Vivo T3 Ultra review: A mid-range gaming beast you shouldn’t ignore
Vivo is one of the few smartphone manufacturers that caters to different audiences. The company's V series phones are known for their premium build and excellent camera performance, while the T series caters to people who want good performance without spending too much.
However, with the Vivo T3 Ultra, the company seems to be offering the best of both worlds – an eye-catching design bundled with an excellent MediaTek chipset. I used the Vivo T3 Ultra for a couple of weeks, and here's what I like and don't like about Vivo's value-for-money V40 cheaper lookalike.
The Vivo T3 Ultra has a premium-looking plastic back makes the phone lighter than its competitors. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
A good-looking phone with a sturdy build
As soon as I unboxed the phone, I noticed that the Vivo T3 Ultra has a striking resemblance to the V40 series, the company's latest premium mid-range series. For a second, I felt like Vivo was lazy enough to copy the design from its newest V series phones, but when I held it in my hand, I felt like the slim and light-weight build combined with the looks made the T3 Ultra stand out from other smartphones in the sub-Rs 35,000 price bracket.
Similar to the Vivo V40 series phones, you get a power button, and the volume rockets on the right, with the SIM card slot and USB-C port placed at the bottom. However, there is a striking difference between the T3 Ultra and the V40. Unlike its more expensive counterpart, which comes with a glass back, the backside of the Vivo T3 Ultra is made from plastic, but it does not make the phone feel cheap by any means.
During my usage, I noticed that despite being a big phone, the Vivo T3 Ultra rarely slipped from my hand even when I used it without the cover. While this is also the case with the V40, the T3 Ultra is a bit less slippery, thanks to the plastic back offering more grip. Like most mid-range devices, the Vivo T3 Ultra has a 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED screen, which is easy to read even under direct sunlight. I used the phone to watch videos and read on the go, sitting under the bench on a sunny day, and never once did I feel like the brightness wasn't enough.
The Vivo T3 Ultra is IP68 dust and water-resistant, so if you are an outdoor enthusiast who often goes to the beach or happens to be a clumsy person like me, dropping things or spilling water every now and then, this is an easy recommendation.
The Vivo T3 Ultra is a bit faster than my Oppo Find N3 flip when it comes to raw performance. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Flagship-like performance at less than half the price
Powered by the Dimensity 9200+ chipset, the Vivo T3 Ultra is a powerhouse when it comes to performance. While Vivo has been launching flagship phones for years now, this is the first time Vivo is offering a flagship chip in the mid-range segment.
The Vivo T3 Ultra blazes through everyday tasks and can easily handle whatever you throw at it. During my usage, which involves browsing the internet, listening to music and using Google Maps for navigation, never once did I feel like the phone could have been faster or smoother.
Gaming is also a breeze with the T3 Ultra. I tried a lot of demanding mobile games like Mobile Legends Bang Bang, Zenless Zero, Genshin Impact, Diablo IV and more, and during my long gaming sessions, which lasted anywhere between an hour to three, the device did not throttle or lag. And while it does get hot to touch after a while, you won't notice the heat if you are using a case.
The Vivo T3 Ultra has a decent speaker setup for the asking price, with the phone getting loud enough to watch videos even if your TV is blasting in the background.
FuntouchOS can be a bummer for some, but I personally find it lag-free. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
FunTouch OS is still more or less the same
The Vivo T3 Ultra may look like the perfect mid-range device, but Funtouch OS may be a downer for some. The device runs on Funtouch OS based on Android 14 out of the box and comes with a lot of personalisation options that cater to enthusiasts as well.
When it comes to bloatware, the Vivo T3 Ultra does pack some bloatware, but most of them are surprisingly first-party apps from Google. I have used many Vivo and iQOO phones in the last few years, and I personally don't have any issues with how it looks. The user interface is lag and bug-free for the most part, but I did notice that some people do not like Vivo phones just because of the Funtouch OS.
Excellent cameras but I do miss telephoto
The Vivo T3 Ultra has a dual camera setup with a 50MP primary shooter and an 8MP ultrawide sensor enclosed in a cylindrical pill that looks really good. While this may be enough for most users, most modern phones that are priced between Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 come with a telephoto sensor. I wish Vivo could pack in a telephoto lens, but it's not a huge bummer for some since I personally don't use it often.
Coming to the primary camera, the Sony IMX921 50MP primary camera takes excellent pictures during both day and night time, with pictures coming out natural, crisp and detailed. However, if you prefer slightly saturated images, just switch to Vivid mode in the camera app and you are good to go. And while there is no dedicated macro sensor, the primary camera does offer 2x zoom. If you are into portrait photography, the primary camera's bokeh effect is on point and looks natural most of the time.
The 8MP ultrawide sensor also captures decent shots during the daytime, but as is the case with most mid-range devices, it struggles to retain details in low-light conditions.
The Vivo T3 Ultra's primary camera takes detailed natural-looking photos during the daytime. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
For a mid-range device, Vivo T3 Ultra's HDR pictures are very good at the price point. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
In low light conditions, the pictures come out crisp and detailed but the light balance is not par with other premium mid-range devices. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Portrait shots are great even the lighting isn't that good. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Nighttime photos are good for the price, but there are some better alternatives if you want a better camera. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake/Indian Express)
Battery
The Vivo T3 Ultra packs a 5,500mAh battery that supports 80W fast charging. Compared to most mid-range devices that come with a 5,000mAh battery, the additional capacity does help the T3 Ultra last a bit longer than other phones, but the difference isn't that much, especially if you are a heavy user.
I fully charged the phone, played Genshin Impact till it drained to around five per cent and noticed that it lasted some three hours. My typical usage involves using the phone to watch videos on Wifi, listening to music all day on mobile data and using WhatsApp and browsing the web. If you are a medium to heavy user like me, I can safely say that the phone will easily last a day and you won't need to plug it in before bedtime.
The Vivo T3 Ultra has a cylindrical camera island that looks exactly like the company's V40 series devices. (Image Credit: Anurag Chawake)
Vivo T3 Ultra: Should you buy Vivo's latest mid-range device?
The Vivo T3 Ultra performs flawlessly no matter what you throw at it and rarely gets warm, so if you are someone who wants a gaming phone that looks and feels premium, this is an easy recommendation. However, those looking for a phone with a telephoto shooter and don't mind a slower chipset can check out alternatives like the Realme GT 6T, Pixel 8a or even go with the now-year-old Samsung Galaxy S23 FE
You want to be the smartest in the room.
You want access to our award-winning journalism.
You don't want to be misled and misinformed.