Vivo V40 Pro review: Sleek design, strong performance, impressive camera

• Vivo V40 Pro comes with impressive photography capabilities
• The phone is powered by Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ processor
• It can handle multitasking like a pro

Pros

- Excellent camera performance with various modes for photography enthusiasts

- Smooth multitasking and gaming experience without lag

- Sleek, premium design with a vibrant display


Cons

- Slight loss of detail when using zoom beyond 3x

- Pre-installed bloatware detracts from a cleaner experience

- Pricey for its range, especially in the above Rs 50,000 category



Vivo recently launched yet another powerful mid-ranger in the market -- the Vivo V40 Pro. The company says that the phone is the slimmest smartphone in the 5500mAh battery category. The phone also boasts a powerful camera setup in collaboration with Zeiss. It is available in two storage variants and two colour options. We, at Business Insider India, received the 256GB storage variant in Titanium Grey colour for review.

I have been using the phone for nearly a month and have absolutely loved the experience so far. So, is the Vivo V40 Pro as promising in real-life as much as it looks on the specs sheet? Read on to find out.

Vivo V40 Pro review: Design and display

When I first looked at the phone, I couldn’t help but marvel at how gorgeous it looks.

The phone boasts a sleek and modern design that feels great in hand, thanks to its curved front and back glass panels, which effortlessly blend into the rounded frame. The phone also comes with curved edges and a super smooth back panel.

However, this also means that the phone tends to slip off of your hands easily. Hence, I would recommend using it with the back cover on always.

The Titanium Grey colour makes it look like it belongs in a conference room and is built for serious business. I am a fan of minimalist designs and if that’s what you prefer in a phone, you will love the design language of the V40 Pro.

The camera module at the back mimics a pendulum, with two cameras neatly positioned in a circular arrangement at the top, while a third camera and a distinctive aura LED ring complete the look in the bottom module. The symmetrical, artistic design of the camera module adds to the phone’s elegance.

Then there’s the usual Vivo branding on the left and Zeiss branding placed within the camera module.

On the right edge, there is a power button and volume buttons. The placing of these buttons is spot on as I could easily turn the volume up and down using my thumb while holding the phone. The bottom edge has the Type-C charging port and speakers along with the SIM tray.

On the front, the phone comes with a 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display paired with a 120Hz refresh rate. The display is surrounded by slim bezels that result in an immersive experience and also has a punch-hole notch which enhances the experience. The display comes with a peak brightness of 4,500 nits. Even while using the phone in peak sunlight outdoors, I didn’t face any issues as the screen was bright enough.

The display is crisp, clear and has vibrant colours, which are perfect for watching your favourite shows and movies on various OTT platforms. I watched a couple of episodes of The Modern Family and The Walking Dead on Netflix and loved the experience.

Vivo V40 Pro review: Software, performance and battery

When it comes to performance, the V40 Pro meets expectations. The phone is powered by the Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ processor and everyday tasks feel smooth and seamless. Whether you're making calls, jotting down notes in a meeting, editing photos in Adobe Lightroom, or playing games, the phone can take care of it all. I didn’t encounter any lags or performance issues, even with multiple apps running simultaneously. In fact, I managed to have 18 apps open at once without the phone slowing down, showcasing its impressive multitasking capabilities.

I also played a couple of games on the phone including COD Mobile, Genshin Impact, The Sims Freeplay and Battlegrounds Mobile India. The phone was capable of running all the games perfectly at medium and high graphic settings. It did get fairly warm after some intense gameplay but it never got to the point where I had to keep it down. The speakers, enough to fill up a medium-sized room, felt adequate. The sound quality deserves a mention too as I enjoyed the sound effects in all the games.

Talking about the battery, the phone will easily last you for a day and a half with medium usage. If your usage is light, it might last a couple of hours over that too. Hence, the battery life is quite impressive. I used the phone at work extensively every day and found myself reaching for a charger only on the following morning when I woke up.

When I played Battlegrounds Mobile India on the phone for an hour, the battery dropped by 13 per cent. I was playing with full brightness on. Hence, if you are gaming on the phone for long hours, it is a good idea to have your charger next to you. The phone also charged to a full 100 per cent in about 50 minutes.

On the software side, the Vivo V40 Pro runs FuntouchOS 14, built on Android 14. While the interface is feature-rich, it does come with a fair amount of bloatware. Thankfully, most of these pre-installed apps can be removed or disabled, but it would’ve been better if the phone arrived with a cleaner setup right out of the box. Vivo has committed to providing two major OS updates along with three years of security patches, which is a reasonable promise for long-term users.

Vivo V40 Pro review: Camera

The Vivo V40 Pro boasts an impressive quad-camera setup, featuring four 50MP sensors. At its core is a 50MP primary camera with Sony's IMX921 sensor and optical image stabilisation (OIS). Alongside it is a 50MP portrait lens (Sony IMX816) offering 2x optical zoom and up to 50x digital zoom, a 50MP wide-angle lens, and a 50MP front camera, all supported by ZEISS optics.

The phone is capable of producing some great shots in bright sunlight. The photos are rich in colour and detail, making it a great option for anyone passionate about photography. Users can choose between three colour modes—Vivid, Texture, and Zeiss Natural. In my opinion, the Zeiss Natural mode delivers the most accurate colour reproduction, and it quickly became my go-to for its lifelike results. However, if you're after a bit more flair, the Vivid mode adds a touch of saturation for a more eye-catching finish.

Even though the V40 Pro’s camera captures impressive detail, zooming in tells a different story at times. Once you hit 3x zoom, there's a slight drop in texture sharpness, and by 5x zoom, the clarity starts to degrade. At 50x zoom, the images are noticeably blurry and not very useful.

One standout feature is the OIS, which allows for some fantastic shots even in motion. I managed to snap clear images while in a moving vehicle, which is a testament to the phone’s stabilisation capabilities.

When it comes to low-light photography, the Vivo V40 Pro performs admirably. I took several evening and night shots, and the phone consistently produced bright, detailed images. The aura light also proves helpful for flash photography, delivering well-lit photos in darker environments. The front camera also captures some impressive low-light selfies.

When I was out celebrating my birthday at a low-lit cafe at night, it was a delight having this phone around to capture special moments with my loved ones. The phone is also great for group selfies, as it captures as many as 15 people perfectly.

In terms of portrait photography, the V40 Pro once again offers great texture and detail. However, if you look closely, the edge detection feels slightly off at times.

You can also adjust the aperture and choose from six special Zeiss bokeh modes. Each of these modes has its own charm, but I liked the Sonnar mode the best.

The phone also has a food mode and it really makes those lip-smacking dishes appear even tastier. So if you are a food blogger or plan on being one, here’s a win!

The V40 Pro doesn't disappoint on the video front either and delivers crisp and vivid videos that capture all the action smoothly.

Vivo V40 Pro review: Verdict

The Vivo V40 Pro is an excellent choice for photography lovers and multitaskers. Even casual gamers will appreciate its capabilities. However, its premium features come at a price, with the phone sitting in the above Rs 50,000 range, which might give some potential buyers pause. Nevertheless, for those who prioritise camera performance and have the budget, this phone is a strong contender. I would rate it an 8 out of 10.


Disclaimer: The content on this website is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as a purchasing guide or recommendation. We advise readers to do additional research, including hands-on usage of the device at a retail outlet, before making a decision.