The Vivo V9 was released in the Philippines as the company’s hero device this 2018. The smartphone still highlights the “world-leading” 24MP front camera, but now rocks a dual-rear shooter; both use Artificial Intelligence algorithm to improve photo processing and output. However, the handset has more stuff to offer aside from its powerful set of cameras. Join us as we discover those points in our unboxing and initial impressions of the Vivo V9.









Vivo V9 Unboxing, First Impressions





The Vivo V9 is priced at Php 17,990 for the only configuration (4GB/64GB) released in the Philippines. This price standpoint is very competitive; and Vivo V9 is trying to fill some big shoes after the success of the Vivo V7+ and the Vivo V7. The smartphone uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 which houses octa-core CPU and Adreno 506 GPU.





Likewise, the Vivo V9 boasts an Antutu Score of 90798.









Design, Display





We can’t talk about the design without mentioning the Vivo V9’s notch - the rectangular cutout aesthetics which is basically borrowed from Apple’s playbook. To be honest, I love the implementation of the notch. It makes the screen more immersive allowing more space for notifications on the upper part of the display. The notch includes the proximity sensor, the earpiece, the 24MP front camera, and the very useful LED light notification.





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The handset starts at 19:9 aspect ratio, but it could only run apps in 18:9 and 16:9 depending on the optimization. The Vivo V9’s display measures 6.3-inch in diagonal. Unlike the Vivo V7+, its screen packs a full HD+ resolution with 1080 x 2280 pixels. I should say that the display looks stunning – whites are very clear and blacks are deeper despite the fact that it uses an LCD panel.









The curved-back design is also a breath of fresh air. It helps the handset nestle easily on the hands. Likewise, the body is entirely plastic but I love the fact that Vivo has implemented a shiny finish which mimics the aesthetics of other flagship smartphones that are made of glass. The phone looks stunning but you’ll immediately put it in a case because the back panel is an instant fingerprint magnet.





Right Side: Power button and Volume rocker





Left Side: SIM Tray (2 Nano SIM & MicroSD Card slots)





Facing the display, the power button and the volume rocker are located on the right while the dedicated SIM tray is on the left. The bottom side houses – in consecutive order – the headphone jack, the microphone, microUSB port and the speaker grill.





Bottom Side: Headphone jack, Microphone, MicroUSB port, Speaker grill





Camera





The rear camera is a combination of 16MP and 5MP sensors which are arranged vertically with the LED flash. The rear camera is now powered with AI algorithm which produces decent photos with good color accuracy, saturation, and contrast.









Meanwhile, the front camera is a 24MP affair which offers good-looking selfies. The new camera interface now has automatic AI mode and the same set of 1 to 6 levels of beauty presets.





Vivo V9 Sample Photos

AI Auto Selfie Sample Photo



Vivo V9 Consumer Launch Philippines

Vivo V9 Unboxing





The Vivo V9 box is similar to the previously released retail boxes from the company. However, the V9 box comes with a matte texture which gives the whole package a more premium feel. You’ll still get the standard out-of-the-box items: headphones, AC wall adapter, micro USB cable, SIM ejector tool, manuals. It also includes a free soft case to give your handset protection on the fly.

















Initial Wrap





The Vivo V9 is a good-looking handset with its shiny glass-like finish. It’s also comfortable on the hands with the addition of a curved back panel. More importantly, I love the implementation of the improved 24MP front camera and the new dual-rear camera setup. Both camera modules supports AI algorithm which is a step forward compared to its predecessor. Likewise, the display is also a point to love about the handset - it's clear and has great viewing angles for content consumption.





The Php 17,990 price standpoint is very competitive but from the looks of it, the Vivo V9 is a tough competitor in this segment. Of course, we will know more about the handset in our Vivo V9 review. Stay tuned.





Vivo V9 Specs





Display

Screen: 6.3-inch FullView FHD+ (1080 x 2280p, 400ppi)

Aspect Ratio: 19:9 with 90% screen-to-body ratio

Type: IPS LCD

Touch Screen: 2.5D glass

Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3





Hardware

Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 626

CPU: 2.2GHz 64-bit Octa-core Cortex-A53

GPU: Adreno 506

RAM: 4GB

Storage: 64GB

MicroSD support: Yes, up to 256GB with dedicated slot





Software

Funtouch OS 4.0 (Based on Android 8.1 Oreo)





Camera

Rear Camera: 16MP + 5MP (f/2.0), LED flash

Front Camera: 24MP (f/2.0)

Scene Modes: Ultra HD, PPT, Professional, Slow, Time-lapse Photography, Camera Filter, Live, AI Bokeh, AI HDR, AI Face Beauty, Panorama, 4K Video, Palm capture, Gender detection, Retina Flash, AR Stickers, AI Scene Recognition





Cellular & Networks

Dual Nano SIM, dual standby

4G LTE, 3G, 2G





Connectivity

WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, USB 2.0, OTG, FM Radio





Security

Fingerprint Scanner (rear-mounted), Face Unlock





Sensors

Accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Proximity sensor, E-compass, (Virtual) Gyroscope





Body

Dimensions: 154.81 x 75.03 x 7.89 mm

3D Curved Back cover Design

Weight: 150 grams

Color: Pearl Back, Gold





Battery

Capacity: 3260mAh

Removable: No





Price