IN today's digital age, where arguably everything is at one's fingertips, an adaptive and responsive phone can provide a whole fresh perspective.
As one who relies on technology for work, I'm amazed to see how smartphones innovatively evolve to meet the needs of today's demanding consumers such as myself.
Over the past few weeks, I have been exploring the features of the latest vivo V40, and in a nutshell, this Zeiss Portrait Master does not disappoint.
Upon opening the box, the smartphone's color and design immediately stand out, and this comes as no surprise given vivo's history of producing such thoughtfully designed models in the past.
With its slim body and three-dimensional (3D) curved screen, the device is comfortable, easy and pleasurable to hold. On the back of the smartphone, a Gemini ring design adds a charming detail that surrounds the rear cameras.
More than the detailing, the cameras themselves are the highlight of the smartphone, which features Zeiss that elevates the experience of taking professional-level images.
Starting off with the 50-megapixel (MP) Zeiss OIS main camera that's equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 1/1.56-inch Samsung Isocell GNJ sensor, this camera captures sharp and clear photos even in low-light conditions — perfect for night dates and evening events.
Above the main rear camera is the 50-MP Zeiss ultrawide-angle camera that lets gen-Z-ers and those young at heart embrace the trend of wide-angled shots from solo outfit-of-the-day photos to group selfies, ensuring everyone is within the frame.
This wide-angle camera has a high pixel count that keeps all subjects in the photo shown clearly. This camera can capture up to 30 people in a single high-quality shot, making it a good choice for gatherings. This is all thanks to its AI Group Portrait feature.
For those who prefer taking photos with the front-facing camera, the vivo V40's 50-MP Zeiss Group Selfie Camera is the way to go. It boasts high resolution, a 92-degree field of view and auto focus features, capturing every group selfie with exceptional clarity and detail that everyone will want to keep for a long time.
This selfie camera is unique with its AI Facial Contouring technology, keeping users' best selfies looking natural and flattering.
With Zeiss, vivo continues to showcase its mastery in mobile photography by introducing innovative features.
I've discovered that the latest model offers multiple focal lengths (1x, 1.5x and 2.2x) under Portrait Mode, giving users the flexibility to choose the best option for their subjects whether they're taking portraits indoors or outdoors.
Of course, a vivo smartphone will not be complete without its AI Aura Light. For the vivo V40, however, vivo has upgraded this feature with a 33-percent increase in brightness, compared to its predecessor. This advanced smart light technology functions such as that of a professional lighting director, helping deliver quality photos from day to night.
Not to mention, the V40 is the first in vivo's lineup with AI 3D Studio Lighting that uses 3D facial light analysis and 3D virtual fill light to complement the Aura Light.
When it comes to its battery life, V40 carries a large 5500 milliampere-hour BlueVolt battery with 80-watt FlashCharge. This combination will allow users to play games, stream or multitask with its extended battery life and quick charging capabilities.
In my professional experience, bringing the V40 to an event coverage for audio recording and photography has been smooth, and charging it has been a breeze with its impressive fast-charge feature.
Aside from its 3D screen, the V40 is equipped with a 1.5K Ultra Clear Sunlight Display, operating at a 120 Hz refresh rate and allowing for a smooth viewing experience even when under bright sunlight.
In my relentless and unforgiving job, a stylish phone without robustness and durability is nothing but bad news. But I'm confident to report that the V40 delivers on both fronts.
The device design has been tactically augmented to resist damage, dust, water and various other persistent factors.
In fact, the V40 has undergone over 70 rigorous quality tests, including 500 simulated distortion scenarios and 10,000 plugging and unplugging cycles that now guarantee the resilience and reliability of the device.
With all these features packed into a smartphone, I'm not surprised that vivo V40 is suitable for those looking for a stunning phone with a precision-engineered and pro-grade camera without compromising other important features such as functionality and durability.
The vivo V40 is now available in two variants: 12 + 256 GB for only P26,999 and 12 + 512 GB for only P29,999 via Shopee, Lazada, vivo website, or through vivo's concept stores and kiosks nationwide, starting Sept. 19, 2024.
The brand is also having a pre-order period from Sept. 17 to 27, 2024 when consumers need to pay a P500 down payment to avail of the preorder unit and can also take advantage of a P2,000 discount plus a TWS 3e freebie that's worth P1,999.
A preorder voucher will be given to customers upon preordering and will be required upon claiming from September 28 to October 16.