Vivo X21 review: Certainly makes a mark

Vivo’s X21 is the world’s first smartphone to feature an in- display fingerprint scanner. It sells for ` 35,990, pitting it up against the affordable flagships. The X21 has narrow bezels to the sides while a small notch sits on the top. The chin is narrow, allowing impressive aesthetics. There’s a micro USB port, which is pretty disappointing for a premium smartphone, but it does support fast charging.

Vivo has opted for a Super AMOLED, measuring 6.2- inches in a 19: 9 aspect ratio. The display is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3. Consuming content on the full HD+ display is a hoot, with eye- popping colours. The AMOLED panel also helps the in- display fingerprint sensor to work seamlessly — the optical sensor requires line- of- sight with the finger. Once you tap on it, the UI brightens that area/ patch, throwing as much light possible as it can on the finger’s surface. The reflected light carries the pattern of the fingerprint back to the sensor for authentication. Since the technology is at a nascent stage, it’s noticeably slower than the capacitive counterpart.

The X21 sports an SD660 chipset with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. The icing on top is Android 8.1 Oreo looking after the business but with Vivo’s customised Funtouch OS 4.0 on top. The OS has been tastefully optimised for the hardware — the phone is fast through menus and various interfaces of several apps, with no noticeable lags or stutters. However, the UI lacks refinement and demands Vivo to invest efforts for a more pleasant experience.

The Face Wake facial recognition system is a gem — it utilises an IR fill light for helping the camera to unlock in the dark too. The camera uses 3D depth mapping and unlocks the phone in an instant.

12MP + 5MP dual cameras on the rear also assist with bokeh. In broad daylight, the camera performs at par with its rivals. The photos contain an impressive amount of colours with the right balance of contrasts. With a drop in light, the photos start showing grains. Bokeh in portraits are good too — there’s a well- managed distinction between the subject and the background. The 12MP front camera is also efficient in snapping good looking selfies, with Vivo’s camera algorithms trying their best to deliver edit- free shots. A 3200mAh power reservoir manages to stretch out the operations for a day and a half with ease. The 9V/ 2A charger tops the battery very fast too — approx 2.5 hours to full charge.

To sum up, the Vivo X21 is more than the sum of its gimmicky features, delivering on where it matters for the casual smartphone seeker — aesthetics, performance, camera and battery. However, the higher price tag makes it a tough option to recommend.