Vivo V3Max A Comprehensive Review of Specs Prices and Performance

Overview

The vivo V3Max, announced and released in April 2016, presents a balanced mix of performance, design, and affordability. Despite being discontinued, this device remains noteworthy for tech enthusiasts who appreciate older smartphone models from the Vivo lineup. With its robust specs for the time, the V3Max was aimed at consumers seeking a mid-range device that delivers on performance without breaking the bank.

Design and Build Quality

The vivo V3Max features a sleek and elegant design, characterized by its dimensions of 153.9 x 77.1 x 7.6 mm and a weight of 168 grams, making it both slim and reasonably lightweight. The use of metal in its construction adds to its premium feel, often likened to more expensive smartphones of its era. The device sports a hybrid dual SIM configuration, allowing users the flexibility to expand storage through a microSD card or accommodate a second SIM card.

Display

The smartphone boasts a 5.5-inch IPS LCD display, offering vibrant colors and good viewing angles. With a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 401 ppi, the display is quite sharp, making it a suitable choice for media consumption and gaming. The screen-to-body ratio of around 70.3% provides an immersive viewing experience.

Performance

Under the hood, the vivo V3Max is powered by the Qualcomm MSM8976 Snapdragon 652 chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU with four Cortex-A72 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.4 GHz. The inclusion of the Adreno 510 GPU ensures competent graphical performance. Coupled with 4GB of RAM, this setup delivers smooth multitasking and gaming experiences. Originally operating on Android 5.1 (Lollipop) with Vivo’s custom Funtouch 2.5 OS, the user interface is intuitive though slightly customized compared to stock Android.

Storage

The device comes with 32GB of internal storage, which at the time was sufficient for average use cases. The option to expand storage using a microSDXC card via the hybrid SIM card slot offers added flexibility for users who require more space for media and apps.

Camera

Photography on the vivo V3Max is managed by a 13MP main camera with Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) and LED flash. This configuration enables it to capture decent quality photos with support for features like panorama and HDR. In terms of video, it can record in 1080p at 30fps. The front houses an 8MP selfie camera capable of shooting videos at 1080p@30fps, allowing for clear video calls and selfies.

Battery Life

The device packs a non-removable Li-Ion 3000mAh battery, sufficient for daily activities given the hardware characteristics. Additionally, it supports fast charging at 18W, with claims of reaching 50% charge within 30 minutes. Vivo's advertised endurance rating for the V3Max is approximately 70 hours, suggesting reliability for a full day's heavy use.

Connectivity and Network

The vivo V3Max supports a wide range of network technologies including GSM, HSPA, and LTE, with 4G bands covering popular frequencies in many regions. It offers a maximum download speed of 150 Mbps on LTE Cat4, making it capable for adequate mobile browsing and streaming. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1 with A2DP, and LE, and a GPS module supporting GLONASS and BDS.

Audio and Additional Features

Despite market trends moving away from 3.5mm audio jacks, the V3Max retains this traditional feature, alongside a loudspeaker for hands-free audio. For usability, the device incorporates a fingerprint sensor located on the rear, providing a secure and convenient unlocking method. Additional sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, and proximity sensors.

Conclusion

The vivo V3Max, though discontinued and succeeded by newer models, remains a solid example of a mid-range smartphone from the mid-2010s. Its combination of a robust processor, reasonable camera capabilities, fast charging, and sleek design catered well to its target audience. For users exploring older devices for the sake of nostalgia or basic smartphone functionality, the V3Max stands as a reliable choice from Vivo’s catalog.