Vivo V23 Pro 5G | India’s First Background Color Changing Phone

Introduction :

We're just days away from 2022, and vivo is already on the rise with its announcements. Most notably, on January 5th, the vivo V23 5G and V23 Pro were introduced, as well as the long-awaited iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro. Of course, being an exciting flagship duo, the latter two attracted the most attention. However, the two new additions to the V23 family are just as interesting, if not more so, as solid midrangers with sleek designs and a few quirky tricks to make them stand out. While we plan to put both phones through our in-depth review process, we'll start with the V23 Pro, which our stats seem to be the more interesting phone of the two. It's slightly larger than its sibling, has a more powerful Dimensity 1200 5G chipset and a higher-resolution main camera. That being said, V23 Pro and V23 are surprisingly similar in terms of specs.

ViVo V23 Pro specs at a glance:

· Body: 159.5x73.3x7.4mm, 171g; Glass front (Schott Xensation α), glass back.

Display: 6.56" AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+, 1080x2376px resolution, 19.8:9 aspect ratio, 398ppi.

Chipset: MediaTek MT6893 Dimensity 1200 5G (6 nm): Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G77 MC9.

Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM.

OS/Software: Android 12, Funtouch 12.

Rear camera: Wide (main): 108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm, 1/1.52", 0.7µm PDAF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120-degree, 16mm, 1/4.0", 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4.

Front camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/2.0, AF; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.3, 105-degree.

Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps.

Battery: 4300mAh; Fast charging 44W, 1-63% in 30 min (advertised).

Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); Color changing back panel when exposed to sunlight.

Specification of Vivo V23 Pro 5G:

NETWORK

Technology

GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G

LAUNCH	Announced	2022, January 05
LAUNCH	Status	Available. Released 2022, January 13

BODY	Dimensions	159.5 x 73.3 x 7.4 mm (6.28 x 2.89 x 0.29 in)
	Weight	171 g (6.03 oz)
	Build	Glass front (Schott Xensation α), glass back
	SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)

DISPLAY	Type	AMOLED, 90Hz, HDR10+
	Size	6.56 inches, 104.6 cm² (~89.5% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	1080 x 2376 pixels (~398 ppi density)
	Protection	Schott Xensation α glass

PLATFORM	OS	Android 12, Funtouch 12
	Chipset	MediaTek MT6893 Dimensity 1200 5G (6 nm)
	CPU	Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-A78 & 3x2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
	GPU	Mali-G77 MC9

MEMORY	Card slot	No
MEMORY	Internal	128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM

MAIN CAMERA	Triple	108 MP, f/1.9, 26mm (wide), 1/1.52", 0.7µm PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro)
	Features	Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
	Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS

SELFIE CAMERA	Dual	50 MP, f/2.0, (wide), AF 8 MP, f/2.3, 105˚ (ultrawide)
	Features	Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR
	Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps

SOUND	Loudspeaker	Yes
SOUND	3.5mm jack	No

COMMS	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
	Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
	GPS	Yes, with A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC
	NFC	No
	Radio	No
	USB	USB Type-C, USB On-The-Go

FEATURES	Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
FEATURES		Color changing back panel when exposed to sunlight

BATTERY	Type	Li-Po 4300 mAh, non-removable
BATTERY	Charging	Fast charging 44W, 1-63% in 30 min (advertised)

MISC	Colors	Sunshine Gold, Stardust Black
	Models	V2132
	SAR	1.22 W/kg (head) 0.63 W/kg (body)
	Price	About 460 EUR

TESTS	Performa nce	AnTuTu: 635060 (v8), 716766 (v9) GeekBench: 12377 (v4.4), 3021 (v5.1) GFXBench: 45fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)
	Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
	Camera	Photo / Video
	Loudspea ker	-28.6 LUFS (Average)
	Battery life	Endurance rating 110h

Interestingly, the two devices seem to have big differences, especially in design, while they are also very similar and different from most other phones. Vivo deserves much praise for this achievement alone. Both the V23 Pro and the V23 have a similar silhouette, including a recognizable camera island, although the V23 Pro has a larger, rather curved AMOLED display that also requires thinner, curved sides, while the Vanilla V23 has a much wider and larger middle frame, almost flat with a flat screen.

Then there is the additional “touch” that is also shared between the V23 Pro and the V23, which sets them apart from the crowd. Actually, it's twofold. First, there is the characteristic Sunshine Gold color variant. It has a special UV reactive dye that changes color noticeably when exposed to sunlight or other UV light. It combines the overall elegant design that Vivo has in front of you and literally offers a unique touch. On the other hand, both the V23 Pro and the V23 are clearly focused on videography, especially selfie vlogs. Both feature the same dual selfie setup with a 50 MP high-resolution autofocus camera with 4K video capture, as well as an 8 MP ultra-wide light and two dedicated selfie LED lights. When you put the two together, you get nothing less than a unique and distinctive middle ranger from 2022; in fact, Vivo somehow managed to create two “flavors” with essentially the same formula without removing them from either phone in an obvious way. An impressive material. Let's dive into the V23 Pro first to see if everything works as well as it seems on paper.

Unboxing and accessories

The Vivo V23 Pro comes in a thick and solid two-piece cardboard box. Vivo clearly did not skimp on packaging or accessories. The case not only offers great protection, complete with a solid plastic phone holder inside, but also looks striking with a dark blue aesthetic and a glossy coating on top. In the box, you will receive one of Vivo's 44W flash charging adapters and a USB Type-A to Type-C cable. You will also receive a complete accessory package, which includes a transparent TPU plastic case and a pair of beautiful vivo wired headphones, white, with microphone and in-line button, and essentially a 3.5mm jack. Insightful may notice that the V23 Pro does not have a 3.5mm jack. For this reason, Vivo also released a Type-C audio dongle up to 3.5mm in the box.

Design

The Vivo V23 Pro is an undeniably elegant device; Vivo has been betting on rather slim designs lately. At 7.4 mm, the V23 Pro is quite thin, and the curved screen and the thin, rear mid-frame make the phone look and feel even thinner. It's worth noting that the V23 Pro doesn't exactly fit securely in the hand due to its aggressively curved sides and relatively smooth frame with no sharp edges or chamfers. In fact, it's quite slippery. The included transparent TPU case effectively solves these handling problems, but you have to give up the special feel of the back. The panel is covered with fluorite AG glass and has a soft but gritty feel reminiscent of the back of the Oppo Reno6 Pro 5G dimension model. The VIVO logo is also embossed, which is a small elegant detail. While the finish on the back is likely to be polarizing, it should be widely appreciated that it is not easily greased or soiled.

Of course, we can not discuss the back of the V13 v23 Pro not to mention its "holiday trick" UV reactive paint work.Note that only the characteristic Sunshine Gold color is UV-reactive. This is also the unit we reviewed. The other Stardust Black variant still has the sand feel but doesn't change the colors, making it a little more understated overall.

Also there is a small detail to potentially consider the camera island on the Stardust Black, for some reason it's not treated with the same UV reactive paint as the rest of the back and it doesn't change of color, which may feel a little bit sometimes. Weird. Speaking of quirks, the color change itself can fall into this category. The "native" Sunshine Gold color is only truly golden in brighter, UV-free lighting. In a dark room with only natural light entering through a window (which filters out UV), the color is much "duller" and less vibrant, like a pale gray or silver, with greenish and bluish tones emerging, depending on how the light hits it. It's a pretty complex mix of shades, and that's also the case with UV light after the color has changed to what's mostly blue, but with some green and yellow showing up at times and depending on the angle. It's kind of meant to play with your mind and it does that very well.

The color change itself can take from less than a minute to a few minutes both to reach and exit from the blue UV state depending on the amount of UV light present. You can often end up with an intermediate change in certain environments, like a cloudy day, and never achieve the correct "blue" color. Of course, you can play around with the process a bit by just covering parts of the back panel as it changes. Unless you're in a controlled environment, don't bet on temporary "customization" that stays constant, like a logo stencil or the like. Also, be prepared to look at an unpleasant casual "art" design for a while after holding the phone while walking or away from the sun.

As long as we share random thoughts on UV reactive paint, we have to wonder how long the effect will last over time and if multiple change cycles or prolonged UV exposure could make a difference to the longevity of the effect one way or another. . Overall, though, it's a really cool party trick that also works really well thanks to the included TPU case, which is neat. And if you don't like it at all, you can always stick a solid case on the V23 Pro and forget it was ever a problem. Spending a moment on the front of the V23 Pro, the design is rather "modern", perhaps even a little overdone, not least because of the aggressive curvature of the screen. To be fair, however, the screen itself doesn't extend fully into the curvature and there are fairly wide bezels on all sides. Nothing distracting or disturbing, but still remarkably large. Much the same goes for the selfie notch. Although it houses two snappers, vivo has managed to keep it quite reasonable in size and it blends in well with the rest of the design.

Materials and Build Quality:

In terms of construction, the vivo V23 Pro uses a standard "sandwich" configuration, with a central bezel sandwiched between a glass rear panel and a curved display on the front. Feels sturdy and well made, with hardly any flex. 171 grams is actually a bit light for its size.

We think the V23 Pro's small midframe size contributes at least a little to its overall lightness. This and the fact that we've been most successful in saying this, it's actually not metal, but rather a polycarbonate. Vivo doesn't seem to openly admit this in its official specs, but it does specifically mention that the chassis of the vanilla vivo V23 is metal, which definitely suggests the V23 Pro isn't. There are also other clues here and there, as looking into the casing around the TypeC port reveals black material. The same goes for the SIM tray once ejected. In addition, the upper bezel of the V23 Pro has a particular groove with a glass or plastic insert and writing on it. I can only assume it's just there for looks, and fitting it to a metal frame would have taken a lot of effort.

Plastic or not, the midframe feels and looks great. It also brings out a metallic finish really well. It should be noted, however, that on our device, the finish was poor on the SIM tray for some reason and even had a few chips in the paint.

Vivo actually chose Schott as their supplier for the cover glass of the V23 Pro. You get Schott Xensation α glass on the front and Fluorite AG glass on the back. Schott may not be as famous as Corning in the space, but he is nonetheless a fairly reliable source for protective glass finishing. The Xensation α is actually its latest flagship that even claims to rival Corning's Gorilla Glass Victus. This is a step up from the Xensation Up used in the vanilla vivo V23 as well as the vivo X60 Pro and X70 Pro. An unfortunate omission on the V23 Pro is any degree of formal ingress protection. Not even the basic IP53. There is a visible rubber seal on the SIM card tray, for what it's worth.

Controls:

The vivo V23 Pro has a quite truthful manage scheme. You get a strength button and a extent rocker at the proper aspect in phrases of bodily buttons. These are properly placed and clean to experience out of however are a piece comfortable and do not provide pleasant tactile feedback. They are nonetheless usable however will be lots better.
The V23 Pro has an optical under-show fingerprint reader. It is pretty snappy and reliable. We haven't any lawsuits approximately it.
The left body at the V23 Pro is absolutely empty, and the pinnacle body simply homes a unmarried hollow for the secondary microphone. It is positioned in the plastic or glass insert at the pinnacle body, which we stated earlier. It's now no longer an accessory you spot too often.
The backside of the V23 Pro homes its twin Nano-SIM card slot. It lacks a microSD card slot, that is a piece of a bummer.
Speaking of bummers, there may be only a unmarried backside-firing speaker at the V23 Pro. No stereo setup, now no longer even a hybrid one. There isn't anyt any 3.5mm audio jack either. And on the grounds that we're at the topic - no FM radio or NFC either. The Type-C port is stressed for USB 2.zero statistics speeds however does guide OTG.
In case you had been wondering, there may be no notification LED at the V23 Pro, despite the fact that there may be lots of area withinside the double-huge selfie notch. That's form of the anticipated scenario with present day phones, though. vivo nonetheless determined to match a right proximity sensor and a mild sensor someplace in there, each of which might be liked in place of digital alternatives.
We do nonetheless just like the manner the earpiece is smartly hidden away above the selfie cameras and simply has a tiny little slit for sound to return back through. Of course, we should not neglect about to say the 2 twin-tone LED "torches" for selfies, additionally hidden away close to the pinnacle left and proper edges. These are invisible at the same time as became off as properly.

Competition:

While fair, arguably, that MSRP is a chunk excessive for a number of the gadgets the V23 Pro goes up against. Fresh off of Xiaomi's ever-churning phone machine, the Xiaomi 11i and 11i HyperCharge immediately spring to mind. These are actually going international, despite the fact that they're now no longer completely new, however as an alternative renamed Redmi Note eleven Pro+ and Redmi Note eleven Pro, to be had in China in view that October 2021. The desire among the 2 actually comes right all the way down to a desire among quicker 120W charging or a larger five,a hundred and sixty mAh battery, with a "mere" 67W charging. The latter is the smooth desire for us, personally. Either way, for simply over EUR 300, you get, amongst different things, Gorilla Glass five and an IP53 rating, a 120Hz AMOLED show and stereo speakers. That is on pinnacle of an in any other case very comparable set of middle specifications to the vivo V23 Pro. Well, minus the selfie digital digicam prowess.

If those are not possible in which you live, the Redmi Note 10 Pro remains an super desire that definitely gives a simply comparable normal specifications sheet. You could, perhaps, get it for below EUR three hundred as well.

Speaking of a great deal, you may additionally select out up a Poco F3 for across the identical price. Its Snapdragon 870 chipset is a tremendous desire for individuals who do not always area an excessive amount of price at the digital digicam revel in and could instead get as a lot uncooked electricity as viable for the money.

If you experience snug spending a chunk more, in the direction of the $590/€520 MSRP of the higher-give up V23 Pro, the Realme GT2 looks as if a tremendous option. Perhaps even the Realme GT2 Pro, aleven though that one is probably a chunk of a stretch for the budget. The simple GT2 nonetheless gives a few super specifications like a 120HZ AMOLED, stereo speakers, a Snapdragon 888 5G chipset and a 50MP, OIS-enabled essential digital digicam.

Verdict:

The vivo V23 Pro is a piece of an unusual tool on the subject of a very last verdict. On the floor of it, its MSRP does appear a piece excessive for what it offers, making a few omissions, like legit ingress safety and OIS, to call only a couple, stick out that a good deal more. As we mentioned withinside the preceding section, you could without difficulty get a higher overall "value", well-rounded mid-variety tool for the equal rate or less.

Like we said, while you positioned all of this together, you emerge as with a without a doubt precise device, pretty in contrast to maximum of its competitors. If this unique blend of capabilities sounds attractive to you, then you could relaxation confident that the vivo V23 Pro is likewise well-rounded in maximum different components and could supply an extremely good experience.

However, in case you do not always prioritize selfies, you could probable locate higher price gadgets elsewhere.

Pros

Very thin, light and modern design. UV-sensitive back panel is a nice party trick.
The 90Hz, HDR10+ display has solid performance.
Excellent battery life and very fast 44W charging.
Funtouch OS 12 now with Android 12 underneath offers great performance and customization.
Above average performance from the Dimensity 1200 5G chipset.
Solid all-around performance from the 108MP main camera and truly great selfie and video experience from the 50MP selfie.
The two dual-tone selfie LED "spotlights" are excellent in practice.
A truly great blogging experience.

Cons

Plastic middle frame, though quite sturdy. No ingress protection.
No SD card slot, no 3.5mm audio jack, no NFC.
Poor automatic refresh rate switching and underwhelming color accuracy.
Just a single, underwhelming bottom-firing speaker.
Both the back and front ultra-wide cameras are a bit inconsistent and lag behind the other cameras.

Disclaimer:- We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.