You see a lot of phones that promise to do everything. They claim to be camera champions, battery kings, and gaming powerhouses all in one. The Vivo V29 Pro 5G sits in that busy mid-range space, but it tries to stand out with one big promise: premium feel without the flagship price. After using it as my main phone for over two weeks, I found it’s more than just a pretty device. It’s a solid all-rounder that surprisingly holds its own when you want to unwind with some games.
First Impressions: It’s All About the Gloss
Right out of the box, the Vivo V29 Pro feels slick. My review unit was in the “Noble Black” colour, and it’s a fingerprint magnet, but my goodness, it looks good. The back has this glossy finish that catches the light in a wave-like pattern. It’s slippery, so a case is a must, but Vivo includes a clear one in the box, which is a nice touch. The phone is thin and surprisingly light, making it very comfortable to hold for long periods. The curved edges on the screen blend into the metal frame smoothly. It doesn’t feel cheap at all.
The 6.78-inch screen is immediately impressive. It’s an AMOLED display, so colours are vibrant and blacks are truly black. Watching videos on YouTube or Netflix is a pleasure. The 120Hz refresh rate is the star here. Simply put, it makes every swipe, scroll, and animation look buttery smooth. Once you get used to this, going back to a standard 60Hz screen feels janky and slow.
Better Letest Content in Middle
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.78-inch AMOLED, 120Hz Refresh Rate |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 8200 |
| RAM & Storage | 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage (as tested) |
| Rear Camera | 50MP Main (with OIS), 8MP Ultra-Wide, 2MP Depth |
| Front Camera | 50MP Autofocus |
| Battery & Charging | 4600mAh, 80W Fast Charging |
| OS | Android 13 with Funtouch OS 13 |
Daily Driving: Smooth Sailing with a Few Quirks
For everyday tasks—social media, emails, messaging, browsing—the Vivo V29 Pro is effortlessly fast. The combination of the Dimensity 8200 chip and 12GB of RAM means apps open quickly and I never noticed any stuttering while switching between them. The software, Funtouch OS 13 on top of Android 13, is feature-packed. It has lots of customisation options for how your home screen looks and how gestures work.
The software can feel a bit heavy, though. There are some pre-installed apps you might not want, and some menu layouts feel different from pure Android. It took me about a day to get everything set up just how I liked it. Once past that, the experience was stable and reliable.
Battery life is solid. The 4600mAh battery consistently got me through a full day of moderate to heavy use, ending the day with around 20-30% left. The real hero is the 80W fast charger. Plugging in the phone when it’s almost dead and seeing it charge to over 70% in just 30 minutes feels almost like magic. It eliminates battery anxiety completely.
The Main Event: Gaming Performance
This is where I was most curious. The V29 Pro isn’t marketed as a gaming phone, but its specs suggest it can play. I put it through its paces with three games: Call of Duty: Mobile, BGMI (PUBG Mobile), and Genshin Impact.
For COD: Mobile and BGMI, the experience was excellent. I could comfortably set the graphics to High and the frame rate to Max. Gameplay was consistently smooth with no noticeable frame drops during intense firefights. The phone did get warm after about 45 minutes of continuous play, but never uncomfortably hot. The large, vibrant screen and the responsive touch controls made it immersive.
Genshin Impact is the real test for any phone. I set the graphics to Medium settings with a 60fps target. The game ran surprisingly well for the most part. There were occasional slight hitches when loading new areas in the open world, but in-combat and exploration were smooth. On the highest settings, it did struggle, which is expected for a non-dedicated gaming phone. The Dimensity 8200 proves to be a capable chip for mobile gaming.
The stereo speakers are loud and clear, helping with audio cues in games. The lack of a headphone jack might bother some, but Bluetooth connectivity was stable with my earbuds.
Camera: Good, Especially for People
The camera system is clearly a focus for Vivo. The 50MP main sensor takes detailed and colourful photos in good light. The colour science tends to lean towards making blues bluer and greens greener, which results in attractive, share-ready pictures. Low-light performance is decent, thanks to Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS), which helps keep shots steady.
The 50MP selfie camera is arguably one of the best in its price range. It has autofocus, which is rare, meaning your selfies are consistently sharp. Portrait mode on both front and rear cameras does a good job separating the subject from the background.
The 8MP ultra-wide is usable in bright conditions but loses detail quickly. The 2MP depth sensor is mostly there to make up the numbers. For the average user who wants great selfies and reliable main camera shots, this system delivers.
The Not-So-Good Parts
No phone is perfect. The glossy back is a slip hazard. While gaming for long sessions, the warmth is noticeable. The software, though smooth, comes with some bloatware. Also, at this price, some competitors offer telephoto lenses for better zoom, which the V29 Pro misses.
Final Verdict
The Vivo V29 Pro 5G is a confident all-rounder. It doesn’t necessarily win in one single category, but it doesn’t fail in any either. It combines a gorgeous design and display with very capable performance and a strong front camera. If you want a phone that looks and feels premium, handles daily tasks and gaming without breaking a sweat, and charges in the blink of an eye, this is a compelling option. It’s for the user who values a balanced, stylish experience over niche extreme performance.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is the Vivo V29 Pro 5G good for heavy gaming like Genshin Impact?
Yes, but with settings management. It runs demanding games like Genshin Impact smoothly on medium to high settings. For the absolute highest graphics, you might see some frame drops, but for most mobile gamers, the performance is more than sufficient.
2. How long does the battery last during gaming?
During continuous gaming (like BGMI or COD: Mobile at high settings), you can expect around 4 to 5 hours of screen-on time. The 80W fast charging means you can get a huge boost in just a short break.
3. Does the phone overheat while gaming?
It gets warm, as all phones do under sustained load, but not alarmingly hot. The warmth is concentrated near the camera module. It never throttled performance drastically in my usage.
4. Is the camera good for low-light photography?
The main 50MP camera with OIS performs decently in low light. It captures usable, brightened shots with managed noise. It’s not class-leading, but it’s perfectly good for social media shots in dim restaurants or at night.
5. Should I buy this over a phone like the OnePlus Nord or Samsung Galaxy A series?
It depends on your priority. The V29 Pro offers a superior selfie camera, a more striking design, and faster charging than many rivals. Compare the cameras in-person if you can, and see if Vivo’s software style suits you. It’s a strong contender in the mid-range beauty-and-brains category.
