It might not make the sort of headlines that some other brands do, but Vivo has been steadily moving up the popularity charts in India, and today is the number one as per IDC's Q2 2023 report. One of the reasons for its success has been its ability to come out with phones with a high style quotient and camera muscle that do not cost a bomb. And its most recent phone, the Vivo V29e is a prime example of this. 


The Vivo V29e might not wow spec lovers with its slightly old-ish Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, which is a strictly mid-segment chip. However, its 7.57 mm slim glass front and back design with a curved display and a striking Artistic Red colour variant will turn heads. In the best Vivo tradition, the phone comes with some serious camera muscle, but this time on the front rather than the back. The 64-megapixel sensor on the back with OIS is a good one, and the 8-megapixel ultrawide camera accompanying it is a welcome change from the 2-megapixel space fillers we have seen on other devices,  but the eyeball-grabber (literally) is a massive 50-megapixel selfie camera which comes with autofocus and eye autofocus.


A large and vibrant 6.78-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and a 5,000mAh battery with support for 44W charging round off the specs. Some might hem and haw at the processor and charging speed and also point to the absence of stereo speakers, but at its starting price of Rs 26,999 for an 8GB+128GB RAM and storage variant, the Vivo V29e will have plenty of takers, especially among those who want their phones to be a style statement. Selfie lovers and content creators are also likely to be swayed by that selfie camera. 


Impressive though it is, the Vivo V29e will still face a fair bit of competition, especially from devices that come with better specs at comparative prices. Here are five phones that can rattle that very sleek and selfie-reinforced cell cage of the latest from the Vivo phone portfolio:


iQoo Z7 Pro 5G: Sibling Rivalry 



Price: Rs 23,999 onwards 


Intriguingly, one of the biggest challengers to the Vivo V29e comes from iQoo, Vivo's sub-brand. The recently launched iQoo Z7 Pro 5G also comes with a curved AMOLED FHD+ 6.78-inch display with 120Hz refresh rate, and has an eye-catching design as well, with a shimmering glass back.


At 7.36mm, it is also one of the slimmest phones in the segment. It packs in a more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7200 processor and also has a very good 64-megapixel main camera with OIS, although its 2-megapixel bokeh sensor companion is largely token.


Its 4,600mAh battery is smaller than the one on the Vivo V29e, but charges much faster at 66W. It does not have the sort of selfie-snapping power that the Vivo V29e has, but is a great option for those who want lots of processing muscle for gaming and other hefty tasks inside a very good-looking device! It does lack stereo speakers though. 


Realme 11 Pro+ 5G: Another Design And Camera Warrior 


Price: Rs 27,999


Like the Vivo V29e, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G also bets heavily on its design and cameras. However, while the V29e is a selfie camera star, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G's rear camera is its core strength.


The phone comes with a massive 200-megapixel sensor on the back with OIS as well. This is paired with a useful 8-megapixel ultrawide camera and a less useful 2-megapixel camera. On the front too, the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G is very well equipped with a 32-megapixel camera, which though not in the league of the 50-megapixel snapper on the Vivo V29e, can still churn out very good snaps. The phone also comes with a 6.7-inch curved OLED display with FHD+ resolution and 120Hz refresh rate and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 processor, which has a performance edge over the Snapdragon 695 on the Vivo V29e.


Round that off with a 5,000mAh battery that charges at 100W and stereo speakers, and the Realme 11 Pro+ 5G comes across as a formidable challenger to the Vivo V29e. Its design with a large camera unit on a vegan leather back will also attract those who want a phone to flaunt as well as function, although it is a slightly more expensive proposition. 


Nothing Phone 1: Still Something To Think About


Price: Rs 28,999


It might be more than a year old and have a more powerful successor, but the Nothing Phone (1) still remains a great option for anyone looking for a phone that stands out in the Rs 25,000 - Rs 30,000 category. Its 6.55 inch FHD+ AMOLED display is not curved but comes with a 120Hz refresh rate, and its 50-megapixel dual rear cameras with OIS have kept getting better with updates.


It boasts stereo speakers and is powered by a Snapdragon 778G+ chip, which might be old-ish, but still comfortably outperforms the Snapdragon 695 on the Vivo V29e. It also comes with support for wireless charging, although with a smaller 4,500mAh battery and no charger in the box.


Its 16-megapixel selfie camera will not make the 50-megapixel star on the Vivo V29e sweat, but the Phone (1)'s biggest weapon is perhaps that unique Glyph interface on its transparent back that lights up for different notifications. It remains perhaps the most distinct phone you can get for under Rs 30,000 today and purists will also love its clean Android, with regular updates. 


OnePlus Nord CE 3 5G: Temptation To Never Settle 


Price: Rs 26,999


OnePlus's Nord CE series has moved up the price ladder of late, and with greater prices have come better specs. So much so that the recently launched OnePlus Nord C3 5G is a potential challenger to the Vivo V29e.


Its design might be more understated and its 6.7-inch FHD+ fluid AMOLED display may be flat rather than curved, but the phone comes with the speed and efficiency that are a OnePlus trademark. The Snapdragon 782G processor powering it is superior to the Snapdragon 695 on the Vivo V29e. The phone also packs in stereo speakers, a 5000 mAh battery with 80W charging, and comes with OnePlus' trademark clean OxygenOS.


While it does come with a very good 50-megapixel main rear camera with OIS and a handy 8-megapixel ultrawide, its 2-megapixel macro sensor is of limited utility and its 16-megapixel selfie camera is unlikely to be in the same league as the 50-megapixel snapper on the Vivo V29e 5G. 


Poco F5 5G: For Those Who Seek Specs Rather Than Style 


Price: Rs 27,999


It does not have the classy looks, curved display or the selfie-snapping ability of the Vivo V29e, but the Poco F5 5G more than matches it in other departments. The phone comes with the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 processor, which is not only way more powerful than the Snapdragon 695 on the Vivo V29e but is among the best in the segment.


The 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate is not curved, but combined with very good stereo speakers, make the Poco F5 5G a great multimedia and gaming device. The phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery with 67W charging, and its 64-megapixel main camera with OIS turns in very good results, while the 8-megapixel ultrawide chips in with wider perspectives.


The 2-megapixel macro sensor is of limited use, however, and the 16-megapixel selfie camera is not a patch on the 50-megapixel one on the Vivo V29e. The Poco F5 5G is for those who value substance above the style. It is not flashy but is fast. It is not stylish, but is rock solid. And at around the same price as the Vivo V29e 5G.