV light, it will have a stunning blue/green gradient that will gradually fade when taken away from the light source. This is supported by the Fluorite AG Glass element. Its ‘soft, matte’ feel is quite comfortable to hold in your hand, and it’s also fingerprint-free!

Check Out: Vivo V23 Pro 5G Review – Good Selfies But at Premium Price

The display of the Vivo V23 5G also has flat edges and a slim design. The VivoV23’s 64MP rear-facing camera is housed in an eye-catching camera bump that sets the bar for mid-range smartphone design. The rest of the design sticks to a more standard pattern. This phone lacks some expected features, including the lack of a headphone port, the use of a single speaker, but you do get the quick use of an in-display fingerprint sensor. The design is really premium, slim, and elite, thus it gets a 10/10 from my side in this category.

Vivo V23 5G sports a 6.44-inch 90Hz AMOLED display that is HDR10+ compatible and supports Widevine L1, which means you will be able to view FHD+ content across all OTT apps. It has glass on the backside and a metal frame. I would just like to say thank you to Vivo for using Matte glass, which means there will be no fingerprints, which is the best thing. The display seems to be bright enough to use in direct sunshine with no issues.

Vivo has also included an in-display fingerprint sensor that works well, and you can even unlock the phone with your face. Overall, the Vivo V23 5G has a fine display for the price, but I would have preferred to see a 120Hz display since the device is priced at Rs. 30K and practically every other smartphone in that price range have a 120Hz panel. The majority of users will not notice any difference between 90Hz and 120Hz, but if you’re a geek like me, you will.

Vivo V23 5G runs on MediaTek Dimensity 920 which is the successor of the MediaTek Dimensity 900. The chipset is capable of running practically all mobile games without issues, so if you’re a gamer, the Vivo V23 5G will suit you well. Again, I would have preferred the MediaTek Dimensity 1200, but because the same SoC is used in the Vivo V23 Pro 5G, I don’t expect Vivo to include it in the non-Pro version. Yes, you have to sacrifice something to get something, and in this case, it’s the processor.

No doubt, the MediaTek Dimensity 920 is a solid processor, but at Rs 30k, it’s not the best. Expect no lags when you use an extra 4GB internal memory for 8GB / 12GB +4GB variants and keep all of those applications open as you will need them, thanks to Extended RAM 2.0.

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When it comes to gaming performance tests, we started with Genshin Impact. The game runs smoothly when the graphic settings in Balanced Mode or Performance Mode are maxed out, but dips when more battery saving modes are enabled, as expected. The maximum graphics quality in Call of Duty Mobile is Medium, and the frame rate is set at very high for testing. The game experience was as smooth as Genshin’s, and also the temperature did not rise. Overall, you should have no issues playing games or using the Vivo V23 5G in daily life.

Vivo V23 5G runs on FunTouch OS 12 based on Android 12. That’s right, it comes with Android 12 out of the box, which is fantastic. The Android-based operating system is always being updated and fine-tuned to fit the needs of the user. It includes a variety of customization options to suit your needs and preferences. The new Widgets interface is developed to provide you with key information at a glance while also centralising the information hub in one spot. The Nano Music Player is a feature of the Widgets update, and it provides an interactive, zero-layer music interaction on the home screen: with just a tap, you can tune in to an entirely new world of music!

When you’re playing a game, a semi-transparent pop-up at the top of the screen will display for calls. Accepting it will result in a small green box appearing and quickly disappearing, indicating that you are on the line. If you reject it, you will just receive a regular missed call notification. If you haven’t entirely disabled notifications, a bubble may appear in your messaging app, which you may tap to get straight to the chat window. This window can be resized, and the keyboard can be moved around the screen.

Vivo V23 5G has an extended RAM feature that allows it to use an additional 4GB if needed. As a result, the total ram can be increased to 12GB or 16GB. I’m not really a big fan of the Fun Touch OS, so I’d suggest watching some of the youtube videos and then purchasing the Vivo V23 5G if you like the UI.

Vivo V23 5G arrives with a 64MP primary camera, 8MP ultra-wide lens, as well as a 2MP macro camera on the back. A 50 MP camera featuring auto eye focused technology and a second 8 MP camera make up the front camera layout. As a result, it is the best option for capturing lovely memories with fine details and great resolutions. Both the front and back cameras can shoot videos in 1080p@30fps and 4K@30fps. The Vivo V23 5G is a camera-focused phone, although I’d call it a selfie camera phone.

Vivo has included a dual LED flashlight on the front of the V23 5G, which comes in handy when taking selfies at night. To suit the environment, you can choose from three lighting options: Cold White, Default, and Warm Yellow. Portrait shot quality is also impressive in selfies with normal Vivo skin tones. In a nutshell, it offers the best selfie camera under Rs. 30,000 on the market. It manages to capture good detail even at night, which is remarkable.

When it comes to the rear cameras, the 64MP primary sensor takes pretty decent pictures as well, however, it tries to whitewash them. This is no longer a concern because most Vivo smartphones do the same thing, attempting to whiten your face. The cameras are excellent, and the 8MP ultra-wide lens performs well as well. Also, the 2MP macro sensor is there for the sake of numbers, so ignore it. Last but not least, the much-hyped night mode capabilities deliver exactly what they promise.

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It is a camera-centric smartphone, and it performs the same. Other features include dual-LED flash, HDR, digital zoom, Panorama, slow motion, and EIS mode. Overall, if you’re the type that takes a lot of selfies or even uses the front camera for video recording, the Vivo V23 5G will be great for you.

Vivo V23 5G is backed by a 4200mAh battery featuring 44W FlashCharge technology. That battery is made significantly more efficient thanks to a mix of FlashCharge, 6nm chip, power-saving technologies, and Vivo’s OS power optimization, and you can charge it back up real quick if you need it. The battery on this phone isn’t particularly impressive, but it’ll suffice for most users who are using their smartphones for a variety of tasks including chatting, making phone calls, browsing the web or watching movies and shows.

In short, if you’re a heavy user, expect to charge the Vivo V23 5G twice a day, however, if you’re a light user like me, you’ll just need to charge it once a day. The 44W charge will take approximately 60 minutes to fully charge the phone from 0 to 100 per cent.

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Vivo V23 5G features only a single bottom-firing speaker, not a stereo speaker. The speaker is quite loud, so no complaints there, but for a Rs 30k phone, Vivo could have included dual speakers. It also features a secondary noise cancellation microphone and carrier aggregation, both of which will be quite useful during calls. Overall, the sound quality is average, and you won’t face any problems during calls.

Vivo V23 5G has a lot of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 802.11 support. N1, N3, N5, N8, N41, N77, and N78 are among the 7 5G bands available. Vivo has also included an in-display fingerprint sensor that works well, and you can even unlock the phone with your face.

Pros

• 50MP dual selfie camera 
• 64MP triple rear camera 
• Excellent design 
• Extended RAM 2.0 

Cons

• Only 4200 mAh battery 
• No 3.5 mm headphone jack
• No Stereo speakers