Vivo Nex 3 review: Controversial flagship

In October last year, Vivo, whose smartphones we have already written about, introduced a new generation smartphone. If last time I talked about a strong middling, Vivo V17 Neo, this time I got the company’s flagship smartphone, Vivo Nex 3.

This is a costly, gorgeous, and very high-quality smartphone. And he fully deserves the title of the best. So it is or not – we’ll figure it out at the end, but for now, let’s move on to the characteristics.

Specifications Vivo Nex 3

• Dimensions and weight: 167.44 x 76.14 x 9.4 mm; 217 grams
• Case material: Schott Xensation UP glass and metal
• Display: 6.89 inches, 2256×1080 pixels, POLED Waterfall FullView; Always on
• Operating system: Android 9, shell Funtouch OS 9.1
• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus; 8 cores; up to 2.96 GHz
• Memory: 8 GB of RAM; 128 GB of internal storage
• Battery: 4500 mAh, 22.5 W adapter
• Main camera: 64 MP, f / 1.8; wide-angle 13 megapixels, f / 2.2; 13 MP telephoto lens, f / 2.48, 2X optical zoom
• Front-camera: 16 MP, f / 2.0
• Audio: audio chip Asahi Kasei Microdevices AK4377A; one speaker; 3.5mm jack
• Other: Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 5.0; NFC; two nano-sim.

Vivo Nex 3 appearance

One of the main features of the Vivo Nex 3 is its appearance. He’s very handsome. Moreover, this is not only a gradient and, if you like, slightly magical color “Shining Night,” but also a huge Waterfall FullView screen, which occupies 99% of the front panel area.

The color is, in fact, dark gray, but I like such solutions much more than the overly bright iridescent colors of smartphones from other manufacturers if you know what I mean.

6.9 inches, curved edges. Despite its large size and curvature, it is quite convenient to use. Perhaps because the phone is not wide. The problem with accidentally tapping the screen, like all smartphones with curved screens, is also inherent in the Nex 3.

More or less, everyone is used to high-quality and bright AMOLED screens, but here it is the size that stands out. On Nex 3, you want to watch movies, play games, even flip through the Instagram feed, and that’s more enjoyable. There are no notches and “bangs” on the top because the front camera is retractable, but more on that later.

Instead of a mechanical volume rocker and lock button, a technology akin to the Taptic Engine is built into the smartphone. At first, it was difficult to hit the button, which seems to be not, but I got used to it pretty quickly. By the way, unlike the iPhone (those older models with buttons), the side button works here even when the smartphone is turned off. Moreover, it recognizes a pressing force.

OS: Vivo Nex 3

In my previous review of the Vivo V17 Neo smartphone, I wrote that I liked the operating system and its optimization the most. But if it was a pleasant surprise in the middle peasant over $280, then here it seems self-evident.

Actually, the NEX 3 did not disappoint. Snapdragon 855 Plus is the most powerful mobile processor globally, so there are no problems with the smartphone.

Android 9 with the FunTouch shell is still similar to iOS.

This software’s disadvantage is a heap of services, applications, and widgets that must be removed immediately after activating the phone. Then the shell will not be loaded, and it will be much more pleasant for you to use.

Another plus of the shell, in addition to optimization, is that everything can be customized for yourself, from the shape of the icons and the setting of various gestures to how the screen will light up when notifications arrive.

We use gestures, nothing jams.

The smartphone has 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory. Surprisingly, there are simply no models with a lot of memory onboard. Actually, as there is no slot for a memory card, I would like to increase the memory to at least 256 GB with such a phone.

In Antutu, Vivo Nex 3 scores 470,000 points. He will pull all modern games. It will work without jams and subsidence. By the way, under heavy load, the smartphone heats up. Still, thanks to the evaporation chamber, this is not particularly felt – the heat is evenly distributed throughout the entire body, making it easier for the processor.

Camera

There are four cameras: main, wide-angle, telephoto, and retractable front camera.

The only difference is that the back cameras are in a circular module, not in a vertical or horizontal row. In this sense, the Vivo Nex 3 is similar to its rival Huawei Mate 30 Pro.

The main camera is 64 MP. The front camera is 16 MP. The only caveat is that 64 MP works only in the appropriate mode, which must be turned on manually. Many devices have this, but I still don’t understand why you can’t shoot at 64 MP right away. The user should reduce the quality of shooting. This is correct, but writing about 64 MP in releases and hiding them in a separate mode seems a little dishonest.

In general, Vivo Nex 3 shoots really well, but when shooting with a wide-angle camera (it is here, as expected), you need to consider the weather / light conditions.

The front camera tries to lighten the face too much, but if you adjust the exposure manually and turn off all the “beautifiers,” it turns out very well.

Yes, the front camera is retractable, and I have no definite answer, good or bad. On the one hand, thanks to this solution, the smartphone was made very beautiful. 99% of the screen area, you remember—no bangs or cutouts. But there are also disadvantages.

First, the retractable mechanism is not eternal. Secondly, it is still for a split second, but slower. Third, the face scanner only works if the camera is pulled out. However, it is known that the ideal scenario is when both the fingerprint scanner and face unlock work. Whoever works faster, that and “sneakers.”

Here, the face scanner will creep out only if unlocking by fingerprint does not work (and this happens).

Sample photos

See for yourself.

In the 64 MP mode, the quality of the photos is excellent. Actually, I almost always shot in it, even though I was enraged by the need to enable this mode separately.

The photo below is compressed. Without compression, it weighs 26 megabytes.

As I wrote above, it happens that the camera misses, especially in portrait and macro modes. In the first case, it artificially “boks” what is not needed. In the second, it misses the focus.

You have to understand that I am a little nitpicky because a plant, albeit in daylight, is a rather difficult artificial intelligence scenario.

Overall, Vivo Nex 3 takes great pictures. And in terms of quality, and color rendering, and speed of response.

More on Vivo Nex 3

Of course, this is Type-C.

There is only one speaker, but there is a 3.5mm output.

The company claims that the NEX 3 has an Asahi Kasei Microdevices AK4377A audio chip, which should provide high-quality hi-fi sound. But somehow I didn’t notice it)

Long summary about Vivo Nex 3

* This paragraph is purely my personal feelings, and you have the right to disagree with them. * (The author’s opinion may not coincide with the opinion of the editorial boarded.)

After studying the characteristics and using the smartphone, realizing that it has everything you need, the question arose in my head: “Isn’t this the best smartphone?” I want to say yes. But no.

When smartphones from different companies come to my review, I always try to introduce a potential buyer of the device. Vivo V17 Neo, which I once reviewed, is for a person who needs a good budget smartphone. iPhone – for pontorez those who want a fast smartphone with a good camera, and who like (or are used to) iOS. Samsung Galaxy is for all the same lovers of high-quality and powerful devices, but with Android on board.

Who is the Vivo Nex 3 for? Unclear.

Do you want an expensive and fast smartphone? The user will buy an iPhone or Samsung. Want an expensive and fast smartphone, but don’t want to support evil corporations? Okay, there is Xiaomi. Unfortunately or fortunately, the Vivo Nex 3 doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Around – a constantly changing market with a bunch of smartphones of different prices and different fillings.

I know that this is a bit obvious fact, but it so happened that now people (or at least me) are important not only what characteristics a smartphone has, but the company that makes it, its principles, its name is also important. Yes, Xiaomi fans say about me that I am a fan of stupidly overpaying for a brand. But even the company Xiaomi has earned a name for itself and became the heroine of memes (remembering “Xiaomi is the best again”). Respect and grateful users have earned themselves Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, even OnePlus.

But $600-$800 on Vivo is not approx. Paying $800 for the Vivo Nex 3 smartphone, which is very cool, fast, and beautiful, is a lot. Although, if you treat it as an expensive experiment …