Key Highlights
- 3D curved AMOLED display
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Mediatek Dimensity 9200+ SoC
- Up to 12GB RAM, 256GB ROM
- 50MP Sony IMX921 primary sensor with OIS
- 50MP front camera
- 5,500mAh battery
- Funtouch OS 14
Imaging holding a mobile phone in your hand that looks like it belongs in the premium range. But, without a hefty price tag. That’s what exactly Vivo is offering with its recently launched T3 Ultra 5G. From the very first glimpse, it is clear that Vivo has packed the design of its higher-end models into this mid-range beauty. From the sleek, minimalist finish to the eye-catching colors, the T3 Ultra feels like a phone made to impress. But, is it just all about looks? Or, does it perform as well? Here, I have put the Vivo T3 Ultra 5G through its paces, and here’s what I found out. Let’s begin.
| Pros | Cons |
| Sleek, premium design | No wireless charging support |
| Good display | Bloatware and pre-installed apps |
| Dimensity 9200+ chipset | |
| Decent battery | |
| Good front camera |
What’s Inside The Box?
- Vivo T3 Ultra 5G Handset (Lunar Gray)
- Charger
- USB Cable
- TPU Case
- User Manual
Design
I have had a strong first impression of the Vivo T3 Ultra 5G the moment I took it out of the box. It feels solid in the hand and definitely giving a premium vibe with just the right amount of weight. The device weighs 192 grams and measures 7.58 mm thick, which gives it a nice balance between lightweight and slim. The smooth matte finish on its back feels nice to touch. However, while the aesthetics scream high-end, the company has opted for a plastic frame instead of metal. This might leave some users questioning its durability. But at this price point, I think it is a compromise that’s understandable.
The front of the Vivo T3 Ultra 5G features an optical fingerprint sensor. It is quick and responsive, though its placement is a bit low for my liking. And while there’s no headphone jack, the smartphone does offer IP68 water and dust resistance.
On the top of the device, the phrase ‘Professional Portrait’ subtly etched. At the bottom, there’s a SIM card tray that supports two nano SIM cards, a USB Type-C 2.0 port, the primary microphone, and speaker. Coming to the left side, things are kept clean with no buttons or ports. On its right side, there’s the power button and volume rockers. This layout is practical, and the buttons are positioned just right for one-handed use.
Display
If I talk about the display, this is where the Vivo T3 Ultra 5G starts to shine. The device has 6.78-inch AMOLED screen along with a 3D curved design. If you are like me and appreciate a curved display, you will definitely love how immersive it feels, especially when watching content. The screen offers a 2800 x 1260 resolution. It is set to FHD by default. So, if you want the full 1.5K experience, you will need to head into the settings and turn it up.
The color tuning options are a nice touch. I mostly stick with Standard for natural tones, but you can switch to Professional for warmer colors or Bright for a cooler and more vibrant look. So, whether you are scrolling through Instagram or watching a Netflix series, everything looks vibrant and sharp.
Comin to the refresh rate, it has 120Hz. But it is not LTPO. So, there’s no adaptive refresh rate here. At 4500 nits for HDR content and 1200 nits for regular use, it has a decent peak brightness. While it is not the brightest display out there, it undoubtedly holds up well under most lighting conditions. Streaming content or watching videos is a treat on this screen, especially with the refined curves that make everything feel a bit more cinematic. The bezels can seem uneven due to the curve, but honestly, it didn’t bother me much. Lastly, the punch-hole cutout is well-placed. This keeps the overall design sleek and clean.
Performance
The Vivo T3 Ultra 5G is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset. Well, it is the same flagship processor we saw in high-end devices like Vivo X90 Pro. However, now it has been carried to a more affordable device. The smartphone offers up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB storage. So undoubtedly, it can easily handle multitasking, gaming, and just about anything you throw at it. But you know, what’s the icing on the cake? It is the vapor cooling system. It helps to manage the heat effectively. During my time with it, the phone stayed surprisingly cool even after hours of gaming and heavy use, which I think is great.
In day-to-day use, apps open quickly, switching between them is smooth. I personally did not experience any noticeable lag. Well, I guess that is the power of the Dimensity 9200+ chipset. It gives you that flagship-level performance without burning a hole in your pocket.
Coming to the stereo speakers, it is decent but not revolutionary of course. They are loud enough for watching videos or listening to music, but the stereo separation is not as strong as I would have liked. So, if you are someone who prefers really loud speakers, this could be a bit of a letdown.
Software
The Vivo T3 Ultra runs on Funtouch OS 14. It offers a smooth and customizable experience. Vivo also promises three years of software updates and four years of security updates. However, there is a fair amount of bloatware on board which I didn’t like. You will be greeted by prompts to open the V-Appstore upon booting up, which can get annoying pretty quickly. While you can uninstall most pre-installed apps, but some like the V-Appstore is stuck on the device, and you might want to disable notifications to avoid the constant pop-ups.
That said, Funtouch OS 14 does come with some handy features, especially for photo enthusiasts. The AI Eraser and Photo Enhance tools are great for quick edits, and the camera app offers extensive watermark customization options. The animations are smooth, though I did miss some of the fun wallpaper effects like zooming and blur that we see in other custom Android skins.
Camera
The camera system on the vivo T3 Ultra is packed with features that make it a strong contender in its price range.
Let’s start with the main camera, that is, 50MP Sony IMX 921. Well, it performs decent in various lighting conditions, especially in low light. The details are sharp, colors are vibrant, and the shimmer on reflective surfaces is captured accurately. Even in ultra-low light, I found the detail retention impressive. Although, a slower shutter speed could improve overall lighting balance.
However, the main camera shines in the well-lit environments. It provides great color accuracy and detail retention. The edge detection works well for portrait shots. The bokeh effect is also smooth.
Coming to the 8MP OmniVision OV08D10 ultra-wide camera, it does a decent job, especially in well-lit conditions. In low light, detail retention is impressive. However, when zooming in, some textures struggle to retain sharpness.
Portrait shots are decent, but not perfect. The edge detection can be hit or miss, but facial details are generally well-captured. It may not compete with flagship portrait cameras, but for the price, it holds its own.
The 50MP Samsung JN1 selfie camera is one of the standouts. In low light, the phone’s screen adds just the right amount of illumination. In well-lit conditions, selfies come out sharp with minimal smoothing. Colors are accurate, and the image quality overall is impressive for a front-facing camera.
Battery
The Vivo T3 Ultra is powered by the 5,500mAh battery capacity. During my usage, it easily lasted a full day on medium usage. This includes social media browsing, watching videos, and some web surfing. By the end of the day, there was still some power left. This means you won’t need to rush for a charger in the evening.
Coming to the charging speed, it provides 80W wired fast charging. You can get 0 to 100 percent in just an hour. However, lack of wireless charging is a downside, especially in this price range.
Giznext’s Final Verdict
| Model | Price |
| 8GB RAM + 128GB Storage | Rs. 31,999 |
| 8GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs. 33,999 |
| 12GB RAM + 256GB Storage | Rs. 35,999 |
So, is the Vivo T3 Ultra worth your hard-earned money? Well, if you want a phone that feels premium but doesn’t hit your wallet too hard, this one is definitely a winner. With its sharp display, decent battery life, and good camera performance, it is a steal. However, if wireless charging or loud speakers are must-haves for you, you might need to look elsewhere. For most, though, the Vivo T3 Ultra offers great value and style without the expensive price tag.
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