The vivo V29 Lite 5G is a mid-range phone that vivo announced for Europe on June 12, 2023. Sales started in mid-June 2023. In France, it launched at €349 for the 8 GB / 128 GB model. The phone is not sold in the US. In Southeast Asia, the same phone is sold as the vivo Y78 5G.
Design and display
The V29 Lite 5G has a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 2400 x 1080 resolution. It refreshes at up to 120 Hz and reaches a local peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The panel curves on both sides at a 60-degree angle. vivo also lists 2160 Hz PWM dimming and support for the DCI-P3 color gamut.
The body is made of plastic. It is 7.89 mm thick and weighs 177 g. An IP54 rating protects it against dust and water splashes. The phone came in two colors, Flare Black and Dreamy Gold. Both have a fine etched pattern on the back.
Performance
Inside is the Snapdragon 695. This 6 nm chip has two Cortex-A78 cores at 2.2 GHz and six Cortex-A55 cores at 1.7 GHz. Graphics run on the Adreno 619 GPU. In Europe, the phone ships with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. A 12 GB / 256 GB version is sold in the Middle East.
The Extended RAM feature can borrow up to 8 GB of storage as extra memory. There is no microSD card slot. Connectivity covers 5G, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1 and NFC. The phone takes two nano-SIM cards and also supports eSIM.
Cameras
The main rear camera has 64 MP, an f/1.79 lens and optical image stabilization. Two 2 MP cameras sit next to it, one for macro shots and one for depth. There is no ultrawide or telephoto camera. On the front, a 16 MP camera with an f/2.45 lens handles selfies.
Video recording goes up to 1080p at 60 fps. The Dual-View mode records from the front and rear cameras at the same time. Night, portrait and double exposure modes are also included.
Battery and charging
The battery has a capacity of 5,000 mAh. It supports 44 W FlashCharge wired charging. The box includes a 44 W charger, a USB cable and a protective case. Wireless charging is not supported.
Software and updates
The phone launched with Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13. In Europe, vivo promised two major Android updates and three years of security updates. vivo still lists the V29 Lite 5G among models that receive regular security updates.
Should you buy the V29 Lite 5G?
The V29 Lite 5G suits buyers who want a large curved AMOLED screen at a mid-range price. Its stabilized main camera is another plus. Its light body, eSIM support and included 44 W charger are practical extras. On the other hand, the Snapdragon 695 is a modest chip, and the phone has no ultrawide camera. Keep in mind that it is a 2023 model, and its promised update period started at launch.
