After a few years of waiting, Alive, one of the most important Chinese manufacturers today, finally landed in Mexico. The Asian brand arrives with the aim of earn a place in the mid-range, which is currently the most competitive sector in Mexico and, in general, in all of Latin America. Obviously, the brand is aware that to start on the right foot it must offer terminals that not only boast attractive specifications, but also competitive prices. The I live V21, one of the three models that arrive in the country, wants to stand out for both points.
At least in its first stage in Mexico, Vivo has the Y11S, Y21 and V21 for sale, all belonging to the mid-range. However, the V21, which we had the opportunity to test in Hypertextual, takes a distance from its younger brothers with characteristics that place it in the upper-middle range. That is, a segment where Xiaomi, Samsung and Motorola, mainly, have dominated for some years. Then… What does the Vivo V21 offer to stand out among so many options available to the Mexican consumer? We review it, but not before detailing each of its specifications:
Dimensions | 159.68mm × 73.90mm × 7.29mm |
Screen | 6.44-inch AMOLED, FHD + resolution (2404 × 1080) and integrated fingerprint sensor |
Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 800U |
RAM | 8 GB |
Storage | 128 GB |
Battery | 4,000 mAh with support for 33 W fast charging |
Operating system | Funtouch OS 11.1 (based on Android 11) |
Rear camera | 64 MP with optical image stabilizer and autofocus + 8 MP (wide angle) + 2 MP (macro) and Flash |
Frontal camera | 44 MP with optical image stabilizer, autofocus and two LEDs |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, USB-C port |
Price | $ 9,999 in Mexico and € 399.99 in Spain |
The design of the Vivo V21 does not go unnoticed
The design is the first section to review, mainly because try to be different compared to the monotonous proposals that flood the range. The Vivo V21 is committed to an ultra-thin chassis — 7.29 mm — which, except for the front, is made of plastic. However, it should be noted that the terminal conveys good feelings both in the quality of the materials and in the assembly of all its exterior parts. At the rear, for example, we have a smooth surface that rests on a matte finish to benefit grip.
There will be no problem holding it, but if you want to improve your grip, you can use the transparent case that is included with the smartphone. The accessory is transparent because it would otherwise hide one of the main distinctive elements. In the model that Vivo provided us, the posterior region presumes gradients in blue, pink, yellow, white and purple. I mention “gradients” because the combination and location of the colors will change according to viewing angle and light impact.
It is an effect that is visually very striking and, without a doubt, it will steal some glances. Of course, it is clear that the chosen combination of tones is not for everyone. Vivo knows this, for this reason a more discreet model is available in Twilight Black. Regarding the sides of the V21, we find flat edges with chrome aluminum effect and buttons that are very easy to locate without seeing them. In addition to having the appropriate dimensions, the power button, which will also serve to lock or turn on the screen, has a texture different. It is a small detail, but it is appreciated.
We go to the front, which is where you will spend the entirety of your experience. The Vivo V21 features a 6.44-inch AMOLED display, Full HD + resolution, refresh rate of 90Hz and integrated fingerprint sensor. They are more than acceptable characteristics for a mid-range terminal. However, one of the negative points of this model is the presence of a ‘notch’ in drop of water format, which affects the use of the surface. At this point, other manufacturers have adopted the perforations to give a greater prominence to the screen, and with the Vivo V21 this is not the case.
In addition to the above, at first it is difficult to ignore the width of the frames – especially the upper and lower ones – since their dimensions are usually seen more in lower segments. Does it influence your day-to-day experience? To be honest, no. Eventually it will be a disadvantage that will go unnoticed as you increase your hours with the V21.
The section that comes to the rescue of the inconvenience described is precisely the quality of the panel. It has good viewing angles and its colors are well calibrated without overdoing it in saturation, though the brightness remains to be on the outside. And of course, it is good to see that 90Hz is also a standard for Vivo’s mid-range, since this characteristic influences too much your movements in applications and allows the interface to transmit fluidity and smoothness. To close this section, I consider that the V21 screen does not have too much or it lacks size; its measurements are ideal for it to be very comfortable use it.
Balanced performance
The Vivo V21 relies on a MediaTek Dimensity 800U processor and 8 GB of RAM to stand up to its main rivals in the upper-middle range. Best of all, its overall performance is more than worthy of the category. The system feels fast and fluid, regardless of the tasks you are performing. There wasn’t a single everyday application that needed more power. Of course, I mean apps like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Netflix, Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp or Google Maps.
Video games are not far behind. PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, FIFA or Pokemon go, which tend to be widely popular titles in the mobile sector, perform decently despite the fact that the Vivo V21 is not a device focused on the gaming. You can be sure that your playable experience will be satisfactory.
In the software section we have Android 11 and the Funtouch OS 11.1 customization layer. Fortunately, no weird and unnecessary experiments in user experience. In fact, a good part of the interface elements are inherited directly from Android Stock, which in my opinion is still the most optimal variant of the operating system.
Mind you, get ready for him pre-installed software that accompanies the terminal. Unfortunately, the Vivo V21 is no stranger to bloatware, a situation that afflicts almost all Android phones that arrive in Mexico through carriers. My recommendation is that you remove unwanted apps and tools as soon as possible. This way you will be able to maintain the “purest” experience of Funtouch and free up storage space. In this last area, by the way, you have some generous 128GB and the possibility of expanding it through microSD cards.
Before closing the whole performance issue, it is mandatory to delve into the battery, as it is an outstanding element in the Vivo V21. Although its duration will be subject to your activities and the time you spend on the screen, you should know that the terminal is ready to meet the needs of the most demanding. In my day to day, using the social networks that I mentioned earlier, work tools such as Slack and Gmail, and playing some games in the battle royale, I was able to obtain two days of autonomy. Yes, you read that right.
The amazing 4,000 mAh battery supports 33W fast charging, so in a matter of an hour you can get a full charge. If you are one of those people who prioritizes autonomy over any other feature on a smartphone, the V21 is an ideal option to consider.
The photographic section takes a step forward
How are the cameras defrosted? Understanding the range the device is in, the photographic section of the Vivo V21 can aspire to be a benchmark in its segment. In the rear region, the device integrates a triple camera composed of 64 megapixel (main), 8 megapixel (ultra wide angle) and 2 megapixel (macro) sensors. Both outdoors and indoors, the camera and its post-processing software are able to adapt to the lighting conditions to deliver very good quality images. This obviously includes night mode.
The bastion of the main chamber is its optical stabilization system (OIS), whose performance is very outstanding. The goal of Vivo, clearly, is to avoid annoying blurry photos, and it does well on its mission. While it is true that before sudden movements there is not much to do, it is those small displacements during the shot that are effectively counteracted. Be careful, the OIS works on photos and videos alike. Also, it’s nice to see that the interface is very intuitive and easy to use. With a few steps you can access night mode or more advanced settings.
The front camera also excels. It incorporates a 44 megapixel sensor that, likewise, boasts an optical stabilizer to improve selfies. Vivo paid special attention to the self-portraits of the V21 so that its terminal emerged victorious regardless of the lighting conditions. It even integrates a pair of hidden LED lights above the screen to illuminate the face when the light does not favor the scene. Are you an active user of Instagram or TikTok stories? Here you have a terminal that can win you over.
Final impressions
Reaching new territory is not an easy mission for any manufacturer, even less when some competitors have already been established in the region for quite some time. However, there is no doubt that Vivo’s initial offer is interesting enough to get the attention of the Mexican consumer. The V21 is a device capable of standing out in the upper-middle range because, first of all, it has own personality supported by its design. And as already mentioned previously, it achieves a high note in almost all its sections; highlighting above all its excellent battery and photographic proposal.