You won’t believe how vivo has turned this phone into a pro-level camera with ZEISS tech straight from Hollywood films, because this vivo V40 might just be the best portrait phone ever! It might also replace your mirrorless cameras too!
vivo x ZEISS Collab
Alright, let’s start with what makes this collaboration between vivo and ZEISS a big deal. Now, ZEISS isn’t just some random brand; these guys have been setting the gold standards in optics for over 178 years, with over 130 years of imaging experience.
ZEISS is an optical giant and a great choice for big brands out there because we’re talking about lenses used in Oscar-winning films, high-end consumer camera gear, and high-end optics like the Hubble Space Telescope. Yep, *that* telescope.
Imagine that same quality squeezed into a smartphone—that’s exactly what vivo did with the vivo V40. This is also the case even though this is not the Pro variant.
ZEISS lenses have helped create iconic movie moments with effects like the B-Speed Bokeh and Cine-Flare, which are now built into the V40’s ZEISS Style Portrait and Multifocal Portrait features. So whether you’re capturing your cat or your coffee, you’re using tech that is basically Oscar-approved!
This isn’t just about slapping a logo on the phone and leaving it at that. Every vivo V40, including the vivo V40 Pro, with the ZEISS mark, has been fine-tuned through hardware and software collaboration, producing results with industry-leading image quality and pro-level features right in your pocket.
vivo’s Imaging
Now that we know why the vivo and ZEISS collaboration is such a game-changer, let’s dive into the amazing imaging features that make the vivo V40 a portrait photography powerhouse, especially with its ZEISS portrait capabilities.
Starting with the specs, it has two 50MP lenses. The main lens has an f/1.9 aperture with a 24mm focal length, and the other 50MP lens is an ultra-wide lens with an f/2.0 aperture and a 15mm focal length. Yes, both lenses feature ZEISS optics.
While the ultra-wide and main lenses look amazing, and there are three color profiles—Vivid, Textured, and ZEISS Natural—which you can choose from in the main camera app.
ZEISS Multifocal Portrait & ZEISS Style Bokeh
But the main game-changing point is portrait photography. It has a portrait mode with focal lengths ranging from 24mm to 35mm to 50mm, even for this non-Pro variant. This clearly shows that the vivo V40 covers everything from wide interaction shots to tight cinematic close-ups. You can also use a combination of focal lengths and different bokeh styles to really elevate your image production when taking a shot.
Just so you know, there are a total of seven classic ZEISS bokeh effects that produce a wide range of distinctive looks like Biotar and Cine-Flare, which make your ZEISS portraits so professional that you might start calling yourself a “pro-tographer”!
ZEISS Cinematic Portrait Video & Focus Transition
When it comes to video, the ZEISS influence shines again. The Cinematic Portrait Video mode lets you pull off those smooth focus transitions you see in the movies, all with just a tap. You can even slide the focus if you’re in pro mode, making the transitions even smoother.
It’s like being on a real movie set, with one person shooting video and another doing the focus pulling, but now it’s all done in the app. This gives you amazing transitions from one focus point to another, all without the onset drama and megaphones.
AI Aura Light Portrait for Night Photography
We all know smartphones do an excellent job with daylight photos, but low-light photos are where many phones struggle. The vivo V40’s AI Aura Light Portrait feature changes the game.
Since the V27, vivo’s V series has been equipped with Aura Light, and this is their 4th generation. The pro version of the vivo V40 has a smaller Aura Light, which, when zoomed up to 2x, is 3x brighter than the previous V30 Pro and 50 times softer compared to a regular flash.
The vivo V40 also comes with an upgraded 3D Studio Lighting feature, which is essentially a ring light for your entire shot, equipped with a new AI 3D Studio Lighting algorithm. This advanced AI algorithm for 3D facial light recognition analysis offers an additional layer of 3D fill light, enhancing portraits taken in low-light shots.
So even your late-night street photography will look like it’s lit by professional gear.
User-Friendly Interface
But what’s the point of all this amazing tech if it’s hard to use, right? Thankfully, the vivo V40’s interface is super intuitive. Switching between focal lengths and bokeh styles is a breeze, whether you’re a pro or a beginner, even your non-techy mom could easily nail a portrait shot with this!
Speaking of software, the Funtouch OS 14’s AI Eraser and AI Photo Enhance are some of the fastest and easiest to use on a smartphone.
If you come across a photobomber or want to remove an object, you can easily do it with the AI Eraser.
The AI Enhancement feature also improves clarity, optimizes color performance, and reduces noise, enhancing the overall quality of the image.
The AI Facial Contouring technology creates more realistic touch-ups for selfies, solving issues like facial distortions or protruding hairlines, and more.
Performance
Imaging is where the vivo V40 really shines, but the good news is that its performance isn’t compromised. You get a 4nm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset, a 5,500mAh battery with 80W FlashCharge, the charger comes in the box, and IP68 and IP69 protection. All these features are packed into the slimmest phone in this category.
In my daily usage, this phone is built to last, whether you’re doing heavy photo or video sessions, gaming marathons, or video binges. vivo says you can get up to 16 hours of continuous playback. In my experience, I got close to 2 hours of screen-on time at 72% battery, and an average of 6 hours of screen-on time at 12% battery with dark mode on, which shows amazing battery performance.
There’s no wireless charging, but the 80W wired FlashCharge, plus a Turbo Mode that gives you an instant power-up in as little as 3 seconds to light up the vivo logo.
The IP68 and IP69 ratings mean it can handle rain or poolside splashes, even hot liquid spills. The IP68 rating covers water resistance up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes, and the IP69 rating protects against hotter water temperatures, rain, and accidental drops.
Design
Now, let’s wrap up with the design. The vivo V40 doesn’t just perform well—it also looks the part. It has a slim body, bold color options, and the elegant Gemini Ring design, making the phone as much of a fashion statement as it is a tech powerhouse. The variant I have is the unique textured purple color with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
Conclusion
So, there you have it—the vivo V40 combines ZEISS-level imaging, strong performance, and sleek design in one package. If you’re looking for a phone that delivers pro-level portraits, especially with the ZEISS portrait mode, without compromising on other features, this is the phone for you. Links are down below for you to get it.
