Vivo V5: The world’s first smartphone with a 20MP front moonlight camera

With just a few weeks left for the year to end, it’s the right time to look back at what ruled the roost in the world of smartphones through 2016. It’s pretty evident that the year brought out the narcissist in all of us, with device manufacturers fueling our need to look our best, at least in images that we click of ourselves.

‘The Year of the Selfie Camera-Phone’ has been filled with devices that offer everything from massively high MP specs, image stabilisation features, even real-time image focusing and personalised filters to completely change the background ambience. Basically, everything that makes a DSLR look humble in comparison.

Along comes another device that takes selfies very seriously. Armed with a 20 MP front camera, this one promises ‘moonlight selfies’ — clear and crisp images even when they are shot in ridiculously low light. Say hello to Vivo V5, the world’s first front 20MP moonlight camera smartphone.

So, do MPs really matter? Well, higher camera resolution when combined with a good image sensor do churn out much better images. The V5 incorporates a Sony IMX376, 1/2.78 inch image sensor with F/2.0 aperture. The ‘moonlight’ is more of a glow than a flash, which diffuses almost-natural light, brightening up even your night selfies.

From our experience using this device for a few days we feel that the V5 can get you clear, sharp selfies under any condition, be it under bright sun or in a pitch dark night.  Vivo has upgraded its in-built editing software, Face Beauty 6.0 for this device. This software helps in creating natural looking, slimming, whitening and other beautification effects. The other modes include night, voice shutter; touch capture, gender detection, filter, among others. The front camera also comes with a palm-activated camera control.

The 13 MP rear camera comes with PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) and different modes like HDR, slow, fast, night, PPT, motion track, professional, among others.

At 154 grams with 7.55 mm thickness, the V5 feels light yet sturdy to hold. The 5.5-inch display comes with 1280x720 pixels HD resolution. It has a Corning Gorilla 2.5D curved glass for screen protection. The IPS capacitive screen also features an eye protection mode, which filters harmful blue light to prevent eye strain. Vivo has incorporated its fingerprint sensor at the front this time — a convenient option. It has added water protection to the sensor, so that you can unlock the device even with damp fingers. The set-up took us some time, but the sensor was quick to recognise.

The V5 runs on a 64-bit Octa-core processor with 4 GB RAM. It comes with Vivo’s proprietary Funtouch OS 2.6, based on Android 6.0. The 32 GB internal memory is expandable up to 128 GB. The 4G device comes with support for USB OTG (USB On-The -Go). The 3,000 mAh battery should last you one entire day.

Like Vivo’s other devices, the V5 comes with the split screen feature that helps you open two apps at the same time. There’s also the Hi-Fi chipset for audiophiles. The music is quite crisp, loud and clear on this device. If you believe in taking your selfies to the next level, the V5 priced at Rs 17,980 is a good choice. Vivo has also announced that it will be soon launching a dual lens front camera phone with its V5 Plus.

Two much!

2016 has been the year of the camera phone. From innovative lens technologies to dual-lens devices, handset-makers gave us all.

Dual-lens: Huawei and Honor gave us the P9 and the Honor 8 respectively, both with dual-lenses with the former incorporating a Leica lens.
 

MonoChrome and Colour lenses: Most camera phones this year devoted one lens to monochrome and the other to colour, striking the perfect balance.

Image stabilisation: Especially for videos, device manufacturers included
real-time shake free videos with this feature.

Low-light selfies: Enhancements to brighten up your selfies even in nightclub conditions made an entry this year and are here to stay.

— IndiaTechOnline