vivo V25 Pro—A new attractive flagship-like handset in PH, here's why:

Innovative global smartphone maker vivo recently introduced its new V25 Series in the Philippines. It includes the V25e, V25, and V25 Pro.

Meet vivo V25 Pro

What we have today is the top-of-the-line V25 series phone of the year, the vivo V25 Pro.

On paper, this device is boasting the highest specs and the most impressive set of features we've seen from a V-series device.

To recap, the device features a high-end-looking 3D curved glass back, a 6.56-inch 3D curved FHD+ AMOLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, In-Display fingerprint sensor, a 3.0GHz 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 1300 octa-core processor with Mali-G77 MC9 GPU, 12GB LPDDR4X RAM, Extended RAM 3.0 tech with up to 8GB additional RAM (total of 20GB Dynamic RAM), 256GB UFS 3.1 internal storage, larger 4,830mAh battery with faster 66W FlashCharge tech, and a 64MP f/1.89 main cam w/ OIS + 8MP f/2.25 105-degree ultra-wide-angle + 2MP f/2.4 macro cam + dual-tone LED flash.

Priced at PHP 29,999, for us, it is also one of the most attractive V25 Series smartphones for the price. Here's why.

A new attractive flagship-like handset in PH, here's why: 

The back cameras of the phone

1. A "Night Vision" device - vivo is calling the V25 Series the "Night Portrait Master" and the V25 Pro as a capable "Night Vision" device due to its strong main camera and front camera hardware along with its software tricks and optimizations.

Selfie cam UI

At the back, it is using a 64MP OIS Ultra-Sensing camera with f/1.89 aperture size and PDAF focus.

Crisp daylight shot

Natural blur effect

This main camera is capable of taking crisp images in nearly all lighting conditions including low light.

Different Portrait blur effects

Indoor close-up

Impressive images even in the dark

Another night shot

Look at those details

It also has plenty of useful modes like the advanced AI-assisted Portrait mode with different filters, bokeh effect, and adjustable level of a blur as well as the company's own Super Night Algorithm + Real-Time Extreme Night Vision allowing it to take colorful, detailed, yet still "true-to-life" low light images.

The images we took above showed how capable it is of taking images with less noise and plenty of colors even in conditions with minimal lighting. So, do we think that this could be considered a "Night Vision" camera phone? The answer is yes.

Ultra-wide daylight

Low light ultra-wide

The main shooter is paired with an 8MP f/2.25 ultra-wide-angle shooter with Night mode (pretty decent and versatile).

Top-center punch-hole

For selfies, it is using a 32MP f/2.45 shooter with Eye AF ensuring crisp selfies always. This even has the Multi-Style Portrait (Motion Blur) mode for artistic-looking self-portraits.

Without and with Portrait mode

In a harsh lighting condition

For shooting videos, it even has an adjustable Bokeh Portrait Video, Video HDR, and Time-Lapse. Since it has OIS, even its 4K 30fps video mode has support for standard stabilization.

Look at that design

2. Beautiful and functional construction - This device is also the first V series handset we've seen featuring a 3D curved sandwich design.

At the back, it is using a curved Flourite AG texture back with Photochromic 2.0 color-changing technology that is resistant to drops, scratches, and sweat. It also has a rectangular-shaped camera hump that is not that thick and the frame has a nice-to-hold glossy curved finish.

The V25 Pro is available in Starlight Black (inspired by the starry night) and Surfing Blue version that changes from Blue or Blue-Green (clear sky to the deep sea) once UV or direct sunlight hits it.

Smooth and immersive screen

In front, it is also using a 3D curved material—the 6.56-inch 3D curved AMOLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+, FHD+ 2376 x 1080 resolution at 398 ppi.

This display has tiny bezels on all corners and an In-Display fingerprint reader on the bottom part of the screen. It is also the first vivo V series smartphone with a top-center punch-hole for the selfie camera.

This makes it one of the most immersive-looking displays allowing its users to enjoy the viewing experience better.

Oh, by the way, the AMOLED screen that it uses is good.  The colors are great, the blacks are deep, and it looks pretty smooth overall due to its high refresh rate.

Over 600K!

3. Fast future-proof performance - Inside, this device is powered by MediaTek's 3.0GHz 6nm Dimensity 1300 octa-core processor with Mali-G77 MC9. This is a speedy processor with the power of 2020 high-end smartphones. To keep it short, even in 2022, this is considered fast, especially at this price point.

This makes this chip good for running a lot of apps and games and games smoothly

In addition, it is fabbed under the 6nm manufacturing process making it a power-efficient chip. Moreover, it has a six-core APU for faster AI performance, MediaTek Imagiq Camera for AI camera enhancements, and multi-mode 5G connectivity.

Its 5G connectivity makes it a now and future-ready device allowing its users to enjoy fast mobile data speeds in areas supporting the said new connectivity standard.

20GB Dynamic RAM

4. Massive memory - To aid its powerful chip better, vivo ensured that the handset has a large memory configuration. In particular, it goes with a large 12GB of fast LPDDR4X RAM, the same amount of RAM found in most high-end smartphones. This also has up to 8GB of Extended RAM from its 256GB UFS 3.1 storage bringing its total RAM count to 20GB.

vivo notes that this RAM size is more than enough to keep the overall performance of the phone smooth even if you have plenty of apps running in the background.

As mentioned earlier, like other V25 Series smartphones, the V25 Pro also has 256GB of storage that you can use to store thousands of photos, a lot of apps, several games, and other files.

USB-C charging, single speaker

5. Other features - Making the new premium vivo phone even more impressive are its use of the 4,830mAh battery than can last for an entire day of use, 66W FlashCharge with safe and smart 24-Dimension Security protection (around 50 mins charging time from 0 to 100 percent), a loud single down-firing speaker with Immersive Audio System, Hi-Res Audio for your favorite wired earphones/headphones, linear motor to make gaming more immersive, and the Bionic Cooling System to keep its performance in check.

This device run with the FuntouchOS 12 out of the box that is based on the Android 12 operating system. FuntouchOS 12 is one of the more stable Android skins around that is very easy to use and has plenty of useful functions designed to make your smartphone experience easier.

vivo V25 Pro 5G Specs

Display: 6.56-inch 3D curved AMOLED screen w/ 120Hz refresh rate, 300Hz touch sampling rate, HDR10+, FHD+ 2376 x 1080 resolution at 398 ppi

CPU: 3.0GHz 6nm MediaTek Dimensity 1300 octa-core processor

GPU: Mali-G77 MC9

RAM: 12GB LPDDR4X

ROM: 256GB UFS 3.1

Back Camera: 64MP f/1.89 w/ PDAF, OIS + 8MP f/2.25 105-degree ultra-wide-angle + 2MP f/2.4 macro + dual-tone LED flash

Selfie Camera: 32MP f/2.45 w/ Eye AF

Battery: 4,830mAh w/ 66W FlashCharge

OS: Android 12 w/ FuntouchOS 12

Connectivity: WiFi 6, 5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC, dual SIM (hybrid)

Sensors: Accelerometer, light, orientation, proximity, gyroscope, sound, magnetic

Others: In-Display fingerprint sensor, drop, scratch, sweat resistance, Hi-Res Audio, dual mic, Bionic Cooling System, linear motor, USB-C, Colors: Starlight Black, Surfing Blue

Dimensions: 158.9 x 73.52 x 8.62 mm

Weight: 190 g

Price: PHP 29,999

Quick thoughts

Everything inside the box

In general, the new vivo V25 Pro is one of the more exciting new phones this late 2022 with several flagship-like features for the price.

At just PHP 29,999, the device gives its users a beautiful-looking 3D curved sandwich style with color-changing Photochromic 2.0 technology, fast 6nm MTK Dimensity 1300 chip, up to 20GB of total RAM, 256GB large storage, big battery capacity with fast charging, and a pretty good overall camera system that is great for content creation.

For us, this is one of the must-consider sleek-looking phones with good general specs and actual performance with good cameras.

Anyway, in case you are interested, the vivo V25 Pro is priced at PHP 29,999 in the Philippines.

Pinoys can order the V25 and its entire series via the vivo website, Shopee, and Lazada online. You can also order the device from stores and kiosks nationwide.

Until supplies last, the device will come with a FREE SIM card, Havit 113A, and a clock speaker as well.

What do you guys think?