Vivo V29 Pro 2025 Review: Full Specs, Camera Quality, Gaming Performance, Battery Life, Heating Test, Pros & Cons & Price in India

Let’s be real for a second. The Indian smartphone market moves faster than a Mumbai local train. A phone that was a “flagship killer” yesterday is a “budget phone” today.

The vivo V29 Pro launched with a massive hype train focused on one thing: The Aura Light Portrait. It was the phone for influencers, for people who wanted their Diwali photos to look like they were shot in a studio.

But now, in late 2025, does this phone still make sense? You can probably find it refurbished or at offline stores for a slashed price (likely around ₹25,000 – ₹28,000). But with newer phones packing 6000mAh batteries and Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chips, is the V29 Pro a “smart buy” or just a “waste of money”?

I’ve dug this phone out of the drawer and used it for 30 days in 2025. Here is the unfiltered reality.

Quick Specs: The Numbers Game

Before we discuss the experience, let’s look at what you are paying for versus modern 2025 standards.

Design & Build: Slim, Sexy, but Slippery

If there is one thing vivo knows how to do, it is making a phone look expensive. Even in 2025, the V29 Pro turns heads.

• The Feel: It is incredibly slim (7.46mm) and light (188g). Compared to the heavy bricks we get today (looking at you, Samsung M-series), holding the V29 Pro is a relief. It fits perfectly in the pocket of tight jeans.
• The Back Panel: The “Himalayan Blue” with the magnetic particle design still looks magical. It doesn’t look like a cheap plastic toy.
• The Flaw: It is slippery. It is like holding a bar of wet soap. If you don’t use the transparent case included in the box, you will drop it.

Display & Visuals: Curved Beauty

The 3D Curved AMOLED screen was the trend in 2023, and frankly, it still looks better than the flat screens on many 2025 mid-rangers.

• Quality: The 1.5K resolution is sharp. Watching HDR content on YouTube is great—colors are punchy, blacks are deep.
• Brightness: It hits decent brightness levels, but against the 2025 flagships hitting 4000 nits, the V29 Pro feels a bit dim under direct sunlight.
• The Single Speaker Problem: Here is the harsh truth. This phone has only one speaker. In 2025, buying a phone without stereo speakers is almost a crime. When you watch Netflix in landscape mode, sound only comes from one side. It kills the immersion.

Performance & Gaming: The Dimensity 8200 in 2025

The MediaTek Dimensity 8200 was a beast when it launched. How does it hold up now?

• Daily Usage: For Instagram, WhatsApp, and browsing, you won’t feel any lag. The 120Hz feels smooth.
• Gaming Test (BGMI/CoD):
  • Graphics: It supports 90fps on BGMI (Smooth + 90fps).
  • Stability: I played for 1 hour. The first 30 minutes were buttery smooth.
  • Heating: After 40 minutes, the phone gets noticeably hot near the camera module (around 42°C). The slim design means there isn’t much space for heat dissipation.
• Verdict: It is capable of gaming, but it is not made for gaming. If you are a rank pusher, look at the iQOO Neo series instead.

Camera: The Only Reason to Buy This

Let’s be honest. You are looking at this phone for the cameras. Specifically, the Portrait Mode.

• Main Sensor (50MP): The Sony IMX766 is a legendary sensor. Photos are detailed, dynamic range is great, and OIS keeps things steady.
• The 2x Portrait Lens (12MP):This is the magic. Most phones under ₹30,000 in 2025 still give you a useless 2MP macro lens. The V29 Pro gives you a dedicated 2x telephoto lens specifically for portraits.
  • The Result: The background blur (bokeh) looks DSLR-like. It separates hair from the background perfectly.
  • Aura Light: The ring light on the back changes color temperature (warm/cool). It is not a gimmick. In low-light restaurants or clubs, it lights up faces evenly without the harshness of a normal flash.
• Selfie Camera (50MP): It has autofocus (rare!). Your group selfies will be sharp, not blurry.

Battery & Endurance: The Weak Link

This is where the age of the phone shows.

• Capacity: 4600 mAh. In 2025, the standard is 5500 mAh or 6000 mAh.
• Real World Test: I unplugged at 8 AM. Heavy usage of camera and social media.
• Result: By 6 PM, I was hunting for a charger (15% left). This is barely a “one-day” phone.
• Charging: The 80W FlashCharge is a lifesaver. It juices up 0-50% in about 18 minutes. You will need this speed because you will be charging it twice a day if you use it heavily.

The Competition: V29 Pro vs 2025 Rivals

If you are spending around ₹25,000 – ₹30,000 today, here is what you are comparing it against.

Analysis:

• OnePlus Nord 4: Destroys the V29 Pro in battery, metal build, and gaming speed. But its camera is average.
• Realme 13 Pro+: Gives you a 3x zoom which is even better for distance shots, but the V29 Pro’s “Aura Light” handles indoor portraits better.

Final Verdict

The vivo V29 Pro in 2025 is a niche device. It is no longer an all-rounder. It is a specialist tool.

The lack of stereo speakers and the average battery life make it hard to recommend for everyone. However, if you are a content creator, a makeup artist, or someone who posts on Instagram daily, the camera system on this phone is still superior to many 2025 phones that just rely on AI gimmicks.

Read More : Vivo T2 5G Review 2025

Buy it if:

1. You are a Portrait Addict: You want the best possible photos of people, especially in low light (thanks to Aura Light).
2. You love Slim Phones: You hate the heavy bricks that are common today.
3. You get a good deal: If you find this under ₹26,000, the hardware is a steal.

Skip it if:

1. You consume a lot of media: The single speaker is a dealbreaker for movies.
2. You are a heavy user: The 4600mAh battery won’t last you a full day of heavy use.
3. You are a Gamer: Newer phones with Snapdragon 7+ Gen 3 or 8s Gen 3 run games much cooler and smoother.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Great Camera, but Aged Battery & Audio).

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