By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
TechgoonduTechgoonduTechgoondu
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
    • Software
    • Cybersecurity
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
    • Cellphones
    • Tablets
  • PC
  • Telecom
Search
© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Goondu review: Vivo V21 wins some, loses some
Share
Font ResizerAa
TechgoonduTechgoondu
Font ResizerAa
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
  • PC
  • Telecom
Search
  • Audio-visual
  • Enterprise
    • Software
    • Cybersecurity
  • Gaming
  • Imaging
  • Internet
  • Media
  • Mobile
    • Cellphones
    • Tablets
  • PC
  • Telecom
Follow US
© 2023 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Techgoondu > Blog > Mobile > Cellphones > Goondu review: Vivo V21 wins some, loses some
CellphonesMobile

Goondu review: Vivo V21 wins some, loses some

Wilson Wong
Last updated: July 29, 2021 at 11:52 AM
Wilson Wong
Published: July 29, 2021
5 Min Read
  • The vivo V21. PHOTO: Handout

The Vivo V21 is one of the lightest and thinnest smartphones around, weighing in at just 176g and with a girth of only 7.29mm.

It looks good too, aiming at the fashion-conscious crowd with an attractive glass back. Sporting the Sunset Dazzle finish with a purplish hue or Dusk Blue, this isn’t another boring slab.

The V21 will also appeal to content creators who need a better front-facing camera. With a 44-megapixel camera that can capture 4K videos in low-light situations, the new Vivo phone can is more flexible with its higher image quality.

  • The V21 is slim and light. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

There is also a dual-video mode that can simultaneously capture video footage from both the front-facing and back-facing cameras. This means viewers can see both the presenter’s face and what he’s shooting.

The main camera at the back comes with a 64-megapixel camera and is matched with both 8-megapixel ultrawide-angle and 2megapixel macro cameras.

On paper, it seems like the V21 has covered most bases but the pixel count is on the low side, especially for those who love to take landscapes.

The good news is that the images from the V21 are quite good. Colours from my food shots are well saturated without being fake looking. Close-up shots of my Gundam model in low-light are also acceptable. Good, even.

  • The pepper and cheese look well saturated. PHOTO: Wilson Wong
  • Shooting short distances with the smartphone is easily done by selecting Super Macro in the Photo Mode. PHOTO: Wilson Wong
The phone has posing guides to help you get that perfect selfie. PHOTO: Wilson Wong
Dual-view video capture. VIDEO: Wilson Wong

Skin tones are pleasant to the eye and beautification effects are quite natural. There are even posing guides to help you get that perfect shot!

What about the display? The V21’s 6.44-inch Full HD+ AMOLED screen runs at a refresh rate of 90Hz.

This means it is sharp when you’re reading text messages. Plus, there is very little ghosting as I scroll through a webpage or swiping between the phone’s home pages.

That said, the colour temperature is a bit too cool for my taste. I have to tweak the screen using the Professional profile and add a bit more warmth to make it more comfortable to use.

My main gripe with the V21 is the use of MediaTek’s Dimensity 800U chip. I ran some synthetic tests on the smartphone and the scores which indicate its performance were a bit underwhelming

For the record, the V21 got a score of 8,063 for PCMark-Work 3.0, 1,605 for 3DMark-Wild Life and 504/1,544 (single/multi-core) for Geekbench 5.

PC Mark3DMark Wild LifeGeekbench 5
Single / Multi-core
Vivo V21
(Dimensity 800U)
8,0641,605504/1,544
Oppo Reno5 Pro
(Dimensity 1000+)
7,7712,214712/2,863
Huawei Mate 30 Pro
(Kirin 990)
9,0303,292754/2,693
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro
(Snapdragon 865)
10,2163,757879/3,230
Synthetic tests comparison

On the flip side, Vivo has paired the chip with 8GB of RAM so that it can pick up the slack for the slower processor. In reality, the phone performs well enough for me for video and image editing while on the move.

Costing S$599, the V21 is aimed at those looking for a good mid-range phone that won’t slow them down. However, its Mediatek processor isn’t the fastest.

Plus, the Vivo phone only has 128GB of storage onboard, which may not be enough if you are into photography and videography.

  • You can pop in an additional microSD card into the Vivo phone. PHOTO: Wilson Wong

Yes, you can upgrade that by popping in a separate memory card but don’t forget the additional cost (a budget 128GB microSD card can cost you between S$20 and S$40).

As a result, the V21 faces tough competition from similarly priced mid-range rivals. It’s also harder to convince consumers to go with it.

The OnePlus Nord CE 5G, for example, comes with a preferred Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for S$21 more (at S$620) on online shops.

Starfield review: Slow paced adventures in space
Goondu review: Jabra Rox Wireless
Asus XG-U2008 switch lets you hook up to 10Gbps at home
Hands-on: LG Optimus One
Hands on: Fiio X1
TAGGED:reviewSingapore price and availabilityV21Vivo

Sign up for the TG newsletter

Never miss anything again. Get the latest news and analysis in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Copy Link Print
ByWilson Wong
Follow:
Wilson is a self-taught photographer whose passion started with his father’s old Canon L Rangefinder camera. He now leads the 12,000+ strong Singapore Photography & Imaging Network group. His photos have won acclaim from Nikon and Fujifilm, and are featured in various books and exhibitions.
Previous Article The Wi-Fi 6E regulatory compliance test challenge
Next Article Goondu review: Sony Alpha ZV-E10
Leave a Comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow

Latest News

In search of fairer deal for content creators, Cloudflare blocks AI scrapers
Internet Media
July 3, 2025
Samsung The Frame Pro (2025) review: Appealing design, excellent images
Audio-visual
July 1, 2025
AWS opens Asia-Pacific innovation hub in Singapore
Enterprise
June 30, 2025
Red Hat pitches open-source software for more efficient AI inference
Enterprise Software
June 27, 2025

Techgoondu.com is published by Goondu Media Pte Ltd, a company registered and based in Singapore.

.

Started in June 2008 by technology journalists and ex-journalists in Singapore who share a common love for all things geeky and digital, the site now includes segments on personal computing, enterprise IT and Internet culture.

banner banner
Everyday DIY
PC needs fixing? Get your hands on with the latest tech tips
READ ON
banner banner
Leaders Q&A
What tomorrow looks like to those at the leading edge today
FIND OUT
banner banner
Advertise with us
Discover unique access and impact with TG custom content
SHOW ME

 

 

POWERED BY READYSPACE
The Techgoondu website is powered by and managed by Readyspace Web Hosting.

TechgoonduTechgoondu
© 2024 Goondu Media Pte Ltd. All Rights Reserved | Privacy | Terms of Use | Advertise | About Us | Contact
Follow Us!
Never miss anything again. Get the latest news and analysis in your inbox.

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.
 

Loading Comments...
 

    Welcome Back!

    Sign in to your account

    Username or Email Address
    Password

    Lost your password?