If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly yet powerful smartphone, Vivo has two solid contenders for you: the Vivo V30e and the soon-to-be-released Vivo V40. Both phones offer impressive features for their price points, but which one gives you the most bang for your buck? Let’s dive into a detailed comparison, breaking down the key differences and helping you decide which device is the right fit for you.
1. Design and Build Quality
- Vivo V30e: The V30e features a 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 1,300 nits peak brightness. With a glass front, plastic frame, and either a glass or plastic back, this phone feels premium, even with its mid-range price. It’s IP64 rated, making it dust and water-resistant to a certain extent. The phone is also lightweight, weighing around 179g to 188g depending on the model.
- Vivo V40: The V40 steps up the design game with a 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display offering a 120Hz refresh rate. While the exact brightness figures are yet to be confirmed, it’s expected to offer 4,500 nits of peak brightness and 1,200 nits HBM. Additionally, the IP65 rating means better dust and water resistance than the V30e. The V40 also maintains a slim design while housing a large battery, giving it a sleek and premium look.
Winner: Vivo V40 takes the lead here with its superior IP65 rating and curved display, giving it a more premium feel.
2. Performance
- Vivo V30e: Powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, the V30e packs a decent punch for everyday tasks and light gaming. It offers 8GB or 12GB RAM and comes in 128GB and 256GB storage variants. The Adreno 710 GPU handles graphics-intensive tasks reasonably well but may struggle with more demanding games.
- Vivo V40: The V40 comes with a more powerful MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, which is also found in high-performing devices like the Oppo Reno12. This chipset is a step above the Snapdragon 6 Gen 1, offering smoother performance, especially for gaming and multitasking. It’s paired with 8GB RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, providing enough flexibility for most users.
Winner: The Vivo V40 wins in terms of performance, thanks to its faster MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chipset, which promises better efficiency and multitasking.
3. Camera Setup
- Vivo V30e: The V30e boasts a 50 MP main camera, paired with an 8 MP ultra-wide lens. This setup is adequate for most users, delivering decent shots in good lighting. The 50 MP selfie camera (India variant) or 32 MP selfie camera (Malaysia variant) also provides great detail for selfies. The rear camera supports 4K video recording, a nice touch for this price range.
- Vivo V40: The V40 takes things up a notch with a 50 MP Sony IMX882 sensor for the main camera, which is expected to deliver better image quality compared to the V30e’s sensor. It’s also accompanied by an 8 MP ultra-wide camera, similar to the V30e. On the front, it offers a 50 MP selfie camera, expected to be the Samsung JN1 sensor, ensuring crisp selfies and excellent video calls.
Winner: The Vivo V40 edges out the V30e with its Sony IMX882 sensor, promising better image processing and overall camera performance.
4. Battery and Charging
- Vivo V30e: Equipped with a 5,500 mAh battery, the V30e supports 44W fast charging, which is more than enough to get you back to a full charge in a short time. The battery life is robust, making it a great device for heavy users who need their phone to last all day.
- Vivo V40: The V40 also comes with a 5,500 mAh battery, but the exact charging speed hasn’t been confirmed. However, it’s expected to be similar or slightly faster than the V30e’s 44W charging. The V40 also boasts enhanced power efficiency thanks to the Dimensity 7300 chipset, likely offering better battery life overall.
Winner: Both phones offer identical battery capacities, but the Vivo V40 may provide better battery optimization due to its more efficient chipset.
5. Software and Features
- Vivo V30e: The V30e runs on Android 14 with Funtouch 14 out of the box. The software experience is smooth and customizable, with plenty of features packed into Vivo’s Funtouch OS.
- Vivo V40: The V40 will also run Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14, offering the same software experience as the V30e. However, you can expect some additional tweaks and improvements, especially with Vivo’s focus on AI features and optimizations for the Dimensity chipset.
Winner: This category is a tie as both devices run on the latest Android 14 with Funtouch OS 14.
6. Pricing and Availability
- Vivo V30e: The Vivo V30e is currently available with a price tag of ₹24,538 (approximately $295 USD), making it an affordable mid-range option.
- Vivo V40: The Vivo V40 is expected to be priced between ₹20,000 and ₹30,000 (around $250 to $375 USD), putting it in the same ballpark as the V30e but with slightly better specs and features.
Winner: Based on the expected pricing, the Vivo V40 offers better value for money given its upgraded chipset, camera, and design improvements.
Final Verdict
While both the Vivo V30e and Vivo V40 are solid mid-range smartphones, the Vivo V40 stands out as the better choice overall. It offers superior performance, a more advanced camera system, and a premium design—all for a similar price range. If you’re looking for a phone with better future-proofing and powerful performance, the Vivo V40 is the way to go.
That said, if you can find the V30e at a discounted price, it’s still a great device for users who don’t need the absolute latest tech. Either way, both phones deliver excellent value for money, making them strong contenders in the competitive mid-range market.
Joyce Lewis is a talented journalist at 3Zebras, known for her insightful coverage of technology, gaming, and privacy issues. Her work delves into the human aspects of tech, from the politeness of virtual assistants to the security risks of smart toys. Joyce’s articles are engaging and informative, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.