vivo V40 Review : With ZEISS, vivo V40 is more than just a photography powerhouse

Tweet

vivo V40 is a stellar slim phone pack a bigger 5500mAh battery inside

Photography nowadays is our life, the art or practice of taking and processing photographs.We have the opportunity to go adventuring around the world and make sure to capture images of all the main events and outdor, environment and all we see around the world. It doesn’t matter if you are a professional photographer, someone that loves photography as a hobby, or you snap images on your smartphone, anyone can learn these life lessons from the simple art of photography.

The vivo V40 is more than just a photography powerhouse. This latest addition to the vivo family is not just about capturing pro-level portraits, it’s also designed to transform the way you live, work, and play.

The V40 comes as a decent option compelling camera-centric in mid-range phone, with a sleek design, long battery backup, and a bright vibrant AMOLED display.

With ZEISS, the vivo V40 offers a better portrait camera experience than its predecessor.

The vivo V40

The vivo V40 boasts a 5500mAh BlueVolt battery paired with 80W fast charging, ensuring long-lasting power and rapid charging speeds. Its IP68 and IP69 dust and water resistance make it durable in any environment, while the 120Hz AMOLED display with up to 4500 nits brightness guarantees a vibrant, immersive viewing experience.

What’s in the box

Inside the vivo V40 box, the smartphone along with a phone case, the 44W fast charger, USB type-C cable, SIM ejector tool and documentations.

Design and Display

The handset measures just 7.58mm in thickness and weighs 190 grams. Given the slim curved design and lightweight of the phone, it is quite convenient to hold and use with one hand and making it easy to fit your pockets.

At the bottom, you have the USB-C port, the dual-sim card slot, and a loudspeaker. Now, have dual speakers on the vivo V40, the earpiece now doubles as a loudspeaker as well. 

Color

Our unit is in the Nebula Purple colorway, and matches well with what vivo calls their new Gemini Ring Design styling cue.

For protection, the phone is rated at IP68 for dust and water resistance.

Processor

OS, Apps, and UI

The vivo V40 runs on Android 14 skinned with FunTouch 14.

Operating System

Funtouch OS 14 Global (Based on Android 14)

Android Version

Android 14

Qualcomm Snapdragon® 7 Gen 3 Mobile Platform

Storage : RAM & ROM

8 GB + 128 GB

8 GB + 256 GB

12 GB + 512 GB

*Actual available RAM is less than 8 GB / 12 GB due to the storage of the operating system and pre-installed apps.

Performance

Camera

The vivo V40 is with a circular camera module on the top-left at the back with the assisting Aura Light ring right below it. The phone comes with curved sides and a glass back.

Multimedia ,Video, Gaming

Watching clear and colorful videos and It has good clarity and a decent sound stage loudly. Watch and play games, with borderless design, it allows you to be more immersed in the display. It is also SGS-certified for blue light, low flicker, and the works. It’s also protected by Schott Alpha glass.

My young boy experience gaming with this phone. You can continuously game on this V40 for hours on end. There’s even a game boost mode which trades battery life for a better gaming experience.

Battery

vivo V40 has a bigger battery, featuring a 5,500mAh battery pack.

The phone lasted for two days as I recharge the phone. There has an 80W FlashCharge fast charging available to ensure you’re always on the go.

V40 is equipped with a vivo standard charger which supports a charging power up to 80W (9V/1.3A). The actual charging power is dynamically adjusted as the battery level changes, and is subject to actual use.

Photography is life

The vivo V40 is redefining mobile portrait photography with the introduction of AI Aura Light Portrait and AI 3D Studio Lighting

● ZEISS All Main Camera. Equipped with three 50MP lenses that meet ZEISS optics standards, the vivo V40 is built to deliver professional-grade portrait photography.

● ZEISS-powered portrait features. With ZEISS Multifocal Portrait and ZEISS Style Portraits, users can achieve stunning, pro-level portrait photos effortlessly.

● AI Aura Light. This updated version of vivo's famous Aura Light is now brighter and smarter, with AI 3D Studio Lighting that analyzes the face and adds virtual fill light to shadowed areas for a flawless look.

Thanks to vivo V40's powerful hardware. And had an lively experience the power of pro-level portrait photography with vivo V40's ZEISS all main camera and the innovative AI Erase feature.

Available in vivo concept stores, kiosks, and dealer stores nationwide. The vivo V40 starts priced at Php 26,999 for the 12GB/256GB model and Php 29,999 for the 12GB/512GB model.

vivo V40 specs

•  6.78-inch 1.5K AMOLED display
•  2800 x 1260 pixels, 120Hz refresh, 452 ppi
•  4500 nits local peak brightness
•  Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3
•  4nm, 8-cores, up to 2.63GHz
•  12GB LPDDR4x RAM (+12GB extended memory)
•  256GB, 512GB UFS 2.2 storage
•  Dual rear cameras (tuned by ZEISS):
•  – 50MP f/1.88 main, OIS
•  – 50MP f/2,0 ultrawide, 119° FoV
•  – Flicker sensor, Aura Light
•  50MP f/2.0 selfie camera, autofocus (hole punch notch)
•  Dual nano SIM (supports eSIM)
•  5G, 4G LTE
•  Dual frequency Wi-Fi
•  Bluetooth 5.4
•  GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS
•  USB Type-C (USB 2.0)
•  NFC
•  Under-display fingerprint sensor
•  IP68 dust and water resistance
•  Dual stereo speakers
•  Funtouch OS 14 (Android 14)
•  5500mAh battery
•  80W charging (wired)
•  164.16 × 74.93 × 7.58 mm
•  190g
•  Stellar Silver, Nebula Purple, Sunglow Peach

Related posts:

• vivo launches V40 Lite with 5000mAh battery covered by 50-month warranty, starts at Php 13,999
• vivo V40 Lite with fastest 80W FlashCharge in its price range to launch on October 19
• 5 Tips to Master Pro-level Portrait Photography with vivo V40
• vivo V40 Lite is coming soon with stunning Titanium Silver finish
• vivo V40 Series Media Tour in Germany, Advancing Mobile Photography with ZEISS
• vivo V40's innovative features: Turn your reels into films with ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh
• vivo V40 breaks boundaries with powerful hardware
• Bring studio-quality lighting to your fingertips with vivo V40's AI Aura Light
• Remove unwanted elements with vivo V40's AI Erase feature

5 Tips to Master Pro-level Portrait Photography with vivo V40

Tweet

Looking to take your portrait photography skills to the next level? With the vivo V40 and its powerful 50MP triple camera system co-engineered with ZEISS, you can capture professional-level portraits with ease.

Combining cutting-edge smartphone tech with world-renowned optics, the vivo V40 brings pro-quality photos into the hands of content creators.

Fun fact: vivo and ZEISS share the same lens structure used in high-end cine cameras!

Ready to master your craft? Here are five tips to help you make the most of the vivo V40's Portrait Mode:

1. Select the best focal length for stunning portraits

The ZEISS Multifocal Portrait feature offers three versatile focal lengths - 24mm, 35mm, and 50mm - making it easier than ever to get the perfect shot.

● 24mm - Great for capturing both your subject and the surrounding scenery. Use this for travel portraits where you want the background to complement the subject.

● 35mm - Ideal for street portraits or environmental photography, offering natural bokeh that subtly blurs the background.

● 50mm - Best for dramatic, half-body shots where your subject really stands out.

Taken using vivo V40's 24mm Portrait mode

To make it even easier, the Portrait Lens Kit gives you four preset modes: 24mm Landscape Portrait, 35mm Street Portrait, 50mm Natural Portrait, and 50mm Classic Portrait.

Pro tip: For added depth, incorporate foreground elements like trees or buildings. Play with light and shadows to enhance the mood and emotion of your portrait. Plus, if you find your image is slightly out of focus, you can refocus it in the gallery afterward.

2. Be more creative with iconic ZEISS bokeh flares

Experience the signature ZEISS bokeh flares without the need for expensive equipment. ZEISS lenses, typically costing around $10,000, have been recreated in the vivo V40 with incredible attention to detail, ensuring accurate colors, sharpness, and that coveted 3D pop.

The vivo V40 offers seven bokeh styles, including Biotar for swirling bokeh, B-Speed for rounded triangular bokeh, Planar for distinct, oval bokeh effects, etc.

ZEISS Biotar Style Bokeh

ZEISS Sonnar Style Bokeh

ZEISS Cine-flare Portrait

Pro tip: To amplify the bokeh effect, choose scenes with strong light sources, like street lamps at night or sunbeams filtering through trees. If you want to adjust the blur’s intensity, use the bokeh adjustment tool in the gallery and set the aperture up to F0.95.

3. Capture festive vibes with Festival Portrait mode

Celebrate in style with the Festival Portrait mode, featuring two distinct lookup tables (LUT): Day and Night. These modes are designed to enhance festive colors and background elements for lively, joyful portraits.

You can also experiment with nine other styles, including Beach Portrait, Lowlight Portrait (with six different LUTs), and Vintage to capture different moods and atmospheres.

Pro tip: Use Festival Portrait to emphasize vibrant, celebratory scenes, especially during events like holidays or parties, where color and energy are central to the image.

4. Perfect your lighting with AI Aura Light

Lighting can make or break a portrait, and the AI Aura Light feature on the vivo V40 brings studio-quality illumination to your photos. This physical fill light increases brightness but remains soft and natural, unlike traditional flashes that can be harsh on your subject.

The AI Aura Light also includes advanced AI algorithms that analyze facial features and apply a 3D virtual fill light to ensure perfect lighting from every angle.

Without AI Aura Light

With AI Aura Light

Pro tip: Activate this feature by tapping the flash icon at the top of the screen and selecting Aura Light always on. You can manually adjust the light for warmer or cooler tones, giving you full creative control over your lighting setup.

5. Take advantage of AI Erase and AI Photo Enhance

Ever take a great shot, only to have it ruined by an unexpected photobomber? The vivo V40's AI Erase tool can help you remove unwanted elements from your photos in seconds. Just select the photo, tap Edit, choose AI Erase, and let the Smart Circle tool work its magic.

Without AI Erase

With AI Erase

Do you have old photos that need a refresh? The AI Photo Enhance tool improves image clarity, optimizes colors, and reduces noise in your older shots - all with a simple tap.

Without AI Photo Enhance

With AI Photo Enhance

These tools are perfect for enhancing your portraits, allowing you to remove distractions and make your memories look even better.

These are just a few ways you can harness the power of the vivo V40, co-engineered with ZEISS, to achieve professional-quality portrait photography.

The vivo V40’s starting price is just Php 26,999, and it's available at vivo concept stores, kiosks, and dealer stores nationwide. Prefer shopping online? You can also purchase it via the vivo website, Shopee, and Lazada.

Take your photography to the next level. Grab the vivo V40 today and start shooting like a pro!

vivo V40 Series Media Tour in Germany, Advancing Mobile Photography with ZEISS

Tweet

vivo has built a strong reputation in the Philippines for excelling in smartphone photography. This is anchored in the brand’s recognition that in today’s world, where every moment can be captured and shared with the vast digital world, a high-performance camera is an essential feature of all its innovations.

Through vivo’s renewed and long-term Global Imaging Partnership with ZEISS, its V-series is at its strongest, with the latest devices equipped with ZEISS co-engineered cameras.

The strength of this collaboration was highlighted during the vivo V40 Series Media Tour at the ZEISS HQ in Oberkochen, Germany, attended by vivo's media partners from tech and lifestyle verticals across Southeast Asia on September 24, 2024.

The tour offered the attendees an exclusive glimpse into ZEISS, allowing them to meet key experts from the German company and gain valuable insights into the vivo and ZEISS partnership since 2020, discovering the passion and intensive research of both companies to advance mobile photography together and shape the development of the vivo V-series, particularly the V40 that serves as the brand’s latest flagship smartphone.

The vivo V40, indeed, brings images closer to reality with its cutting-edge camera system optimized by ZEISS. Featuring an impressive trio of lenses, including a 50MP ZEISS OIS Main Camera, 50MP ZEISS Ultra Wide-Angle Camera, and 50MP ZEISS Group Selfie Camera, it captures the depth of everyday scenes.

Here are the highlights from the vivo V40 Series Media Tour:

Sebastian Döntgen, Head of Category Management, Marketing, and Sales at ZEISS, extended a warm welcome at their headquarters and shared insights on ZEISS’ global growth and innovative ventures in different fields, from research microscopy to ophthalmology to consumer products.

Tourists were then treated to an engaging experience led by Bernd Presser, a Tour Leader at the ZEISS Headquarters Museum of Optics, who revealed fascinating details about the history of ZEISS products and their expertise in technology.

During the panel workshop, one of the key speakers, Dra. Ramona Ettig, Head of Research and Development Mobile Imaging at ZEISS, emphasized that the "ZEISS Look" is defined by colors, sharpness, and 3D pop.

She remarked that regular consumers can now attain this distinctive look with the advanced camera smartphones created through the vivo and ZEISS collaboration, featuring their highly specialized lenses and superior optics, all at an affordable price.

At the end of the workshop, there was a fun Q&A with all of the speakers Nick Lee (Product Director at vivo Southeast Asia Department), Sebastian Döntgen (Head of Category Management, Marketing & Sales at ZEISS), Dra. Ramona Ettig (Head of R&D Mobile Imaging at ZEISS) and Oliver Schindelbeck (Senior Smartphone Technology Manager at ZEISS).

Each of the speakers explained to the attendees how this collaboration serves as a valuable learning opportunity for both parties. Oliver elaborated on the techniques used to test the camera’s speed, color accuracy, and clarity, as well as the process of collecting this data to report back to vivo. Meanwhile, Ramona spoke about how they are gaining insights from vivo and keeping pace with the rapidly evolving smartphone market.

During the trip's final night, vivo’s media partners from the Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore all returned to Munich to share a delightful German dinner, where they had the opportunity to mix and mingle with one another.

Learn more about the vivo V40 through the vivo website, Facebook, and Instagram pages. You may also purchase the vivo V40 at a starting price of Php 26,999 through vivo’s various flagship stores nationwide, or through Shopee and Lazada.

vivo V40's innovative features: Turn your reels into films with ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh

Tweet

Are you a content creator or vlogger looking to make your videos stand out? With the rise of social media and video-sharing platforms, creating eye-catching content is essential.

Now, you can bring the cinematic quality of your favorite films to your reels with the vivo V40. Transform your ordinary vlogs into visually stunning masterpieces by leveraging the innovative features of vivo's latest flagship smartphone.

The vivo V40 is packed with power, thanks to its trio of 50MP cameras, all co-engineered with ZEISS to ensure professional-grade results.

Whether you’re using the main, ultrawide, or selfie camera, each lens delivers outstanding quality, perfect for creating content that captivates your audience.

The vivo V40’s camera system gives you the tools to produce film-like videos with sharp details, vibrant colors, and true-to-life images.

Experience the magic of ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh for film-like quality

The game-changer for the vivo V40 is its ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh feature, designed to give your videos that classic film look.

https://www.facebook.com/vivo.philippines/videos/390187333955536

With this feature, you can create a distinctive oval bokeh effect that beautifully separates your subject from the background, lending your content a polished, cinematic feel.

The secret lies in the AI-driven depth calculation, which ensures your subject stays in focus while delivering a smooth, natural blur to the background.

To enhance the cinematic experience further, the vivo V40 uses an exclusive 2.39:1 aspect ratio, mimicking the widescreen format of professional films.

Additionally, the feature has ZEISS Focus Transition that makes sure the focus switches smoothly and automatically to follow your subject. This gives your videos a seamless, movie-like atmosphere, adding a layer of professionalism to your content.

What’s more, the feature has Movie Lookup Tables (LUTs) such as Nostalgia, Retro, and Classic Movies, which let you add dramatic color tones to enhance your cinematic vision.

Shoot in 4K with all cameras - Main, Ultrawide, and Selfie

When it comes to video resolution, the vivo V40 excels by offering 4K recording at 30fps across all three cameras, whether it’s the main camera, ultrawide, or selfie.

This ensures crisp, high-definition videos that bring out every detail, making your content look incredibly refined.

Create film-like reels now with vivo V40

Content creators, this is your time to shine. With the vivo V40’s ZEISS Cinematic Video Bokeh and 4K video capabilities, your vlogs and reels can now achieve a professional, movie-like aesthetic.

Be it capturing a casual day or creating an exciting travel vlog, the vivo V40 elevates your content to new heights.

Get your vivo V40 now for as low as Php 26,999 at any vivo concept store, kiosk, or authorized dealer nationwide. You can also order it online via the vivo website, Shopee, and Lazada.

Turn your everyday reels into cinematic masterpieces today with the vivo V40!

Bring studio-quality lighting to your fingertips with vivo V40's AI Aura Light

Tweet

The vivo V40 is redefining mobile portrait photography with the introduction of AI Aura Light Portrait and AI 3D Studio Lighting, offering users professional-grade lighting features to capture standout portraits, especially in challenging lighting environments.

In low-light or backlit scenarios, the V40 enhances every shot with studio-quality illumination, adding depth and dimension to each portrait.

AI Aura Light: Brighter, softer, smarter lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in portrait photography, and vivo V40’s AI Aura Light is designed to deliver optimal results.

The upgraded Aura Light on the V40 provides a 33% increase in brightness compared to its predecessor, offering softer, more natural lighting.

Without AI Aura Light

With AI Aura Light

The intelligent electronic dimming technology automatically adjusts the brightness to match different portrait settings, ensuring your subject always looks clear and well-lit, even in dim or nighttime conditions.

This studio-quality Aura Light works seamlessly with all focal lengths, so whether you’re capturing close-ups or full-body shots, the result is consistently sharp and bright.

Say goodbye to harsh flashes and welcome softer, more flattering light that enhances every detail of your portraits.

AI 3D Studio Lighting: Perfect lighting, anytime, anywhere

In addition to the Aura Light, the vivo V40 comes equipped with AI 3D Studio Lighting, a feature designed to provide precise and natural fill light.

Using advanced AI algorithms, it conducts 3D facial light recognition analysis, adding virtual fill light to shadowed areas.

The feature ensures that portraits taken in low light or backlit environments maintain their depth and clarity, giving your images a three-dimensional quality that’s perfect for both day and night.

With AI 3D Studio Lighting, the vivo V40 effortlessly enhances the brightness and softness of your portraits, bringing out natural tones and details that make every photo stand out.

AI Aura Light meets ZEISS Style Portrait for stunning results

The vivo V40 doesn’t just offer incredible lighting on its own—it takes portrait photography to another level when paired with ZEISS Style Portrait.

By combining the AI Aura Light with vivo’s ZEISS Style Portrait mode, users can capture professional-looking photos with iconic ZEISS lens effects, such as natural bokeh and sharp foregrounds.

AI Aura Light with ZEISS Style Portrait (Cine-flare)

AI Aura Light with ZEISS Style Portrait (Biotar)

The AI Aura Light provides the perfect balance of brightness and softness, ensuring that the ZEISS Style Portrait mode creates stunning portraits with enhanced clarity and texture.

Snapping a casual selfie or capturing a memorable moment, this combination delivers DSLR-quality shots straight from your phone.

Experience studio-quality lighting with vivo V40 now!

With its AI Aura Light Portrait, AI 3D Studio Lighting, and seamless integration with ZEISS Style Portrait, the vivo V40 is the best tool for capturing professional-quality photos right from your smartphone.

In low-light settings or when capturing backlit portraits, the V40 ensures each image is perfectly lit, sharp, and ready to stand out on social media.

For those looking to enhance their portrait photography, the vivo V40 provides all the tools you need to make every moment picture-perfect at a starting price of Php 26,999.

Now available for purchase in vivo concept stores and kiosks nationwide or online via vivo website, Shopee, and Lazada.