Vivo V40 Review: Sleek Design, Powerful Performance

The mid-range smartphone market is crowded with options, all competing for the title of the best camera phone. Vivo V40 is one of these contenders, aimed at photography lovers with its Zeiss-tuned camera system. It starts at ₹34,999 for the base model (8GB RAM and 128GB storage) and comes with great features like IP68/IP69 ratings for water and dust resistance, a bright AMOLED display and a sturdy design with a plastic frame and reinforced aluminum corners.

But does Vivo V40 have what it takes to stand out among tough camera-focused rivals like Honor 200 and Realme 13 Pro+? Let’s take a closer look at its features in my detailed review of Vivo V40.

Key Specifications

• Storage: 512 GB
• Battery Capacity: 5500 mAh
• Rear Camera: 50 MP + 50 MP
• Screen Size: 6.78 inches

Vivo V40 Specification

Feature	Details
📶 Network	GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
📏 Body	Size: 164.2 x 75 x 7.6 mm Weight: 190 g
📱 Display	6.78 inches AMOLED, 120Hz, 1260 x 2800 pixels
🖥️ Platform	Android 14, Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
💾 Memory	Options: 128GB/8GB, 256GB/8GB, 256GB/12GB, 512GB/12GB
📷 Main Camera	Dual 50 MP (wide + ultrawide) Video: 4K@30fps
🤳 Selfie Camera	50 MP Video: 4K@30fps
🔊 Sound	Stereo speakers No headphone jack
🌐 Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C
🔍 Sensors	Fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro
🔋 Battery	5500 mAh, 80W fast charging
🎨 Colors	Stellar Silver, Nebula Purple, Ganges Blue, etc.
💵 Price	₹32,450 / €665.86
📊 Performance	AnTuTu: 818546, GeekBench: 3208

Vivo V40 5G Sleek and Stylish Design

Vivo V40 has a sleek design that catches the eye. Its glass back features unique wave-like pattern. However, glossy finish makes it prone to fingerprints, so you may need to wipe it down often. Phone is 7.6mm thick and weighs 190g which is bit heavier and thicker than its predecessor, Vivo V30.

Vivo improved phone’s plastic frame at the corners with an aluminum alloy to increase endurance. This lessens the chance of drops, particularly on corners. V40 is more durable than many other phones since it has IP68 and IP69 classifications, which provide further defense against water and dust.

Vivo V40 is comfortable to hold and use with one hand. Buttons are easy to reach on right side and they feel good to press without being too loud. Fingerprint sensor under the display is quick & reliable, working smoothly without slow unlock animations. Vivo V40 impresses with its smart design & solid build quality.

Vivo V40 Bright and Clear AMOLED Display

Vivo V40 has 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with pixel density of 453 PPI and 1.5K resolution. The screen’s crisp and colorful images make it ideal for social media browsing and video viewing. Despite not supporting Dolby Vision it has outstanding color accuracy and contrast and supports HDR10+.

One of best things about the V40’s display is its peak brightness of 4,500 nits which is higher than most phones in this price range. However, only some areas of the screen reach this brightness level when watching HDR content. Display is very bright, making it easy to see even in direct sunlight. I measured a peak brightness of 1,190 nits in sunlight, and it can likely go even brighter on sunny days with Auto Brightness. However, Honor 200 is generally brighter for regular use.

Additionally, display has a refresh rate of 120 Hz which improves the user experience overall and makes scrolling fluid. Schott Xensation Alpha glass protects it from scratches and small impacts, whereas Gorilla Glass 7i on the Realme 13 Pro+ provides even greater protection.

Vivo V40 Performance and User Interface

Vivo V40 is powered by Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor which offers reliable mid-range performance. However, it’s disappointing that Vivo used the same processor as previous model, so there’s no significant performance boost this time. Phone comes with up to 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.

In terms of performance, Vivo V40 handles multitasking, light gaming and everyday tasks smoothly. It performs well in benchmark tests, although it falls slightly behind Honor 200. However, it outperforms Realme 13 Pro+ likely due to its better processor.

It is easy to move between apps, and they open promptly. On low to medium settings, the phone can run games like BGMI and Call of Duty Mobile without any problems and retain acceptable frame rates. It doesn’t throttle much, only dropping to 90% of its peak performance after 15 minutes of testing which is better than both the Honor 200 and Realme 13 Pro+.

On the software side, Vivo V40 runs FuntouchOS 14 based on Android 14. While interface has some pre-installed apps (bloatware), most can be removed or disabled. Vivo promises two major OS updates and three years of security patches which is decent but less extensive than Honor 200’s update policy.

AI features in Vivo V40 mainly enhance camera functions like scene recognition and portrait mode. In AI test, it scored 65/100, slightly better than Honor 200.

Zeiss-Tuned Cameras A Highlight of the Vivo V40

Vivo V40 stands out with its great camera system designed with Zeiss. It has 50 MP main camera and 50 MP ultrawide lens, making photos look better than before. While it lacks a telephoto lens, it still takes excellent pictures.

In bright light, the V40 captures vibrant photos with good contrast and little noise. Portraits look great, with natural background blur. The ultrawide lens works well too even in tricky lighting.

Compared to many competitors, the V40 performs better in low light, taking detailed pictures with less noise.

50 MP front camera is also quite good; it can take bright, vibrant selfies in any kind of sunlight.

Vivo V40 Impressive Battery Life with Quick Charging

With its powerful 5,500 mAh battery, Vivo V40 has exceptionally long battery life for smartphone. When used regularly for activities like online browsing, streaming videos and gaming, the V40 should last the entire day. Its battery test duration of 15 hours and 3 minutes is respectable but it falls short of the Honor 200’s remarkable 18-hour runtime.

V40’s 80 W rapid charging capability makes charging it quick & simple. When you need quick power boost it’s helpful because it can go from 0% to 100% in just 46 minutes. All things considered, Vivo V40 is good option in its class because it offers steady battery performance & quick charging.

Should You Buy Vivo V40?

Vivo V40 costs ₹34,999 and is a good choice for those who love photography. It has a Zeiss-tuned camera that takes sharp, vibrant photos. Phone is durable with an IP68/IP69 rating and its AMOLED display is bright and clear. It performs smoothly, although Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor isn’t a big upgrade.

While it doesn’t have a telephoto lens and has some extra apps you might not need, V40 still offers a solid camera experience especially for portraits and low-light photos. If you already have Vivo V30, you might not find enough new features to make it worth switching.

Vivo V40 Pros and Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
✨ Stylish design	⚙️ Same processor as before
🌟 Bright AMOLED display	📸 Photos sometimes lack detail
📷 Great Zeiss cameras	🔭 No telephoto lens
💧 Water and dust resistant	❌

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Conclusion

Vivo V40, which retails for ₹34,999, is an excellent option for those who enjoy photography. Its Zeiss-tuned camera produces crisp, colorful images. With its robust construction and IP68/IP69 ratings, the phone is both fashionable and durable. Although the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 isn’t a significant improvement, the bright AMOLED display improves the viewing experience and the overall performance is fluid.