Vivo X21 Review: A worthy mid-range flagship to challenge OnePlus dominance

Priced at Rs 35,990, the Vivo X21 is a premium mid-range device strong in almost all areas; the phone’s modest processor seems a downside, but it shows no signs of weakness in real-life scenario.

Technology News : After showcasing the prototype of in-display fingerprint sensor technology at the Consumer Electronic Show, 2018, Chinese smartphone maker Vivo on May 29 launched the Vivo X21 with a fingerprint sensor under the display. For a mid-range smartphone, the X21 boasts premium features like dual rear cameras, artificial intelligence capabilities, face-unlock mechanism, Hi-Fi sound with dedicated AMP and modern notch-based screen. These features propel it in the league of mid-range premium smartphones – at least on papers.

Vivo X21 Design

The Vivo X21 glass-metal-glass sandwich design looks similar to other mid-range smartphones. The design, especially the frame, looks close to the OnePlus 6, but the front is dominated by a notch-based screen stretching almost edge to edge on three sides and leaving only a thin chin on the bottom. On the back, the reflective glass design with horizontally aligned dual camera set-up on top left is in line with the current trend and looks similar to the Honor 10.

Vivo X21 The thin frame that holds the front and back glass feels pointed, something similar to the Nokia 8 Sirocco. While the frame makes it easy to hold and operate the phone, the razor thin volume rocker keys and a power button on the right side of the frame are somewhat uncomfortable to use.

On the bottom, the phone sports an outdated microUSB port for charging and data transfers, coupled with a mono speaker on the right and dual-SIM slot on the left. The left side of the frame is vacant and the top side features a 3.5mm audio output port and secondary microphone.

Overall, the design looks modern, but not refreshing. The metallic frame gives to the convenience to hold the phone with confidence, but the thin volume rocker keys and power button reduce the utility overall.

Vivo X21 Battery

The Vivo X21 is powered by a 3,200 mAh battery that keeps the phone going for almost a day. Interestingly, the phone boasts a dual charging technology, which improves charging time and takes the battery level from zero to 100 per cent in less than one-and-a-half hours.

Read the Verdict → Vivo X21 Review

OnePlus 6 may take design hints from notch screen-based Oppo R15, Vivo X21

The history of OnePlus shows how the company takes cues, especially from Oppo, to design its flagship devices powered by top-of-the-line innards.

Technology News : China-based smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is a sister company of BKK Electronics, which also owns the Oppo and Vivo smartphone brands. The history of OnePlus shows how the company has often taken cues, especially from Oppo, while designing its flagship devices powered by top-of-the-line innards.

In 2017, OnePlus was quick to adopt the modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen design in the OnePlus 5T. The company’s decision to launch an updated version soon after the launch of the OnePlus 5 got a lot of dissension from loyal consumers – especially because the OnePlus 5T was launched at the same price tag. However, maintaining its stand to launch the updated version, the company said, “we do not want to stick with one flagship launch every year. We’d rather deliver the latest technological innovations as soon as possible to maintain our motto – Never Settle.”

This year, the modern 18:9 aspect ratio screen trend has evolved into all-screen notch-based display.

First, Asus unveiled at the Mobile World Congress the Zenfone 5-series showcasing the notch, albeit smaller than iPhone X. The trend gained the momentum and most of the new smartphones being launched are expected to follow.

However, coming back to the OnePlus 6, it can be anticipated that the smartphone would take design cues from the recently announced Oppo R15 and Vivo X21 – both smartphones sport notch display.

In the first leak around the OnePlus 6, the technology portal Slash Leaks had uploaded a couple of purported images of the phone. These show a new design language, along with a notch-based screen on front.

While nothing has been confirmed about the upcoming flagship from the stable of OnePlus, it is safe to assume that the smartphone would sport a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, coupled with 6GB and 8GB RAM options – the benchmark scores uploaded by Android Central hints that. A dual-camera unit on the back is also likely, but the placement would be different this time.

In the OnePlus 5T, the company moved the fingerprint scanner at the back as there was no space on the front to accommodate one. At the smartphone’s launch, the company dropped a hint as to how it liked the fingerprint scanner on the front but had to move it back due to design constrains. However, the OnePlus 6 is expected to bring the fingerprint scanner on the front again, and this time it might use the in-display technology first seen in the Vivo X20 UD.