Vivo V11 Pro Review – Fastest Face Unlock, In-Display Fingerprint Scanner


At a point where majority of smartphone manufacturers are struggling with releasing substantial upgrades to their current smartphone lineups, Vivo is offering something quite new and innovative with its V11 Pro. The highlight feature which makes this smartphone so special is its in-display fingerprint scanner. V11 Pro is, arguably, the first mass-produced smartphone available on the market that offers this cutting-edge technology. Seeing how there is more to a smartphone than what sort of fingerprint scanning capabilities it has, we will take a complete look V11 Pro in this detailed review and conclude whether it has all the key factors that make up a great 2018 smartphone.

The Vivo V11 Pro, in terms of price, places itself in the mid-range category of Android smartphones. In terms of hardware, the smartphone runs a Snapdragon chipset, 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Further, for software there is Vivo’s own Funtouch OS skin based off of Android Oreo. For V11 Pro, it has some tough competition to go up against. While an in-display fingerprint scanner might help gain customer’s attention, V11 Pro needs to retain it by providing an overall experience to match. Let’s discuss the smartphone in detail right ahead!

Vivo V11 Pro Review

We did glance over some key specs, however, here are complete technical specifications for Vivo V11 Pro:

  • Network: Dedicated Dual SIM (GSM / FDD / TDD / WCDMA)
  • Display: 6.41″, 19:9, 1080 x 2340
  • Processor: Snapdragon 660 Octa-Core
  • OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo)
  • Camera Rear: 12MP, f/1.8 + 5MP, f/2.4
  • Camera Front: 25MP, f/2.0
  • Connectivity: microUSB USB 2.0, Bluetooth® 5.0
  • Sensors: Ambient Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, E-Compass, In-Display Fingerprint sensor
  • Memory: 6 GB RAM + 128GB internal storage
  • Dimension: 157.91m x 75.08mm x 7.9mm
  • Battery: 3,400mAh

Vivo V11 Pro: Design and Hardware

Vivo V11 Pro Review

In terms of design, V11 Pro has been crafted quite beautifully. In Pakistan, the region for our unit, there is only one color variant which is named as Starry Night. Taking a look at the rear, this color option is one of the most unique finishes we have seen recently. Differentiating from a solid color, Vivo has wrapped V11 Pro’s back in a clean blue finish which gradients itself into a sparkling finish at the bottom. That’s not all, the sparkling finish shifts from a vibrant blue to a deep purple depending on the light and angle of viewing, truly beautiful! Further, to tie it all, the brand logo and camera border is etched in this faded gold color. Overall, this look truly gives V11 Pro a beautiful yet unique look which is a big plus.

On the rear side, there are dual cameras placed on horizontally. Further, there is an accompanying single flash for the cameras which has a separate cut-out within the rear glass. Overall, the rear has a slight curve to it which gives the smartphone a nice feel to it when holding and makes it less prone to falls. Moving to the borders, there is a plastic glossy surround throughout the phone. On the right side are all the standard buttons such as power, volume controls. For left side, there is the SIM tray which also houses a dedicated microSD slot. Therefore, two SIMs can be utilized while using a microSD card at the same time. The top end is left empty whereas on the bottom, there is a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, microUSB slot and cut-out for the speaker.We wish Vivo chose Type-C standard for V11 Pro as it is quickly becoming the new standard even in much cheaper phones. As for the speaker, it is provides adequate sound with good depth.

Moving to the front, the most happening side of V11 Pro. Straight off, there is a large 6.41 inch display which is Super AMOLED, a big plus. The blacks are deep and colors are quite vibrant. As per tech specs, the display is fitted in a 19:9 ratio with 1080 x 2340 resolution. The display has a quite a small notch cut-out which fits in the front camera — rest sensors have been fitted in the minor surround bezels. Thanks to in-display fingerprint scanner, the brand was able to stretch the screen to extreme edges.

Analyzing the in-display fingerprint scanner, it is definitely quite a reliable and secure module. However, we would class it as a step down from current dedicated physical sensors on smartphones in terms of speed. V11 Pro’s sensor is quite similar to what you would find in a 2016 flagship. It is not necessarily slow on its own but relatively, it lacks behind. Such is the case with every first generation technology. The convenience factor is also a mix-bag for us. A sensor placed on back easily lets brands stretch the screen while not sacrificing speed or developing something new. Further, the in-display fingerprint scanner requires a specific position to place your finger on — just like a normal sensor.

Interestingly enough, whats quite amazing with V11 Pro is its face unlock. In fact, we can easily say it is the fastest we have seen yet. We found ourselves utilizing face unlock more than the fingerprint scanner thanks to its ease of use and quick unlock. To put it in perspective, if you were to power V11 Pro on the while it pointing towards you, you would never be able to see the lock screen — it instantly unlocks within microseconds! You can also view our detailed video to see it live in action.

Moving towards internals, the smartphone has Snapdragon 660 powering it which is a respectable mid-range processor. Paired with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, this combination allows the V11 Pro to handle all tasks and apps quite easily. Further, we like how Vivo stuck with 6GB RAM as many smartphones usually opt for 4GB in their starting variants. To view the processor performance, we have attached some synthetic benchmarks.

 

Vivo V11 Pro: Camera

Vivo V11 Pro Camera

V11 Pro has a dual rear camera setup. The extra lens is their for providing extra detail for better bokeh in post-processing. Main camera is rated at 12MP with f/1.8 while the secondary one is 5MP with f/2.4. This complete setup on V11 Pro is average at best. While being a step up from budget devices, it still has trouble shooting low-light photos and the bokeh isn’t astounding seeing there is a dedicated lens for it. For reference, take a look at the photos that we took with different settings and in different lighting conditions. All photos have been directly taken from the V11 Pro, there was no editing involved on our part.

Vivo V11 Pro Review - Fastest Face Unlock, In-Display Fingerprint Scanner 9

The front camera system, however, is on the better end. It has good sharpness and the software offers helpful settings which users can utilize. The angle is also generously wide making it good for group selfies. The higher quality can be also accredited to the high 25MP pixel count with f/2.0 aperture.

Vivo V11 Pro: Connectivity and Battery

Vivo V11 Pro

To complete the hardware, a smartphone needs to have great connectivity options. For V11 Pro, it has some key options that make it complete. Dual dedicated SIM slots, for one, is a key feature that developing markets such as Pakistan absolutely require. Further, having microSD expansion available at the same time is a big plus. Also, Bluetooth 5.0 is something that many customers don’t even know of. Thanks to this latest technology, not only is pairing with new devices faster but you can connect multiple devices at once to your V11 Pro as it comes standard on the smartphone.

For battery, Vivo chose to have a thinner chassis than a larger capacity. Thankfully, the compromise isn’t that much as V11 Pro ships with a 3,400mAh battery module. Paired with Snapdragon 660’s optimized power states, we found ourselves easily averaging a complete day on a single charge — with mixed usage such as web browsing, games and video streaming. To accompany the battery further, there is a fast charger included in the box and V11 Pro is equipped for fast charging hence giving users quick recharge times.

Vivo V11 Pro: Software

Vivo V11 Pro Review - Fastest Face Unlock, In-Display Fingerprint Scanner 19

Funtouch OS is a proprietary skin by Vivo that is shipped across all its smartphones, V11 Pro being no exception. Fundamentally running Android 8.1 Oreo, this skin probably has a higher learning curve compared with other smartphones. It takes heavy cues from iOS. For one, it took us some searching to find the notification bar toggles such as brightness etc. For Funtouch, they are all located in a separate menu which is initiated by a swipe up from the bottom. Moving along, Vivo has its own AI implementation by the name of Jovi. The main features Jovi helps with are Smart Camera, Smart Scene and Game mode.

V11 Pro also has a number of smart features thanks to Funtouch. For example, users can enable full screen gestures to launch certain apps and even setup motions to unlock while the phone is locked. Screen splitting has been integrated as well. Also, it is important to note that V11 Pro comes with Google Lens built-in. This allows users to simply pull out their phone, point the camera and find useful information for things being viewed. As for customization options, Funtouch is a bit limited. There is no dark mode, neither can users opt to hide the notch. Further, the apps are all placed on the home-screen as their is no app drawer.

Vivo V11 Pro: Screenshots

Vivo V11 Pro: Gallery

Taimur Akmal
Taimur Akmal

Devoted writer, enjoys developing code. Appreciates excellent food, exceptional coffee and great company. He is also into sublime design and nicely built cars.

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