vivo V3Max Review

With their latest smartphones, vivo is looking to expand their growing presence within China to other parts of the world. The vivo V3Max claims to offer much of what many want from a flagship device, in a less expensive, mid-range package.

More vivo coverage:

• vivo X6Plus Review
• vivo X6 First Look
• vivo XPlay 5 Announced

But the question remains: how does vivo’s V3Max compare to similarly priced “super mid-range” smartphones? Let’s find out with our full review of the vivo V3Max!

Design

It goes without saying that the vivo V3Max bears quite a bit of resemblance to the iPhone, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Despite its mid-range status, the V3Max encompasses an unmistakably premium design with notably solid build quality. The V3Max’s carefully crafted curves and physically soft metallic shell are particularly remarkable, and although the phone can be a bit slippery, it feels excellent in the hand.

The V3Max’s carefully crafted curves and physically soft metallic shell are particularly remarkable

While some may find its gold and rose gold color options to be a bit gaudy in press renders, it is worth noting that the color is much lighter in person to the point where one could easily mistake the gold for silver in some environments. I was slightly disappointed with the phone’s vibration motor, as it did seem a tad rattly and weak during my testing, which was noticeable primarily when typing. I do not consider this to be a major issue, but it is something to keep in mind, especially if you are coming from a higher-end smartphone.

Unfortunately, the three capacitive keys on the front of the V3Max are not illuminated, and the choice to use the first button for the general menu instead of the multitasking menu did seem odd, initially. It was not until I learned that vivo’s FunTouch OS integrates multitasking into its control center, which can be accessed with a simple swipe up from the bottom of the screen.

I do think that this implementation could be improved, however, with a single physical home button that would double as a back button, in which the user would tap to go back and press to go home. Meizu has followed this design for a while now, and it does seem more appropriate in this case as the general menu is oftentimes no longer accessed via a capacitive key.

Display

The V3Max is sporting a 5.5″ 1080P display, which looks pretty good with a good amount of saturation and great viewing angles. It does seem a tad lacking in contrast, however, and sunlight readability leaves something to be desired. I found it to be very challenging to view the V3Max’s display in direct sunlight, which could be incredibly problematic, depending on how you intend to use the device.

Overall, the display on the V3Max is simply not as good as displays found on similar smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 5 or much cheaper Meizu M2 Note. I was also fairly surprised to find that the display’s material feels more like plastic than glass, which made it much more susceptible to fingerprints and scratches in my testing. Since the material is not as smooth as the glass used on many other competing smartphones, the display can be fairly resistant to simple gestures like swiping.

Performance

It’s evident that vivo has focused on delivering a speedy experience with the V3Max

Despite its seemingly mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor, the V3Max is a great performer. With 4 GB of RAM and the “faster than faster” advertising slogan, it’s evident that vivo has focused on delivering a speedy experience with the V3Max. Fortunately, it delivers in that regard.

I also had no trouble playing higher-end games like Asphalt 8, thanks to the phone’s modern Adreno 510 GPU.

Hardware

As is the case for many other smartphones intended for sale outside of the United States, the vivo V3Max does not support U.S. 4G LTE networks, and you’ll be limited to HSPA+ on AT&T in all areas and HSPA+ on T-Mobile in some areas.

FDD-LTE B2, B3, B5, B8 TD-LTE B40 WCDMA B2, B3, B5, B8 GSM B2, B3, B5, B8

With that said, the phone does support AT&T’s legacy band 5 for LTE, which I was able to utilize only in a rural area. Do keep in mind, however, that this frequency has been mostly phased out, hence its legacy status.

Call quality was pretty good, and many consumers will be happy to know that the device is both unlocked and supports dual-SIM cards. If you’re willing to give up one of V3 Max’s SIM card slots, you can take advantage of expandable storage with a microSD card, up to 128GB.

See Also: High capacity microSD cards and Android – Gary explains37

I found the V3Max’s rear-facing fingerprint reader to be incredibly fast and very accurate, easily beating out the Huawei Nexus 6P and Xiaomi Mi 5 in virtually every test. Combined with its great overall performance, the V3Max is one of the few mid-range smartphones to keep up when wanting to quickly check content-heavy apps like Twitter or YouTube.

The V3Max offers a superior audio experience relative to competing mid-range smartphones

With its AKM AK4375 Hi-Fi audio chip, the V3Max offers a superior audio experience relative to competing mid-range smartphones. However, it’s difficult to notice anything beyond a minor difference day-to-day unless audio is streamed at a higher bitrate or listened to through higher-quality headphones.

The phone’s external side-firing speaker, however, exceeded my expectations with its loud volume and low distortion. Although it is not a front-facing speaker, it is one of the highest quality speakers on a mid-range device that we’ve seen.

Battery life on the V3Max was also impressive, and I had no trouble reaching six hours of screen on time with variable usage, in addition to long standby times, sometimes even more than twenty-four hours. Although the battery capacity is a somewhat small 3000mAh, vivo appears to have made significant efficiency gains with software optimization. And if you do need the V3Max to last just a bit longer, there are several power consumption profiles available for use within the iManager app.

Camera

The V3Max’s 13 MP rear camera with phase detection autofocus produced very nice looking images in good lighting conditions. Most images appear to be sharp and detailed with good color reproduction and a great amount of dynamic range. While I did notice that the built-in camera app tended to underexpose, especially when shooting outdoors, the compensation slider proved to be a godsend.

The camera struggles to provide satisfactory results in low-light environments

Unfortunately, this performance is not met when shooting photos in low-light. Put simply, the camera struggles to provide satisfactory results in low-light environments, as photos appear noisy and distorted. While it is certainly possible to capture a good image in near-dark conditions, the camera here would definitely not be my first choice, even if I was limited to mid-range devices.

It is also important to note that the V3Max does not support 4K video recording, which was disappointing considering similarly priced smartphones like the Xiaomi Mi 5 do. Its 8 MP front-facing camera did perform well in my quick testing, however, and should be more than suitable in most environments. Although vivo has included a camera app which can be easily likened to Apple’s camera app, it is fairly easy to use while still remaining functional.

There are many different modes as well, all of which are easily accessible and include first time use explanations. There’s even a “PPT mode,” which automatically crops and scales an image shown on a projector or screen, which could be very handy for those wishing to capture important details from a slideshow.

Software

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the V3Max is its custom software. It’s running vivo’s FunTouch OS 2.5 on top of Android 5.1 Lollipop. The latter is disappointing enough, considering the latest version of Android, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, has been out for eight-months now. Sadly, this means that certain features like Google Now On Tap and fingerprint reader access for third party apps are not available with the vivo V3Max.

It’s fairly easy to see how the V3Max’s software could be a deal breaker

Even if you come to accept the older version of Android, vivo’s custom skin is sure to seem jarring at first, especially for those coming from stock or lightly skinned versions of Android. iOS-inspired changes like a control center and app names like iManager, iMusic, and iTheme are oftentimes simply not appealing to Westerns, and it’s fairly easy to see how the V3Max’s software could be a deal breaker.

Despite the strong departure from what we have come to expect from Android, there are many great features that FunTouch brings to the table. Features like S Capture, which give you a multitude of different options when wanting to share your screen, and wakeup gestures are commendable additions.

Gallery

Price

Vivo has released the V3Max globally in gold and rose gold variants, each with 32 GB of internal storage. If you’re in India, you can pick up the V3Max for Rs. 23,980, or about $355.

Conclusion

The vivo V3Max gets a lot of things right. It has a nice design, offers fast performance, Hi-Fi audio, and excellent battery life. However, its flaws cannot be ignored. The lack of U.S. availability and U.S. 4G LTE support, poor image quality in low-light, and likely jarring iOS-like software experience are enough to be deal breakers for some.

Quite frankly, it is difficult to recommend the V3Max over phones like the Xiaomi Mi 5, which is simply a more well-rounded option for about the same price. Unless you need the even better battery life, better speaker, or prefer the V3Max’s design, you may find the Mi 5 to be a much better option. With that said, vivo’s efforts are not to be diluted, and we must note that this is still a great mid-range smartphone, but with today’s highly competitive market, great only goes so far.

More vivo coverage:

• vivo X6Plus Review
• vivo X6 First Look
• vivo XPlay 5 Announced

So, what do you think of the vivo V3Max? Would you buy it over other mid-range smartphones? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

Verykool Spark LTE SL5011 review: All that glitters is not gold

If you haven’t caught wind of verykool yet, it’s an affordable phone maker that you should be keeping an eye on. The company has been around for a while now, which means that its phone-building skills are now to very compelling levels. Earlier in the year, I reviewed the verykool Maverick SL5550 and came out fairly impressed.

Now there’s a new kid on the block – the compact Spark LTE SL5011. This 5″ phone brings pushes value to a new height, with fine-tuned refinements and aesthetics that even premium smartphone users will gawk at. Let’s check out how the Spark LTE ranks in the grand scheme of affordable unlocked phones.

Design

I’ll cut to the chase; verykool nailed the Spark LTE’s design. It’s a beauty. The second you unpack it, you’ll be blown away by the kind of build that the bargain price could get you.

The device is flanked by a premium metal frame, that has a smooth, reflective matte finish. Shiny chamfers are then trimmed out on each edge. You’d typically find this kind of detail on smartphones 3x the price. It makes me happy that the Spark’s metal brings the same eye-candy and premium feel that my flagship daily driver does (making me question how much I spent).

The power button and volume rocker share the same material, and they’re nicely tactile and firm to the press.

Only, I wish that the power button was under the volume rocker; it’s placed too high, in my opinion. But that’s a minor gripe on a 5″ phone. Also, a fingerprint scanner is no where to be found on the Spark.

One of my complaints on the Maverick was the cheap-feeling, glossy back cover. I’m glad that verykool listened; the Spark has a much nicer matte cover.

Despite having a smooth finish, it’s a lot less slippery than the glossy cover. I also think that, together with the shiny metal frame, the presentation of my white/gold model looks super classy. The Spark also comes in black/silver.

However, I must mention that shortly after unpacking the unit, I noticed these faint dark smudges on the back cover. But they disappeared after some use. I’m thinking that it’s some residue from the finish out of its manufacturing, so I’d recommend verykool to condition it before packing the phone up. Another minor gripe is the camera hump; it sticks out like on the Galaxy S6. This is OK, but the camera lens cover isn’t recessed. So I’m seeing hairline scratches appear on it.

The bottom is simply and symmetrically laid out. There’s a microUSB port at the center and two audio grills on either side (for the microphone and external speaker). Then there’s two plastic strips for antennas. On the top you’ll just find the 3.5mm headphone jack and more antenna lines.

The front of the Spark has fairly average sized bezels (by today’s standards). The glass has subtle 2.5D curves at the edges. Though, it doesn’t curve directly into the metal frame; there’s a thin plastic lining between the glass and the frame.

This phone interestingly goes with capacitive buttons instead of on-screen (like the Maverick). A nice addition is a tiny LED flash on the top left, so you can continue to take selfies even in the dark.

Performance

Let’s take a quick look at what the Spark LTE’s is packing:

• Chipset: MediaTek MT6735P (quad-core, 1.0Ghz)
• Memory: 1GB of RAM
• Display: 5″ 720p IPS LCD
• Storage: 16GB internal and up to 64GB microSD
• Camera: 13MP rear and 8MP front, both with LED flash
• Battery: 2,200mAh (non-removable)
• Connectivity: 4G LTE CAT 4 (bands: B2/4/5/7/17), HSPA+, GSM bands: 850/900/1800/1900Mhz
• Software: Android 5.1 (Lollipop)

Despite the premium exterior, the specs bring us back to the reality that we’re looking at a budget smartphone. The quad-core MediaTek MT6735P processor is capable enough, but 1GB of RAM is just too low these days. To me, that’s the biggest letdown of this phone, and it shows in the performance.

While the Spark can be snappy, occasionally, there are delays in operations (i.e. opening/switching apps). Don’t get me wrong, it’s in no way an unusable experience. But I feel like an extra gig of RAM could’ve gone a long way. You don’t want the user to look at their buddy’s phone and notice that it doesn’t hang as much.

On the storage side of things, I’m glad that there’s 16GB and not 8GB. And you can bump that up by 64GB with a microSD card. The SIM tray that you eject from the side nicely accepts two cards, from either side. You can either tack on a microSD card or a second SIM card.

Considering the size and price of the Spark, a 2,200mAh capacity battery is in the ballpark that I’d expect. It performed modestly in my experience, but don’t expect superb battery life. It should get the job done (get you through the day) unless you’re a heavier user.

Available internal storage out of the box.

Battery drain throughout a day of use and idle while sleeping (long slope at the end).

Display

I was satisfied with the Maverick’s display when I reviewed it. I appreciated that verykool was using a competent IPS LCD screen; I’ve seen some terrible displays on budget phones. Fortunately, the Spark shares the same sentiment.

Its 5″ screen shows decent colors and good viewing angles. It can also get sufficiently bright to view outside. No, it won’t compete with more brilliant displays from top-end manufacturers, but its definitely great for the price. Some may scoff at the 720p resolution, but I think it’s sufficient on a 5″ panel (~ 294 ppi).

Camera

The Spark packs 13MP rear sensor. On the surface, that sounds great, but we have to be mindful that it’s not all about megapixels. Its f/2.2 aperture lens and 1.12µm pixel size implies modest performance. On the front, we also have a high megapixel 8MP shooter.

Verykool’s camera interface works sufficiently. The capture speed is average, which is fine with me; I’ve seen some slow cameras even from pricier smartphones. The buttons are laid out intuitively. Along the top you have toggles for HDR, flash, and camera switching between the back and front. There’s also a shutter activating gesture (peace sign with your hand) that you can toggle.

You’ll also see various modes along the left. Some of these are recognizable, like panorama and face effects, but others are verykool’s own specialty. Live Photo Mode is a gif-like capture (or moving set of pics), Motion Track Mode keeps an object focused during movement, and Multi-angle View Mode lets you capture angles of a subject and slide about it.

My only gripe with the software is the shutter button. I complained on my Maverick review that you have to hit the shutter button dead center or it won’t take, leading to frequent misses. Unfortunately, it’s the same on the Spark. But you can capture with the volume buttons to sidestep the virtual button.

Camera Samples

The reproduction is just OK, to my eyes. It’s not hard for dynamic ranges to get the best of the camera and blow out the lighting. HDR only helps a little bit. Also, the images are too fuzzy for a 13MP camera. You can pull off some decent shots in good lightning conditions, but if you look closely, they’ll all have noticeable blur.

Software

It’s a good thing that verykool keeps the custom software to a minimum. You won’t get a completely stock Android experience, but very close. Verykool throws in some of its own apps (i.e. gallery, browser, calendar). I do wish manufacturers would not bother with that and just use Google’s solutions. It’s a wasted effort. Verykool also includes its own app with additional features, if you like that kind of thing.

We’re looking at an Android 5.1 build (Lollipop), so it’s not the most current, but acceptable. The software doesn’t use Google’s launcher, so while you’ll get Material Design’s look, the animations/transitions aren’t all there (i.e. the pop up app drawer. Though, folders do pop up the stock way).

Final Thoughts

I think that the Spark LTE is a great evolution for verykool. It’s fortunate that I got to try the Maverick, because I can see how the brand is progressing. It’s doing a great job refining those rough edges and increasing value.

Although, there’s still more work to do. My biggest gripe with the meager 1GB of RAM. That must change. The camera performance also has plenty of room for improvement. While other aspects of the phone are aggressively closing the gap between pricier phones, the camera is still significantly behind.

But with all that said, the fact is that the Spark LTE runs at only $179 retail, and that’s a bangin’ value. You get a lot of phone for that price.

Verykool Spark LTE SL5011 product page