Vivo recently announced a new smartphone in its V series called the Vivo V40. It’s a slightly tweaked version of the Chinese Vivo S19 smartphone which launched back in May 2024. The Vivo V40 is currently available in the EU region, however, certifications like the Bureau of Indian Standards indicated that the device is headed for the Indian market as well. So is this device worth the wait?
1. Camera is its main strength
The Vivo V series smartphones are in the same premium-midrange boat as the Oppo Reno series. As such, it has a good balance of features, however, the brand has paid special attention to the cameras of the V40, offering a ZEISS optics 50 MP primary camera with f/1.88 aperture, optical image stabilization, and 84° field of view. It is paired with another 50 MP ultra-wide sensor that has ZEISS lenses and Autofocus support. It has an aperture of f/2.0 and a field of view of 119°. The front camera is equally as impressive, featuring a 50 MP Autofocus Group Selfie Camera with f/2.0 aperture and a field of view of 92°.
In terms of video capabilities, the rear camera is capable of recording in up to 4K 30FPS, with gyro-EIS stabilization. The front camera can also record videos in up to K4 30FPS.
2. Hardware choice is a bit puzzling
The V40 uses a Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, which is also present in its predecessor, the Vivo V30. The processor, launched in November 2023, offers decent performance. However, Vivo has chosen to use LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 storage in the device. This RAM and storage combination is usually seen in more affordable devices, so it is unclear why Vivo hasn’t upgraded to more advanced options to better match its competitors in the premium mid-range segment.
All that said, users should expect the V40 to perform almost identically to the V30 since it also uses LPDDR4X RAM and UFS 2.2 combined with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor.
3. Display & design
The design of this device is one of its strong points as it features a sleek 7.58mm thick body, weighing just 190 grams. All of its edges are rounded, and the back is made of glass with two attractive matte finishes called Stellar Silver and Nebula Purple. The device is also IP68 water resistant, meaning it can survive a plunge into 1.5-meter-deep waters.
On the front, it has a 6.78-inch 1.5K (2800×1260 pixels) Curved AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and support for HDR10+ with a peak brightness of 4500 nits. The display also houses a fingerprint sensor for biometric unlocking.
4. Large battery with respectable fast charging
The smartphone features a large 5,500mAh battery with 80W wired fast charging. While this isn’t the fastest option available, it can fully charge the device in about 48 minutes. Notably, the device supports USB-PD charging instead of proprietary fast charging technology, allowing you to use any PD charger that supports at least 80W to fast charge the V40.
5. Final thoughts
The Vivo V40 is an attractive smartphone with good cameras, especially the front sensor, which is great for group selfies. In terms of performance, it is capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly. It can also be used for casual gaming, though it may not run heavy games at high frame rates. If you’re looking for a device to take nice photos and selfies, the Vivo V40 is worth considering.
Additionally, the Vivo V30, which was launched in March, is quite similar to the V40. If the release of the V40 leads to a price drop for the V30, it could be a good option to save some money.
Currently, there is no official word on when we can expect the Vivo V40 to land in India, however, chatter around the internet suggests that the brand could unveil it later this month or in August.
