Mario Bautista
Vivo has been on quite the launching spree lately. After introducing the Vivo V40 Pro, they’ve now refreshed the T series with the Vivo T3 Pro and T3 Ultra. When I first picked up the Vivo T3 Ultra, I experienced déj vu — it felt like I’d seen this phone before. And it wasn’t just a feeling. Vivo T3 Ultra bears a striking resemblance to the Vivo V40. In fact, the signature pendulum clock design I wrote about in my Vivo V40 review, is back on the T3 Ultra.
What’s missing this time is the Zeiss lens, but that’s hardly something to fret over. What’s better here is the more powerful Dimension 9200+ chipset under the hood. And the biggest difference? The Vivo T3 Ultra is priced at Rs 28,999, and the V40 series is priced starting Rs 34,999. So, should you place your bet on the Vivo V40 doppelgänger? Let’s find out in the review below.
Vivo T3 Ultra: Design and durability
At first glance, the Vivo T3 Ultra’s phone bears a strong resemblance to the Vivo V40, with its sleek and minimalistic design language. Vivo clearly decided to stick to what works for them, and it’s only fair. The pendulum clock-inspired camera module that we saw in the Vivo V40 has made a return on the T3 Ultra. While some might find the repetition a bit uninspired, the overall aesthetic still feels fresh and premium. Plus there is a new colour option in the T3 Ultra.
The Frost Green colour variant of the T3 Ultra that I tested is stunning. It has a matte finish that adds to the phone’s elegance but it is a fingerprint magnet, and considering it is a light coloured phone, it gets dirty very easily and smudges are easily visible on the device. Also, I felt that the device is a bit slippery so always use it with the case provided inside the box. The smooth, curved edges make the device comfortable to hold, even during extended use. Infact, one-hand operation on the device is also pretty convenient as the volume and power buttons are placed in the middle of the phone.
The frames of the Vivo T3 Ultra are made of plastic whereas in the Vivo V40 series, you get to see metal frames. And coming to the glass protection, Vivo has used the Schott Xsenation glass for protection, which is not as powerful and reliable as the Corning Glass protection in the Vivo V40.The phone has an IP68 rating, which means it can withstand dust and water. However, I did not try dipping it in the pool but even if you try it it shouldn’t ruin the device.
Vivo T3 Ultra: Display and speaker
The display on the Vivo T3 Ultra is nothing short of impressive. The 6.78-inch curved AMOLED display offers vivid colours and sharpness, making everything from scrolling through apps to watching videos an enjoyable experience. The curved edges add to the premium feel but accidental touches happen a lot, as is the case with any other curved display phone. It, however, does enhance the immersive experience when watching content. Plus, with a high refresh rate, everything looks incredibly smooth, whether you’re gaming or simply browsing. I watched a couple of movies and also played games on the device and was impressed by the display quality.
I also found the brightness levels to be more than sufficient, even under bright sunlight, thanks to 4500nits brightness available in the phone. You can easily read anything on your phone under direct sunlight. The dynamic light animations for notifications are another neat touch. The Aura Light on the back flashes in a playful, non-intrusive way for notifications, so you don’t have to keep glancing at your screen.
Coming to the speakers, Vivo has done a decent job. While it’s not a stereo setup, the single speaker delivers clear audio with a good range. I tested it with Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” — a favourite for testing bass-heavy tracks — and while it handled mids and highs well, the bass wasn’t as punchy as I would’ve liked. Still, it’s more than adequate for casual media consumption, but if you’re an audiophile, you might want to use good-quality earphones for a richer experience.
Vivo T3 Ultra: Software experience
The Vivo T3 Ultra runs on FunTouchOS14, which is based on Android 14. As per the updates, Vivo has promised 2 years of OS updates and three years of security updates. While the software is intuitive and you get a lot of customisation options, Vivo has not gotten rid of the “Hot apps” “Hot games” sections yet. Meaning, there is still a lot of bloatware you will find on the phone.
Vivo T3 Ultra: Performance and battery life
The Vivo T3 Ultra is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ chipset, and this makes all the difference in terms of performance. In my experience, multitasking between heavy apps and gaming was smooth. I played Genshin Impact and Asphalt 9 on high settings, and the phone didn’t stutter or slow down, thanks to the Dimensity 9200+ and the ample 12GB of RAM (expandable virtually up to 20GB). In terms of the benchmarking score, the phone managed to clock in a decent score of 1843 in the single core test and 5244 in the multi core test.
What I found impressive was how well the phone managed heat. Even after longer gaming sessions or recording 4K videos, the phone remained relatively cool. Vivo has implemented some clever cooling technology here, which keeps the performance steady even during prolonged use.
As for battery life, the Vivo T3 Ultra packs a 5500mAh battery, which is impressive given the phone’s slim profile. It easily lasted me a full day with mixed usage—watching YouTube, playing games, and keeping up with notifications. On a heavy day, I still had some juice left by the evening. In the PCMark battery test, the phone ran continuously for 15 hours. And when the test ended, there was still around 20 per cent battery left.
The phone also supports 80W fast charging, which gets you to around 50 per cent in just 30 minutes. That’s perfect for those times when you’re in a rush and need a quick top-up.
Vivo T3 Ultra: Camera performance
The Vivo T3 Ultra packs some impressive camera tech, particularly the 50-megapixel Sony IMX921 sensor with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). I was immediately drawn to how it performs in good lighting. Daylight shots are sharp, vibrant, and the colour reproduction feels natural — not overly saturated, which I appreciate. The wide f/1.88 aperture combined with the large 1/1.56-inch sensor does a great job of capturing detail, even in low-light situations. While noise is minimal, it’s not entirely absent — zoom in on darker areas, and you’ll notice some grain.
One thing to note is that there’s no dedicated macro mode, but the 2X zoom works well enough for close-ups. I tested this by shooting some flowers, and while the images were bright and sharp, fine details softened when zoomed in. Focus can be a bit tricky as you get closer to the subject. I noticed that certain parts of the object tend to blur, which affects overall sharpness in close-up shots.
When it comes to portrait shots, the Vivo T3 Ultra truly stands out. The camera offers three zoom options: 0.6X, 1X, and 2X. I found that 1X delivers the best results for most portraits, with crisp details and natural separation from the background. For subjects that were a bit farther away, I switched to 2X, which also performed impressively.
What really caught my attention is the quality of the background blur (bokeh). For a mid-range phone, it handles portrait mode exceptionally well. The blur feels smooth and natural, and the subject doesn’t look artificially pasted into the scene—a common issue in many mid-range devices. The camera does a great job of cleanly separating the subject from the background, making the portraits look polished and professional. Overall, the portrait mode on the Vivo T3 Ultra offers excellent depth and clarity, making it a solid performer for portrait photography.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the camera delivers solid results for most shooting conditions, especially if you’re not pixel-peeping too hard. It’s a well-rounded setup that offers versatility for everyday photography.
Verdict
The Vivo T3 Ultra is a solid mid-range phone that offers a lot of value for its price. Its performance is one of its biggest strengths, thanks to the powerful Dimensity 9200+ chipset, which makes gaming, multitasking, and handling heavy apps feel effortless. The battery life is impressive too—lasting easily through a full day of use, and with 80W fast charging, you can quickly top it up when needed.
The camera also performs well, especially in daylight, capturing vibrant and sharp photos. Portrait mode is particularly impressive, with natural background blur that makes photos look professional. The sleek, premium design, with a curved AMOLED display, adds to its overall appeal and gives it a high-end feel.
