vivo T3 5G Review: Best Phone In Under Rs. 20,000 Segment?

When you think of vivo, you might imagine a phone focusing on cameras and a premium price tag. However, the new vivo T3 5G defies these norms by offering the best-in-class MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chipset for under 20K INR. Now, the question remains: Has vivo become the top budget brand under the 20K segment as well? Let’s delve into the review of the vivo T3 5G to find out.

vivo T3 5G Review: Design and Hardware

We were pleasantly surprised when we first unboxed the vivo T3 5G, as brands typically don’t emphasize design in this price range. However, our unit boasts a stunning blue plastic back panel with a crystal structure that reflects light differently depending on the angle, creating a 3D effect. This design is sure to turn heads, especially if you prefer using the phone without a cover. As for color options, the vivo T3 5G comes in two choices: Crystal Flake (our unit) and Cosmic Blue.

Turning to the camera module, you would see a triple camera setup, but the vivo T3 features a 50MP main camera along with a bokeh and flicker sensor (more details below). While aesthetics can vary based on personal preference, the vivo T3 undeniably gives a premium look.

The vivo T3 sports a boxy plastic frame, which is thankfully not glossy. This not only helps keep the sides smudge-free but also improves durability, as matte side panels are less prone to scratching.

vivo T3 5G Review: Display

The vivo T3 features a 6.67-inch FHD+ 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 1800 nits. During our testing, the display proved to be bright, vivid, and vibrant, exhibiting no bugs or issues. Additionally, the device supports the Widewine L1 standard, allowing users to enjoy their favorite content at maximum quality on streaming platforms like Netflix.

Refresh rate

Many budget smartphones struggle with refresh rate switching, resulting in a jittery experience. Fortunately, we observed no such issues with the vivo T3 5G during our testing period. The device easily switched between different modes without any hiccups.

Fingerprint sensor and durability

The vivo T3 houses an in-display fingerprint sensor, which, although not the fastest, successfully unlocks the phone in various conditions, even with wet fingers. Regarding durability, the front is protected by Dragontrail Star 2 Plus glass, which performed well in our testing, remaining scratch-free. Additionally, the device comes with a pre-applied screen protector for added protection.

vivo T3 5G Review: Performance and Battery

It’s no secret that vivo phones are generally known for their emphasis on camera performance. However, with the T3, the company has taken a different approach, and the results are impressive. But before we delve further, let’s take a closer look at the vivo T3’s specifications.

The vivo T3 features the MediaTek Dimensity 7200 chip, with 2 Cortex-A715 cores running at 2.8 GHz and six Cortex-A510 cores running at 2.0 GHz, paired with the Arm Mali G610 MC4 GPU. Additionally, the device offers up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

Our 8GB + 128 GB unit performed pretty well with negligible loading times, no lags or stutter, and delivered an exceptional overall experience for regular everyday tasks. In synthetic benchmarks, the device scored 1170 in Geekbench’s single-core test and 2563 in the multicore test, positioning it as one of the fastest phones in its segment. Additionally, in the AnTuTu and 3D-Mark benchmarks, the device achieved scores of 721,040 and 4134 points, respectively. Furthermore, the fact that the phone didn’t lose any performance in the 30-threat 30-minute throttle test suggests that vivo has implemented ample cooling measures.

Moving on to gaming, the vivo T3 excelled in this aspect as well. We tested both BGMI and CODM on max refresh rate settings, and the gameplay was smooth, with no lags or jitters whatsoever.

Battery life

Thanks to the massive 5,000mAh battery, the vivo T3 surpassed our expectations in the battery department as well. The phone lasted a full day of heavy usage, including gaming, video streaming, and photography. Additionally, with the included 44W fast charger, you can recharge the battery to 50% in just 30 minutes.

vivo T3 5G Review: Cameras

Considering vivo had prioritized performance, we didn’t have much hope for the cameras. However, we were pleasantly surprised in this department as well. But before we get ahead, the vivo T3 houses a triple camera setup, comprising a 50MP Sony IMX 882 main camera sensor, along with a 2MP bokeh camera and a flicker sensor.

While two of the lenses in the setup are not useful, the photos captured by the main camera were impressive. In daylight, the photos appeared sharp and vibrant, with well-balanced HDR processing, enhancing both aesthetics and the overall performance of vivo’s camera.

Another area where the T3 performed exceptionally well was in portrait photography. Despite the absence of a dedicated telephoto lens, the main camera effectively doubled as a portrait lens, producing shots with natural bokeh and excellent edge detection. Though there was a slight decline in quality in low-light settings, the overall performance remained better than many other smartphones in the same segment.

Nighttime shots

The inclusion of OIS in the main camera proved beneficial during nighttime photography, resulting in detailed shots with consistent color reproduction. While noise was present in every shot, it was within the expected range for this segment.

Selfies and Video

With a 16MP sensor, selfies taken with the vivo T3 were detailed and sharp, exhibiting no noticeable issues. However, it’s worth mentioning that the quality did suffer significantly in low-light conditions.

Moving on to video recording capabilities, the device can capture videos at up to 4K@30FPS, yielding sharp, detailed, and HDR-enhanced results. Additionally, the inclusion of OIS ensured stable footage. Nevertheless, it’s important to note that nighttime videos lacked detail and exhibited some amount of noise.

vivo T3 5G Review: Software and speakers

The vivo T3 5G runs on the FunTouch OS 14 platform, built on top of Android 14. During our testing, we encountered no lags or jitters in the UI. However, vivo has bundled a slew of apps to recoup its investments. Notably the infamous “Hot Apps” and “Hot Games” sections, which display advertisements for various applications. Additionally, the phone comes with pre-installed apps such as Daily Hunt, V-Appstore, and Facebook, contributing to the bloatware.

On a positive note, the speakers provide a great audio experience. The stereo setup delivers rich and loud sound, enhancing media consumption. Furthermore, vivo has included an audio boost mode, significantly increasing volume levels for use in noisy environments.

Is the vivo T3 5G worth it?

At a starting price of 19,999 INR, the vivo T3 competes directly with the Realme Narzo 70 Pro and the Lava Blaze Curve 5G. While the Curve 5G may offer a superior software experience, the vivo T3 boasts a more refined camera setup and superior performance. Therefore, if your priorities lie in these areas, the vivo T3 5G is certainly worth considering. Moreover, if you use our link [here], you can also get an extra discount of 1,000 INR on the vivo T3 5G, available for redemption starting March 27th.