Beebom
Rating8
The Vivo T5x is the equivalent of a one-eyed king in the land of the blind. It is a competent budget phone that gets a lot right, offering a durable build quality, reasonable performance, long battery life and a functional camera. But it fumbles big with an IPS LCD screen and a bloatware-infested OS that sours an otherwise acceptable spec sheet. It is not the best option out there. However, given the shrinking market of budget phones, it might just be the most practical one.
Pros
- IP 68/69 dust and water protection
- Takes good photos in day and night
- Battery lasts more than a day
- Delivers adequate everyday performance
- Circular LED indicator handy for notifications
Cons
- Display could've been premium
- Quite heavy to carry around
- Camera misses out on OIS
When the smartphone industry is suffering because of the ongoing RAM crisis, and the price of phones is skyrocketing faster than the stock market, how do you find a good budget phone? This is the question I had before starting this Vivo T5x review, and while typically I have concrete thoughts on whether I should recommend this phone or not, the answer is a little complicated now.
Unboxing
Starting with the unboxing, the Vivo T5x 5G comes with its tailor-made accessories right in the box. Here's a rundown of everything included:
- Vivo T5x 5G smartphone
- Transparent silicone case
- Pre-applied screen protector
- 44W FlashCharge adapter
- USB Type A to Type C cable
- SIM ejector pin
- Paperwork
Before heading forward with this detailed Vivo T5x review, I suggest you check out its key specifications for reference.
Vivo T5x 5G Key Details
- Mali-G615 MC2
- FHD+ LCD
- SDR
- 44Watt (wired)
- Charger in the box
- Sony IMX852
EIS
4K@30fps
- 128GB (UFS 3.1)
- 4k@30fps
- Plastic (Back)
- Plastic Frame (Side)
- IP68/69+ (Dust and Water Resistant)
- 2 year(s) of OS Update
Design and Build
- 8.4mm thickness, 219 grams weight
- Plastic frame and back, side-mounted fingerprint scanner
- IP 68/69 dust and water protection
Let's start this review by going over the design of the Vivo T5x, which sports a pretty traditional look with a boxy fit, flat sides and a full-frame plastic build quality that is nothing out of the ordinary in this segment. This is a healthy phone, and I could tell from the moment I picked it up. The 8.4mm thickness adds to the heft, but the in-hand feel wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, given the weight was well-balanced.
Vivo was considerate enough to provide slightly curved flat sides, making it easier for me to grip and hold the phone for longer. That said, I did end up leaving a bunch of fingerprints on the shiny metallic finish back, making it almost a necessity to carry a wiping cloth with me at work and home.
However, the mushy buttons quickly snapped me back to the reality that this is a budget phone, and some corners have been cut because of it. There's also a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, which doubles as a power button, and it is positioned perfectly. So, I didn't need to reposition my fingers every time I tried to unlock the phone during my Vivo T5x review period.
The highlight of the design is the circular LED indicator that flashes every time I get a notification. This is minor, but a neat quality-of-life addition at this price point. It allowed me to lay the phone flat and be notified whenever I got an alert, similar to the Infinix Note 60 Pro that I reviewed earlier.
What else this phone gets right is the IP rating. Unlike the similarly priced OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite and the Realme P4X, this phone comes with an IP 68/69 rating. This meant I could be a little clumsy with the device without having a mini panic attack whenever it touches a body of water.
Display and Audio Quality
- 6.76-inch Full HD+ (1080 x 2344 pixels) LCD display
- 120Hz refresh rate, no display protection
- 1200 nits high brightness (as claimed by the brand)
On the front, we are greeted with a large Full HD+ IPS LCD with thick bezels that look straight out of 2020. I knew going into this Vivo T5x review that the screen would not be up to the mark, but for some reason, it looks more unflattering up close. The colours look washed out, deep blacks are absent, viewing angles are unpleasant, and visibility is low under direct sunlight.
If you are coming from an AMOLED phone, the difference would be significant. However, it is on par with the typical LCD quality, as evident from my OnePlus Nord CE 6 Lite review. As expected, watching content was not the best experience I have had on a smartphone, but I did find it quite fitting for watching YouTube videos while I sat down to have my dinner.
I understand the compromise, but a 90Hz AMOLED would go better over a 120Hz LCD. The higher refresh rate makes the panel more responsive to touch. And the speaker setup was actually enjoyable, as it gets audibly loud without delivering a completely flat sound signature, unlike the Realme P4 Lite or the Oppo K14x.
It is certainly not the best display smartphone under Rs 25,000, but I think you should manage your expectations at this budget.
Performance Tested
- Mediatek Dimensity 7400 Turbo processor
- Up to 8 GB LPDDR4X RAM and 256 GB UFS 3.1 storage
Thankfully, performance is not a major concern, since the Vivo T5x is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7400 Turbo chipset. This is a popular choice for phones in this category, as we have previously seen it powering the Realme P4 Power, Motorola Edge 60 Fusion, and the Vivo T4R. And there's a good reason behind it, as it offers a balance of efficiency and performance as seen in the benchmarks below.
During my Vivo T5x review, the daily performance was nothing to be worried about. It offers a reliable experience, and the optimised OriginOS 6 software means that multitasking, app animations, everyday apps and even gaming are possible without any hiccups on this phone.
For gamers, I would suggest you manage your expectations: BGMI can run at 60 FPS with smooth graphics, while Call of Duty: Mobile does a little better at 90 FPS on low settings. Heavier games like Genshin Impact are out of the question unless you like choppy gameplay hovering around 25-30 FPS.
The T5x benefits from fast UFS 3.1 storage and a 120Hz refresh rate, with games loading quickly and touch responsiveness on point. But those looking for the best gaming phone under Rs 25,000 should consider the likes of the OnePlus Nord CE 5 and the Poco X7 Pro.
| Game | Settings |
|---|---|
| CoD Mobile | Low + Ultra (90 FPS stable) |
| BGMI | Smooth + Ultra (60 FPS) |
Software and Updates
- OriginOS 6 based on Android 16
- 2 years of Software updates and 4 years of Security patches
Since my iQOO 15R review, I have become familiar with the OriginOS 6 experience and come to appreciate how well-tuned it is, along with all the customisations at my disposal. I could change anything from the fingerprint or charging animation to the shape of quick settings and more.
The Origin Island is another highlight, bringing the Apple iPhone-style Dynamic Island to Vivo phones. I also want to point out that the software optimisation is so well done that I could compare it to high-end devices. Throughout my week of the Vivo T5x review period, I didn't notice any hiccups or stutters in the UI.
But fair warning, it comes with a handful of bloatware apps that it tries to push from the moment you start setting up the phone. Even when I tried to look past it, the V-Appstore would send me an alert reminding me about the most annoying aspect of the OS. There was literally a day when I got more alerts from V-Appstore than all other notifications combined. So, disabling all this is a must.
Cameras Reviewed
- 50 MP main camera with Sony IMX852 sensor
- 2 MP bokeh camera
- 32 MP selfie camera
Coming to the camera, the Vivo T5x features a modest 50 MP camera featuring a Sony IMX852 sensor and a 1/2.93" aperture. It's coupled with a 2 MP bokeh camera and a 32 MP front camera.
Main Camera Images
The actual image quality from the main camera is respectable, as it captures pleasing images in daylight and even during dawn. I like how it preserved the look of the clouds instead of just whitewashing the entire sky. The colours are slightly on the cooler side, with a pinch of saturation that makes the photos look social media-ready. If you weren't pixel peeping too much, you would be satisfied with these images.
In low-light shots, the quality does hold up well, especially if there is plenty of ambient light. However, the exposure does scatter here and there, and the details go really, really soft. So, you just need to be more careful at night when clicking photos. That said, the nighttime shots are still decent given the price.
Selfie Camera Images
I also clicked a bunch of selfies during my Vivo T5x review period; the images turned out better than my expressions. The photos look quite flat, but the skin tones appear close to what they actually are, and there is no excessive beautification happening here. However, portrait mode is a miss since it tends to blur out my messy hair quite often, and the edge detection isn't as precise either.
Video Recording
The Vivo T5x can record up to 4K videos at 30 FPS from the main camera, and the recording is good, but since there is no OIS onboard, the footage is a bit shaky. The front camera can do a maximum of 1080p, and it is serviceable, but certainly nothing along the lines of the best camera phone in its category.
Battery Life and Charging
- 7,200mAh silicon-carbon battery capacity
- 44W wired charging supported
The Vivo T5x definitely earns a spot as a nominee on the list of the best battery backup phones under Rs 25,000 with its massive 7,200mAh capacity. This large battery is precisely the USP of the phone, as I was able to get around 9 hours of screen time during my week-long Vivo T5x review journey.
This includes gaming, spending an entire day taking photos, watching YouTube, and scrolling through the usual social media apps. Yet I would end the day with almost 25% left to go. Finally, I would put it on charge, the 44W charger would take around 1 hour and 20 minutes for a 100% top-up.
Vivo T5x Review Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The Vivo T5x is not the most well-rounded phone. But it is surprising that despite all the shortcomings I have mentioned in this review, it does have a few tricks up its sleeve.
Like an IP68/69 rating, decent low-light images, a good selfie camera, good performance for everyday use as well as light gaming, and a smoother software experience that makes it stand tall among the new generation of budget smartphones affected by the price hike.
But as I said at the start of this review, I still have my doubts about recommending this phone for anyone looking to pick it up around Rs 20,000 to 25,000. My suggestion would be to find the Vivo T4, iQOO Z10R or the Realme P4 at this price. And if those are out of stock, then find a way to get some offers and discounts and try to fetch the Vivo T5x under 21,999.
₹17,237 with
| Partner | Offer Applicable for | Offer Value | Final Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹5,148 off | ₹17,237 |
