Vivo recently put its new entrant Vivo V21 up for sales in India at Rs 29,990. At this cost, the company promises a device that is capable of handling your everyday functions, features new uses for existing smartphone technologies and is largely appealing to the eyes. The smartphone is largely meant to please almost every type of buyer looking for a phone in this budget.

This review is meant to be a more extensive look at what Vivo’s latest device has to offer. For that, its strong points shall be highlighted, but more importantly, its shortcomings nitpicked, and comparisons shall be made to other offerings in the category. After all, you would want to know all about it before investing your money in the smartphone.

In this regard, the Vivo V21 has tough parameters to beat. The simplest reason for this is the hoard of launches in the budget of around Rs 30,000. Almost every smartphone maker is present in this category, from OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, Realme to even Apple with its iPhone SE.

If that wasn’t enough, the Vivo V21 also has to compete with its own brethren, including the almost similar Vivo V20 Pro and the recently launched iQOO 7.

Vivo has tried to make the V21 as premium, at least in looks, as is possible in the budget. The attempt can be seen right on the box in which the device comes. It is stark blue, it is shiny, and it will catch your eye.

Pop open the box to be impressed even more, as the moment you take the Vivo V21 out of its wraps, you will know you have a well-thought-of gadget in your hand. The looks are as refined as it gets, and the form factor is a joy to behold.

Vivo V21 comes in three colour options – Sunset Dazzle, Dusk Blue, and Arctic White. We received the Arctic White, and we can easily say that the shiny colour gradient is extremely pleasing and should appeal to all.

It is further complemented by the seemingly metallic highlights on the camera module as well as the edges, with their physical buttons. As for the former, this is a similar module that is seen on the recent Vivo and iQOO devices – a triple-lens set up in a rectangular housing that does not protrude much.

The Vivo V21 hence lies almost flat when kept on its back. This the least of the handling advantages of the smartphone. Vivo introduced the device as India’s slimmest 5G smartphone yet, and at just 7.3 mm of thickness, you wouldn’t care at all if the claim is true or not. You will love it.

The design of the smartphone has been developed keeping such a use in mind. Even with its dual-tone back, the V21 comes with a matte finish, thus entirely doing away with problems like ultra-reflective backs or fingerprint smudges.

The rest of the device is just what smartphones are supposed to be. It houses a waterdrop selfie shooter at the front, an extremely thin bezel, USB Type-C port, dual SIM tray and speakers at the chin and a power button and a volume rocker at the right edge. The phone misses out on a 3.5 mm headphone jack.