Vivo V27 Pro Review: Many Ifs and Buts

Vivo V27 Pro primary camera samples (tap to see full size)

The ultra-wide camera gets the colours right but tends to boost the greens and blues in images. The dynamic range performance is not as good as the main camera. While the software does try to fix the distorted edges, they are still noticeable. The 2-megapixel macro sensor offers average shots and if you have shaky hands, you might struggle to get the focus right.

Vivo V27 Pro ultra-wide camera sample (tap to see full size)

The front camera’s performance is what many people might like. It gets the skin tones right mostly but regardless of you disabling the beautification toggle, there is a layer of skin smoothening happening in almost all images. When I say the images are likeable, it is because the photos in portrait mode offer good blur and the edge cutout is also on point in most cases.  The dynamic range of the front camera too is pretty impressive.

Vivo V27 Pro front camera samples (tap to see full size)

In terms of video, the Vivo V27 Pro can capture up to 4K 60fps using the main rear and front cameras. The ultra-wide camera can record 1080 30fps videos. The main camera, with the help of optical image stabilisation (OIS) and electronic image stabilisation (EIS), tries to remove any visible shake but there is a slight crop in the focal length. The overall performance of the main and front cameras for videos is quite good. You get enough details with good sharpness, good contrast and dynamic range. 

Verdict

If you have come this far, you already know that the Vivo V27 Pro would be a good choice for those who want a phone with an excellent in-hand feel. The colour-changing trick is subjective but its novelty might wear off soon. The camera performance, especially the front camera, is also quite good for the price.

The Vivo V27 Pro does not disappoint when it comes to performance. However, it tends to feel warm quickly due to its slim form factor. While the display by itself offers a good experience and supports HDR10+, popular video streaming apps couldn’t detect the latter feature which I felt was a letdown. What’s an even bigger bummer is a single speaker setup in a phone at this price. There seems to be many ifs and buts with the V27 Pro, which is a little disappointing. 

Plus, the competition offers better hardware for the price. Vivo’s own sub-brand iQoo offers better value when it comes to performance with the iQoo Neo 7 5G (Review). The OnePlus 11R 5G (Review) offers a better display, good main camera, and a bigger battery with faster charging. 

The Vivo V27 Pro gets maximum points for its design and camera performance, and If you are someone who needs exactly that while not caring much about the rest, it could be a good option for you.