Vivo T2 5G: The Underdog of Affordable Smartphones Under Rs. 20,000?

The Vivo T2 5G is the newest mainstream smartphone introduced by the brand in India, with its entry-level model priced below Rs. 20,000. This device is an enhancement over the Vivo T1 (Review) that was released in 2021. Notable improvements include modifications to the camera system, charging specifications, as well as aesthetic and structural updates. Competing directly with the Vivo T2 5G are the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, Redmi Note 12 5G, Moto G73 5G, and its sibling, the iQoo Z7 5G.

Have the updates made the latest model worth your attention, especially in the under-Rs. 20,000 segment? Here are our insights.

Pricing of Vivo T2 5G in India

The Vivo T2 5G has been released in two variants in the Indian market. The lower-end model features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, priced at Rs. 18,999. The higher-end model comes with 8GB of RAM and the same 128GB of storage at a cost of Rs. 20,999.

Design and Display of Vivo T2 5G

In terms of aesthetics, the Vivo T2 5G distinguishes itself from the previous model. The latest smartphone exhibits a redesigned camera module along with a flat polycarbonate body and frame. The rear sports two prominent camera modules that house the main camera and an additional sensor, accompanied by an LED flash.

We received the Nitro Blaze color variant of the T2 5G, and as noted in our initial impressions, it features a glossy finish coupled with a dual-tone gradient (from blue to orange) when viewed at different light angles. Furthermore, the gradient pattern efficiently conceals fingerprints. Personally, I found this hue to appear quite premium. For fans of the classic aesthetic, the Velocity Blaze variant is also available.

The flat frame and slightly rounded corners of the Vivo T2 5G enhance its grip. Weighing in at 172g and 7.8mm thick, it remains comfortable even for prolonged use. The volume and power buttons positioned on the right side are conveniently located and easy to access. Overall, I appreciate the feel of the T2 5G in hand.

The Nitro Blaze color of the Vivo T2 5G is quite attractive

 

While many competitors in this price bracket have adopted a hole-punch design for the display, the Vivo T2 5G appears somewhat outdated with its thicker bezels, prominent chin, and water-drop notch. Although Vivo hasn’t officially stated this (at least at the time this review was published), they have verified to Gadgets 360 that the T2 5G offers an IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.

The smartphone is equipped with a 6.38-inch AMOLED display, marking an upgrade from the IPS screen used in the T1 5G. The new version also achieves improved brightness levels. It boasts a refresh rate of 90Hz, a touch sampling rate of 360Hz, and has a claimed peak brightness of 1,300 nits. The display supports HDR10, along with Widevine L1 certification for HD and higher resolution video playback on streaming platforms. My experience watching content on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar was enjoyable, although these apps seemed unaware of the display’s HDR capabilities. The colors are vibrant, and the blacks are deep.

The Vivo T2 5G includes a ‘smart switch’ feature for the refresh rate, automatically adjusting it between 60Hz and 90Hz based on the on-screen content. I experienced no lag during animations, transitions, or while browsing through menus.

The Vivo T2 5G continues to include a 3.5mm headphone jack for those who prefer wired audio. However, users who enjoy speaker audio might find the absence of stereo speakers disappointing. The single speaker on the T2 5G lacks the volume necessary for optimal content enjoyment. Additionally, the device is equipped with AI-driven face recognition and an in-display fingerprint scanner, both of which function accurately and quickly.

The Vivo T2 5G retains a 3.5mm headphone jack

 

Specifications and Software of Vivo T2 5G

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC, the Vivo T2 5G is reminiscent of the T1 5G from last year. This model supports 44W fast charging compared to its predecessor, despite having a reduced battery capacity of 4,500mAh (down from 5,000mAh). Additionally, it comes with a hybrid-SIM slot, USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 5.1, Wi-Fi 6, and GPS capabilities.

The Vivo T2 5G operates on Funtouch OS 13, which is built on Android 13. Over the years, Vivo has introduced several enhancements to Funtouch OS, but the interface remains cluttered with numerous pre-installed apps. Users can uninstall various third-party applications, yet disabling many native apps isn’t possible. Fortunately, folders like Hot Apps and Hot Games can be hidden through the V-App Store.

Even with an array of pre-installed applications, I noticed a slight reduction in notification overload from these apps; however, I still received around four to five push notifications daily, which was bothersome. One positive change appears to be RAM management; most previously opened applications stayed active in the background without needing to reload.

Performance and Battery Life of Vivo T2 5G

We assessed the Vivo T2 5G with 6GB of RAM, scoring an impressive 410,346 points on AnTuTu. In the Geekbench 6 testing, it achieved scores of 869 for single-core performance and 1,879 for multi-core performance. The graphics benchmarks, GFX Bench’s T-Rex and Car Chase tests, yielded 77fps and 17fps, respectively. Everyday use was seamless without any performance hiccups. The device managed all basic activities effectively, whether social media or light gaming.

The AMOLED display of the Vivo T2 5G is bright and vivid

 

In terms of gaming performance, I tried more graphics-demanding titles like Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Mobile, which took a moment to load initially but performed well on low to medium settings. Call of Duty: Mobile played smoothly on the ‘High’ graphics settings along with ‘High’ frame rates out of the box. However, when I switched to ‘Very High’ graphics and frame rate settings, I noticed occasional stutters during gameplay. Remarkably, the Vivo T2 5G didn’t overheat even after approximately 30 minutes of gaming.

Battery life on the Vivo T2 5G exceeded my expectations, providing around nine hours of screen-on time. Vivo claims the device can charge to 60 percent in just 25 minutes. Based on our tests, the phone went from one to 40 percent in 30 minutes and reached full charge in roughly 1 hour and 17 minutes using the included adapter. During our HD video looping test, the T2 5G ran for an impressive 20 hours and 52 minutes, which is exceptional.

Cameras of Vivo T2 5G

Featuring a dual-camera arrangement on the back, the Vivo T2 5G includes a 64-megapixel primary sensor equipped with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 2-megapixel portrait lens. The front sports a 16-megapixel camera for selfies, although it lacks an ultra-wide angle lens.

The primary camera performs admirably in daylight conditions, producing accurate exposure and colors, with abundant detail. The HDR functionality effectively caters to backlit shots, balancing exposure between the subject and background. A ‘64MP’ shooting mode is accessible within the camera app, capturing images at the sensor’s native resolution. Images in this mode displayed accurate colors and exposure, although details suffered, and noise became apparent upon zooming.

Sample shots from the main camera of Vivo T2 5G (tap to view full size)

In lower light situations, the main sensor performs above average as well. Photos are well-exposed, displaying accurate colors, and night mode effectively enhances detail, improves exposure, and minimizes noise in dark areas of images.

The portrait mode with the rear camera provides natural background blur and performs adequately in both day and night settings. Although, on occasion, edge detection fell short, leading to slight blurring around the subject in some captures, though these instances were rare.

Camera samples from Vivo T2 5G (top to bottom): Night landscape, Night Mode (tap to view full size)

Selfie images captured in portrait mode yielded accurate skin tones. Although the camera applies a slight smoothening effect on skin textures by default, users have the option to adjust this in the beauty settings. Edge detection was also occasionally imperfect when using the front camera in portrait mode.

The rear primary camera of the Vivo T2 5G can record videos at up to 1080p resolution at 60fps. Many rivals, including the iQoo Z7 55, support 4K video recording capabilities. The video captured with the T2 5G experienced noticeable shakiness without stabilization, but activation of stabilization resulted in smoother footage with a minor crop in the frame. Overall, video quality was commendable with decent color and dynamic range. The front camera can also record at 1080p at 30fps, delivering acceptable quality.

Conclusion

With a price tag below Rs. 20,000 for the entry model, the Vivo T2 5G positions itself as a competitive choice in its category. The smartphone does not skimp on performance relative to its peers, and features like a vibrant AMOLED display, a 3.5mm headphone jack, extended battery life, and rapid charging make it well-suited for media consumption within this budget. The rear camera’s performance is commendable, producing satisfactory images during both day and night. Furthermore, the selfie camera delivers quality images suitable for social media use in adequate lighting conditions. Nevertheless, the absence of an ultra-wide camera is a drawback.

One area where the T2 5G lags behind other models is the lack of stereo audio. Overall, the Vivo T2 5G represents a solid option in this price segment, as long as the presence of bloatware in Funtouch OS doesn’t deter you.

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