Vivo V17 Review: Decent Smartphone

This is not the first time we have talked about smartphones from Vivo. The test was Vivo Nex 3 – an expensive flagship and Vivo V17 Neo – a good mid-range smartphone. Now let’s take a look at the Vivo V17. It may seem that because of the name, this is the progenitor of the Vivo V17 Neo. In reality, this is not the case.

Firstly, Vivo V17 came out later than Vivo V17 Neo (which, by the way, is not obvious). Secondly, despite the similarity in name, these smartphones are quite different. And not only in appearance.

You can also read: Vivo Y30 Review: Quad Camera Long-Liver

Specifications: Vivo V17

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, Adreno 610 graphics
• Operating system: Android 9 (Pie), shell Funtouch 9.2
• Memory: 8GB / 128GB, microSD combo slot up to 256GB
• Screen: 6.38 inches, Super AMOLED, 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5: 9 ratio, 404 ppi pixel density, 600 nits brightness
• Battery: Li-Po 4500 mAh, fast charging 18W
• Main camera:
  1. 48 MP, f / 1.8, (wide), 1 / 2.0;
  2. 8 MP, f / 2.2, 13mm (ultra wide angle), 1 / 4.0 “;
  3. 2 MP, f / 2.4 (macro camera), 1/5;
  4. 2 MP, f / 2.4, depth sensor;
  5. Video recording [email protected]
• Front camera: 32 MP, f / 2.0, 26mm (wide-angle), 1 / 2.8;
• Sim card: 2 Nano-SIM
• Network and data transmission: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.1, 2.4 GHz + 5.0 GHz, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C
• Sensors: fingerprint scanner (under the screen), accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass
• Other: there is a 3.5 mm jack, there is NFC
• Dimensions: 159.3 x 75.2 x 8.7 mm, weight 187 g

Optimizing: Vivo V17

Time goes by, and I also write about the optimization of Vivo smartphones. I still think that this is the main plus of all smartphones of this company. Almost everyone has learned how to install powerful processors, put cameras with 48 MP, and make a shell similar to iOS, but many have optimization and performance problems. But Vivo doesn’t.

The smartphone runs Android 9 (Pie) and has a Funtouch shell on top. The shell is installed on all Vivo smartphones. A well-known feature of the Funtouch 9 shell is the neighboring pre-installed services of Vivo and Google. For example, it is better to go not to the Play Market to download an application but to the V-AppStore. This is not to say that this confusion is straining, but one must bear in mind.

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.

Appearance: Vivo v17

I must admit that the smartphone is beautiful. If the model similar in name – Vivo V17 Neo – gives a little “Chinese chic,” everything is much better.

Our editorial team got a smartphone in color, “blue fog,” and it looks perfect. Not to say that we have never seen this, but the beauty is worth recognizing. Gradient, attention to detail, overflows – the smartphone’s appearance does not betray that it costs a little more than $270.

You pay special attention to the camera module. Firstly, there are four of them, and secondly, they are beautifully arranged in a diamond, reminiscent of Huawei’s Mate series smartphones.

Separately, I would like to note that the smartphone, although beautiful, is quite easily soiled. A light oleophobic coating saves a little, but you will have to put on a cover on the back cover. It’s good that it comes in the kit.

By the way, the set also includes headphones, a Type-C cable, and a fast-charging adapter.

Display: Vivo v17

Six-inch Super AMOLED screen, 19: 5 ratio, Full HD + resolution, and 404 PPI pixel density. I am glad that even on android smartphones of the middle price category, there have been good AMOLED displays for a long time.

The Vivo V17 has both a fingerprint sensor located under the screen and a face unlock.

As often happens, a collaborative use case works best because the same fingerprint scanner sometimes dulls – you need to watch how you put your finger.

Build: Vivo V17

They quite unexpectedly decided to use MediaTek in the Vivo V17 Neo. Here they decided to replace it with the usual Snapdragon. The Vivo V17 has an eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 665, which is quite often used in mid-range smartphones.

In synthetic tests like Geekbench, the smartphone shows the following results:

Antutu gives out about 180 thousand. I have already said that no micro lags or freezes are observed even with a strong smartphone load. The phone handles games like Asphalt and Call of Duty perfectly.

Sometimes the smartphone heats up, but, firstly, this is not critical, and secondly, the smartphone is not made of glass. Therefore it does not get hot, and you can hold it in your hands without discomfort.

The smartphone has a 4500 mAh battery, which has often become insufficient in recent years. But thanks to the optimization and AMOLED display, the Vivo V17 does a good job of battery life.

Cameras: Vivo v17

The unusual diamond-shaped module and the presence of cameras for different scenarios cover the average user’s needs. Even though the module protrudes quite strongly on the rear panel, it is well protected by glass.

Like other smartphones from Vivo, perhaps one of the main disadvantages is revealed when using the camera. The fact is that by default, the smartphone saves photos in 12MP resolution, and to shoot “at full” – 48MP – you need to activate this item in the menu. The most annoying thing is that you need to do this every time – when you exit the camera application, the settings seem to be “reset.”

The problem is most likely in the shell, and it is straightforward to fix. Nevertheless, this disadvantage persists in all smartphones (and in flagship ones too). Otherwise, the camera copes pretty well with everyday tasks.

For comparison, we use the Honor V30 Pro.

In the end

It is becoming increasingly difficult for tech bloggers writing smartphone reviews to figure out why a user needs a particular smartphone. The middle segment market is overcrowded, each representative has its own pros and cons, and therefore it isn’t easy to single out a separate chip.

The Vivo V17 has everything you need: a good display, NFC support, great performance, a nice shell, and a decent camera. Why do you need this particular smartphone? It’s hard to say for sure.

Perhaps, to understand this and similar smartphones, you need to come to a regular retail store and use the right method – hold in your hand and “touch.”