Days after unveiling the G9 Pro, BLU released the Vivo XL5. The device is the successor of the Vivo XL4 that was well-received by the budget smartphone market. The company launched the Vivo XL5 together with the Vivo X5, a lower-end version of the device.
With the success of its predecessor, how does the Vivo XL5 stack up against other phones at the budget price point?
To answer this question, we have come up with a comprehensive review of the BLU Vivo XL5 to help you decide if it is worthy of being your next daily driver.
Design
BLU decided to incorporate a stitched artificial leather back cover for the Vivo XL5. The design is uniquely different from the company’s more recent devices that have glass and aluminum finishes. Nevertheless, it is a welcome change, especially for a considerably lower price point.
The Vivo XL5 is dual-sim compatible. However, expanding the storage is not possible if two sim cards are in use. The device also features a 3.5mm headphone jack, which is somewhat rare among the flagship smartphones of today.
Unfortunately, the Vivo XL5 is not compatible with USB Type-C. The device still features a Micro USB port for charging and data transfer. Still, the back-mounted fingerprint sensor is much appreciated, especially for a budget phone.
In terms of build quality, the Vivo XL5 feels very solid. It may not have the most exciting design, especially with the large chin, but it looks remarkably sleek. The teardrop notch on top of the display also isn’t as distracting as wide notches.
Display
The BLU Vivo XL5 features a 6.3 display at a resolution of 720×1520 px. The device has an aspect ratio of 19:9 and a pixel density of 267 PPI. There is a lot of room for improvement in terms of display, but at the price point, it gets the job done.
The display is more than enough for web browsing and going on social media. Because of the narrow aspect ratio, it is fairly easy to reach all the way over, and the tall screen allows for more content to be shown. Zooming in and out of content also feels smooth.
You can’t expect the device to give you the experience of a flagship phone, but at least you won’t be spending five times the money for this device.
User Interface
The BLU Vivo XL5 runs on a near-stock version of Android 9.0 Pie. It comes with a bunch of bloatware, but they can easily be uninstalled. Sorting through the menus is also a smooth experience.
The company has not committed to an upgrade to Android 10 for the Vivo XL5. However, considering the budget price point of the device, it is unlikely to receive a software update.
Performance
The BLU Vivo XL5 runs on an octa-core 1.6GHz UNISOC S398638 chipset paired with 3GB of RAM and 64GB of expandable storage. This processor performs decently, but it’s not necessarily a gaming powerhouse by any means.
Although the Vivo XL5 can run graphically intensive games such as PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile, expect frequent drops in frame rates and lag. For lower-end games like Temple Run and Candy Crush, the device can handle them without a problem.
If you spend most of your time watching video content, the Vivo XL5 is a great option. You may be limited to 720p resolution, but YouTube videos play without a hitch.
Additionally, the speaker on this device gets decently loud. It may not be as loud as the speakers on flagship phones, but they get the job done.
Camera
The BLU Vivo XL5 features a 13MP dual-camera module at the back and a 13MP front-facing camera. The secondary primary camera works for portrait mode, which means portrait mode is available for both the front and main cameras.
Contrary to all expectations, the photo and video quality on the Vivo XL5 is exceptional for a budget smartphone. All the photos taken using the phone were crisp and clear.
It could improve on color accuracy, but for its price range, it goes above and beyond. However, there is not much of a difference in photo quality when switching between modes like HDR.
The Vivo XL5 records videos at 1080p at 30 FPS, which is not bad at all for a budget smartphone. It also features auto-focus on video, but it is a bit slow.
Overall, the cameras of the Vivo XL5 can’t compete with flagships, but it is remarkable what they were able to put together for such a low price.
Battery Life
The Vivo XL5 features a beefy 4000 mAh internal battery. It is a remarkably large capacity when compared to other phones at its price point. The battery can comfortably last a day or two on moderate usage.
Conclusion
The BLU Vivo XL5 is a serviceable smartphone that is incredibly inexpensive. Even though it comes with notable downsides like the lack of support for USB Type-C and a mediocre display, these drawbacks are offset by the appealing price.
Nonetheless, the BLU Vivo XL5 is one of the best BLU Phones in the market today. You can buy one and try out for yourself!
Author Bio:
Hayk Saakian is an entrepreneur who has a keen interest in everything tech related. He can usually be found writing informative articles at hayksaakian.com, in which he shares valuable insights in today’s modern trends.
