Vivo has refreshed its camera-focused V-series lineup with the new Vivo V29. Although there’s not much of a difference in terms of design compared to its predecessor, the Vivo V27, the Vivo V29 carries a new “smart Aura” lighting and some camera tweaks, which can help with photos and videos amid the upcoming wedding and festive seasons. But at Rs 32,999 (8GB RAM and 128GB storage), many customers will find loads of options with similar specifications, if not better. Chances are high that many online customers might be more attracted towards the OnePlus Nord 3 5G (review), which costs Rs 1,000 more for the same storage variant.
However, if the camera is your priority, the Vivo V29 will take you by surprise. Before we go forward with the Vivo V29 versus the OnePlus Nord 3 5G camera comparison, let’s take a look at the specifications.
Table of Contents
Vivo V29 vs OnePlus Nord 3 5G camera specifications
| Vivo V29 | OnePlus Nord 3 5G |
| 50MP primary camera with OIS | 50MP primary camera with OIS |
| 8MP ultra-wide camera | 8MP ultra-wide camera, 112-degree FoV |
| 2MP bokeh camera | 2MP macro camera |
| 50MP front camera | 16MP front camera |
Daylight HDR
The shot from the Vivo V29’s primary camera appears more dynamic than the image captured by the OnePlus Nord 3 5G’s main camera. This is mainly achieved by boosting the overall scene in the HDR mode. If you look closely at the fountain and sky, the Vivo V29 over-processes the photo with high contrast and low saturation, which makes the blue tones more dramatic. While the sharpness is uniform across both photos, Vivo V29’s output makes it a perfect option for a quick Instagram upload without much editing.
Winner: Vivo V29
Ultra-wide
Vivo V29’s ultra-wide camera offers relatively better field-of-view (FoV) and colours compared to the OnePlus Nord 3’s output with the same camera lens. However, a closer look reveals that the image with the OnePlus is clear and sharper. Even the reflections on the mirror are clearer on the OnePlus Nord 3. In this case, it comes down to personal preferences. I would generally go for a sharper image and later edit colours. If you’re okay with the Vivo V29’s ultra-wide social media-worthy output in daylight, that’s okay.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 3 5G
Portrait
The Vivo V29 and the OnePlus Nord 3 5G are using a similar method to achieve portrait shots, that is, by leveraging the primary and tertiary cameras. Of course, software tweaks come into play to achieve a perfect bokeh effect. In this portrait of my mother, the photo with the OnePlus Nord 3 appears sharper with better bokeh, at least at first look. However, the deep bokeh in the background erases minor details, such as the bars on the gate.
The portrait shot with the Vivo V29 appears soft and natural, and the skin tone comes with some beautification. The hairdo on the Vivo V29 appears relatively better. In the end, my mother gave a point to Vivo (I can’t compete with her). Objectively, I’d say OnePlus.
Winner: Vivo V29
Selfie
The Vivo V29 and OnePlus Nord 3 5G offer good details with the selfie camera, though both smartphones process the output differently. The Vivo V29 keeps a natural tone without overexposing the image under direct sunlight. As a result, my face looks natural and the colour detection is also good (though it can be inconsistent). The Vivo smartphone also captured the facial hair more clearly than the OnePlus Nord 3 5G (when zoomed in).
Winner: Vivo V29
Low-light selfie (with Night mode)
Taking photos in low light is tricky on any smartphone, be it a flagship or mid-ranger. That’s why computational modification comes into play to get the best results. Both shots are shaky, which is bound to happen in a low-light shot without adequate light on the subject. Surprisingly, the Vivo V29 manages to stabilise the image better without over-exposing my skin tone. The details in the selfie with the Vivo V29 are also relatively more prominent. Mind you, this was a simple point-and-shoot experiment.
Winner: Vivo V29
Low light
The image in low light with the Vivo V29 also appears much livelier compared to the OnePlus Nord 3 5G. Thanks to high saturation and prominent shadows, the image with the Vivo smartphone appears more dramatic. The Vivo V29 also does a decent job at reducing lens flare near the moon. Plus, if you look at the building on the top right, the dynamic range is also better with the Vivo V29 as you get more details.
Winner: Vivo V29
Low light (with night mode)
On the other hand, I feel the OnePlus Nord 3 5G does a better job of maintaining sharpness and clarity in this night shot with night mode enabled. The Vivo V29 also captures enough light, but the trees are shaky. OnePlus cleverly hides the blurry leaves by increasing shadows, which also makes the image more dramatic. Moreover, the OnePlus Nord 3 does a better job of keeping the street lights softer and look more pleasing to the eyes.
Winner: OnePlus Nord 3 5G
Verdict
The Vivo V29 emerged as the winner in five (four if I count OnePlus for portraits) out of seven scenarios in this comparison against the OnePlus Nord 3 5G. However, there are other aspects of camera comparison, which I couldn’t fully cover in this article. For instance:
- I couldn’t compare photos with Vivo 29’s “smart Aura” light that dramatically improves night photography.
- Similarly, the OnePlus Nord 3 can capture much better macro shots, a feature which is unavailable on the Vivo V29.
- Video stabilisation and audio appeared better on the OnePlus Nord 3 in my testing. But the camera app on the Vivo V29 offers more features.
