Rating -- 3.5/5
Vivo 's India-focused T series has always aimed to deliver powerful performance at accessible prices. However, the latest T3 Ultra marks a new chapter. This is the only phone in the lineup that breaks the Rs 30,000 price barrier for the first time.
This brings us to the question: can the "Ultra" branding of the phone live up to its name, or is it simply a rehashed version of the T3 Pro with a higher price tag?
We put the Vivo T3 Ultra to the test to see if it truly offers a premium experience and stands out in the crowded mid-range market. We have been using the Lunar Gray variant of the Vivo T3 Ultra which was launched at a starting price of Rs 31,999. For this review, we tested the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage which is priced at Rs 35,999.
Design
As we took it out, the phone felt surprisingly light for its size. It has a tall stance and a cool and pleasant in-hand feel. The backside of the phone is smooth but is very slippery and is a fingerprint magnet.
The weight of the 192-gram Vivo T3 Ultra is so well distributed that it didn’t feel tiring even during extensive content viewing, social media and gaming sessions.
Both the power button and the volume rockers are placed on the right panel of the curved display which are easy to reach. The SIM tray, USB-C port and speakers are placed on the bottom rail.
This design may seem very similar to the Vivo V40 series, especially with that circular camera module. Speaking of which, the camera bump is pretty minimal but it does wobble a little when kept on a flat surface.
The phone has a plastic frame which is not a big deal considering the price. It not only helps keep the phone lightweight but also doesn’t harm the phone’s look and feel.
Vivo T3 Ultra has an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating which is also a plus point. The protection on the curved screen also looks sturdy enough against accidental falls and bumps.
Overall, the sleek and stylish design of the Vivo T3 Ultra offers a comfortable and nice in-hand feeling.
Display
Vivo T3 Ultra’s 6.78-inch AMOLED panel that supports 1.5K resolution offers a nice experience. The curved display looks crisp and sharp, even when we are scrolling through Instagram or watching YouTube videos.
The colours on the screen just pop. With deeper blacks, the images on the display look vibrant and have a nice balance without the colours being oversaturated. The curved display also offers an immersive feel but the images tend to get distorted at the edges.
On this smartphone, we enjoyed watching movies like Avengers: Endgame, Interstellar, and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as web series like Rings of Power and Altered Carbon. However, we missed support for HDR content on Netflix and other platforms.
Vivo claims it can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits which helps to make this screen get very bright. Even in direct sunlight, we had no trouble seeing what was on the display.
The 120Hz refresh rate also makes it smooth and responsive for scrolling and multitasking. The scrolling animations also looked very smooth and had an overall satisfactory feeling.
Vivo T3 Ultra’s in-display fingerprint is responsive and worked fine for us. The phone has a pair of stereo speakers which sounds pretty good. They get nice and loud, which is perfect for watching videos or playing games without headphones.
Camera
Moving to the camera setup, the Vivo T3 Ultra packs a 50MP Sony IMX921 sensor as its main camera. This sensor, which is not common in phones in this price range, produces impressive image quality.
The photos captured under good lighting conditions were sharp and detailed, with accurate colours and a wide dynamic range. Even upon zooming in, the images retained their clarity.
The phone doesn’t have a dedicated telephoto lens, but the main sensor does a decent job with digital zoom, especially in daylight.
The phone's low-light performance was commendable, capturing details even in dimly lit environments while keeping noise levels in check. However, a slight colour shift was noticeable across different zoom levels, which is understandable given the phone's price point.
The ultrawide camera, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. It captured decent photos in daylight, but the colours sometimes looked a little washed out. Moreover, like many ultrawide cameras, there was some noticeable distortion around the edges.
The portrait mode of this phone is one of the major highlights. The T3 Ultra did a great job separating the subject from the background, and the bokeh effect looked natural and pleasing.
Selfies were also impressive, with good detail and accurate skin tones. The HDR performance for selfies was also decent and was only a concern in challenging lighting situations.
When it comes to video, the T3 Ultra can record in 4K at 60fps, which is pretty impressive for a mid-ranger. The video quality was generally good, with natural colours and decent stabilisation. However, we did notice that the autofocus could be slightly slow at times.
Performance and software
Coming to the phone’s performance, the Vivo T3 Ultra features the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, which is quite a powerful chipset and is rare in phones in this price range.
The phone comes with up to 12GB of RAM, which is plenty for multitasking and keeping things running smoothly in the background. And if needed, there's an Extended RAM feature that bumps it up to 24GB.
We've rigorously tested the phone in various real-world scenarios, and we're impressed with its smooth and seamless performance.
While scrolling through social media, browsing the web, or switching between multiple apps, the T3 Ultra doesn't miss a beat. And when it comes to gaming, this phone was able to handle pretty much anything we throw at it.
We’ve played some graphics-intensive games including Genshin Impact and BGMI, and they all run smoothly without any lag or frame drop. However, the phone became a little warm during long sessions.
The sound is clear and balanced, with decent highs and mids. However, we did notice a tiny bit of distortion at max volume, but honestly, it wasn't a deal-breaker
The stereo separation of the phone’s audio also creates a more immersive soundstage, which is great for content watching.
Now, there's no headphone jack on this phone, which might be a bummer for some fussy users. But, Vivo T3 Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.3 which helps us connect the phone to the wireless headphones easily. We didn’t face any trouble pairing various TWS earbuds to the phone.
On the software side, the T3 Ultra runs Funtouch OS 14, which is based on Android 14. It's a clean and easy-to-use interface and doesn’t have any annoying ads.
However, we noticed some bloatware which came pre-installed on the phone and most of them were popular apps like Amazon, Netflix, Facebook and more.
The haptic feedback of the phone is decent. Vivo also hasn't gone overboard with the AI features. There are a few handy AI-powered tools: AI Erase and AI Photo Enhance.
We used AI Erase in some photos and it worked quite well. Removing unwanted objects from photos was a breeze and the tool helped us in cleaning up our pictures.
Battery
The Vivo T3 Ultra packs a 5,500mAh battery unit, which is not only good on paper but in real life too. On a typical day, with a usual mix of social media, browsing, a bit of YouTube, and some casual gaming, we easily made the phone last through a full day without needing to top up. There were even a few times when I stretched it to a day and a half, which was pretty impressive.
Even on days when we've used the camera a lot or played some more demanding games, we still managed to get through a full day without charging it.
The 80W Flash Charging capability is also impressive as it can charge 60% in 30 minutes and can fully charge the phone in less than an hour.
Verdict
Overall, the Vivo T3 Ultra is a compelling option that offers a well-rounded performance without compromising on value. The powerful Dimensity 9200+ chipset and the large, vibrant display make it a strong contender in its price range.
The camera system is also capable of capturing decent photos and videos in a variety of conditions. Even though it lacks a telephoto lens, the digital zoom does a decent job in daylight.
Battery life is also a plus point which easily lasts a full day even with heavy usage. The 80W fast charging is also great for users with a busier schedule.
All this makes the Vivo T3 Ultra a fine phone that offers a near-premium experience without the hefty price tag. If you're looking for a phone that can handle both demanding games as well as everyday tasks, the T3 Ultra is worth considering in this price range.
Vivo 's India-focused T series has always aimed to deliver powerful performance at accessible prices. However, the latest T3 Ultra marks a new chapter. This is the only phone in the lineup that breaks the Rs 30,000 price barrier for the first time.
This brings us to the question: can the "Ultra" branding of the phone live up to its name, or is it simply a rehashed version of the T3 Pro with a higher price tag?
We put the Vivo T3 Ultra to the test to see if it truly offers a premium experience and stands out in the crowded mid-range market. We have been using the Lunar Gray variant of the Vivo T3 Ultra which was launched at a starting price of Rs 31,999. For this review, we tested the 12GB RAM + 256GB storage which is priced at Rs 35,999.
Design
As we took it out, the phone felt surprisingly light for its size. It has a tall stance and a cool and pleasant in-hand feel. The backside of the phone is smooth but is very slippery and is a fingerprint magnet.
The weight of the 192-gram Vivo T3 Ultra is so well distributed that it didn’t feel tiring even during extensive content viewing, social media and gaming sessions.
Both the power button and the volume rockers are placed on the right panel of the curved display which are easy to reach. The SIM tray, USB-C port and speakers are placed on the bottom rail.
This design may seem very similar to the Vivo V40 series, especially with that circular camera module. Speaking of which, the camera bump is pretty minimal but it does wobble a little when kept on a flat surface.
The phone has a plastic frame which is not a big deal considering the price. It not only helps keep the phone lightweight but also doesn’t harm the phone’s look and feel.
Vivo T3 Ultra has an IP68 dust and water-resistant rating which is also a plus point. The protection on the curved screen also looks sturdy enough against accidental falls and bumps.
Overall, the sleek and stylish design of the Vivo T3 Ultra offers a comfortable and nice in-hand feeling.
Display
Vivo T3 Ultra’s 6.78-inch AMOLED panel that supports 1.5K resolution offers a nice experience. The curved display looks crisp and sharp, even when we are scrolling through Instagram or watching YouTube videos.
The colours on the screen just pop. With deeper blacks, the images on the display look vibrant and have a nice balance without the colours being oversaturated. The curved display also offers an immersive feel but the images tend to get distorted at the edges.
On this smartphone, we enjoyed watching movies like Avengers: Endgame, Interstellar, and Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as web series like Rings of Power and Altered Carbon. However, we missed support for HDR content on Netflix and other platforms.
Vivo claims it can reach a peak brightness of 4,500 nits which helps to make this screen get very bright. Even in direct sunlight, we had no trouble seeing what was on the display.
The 120Hz refresh rate also makes it smooth and responsive for scrolling and multitasking. The scrolling animations also looked very smooth and had an overall satisfactory feeling.
Vivo T3 Ultra’s in-display fingerprint is responsive and worked fine for us. The phone has a pair of stereo speakers which sounds pretty good. They get nice and loud, which is perfect for watching videos or playing games without headphones.
Camera
Moving to the camera setup, the Vivo T3 Ultra packs a 50MP Sony IMX921 sensor as its main camera. This sensor, which is not common in phones in this price range, produces impressive image quality.
The photos captured under good lighting conditions were sharp and detailed, with accurate colours and a wide dynamic range. Even upon zooming in, the images retained their clarity.
The phone doesn’t have a dedicated telephoto lens, but the main sensor does a decent job with digital zoom, especially in daylight.
The phone's low-light performance was commendable, capturing details even in dimly lit environments while keeping noise levels in check. However, a slight colour shift was noticeable across different zoom levels, which is understandable given the phone's price point.
The ultrawide camera, however, is a bit of a mixed bag. It captured decent photos in daylight, but the colours sometimes looked a little washed out. Moreover, like many ultrawide cameras, there was some noticeable distortion around the edges.
The portrait mode of this phone is one of the major highlights. The T3 Ultra did a great job separating the subject from the background, and the bokeh effect looked natural and pleasing.
Selfies were also impressive, with good detail and accurate skin tones. The HDR performance for selfies was also decent and was only a concern in challenging lighting situations.
When it comes to video, the T3 Ultra can record in 4K at 60fps, which is pretty impressive for a mid-ranger. The video quality was generally good, with natural colours and decent stabilisation. However, we did notice that the autofocus could be slightly slow at times.
Performance and software
Coming to the phone’s performance, the Vivo T3 Ultra features the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, which is quite a powerful chipset and is rare in phones in this price range.
The phone comes with up to 12GB of RAM, which is plenty for multitasking and keeping things running smoothly in the background. And if needed, there's an Extended RAM feature that bumps it up to 24GB.
We've rigorously tested the phone in various real-world scenarios, and we're impressed with its smooth and seamless performance.
While scrolling through social media, browsing the web, or switching between multiple apps, the T3 Ultra doesn't miss a beat. And when it comes to gaming, this phone was able to handle pretty much anything we throw at it.
We’ve played some graphics-intensive games including Genshin Impact and BGMI, and they all run smoothly without any lag or frame drop. However, the phone became a little warm during long sessions.
The sound is clear and balanced, with decent highs and mids. However, we did notice a tiny bit of distortion at max volume, but honestly, it wasn't a deal-breaker
The stereo separation of the phone’s audio also creates a more immersive soundstage, which is great for content watching.
Now, there's no headphone jack on this phone, which might be a bummer for some fussy users. But, Vivo T3 Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.3 which helps us connect the phone to the wireless headphones easily. We didn’t face any trouble pairing various TWS earbuds to the phone.
On the software side, the T3 Ultra runs Funtouch OS 14, which is based on Android 14. It's a clean and easy-to-use interface and doesn’t have any annoying ads.
However, we noticed some bloatware which came pre-installed on the phone and most of them were popular apps like Amazon, Netflix, Facebook and more.
The haptic feedback of the phone is decent. Vivo also hasn't gone overboard with the AI features. There are a few handy AI-powered tools: AI Erase and AI Photo Enhance.
We used AI Erase in some photos and it worked quite well. Removing unwanted objects from photos was a breeze and the tool helped us in cleaning up our pictures.
Battery
The Vivo T3 Ultra packs a 5,500mAh battery unit, which is not only good on paper but in real life too. On a typical day, with a usual mix of social media, browsing, a bit of YouTube, and some casual gaming, we easily made the phone last through a full day without needing to top up. There were even a few times when I stretched it to a day and a half, which was pretty impressive.
Even on days when we've used the camera a lot or played some more demanding games, we still managed to get through a full day without charging it.
The 80W Flash Charging capability is also impressive as it can charge 60% in 30 minutes and can fully charge the phone in less than an hour.
Verdict
Overall, the Vivo T3 Ultra is a compelling option that offers a well-rounded performance without compromising on value. The powerful Dimensity 9200+ chipset and the large, vibrant display make it a strong contender in its price range.
The camera system is also capable of capturing decent photos and videos in a variety of conditions. Even though it lacks a telephoto lens, the digital zoom does a decent job in daylight.
Battery life is also a plus point which easily lasts a full day even with heavy usage. The 80W fast charging is also great for users with a busier schedule.
All this makes the Vivo T3 Ultra a fine phone that offers a near-premium experience without the hefty price tag. If you're looking for a phone that can handle both demanding games as well as everyday tasks, the T3 Ultra is worth considering in this price range.
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