It’s like dialing in the future, since we now have virtual studios that fit in our pockets.
That is the special thing about smart phones today, particularly the Vivo 27 — #TheAuraPortraitMaster. When I carried it in my bag, I was confident that I had what I needed should a special moment arise.
I was immediately drawn to the cool emerald-green Vivo 27 with its 7.7mm ultra-slim and flat frame with a fluid design. As I lifted the phone from the box, I was pleasantly surprised how light it was.
It’s time get the Vivo 27 charged and SIM loaded to see if the phone was more than just a snazzy looker. We all know how some phones look great aesthetically but are lacking in terms of performance, while others look ordinary yet outperform the competition.
I was in for a surprise because the Vivo V27 5G is a combination of good looks, superb performance and more.
Got the look
The Vivo V27 5G is built with a pinhole camera at the top and a large 6.78-inch curved screen. But when you flip the phone over you are greeted by a cool-to-the-eye, light-green hue with a marble-like design. The color and camera give the Vivo 27 a premium feel and look.
I was impressed with the marble-like surface because it seemed like the phone was capable of changing colors depending on the angle. The V27 5G comes with a color-shift back panel.
The phone feels nice in the hand with remarkably accessible buttons and is not flimsy, nor does it feel like it could slide off the hand easily. Also, I liked that I could practically handle the V27 with one hand when I needed to send a message or snap a photo at a moment’s notice.
Go ahead, shoot
One of the Vivo V27 5G’s strong suits is the cameras — and it’s got a lot. There is the triple rear camera with a 50MP main that uses a Sony IMX766V sensor. I was impressed with the 8MP Wide Angle and a 2MP Macro. I am no camera expert, but I do appreciate a cell phone with a camera that makes it fun and easy to configure, and the Vivo 27 is definitely one. I was able to capture the much-needed images in all kinds of scenarios.
Lighting conditions were not a problem as the camera of the Vivo 27 adjusts in a snap. When it was a bit too dark, there is a Super Night mode and an Aura Light that doubles as the flash, too. I like that the flash of the camera did not “blind” my subjects so that blinking during a photo-shoot was avoided. Depending on the mood of the image you want, you can adapt the camera settings to your liking.
I think that the Vivo V27 5G takes images best in portrait mode; the reason Vivo Philippines calls it the “Portrait Master.” With the help of Aura Light, the images look similar to being taken in a studio. The Aura Light system allowed me to take really great portrait images. The front camera is great too, especially when taking selfies. Although, I am not a selfie sort of person.
As for the video, the V27 5G can shoot at a maximum of 4K@30FPS for the front and rear cameras. This makes it perfect if you want to create some cinematic footage or content. The downside is that you can’t fully utilize the EIS+OIS when shooting in 4K. If you do, it automatically bumps the video quality down to 1080P.
The Vivo V27 5G features a 6.78-inch display with 2400×1080 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. The colors look great without needing to tweak them in the settings. The blacks are deep, and the colors are very vivid but not too saturated that they don’t look natural. You can tweak this in the settings though if you want more saturated colors instead of a flat, natural output.
Paired with the 120Hz refresh rate, this makes watching videos and playing games on the V27 5G very enjoyable. There are no lags too, whether it’s quickly swiping through social media, watching videos, or playing games. However, the loudspeaker is a bit disappointing. It’s not that loud and you can easily cover it with your finger when playing games or watching videos. That said, it’s best to use the phone with a headset.
Safety always
The biometric options available to keep your V27 5G safe and secure are many and easy to locate. There is a face-detection feature using the selfie-camera, an under-display fingerprint scanner, alongside the usual authentication options (pattern, password or PIN).
The Vivo V27 5G is a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 with 12GB RAM + 8GB Extended RAM. This makes it very capable of running most games on Medium settings in addition to handling most day-to-day activities.
The time is nigh
The last three years have taught me the importance of staying in touch, through technology, and taking all-important photos. Vivo has developed a device that does just that. And, with these gadgets becoming more and more expensive, the brand manages to find a balance between pricing, style, and performance with its V27 5G.
I like the Vivo 27 because it made me look like a truly professional photographer even if I’m not. But, yes, it has everything I want and more — ideal for individuals, who like Hamilton, don’t ever want to throw away their shot.